Creating The Battle of Rorke's Drift (3 Viewers)

The Lt. said:
Thanks again Lois for your info. Check the first two sites and found nothing listed in the Zulu Range. Being familiar with the Old Toy Soldier home I order two of his very few remaining sets cashing in on the gift certificat my daugther sent me for Christmas. Once again thanks for you input...The Lt.
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Call Jim Hillestad at the number on the Topy Soldier Museum website. He doesn't list everything he has on the site, and I was there about 2 weeks ago and he had a ton of Trophy Zulu stuff (my buddy hans bought quite a bit of it, but there was plenty left).
 
Louis Badolato said:
Call Jim Hillestad at the number on the Topy Soldier Museum website. He doesn't list everything he has on the site, and I was there about 2 weeks ago and he had a ton of Trophy Zulu stuff (my buddy hans bought quite a bit of it, but there was plenty left).
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Thanks again Louis will give him a call. Hope your holiday was full of goodies.
The Lt.
 
At 1645hrs.after barely pausing to regroup after the first assualt collapses due to heavy fire at the back walls. The Zulus then launched the first of a series of attacks against the front of the hospital. Manning the walls and appearing in the photos are Lt. Chard, Assistant Commissary Dunne and Second Corporal Attwood.
 
Also manning the front walls are Lt. Adendorff, Trooper Green, Colour Sgt. Maybin, Lt. Bromhead, Colour Sgt. Bourne and Gunner Cantwell.
 
Those are some great set ups Joe! Now you need to do some islandwana battle scenes also. You,ll need to make a big mountain for the back ground for that one.:D
 
fishead19690 said:
Those are some great set ups Joe! Now you need to do some islandwana battle scenes also. You,ll need to make a big mountain for the back ground for that one.:D
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Thanks Tim plan on doing it somewhere down the line but right now got to finish the story of The Drift with various highlights that took place during the battle. Hope you had a super Christmas and that Santa left you a bunch of goodies.........Joe
 
Joe,

With your interest in this subject, I would recommend getting your hands on a copy of "Zulu War Journal" by Colonel Henry Harford, C.B., Archon Books, Hamden, Connecticut, 1980, ISBN 0-208-1858-1. Harford, then a young subaltern, served with distinction throughout the Zulu war. He was off with Chelmsford'd column at the time of Isandlwana and Roarke's Drift, but arrived at the drift about 48 hours later, and spoke with the men. I quoted his impressions on another thread, and will try to post them for you on this thread. It is really fascinating stuff.
 
Joe,

With your interest in this subject, I would recommend getting your hands on a copy of "Zulu War Journal" by Colonel Henry Harford, C.B., Archon Books, Hamden, Connecticut, 1980, ISBN 0-208-1858-1. Harford, then a young subaltern, served with distinction throughout the Zulu war. He was off with Chelmsford's column at the time of Isandlwana and Roarke's Drift, but arrived at the drift about 48 hours later, and spoke with the men. I quoted his impressions on another thread, and will try to post them for you on this thread. It is really fascinating stuff.
 
Another great first hand account is the book "Zulu War Journal" by Colonel Henry Harford, C.B. It is actually a transcription of Harford's handwritten journal, kept during the war. At the time Harford was a brevet Captain serving on the staff of Commandant Lonsdale of the 3rd Regiment, Natal Native Contingent. There are several of his sketches of battlefields, as well as a very fresh and well written account of his experiences and observations. Here is a quote from his observations the day after Rorke's Drift:

"Acting Commissariat Officer, Mr. James Dalton, who in the absence of Lieutenant Chard, R.E., (who was down at the river . . . superintending Pontoon work at the moment when warning was received of the nearness of the Zulus), devised all the rapid arrangements for the defense as well as working like a Trojan himself with the men at the barricades and did much gallent work during the night. . . . Mr Thomas Atkins is the best judge of gallant deeds, and when he applauds you may be certain that he is right and does so with good reason, and I noticed that directly Mr Smith or Mr Dalton showed themselves they received an ovation from thje men, Which was unmistakable." (Page 40).

Pretty interesting information about who really led the defense of Rorke's Drift. In light of the fact that Gonville Bromhead was nearly totally deaf and left behind at the drift because he was considered a total liability on combat, and John Rouse Meriot Chard never saw combat before or after, and Dalton had been a Sergeant Major who saw tons of action on the Northwest Frontier, the above quotation about who the men applauded after the battle gives an interesting twist on the battle that was never included in the movie Zulu. Harford saw a good amount of action (and was mentioned in the dispatches) so his action descriptions (while understated and modest) are quite interesting.
 
Thanks again Louis for passing on the information of Throphy of Texas. I've been aware of his site which now shows little to offer along with what he's offering on E-Bay. I was not aware of the book Zulu War Journal. I've acquire a number of books covering the war over the years and will agree base that Commissary Dalton play a major roll in recommending the defenses along with his actions during the fighting. As for Bromhead although his hearing was impaired he had seen action on the Cape Frontier. His fellow officers seem to have regarded him - unfairly and rather slow due to his hearing but considered him as brave as a lion. In reality he was very popular with his men, being a champion boxer and wrestler. If your not familiar with them they are two sites that are very informative which are www.rorkesdriftvc.com and Ian Knights site kwazulu.co.uk
Now on with the battle with the Zulus attacking the front of the hospital in force.
 
Thanks for the information. BY the way, did you know that in the 1990's K&C made some pretty nice glossy Zulu war stuff? If you poke around the photos of my collection on the website you will see all of it. There is a nice burning Rorke's Drift farmhouse, a dismounted 24th Foot officer firing his pistol over a dead horse, and about 15 different Zulu poses. Since Andy didn't make any other 24th Foot, he always displayed the Zulus with a bunch of red-coated Seaforth Highlanders, so that's how I have the Zulu war stuff displayed in my collection. Historically inaccurate (I think the only Highland Regiment involved was Princess Louise's 91st Argyleshire Highlanders) but as I only display my K&C stuff the only way to flesh out the scene.
 
I've seen the pictures Louis, I was refered to Andy's archives showing the Zulus and the Hospital. Who knows somewhere down the line Andy may decide to come out with an extensive line with a matte finish. Once again the battle rages on with heavy hand to hand fight in front of the hospital. You'll notice that Dalton, Bromhead, Chard, Adendoff, Schiess, along with Cantwell and Attwood are in the thick of it.
 
Lt

Love the pics, lovely figures and great sense of perspective with the backdrop of the hills.:) Thanks for posting.
 
OzDigger said:
Hi Joe, now I see what you mean :) My wife actually has a 'downunder' in a bluish colour. I have a Akubra 'Snowy River' which is more like what most Aussie farmers would wear except for the under 40's that are more likely to wear baseball caps whilst driving their John Deer tractors, not much different to most US farmers in many respects but they don't see much snow :)

Btw, back in my banking days I used to work in Kempsey NSW where the Akubra factory is but I never did get around to visit it, but I did learn that felt is made out of rabbit fur.
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Useless fact - 'Mad as a Hatter' comes from the mercury poisoning associated with the use of mercuric choride in the felting process to kill bacteria - causing a particular mental illness known as erythism - a problem around Luton in Bedfordshire where much of the industry used to be based - football team AKA 'the Hatters'.
 
After repelling the first assualt and with not much of a lull continues against the front of the hospital with no lack of determination from the Zulus.
 
Once again the defenders struggle to wave off the Zulus as the Hand to Hand fighting continues. The conflict to continue.......The Lt.
 
And they still keep coming on. Seems like nothing can stop them...The Lt.
 
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