THE DEFENCE OF RORKE'S DRIFT AND THOBAL.

Western Star, Issue 1573, 24 June 1891, Page 1

THE DEFENCE OF RORKE'S DRIFT AND THOBAL.

Major-general Bray write;-; (<> the Standard : 1 regret to sec the defence of Tliobal by Lieutenant Grant compared rather prematurely with that of Jlorke's Drift in the Zulu war of 1879 in the Standard of the 13th hist. The defence of Rorkc's Drift by Lieutenant Chard, R.E., and Lieutenant Broomhead, 24th Regiment, with a company of the 24th and some few odd soldiers—in all not more than 125 men —against 4500 brave Zulus, was the most splendid feafc of arms performed in South Africa. ! saw the entrenchments of Rorkc's Drift live days after the tight, and was able to form a judgment of the nature of the determined attack of the Zulus, and the defence made by the Spartan band of the 24th Regiment. The biscuit boxes and mealie bags were then in position and the remains of the Mission House and backledown outhouses v.-riv to be seen. The hurried arrangements made bv the

young Engineer officer for barriers and barricades showed clearly the nature of tke defence and the critical position occupied by so small a body of soldiers, who, before the position was finished, were attacked by the Zulus, armed with rifles, guns and assegais, and not " with spears only," as supposed by General Swanston. The attack, and a succession of attempts to carry the position with a rush, lasted from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m., and the ground all round was covered with dead Zulus. The small garrison had about one-fifth of their number killed and wounded. What saved the; garrison from total destruction was that the Zulus set fire after dark to the outhouses, which were used as an hospital, and the bright light caused by the fire enabled the gunners to shoot down the Zulus at close quarters wholesale. Surgeon-Major Reynolds, V.C., the medical officer at the fight at Rorke's Drift, only a week ago, in talking over the fight at Rorke's Drift, told inc that the bright light enabled the men to fire with terrific effect, and that the enemy obtained no cover in the gardens, winch otherwise would have enabled them to get close without being seen. I told Lieutenant Brotnhead, when ho was showing me over the ground, that his brilliant defence of Rorke's Drift would not be eclipsed during the war, and that he was sure to be rewarded with a V.C. and brevet majority. I had not heard at the time that the young Engineer officer. Chard, was senior to him, Bromhead being the older man. I do not in the least wish to disparage the admirable conduct of Lieutenant Grant in seizing the fort of Thobal, and defending it successfully against the enemy when thev tried to re-take it, but the particulars of this fight have not yet come to hand. When they are known lam sure he will also receive his V.C. and company for his gallant and soldierlike conduct.