rorkesdriftvc.com :: View topic - Article in Evening Chronicle (UK, North East)

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:26 am

Story form NE newspaper, dated 28 Mar 09:

VC hero�s battle with the Zulus

Mar 28 2009 by Ray Marshall, Evening Chronicle

THE North East has a particularly proud record when it comes to valour in battle and Rorke�s Drift, where the greatest number of VCs were won, was no exception.
This epic defensive action, in the South African province of Natal, stands alongside such battles as Waterloo and Trafalgar in British history, yet just 139 British troops took part, albeit against 4,000 Zulu warriors, with 11 VCs awarded.
Among them was the North East�s own Corporal William Allen.
There are reports that Cpl Allen, pictured, was born near St Andrew�s Church, in Newcastle, but other, probably more accurate reports, say he was actually a product of a Northumbrian village.
The garrison of the tiny Rorke�s Drift mission station consisted of B Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot of the South Warwickshire Regiment, mainly made up of Welshmen. But among them was Cpl Allen.
It all began on January 21, 1879, when the small garrison could hear the distant sounds of battle. Some of the officers clambered up a nearby hill and from their vantage point they realised parties of Zulus were heading towards the mission station.
Soon a rider brought news of the massacre at Isandlwana and they set about their defences.
A party of Durnford�s African mounted unit arrived and went forward to hold up the Zulus for as long as possible.
Firing was heard before Durnford�s men returned to Rorke�s Drift before leaving with his Natal Native Infantry. The British garrison was left to hurriedly shorten the perimeter line to accommodate their greatly reduced numbers. There was also a small number of Natal irregulars at the station.
The first wave of about 500 attacking Zulus were met by heavy fire 50 yards from the wall and were driven back.
The defenders then had to endure heavy fire from a nearby hill.
As the battle reached a critical stage and the Zulus were making inroads into the small, desperately-held compound, they broke into the hospital and set it ablaze.
There were still sick and injured soldiers sheltering there and every room was being contested, bayonet against spear, trained soldiers against skilled warriors.
As many men were extracted as possible, as Privates John Williams, Henry Hook, William Jones, Frederick Hitch and Cpl William Allen, who all received the Victoria Cross, fought from room to room.
Once their ammunition was expended they fought with bayonets, getting out the casualties.
It was said of William Allen: �He held a most dangerous and difficult position, allowing the removal of the wounded and sick patients from the burning hospital. Severely wounded, he still held his post, raked by a heavy fire from the Zulus on the adjacent hill.�
The Zulu army had masses of muskets and rifles, but they were old and in poor condition, and the warriors had little training.
After their victory at nearby Isandhlwana, when a 20,000 Zulu army massacred 1,300 British and African soldiers, the Zulus had seized 1,000 Martini Henry breech loading rifles and a large amount of ammunition.
Many were used in the fight at Rorke�s Drift.
The British withdrew to their final bastion at the centre of the station, but the savage and brave Zulu attacks had to be resisted until around midnight when, suddenly, they halted, although the firing continued through the night.
By now the British only held the area around the storehouse.
Early in the morning, around 7am, a body of Zulus appeared on the hill. As the British waited for the final, deadly assault, the Zulus turned and left.
Apparently they could see a large column of British troops approaching.
Zulu casualties are thought to have been around 500. The British had 17 killed and 10 wounded.
Many of the soldiers suffered terrible stress after the battle. A Cpl Schiess fell �on hard times� and died in 1884, aged 28 years; Private John Fielding�s hair is said to have turned white after the battle; Robert Jones shot himself in 1896.
Geordie soldier William Wilson Allen died in March 1890, aged 46.

AMB

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:03 am

I see that Ray Marshall has used all of the old chestnuts in his article. It is a pity that writers do not use the readily available facts of the battle before producing their column.

Graham

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:23 pm

... the 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot of the South Warwickshire Regiment, mainly made up of Welshmen.

??

how many more times ... Rolling Eyes

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:53 pm

Well how about:

It all began on January 21, 1879, when the small garrison could hear the distant sounds of battle.

What battle was that then?

Allen or Allan - officially or correct?

I will not bother with the old chestnuts, Graham has already alluded to them.

John Y.

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:16 pm

Old chestnuts? What about the South Warwickshires? Isn't that a "new" chestnut? Wink

P.

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:11 pm

I thought this would cause some comments!!

Don�t you just love well researched journalism?! If this chap writes articles like this about an easily researched issue, can you image what he comes up with if he is the sole reporter on a new story?

AMB