Chaplain George Smith ("Ammunition Smith") Forgotten Hero of Rorke's Drift
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- Опубліковано 14 сер 2024
- The 6'6 tall, 18 stone army chaplain who never featured in the film "Zulu".
This is the forgotten story of Chaplain George Smith, known to the defenders at Rorke's Drift as "Ammunition Smith".
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#chaplaingeorgesmith #ammunitionsmith #rorkesdrift
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:00 George Smith early life
3:32 Rorke's Drift
4:48 British defeat at Isandlwana
6:03 Smith spots Zulus
7:37 Battle of Rorke's Drift
8:23 Ammunition Smith
11:39 Denied a VC
14:00 Career as Army Chaplain
16:10 Death of Chaplain Smith
17:17 The History Chap
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My name is Chris Green ("The History Chap") and I am on a mission to share the amazing history of Britain so that we can appreciate where we have come from and why we are here.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or UA-cam animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree and continue to have a passion for the subject I studied.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
I am a former RAF Chaplain I wish to say "Thank You" for telling the story of Padre George Smith. You have done so in a clear and detailed manner. Outstanding presentation. Inspirational.
I agree, John.
I would add that in my experience, both having served and as a military historian, a great many Chaplains are inspirational characters. For example, one only has to look at men such as the rugby international Kit Tanner on HMS Fiji in WW2 - another man whose dedication and bravery should be more widely recognised.
Well put
Many thanks for your kind words
@@stephenrice4554kp
Thank you for another first rate video on the Zulu War. I wholeheartedly agree with that Chaplain Smith deserves more recognition than he receives currently. As a former soldier myself I am well aware of the fantastic work that chaplains do in the British Army - they are all unsung heroes!
Ken, thanks for sharing those great words.
@@TheHistoryChap I didn't know that the scene where Rev Wit was visiting the Zulu camp was fictional. I am guessing that if that had happened in real life, they probably wouldn't have let him go? I didn't know that they strongly disliked the Church of England back in early 1879
What a tragedy that Chaplain Smith has largely been forgotten. Thanks Chris for sharing his remarkable story. RIP Chaplain Smith. God bless, Rob
Thanks for watching.
I wish you had been my history teacher at school some 60 years ago Chris. History then left me completely cold. It was presented as dry as dust. It is only in adulthood and the advent of the internet that I've become interested at last. And your channel is one of the go to ones I visit regularly. I also love the archeological history programmes like Time Team too. Please keep them coming Chris!
You bring history to life. If it wasn't for people like you our history would be dead and gone forever. Many thanks
My pleasure.
I love that story about an unsung hero. That defensive stand is very inspirational.
Glad you enjoyed
What an outstanding individual both physically, heroically and morally. Thanks for making his story known.
Thanks for your support
Yeah, it would be more inspiring if he was a pederast who resisted his urges or something though.
All heroes need to be honored and remembered, thank you!
Excellent video. Reminded me of the bravery of our chaplain in Iraq during ODS, Captain (now Colonel) Vance Theodore. Vance asked, almost demanded, to be in the first wave of our attack to breech the mine fields and attack the Iraqi regiment on the other side. No matter a man’s religion, Chaplain Theodore was a great boost to our soldier’s morale, as military chaplains have been for centuries. Thoroughly enjoy your presentations.
Tom, thanks for sharing your story about Chaplain Theodore.
Our chaplain was a bit of a nutter too during the 1st Gulf War. Can’t remember his name but he’d come up on soldiers standing sentry and volunteer to take their place, with the soldier’s weapon, in order that the soldier got some rest. He was a very popular chaplain and contributed enormously to moral, even to me, an atheist. I respected him enormously.
@@keithmitchell6548 Were you with the Desert Rats? They followed us, 1st Infantry Division, through the breech. They had bagpipers at entrance to each breech lane. Gotta love the style!
@@tomconnors9126 Yep, I remember going through the breach with the welcome signs courtesy of the ‘Big Red One’. Thank you. Our division took a swift different direction then took on I think 3 Republican Guard divisions. I think we were the hinge between the 7th US Army Corps and whichever allied (probably American) force was to our right.
@@tomconnors9126 you bring back memories..
I really enjoyed the story of Ammunition Smith, he led a long and full life. His bravery and tenacity under fire was apparent to all who encountered him. As a former soldier, I salute you sir and cry our motto, Essayons! Huuah!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching and taking the time to post a comment too.
thanks so much, sad how film makers leave out a lot og good stuff and embelish with a lot of rubbish. ZULU is also my 93 year old Mothers favourite film of all times and due to dementia she watches it weekly. Many thanks as always.
Thanks for sharing.
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels for historical content.
I'm very happy that it reached my recommendations.
Thanks for your support
There was a lot of heroes at Rorke's Drift and they should all be remembered and never forgotten, thank you for another fantastic video regarding this particular one.
how are they heroes - they were subjugating the local populace and taking their land. No heroes come from that - just vermin
@@bluthammer1442 They were soldiers doing their duty and facing a very hostile and dangerous enemy! The politicians are the ones to blame for the conflict as they always are.
My pleasure.
Really appreciate these detailed history lessons, thank you very much.
Thanks for watching
Fantastic video as always sir.
Chaplain Smith sounds like an amazing, incredible individual.
He sounds like a Chaplain who could appear in the Sci Fi/Fantasy setting of Warhammer 40k. Might have to bring that up to some friends of mine who actually do models.
Also that beard is amazing, even in an era of amazing beards it stands out.
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for your support.
It couldn't happen to a better person, go for it Admiral. Padre George Smith's nickname gave me the idea that the unit holds a hand-held tool that smiths ammo some kind of way, so that the unit can resupply soldiers their ammo a theoretically infinite number of times.
Excellent. Thank you for bringing this hero of a man to my attention. Love and respect to Amunition Smith and all those like him.👍🏻🇬🇧😊
Glad you enjoyed
Great story! Goosebumps! George Smith was an angel that night!
You make the history alive!
Carry on!
Many thanks. Please do sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.thehistorychap.com
Thanks. From South Africa.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
It is sad that he wasn't portrayed in the movie Zulu. I watched it on television the other night knowing more now about the battle. Thank you.
Yes it was sad. Maybe a bit too like Nigel Green's build (who played CS Bourne)?
Got to love when your Boxer-Henry miracle has an Archangel of Ammo behind you.
Great thought. Thanks for sharing.
Great episode! And yes, let's hear the story of the adopted Sudanese boy.
Thank you
Brilliant, the most enthusiatic and probably the most accurate description of the defence of Rorkes Drift..........
Very kind of you.
A memory that should never have been almost forgotten. Thank you Chris for rekindling his story. Rest In Peace Reverend Gorge Smith
I am an American citizen, and I love your tales of British history.
New Jersey Joe 🇯🇪
Many thanks Joe.
What a Lovely story and well told thank you👍
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for remembering this fine fellow. I am an expat South African and avid follower and reader of their history. To my great surprise, this is the first I have come across his story. Sad how some men and indeed women of high calibre, become lost in histories fading light. Keep up the very good work.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
WOW i thought i new everything about Zulu . but more thanks for presenting this story ... we live and learn
Glad you enjoyed it.
"It's interesting how historical events in the past link to the present." Which is exactly the point of studying History - it tells us who we are, where we came from and how we got here. The study of History is absolutely crucial if you want to consider yourself an "educated" person. Cheers and thank you.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I hope I am helping to broaden peoples understanding of History
As a former soldier myself and a military history buff, I am sorry to say that I had never heard of Chaplain George Smith and his heroic service at Rorke's Drift and his subsequent, service, as you so rightly say,"what a man"
Sean, thanks for taking g the time to comment. Glad you enjoyed
"Ammo Smith" I got a small dio I made, portraiting the fellow, he was one of the great heros of that day, thanks for sharing.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Excellent work. Very sad about such brave men.
Indeed. Thanks for watching
My late Dad was an Anglican priest and he would have been as fascinated by your video as I was (I'm ex-Australian Army Reserve). I'd never heard of "Ammunition Smith" before now so thank you very much for telling his story.
Of course, if the authorities at the time had put their thinking caps on they could have got him the award of the VC by the simple expedient of promoting him to full-time service and back dating it to 21st January 1879. However that would have required a versatility of thought that was sadly lacking from a lot of the British Army at the time!
I’m chuckling at your final comment 😀 thank you for watching my video
Thank goodness George VI ended that injustice by introducing the George medal.
Great talk, as usual, Sir.
Yes indeed.
A friend of mine during the late 1980's had a book titled the , The Washing Of The Spears. One that I tried to borrow but he would not let it out of his hands. His grandfather was a member of the SWB. I wss able to obtain a original cap badge for his helmet. The book was the first one I saw about the Zulu war. Your videos are like reading a war story. Jolly Good.
Washing of the Spears is still a good book, although a lot of new material has helped historians since then. Glad you enjoyed my video too.
thank you for yet another wonderful personalised story from history, it is indeed a travesty of history that this great man was not in that film and was almost forgotten, we will not forget him now, you have seen to that, God bless
Glad you enjoyed
Excellent topic well told. Thank you.
Many thanks.
Great work, thank you!
My pleasure
Chris what another great yarn. thank you, just can't get enough of these great men.
Glad you enjoyed
I love your enthusiastic presentation, thanks again.
Thank you for that nice feedback.
Another great story, well-researched and well told. 'Ammunition' Smith was indeed a remarkable man and his courage at the battle undeniable. In so many ways, another forgotten hero of that day. Would be good to hear you tell the stories of Samuel Wassall VC and Horace Smith Dorien who also performed remarkable feats that day, at Fugitives' Drift, just before Rorkes Drift erupted. Keep them coming, Chris.
Will add your suggestions to my list
I like your vlog, it's informative & you bring different links of history up to date. Well done. In my opinion, you're offering an important opportunity to learn more about history.
Thanks for those kind words
Oh, I forgot to say. I really enjoy your excellent videos. Thankyou
Very kind of you. Thanks for watching.
VERY FORGOTTEN.
HE WAS A VERY BRAVE MAN
Indeed. Thanks for watching.
Remarkable account about a remarkable chaplain. This army chaplain really appreciated learning about a unique British chaplain. Hooah! I've passed the link on to my chaplain friends.
Thank you for passing the link to your fellow chaplains. I have at least one more chaplain story up my sleeve.
Ty enriched my knowledge of zulu war brilliant ms cdf
My pleasure.
Brilliant documentary! Really enjoyed this! Thank you very much for sharing
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Well done, a great video, Ty. A gallant narrative!
Thanks for your kind words
Yet another great video. My Godfather was a Army Chaplain, at Woolwich barracks.
Thanks for sharing and I’m glad you enjoyed
I particularly loved this story, especially as I am a big fan of the movies Zulu and Zulu Dawn. It seems very clear to me that the omission of Padre George Smith and the disgraceful way the Swiss missionary was shown as a drunk, to have been deliberate in discrediting Christians. So thank you Chris for restoring credit where it's due.
My pleasure
Another brilliant, fascinating video. Thank you!
Thank you very much. If you haven’t already, please do subscribe to my channel.
Well done George ! 👍🙏
Thanks for teasing out the important bit of history, and the players. Lest we forget.
My pleasure
A terrific video on another unsung hero. Thank you!
My pleasure
Fascinating story, glad you covered it. Thanks
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Your videos are always good, but this one was so good, relaying the story of a some what, "missed" hero. Thank you. Peace be unto you.
Thanks for your kind words
Agree. This man deserved more, and to not be forgotten. Thank you for bringing him up.
The anniversary of his death is this week.
@@TheHistoryChap cool. Thanks for that info.
An excellent and interesting video about an unsung unknown hero .......Well he aint unsung any more!
Many thanks
Brilliant. What a great story about an inspirational man.
Glad you enjoyed
An Irish friend of mine described Richard Burton as "the only thing the Irish have to envy the Welsh".
I'm neither and so cannot comment with authority, but it's food for thought.
Thanks for sharing.
Up there with best history channels
Many thanks for those kind words
Very good story, thank you.
My pleasure.
Now that would make a good movie. Yet another excellent video, thank you and keep them coming hahaha.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
You could argue that not getting the VC was a blessing (no pun intended) its a heavy weight to carry, the offer and his acceptance of a full time position, was obviously a success for him personally and the Army.
Side note, one of my ancestors was at Tel el Kebir, with the York and Lancs, took part in the bayonet charge, and was one of the longest living survivors, died in the 1940s
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Tel El Kebir coming soon.
@@TheHistoryChap I will look forward to that, recently visited the York & Lancs Regimental museum, very, very helpful staff but not a lot on open display
You do an excellent job on these, thank you.
Thanks for watching my videos and for your kind comment
Brilliant video and very informative. Thank You
Glad you enjoyed it
amazing story . True Heroes normally stay on the Battle Field , and have Monuments erected The rest are unsung Heroes' . They slowly slip into History and are forgotten . But then along comes The History Chap to keep their memory alive .. Many thanks .. I hope that makes sense . aussie bob
Thanks for taking the time to comment
Excellent video, I've learned so much about the Zulu war from your historic telling of this time in British history.
Glad you enjoyed.
@@TheHistoryChap yes after reading the comment from the soldier before mine, I also agree that the Chaplin , deserves official recognition. In my previous occupation we also had a Chaplin,:Father Pete , who I'll never forget.
Another good one. Coming from Preston interesting t know he was at the barracks and is buried here in moor lane. ThanX again 4 super video rtc
Many thanks for sharing.
Your biographies very nice. Thank you.
My pleasure. Glad you liked it.
Fine work.Just let them come!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you
US Navy Chaplin's in WW II especially, in the Pacific, had major effects on the crews they served both as counselor and cheerleaders in combat along with helping the corpsman with the wounded and dying sailors.
Thanks for your interesting feedback.
Terrific content as always.
Thank you
Brilliantly told as always. Thank you.
Thanks for your support
Great show!
Many thanks
INDEED CHRIS,THE STORY IS WELL TOLD.
Many thanks.
Fantastic video about a man I had never heard of. Why he wasn't mentioned in the film I can't understand. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for watching.
I'll file this under the heading "things I am glad to know about". Thanks!
Glad you liked it
You may march down the same path as a column going to war. But you never know which path you will eventually take and what service you will provide at the end of your path. Chaplain George Smith, aka. Ammunition Smith found his path led to Rorke's Drift. He deserves praise for his contributions to the men there.
Nice words. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for bringing this wonderful piece of history to our attention. The glory of discovery is such a marvelous thing. All of this weaves a fine quilt that one may wrap their intellect in.
Thank you.
Chap, I did not know of this man. If only there had been something like the George cross.
Yes, it’s a shame that GC arrived 60 years later.
A delicious story, well told. You bring our history, the history of the human spirit, to life. Thank you, sir.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching
Again an amazing little known story. I have learnt so much about this campaign just watching your videos. Thank you so much.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching
TY so much. I'd never heard of "Ammunition Smith". Chapeau.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
The Zulu theme tune by John Barry was playing in my head while watching this. Ammunition Smith was quite the character, a force multiplier.
I used to have it as a ring tone!
Chard was at Isandlwana that morning. He spotted the advance of the right horn on the Nyoni heights. Then he beat feet back to the drift. So I cannot see how they were clueless to what was happening, once they heard gunfire/cannon fire. But that's just me.
They knew a battle was taking place just not what was befalling the British forces.
What a man. God broke the mold when he made him!!
Certainly did.
Any soldier or civilian that fought in that battle was a hero. Incredibly brave to stay there knowing a massive Zulu army was coming their direction.
I reckon you are right.
Another excellent video.
Glad to see your channel growing.
You'll be at a million in no time! 😉
Thanks for your support.
Thanks for an excellent narrative on this little known hero of the action! May I suggest another little-known hero for a future presentation - Job Meseko - who sank a German ship with a milk can
Thanks for suggestion. Just read a little bit about him and what an amazing man.
Another fascinating, information packed,take . As a colonial(American)whose ancestors were British military in the 18th.and 19th centuries ,I became an amateur military historian . I can't help but compare Isandlwana (beware of auto correct,) with Custer dividing his forces at the Little Big Horn and Rorke's Drift with The Alamo
Don, Um glad you enjoyed
Fascinating story! Thanks for enlightening us!
My pleasure
Another excellent story
Many thanks.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Really interesting thank you Chris
My pleasure. I’m glad that you are enjoying my work
@@TheHistoryChap absolutely, I miss out on one or two cos I'm squeamish, but for the most part I enjoy the videos which are both informative and entertaining, keep up the good work
What a man
Amazing. Sad he was featured in the film.
Great presentation,again. Thanks Chris. Great start to the weekend.
Glad you enjoyed. Have a great weekend.
Many thanks Chris, very enjoyable.
Thanks for watching.
Very interesting and informative. What a shame that he wasn't included in the film which is also one of my favorites.
Thanks for taking the time to comment
@@TheHistoryChap Thank you for the time and effort to tell this man's story!
I really appreciate your work.
Thanks for your kind words
Another great story Chris 👍
Thanks
An Empire built by brave men...
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
@@TheHistoryChap My pleasure - great video!