Page 42 - All About History - Issue 38-16

Greatest Battles

British Army 02 Final defences 01 Enemy sighted
At 8am, a force of Zulus is seen on
Bags of corn are stacked
TROOPS 154 high around the perimeter along with the Nqutu plateau, overlooking the mission
boxes of biscuits. The hurried and station. Lieutenant Chard makes it to Rorke’s
ramshackle defences are completed Drift at midday and is given control of the
with two wagons built into the south stronghold after his superiors leave for
wall. Reserve ammunition is amassed Helpmekaar. After hearing gunshots later in
and bayonets are fixed to rifles. the afternoon, the decision is taken to man
All that is left to do is wait for the the defences, and with the help of Lieutenant
lookout’s signal. Bromhead, Rorke’s Drift is readied for battle.

03 150 remain
A huge blow to the defence
of Rorke’s Drift comes at 5pm, when
Captain Stevenson, Lieutenant Alfred
Henderson and their contingent of native
allies take their leave. The numbers
dwindle from 450 to approximately 150,
including those who are in the hospital.
LIEUTENANT
JOHN CHARD
LEADER
Only arriving three days before
the battle, Chard was the highest
ranking officer entrusted with
defending Rorke’s Drift.
Strengths Prior experience of war
in Bermuda and Malta.
Weakness Little time or supplies 06
to prepare strong defences.

05
09
03

07

BRITISH SOLDIER 02
UNIT
Experienced and loyal to the queen,
the English and Welsh defenders
would fight on to the bitter end.
Strengths Disciplined and
immaculately trained.
Weakness Disheartened by
extremely high Zulu numbers.

MARTINI HENRY First waves Buckling under bull
BREECH LOADING RIFLE 04 of attack 05 horn pressure
KEY WEAPON At 5.30pm, the Zulus launch their As the Zulus pile in on the south side, flank attacks
The weapon of choice for the attack. The initial charges focus on begin to weaken the defences on the thinly defended
the south side of Rorke’s Drift and
majority of the British Army was a are pinned down by the British north-western edge of the compound. This, in addition
to shots from Zulu snipers on the Oscarberg hill, begins
staple of colonial warfare. Army’s disciplined rifle fire. The to take its toll on the British. As the Zulus advance, the
Strengths Superior to any weapon attackers have been contained, hospital is evacuated and many of the injured are killed
wielded by the Zulus. but not for long. in the process as the attackers swarm in.
Weakness Tendency for cartridges
to stick in the firing mechanism.

42