Rorke's Drift, known as kwaJim ("Jim's Land") in
the Zulu language,
was a mission
station and the former trading post of James
Rorke, an Irish merchant. It was located near a drift, or ford, on the Buffalo
(Mzinyathi) River, which at the time formed the border between the British
colony of Natal
and the Zulu kingdom.
The Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of
Rorke's Drift, was a battle in the Anglo-Zulu War. The
defence of the mission
station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenant
John Chard of the Royal Engineers,
immediately followed the British Army's
defeat at the Battle of
Isandlwana on 22 January 1879, and continued into the following day,
23 January.
Just over 150 British and colonial
troops successfully defended the garrison against an intense assault by 3,000
to 4,000 Zulu warriors. The
massive, but piecemeal, Zulu
attacks on Rorke's Drift came very close to defeating the tiny garrison but
were ultimately repelled. Eleven Victoria Crosses were
awarded to the defenders, along with a number of other decorations and honours.
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I remember seeing the film Zulu as a child and immediately being drawn in by the bravery and battle against such huge odds. Having read further readings on the subject I now know the film wasn't entirely accurate in it's facts about the event, however it's still in an awe inspiring battle and one worth remembering.
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