| Date | Original Topic |
| 27th December 2001 | COLOUR SGT BOURNE
By Keith Newbery
Every time I watch the film Zulu (and I must have seen it 25 times at least) I am always puzzled and a little disappointed that Colour Sgt Bourne did not receive the VC. Did the film overstate the role he played, or was it a misjudgment at the top level? |
| Date | Replies |
| 27th December 2001 | Arthur Bainbridge
colour sgt bourne was given a commission i believe in stead.nigel green was excellent in the movie every army needs a colour sgt bourne. |
| 27th December 2001 | Alan
Keith,
Arthur is correct in that Bourne probably chose promotion rather than a decoration. Note he died as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Alan |
| 27th December 2001 | Colin E Wilks
In real life, Colour Sgt Bourne was a much younger man than Nigel Green. I may be wrong but I think he was only in his early 20s at the time of Rorke's Drift and he was awarded the DCM at some point in his army life (as well as an OBE). I could not agree more with Arthur, if I was in a battle I'd rather like to have Nigel Green's CS Bourne on my side! |
| 27th December 2001 | Martin Everett
Frank Bourne was 24 years old at the time of Rorke's Drift. He had reached the rank of Colour Sergeant after only 6 years service - he was a high flyer. He was offered a commission immediately after RD but declined the offer. His role in the defence was significant - in posting the sentries and ensuring the supply of ammunition. His DCM came with a pension of �10 pa - the same monetary award as the VC winners. Remember 'Zulu' was only a film and perhaps Nigel Green, a seasoned actor did prove that he was a better character actor than the others - perhaps an oscar rather than a VC would be more appropriate. |
| 27th December 2001 | Keith Newbery
Many thanks everyone. Some fascinating info. Martin Everett's point is well made. Nigel Green (who I believe committed suicide)was an unashamed scene-stealer in almost every role he played. |
| 28th December 2001 | Arthur Bainbridge
re Nigel Green he died from an accidental overdose of barbituates not suicide as somebody said,in 1972,but his colour sgt Bourne will live for a long time indeed. |
| 29th December 2001 | Glenn Wade
Well said Arthur!!! Colour Sergeant Bourne, Nigel Green and Frank Bourne will be in everyones' memory for a long time indeed. 'All right then, nobody told you to stop workin'! 'Cause we're ere lad and nobody else, just us'. |
| 29th December 2001 | Gary Laliberty
All well said, Nigel Green as CS Bourne would be someone I'll want by my side in a battle. Nigel Green had some of the better lines in the movie. One of better one is:(Bourne to Chard)"Mr. Chard Sir! Patrol has come back, Zulus have gone, all of 'em. It's a miracle!" (Chard to Bourne)"If it's miracle Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry, point 4-5 caliber miracle." (Bourne to Chard)"And a bayonet Sir!...With some guts behind it!"
Gary |
| 30th December 2001 | mj
I agree Gary that was one of my favourite lines from the movie. I saw this movie when it first came out in England. (We had been posted there for four years). I sat in the theatre with my parents and was totally taken back. I have watched the movie more times than any other and own it on VHS and DVD. As for CS Bourne he stole the show.
another good line from the CS
"Mr. Whitt sir, be quiet now will you. There's a good gentleman...you'll upset the lads"
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| 30th December 2001 | Dale
CS Bourne was a interesting fellow |
| 8th January 2002 | Fred
As Martin Everett mentioned, CS Bourne was offered a commission after RD. He was forced to turn it down as he was the youngest of eight and his family could not afford for him to be commissioned.
He was 24 at the time of RD and a 24 year old commissioned officer who had risen through the ranks would have been something special.
Apparently he was only 5' 6" tall and quite skinny (in contrast to the film). He had only been promoted Colour Sergeant the previous April and was "...very nervous, sensitive, and afraid of my new responsibilities" at that time.
He was promoted to Quartermaster-Sergeant after RD and later commissioned as Quatermaster in 1890. At the end of the First War he was given an honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and awarded the OBE. He was the last survivor of the defenders of RD. He died on the 8th May 1945 (VE Day), aged 91.
Perhaps it should be mentioned that the defenders of RD were B Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 24th. They were quite inexperienced and had seen no active service before the 9th Kaffir War (which itself was really just a set of skirmishes). Most of their service had been in Britain.
It was the 1st Battalion who were the experienced lot (and relatively contemptuous of the 2nd as a result). So RD was defended by around 84 fit soldiers who were facing their first `real' battle. Sadly this probably means that all the great lines that Nigel Green had were never spoken by Frank Bourne.
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| 14th January 2002 | Fred
Perhaps the popularity of Nigel Green's portrayal of CS Bourne (let's call him CS Nigel Green) is that he was such a thoroughly believable character that we can imagine him really existing. Probably, to go further,we want to believe in him as he is the sort of character (as is mentioned above) that you always wish you had around when things get tough. Tough and brave but we all know that he would have put his life on the line to help his troopers.
I'm quite sure that there have been many CS Nigel Green's in the British Army (and still are, and in all other armies too). It's always said that the NCO's are the bedrock of any army. One suspects that Nigel Green himself met a few `CS Nigel Green's' in order to have got the character so spot on.
All in all, a masterpiece of a performance in a masterpiece of a film (despite its known innaccuracies). |
| 12th June 2003 | Simon Copley
The role so brilliantly portrayed by Nigel Green was in reality, more like that played by Commissary Dalton at the actual defence.
In the film Dalton doesn't do much to warrant a VC |
| 21st July 2003 | Chris Collier
As prevoiusly stated, Col Sgt BOURNE was only 24 years old at the time of the Defence of Rorkes Drift, and had only been promoted for about 9 months. His small frame and by his own admission 'nervous' nature with regard to the responsibilities that came with his rank, no doubt contributed to the nickname of 'The Kid', which was given to him by the soldiers. This nickname perhaps indicates the way in which he was regarded by the more vetran rankers, who perhaps made his new role less than easy. Baring in mind Bourne's rapid rise to the rank of Col Sgt and the dificulties in assuming the responsibilities of the rank that that would present to anyone, is it any wonder that he choose to decline the offer of a commission ? Perhaps he felt that promotion-wise, enough was enough for a while and that he needed time to consolidate his position before moving on ? Whatever the reason, he obviuosly changed his mind later on in life and retired as a Lt Col. I belive he died on VE day 1945, and was thought to be the last living survivor of the defence. |
| 14th June 2004 | martin Giles
What I liked about Nigel Green's portrayal of C.S.B. was his thoroughly incorruptable, gentle nature, the way he showed respect to the drunk Reverend, as well as being a proper gentleman, he had a screen presence which outshined the other actors, kind of a " no matter how bad things get it will be alright" presence, as well as being the perfect soldier who treated all others with respect, what Frank Bourne was actually like, who knows? but Nigel Green was simply excellent, I wonder if on the set some other actors were threatened by his "default" charisma ???? |
