On This Day ... in 1879 & Others
Disaster befell the centre column of Lord Chelmsford's army which had advanced into Zulu territory. Whilst Chelmsford was away leading a force against a reported Zulu concentration, the 1,250 British (mainly from the 24th Regiment - South Wales Borderers) and African troops left behind in camp at Isandlwana were attacked by 20,000 warriors under Ntshingwayo and overrun - very few survived the massacre.
Later that day, 4,500 Zulus led by Dabulamanzi attacked a small garrison of the 24th Regiment at Rorke's Drift.
The famous defence of the outpost cost 17 lives from the South Wales Borderers, and secured the award of no less than eleven Victoria Crosses. Three Victoria Crosses, two of which were posthumous, were also awarded for gallantry at Isandlwana.
The third, often forgotten, action that day was fought at Nyezane, where the right hand column of Chelmsford's army, commanded by Colonel Pearson, fought off another fierce Zulu attack.
More information on the famed Martini Henry is here & just to get you really in the mood...
1941: The 6th (Australian) Infantry Division with British tank and artillery support, including gunfire from Royal Navy gunboats and monitors, took the key Libyan town of Tobruk in the face of fierce resistance from its Italian garrison. After its capture the town was garrisoned by the 9th Div, elements of the 7th Div and other Allied units. The town was surrounded on three sides by the German Afrika Korps in April and remained besieged, but able to be re-supplied
1944: Commonwealth and US forces landed at Anzio in an attempt to break the deadlock in the Italian campaign, landing behind the formidable German defences of the Gustav line. The first day of the landings proved a great success, 50,000 men and 3,000 vehicles being put ashore with only 13 casualties, mainly caused by mines. German resistance escalated significantly, however, in the following days.
1945: 3 Commando Brigade, consisting of 42 and 44 Commandos Royal Marines, and 1 and 5 Army Commandos, conducted an assault landingat Kangaw in Burma.
Comments
I have a DVD of Zulu, the 1964 movie about the defense of Rorke's Drift starring Stanley Baker, Michael Caine, Jack Hawkins, Nigel Green, and the Martini Henry rifle. OK, so a few scenes have some soldiers single loading bolt rifles. That doesn't take a lot away from the story.
Posted by: Fred | January 22, 2007 1:12 AM
A film worth watching again and again!
Posted by: Tim C | January 22, 2007 10:57 AM
The gentleman has a bottle....
Posted by: MP | January 22, 2007 5:50 PM
I have a Martini Henry at arm's reach as I type this.
I do hope the Zulus are proud of the society that they now govern.
Posted by: Ex_STAB | January 21, 2008 10:41 PM
" ...and a bayonet with some guts behind it"
Posted by: grant1863 | January 22, 2008 2:01 AM
Every Englishman should watch zulu once a year..at least...recreation and on the job training.
Posted by: jamie | January 22, 2008 5:22 AM
I also love the film and am lucky enough to have visited the battle sites. If you ever get the chance, do visit.
Posted by: bill | January 22, 2008 7:06 AM
Actually the 24th were the 2nd Warwickshire Regiment (the 1st being the 6th of Foot). It wasn't until July 1881 that they became the South Wales Borderers. Although they had been based in Brecon from 1875...
Posted by: redrebel | January 22, 2008 1:56 PM
Not related with the post but, still interesting.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7842344.stm
The old history about a men that says that islam is violent, then the men receives death threats and finally the men is put on trial for being "unrealistic describing islam"
Posted by: Túlio Fernandes | January 21, 2009 9:48 PM
Pity the Man who does not have a shiver run down his spine after seeing this!
Posted by: Dave | January 22, 2009 2:47 AM
I believe that Rorke's Drift was the last time Wales beat the All Blacks.
Posted by: Alanl | January 22, 2009 5:17 AM
I too have been there. Here are my thoughts on the event (with your indulgence, Mr. FM).
Posted by: Kim du Toit | January 22, 2009 2:24 PM
I get chills in my spine and tears in my eyes every time I see this scene from Zulu.
In fact, when I trained Army cadets to become officers, I used this scene to demonstrate the awesome power of discipline and bravery in armed conflict and how to use existing and reinforcing obstacles to concentrate combat power.
Posted by: POWinCA | January 22, 2009 5:48 PM
Good to see Kim posting, even if not on his now badly-missed- by-many site.
Posted by: MikeinAppalachia | January 23, 2009 7:14 PM