Ivor Emmanuel, when I worked on the QE2 as a stewardess (I was 19) in 1974 I was getting a coffee in the galley sitting with a bucket in my hand. Ivor Emmanuel came in for a coffee, (he was the entertaining act on the cruise) when I said I loved his Men of Harlech in Zulu he said he'd sing it for me and he did, then he sat down and had a coffee with me what a wonderful memory and what a voice, a lovely man.
Colour Sgt. Major Bourne lived till the age of 91 . He fought in the trenches of the first world war in the rank of colonel and died in his house on VE Day, 1945 at 16 Kings Hall Road, Beckenham, Kent.. On google earth street view you can see the blue disc on the front wall above the front door
Youngest colour sergeant in the Army at the time of Rorke's Drift, and quite short apparently. But Nigel Green, a 40 year old, 6' 4", South African works.
A late reply, but I hope you read it. Whatever her faults historically, England was fortunate to be blessed with more than a few English men and women who were much more than just nothing, otherwise so many Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish people would not have perceived the value of defending what we collectively refer to as the United Kingdom. The sentiments of an Englishman such as yourself are proof of it. And now, I fear, the United Kingdom itself is experiencing a kind of Rorke's Drift: gone the brave Zulu warriors with right on his side, replaced today by disreputable, divisive foes determined to overwhelm all that was and remains good about the United Kingdom.
The last of the Brythonaeg, myn cynn. Your people and mine got together to sort out the foreigners when the Normannen turned up. What a shame we didn't sort those Norman bastards out together in 1066, then we would all be happy.
Men of Harlech Stop your dreaming Can't you see their spear points gleaming See their warrior pennants streaming To this battlefield Men of Harlech Stand ye steady It cannot be ever said ye For the battle, were not ready Welshmen never yield
Zulu Is one of the best films ever made! :) 22 nearly 23 years old and this happens to be one of my most favourites! I wish I was around to see it released on the big screen!
Same here. Along with Battle of Britain and A Bridge Too Far. Coincidentally all films starring Michael Caine. Truly a superb actor. I remember my father telling me about the time my grandfather took him to see Battle of Britain when it was released. He was only 6 at the time, born and raised in Windsor, Ontario) until he turned 18 and became an American citizen (which my grandfather is originally an American who holds dual-citizenship), and the theater was giving my grandfather a hard time about taking him in to see it. Needless to say he saw it, and when I was young I got hooked on these films because of him.
I saw it at the theater here in America when it was released in 1964. I was 14 at the time and was literally blown away by this movie. It was Stanley Baker's dream and accomplishment all the way, and it was the debut movie performance for a very young Michael Caine.
Grandad Welsh killed on the Lusitania, but he has left behind a great legacy and I love the Welsh and Wales. No better men to have at your side the mad beautiful buggers. Thank you Wales my favourite land.
How many times as this been shown on uk tv? i must have watched it 30-40 times and it never gets boring, ABSOLUTELY FUCKING BRILLIANT! The bravery and discipline of both sides was incredible. plus its good going to have the real zulu nation to take part in making of the film.
From what I understand the current Zulus cannot get enough reenacting this battle and Isandlwana, so much so that every year they will personally take part in the annual reenactment.
The Zulu Nation still possesses a culture, a king and a respectful belief. I wonder if one day they will get what they want - a sovereign kingdom. Especially when we look at today’s South Africa
Something I like about this film is that apparently the Apartheid government wouldn't the Zulus who took part in the film to be paid so the crew 'accidently' left all the cattle the used in the film behind which was more than they were going to pay them in the first place.
There is a museum in Brecon South Wales UK. lots of information and weapons spears uniforms etc from the battle of Rorkes Drift. Also a few Welsh R.Drift VC soldiers buried in Wales. One named John Williams (Fielding) VC who along with Hook saved wounded from the Hospital, He is buried at St Micheal's Church Llantarnam, Cwmbran, Torfaen S Wales.
John Williams and Robert Jones were the only Welshmen who won a Victoria Cross that day. The others were; one Swiss, two South African, one Irishman, one Frenchman and six Englishmen. Welsh regiments like every other part of the British army contain people from other areas of our nation (and some others).
***** Not true, look up the Regimental Roll and see most were from other regions of the UK, Welsh, Irish or Scottish Regiments often had a large number of people from other parts of the UK. If you are suggesting that the majority of the Regiment were Welsh then you do them a great disservice as the Victoria Cross recipients for that action were almost entirely *not* Welsh, so where were they? The South Wales Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. It first came into existence, as the 24th Regiment of Foot, in 1689, but was not called the South Wales Borderers until 1881, this is two years after Rorke's Drift. The regiment was absorbed into the Royal Regiment of Wales in 1969. It was common to use and replace men from one unit to another when numbers dropped due to disease, injury or death (Welshmen were hard to find in Natal back then!).
In the Movie “Gladiator” with Russell Crowe the opening scene had Germanic Tribes singing against the Roman Legions. In that opening scene the singing was in fact the Zulu war Chants from the movie Zulu.
+Leopard95 tom jones,,charlotte church ,,max bloody boyce,,,(who only comes out of his sheep pen when the welsh win a rugby match,,which thankfully isn't that often) the thought of those three is enough to make anyone want to attack .
True story: Most of the Zulus in the movie had never seen a movie before this production. So, the director showed them a John Wayne western. The Zulus said, they could do better (everyone is a critic, even people who have only seen one movie LOL), so they directed the battle scenes and the rest is history!
I don’t care whether the men were Welsh, Scots, Irish, African or English.They all fought bravely. And I know this is going sound weird. But if I had to die in battle. I would rather die with this bunch than anyone else.
jonathan dempsey This was the British Empire at its best, represented by the British Army. On balance, imperialism was overall a bad thing, but that never takes away from the men who were there on that day. They were just carrying out orders.
can you imagine the strength it would take to sit there and listen to the Zulus rev-ing themselves up? mind you, there was nowhere for them to go AND they would have had to get thru their officers and the colour sergeant but still.... always made me glad that I am a female and not expected to go into battle although that has changed now, of course.
I an Englishman have just watched this and I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I am so proud of the land that we all live in and we must never let anyone or any politically correct bunch of toe rags come between us. We must always stick together through thick and thin.
The Zulu were an imperialist nation at the time as well. They displaced the indigenous tribes such as the San whom were there long before them. The Zulus were newcomers to that area as well.
For a bob a day, in a dirt cheap uniform, on sub standard rations, while millionaires feasted in their country houses and aboard their yachts. Good old days? Come off it!
Colin you are not being fair mate. Back in the day, aside from being a miner, a school teacher, a farmer ,a shop keeper or in the Army or Navy there was nothing for it. They had a measure of their worth and values in things other than baubles, banquets and bawdy ladies. Mind you the occasional enterprising lad might avail himself of one of the three from time to time. It's survival mate, the old school British way. Learn to fight in the finest tradition of the British army or perish. Cheers.
The full title of the unit was the 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot. South Wales Borderers was the unit name post 1881, Rorke's Drift action was in 1879 when they were still 24th (2nd Warwicks) Regiment of Foot. The regimental depot had been moved to South Wales in 1873 which ultimately led to the change.
Never understood why the Welsh are historically looked down upon where war is concerned. They fought with distinction in their 800 year Resistance to the Saxons (English) after hundreds of years or Guerilla warfare against the Romans, finally falling to the Normans of England....but still they show distinction at Agincourt, Crecy, and Rourke's Drift after this. They were also, the only Regiment in the war of 1812 to not surrender their colours at York Town.
This film was part of our mandatory training when conscripted into the australian army in the 1960s, to demonstrate strict discipline,and the "' Fix bayonets'' command. The british forces are held in the highest esteem by aussie troops, and having participated with the Kings shropshire light infantry in 1968 at shoalwater bay, I can testify personally to their toughness and determination.
Interesting I was at Shoalwater Bay around 1969 training with 6 RAR. We did the Vietnam tour around May 16 969/70 when we linked up with the New Zealanders Victor and Whisky companies to become 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Pommie Lloyd 3794138 ^RAR B Coy and BHQ
Colour Sgt. Bourne: "Sir, sentries report the Zulus have gone. All of them! It's a miracle". Lt. Chard: "If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer-Henry point-four-five caliber miracle". Sgt. Bourne: "And a bayonet, sir, with some guts behind it".
As a descendant of the Boers I am obviously proud of the way the simple men, farmers and ordinary workers stood up to the might of the British Empire and fought so bravely, only to be defeated when their women and children were put through the hardships of the scorched earth policy. My Gran went into the concentration camps with her mother and 2 sisters and some children and she alone survived. But then I think of those poor bastards, taken from the UK, dropped in Africa in the heat and drought, fighting a savage enemy on the one side and another that doesn’t stick to the rules, it must have been hell for them. I at least had the pleasure of being a member of the Welsh Male Voice Choir of South Africa, and enjoyed singing the beautiful Welsh melodies, I even sang in Royal Albert Hall. So I had the best of 2 worlds. endent of the Boers
+A Freeman twitter: .@FormerlyFormer: "Ladies, if you exterminate the propensity for violence in our own men, our culture will fall to one that doesn't. And u won't like their men."
One thing that all foreigners need to learn is that the British are kind and forgiving but we are also very nasty when crossed! Do not take our kindness as a sign of weakness.
Mikael Muller The British phrase goes "The sun never sets on the British Empire" Other nations reply with "Because God would never trust the British in the dark!" I like both statements ;)
Your comment seems to have nothing to do with the context of the video above. The Welsh boys presented hered are 'foreigners' in the Zulu's country and as such have no right to be there.
@@edsh6902 correct we were committing genocide but I was making a point about British resolve during stress of battle. Something only a soldier would know about. It took a while for you to find that comment but I suppose lockdown has many strange effects onus all one time or another. Personally I prefer gardening.
Praetorians stop your dreaming, can't you see their spear points gleaming. See their warrior's pennants streaming, to this battlefield. Praetorians stand ye steady. It cannot be ever said ye, For the battle were not ready. Praetorians will not yield! Form the hills rebounding. Let this war cry sounding. Summon all at Emperor's call, the mighty force surrounding. Praetorians on to glory, this shall ever be your story. Keep these burning words before ye Guardsmen will not yield!
***** It's a matter of perspective Bruce - it may be *just film* to you - it's all just film if you live in a bat-cave. But some people are driven by their position on the Asperger Spectrum to be concerned by these things - they can't help their weirdness.
Privileged to visit both Islanwana and Rokes Drift to respect those that died across the Boar and Zulu wars. Undeniable courage from both combatants, alien in so many respects to our technology driven solutions today. Excellent film, even if not historically correct. Loved it !!!
I just read an interesting tid bit from a book about 18th century British battles and it said that during the siege of Yorktown during the American War in 1781, the French and Americans were so close to the british earthworks that they could easily hear each other and the French and Americans would make boasts and brags and taunts to the english, and some of the men at yorktown were of the 23rd regiment the royal welsh fusiliers and some of them proudly cheered men of harlech in defiance to the besieging french.
I guess the problem with that is that "Men of Harlech" was written a after the revolution in 1794. The lyrics of the movie version were written in 1964. this is a great movie regardless.
1 off the soldiers lived next to to me poor bugger went through the zulu war awarded the Victoria Cross then died in ferndale pit disaster also sir Stanley Baker lived in the village
Brave warriors on both sides. I think those were actually Zulus. Salute to both sides. I've always admired the ability of Brits to fight. Glad they're on our side.....well, after 1814 at least.
saburu sakai The Americans were clever, instead of conforming to the norm of warfare in the 1700s, they used guerrilla tactics. The British didn't expect said attacks, which were hugely effective against their "column". Btw, I'm British, just saying though; America has their own tactic, you had no need to inherit anything.
Joseph, Heh heh, yeah, but we kinda learned the same lessons the hard way in Nam about insurgents. It's much harder to fight irregulars than a regular army sometimes, ie now. And in the US civil war, both sides mostly used standard formation tactics like Europeans, and the losses were horrible. The main reason they did that though was because it was the only way to control large armies with the primitive communications back then. HOWEVER, there were a few irrregular type leaders (ie Forrest and Moseby in the CSA) that used irregular type tactics and were very successful against much larger armies. The town I'm in (Rome Ga) has everything named after Gen. Forrest because he saved the town the first time it was threatened by Union troops via faking them out with a big masquerade moving the same guys and one cannon around the biggest hill in town, using a few horses to pull branches around and create clouds of dust and yell orders out of sight. The vastly superior Union forces ret That was very "American" of him I thought. About a yr later though Sherman came thru on his way to Atlanta and the place surrendered.
Watched this film again ,built my own rampart behind the sofa . Aimed at 100yards and let em have it .Had to undu my tunic though top button was interfering with aim . Killed six Zulus and bayonetted 4 other before I retreated to the toilet . Love this film and would have loved the adrenaline rush of being a part of this epic battle . Brave men
The force stationed at rorkes drift was b company, 2nd battalion, 24th regiment of foot (2nd Warwickshire regiment). It only became the south wales borderers in 1881 and the welsh contingent comprised no more than 15% of the total.
Daniel Carter Doesn't mean they weren't brave men, Daniel. By the time the Zulus got to Rourke's Drift, they had rifles, ammunition (something a lot of the troops at Isandlwala didn't have), and an overwhelming superiority in numbers.
Daniel Carter The Zulu warriors were rather more than "Men with cowhide sheilds & spears". Actually their principal weapon was an asagi - not a spear. In close combat a shield is not only defensive, it is also a weapon that needs to be light as well as hard as steel. The steel-like hardness of treated cowhide & sophisticated design of the Zulu shield fits these requirements perfectly. Some of the Zulu also had rifles. The Zulus were among the finest & most disciplined soldiers of their age of any race; they also had the advantage of certain psychotropic stimulant & analgesic drugs unknown to Europeans at the time. The British Tommys at Isandlwana were fighting not for empire but for their lives against a vastly larger & most formidable Zulu army. They were defeated by a combination of sheer weight of numbers & because the defending British riflemen were placed too far forward & too thinly spaced. Their ammunition was also insufficient & the type of rifles they used were slow to reload & had a tendency to easily overheat & jam. In spite of the massive heroism & discipline of the regular Tommys, the British forces initially deployed in the Zulu war were a poorly led & organised motley crew of regular soldiers, irregulars & colonial police. Times change & it is wrong to impose in judgement the mentality & politico-social values of ones own era upon a bygone age. The British Empire was only in part about Imperial conquest & exploitation, a large part of it also consisted of a network of treaties & alliances & although it benefited the British ruling elites (the ordinary British less so) it was in many ways a two-way street that to a significant extent benefited the ruled as well as the rulers. At the time it saw itself & was widely seen & respected by many as a force for good in the world, not only for the good of the British ruling elites. The Zulu war was politically ill-conceived in that Cetshwayo had voluntarily offered an equal alliance with the British which would have equally benefited his people as well as British interests & made an imperial war unnecessary. His own words were: "I am Queen Victoria's most loyal son, but in my own country I am a King, where I expect to be treated as such". Unfortunately his offer was ignored by certain inexperienced, arrogant & ill-informed people in high office who could only think in terms of imperial conquest. None of this reflects in any way upon the ordinary Tommys who knew nothing of politics & lived in a time & culture in which he who "took the Queens shilling" simply went wherever he was sent & did as he was told without question - as did the Zulu soldiers who honoured & respected the courage & discipline of the British Tommys who equally respected theirs. They were heroes, each & every one of them - British & Zulu alike.
Great & brave men fought on both sides in a war should never have happened since the 2 nations were by temperament natural allies. The Zulu King Cetshwayo kaMpande said "I am Queen Victorias most loyal son but in my own country I am a King & expect to be treated as such"
My mother passed away 8 months ago. Whenever Zulu was on TV, any channel, that was it, that's what would be on TV the next few hours. It was far and away her favourite film. So this got played at her funeral. We got many confused family friends asking if she was Welsh.
From Wiki: Of the 122 soldiers of the 24th Regiment present at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, 49 are known to have been of English nationality, 32 were Welsh, 16 were Irish, 1 was a Scot, and 3 were born overseas. The nationalities of the remaining 21 are unknown.
That's what you get for using wiki ! At best estimates based on the history of the regiment, recruiting patterns across the country, regimental records, long and short service men and the definition of "welsh"...you are probably looking at 17 welsh (at best) in 122.
Thank you for commenting, being born in Wales I am aware of the Welsh Anthem. You appear to have read or viewed only part. Title Men of Harlech and the Welsh Anthem. Men of Harlech as per the film. At the end when the medals are announced. Men of Harlech completed the Welsh anthen is then heard. Thank you for commenting but jst to get it right. as for me, With a name like William Thomas Williams , born in wales, what else.. Bilko
Ive seen this film dozens of times and it still brings a lump in my throat when they break into men of harlech. Im an Englishman who served in the scots guards and can only imagine the fear them boys went through being faced with thousands of crazy zulus. I know your trained to kill the enemy but until you've been there youll never know the sheer terror of combat until youve been there. Hats off to our brave warrior brothers the welsh.
A moving moment -- from a moving film. It didn't try to depict anyone as "good guys" or "bad guys." And in this "song contest," they realize that their enemies are human, and warriors, like themselves. Thanks for posting. Oh, dammit -- almost forgot. I'm not well-versed in these things, so if this is a dumb question, sorry ... but, what was that song the Welsh were singing?
Best choristers in the world are the Welch,I'm Irish but before any test rugby match"land of our fathers"sends shivers through you when sung by their supporters.
The great welsh anthem you can hear from 04:34 on this video. Welsh, be proud of your ancestors, Welsh, be proud of your flag, Welsh, be proud of your national anthem, Welsh, be proud of your country. Greetings from Berlin, Germany.
The song the defenders would have sung, had they sung at all, would have been, 'The Warwickshire Lads' as it was an English regiment defending Rorke's Drift, The Warwickshire Regiment.
The lyrics to Warwickshire Lads isn't as stirring as Men of Harlech. Compare: "Ye Warwickshire lads and ye lasses, See what at our Jubilee passes;" with "Men of Harlech, march to glory, Victory is hov'ring o'er ye,"
Jill PB At best there were 19 Welshmen at Rorke's and that was because the Warwickshires were based at Brecon and the locals would just walk into the barracks and join up. Five years after the battle, the regiment was renamed the South Wales Borderers.
Thanks for seemingly being the only person who uploaded this in good quality and unbroken length. Too many think chopping up their videos and lowering the quality will somehow save them. Little did the Welsh know that 82 years later, their Irish companions in the British Empire would face very similar odds and inflict and suffer very similar numbers of casualties. What is it with the British and battles in Africa against very bad odds.
"The Zulu's have us surrounded sir, they're standing on the horizon waving their spears at us!.... Wait a minute, those aren't spears....." - Frankie Boyle
the zulus werent saluting they left because they saw chelmfords command approaching also chard and bromhead were going to leave but the ardendorff said to make a stand also very few were welsh they were mostly english
Correction, tactics beat tactics. mind you, a much stronger british force what crushed in Isandlwana prior to this fight. in an open field the Zulu speed and flexibility can easily beat the British single rank rifle line. however, with obstacles, like mealy bag walls combine with three rank concentrated fire with no pause between volleys, then the british rifles win. for the first encounter in the movie, the battle was about Zulu speed vs reload speed and how the Zulu general used the math from that first attack to set the stag for all the other attacks while Chard had to come up with surprises, either increasing the rate of fire, or his fortifications.
This is very interesting for me. I actually live opposite the Rorkes Drift museum in Brecon. My house is the old pub where these guys used to drink in. I have also guided groups to Rorkes Drift and met direct decendants from both sides too. Thank you for uploading it....
As much as we would all like to believe it didn't happen like this in reality. It was in fact exaggerated at the time to cover up the massacre at Islandwana earlier that day. One of the men awarded the v.c william Jones died in the workhouse penniless and forgotten.He was buried in an unmarked grave near to where I live. That is the truth of how heroes are treated.
Almost certainly apocryphal, but I've yet to know a Welshman whose chest doesn't expand and eye doesn't tear when hearing this...the Welsh. We're a stubborn lot.
It is Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau as Josh notes. The translation of the Welsh is: "The old land of my fathers is dear to me, Land of poets and singers, famous men of renown; Her brave warriors, very splendid patriots, For freedom shed their blood. Nation, Nation, I pledge to my Nation. While the sea [is] a wall to the pure, most loved land, O may the old language endure." The Welsh soldiers were renowned not just for fighting abilities but their vocal (choir) skills.
loved this movie since i was 14 , bravery of the highest calibre , on both sides , welsh ? english ? zulu ? etc , who now would have the nerve or courage ?
Ivor Emmanuel, when I worked on the QE2 as a stewardess (I was 19) in 1974 I was getting a coffee in the galley sitting with a bucket in my hand. Ivor Emmanuel came in for a coffee, (he was the entertaining act on the cruise) when I said I loved his Men of Harlech in Zulu he said he'd sing it for me and he did, then he sat down and had a coffee with me what a wonderful memory and what a voice, a lovely man.
So lucky, that you heard that and worked on the beautiful Scottish qe2!
Would’ve been awesome!
That sounds real nice.
Absolute classic. One of the best movies ever made.
Great film. Awful history. Truly awful. A product of the 60s.
Colour Sgt. Major Bourne lived till the age of 91 . He fought in the trenches of the first world war in the rank of colonel and died in his house on VE Day, 1945 at 16 Kings Hall Road, Beckenham, Kent.. On google earth street view you can see the blue disc on the front wall above the front door
Youngest colour sergeant in the Army at the time of Rorke's Drift, and quite short apparently. But Nigel Green, a 40 year old, 6' 4", South African works.
❤
Truth be told we would be nothing without he welsh, Scotland and northern Ireland. From an Englishman i am forever grateful
A late reply, but I hope you read it. Whatever her faults historically, England was fortunate to be blessed with more than a few English men and women who were much more than just nothing, otherwise so many Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish people would not have perceived the value of defending what we collectively refer to as the United Kingdom. The sentiments of an Englishman such as yourself are proof of it. And now, I fear, the United Kingdom itself is experiencing a kind of Rorke's Drift: gone the brave Zulu warriors with right on his side, replaced today by disreputable, divisive foes determined to overwhelm all that was and remains good about the United Kingdom.
To be born welsh is to be born privileged. Not with a silver spoon in your mouth, but with music in your heart and poetry in your soul.
24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot
The last of the Brythonaeg, myn cynn. Your people and mine got together to sort out the foreigners when the Normannen turned up. What a shame we didn't sort those Norman bastards out together in 1066, then we would all be happy.
I have that inscription on my wall
Twat
Ah yes those silly Norman’s. Winning fairly. How dare they
Men of Harlech
Stop your dreaming
Can't you see their spear points gleaming
See their warrior pennants streaming
To this battlefield
Men of Harlech
Stand ye steady
It cannot be ever said ye
For the battle, were not ready
Welshmen never yield
Zulu Is one of the best films ever made! :) 22 nearly 23 years old and this happens to be one of my most favourites! I wish I was around to see it released on the big screen!
Same here. Along with Battle of Britain and A Bridge Too Far. Coincidentally all films starring Michael Caine. Truly a superb actor. I remember my father telling me about the time my grandfather took him to see Battle of Britain when it was released. He was only 6 at the time, born and raised in Windsor, Ontario) until he turned 18 and became an American citizen (which my grandfather is originally an American who holds dual-citizenship), and the theater was giving my grandfather a hard time about taking him in to see it.
Needless to say he saw it, and when I was young I got hooked on these films because of him.
Watched Zulu at the pictures with my Dad (ex Royal Engineers) when a little boy. Great memory.
1stFallschirmjagerRgt
I saw it on the big screen when it was out.
I saw it at the theater here in America when it was released in 1964. I was 14 at the time and was literally blown away by this movie. It was Stanley Baker's dream and accomplishment all the way, and it was the debut movie performance for a very young Michael Caine.
My sister married a Nigerian and when she brought him home one Christmas Dad put this on..dad came from Yorkshire and was a child of his generation
Makes you proud to be British. Our Welsh neighbors stood shoulder to shoulder with us then and they still do today. God bless wales.
and we always will brother!!!!!!
dduw bendithia cymru!
Cymru Am Byth
That Welsh Gamer your welsh for crying out loud that was a compliment! Or are you lying......
Correct
Grandad Welsh killed on the Lusitania, but he has left behind a great legacy and I love the Welsh and Wales. No better men to have at your side the mad beautiful buggers. Thank you Wales my favourite land.
How many times as this been shown on uk tv? i must have watched it 30-40 times and it never gets boring, ABSOLUTELY FUCKING BRILLIANT! The bravery and discipline of both sides was incredible. plus its good going to have the real zulu nation to take part in making of the film.
From what I understand the current Zulus cannot get enough reenacting this battle and Isandlwana, so much so that every year they will personally take part in the annual reenactment.
Haven’t seen it
The Zulu Nation still possesses a culture, a king and a respectful belief.
I wonder if one day they will get what they want - a sovereign kingdom. Especially when we look at today’s South Africa
I have seen Henry Hook's Victoria Cross. It was kept at the Royal Regiment of Wales' museum at Cwrt-y-Gollen, Crickhowell, Powys.
I've seen Lt Chard's and Lt Bromhead's medals at the Welsh Borderer's museum in Brecon.
My friend is so proud of his great great great grandfather. Respect ste.
"At one hundred yards! Volley fire, present! Aim! Fire!"
'Twas indeed an impressive show of Welsh steel...
Lead !
+Dillon ferko (Shamrock69) most where English but there you go
+steven Cooper Didn't you listen to Jones 593?!
Joker, In real life it was a mix regiment.
Something I like about this film is that apparently the Apartheid government wouldn't the Zulus who took part in the film to be paid so the crew 'accidently' left all the cattle the used in the film behind which was more than they were going to pay them in the first place.
Britishviking1 thanks for the info
There is a museum in Brecon South Wales UK. lots of information and weapons spears uniforms etc from the battle of Rorkes Drift. Also a few Welsh R.Drift VC soldiers buried in Wales. One named John Williams (Fielding) VC who along with Hook saved wounded from the Hospital, He is buried at St Micheal's Church Llantarnam, Cwmbran, Torfaen S Wales.
Showing Total Respect , Bloody Great Film
John Williams and Robert Jones were the only Welshmen who won a Victoria Cross that day. The others were; one Swiss, two South African, one Irishman, one Frenchman and six Englishmen.
Welsh regiments like every other part of the British army contain people from other areas of our nation (and some others).
One Swiss and one French?? What the heck were they doing under the British uniform? O_o
Briseur De Lance Everyone likes to be on the best side! ;)
golgotha9622
I guess so. :-D
***** Not true, look up the Regimental Roll and see most were from other regions of the UK, Welsh, Irish or Scottish Regiments often had a large number of people from other parts of the UK.
If you are suggesting that the majority of the Regiment were Welsh then you do them a great disservice as the Victoria Cross recipients for that action were almost entirely *not* Welsh, so where were they?
The South Wales Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. It first came into existence, as the 24th Regiment of Foot, in 1689, but was not called the South Wales Borderers until 1881, this is two years after Rorke's Drift. The regiment was absorbed into the Royal Regiment of Wales in 1969.
It was common to use and replace men from one unit to another when numbers dropped due to disease, injury or death (Welshmen were hard to find in Natal back then!).
golgotha9622 RRW was still in active roll in 1990, not sure if and when it was amalgamated, but was active when I was in training.
Zulu. My dad's favorite movie.
11VC's in a single action the highest number ever. Never to be bested. God bless the Welsh, who are my neighbours.
In the Movie “Gladiator” with Russell Crowe the opening scene had Germanic Tribes singing against the Roman Legions. In that opening scene the singing was in fact the Zulu war Chants from the movie Zulu.
If theres one rule in life. Don't piss off a welsh person. And this is coming from an english person.
+Leopard95 yes they'll never stop whinging
+Leopard95
Or:
a fat American
An African
Vladimir Putin
Kim Jong Un
***** He's not real bro.
+Chris the Apologist Welsh regiments get trained in Wales by the Welsh
+Leopard95 tom jones,,charlotte church ,,max bloody boyce,,,(who only comes out of his sheep pen when the welsh win a rugby match,,which thankfully isn't that often) the thought of those three is enough to make anyone want to attack .
greatest line in cinema: They've got a very good base section mind, but no top tenors that's for sure!
Like a female hippopotamus in labour!
True story: Most of the Zulus in the movie had never seen a movie before this production. So, the director showed them a John Wayne western. The Zulus said, they could do better (everyone is a critic, even people who have only seen one movie LOL), so they directed the battle scenes and the rest is history!
Really? Dead cool fact if true.
John Dover Thanks for the fun comment...God help us if those Zuluz discover the comment sections online.
I don’t care whether the men were Welsh, Scots, Irish, African or English.They all fought bravely. And I know this is going sound weird. But if I had to die in battle. I would rather die with this bunch than anyone else.
G White So you want boots on grounds?
jonathan dempsey This was the British Empire at its best, represented by the British Army.
On balance, imperialism was overall a bad thing, but that never takes away from the men who were there on that day. They were just carrying out orders.
curt British empire was a good thing.
curt this might sound bad and not trying to make the british empire look bad but the men at Auschwitz were carrying out orders as well
The men who killed people at Auschwitz were not outnumbered 30 to 1 against armed aggressors though..
Those Zulu's need drug tested.
They done a hundred yards in 1.8 seconds.
Haha believe it or not they do reckon that the Zulus were high on mushrooms etc when they attacked.
May as well go out on a high.
Riff Raff : The English need testing more evem to today more
William Llwyn - oh forgot you dont need Magic Mushrooms you have Leeks - lmfao
Not all British soldiers were English it even has the Welsh anthem.
can you imagine the strength it would take to sit there and listen to the Zulus rev-ing themselves up? mind you, there was nowhere for them to go AND they would have had to get thru their officers and the colour sergeant but still.... always made me glad that I am a female and not expected to go into battle although that has changed now, of course.
God this scene chills me to the spine, I adore it!
One of my favorite movies of all.
I an Englishman have just watched this and I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I am so proud of the land that we all live in and we must never let anyone or any politically correct bunch of toe rags come between us. We must always stick together through thick and thin.
Particularly since it was an English Regiment at the time 😉
Give's me goose bumps to listen to this ...
best bit of the film I know it's a Welsh song but gives me pride in being British all the time and goosebumps as well
British Army discipline at its finest. Fight to the last...
The Zulu were an imperialist nation at the time as well. They displaced the indigenous tribes such as the San whom were there long before them. The Zulus were newcomers to that area as well.
Apemanwithcalculator And why not we are British when we were doing that we were Great Britain and proud of it ,,
Aye, and a hundred years ago it got us our finest hour following that mantra!
RefIndy2 is coming and we'll get it this time.
#naefearjustthetrump
For a bob a day, in a dirt cheap uniform, on sub standard rations, while millionaires feasted in their country houses and aboard their yachts. Good old days? Come off it!
Colin you are not being fair mate. Back in the day, aside from being a miner, a school teacher, a farmer ,a shop keeper or in the Army or Navy there was nothing for it. They had a measure of their worth and values in things other than baubles, banquets and bawdy ladies. Mind you the occasional enterprising lad might avail himself of one of the three from time to time. It's survival mate, the old school British way. Learn to fight in the finest tradition of the British army or perish.
Cheers.
One of top 5 British films.
What's the other ones?
Clifton Sutherland, And the carry on series.
The full title of the unit was the 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot.
South Wales Borderers was the unit name post 1881, Rorke's Drift action was in 1879 when they were still 24th (2nd Warwicks) Regiment of Foot. The regimental depot had been moved to South Wales in 1873 which ultimately led to the change.
Never understood why the Welsh are historically looked down upon where war is concerned. They fought with distinction in their 800 year Resistance to the Saxons (English) after hundreds of years or Guerilla warfare against the Romans, finally falling to the Normans of England....but still they show distinction at Agincourt, Crecy, and Rourke's Drift after this. They were also, the only Regiment in the war of 1812 to not surrender their colours at York Town.
against fearful odds
This film was part of our mandatory training when conscripted into the australian army in the 1960s, to demonstrate strict discipline,and the "' Fix bayonets'' command. The british forces are held in the highest esteem by aussie troops, and having participated with the Kings shropshire light infantry in 1968 at shoalwater bay, I can testify personally to their toughness and determination.
Interesting I was at Shoalwater Bay around 1969 training with 6 RAR. We did the Vietnam tour around May 16 969/70 when we linked up with the New Zealanders Victor and Whisky companies to become 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Pommie Lloyd 3794138 ^RAR B Coy and BHQ
RIP Richard Davies (25 January 1926 - 8 October 2015) ((Private William Jones )(Also in Please Sir and many others)
I think this is the best, most inspiring movie scene of all time.
Colour Sgt. Bourne: "Sir, sentries report the Zulus have gone. All of them! It's a miracle".
Lt. Chard: "If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer-Henry point-four-five caliber miracle".
Sgt. Bourne: "And a bayonet, sir, with some guts behind it".
have this movie. love it very much. the singing at the fight at the end always move's me very much.
As a descendant of the Boers I am obviously proud of the way the simple men, farmers and ordinary workers stood up to the might of the British Empire and fought so bravely, only to be defeated when their women and children were put through the hardships of the scorched earth policy. My Gran went into the concentration camps with her mother and 2 sisters and some children and she alone survived. But then I think of those poor bastards, taken from the UK, dropped in Africa in the heat and drought, fighting a savage enemy on the one side and another that doesn’t stick to the rules, it must have been hell for them.
I at least had the pleasure of being a member of the Welsh Male Voice Choir of South Africa, and enjoyed singing the beautiful Welsh melodies, I even sang in Royal Albert Hall. So I had the best of 2 worlds.
endent of the Boers
There were great and mighty men in those days - of all races.
+A Freeman twitter: .@FormerlyFormer: "Ladies, if you exterminate the propensity for violence in our own men, our culture will fall to one that doesn't. And u won't like their men."
+Jeanne DeSilver that's a great quote
+Wilhelm Studensteck Hans
ivor Emmanuel........a true welsh legend.
Ivor the engine. Even greater legend ;)
One of the greatest scenes in Movie History. One of the greatest films in general
One thing that all foreigners need to learn is that the British are kind and forgiving but we are also very nasty when crossed! Do not take our kindness as a sign of weakness.
Agreed we're sly bastards
Mikael Muller The British phrase goes "The sun never sets on the British Empire"
Other nations reply with "Because God would never trust the British in the dark!"
I like both statements ;)
Your comment seems to have nothing to do with the context of the video above. The Welsh boys presented hered are 'foreigners' in the Zulu's country and as such have no right to be there.
@@edsh6902 correct we were committing genocide but I was making a point about British resolve during stress of battle. Something only a soldier would know about. It took a while for you to find that comment but I suppose lockdown has many strange effects onus all one time or another. Personally I prefer gardening.
@@edsh6902 It wasn't the Zulus country.They had moved south slaughtering other tribes.
I remember when I went to Rorke's Drift, I was surprised to see that the real location had virtually no topography, just a small hill.
This must have been one of the greatest films ever made
The order is given at 100 yards to fire - point 3:57 in the video
The attacking Zulu warriors arrive 3 seconds later at 4:00
Fleet of foot
jump packs
i too enjoy warhammer
Praetorians stop your dreaming,
can't you see their spear points gleaming.
See their warrior's pennants streaming,
to this battlefield.
Praetorians stand ye steady.
It cannot be ever said ye,
For the battle were not ready.
Praetorians will not yield!
Form the hills rebounding.
Let this war cry sounding.
Summon all at Emperor's call,
the mighty force surrounding.
Praetorians on to glory,
this shall ever be your story.
Keep these burning words before ye
Guardsmen will not yield!
nick shapland what do you form in your regiments?
***** It's a matter of perspective Bruce - it may be *just film* to you - it's all just film if you live in a bat-cave.
But some people are driven by their position on the Asperger Spectrum to be concerned by these things - they can't help their weirdness.
Privileged to visit both Islanwana and Rokes Drift to respect those that died across the Boar and Zulu wars. Undeniable courage from both combatants, alien in so many respects to our technology driven solutions today. Excellent film, even if not historically correct. Loved it !!!
I just read an interesting tid bit from a book about 18th century British battles and it said that during the siege of Yorktown during the American War in 1781, the French and Americans were so close to the british earthworks that they could easily hear each other and the French and Americans would make boasts and brags and taunts to the english, and some of the men at yorktown were of the 23rd regiment the royal welsh fusiliers and some of them proudly cheered men of harlech in defiance to the besieging french.
+Zyzor i supported you until you said that
Tea and Cake
well you're entitled to your opinion, as is Schwert, as am I and my comrades.
I guess the problem with that is that "Men of Harlech" was written a after the revolution in 1794. The lyrics of the movie version were written in 1964. this is a great movie regardless.
Alternate View
well there is a song that predates that 1794 publication.
"Well, they’ve got a very good bass section mind, but no top tenors, that’s for sure.”
“Men of Harlech stop your dreaming, can’t you see their spear points gleaming?”
one of the most rousing scenes in cinematic history ! and a wonderful film......
NO BODY CAN SING LIKE THE WELSH! ITS FROM THE HEART
Absolutely true, except my Welsh family cannot sing a note. Something went wrong. Sadly.
1 off the soldiers lived next to to me poor bugger went through the zulu war awarded the Victoria Cross then died in ferndale pit disaster also sir Stanley Baker lived in the village
Thomas chester his name was look it up
Brave warriors on both sides. I think those were actually Zulus. Salute to both sides. I've always admired the ability of Brits to fight. Glad they're on our side.....well, after 1814 at least.
rule 1 of warfare: If you outnumber your opponent, make sure they aren't British. Because for some reason we ignore those small concerns like numbers.
Yeah, i kinda noticed that in several centuries of military history. Glad we kinda inherited a bit of that at times.
saburu sakai The Americans were clever, instead of conforming to the norm of warfare in the 1700s, they used guerrilla tactics. The British didn't expect said attacks, which were hugely effective against their "column". Btw, I'm British, just saying though; America has their own tactic, you had no need to inherit anything.
Joseph, Heh heh, yeah, but we kinda learned the same lessons the hard way in Nam about insurgents. It's much harder to fight irregulars than a regular army sometimes, ie now. And in the US civil war, both sides mostly used standard formation tactics like Europeans, and the losses were horrible. The main reason they did that though was because it was the only way to control large armies with the primitive communications back then. HOWEVER, there were a few irrregular type leaders (ie Forrest and Moseby in the CSA) that used irregular type tactics and were very successful against much larger armies.
The town I'm in (Rome Ga) has everything named after Gen. Forrest because he saved the town the first time it was threatened by Union troops via faking them out with a big masquerade moving the same guys and one cannon around the biggest hill in town, using a few horses to pull branches around and create clouds of dust and yell orders out of sight. The vastly superior Union forces ret That was very "American" of him I thought. About a yr later though Sherman came thru on his way to Atlanta and the place surrendered.
joseph orrin gay
Magnificent Zulu Warriors
Why us sergeant??
Cos we're here son, now go join your mates on the wall
Love Colour Sergeant Bourne
Watched this film again ,built my own rampart behind the sofa .
Aimed at 100yards and let em have it .Had to undu my tunic though top button was interfering with aim .
Killed six Zulus and bayonetted 4 other before I retreated to the toilet .
Love this film and would have loved the adrenaline rush of being a part of this epic battle .
Brave men
The force stationed at rorkes drift was b company, 2nd battalion, 24th regiment of foot (2nd Warwickshire regiment). It only became the south wales borderers in 1881 and the welsh contingent comprised no more than 15% of the total.
spot on kid
Храбрость и стойкость, всегда вызывает уважение в любом народе, я рад что в чесло моих любимых фильмов входит этот замечательный фильм!
The British Tommy is the best & bravest soldier in the world.
Daniel Carter Doesn't mean they weren't brave men, Daniel. By the time the Zulus got to Rourke's Drift, they had rifles, ammunition (something a lot of the troops at Isandlwala didn't have), and an overwhelming superiority in numbers.
Daniel Carter The Zulu warriors were rather more than "Men with cowhide sheilds & spears". Actually their principal weapon was an asagi - not a spear. In close combat a shield is not only defensive, it is also a weapon that needs to be light as well as hard as steel. The steel-like hardness of treated cowhide & sophisticated design of the Zulu shield fits these requirements perfectly. Some of the Zulu also had rifles.
The Zulus were among the finest & most disciplined soldiers of their age of any race; they also had the advantage of certain psychotropic stimulant & analgesic drugs unknown to Europeans at the time.
The British Tommys at Isandlwana were fighting not for empire but for their lives against a vastly larger & most formidable Zulu army. They were defeated by a combination of sheer weight of numbers & because the defending British riflemen were placed too far forward & too thinly spaced. Their ammunition was also insufficient & the type of rifles they used were slow to reload & had a tendency to easily overheat & jam.
In spite of the massive heroism & discipline of the regular Tommys, the British forces initially deployed in the Zulu war were a poorly led & organised motley crew of regular soldiers, irregulars & colonial police.
Times change & it is wrong to impose in judgement the mentality & politico-social values of ones own era upon a bygone age.
The British Empire was only in part about Imperial conquest & exploitation, a large part of it also consisted of a network of treaties & alliances & although it benefited the British ruling elites (the ordinary British less so) it was in many ways a two-way street that to a significant extent benefited the ruled as well as the rulers. At the time it saw itself & was widely seen & respected by many as a force for good in the world, not only for the good of the British ruling elites.
The Zulu war was politically ill-conceived in that Cetshwayo had voluntarily offered an equal alliance with the British which would have equally benefited his people as well as British interests & made an imperial war unnecessary. His own words were: "I am Queen Victoria's most loyal son, but in my own country I am a King, where I expect to be treated as such".
Unfortunately his offer was ignored by certain inexperienced, arrogant & ill-informed people in high office who could only think in terms of imperial conquest.
None of this reflects in any way upon the ordinary Tommys who knew nothing of politics & lived in a time & culture in which he who "took the Queens shilling" simply went wherever he was sent & did as he was told without question - as did the Zulu soldiers who honoured & respected the courage & discipline of the British Tommys who equally respected theirs.
They were heroes, each & every one of them - British & Zulu alike.
Without doubt .
*****
The assegai...first made by Chaka Zulu.
Great & brave men fought on both sides in a war should never have happened since the 2 nations were by temperament natural allies.
The Zulu King Cetshwayo kaMpande said "I am Queen Victorias most loyal son but in my own country I am a King & expect to be treated as such"
My mother passed away 8 months ago. Whenever Zulu was on TV, any channel, that was it, that's what would be on TV the next few hours. It was far and away her favourite film. So this got played at her funeral.
We got many confused family friends asking if she was Welsh.
From Wiki:
Of the 122 soldiers of the 24th Regiment present at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, 49 are known to have been of English nationality, 32 were Welsh, 16 were Irish, 1 was a Scot, and 3 were born overseas. The nationalities of the remaining 21 are unknown.
That's what you get for using wiki !
At best estimates based on the history of the regiment, recruiting patterns across the country, regimental records, long and short service men and the definition of "welsh"...you are probably looking at 17 welsh (at best) in 122.
aye ...and in the film all 32 were front line ...and all 32 were the only ones singin
Yes, " the film"...was pretty inaccurate ...and only the truly stupid and ignorant would us the film (or any film) as a historical, accurate record.
TheNixbrix
and sing they f**king can!
it became a south wales border
Thank you for commenting, being born in Wales I am aware of the Welsh Anthem. You appear to have read or viewed only part. Title Men of Harlech and the Welsh Anthem. Men of Harlech as per the film. At the end when the medals are announced. Men of Harlech completed the Welsh anthen is then heard. Thank you for commenting but jst to get it right. as for me, With a name like William Thomas Williams , born in wales, what else..
Bilko
Narrator, Richard Burton (Richard Jenkins) had the most beautiful Welsh voice, ever.
Ive seen this film dozens of times and it still brings a lump in my throat when they break into men of harlech. Im an Englishman who served in the scots guards and can only imagine the fear them boys went through being faced with thousands of crazy zulus. I know your trained to kill the enemy but until you've been there youll never know the sheer terror of combat until youve been there. Hats off to our brave warrior brothers the welsh.
Indeed, not many people appreciate the sacrifices of the brave men and woman who fight for their countries.
A moving moment -- from a moving film. It didn't try to depict anyone as "good guys" or "bad guys." And in this "song contest," they realize that their enemies are human, and warriors, like themselves. Thanks for posting. Oh, dammit -- almost forgot. I'm not well-versed in these things, so if this is a dumb question, sorry ... but, what was that song the Welsh were singing?
Men of Harlech
Thank You! Not knowing that has always bugged me. And, duh, it's even right there in the title and I didn't catch it.
Yeah, Men of Harlech, and if we'd sung something they knew they might have given up sooner.
The lyrics were rewritten for the movie.
Seth Tyrssen A certain form of "Men of Harlech" that was written specifically for this movie.
excellent movie, I like the Zulu singing and Men of Harlech I'm 1/2 Welsh !/4 Scots and 1/4 English thanks for posting
Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish and English, if we stick together no one will ever defeat us, a mix of pure fire!
Forever 🇬🇧
Agreed.
Best choristers in the world are the Welch,I'm Irish but before any test rugby match"land of our fathers"sends shivers through you when sung by their supporters.
love it when we sing men of harlech at cardiff city, sends chills down my spine :)
Biggest ispsition comparered to Leeds brlernminghsm as a hum orcasong learn better proper our my top come
Best film ever made. The singing is just great.
The great welsh anthem you can hear from 04:34 on this video. Welsh, be proud of your ancestors, Welsh, be proud of your flag, Welsh, be proud of your national anthem, Welsh, be proud of your country. Greetings from Berlin, Germany.
Without doubt this film is a classic!
Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead: Sixty! We dropped at least 60, wouldn't you say?
Adendorff: That leaves only 3,940.
Wonderful rendition Sir.
The song the defenders would have sung, had they sung at all, would have been, 'The Warwickshire Lads' as it was an English regiment defending Rorke's Drift, The Warwickshire Regiment.
The lyrics to Warwickshire Lads isn't as stirring as Men of Harlech. Compare: "Ye Warwickshire lads and ye lasses,
See what at our Jubilee passes;" with
"Men of Harlech, march to glory,
Victory is hov'ring o'er ye,"
Why would an English regiment want to sing a Welsh patriotic song in the middle of a battle?
copferthat It was a Welsh regiment
Jill PB " It was a Welsh regiment "
Only in the mind of Stanley Baker, who produced the movie and was something of a professional Welshman.
Jill PB At best there were 19 Welshmen at Rorke's and that was because the Warwickshires were based at Brecon and the locals would just walk into the barracks and join up. Five years after the battle, the regiment was renamed the South Wales Borderers.
God bless every Welsh man on that day, from an englishman. Never have so many Vitoria Crosses been handed out then that day
..."I came up here to build a bridge"
Thanks for seemingly being the only person who uploaded this in good quality and unbroken length. Too many think chopping up their videos and lowering the quality will somehow save them.
Little did the Welsh know that 82 years later, their Irish companions in the British Empire would face very similar odds and inflict and suffer very similar numbers of casualties. What is it with the British and battles in Africa against very bad odds.
"The Zulu's have us surrounded sir, they're standing on the horizon waving their spears at us!.... Wait a minute, those aren't spears....." - Frankie Boyle
What a great movie, one of the best scenes as well!
I think by the end the Zulu warriors respected and admired the fierce resistance and gallantry of the Welch and english soldiers.
Absolutely. Hence the end of the movie.
Чики Бр
the zulus werent saluting they left because they saw chelmfords command approaching also chard and bromhead were going to leave but the ardendorff said to make a stand also very few were welsh they were mostly english
Most of the British Soldiers were in fact English....
50 were English 34 were Welsh so don't make it look like that was hardly any Welsh there.
I get chills every time they begin to sing, showing the Zulus that they too are men and warriors.
Today’s lessons kids !
Gun beats spear !!
All being said it makes you proud to be British and much respect to the zulus for a true warrior culture
Correction, tactics beat tactics.
mind you, a much stronger british force what crushed in Isandlwana prior to this fight. in an open field the Zulu speed and flexibility can easily beat the British single rank rifle line. however, with obstacles, like mealy bag walls combine with three rank concentrated fire with no pause between volleys, then the british rifles win.
for the first encounter in the movie, the battle was about Zulu speed vs reload speed and how the Zulu general used the math from that first attack to set the stag for all the other attacks while Chard had to come up with surprises, either increasing the rate of fire, or his fortifications.
Did you know, the Zulus had more guns at Rorke's Drift than the Brits?
@@nigen there was also the matter of a solar eclipse, I believe.
@@BigStib how did that affect the battle?
Best Film ever !
Best part of the movie.
This is very interesting for me. I actually live opposite the Rorkes Drift museum in Brecon. My house is the old pub where these guys used to drink in. I have also guided groups to Rorkes Drift and met direct decendants from both sides too. Thank you for uploading it....
ONCE UPON A TIME. BRITAIN WAS GREAT.
& it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if the descendants of half the Zulu warriors were living in Britain now
+liam whitcombe So was the U.S. Now we're being screwed by corrupt politicians and out screwed by the illegal aliens they're importing.
+Conor Climo U r an idiot...what about the slaves that built your "great" countries?
U r an idiot and a nazi
Sterilization is something only idiots perpetrate.
Sir John Chard is buried in Hatch Beauchamp cemetery. I used to live just a few miles away. I never visited his grave though 😢
As much as we would all like to believe it didn't happen like this in reality. It was in fact exaggerated at the time to cover up the massacre at Islandwana earlier that day. One of the men awarded the v.c william Jones died in the workhouse penniless and forgotten.He was buried in an unmarked grave near to where I live. That is the truth of how heroes are treated.
Great song. My brass band played it for veterans day USA!! Best scene in movie is the dance in the very beginning.
Almost certainly apocryphal, but I've yet to know a Welshman whose chest doesn't expand and eye doesn't tear when hearing this...the Welsh. We're a stubborn lot.
One of my ancestors was there- Private Patrick Desmond, wounded in the hand,-Bill Desmond-Canada
God bless wales and its Britain.
It is Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau as Josh notes. The translation of the Welsh is:
"The old land of my fathers is dear to me,
Land of poets and singers, famous men of renown;
Her brave warriors, very splendid patriots,
For freedom shed their blood.
Nation, Nation, I pledge to my Nation.
While the sea [is] a wall to the pure, most loved land,
O may the old language endure."
The Welsh soldiers were renowned not just for fighting abilities but their vocal (choir) skills.
They added the songs for movie effects, plus shooting the actual battle at night was not possible even back then.
loved this movie since i was 14 , bravery of the highest calibre , on both sides , welsh ? english ? zulu ? etc , who now would have the nerve or courage ?
Back in the good old days when historical films didn't have to be politically correct. Good old days.
Welsh some of the best singers there is