RORKE’S DRIFT RECALLED: BATTLE HONOUR PETITION.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20329, 12 June 1934, Page 6

RORKE’S DRIFT RECALLED: BATTLE HONOUR PETITION.

To-day’s Special Article.

Story of a Gallant Defence: Zulus* Overwhelming Numbers.

Two Australian regiments—the 18th Battalion of Artar-

mon, and the 24th Battalion, of Surrey Hills—through their alliances with the South Wales Borderers, are interested in the answer to the petition which the Natal Provincial Council has presented to the King. It asks that he will graciously consider the right of that regiment to place upon its Colours the name of Rorke’s Drift as a Battle Honour, says the “Melbourne Herald.’’ The resolution emphasises that the suggestion is made on account of the great service rendered to Natal by the gallant defence of Rorke’s Drift which, indeed, was instrumental in preventing the victorious Zulus from pouring into Natal and endangering the inhabitants in that province.

THE ZULUS had just wiped out the

whole of the Ist Battalion of the 24th Regiment, as the South Wales Borderers was then known, at Isandhlwana. The defence of Rorke’s Drift in 1879. for which ten Victoria Crosses were given among 104 men, is one of the most heroic episodes in • the brilliant annals of the Arm}*. Incidentally, it might be added that a famous painting of the episoda is in the Sydney Art Gallery.

Rorke’s Drift was a post in some mission buildings, guarding a ford on the Buffalo River against 4000 Zulus who, maddened bv the slaughter at Isandhlwana, had attacked it—imagining that the tiny garrison would be an easy prey. Indeed, it was defended by only 90 members of the 2nd Battalion of the 24th, with a few details numbering just over a hundred. There were also 35 sick, few of whom were in a condition to assist in the lighting.

A Bad Position. Lieutenant Bromhead, of the 24th, had but two hours in which to prepare for the peril that threatened the post, which was one of the worst imaginable positions for defence. It consisted of two small thatched buildings, one used as a hospital and the other as a commissariat store, situated thirty-nine yards apart. Their walls were commanded on the soutl?’-west by rising gicund, while on the north an orchard and garden gave cover to the enemy to within a few yards of the houses.

Loopholes were hastily made and biscuit boxes and bags of mealies dragged into position to connect the buildings. Here and there a wagon was included in the line of the breastwork. Lieutenant Chard, R.E., who was on duty in the neighbourhood in connection with ferry-work across the Buffalo, was warned by Bromhead and hurried in to assist the defence, of which, by virtue of seniority, he took command. Towards evening some native levies were sent away and it was realised that the perimeter cf the breastwork might be too large for proper defence with the small force then available. Accordingly, an inner line, to be used as a last resort, was begun.

Attack of the Zulus. By 5 o’clock the Zulu advance guard appeared before Rorke’s Drift, fresh from its triumph at Isandhlwana, where the men of the 24th had fought until their ammunition was exhausted arid had died in their ranks under the stabbing assegais. Five hundred of Cetewayo's famous Undi Regiment dashed at the breastwork about the little mission buildings, hoping to carry it in their stride, but the fire of the defenders beat them off with many casualties.

After a series* of rushes the Zulus sat down to await reinforcements, which presently arrived to the number of over 3000. Under a scattered fire they speedily established themselves under cover within easy reach of the walls, against which they began a fresh series of assaults. But in all they were repulsed with the bayonet during the final rushes. Despite their losses, however, the Zulus were continually occupying positions closer to the defences, and

were eventually able to fire upon the garrison at almost all points from the rear. The Hospital Fired.

This necessitated in the closing in of the defence, while the fact that the enemy had climbed the roof of the hospital and fired the thatch made it imperative that the sick should be brought out. But while the hardpressed grrrison, many of whom were dying at their posts, fought more bitterly than ever to hold the breastwork during the clearing of the hospital, the little parties of men who were defending that building were being assailed with greater vigour than ever.

They were, indeed, being driven from room to room in ferocious hand-to-hand fighting—so fierce that the Zulus even wrenched the bayonets off the rifles: and four men with not a round between them once held a doorway against a raging, howling mob of armed savages. Weaknesses Revealed.

The position was now desperate. The Zulus were in possession of the outer defences and the hospital, with the result that the remnant of the garrison was driven back into the store. The blazing hospital gave plenty of light, and the enemy were able to see all the weaknesses of the defence—and even to fire upon the men who were improving them by building a redoubt, made of bags of mealies. Repeated assaults upon the last line of biscuit-boxes were driven back, the devoted soldiers leaping upon them to bayonet the black forms which surged about below. It was past midnight when a pause ensued. The British took the opportunity to serve out fresh ammunition, and to prepare to sell their lives dearly in what they conceived to be the rush that would sweep them out of existence.

But the Zulus had lost 400 killed, and many were nursing their wounds. Their stomach for close fighting had gone. They contented themselves with a desultory fire that gradually ceased, and by dawn they had withdrawn.

The garrison had held the post and had saved all the sick in the hospital but five. May Net Be Granted.

Rorke’s Drift was indeed a mere skirmish compared with the fighting in the Great War. And yet few incidents have shown more gloriously the stubborn heroism of the British infantryman and his power of snatching victory out of threatened extinction. Well may it be argued that the name deserves for this reason to stand on the colours beside the battles of Marlborough, of Wellington, and even of the Great War, which are among the chief honours that the South Wales Borderers now carry.

Yet it i$ doubtful whether the petition can be granted under the present regulations, which necessitate, for the Regular Army at least, the minimum qualifying strength of headquarters and 50 per cent of its effectives being present before a Battle Honour can be gained. At Rorke’s Drift only a company, and that of a different battalion from that which suffered at Isandhlwana, was engaged.