On 22 January 1879, a 20,000-strong Zulu army overwhelmed and destroyed the British invasion forces at Isandlwana, killing and ritually dismembering over 1,200 soldiers. In the afternoon of the same day, the same Zulu army turned its attention to a small outpost at Rorke's Drift. The ensuing battle, one of the greatest feats of heroism in British military history, has since become legendary. Throughout the night, 85 men repelled six large-scale Zulu attacks, suffering only 27 casualties, forcing the Zulu army to retreat. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for bravery shown that night, the highest number for a single battle in history. However, as new research by Adrian Greaves shows, there are some inconsistencies regarding the myth of Rorke's Drift. While it was undoubtedly the scene of heroic deeds, it was also the scene of some astonishing acts of cowardice, and there is growing evidence that the legend of Rorke's Drift was created to distract attention from the appalling mistakes made by the British that led to the earlier defeat at Isandlwana.
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Greaves, Adrian
Title
Rorke's Drift Revisited
Details
English text, 20 colour illustrations. 288 pages.
State
new
Subtitle
A new Account of the most famous Battle of the Anglo-Zulu War
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Church Street 47 S70 2AS South Yorkshire Vereinigtes Königreich
