Rorke's Drift, 1879

Photograph, Zulu War (1879).

Having invaded Zululand in January 1879 to enforce a British ultimatum, Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford split his forces into three columns. At Isandlwana a large force of Zulus annihilated the camp of his centre column. They then turned to the nearby trading post at Rorke's Drift, on the Natal side of the Buffalo (Mzinyathi) River.

It was garrisoned by a small force of British troops with some African and colonial soldiers, commanded by a junior Royal Engineers officer. For 12 hours the Zulus mounted assaults on the makeshift barricades, but were kept at bay. Finally they retired. Eleven Victoria Crosses and four Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded to surviving soldiers for their bravery. With such terrible losses, Chelmsford's initiative collapsed. He was forced to regroup, but the Zulus missed the opportunity to expel the invaders. They were finally defeated at the Battle of Ulundi on 4 July 1879.

From a photograph album compiled by Lieutenant-Colonel Wilfred Turner Anderson, 1879.