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
"Colour Sergeant Bourne!".... Sar!
I have this film on dvd, it's an audiovisual two fingers to Mao Tse Brown
Posted by: Witchfinder | January 22, 2010 12:30 AM
... and to this politically correct shithole I live in
Posted by: Witchfinder | January 22, 2010 12:36 AM
Thought it was pretty neato that Chief Buthelezi of the Zulus was in the movie.
POWinCA is correct about the value of the film as a training vehicle. Another excellent choice is "12 O'Clock High" - a tradition at my school in which the Junior class of all three services' ROTC detachments spends an autumn evening watching the film as a means of stimulating subsequent discussions in leadership.
Years later I used the modern version of "Henry V" in my Ibtroduction to Medieval Warfare class (it's more historically accurate than the Forties version ie: the actual battle was fought in a muddy morass in the autumn, not on a bright sunny summer day - although the sight and sound of the volleys of arrows in the first make for one of film's great scenes).
Col Beausaber
Posted by: Beausaber | January 22, 2010 6:50 AM
Haven't watched Zulu in a couple months. Shame on me. Will correct that deficiency later.
Posted by: Bob K | January 22, 2010 6:36 PM
My favourite quote:
Lieutenant John Chard: The Army doesn't like more than one disaster in a day.
Bromhead: Looks bad in the newspapers and upsets civilians at their breakfast.
Extraordinary movie. Have it taped from TV on VHS. Twice. The first time the programmers cut out the Men of Harlech scene to shorten it in order to fit the timetables.
Musicwise the initial Zulu chant was used as the Goths or whatever warriors at the opening battle in Gladiator. Took me forever to notice it since it was just a few months ago it dawned on me.
Posted by: r22f | January 22, 2010 9:44 PM
Twelve-O'Clock High, The Great Escape, The Blue Max, Zulu, Pork Chop Hill, and Kelly's Heros......all standard Leadership films shown at the Citadel, VMI, USAFA, USMA, and USNA. (ROTC TRNG as well)
Zulu was like PorK Chop Hill - They were surrounded, cut-off, running low on ammo and men, but they held on! A good study in leadership and courage........."where courage was a common virtue!"
Posted by: Gunny | January 23, 2010 12:37 AM
Zulu - Excellent film! Though not quite the true story. The director allowed himself some flexibility in interpreting the events. Try reading a copy of "Like wolves on the Fold" by Mike Snook. The true story is even more inspiring! When the native levy broke and ran, a "white European" also ran. He was shot by the defenders. This was never investigated and he was listed as "killed by enemy action" When the hospital fell it was outside the defensive perimeter, and the troops had to run across open ground. As for Pvt Hook, you wouldn't recognize him in the book.
Posted by: Dementia A Pota | January 23, 2010 9:25 AM
Thanks for the reminder FM.
Tonight we watched 'Zulu' again. And I have decided to visit the site on my next trip to Natal.
BTW was 'Zulu' filmed on location? Some of the backdrops look like the Amphitheatre, which is miles away.
Posted by: Vincent | January 24, 2010 7:32 PM