In 1879, during the Zulu wars, man-of-the-people Lt. John Chard and snobbish Lt. Gonville Bromhead were in charge of defending the isolated Natal outpost of Rorke's Drift from tribal hordes. They held out during an Alamo-like siege until they were overwhelmed, losing the battle but being remembered as heroes. 150 troops defended a supply point against 4,000 Zulus with the use of a Martini-Henry gun "and some guts." In the century since the Victoria Cross was established for valor and extraordinary bravery above and beyond what is ordinarily expected of British soldiers in the face of the enemy, only 1,344 have been awarded. Eleven of these were captured by defenders of the mission post at Rorke's Drift, Natal, from January 22 to January24, 1879.
Read full
In 1879, during the Zulu wars, man-of-the-people Lt. John Chard and snobbish Lt. Gonville Bromhead were in charge of defending the isolated Natal outpost of Rorke's Drift from tribal hordes. They held out during an Alamo-like siege until they were overwhelmed, losing the battle but being remembered as heroes. 150 troops defended a supply point against 4,000 Zulus with the use of a Martini-Henry gun "and some guts." In the century since the Victoria Cross was established for valor and extraordinary bravery above and beyond what is ordinarily expected of British soldiers in the face of the enemy, only 1,344 have been awarded. Eleven of these were captured by defenders of the mission post at Rorke's Drift, Natal, from January 22 to January24, 1879.
Discussion