Rorke's Drift: A timeline (w/ drone shots)
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- The Battle of Rorke's Drift, is one of the most famous and celebrated British battles of the Victorian era. Eleven Victoria Crosses were won in the course of that small, bloody battle. Hundreds of brave Zulu warriors were killed as they attempted to storm the small British mission station on the Buffalo River. Here is the story of that day, told by Christian Parkinson using recent video footage of the actual battlefield as it looks in 2021.
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When I joined the Australian Army in 1972 they marched us off to the camp theatre, and showed us a movie; it was "Zulu". The explanation was "This is how a small group of well-trained soldiers respond to overwhelming odds in battle". A couple of years later a small group of well-trained Australian soldiers beat off over 1,000 VietCong in the battle of Long Tan...
Hi Paul, that's a great story - thanks for sharing.
As a cadet in Waverley College in 1970, we were shown the same movie when at Camp.
Sorry Paul, Long Tan was 6 years earlier.
The Viet Cong were based
Think that's been made into a film now. Best wishes
A friend and neighbour of mine is a William Hitch, a relative of private Hitch. He has a Zulu assagai that Frederick brought back from the battle as a souvenir and has been passed down the family. It's quite strange to handle the weapon knowing its history. Many thanks for the video.
Thats very interesting, thanks for sharing the info
A true hero.
I grew up in SA, and when my son was born here in England, I gave him the middle name 'Rorke'. When he was 13 I took him to Rorke's Drift to complete the story for him.
That's beautiful 👍🏻💪🏻
Why?
@@Stantheman848 probably to explain why he got bullied at school
@@patnavchatnav9634 lol
@@patnavchatnav9634Good one lol
I think I may have missed it in the commentary but is it mentioned that there were about 150 men, mainly of B Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot v. approx 3000 Zulu?
Thanks for this overview. My grandad’s cousin, John Fielding (John Williams) fought in the hospital and won the Victoria Cross. I was lucky enough to visit Rorke’s Drift during the 2009 British Lions tour to RSA and was overwhelmed to visit both battle sites and this video brings it all back.
Amazed at how small the area of the battle is , these aerial views really brought this home.
Brave men on both sides. Glad to see the buildings restored. Would love to visit some day. Actually stand in this sacred place
Had the experience of actually standing at the place
It is interesting to note that the British at Rorke's Drift started the battle with 34 boxes of .450 inch Boxer cartridges, at the end they were down to 6 boxes! With the rounds left in their pouches each man had 100 rounds left, (12,000 in total) In 5 hours of fighting the men had used 25,000 rounds or 42 rounds an hour per man, Excellent fire discipline!!
Trained soldiers,
Any reports of jamming with black powder fouling and action taken to clean the Martini Henries during the fighting?
Boxer Henry Miracle of reliability. Proven beyond argument
They were single shot rifles. 42 an hour us pretty good
@@bigdirtyred Maybe for muskets, but the Martini-Henry in trained hands could be used effectively ten times per minute. I believe three rounds per minute was the preferred number for volley firing.
Otto Witt was much younger than his character in the film Zulu, excellently played by Jack Hawkins, and his wife and infant daughter had already left a few days before. Although Witt is believed to have left on the morning of the battle he himself claimed to have stayed and helped out in the hospital. After the Zulu wars he travelled to England to claim £600 from the British government for the damages caused to his mission (Rorke's Drift) which he by all accounts got, he then apparently toured the country relaying stories of his own derring do during the battle and at Isandlwana where he also claimed to be. All of which appear to have been completely made up.
The movie Zulu depicts the battle being fought during the daylight hours (my favorite movie). This excellant narrative describes the battle being fought during the PM hours. Apparently most of the battle was at night which made this battle even tougher for the British. Great video.
Remember that SA is in the southern hemisphere, and was fought in January, which is high summer there. Also, SA is actually pretty far north of the south pole. Thus, at 9 or 10 o'clock pm, there would have been plenty of ambient light.
Very well done. As others have commented, the aerial views shows the small size of the area far better than a static map. Your concise comments, with just enough inflection add to the urgency of the event. (Jack Hawkins, I forgot about him, always more a Heart of Oak RN type for me). Finally, I’d venture that most people coming to this subject are quite conversant with the ‘Who’s who’, hence the drone and site markers are the stars of the show.
Thanks a lot - I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I have visited Rorke's drift twice and was blown away at the vulnerability of the position. If you ever travel to South Africa I would highly recommend the trip to Isandlwanda and Rorke's drift
I agree - it is a must visit for any tourists with even the slightest interest in military history.
Amazing presentation and scenes from above. Thank you so much for sharing.
For any viewers wanting to complete a Rourke's Drift 'loop, may I suggest the Royal Welsh museum in Brecon, South Wales is well worth a visit. (I was there a week ago )
The battalion that fought at Rourke's drift was eventually amalgamated into the Royal Welsh ( not Welch, which I think is a different regiment) hence this museum has a big focus on this unit and that battle. On speaking to the gent who was the volunteer running the museum that day, he showed me what he considered to be the most historical object in the museum: a chair from the original mission station hospital that somehow survived the inferno and got brought back to Wales. Interestingly also , his comment was that Dalton, who was actually a civvy contractor, an ex-SNCO , and not a serving member at the time, was the main brains behind the defence, not Bromhead or Chard. (You reference Dalton quite early in your excellent video). The museum is packed with memorabilia that documents the entire history of the regiment to the present day, including an alarmed, safe room with a large assortment of weapons.
The Royal Welsh are currently deployed to Estonia, and are armoured infantry in Warrior AFV's. 'Zulu' was one of the movies which made a big impression on me as a teenager, and which encouraged me to join the military, where I still serve ( just!)
Thankyou for a professional ,informative, innovative video.
The regiment that fought at Rorkes Drift was the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and not the South Wales Borderers as the film "Zulu" erroneously depicts. The trading post was named after James Rourke an Irishman. Due to British pronunciation of his surname it became Anglicised to Rorke as in "fork".
@@johnroche7541kn
Was there there in January 2017 and left a cross in memory to the fallen made of ww1 shrapnel which I collected from the Somme, with a poppy on it, and some engraving on the top and bottom base,, would you know if it’s still there???
Graham jones, great sutton, England
A nice gesture, graham. I'm afraid I am not sure if it is still there - where exactly did you put it?
Hello thanks for your reply I left it on the white memorial in the grave yard???? Regards graham
@@grahamjones630 I checked my video footage from my last visit and I couldn't see it but that doesn't mean that it isn't there as my shot was quick and didn't show the whole area. I will check again next time I go.
Imagine trying to get modern people to fight like that for no reason other than to promote the British Empire? When a modern soldier meets the enemy he just pulls out his phone and ten minutes later there's a little glint way up in the sky and then suddenly the enemy is completely consumed in flames and the battle is over. Or he calls in "Arty" or an Apache gunship. Either way, it's not as if half of his comrades are expected to be dead by the end of the day. I know I sure as hell wouldn't give up my precious life just to make Queen Victoria happy and I definitely would not have been throwing my hat up in the air to celebrate my being drafted into World War One or the Battle of Rorke's Rift. I'd rather join the Masai Tribe and go lion hunting. No way would I die just to make some assholes happy...
Wasn't about promoting the british empire, though it was the excuse. It's about securing your tribe's position in the world. It's about getting all or at least most of the planet's resources under your gang's control.. land, minerals, animals, labor, human souls. From that, you get to live like kings, and everyone else become your slaves. And you get to write history to justify your noble actions. What is not to like..
So you would just be a pure coward and go shoot some defenceless lions instead? Understood.
I actually took part in this battle. When I say I took part what I mean is I was an extra in August 1982 of the Monty Python The Meaning Of Life reconstruction of the battle.
A relation, or so I'm told as I never met him, John Chick took part as well.
I didn’t realize it was supposed to be Rorke’s Drift in Meaning of Life. Interesting.
Haha, amazing! I was there that day too, just watching from the sidelines. Blanefield, wasn’t it? Or Strathblane? Somewhere in Stirlingshire anyway :)
@sambaker8724 Blanefield I think.
@@alexbowman7582 The late Terry Jones was such a gentleman. He and Michael Palin both treated us young fans with such kindness that day. I will never forget the “Zulus” (many of whom were young white Scots on the dole) cursing (in broad Scots accents) the splinters in their feet from running over the heather for the 20th time that day. And the patient make-up artists who had to touch up the boot polish wherever it had rubbed off a leg here or an arm there :)
I can just imagine the fear of the men trapped there with that huge force of Zulus scrambling around and on them all day and evening. They had no choice but to fight or die. Wow, do not know for sure how i would have handled it. A better time for braver men there never was.
The fear must have been intense. You're 8,000 miles from home and about a million miles from help. And this is combat 1879 South Africa style -- up close, very personal, and no quarter. If you're lucky you won't suffer much before you die. And here they come "thick as grass and black as hell!" That's when you find out. When you find out what you're made of and what the men around you are made of. "Valor is a gift. Those who have it don't know they have it until the test comes." -- Carl Sandburg. This kind of Valor, from another place and time. But Valor like this is timeless -- "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 2-3 June 1944, at 1:00 A.M., Pvt. Christian elected to sacrifice his life in order that his comrades might extricate themselves from an ambush. Braving massed fire of about 60 riflemen, three machine guns, and three tanks from positions only 30 yards distant, he stood erect and signaled to the patrol to withdraw. The whole area was brightly illuminated by enemy flares.
Although his right leg was severed above the knee by cannon fire, Pvt. Christian advanced on his left knee and the bloody stump of his right thigh, firing his submachine gun. Despite excruciating pain, Pvt. Christian continued on his self-assigned mission. He succeeded in distracting the enemy and enabled his 12 comrades to escape.
He killed three enemy soldiers almost at once. Leaving a trail of blood behind him, he made his way forward 20 yards, halted at a point within 10 yards of the enemy, and despite intense fire killed a machine-pistol man.
Reloading his weapon, he fired directly into the enemy position. The enemy appeared enraged at the success of his ruse, concentrated 20-mm machine-gun, machine-pistol and rifle fire on him, yet he refused to seek cover.
Maintaining his erect position, Pvt. Christian fired his weapon to the very last. Just as he emptied his submachine gun, the enemy bullets found their mark and Pvt. Christian slumped forward dead. The courage and spirit of self-sacrifice displayed by this soldier were an inspiration to his comrades and are keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Forces."
@@4thamendment237 I watched Jeremy Clarkson recently on a documentary about VC winner at Arnhem., it's on UA-cam, I know I'd have been curled up calling for mommy, while that bloke did things I would dream of doing. Same as now as then, some men do what they do.
With no disrespect to the men of Rorke's Drift, the army at the time had it's fair share of men who were given the Jail or Army choice by magistrates! a lot, but certainly not all, were from the slums of London and other cities and were as tough as old boots BEFORE joining the army! They had grown up fighting to survive in the back streets so this was maybe not as traumatic to them as some?
ZULUS ATTACK
@@4thamendment237 My God, beautifly written, your commentary held me speelbound
I have never seen the actual land on which this battle was fought. Fascinating to actually see the terrain (though of course it must have altered a little). But I thoroughly enjoyed this. Thank you.
My great grandad and his brother were in the boar war, not saying they were at Rorkes Drift, I have 6 trench art pin cushions they made, and a bull can opener, both returned safe and went on to marry 2. sisters.
Private Robert Jones VC is buried in our village cemetery, he comitted suicide years after, having never come to terms mentally with the aftermath.
I'd love to visit, but am getting old now. However, the museum in Brecon must be highly recommended. Standing next to the standard that the two soldiers tried to save, made me cry.
Thanks for sharing that moment, Brian. I really appreciate you opening up.
Just reading your comment is making my eyes water to, I find I'm becoming more emotional as I get older, small things like your comment can trigger it.
The aerial view and narrative of the battle is incredible. Blessings to the 'Red Coats' and supportive soldiers.
An army soldier of America; an incredible battle for all indeed. We learn this battle, both sides, in officer candidate school.
Excellent as always. Thanks so much for this. I've just finished the book Zulu Rising (Ian Knight) and having never been there this really helped. Keep up the great work.
Thanks, Michael
you really underplayed Hook's heroics in the hospital. He wasn't just guarding interior doors. There were no interior doors. He had to punch through walls with a broken pickaxe and it took 2 hours to get to the final room.
Hook did not make the holes in the wall, that was done by Pte John Williams while Hook was keeping the Zulus at bay, but you are correct about Hook's heroics.
Just to mention, its Ferdinand SchIEss not Ferdinand SchEIss, two VERY different meanings! and his real name was Christian F. Schiess, Ferdinand Schiess was his alibi as he claimed to be South Afrikan to join the NCA
As a Swiss, I thank you for setting the record straight!! Cheers!!
Oh, boy, yes!!! As a German-speaker, I nearly came out of my chair when I heard him mispronounce the name in the video. Yikes!
Corporal Schiess's name is pronounced Shees and rhymes with geese. Scheiss, rhymes with vice, is German for "shit."
I was wondering if anyone caught that!
I visited on 22nd January 1989, my birthday. It looks very different now as was still a school when I visited. The atmosphere was still papable of what had happened here and at Isandlwana. I traveled around Natal on an 1100 Kawasaki and some of the locals were quite surprised by my presence. I got invited to supper by a Zulu family and we sat in a Kraal and ate pap and vleis. I stayed at the Babanango Hotel and drank way too much Cane and Coke one night. Great memories of Natal, the silence or lack of ambient noise always stunned me.
Wow what a wonderful trip!
The ZRX?
Thank you very much for a most informative video! If my, now elderly, memory from my 10yrs in the Australian Army Reserve is correct, the Australian Army bought enough 16mm copies of the film "Zulu" (quite expensive at the time) to ensure that for a period of at least 10yrs, every recruit who joined the Australian Army (Regular & Reserve) saw "Zulu" as part of their recruit course!
Had to be a scary scene for the British soldiers. How well they endured the onslaught ....and then Won The Battle !!!! All brave young men !!!!
Just got back from our trip to Zulu Nyala. I had to make the drive to Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. Just a feeling of awe at both battlefields.
I visited Rorkes Drift just after Christmas 2019 when it is the height of Summer. Was extremely hot and the grass was taller and had a brown/yellow colour. Great drive getting there and back from Durban too!.
9oo
Awesome as always. Your production values keep getting better. Keep up the excellent work.
Actually, this looks bigger than I thought. In my mind, these buildings were all a lot closer together...
Most of what you see here today are not the original buildings. Those were mostly burnt down and otherwise destroyed during the battle.
@@mazambane286 Understood, but they'd be rebuilt in the same place, though?
@@interestedbystander196 Not entirely no. As were the original buildings far more rustic and rudimentary. With thatched roofs.
@@mazambane286 ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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@@jeffpeterson3809 ????
Well done Christian, I truly enjoy your very well researched, excellent videos. Your videos are naturally enhanced by actually being on location`~ and showing and walking the hallowed ground upon which the topic at hand actually occurred. Keep up the good good work!
Thanks a lot, Loren. I appreciate the kind message.
The Woke movement is trying to rewrite history at Rork’s Drift. I googled the battle and articles popped up claiming the British killed surviving wounded Zulus after the battle and a military coverup occurred. The fact was at the battle of Isandlwana, Zulus massacred almost all the British soldiers except for small groups who were able to escape the battle. Both sides had killed wounded soldiers and warriors during this conflict. In 2021, be Leary of who is re-writing history of events involving native indigenous peoples. The truth is both sides killed wounded and did not take prisoners.
It's a well know fact that the British killed wounded Zulus how exactly were they going to treat them? Plus did they know if the Zulus would return? Perhaps the Libtards should read up on what the Zulus did to men boys dogs horses.
@@steveforster9764 :
Warfare is not won by being nice. Care for the enemy is given when one side has the logistics to care, house, and contain enemy combatants. Winning a battle or a war often depends on being able to chase an enemy force down rather than stop and care for their wounded. War is a terrible thing.
Nothing to worry about - in the end THEY will kill you OR YOU will kill THEM..............SIMPLE REALLY...........
I noticed a glaring error when the Swiss “Ferdinand Schiess” was mentioned. The narrator clearly called him “Ferdinand Scheiss” which means literally “Ferdinand $h!t”. He was a Victoria Cross recipient so this is very disrespectful. Maybe a correction can be added.
Very slick presentation.....appreciate and thoroughly enjoy all your efforts bringing history alive as you do. Thank you!
Watch the movie "Zulu Dawn" (1979) which describes these battles. Peter O'Toole and Burt Lancaster. I too had a bit part in this movie....
There is always the revisionist argument that the action at Roukes Drift was overplayed on VCs awarded, as counter propaganda and PR to negate the tragic events at Ishlandwana..The Empire doesn't like two defeats in one day...etc, not to dispute the heroic events...just the propensity of awards...today VCs are rare, for the right reasons...
Hi Alan. To be fair I don't think that comment is particularly revisionist as even at the time many commentators including Sir Garnet Wolseley felt the VCs were being handed out far too easily.
@Coll Maxwell Thanks Col.
What is also never mentioned is the Battle of Nyezane River which happened on the same day as Isandlawana and Rorkes Drift where Zulu KIA is estimated at 300-600. Various history books on the Anglo-Zulu War give different casualty figures for Zulu KIA. However modern historians estimate that Zulu KIA from these 3 battles(Isandlawana,Rorkes Drift and Nyezane River) in the opening 48 hours of the Anglo-Zulu War is between 2,500 to 3,000 warriors. When Cetswayo heard of these casualties he said something along the lines "A great assegai has been thrust into the heart of the nation". The Zulu army was estimated at 20,000-25,000 warriors before the commencement of hostilities. Some of the Zulu regiments that were devastating at Isandlawana would take horrific heavy casualties at the battle of Khambula on 29th March 1879.
This is a documentary of the highest calibre. Absolutely fantastic. Sterling quality. Please do the Battle of Maiwand 1880 during the 2nd Anglo-Afghan War which is only 2nd to Isandlawana in terms of Britains biggest colonial defeat of the Victorian era.
Frederick Hitch also got a VC for the battle of Roke's Drift he is buried in Chiswick Old Cemetery, Having his original VC stolen from his grave
Despicable if so
Reports state it was stolen from him when he was in a hospital. And he had to pay for a replacement. It seems none of the VC winners were taken care of after they left the army. And that is a tragedy.
@@garfieldsmith332 Really? What a disgrace
@@garfieldsmith332 Out lived their usefulness, seems to still be the case.
@@celticminstrel8252 So true. Same here in Canada. Our liberal government forgets the veterans. As our prime minster said to them "You ask for more than we can give". They did not ask for much, but to him it was too much. Really disgusting.
I read somewhere that had the Zulus used their assegais to cut the mealie bags open thus emptying the contents and removing them as obstacles there might have been a different outcome.
Just discovered your channel; have liked and subscribed. Extraordinary that this location is still acknowledged. Great video, mercifully without dramatic vocals or soaring musical soundtrack, and containing the straight reporting of facts. Nice one.
Every thime I watch Zulu i get really annoyed wit the time they spent on Pastor Witt and his daughter!
What a great video! I have subscribed! Zulu is probably my favourite movie of all time!
Awesome! Thank you!
How about the Battle of Isandlwana? That was, shall we say, a somewhat more significant engagement than Rorke's Drift.
And it has, shall we say, been covered multiple times on this channel :-)
@@redcoathistory Link? Us old guys are notoriously bad with modern things like this interweb.
@@ronaldcammarata3422 Ha ha no worries! Here is on you may enjoy and there is also a couple of others ua-cam.com/video/O-f1rhDu1RI/v-deo.html
Great video, must have read and heard the battle described a thousand times but having the drone footage is great to be able to really visualize it
That rocky ledge is not small ua-cam.com/video/ilLu7d5i4Ug/v-deo.html it is at least 4foot tall, giving defenders a huge height advantage. Zulu's did an amazing job successfully attacking it. Also, the redoubt really is as tiny as it looks.
Another fantastic video. I was surprised to hear about Major Spalding who rode to Helpmekaar in the afternoon to warn the garrison that Isandlwana had fallen. Surely Spalding would have returned to Rorke's Drift with reinforcements during the evening in time but doesn't look like he did?
He tried to return - but his small column assumed the mission station had fallen and they were vulnerable so they returned to Helpmakaar.
What of the column that finally relieved them? You said they came from Isldwhana(misspelled?) as well, but had not been part of that battle? How did that occur? I am not doubting, just unversed on the subject.
@@Svensk7119 The camp at Isandhlwana was just a base camp and Chelmsford lead the bulk of the forces forward deeper into Zululand, leaving it somewhat thinly defended. When the Zulus attacked, he was half a days march away. Didn't arrive at Isand. until late at night, long after it was over.
@@euthydemos Thank you. Other than it all being one column,it sounds very much like Little Big Horn, but on a larger scale.
@@Svensk7119 There's a good book called Custer and the Sioux, Durnford and the Zulu, by Paul Williams (McFarland Press). It doesn't go into the battles, that's done in detail in many other books, but compares the two men, who had a great deal in common, including boundless courage and faith in their units
Certainly brave men all of them. With todays politicians running the education system our history is sadly being overlooked in schools now.
Brilliant, thanks for doing and sharing!
Cheers, Bruce.
The most amazing and tragic day of the British Empire's history, perhaps?
I’ve watched Zulu film in local cinema when I was 9 years old, never forget the climate, colour and sound, so hopefully I’ll go there one day. Great video story!
" can't you see you're all going to die!"
My wife and I stayed at Isandlwana Lodge some years ago where we met Rob Gerrard - the resident historian there - with whom we spent the day as he recounted the battle of Isandlwana and Rorke's drift. It was as if we were there in 1879 as he brought to life the battle and the appalling leadership of Lord Chelmsford who was led miles away at the other end of the plain of isandlwana by trickery of the Zulu chief. Walking amongst the white stones marking the places where soldiers died and in the little area of rorkes drift made the history come alive.
Of Rorke's drift, his account and that of this clip are essentially the same but being there made the difference. It seems the leader of the zulu raiding party had been told not to cross the river but disobeyed, perhaps because he needed to blood himself as a warrior leader
Sadly, Rob Gerrard was murdered a tear or so later in a failed robbery. He was a delightful and engaging man and his death was needless - very sad
Hi - thanks Bill. Was it perhaps David Rattray you are thinking of? If so he is certainly legend.
@@redcoathistory No, I think Bill is correct. I too had a guided tour there from Rob Gerrard in our case in 2014. I agree with Bill, he was a very impressive guide to both battlefields. Later I read of his death as a result of a violent robbery.
@@jmw5233k
Why are ppl so fascinated by the Zulu wars?
It's a fair question and one I can't satisfactorily answer. I think the film Zulu plays a big part in it.
@@redcoathistory Yea cinema does play a big part. also the british were at the height of their empire and the zulus were just cattle herders mainly with spears lol. Great video too btw lol
Nice presentation, thanks: high on detail, VERY low on unnecessary blurb. Very good job :) . Question: What's the music you used?
Let’s say infamous. Whose country was it?
Good questiom - Rorke's Drift mission station was inside Natal which was British territory hence King Cetshwayo had actually ordered his soldiers not to cross the Buffalo river so as not to be seen as the aggressors. All the best and thanks for your question.
Those that ran away, is there any information on what happened to them, besides the one that was shot? We were actually going to visit the area next week but it's just too hot and humid at the moment, will try again in winter.
Just small correction regarding pronunciation: The Corporal referred to at 7min26 was called Ferdinand Schiess. The way it is pronounced here is Ferdinand Scheiss. This makes a huge difference in meaning. Schiess in German means "shoot", whereas Scheiss is vulgar slang for excrement. Pronounce it similar to saying ”sheet” in English. Ie. Pronounce it as if you are reading "Sheess".
I consider myself an expert in this subject, having watched the movie "Zulu" a dozen times.
Just kidding. Great movie, lousy history.
I do have a dozen books on the subject, and don't consider myself an expert. My favorite book just on Rorke's Drift is "Like Wolves on the Fold," by Lt. Col. Mike Snook. He tells the story as a soldier, and sees the battlefield with a soldier's eye. In his book "How Can Men Die Better," he demolishes many myths about Isandlwa.
I do love Mike Snook's book "How can man die better" - I learnt a lot from it and highly recommend it...but in my opinion, he tells the story of how he would have fought it and how it should have been done...not necessarily how it was done. A very good friend of mine called the book a "love letter to his regiment".
Washing of the Spears is a good read
@@jayturner3397 the very first book I've read on the war. In some ways, still the best because it gives a good overview of events leading up to the war.
Alas, it was written before much research was done and not all things are correct.
@@ImperialistRunningDo yes like all these things you have to read between the lines and put it together yourself m8t
Very enjoyable thank you. I have visited Rorkes Drift many times. Something I have always meant to do but never have is to climb a little way up the side of Shiyane hill. Apparently a few of the soldiers regimental numbers can still be seen carved by them into the rockface there. It may be worth exploring on your next visit.
Thanks James - yes i've explored the caves but sadly never found the engravings...I'll look again next time.
It’s fantastic. I was warned about snakes up there when I went in my shorts, but didn’t care! You can still see marks in the rocks from the strike of Martini Henry rounds
I used to live just up the road from where Lt Chard is buried, paid him a visit to pay my respects.
Excellent video adding to your fine collection on the conflict, many of which I have just enjoyed. Incidently Corporal Schiess is pronounced "sheesh" , derived I suppose from the German verb schiessen meaning to shoot .
Love to visit this historical battle Field, as I'm relative to Sgt Windridge as mentioned in movie.
I took advantage of a BA flight offer in 1989 to fulfill an ambition I'd had for years and visit as many of the A/Z battlefields as I could. So, travelling alone with just 14 days car hire and the first 2 nights accommodation pre booked I set off to Durban, (where I was mugged on the first full day in SA).
I quickly realised you could not simply go for a stroll and a beer in the evening. Far too dangerous. Apartheid was very much in evidence with bars catering for different 'races'.
So, on the advice of the hosts at the small hotels I stayed in,.. I only ventured to the local 'tin hat' clubs, a bit like our British Legion clubs in the UK. You couldn't just turn up though, mine hosts would ring ahead for me. But once inside everyone was so welcoming.
If I can find this thread I'll continue my little saga shortly. Oh a taster...... At Rorkes Drift I met a lovely lady who, as a young child had been allowed to watch, with other kids,, out of camera shot, the charging Zulu scenes. An amazing journey.
Excellent Video. Very informative, well presented. Enjoyed it immensely 😊
Brilliant - thanks for letting me know.
I had read that some Zulus were positioned on the hill overlooking the station. They had captured British rifles, but they thought the rear sight was a “power meter”, and so they ran it all the way up. Their shots went way over the heads of the British.
The final scene in Zulu where the Zulu are standing atop the mountain ridge singing, did anything like that actually happen or is that just the film industry adding their own salt and pepper to the facts of what really happened?
MY understanding off the top of my head is that nothing like that happened...
@@redcoathistory but it's still a great scene though. They wish it would of happened 😂
An excellent presentation, well narrated and researched. The only criticism I have is in the pronunciation of Corporal Schiess' name - it is pronounced "Sheess", not "Sheyss", okay?
I am an expat Englishman living in Germany since 1970, so you can believe me.
The 60's movie was great but it was also purposefully nasty.
It portrayed the Christian missionary as a drunk lunatic and also robbed the British of a victory as it showed an overwhelming hoard of Zulus in the morning singing to them and creating the impression that they could have easily beat them but were letting them off.
When in fact they were beaten themselves and running away.
At 100 yards... volley fire, PRESENT!
PRESENT being the last order in the volley firing drill of the period. The order "Fire" appears not to have been part of the drill. The emphasis was on accuracy, not volume of fire. "Shoot slow, shoot straight" was the maxim. So a soldier hearing "present" was also hearing "adjust your sights", "watch your markers" and "mark your targets", but not "fire." "Present" was merely the order to line up a target and shoot when ready.
Pvt. Cole : Why is it us? Why us?
Colour Sergeant Bourne : Because we're here, lad. Nobody else. Just us.
The tragic story of how most of these heroic souls ended up is a damn shame.
Still seems to happen to soldiers now sadly
What insight beautifully presented. While the photography depicted a wonderful area with beautiful sunshine and scenery, things; admittedly were not so serene for the British soldiers present there at the time of the story. How tragic that the Brits were menacingly overwhelmed that day. Even those who perished had some part to play that day even if merely supplying ammo or providing first aid. What a day....
Wow, that was fantastic.
Its a shame that the buildings look a bit too modern, glass windows and iron roofs.
The move Zulu looks a lot different than the real thing, too me the real thing is much bigger. How could only 120 men defend such a harge area?
When I joined the army Baldrick we were fighting fuzzy wuzzies with sharp sticks.
Great report very slick and interesting.
Dalton is the unsung hero of the whole RD action. As an experienced soldier on the verge of retirement it was his recommendation to split the camp and create the redoubt. On the 24th leaving Africa after the battle Dalton received a personal salute from the Regiment during the march past as he stood in the crowd. He then, as with many heroes, disappeared into retirement and obscurity.
Hi mate - I have done an entire video on Dalton that you may enjoy - please have a watch 👍🏻💪🏻
@@redcoathistory I will thanks for this video I enjoyed it
Kipling wrote a poem pointing out that during peace that people thought Tommy was a ruffians Tommy was a thief ( quoting from memory)
Only in wartime was Tommy a hero
Tommy being British slang for a soldier.
Win a medal
Die in the gutter.
@@daistoke1314 Like all of Kipling's poems it is very good.
A wise officer listens to a good NCO, but it is always the officer who carries the ultimate responsibility. ...... Whatever the failings of the 'on the cheap' army that Victorian Britain had, there is no doubt that the officers kept their nerve, were well served by their NCOs, and by their men. ...... Considering the mental shock that the slaughter earlier that day must have been to them, lesser men would have broken.
Very often, when the challenge is greatest, a man just knows that it is his time to act. ...... RAF Sgt James Ward climbed out onto the wing of a Wellington bomber without a parachute, to put out a fire in the engine. ...... I read of this as a boy, and have never forgotten it. ...... A well-earned VC.
Think my great grandad was portrayed in the film. He was the sergeant in charge of the ammunition.might be wrong film but think it was this one his name and I'm possibly spelling this wrong was Windrigde
Victory at Rorkes Drift was indeed impressive. Worth remembering that the British were massacred earlier in the day at Isandlwana.
First I've heard about it - what happened?
@@redcoathistory
🤔 As you well know. What happened at RD was a last minute consolation goal in what was otherwise a 10 nil drubbing. RD is (and was at the time) conveniently used by historians to gloss over the slaughter at Isandlwana.
Don't get me wrong RD was inspiring and Zulu is a great film but it would be good if some context was made.
@@paulryan2081 Hi Paul, if you require context feel free to watch my many videos on Isandlwana - it's impossible to go back over all the details for every video. There is always someone upset that something is missing but its best to watch my entire video series as they are meant to compliment one another. Cheers for watching and keep in touch.
Valid point you make Paul but Zulu KIA at Isandlawana were estimated at 1,000 to 1,500 warriors. They paid a heavy price too for the victory. Another battle took place the same day as Isandlawana and Rorkes Drift and that is the Battle of Nyezane River where Zulu KIA is estimated at 300 to 600. Modern historians estimate that Zulu KIA from these 3 battles(Isandlawana,Rorkes Drift,Nyezane River) in the opening 48 hours of the Anglo-Zulu War is 2,500 to 3,000 warriors. The Zulu army was estimated at 20,000 to 25,000 before the commencement of hostilities. When Cetswayo heard of the casualties from these 3 battles he said something along the lines "A great assegai has been thrust into the heart of the nation".
4'000 against 100 and the 100 won? unbelievable, but thats the Brits, don't fk with the Brits.
Really interesting.
Its odd how the British PR machine was evident in 1879 They have a defeat and then a group of brave men win the day and i think 11 VCs were awarded just spin you know
On of my definete "favourite battles" of history. Great movie and greetings from Sweden
Zulu was a great movie. I have watched it more times than I can count
It's crazy to me that the most boring and annoying field trip in my life gets so many youtube views. I absolutely despised going to these museums as a kid.
You're making an extremely boring story sound interesting
Ha ha thanks, glad you enjoyed the video.
There's a good museum in the original barracks in Brecon, Wales.
“HEY MAN this is such a cool video I learned so much” said boy from boy basement
Some years ago, when I was a table top wargamer, I replayed this battle. The end result was almost the same as what happened in real life. I wish I could attach the photo of the table.
How have they done in preserving Rorkes drift?
I hope they give it more respect than Pearl Harbor
These overhead timelines are very helpful, thanks!
One shouldn't under-estimate mealy-bags or biscuit-boxes.
Absolutely loved this video! It was this battle which got me into history. Just subscribed and keep up the great work 👍
Brilliant thanks for letting me know.
🙏👍👏🎖🌟🍻🦁🇬🇧💂🫡
Considering the odds and such, the soldiers were in a bad situation but lot thankfully survived. I don’t know how true this first part is but story goes that the group of soldiers whom came in later, killed a lot of wounded and prisoners. Second which is more believable but all the dead Zulu warriors were buried in a unmarked (numbers range from 500 to nearly 1000)mass grave but supposedly hasn’t been found yet.
Hi - the mass grave is at the back of the site and can be visited. It is marked.
Real truth of this is idiot officers saved by experienced NCO’s
You are doing excellent work. I really appreciate it
Thanks, Bill.
Lt John Chard was buried in the Churchyard of Hatch Beauchamp Somerset - between Taunton .... and the town of Chard ! " .....Hatch Beauchamp is the burial place of Colonel John Rouse Merriott Chard, VC, Royal Engineers (21 December 1847 - 1 November 1897) a British soldier who won the Victoria Cross for his role in the defence of Rorke's Drift in 1879 ...." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatch_Beauchamp
Stanley Baker actually purchased Chards VC.
Would love to visit there one day.
One of the British Defenders is buried in my town. Private John Williams VC . Always been fascinated by the battle.
I hope you get here one day, Craig.