One hundred and forty years ago today ...

... the Battle of Isandlwana took place and the defence of Rorke's Drift began.

The Battle of Isandlwana.

The Defence of Rorke's Drift.

The story of both these actions is well-known, thanks in no small part to the films ZULU DAWN and ZULU. Whilst the former is a very worthy film that tries to explain how and why the Zulu War started and covers the events if the Battle of Isandlwana, the latter is a tale of almost mythical heroism in the face of overwhelming odds.

ZULU is one of my favourite films, even though it is nowhere near as historically accurate as ZULU DAWN, and if time allows, I will be watching it today.

---

ZULU's historical 'errors' include ...

• The majority of the soldiers who defended Rorke's Drift were not drawn from the South Wales Borderers (that regiment did not come into existence until the Childers Army Reforms of 1881) but were from its predecessor regiment, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment.
• There were more Irish than Welsh soldiers at Rorke's Drift.
• The Reverend De Witt was not a drunk who left before the Zulus arrive. He stayed and helped tend the wounded.
• The was no Miss De Witt at Rorke's Drift.
• The senior officer at Rorke's Drift on the morning of 22nd January was Major Henry Spalding, General Chelmsford's Quartermaster General. When news of the Battle of Isandlwana reached the post, he left Lieutenant Chard in command whilst he went to hurry up the British reinforcements that were en route from Helpmekaar. He chose Lieutenant Chard to act in his place because Chard's Commission pre-dated that of Lieutenant Bromhead.
• Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead was placed in command of the members of the 24th Foot that had been left behind at Rorke's Drift because his hearing was seriously impaired and there were fears that he would not be able to hear the words of command during a battle.
• In the film Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard appears to show tremendous leadership qualities. This is somewhat at variance with the opinion of some of those who knew him. For example, Sir Evelyn Wood (who commanded the second invasion of Zululand) called him 'a useless officer' who was 'a dull, heavy man, scarcely able to do his regular work'.
• Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne was not a middle-aged, grizzled veteran. He was a 23-year-old and at the time he was the youngest soldier in the British Army to hold that rank. After the battle he refused a Commission, but later took one, ending his career as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was recalled to the Colours in 1914 and commanded the School of Musketry in Dublin. He died on VE Day in 1944 ... just six years before I was born!
• Acting Assistant Commissary James Dalton had a greater role in the actual defence of Rorke's Drift than depicted in the film. He was a retired and very experienced Non-Commissioned Officer (he had been a sergeant in the 85th Foot), and it is thought that it was his suggestion that the post be fortified.
• Private Henry Hook was not a drunken soldier with a history of misdemeanours. He had signed the pledge and was a teetotaller, and was regarded as a very steady soldier. On leaving the Army he was found work at the British Museum as an 'inside duster', later being put in charge of the Left Umbrella Office.

Despite all of the above, it is still a great film ... and one worth watching regularly.