Page 41 - All About History - Issue 38-16

Zulu tactics
The Zulus attacked in a traditional ‘bull horn’
formation, which aimed to encircle the British
while still having a strong centre. This played
into the hands of the defenders, who utilised THE BATTLE OF
overlapping sectors of fire to relentlessly
pummel the Zulus with a wall of bullets.
RORKE’S DRIFT

ZULU KINGDOM, SOUTH AFRICA

22 JANUARY 1879

mmortalised in popular culture, the Battle of It soon became clear that the western side of
Rorke’s Drift is one of the most heroic last stands Rorke’s Drift would bear witness to the heaviest
of all time. Britain had been aggressive in its of the fighting. The hospital was located here and
pursuit of conquering the southern tip of Africa, its thatched roof was quickly set ablaze, and the
I yet its recklessness and underestimation of the patients inside were trapped in the inferno. As the
enemy would nearly cost them dear. The Zulus Zulus flooded in, the wounded, armed with only
were determined to drive the British out of their bayonets, held the attackers off as others desperately
homeland, and going against the wishes of King hacked through the stone walls to get to safety.
Cetshwayo, his half brother Dabulamanzi advanced Night was now beginning to fall and the British
on a small mission station known as Rorke’s Drift. soldiers were forced into a small bastion in the
The man in charge of the stronghold was centre of the stronghold. As the hospital continued
Lieutenant John Chard, and the first the garrison of to burn bright, the Zulu assault was unforgiving
the 24th Regiment of Foot heard of the impending but the British stood firm. Fighting tooth and nail,
attack was rifle fire in the distance. This was the the brutal attack was somehow held off, and as the
dying embers of the Battle of Isandlwana, where clock struck midnight, the attacks began to subside.
Queen Victoria’s men were being trounced by the This was a relief to the British, who were down to
natives. Realising the threat of the fast-approaching just 600 rounds. They had started with 24,000.
storm, the camp was fortified with sacks of grain. Piecemeal skirmishes lasted until the early hours
Fears escalated after the company’s numbers were but it soon became apparent that after 12 hours of
depleted further by units leaving for the relative hell, the company had lived to fight another day.
safety of Helmakaar, a nearby town. Now only a Zulus were spotted again at about 7am but no
brave 154 remained to grit their teeth, say their attack followed. The loss at Isandlwana and the
prayers and man the barricades. victory at Rorke’s Drift had completely different
500 Zulus charged the southern side of the outcomes but both contributed to the escalation
mission station, taking heavy fire from the British of the Anglo-Zulu War. 11 Victoria Crosses were
rifles. They were driven back this time but they handed out to the British soldiers, but it remains a
would come again in greater numbers. Using their controversial subject. The carnage resulted in huge
short stabbing spears, the Zulu tactic was to get in amounts of reinforcements being sent in, and by
close and personal, but they were repelled time and the summer of 1879, Cetshwayo had been defeated
again by a combination of bullets and bayonets. and sent into exile. The independent Zulu Kingdom
Some of the attackers wielded rifles, but they were was annexed into the empire on which the sun did
by no means trained marksmen. not set.

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