11 Victorian crosses were awarded along with other decorations and honours
Eleven.
The battle of Rorkes Drift lasted 2 days.
The British and the Zulu.
The battle of Rorkes Drift was fought between 3000 Zulu warriors and only 100 British troops, and the British, Australian, Dutch soldiers Fought to the last 12 Men.The Zulu soldiers Stopped and Honored Them with a Chant from on top of the Hill Just like in the Movie. So no side one, For if the Zulu had Charged One more time they would Have wiped Them all Out.All were Awarded the Victoria Cross
because the Zulu nation was not happy with the British taking over their lands.
Zulu. It has some historical inaccuracies, but it is a very good and entertaining film.
The battle took place on January 22-23, 1879 during the Zulu Wars (Anglo-Zulu War) in Africa.
King of the Zulu people in South Africa. He was defeated in the remarkable British defence of the mission at Rorkes Drift in 1879.
Sixteen members of the British force and 351 Zulu were killed at Rorke's Drift.
The British used the standard British Army rifle and the Zulu's used the short assegai.
The British had invaded deeply into Zulu controlled territory. Unfortunately, the British were overconfident, making a few fundamental errors. The Zulus were therefore able to massacre the British, who were over run by the Zulus in a classic Bull manoeuvre (Heavy frontal attack, with two horns performing flanking manoeuvres). In any event, a minor force was able to cross over the river that separated British controlled South Africa and the lands controlled by the Zulus. This minor scouting force encountered the troupes stationed at Rorkes drift. However, unlike the earlier encounter, the British troops were able to build a reasonable defended position from which to employ their weapons It was never a major objective for the Zulus. However, this does not mean that the fighting was not fierce and a reflection of this was in the amount of VC awarded for the action (Although less generous historians will state that the media frenzy that followed this action and the medals were an attempt to draw attention away from the earlier military disaster). The Zulu war lasted about 2 years, resulting in the eventual destruction of the Zulu nation.
Martini Henry rifles, if my memory of the film Zulu serves. Isanlwana & Rorkes Drift are on the same day. The latter is a superb company defence against a massed enemy, in the former it is probable the piquets were too thinly spread, too far apart to support each other. Once the Zulu were inside the ring the British were doomed.
King of the Zulu people in South Africa. He was defeated in the remarkable British defence of the mission at Rorkes Drift in 1879.