rorkesdriftvc.com :: View topic - Rorke's Drift article BBC History Magazine Jan 2012

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:57 am

Hi everyone,
I was browsing through the magazines in the local newsagents and picked up the January BBC History magazine. Inside I found an article on Rorke's Drift by Dominic Sandbrook. It is the latest in what I presume is a regular feature 'A Big Day in History' and Dominic 'nominates 22nd Jan 1879 - the date that 150 British troops fought off 4,000 Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift - as a big day in history.'
The article is a page long and summarises the battle, giving Asst Commissary Dalton credit for his part in the defence. Quotes from the defenders are given and the courage of both sides acknowledged. Alphonse de Neuville's painting is reproduced and the popularity of its public exhibition in London is mentioned.
'Zulu' is mentioned in the final paragraph as immortalising the battle (which it surely did) with thoughtful comment which, in my view, puts it in its historical context.