HATS OFF TO CHARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 June 1941, Page 6

HATS OFF TO CHARD

HERO OF RORKE’S DRIFT. Hats off—here is Chard! The Empire owes much to him, for he saved Natal from Zulu invasion. He was sent on in advance with a handful of men to clear the way for Brigadier-General Glyn who was marching from Durban in January, 11879. On 22nd January Chard was station;ed at Rorke's Drift —a kraal, a store, and a small hospital. He was to project the flying bridges across the Buffalo River, and almost immediately he had warning of the approach of over .3000 Zulus. He barricaded the store and hospital buildings, connected them by walls of mealie bags and two wagons, and made an inner garrison of biscuit tins. The Zulus rushed upon the little garrison time and time again, but the fire from the few rifles scattered them. They were driven off after desperatefighting over the mealie bags. A sudden assault was repelled with bayonets. The hospital was set on fire, and was defended rpom by room, the I sick being moved out. The attack from tlie bushes round grew so fierce that Chard and his men had to retire beI hind their breastwork of biscuit tins, firing going on all through the night. When day broke the Zulus retired for a time, and Chard calmly gathered up the arms and ammunition of the dead, but the enemy returned a few hours later, though the appearance of the British third column sent them running for their lives. The little handful of Britishers had 15 killed and 12 wounded. The Zulus had lost 350. Thus John Rouse Marriott Chard, colonel of Royal Engineers became famous at 32. As the hero of Rorke’s Drift, he was awarded the V.C. There is a memorial to him in Rochester Cathedral.