Back Slag van Rorke's Drift Afrikaans معركة روركس دريفت Arabic Rorks Drift döyüşü Azerbaijani Битка при Роркс Дрифт Bulgarian Batalla de Rorke's Drift Catalan Bitva o Rorke's Drift Czech Brwydr Rorke’s Drift Welsh Slaget ved Rorke's Drift Danish Schlacht um Rorke’s Drift German Μάχη του Ρορκς Ντριφτ Greek

Battle of Rorke's Drift

Battle of Rorke's Drift
Part of the Anglo-Zulu War

The Defence of Rorke's Drift, by Alphonse de Neuville (1880)
Date22–23 January 1879
Location
Rorke's Drift, Natal
28°21′29″S 30°32′12″E / 28.35806°S 30.53667°E / -28.35806; 30.53667
Result British victory
Belligerents
 United Kingdom Zulu Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
 Prince Dabulamanzi kaMpande
Strength

3,000–4,000 Zulus:[4]

  • iNdluyengwe ibutho: 500 to 700 men
  • uThulwana, iNdlondo, uDluko amabutho: c. 3,000 men[5]
Casualties and losses
  • 17 killed[6]
  • 15 wounded
 351 confirmed killed[7]
About 500 wounded[8]
Battle of Rorke's Drift is located in South Africa
Battle of Rorke's Drift
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Location in present-day South Africa
Battle of Rorke's Drift is located in KwaZulu-Natal
Battle of Rorke's Drift
Battle of Rorke's Drift (KwaZulu-Natal)

The Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was an engagement in the Anglo-Zulu War. The successful British defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenants John Chard of the Royal Engineers and Gonville Bromhead, of the 24th Regiment of Foot, began once a large contingent of Zulu warriors broke off from the main force during the final hour of the British defeat at the day-long Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879. They traveled 6 miles (9.7 km) to attack Rorke's Drift later that day and continuing into the following day.

Just over 150 British and colonial troops defended the station against attacks by 3,000 to 4,000 Zulu warriors. The massive but piecemeal attacks by the Zulu on Rorke's Drift came very close to overwhelming the much smaller garrison, but were consistently repelled.[9] Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to individual defenders, along with a number of other decorations and honours.

  1. ^ Knight, Ian. Zulu: Isandlwana, Ulindi and Rorke's Drift, 1992, pp. 107–108.
  2. ^ Holme, Norman. The Noble 24th, Savannah Publications, ISBN 1-902366-04-2, 1999, p. 265–369, 383.
  3. ^ Whybra 2004, pp. 68–69.
  4. ^ Estimates vary: Colenso 1880, p. 305, gives 3,000; Knight 2003, p. 37, gives "in excess of 3,000"; Lock and Quantrill 2005, pp. 231–232 gives 3,000, p. 231; Morris 1998 gives over 4,000.
  5. ^ Knight 1996, p. 23.
  6. ^ Porter 1889, p. 33, "17 killed and 10 wounded" (including one killed by 'friendly fire' while fleeing the garrison at start of the battle)
  7. ^ Colenso 1880, p. 305
  8. ^ Lock and Quantrill 2005, excerpt from private journal of Lieutenant Colonel John North Crealock, Crealock states "351 dead were found and 500 wounded".
  9. ^ Knight 2003, p. 37.

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