Lady Butler, The Defense of Rorke’s Drift, 1880, Royal Collection.
Battle of Rorke’s Drift, 22-23 January 1879, Natal, South Africa.
139–141 men from B Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot, 11 colonial troops, and 4 civilians versus roughly 4000 Zulus. Result: British victory.
From “Zulu” (1964).
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OneGuy
I great story about military tactics and courage. I am reminded of Blackhawk down, similar in many ways.
Dick the Butcher
See the excellent chapter, “The Defense of Rourke’s Drift,” beginning on page 389 in Donald R. Morris’ excellent book, The Washing of the Spears – “. . . a readable and lively narrative . . .” The NYT Book Review. The book provides good material for Zulu History and the entire war.
gwbnyc
watched this with a few other guys one nite, age maybe 14, left a deep impression.
Sennacherib
Great Line: Why us colour sergeant, why us?
Because we’re here lad, nobody else.
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