| Date | Original Topic |
| 17th February 2001 | Privates Hook & Hitch
By Richard Green
Can anyone please tell me if Hook & Hitch were "insubordinate barrack room lawyers" as Michael Caine famously said. Also is it correct that Hitch went on to become a London cabby?
Many Thanks.
Richard Green
P.S Cracking good site. |
| Date | Replies |
| 17th February 2001 | Alan Critchley
Richard, there is no evidence that Hook was anything other than a respected member of the army and society. He had a good army career, being a sergeant for 20 years. He was also a respected member of The Loyal St James Lodge of Oddfellows. Hitch could have been more like the character portrayed by Hook in the film. He was attested at Westminster Police Court, which could mean that it was the nearest venue where he could enlist, who knows? He did go on to become a London cabby, his funeral cortege being followed by more than a thousand London cabbies.
Alan |
| 17th February 2001 | Lee Stevenson
Gonville Bromhead made the following statement about Pte Hitch; "I have much pleasure in testifying to the excellent character borne by F Hitch VC whilst serving in the 2/24th Regt. He also described Hitch as a "clean, sober and hardworking man"
Hitch's discharge papers state that his conduct;- "has been very good" and that his name had never appeared in the Regtl. Defaulters Book.
Hook's family were said to be bitterly disappointed by the portrayal of him in the film "Zulu". Indeed Surgeon JH Reynolds' family were equally upset by Patrick Magee's portayal of the illustrious Surgeon |
| 25th February 2001 | Sean Farrell
It was James Bancroft who muted the idea that Hitch joined the army to escape imprisonment. As Alan Critchley rightly say's, Westminster Police Court was probably the nearest location for Hitch to swear his oath of allegiance and for the Recruiting Sergeant to get his "Bounty".
I can also confirm that Hitch does not appear in the defaulters book and that to become a cab driver at the turn of the century one's character would have to be absolutely pure.
Between them, Bancroft and the film Zulu, have done much to sully the reputations of Hook and Hitch. |
| 27th February 2001 | Diana Blackwell
Evidently "sullying" is in the eye of the beholder. There are quite a few of us who think Hookie is the best thing about "Zulu." I have always loved that character so much I wanted him to be real, and was disappointed to learn that the actual Henry Hook didn't look or act like that.
Despite its historical basis, "Zulu" is a work of art, not a documentary. It takes quite a few liberties with the facts, but always in the interest of strengthening the story. Those who object might take comfort in the ironic fact that the film's dramatic power (arising partly from inaccuracy) has probably drawn more attention to the historical battle than all other sources combined. |
| 1st March 2001 | Sean Farrell
I totally agree with you Diana, though I know Hook's descendants were very disappointed with the portrayal of him. When I first heard that one of the VC defenders at Rorkes Drift was a cab driver I so much wanted it to be Hook, who is unoubtedly the hero of the film. When I found out that the cab driver was Hitch I had to go through the film again and query just how he came to be awarded the VC - Hitch is virtually written out of it - First one in the film to be shot, instead of the last: the pouring away of the soup despite the indignant chef's cries, when it was Hitch who carried on brewing the tea and ran with it back into the compound. Hitch in the film could not even put his bayonet on his gun without dropping it. I would lay money on it that some of Hitch's descendants would have been quite content if Hitch was the lovable rogue instead of Hook. |
| 2nd March 2001 | Diana Blackwell
Right on, Sean. Years ago I corresponded briefly with Donald Morris (of Washing of the Spears fame). He had interviewed some of Hitch's descendents and said they reported that Hitch "couldn't abide Hook," although reasons were not given. He also said that Hook "was something of a juvenile delinquent." I don't know what Mr. Morris based this on (certainly it doesn't jibe with the family's straight-arrow talk) but for a while I got quite a thrill from the blurred line between fact and fantasy. (Sigh.) |
| 3rd March 2001 | Peter Critchley
Uh Oh, I now feel quite guilty for playing a part in 'correcting' the assumptions made about the film, but having said that I have always agreed with the saying that 'fantasy is better than reality'! |
| 3rd March 2001 | Martin Everett
Henry Hook is the only 'other rank' from the Anglo-Zulu war to have his own brass memorial tablet in Brecon Cathedral. This suggests that he was highly thought of by his comrades in the Regiment. |
| 5th March 2001 | Sean Farrell
Diana, That's very interesting stuffabout the antipathy between Hook and Hitch. I had always assumed the opposite, though Hitch did travel out to Churcham for Hook's funeral - (one of Fred's sons was a coffin bearer). Also, and here I freely travel from the sublime to the ridiculous, both Hitch and Hook had a daughter which they named Victoria - whether after HM or the medal I can only guess.
Sean |
| 20th March 2001 | John Green
I agree that Hook certainly was not "an insubordinate barrack room lawyer" There is a very good account of the Rourke's Drift Battle by Pte Hook in John Keegan's "Penguin Book of War". Also included in the Zulu Wars chapter are two good accounts of the battle from the point of view of the Zulus. |
