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Date	Original Topic
21st June 2002	Did the Zulus salute? By Mike Jones I may have missed it on this site but did the Zulus actually come back to salute the defenders of Rorke's Drift as shown in the film?
Date	Replies
21st June 2002	Gary Laliberty Hi Mike, "Did the Zulus salute?" No...Let me try to explain this. The Zulu attack on Rorke's Drift, was counter to the orders of the King. He said NOT to cross over the river into Natal. The Zulu warriors in the 4 regiments were part of the 'loins' or reserve, it was held back and used to plug any gaps which might develop in the attack, at Isandlwana. Who and or Why that order was given, is unknown to me, maybe someone other then myself may have that answer, but they did attack Rorke's Drift. On the morning of the 23th of Jan. 1879, the Zulu warriors seeing Lord Chelmsford column returning to Rorke's Drift, moved out. This may have been the 'rear guard', because most of the warriors lefted between 10pm and MidNight of the 22nd. So, once again there was NO Zulu salute to the Defenders at Rorke's Drift. This was Hollywood or should I say 'Pinewood' of London (I think). Well, I hope this has helped you out Mike. Gary
26th June 2002	Mike Jones Gary Thanks for the answer I did think it unlikely Mike
27th June 2002	Scott Plummer I wonder if the salute is a " poetic embellishment " rather than complete fiction. Ian Knight in the Osprey Campaign Series book on Rorke's Drift notes that the Zulus withdrew around 4:30 AM on the 23rd. Chard sent out some scouts soon after to collect firearms etc but did not encounter any large hostile force. Suddenly a "significant body of Zulus" reappeared on KwaSingqindi hill at 7 AM. Desmond Morris wrote that this caused some alarm with Chard calling in the patrols and sending off a messenger to Major Spalding at Helpmakaar concerning this development ( presumably to request assistance ). The Zulus squatted out of rifle range, rested and took snuff before retiring after "some minutes" ( Knight). This incident could account for the dramatic ending of the film with the momentary sense of alarm and hopelessness as another Zulu force appeared after a night of exhausting fighting. The actual vocal salute is fictional but one could see this momentary halt in sight of the station as a kind of salute before the awareness of Chelmsford's return made even the slight prospect of a further assault completely unthinkable.