| History of the Zulu War
including biographies on the Victoria Cross Winners at Rorke's Drift.
The Victoria Cross Winners:
 | John Rouse Merriot Chard
 | He was in command of the Rorke's Drift Poston January 22,
1879, when with about 100 men, mostly of the 24th Regiment, the
position was attacked by 4,000 Zulus. Throughout the entire
defence, which lasted from 4 pm till daybreak next morning,
Colonel Chard directed operations with the most heroic bravery.
The Lieut.-General in command of the troops reported that
"had it not been for the fine example and excellent
behaviour of these two officers [Chard and Bromhead] under the
most trying circumstances, the Defence of Rorke's Drift Post
would not have been conducted with that intelligence and
tenacity which so essentially characterised it" |
| The Defence of Rorke's Drift is remembered as one of the
finest examples of British heroism, and the names of Chard and
Bromhead hold a prominent position in the annals of the British
Army. Queen Victoria ordered their names to be inscribed on the
colour pole of the 24th Regiment, together with those of
Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill, who fell so heroically on the
banks of the Buffalo River on the same day, while endeavouring
to save the colours of the regiment from the enemy after the Massacre
of Isandhlwana. |
| LT. Chard, son of Mr W W Chard, of Pathe, Somerset and
Mount Tamar, Devon was born in 1847. Educated at Plymouth New
Grammar School, Cheltenham, and Woolwich, he entered the Royal
Engineers in 1868. He was stationed at Bermuda for some time,
ultimately going to South Africa on the outbreak of the Zulu
War. After the Defence of the Drift, for which in addition to
the Victoria Cross, he was promoted to Captain and Brevet-Major,
he became ill with fever and went to Ladysmith to recuperate. He
recovered sufficiently to take part in the battle of Ulundi.
Towards the end of 1879 he was ordered home, and on his arrival
in Plymouth was met by a telegram from Queen Victoria and
received by her at Balmoral. He retired from the service in
August 1897 and died at Hatch Beauchamp Rectory, near Taunton,
Somerset on November 1st 1897. |
|
| Gonville S Bromhead
| In the Defence of Rorke's Drift Post, Lieutenant Bromhead was
associated with Lieutenant Chard. By his splendid example of
courageous bearing he inspired his men in the magnificent
defence of the barricade, where, with rifle and bayonet, he
assisted to repel the terrific and continuous attacks made for
hours by the Zulus. |
| His name, together with Chard, Melvill and Coghill are
inscribed upon the colour pole of the 24th Regiment and will
forever be associated with one of the grandest achievements of
British arms. In addition to being awarded the Victoria Cross,
he was promoted to Captain and Brevet-Major. |
| He was the son of Sir Gonville Bromhead, Bart, and died in
Lucknow, India on February 10th 1891. |
|
| James Henry Reynolds
| During the Defence of Rorke's Drift, Lieutenant-Colonel
Reynolds behaved with conspicuous bravery, attending to the
wounded under a heavy cross-fire from the Zulus on the hills
above the Post, and a continual shower of assagais from those
attacking the barricades. When not actually engaged in his
humane task, he carried ammunition to the men from the magazine. |
| Son of Mr L Reynolds, J P of Dalyston House, Granard, Ireland,
Colonel Reynolds was born at Kingstown in Dublin on February 3rd
1844. Educated at Castle Knock and Trinity College, Dubin, he
entered the Medical Staff Corps as Assistant Surgeon on 31st
March 1873. He became Surgeon-Major on 23rd January 1879
for distinguished field service, becoming Brigade-Surgeon
Lieutenant Colonel on 25th December 1892, retiring in 1896. |
| Besides Rorke's Drift he was also present at Ulundi. He was
awarded the South African Medal with three dates - 1877, 1878
& 1879 -, and also the Gold Medal of the British Medical
Association for his services at Rorke's Drift. |
|
| James Langley Dalton
| The successful defence of the Drift was in a great measure due
to this officer, who, on hearing the news that the the Zulus
were marching on the Post, devoted his energies and resource to
the construction of the barricades. He was at the corner of the
hospital when the first onslaught was made by the dense mass of
Zulus, and his unerring aim and cool courage did much to
contribute to the repulse of, and heavy loss inflicted on, the
enemy at that point. One Zulu had sprung onto the barricades,
and, having seized the rifle of one of the defenders, was about
to assagai him, when Dalton rushed forward and saved the man's
life by shooting the Zulu. During the Defence he was very
severely wounded, but continued at his post until the Zulus
retired. |
| In spite of the valuable work done by Dalton, the War Office
ignored his merits, and it was not until many months after - in
November 1879 - that they were awakened to the fact that his
bravery had been overlooked, and he would have been left
unrewarded had not the facts been laid before Parliament, and
the pressure of public opinion been brought to bear in his
favour. |
| Dalton had been a Sergeant-Major in the British Army before
the war. He died at Portsmouth in April 1887. |
|
| William Allen
| To this man's undaunted bravery at the Defence of Rorke's
Drift when, with Frederick Hitch, he held a most dangerous
position, the removal of the wounded and sick patients from the
burning hospital across to the Inner Defence was able to be
accomplished. Severely wounded, he still held his post, raked by
a heavy fire from the Zulus on the adjacent hill. When the
wounded had been removed and his post was no longer tenable, he
served out ammunition to the holders of the barricade. |
|
| Frederick Hitch
| Hitch was associated with William Allen VC in a most
courageous defence of a dangerous and important position. By
their steady fire the two men held open the communication
between the hospital and the Inner Defence, enabling the wounded
to be carried across, when the Zulus had set light to the
thatched building. He was very badly hit by a roughly made Zulu
bullet, which inflicted a fearful gash on his shoulder, no less
than thirty-six pieces of bone being taken away afterwards from
the wound. He was presented with the Cross by Queen Victoria at
Netley Hospital on his return in the summer of 1879. |
| Born at Southgate in Middlesex on 28th November 1856. Previous
to the Zulu War, he had served through the Kaffir War of 1877-8.
After leaving the Army held held the position of one of the
Right of the Line Corps of Commissionaires at the Imperial
Institute. He later drove a cab in London, owning two horses for
the purpose. |
|
| Henry Hook
| The heroic conduct of Private Henry Hook on January 22nd 1879,
and his superhuman efforts in saving the wounded from the
burning hospital earned him his VC. |
| He was born at Churcham, Gloucestershire, and served for five
years in the Monmouthshire Militia before joining the 24th
Regiment. He served through the Kaffir War 1877-8 before his
bravery at Rorke's Drift for which he was presented with the
Victoria Cross by Lord Wolseley on August 3rd 1879. He later
served in the 1st Volunteers Battalion Royal Fusiliers. |
|
| Robert Jones & William Jones
| Decorated for conspicuous bravery and devotion to the wounded
at Rorke's Drift on January 22nd 1879. Privates Robert and
William Jones, posted in a room of the Hospital facing the hill,
kept up a steady fire against enormous odds, and while one
worked to cut a hole through the partition to the other room,
the other shot Zulu after Zulu through the loopholed walls,
using his own and his comrades rifle alternately when the
barrels became to hold owing to the incessant firing. By their
united heroic efforts six out of seven patients were saved by
being carried through the broken partition. The seventh,
Sergeant Maxwell, being delirious, refused to be helped, and on
Robert Jones returning to take him by force he found him being
stabbed by the Zulus on his bed. |
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Defence of Rorkes Drift by Lady Elizabeth Butler.
On January 22nd 1879, during the Zulu War, the small British field hospital and supply depot at Rorkes Drift in Natal was the site of one of the most heroic military defences of all time. Manned by 140 troops of the 24th Regiment, led by Lieutenant John Chard of the Royal Engineers, the camp was attacke by a well-trained and well-equipped Zulu army of 4000 men, heartened by the great Zulu victory over the British forces at Isandhlwana earlier on the same day. The battle began in mid afternoon, when British remnants of the defeat at Isandhlwana struggled into the camp. Anticipating trouble, Chard set his small force to guard the perimeter fence but, when the Zulu attack began, the Zulus came faster than the British could shoot and the camp was soon overcome. The thatched roof of the hospital was fired by Zulu spears wrapped in burning grass and even some of the sick and the dying were dragged from their beds and pressed into the desperate hand-to-hand fighting. Eventually, Chard gave the order to withdraw from the perimeter and to take position in a smaller compound, protected by a hastily assembled barricade of boxes and it was from behind this barricade that the garrison fought for their lives throughout the night. After twelve hours of battle, the camp was destroyed, the hospital had burned to the ground, seventeen British lay dead and ten were wounded. However, the Zulus had been repulsed and over 400 of their men killed. The Battle of Rorkes Drift is one of the greatest examples of bravery and heroism in British military history. Nine men were awarded Distinguished Conduct Medals, and eleven, the most ever given for a single battle, received the highest military honour of all, the Victoria Cross.
Open edition print. Image size 25 inches x 13 inches (64cm x 33cm) plus white border without text.. Price £42.00
Open edition print. Image size 35 inches x 21 inches (89cm x 53cm). Price £48.00
Limited quantity canvas edition. Special Promotion : This print is 30% off for a limited time only! Size 40 inches x 26 inches (102cm x 66cm). Price £504.00
Limited quantity canvas edition. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited quantity canvas edition. Size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE DHM2000
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The Defense of Rorkes Drift by Alphonse De Neuville.
By about 6pm the Zulu attacks had extended all around the front of the post, and fighting raged at hand-to-hand along the mealie-bag wall. Lieutenant Chard himself took up a position on the barricade, firing over the mealie-bags with a Martini-Henry, whilst Lieutenant Bromhead directed any spare men to plug the gaps in the line. The men in the yard and on the front wall were dangerously exposed to the fire of Zulu marksmen posted in the rocky terraces on Shiyane (Oskarsberg) hill behind the post. Several men were hit, including Acting Assistant Commissary Dalton, and Corporal Allen of the 14th. Surgeon Reynolds treated the wounded as best he could despite the fire. Once the veranda at the front of the hospital had been abandoned, the Zulus had mounted a determined attack on the building itself, setting fire to the thatched roof with spears tied with burning grass. The defenders were forced to evacuate the patients room by room, eventually passing them out through a small window into the open yard. Shortly after 6pm Chard decided that the Zulu pressure was too great, and ordered a withdrawal to a barricade of biscuit boxes which had been hastily erected across the yard, from the corner of the store-house to the front mealie-bag wall. In this small compound the garrison would fight for their lives throughout most of the coming night.
Open edition print. Image size 32in x 19in (81cm x 49cm) . Price £50.00
Open edition print. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £42.00
Special edition. Image size 32 inches x 19 inches (81cm x 48cm) plus border with text and remarques.. Price £55.00
Small number of giclee canvas prints available. Size 40 inches x 30 inches (102cm x 76cm). Price £600.00
Small number of giclee canvas prints available. Size 36 inches x 26 inches (91cm x 66cm). Price £450.00
ITEM CODE DHM0202
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Defence of Rorkes Drift by Brian Palmer
Men of the 24th Foot defend Rorkes Drift against an overwhelming number of Zulus near the barricades, and the hand to hand fighting. Surgeon Reynolds can be seen attending a wounded soldier.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £95.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £135.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £460.00
Original painting by Brian Palmer. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £2600.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00
ITEM CODE DHM0926
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Types of Natal Forces by Richard Simkin.
Print shows from left: Trooper of the Natal Carabiniers, Officer of the Natal Carabiniers, Imperial Light Horse, Natal Police Trooper of the Natal Mounted Police and Durban Light Infantry.
Open edition print. Image size 8 inches x 12 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £13.00
Original chromolithograph Image size 10 inches x 13 inches (25cm x 33cm). Price £130.00
ITEM CODE UN0308
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Victoria Cross Winners at the Defence of Rorkes Drift, January 22nd - 23rd 1879 by Stuart Liptrot
Individuals shown: Lieutenant G. Bromhead, Lieutenant J.R.M. Chard, Private F. Hitch, Corporal W.W. Allen, Private W. Jones, Private J. Williams, Private R. Jones, Surgeon J.H. Reynolds, J.L Dalton and Private A. Hook.
Open edition print. Image size 112 x 14 inches (28cm x 36cm). Price £28.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 11 inches x 14 inches (28cm x 36cm). Price £38.00
ITEM CODE LI0004
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Finding the Body of the Prince Imperial, 2nd June 1879 by Harry Payne.
Open edition print. Image size 8 inches x 12 inches (20cm x 31cm). Price £14.00
Original chromolithograph published 1891. Size 12.5 2x 9 inches (32cm x 23cm). Price £110.00
ITEM CODE VAR0021
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Hlobane 22nd March 1879 - Mossops Leap, Trooper Mossop and Warrior by Jason Askew
Less than 3 copies now available.
Signed open edition. Image size 14 inches x 24 inches (36cm x 61cm). Price £45.00
ITEM CODE JA0004
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Into the Fire by Mark Churms.
Crouching low behind their shields, the warriors of the uThulwans, iNdlondo and uDloko regiments advance around the foot of Shiyane hill. Led by their commander, Prince Dabulamnzi kaMpnade, the main Zulu force attacks the British outpost at Rorkes Drift, 4.50pm, 2nd January 1879.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 17 inches x 13 inches (43cm x 33cm). Price £45.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Special Promotion : This print is HALF PRICE for a limited time only! Image size 17 inches x 13 inches (43cm x 33cm). Price £52.80
Original painting by Mark Churms. Image size 24 inches x 16 inches (61cm x 41cm). Price £3000.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00
ITEM CODE DHM0561
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Battle of Ulundi by Brian Palmer.
After coming out of the British Square The 17th lancers charge by the 58th regiment .
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 24 inches x 15 inches (61cm x 38cm). Price £95.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 24 inches x 15 inches (61cm x 38cm). Price £135.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £460.00
Original painting by Brian Palmer. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £2600.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00
ITEM CODE DHM1244
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Battle of Ulundi by Fayel
The two forces meet on 4th July 1879 at Ulundi. Several thousand Zulus surrounded the British infantry which formed a square with the 17th Lancers at its centre. When the Zulus attack faltered the 17th Lancers were ordered to charge. Reproduced by Permission of the 17th/21st Lancers.
Open edition print. Image size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £34.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE DHM0060
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Battle of Ulundi, 1879 by Henry Dupray
some surface scratches. Image size 8 inches x 12 inches (20cm x 31cm). Price £75.00 Antique print c.1890 mounted on thick card at the time.
ITEM CODE HD0033
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Ulundi 4th July 1879 - Charge of the 17th Lancers by Jason Askew.
Less than 8 copies now available.
Signed open edition. Image size 24 inches x 14 inches (61cm x 36cm). Price £45.00
ITEM CODE JA0006
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Last of the 24th by Stuart Liptrot.
At the end of the Battle of Isandhlwana, the last few soldiers of the South Wales Borderers, 24th Regiment of Foot, hold out till their last rounds of ammunition in the foothills of the mountain.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £28.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £38.00
ITEM CODE LI0007
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Battle of Isandhlwana, 22nd January 1879 by Brian Palmer.
Last stand of the 24th South Wales Borderers at Isandhlwana during the Zulu War.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £95.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £135.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £460.00
Original painting by Brian Palmer. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £2600.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00
Restricted edition of individually produced mugs, exclusively available from Cranston Fine Arts. Standard size earthenware mug, produced in the UK.. Price £10.00
ITEM CODE DHM1133
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Last Stand of the 24th Regiment at the Battle of Isandhlwana by Simon Smith
Battle of Isandhlwana. Zulu victory over the British forces on 22nd January 1879 about 100km north of Durban. Lord Chelmsford led a col | |
