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Movie of the Battle of Rorke's drift, ~150 British soldiers defending a mission station against ~4000 Zulus.

Channel: Entertainment
Uploaded: January 12, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Author: ColourSergeantBourne

Length: 00:02:54
Rating: 4.83
Views: 102938

Tags: Zulu Caine Chard Bromhead Rorke's Drift Battle British Army Sergeant Bourne

Video Comments:
a0e0roberts (September 6, 2008 at 4:02 am)
I can understand both sides of the issue. If your military wanted my property, I'd feel intitled to fair compensation. But with all that Chelmsord had to worry about, one fiesty Swedish Missionary was probably one too many!

It was Witt, Padre George Smith, and Surgeon James Reynolds that climbed the hill (not the two "Dozy Welshmen" in the film) and warned the troopers below. I doubt Witt had to be told twice to leave, he had family nearby to worry about.
brotherdevil (September 6, 2008 at 12:32 am)
lol i can imagine he wud.
a0e0roberts (September 5, 2008 at 6:56 pm)
"did they really test the British firepower by allowing themselves to be shot?" No. They paused before the attack to take snuff, but once the charge began, nobody was "counting rifles." The Zulu could have gotten a good nose count from nearby hill.
The Rev. Witt (a young man at the time) had argued with the British military, but over how much money he should be paid for his house! (Not exactly the fanatic pacifist from the film.) Chelmsford threatened to commandeer the property.
brotherdevil (September 5, 2008 at 6:48 pm)
no they wouldnt be that daft. whose going to stand there beating a shield just to be a guinea pig. i kno they were brave. but theres a difference between brave and madness.
stgeorgereborn (September 5, 2008 at 5:12 pm)
Ok thanks brotherdevil, roberts. So did they really test the British firepower by allowing themselves to be shot? And did they take away there own dead and injured?
a0e0roberts (September 5, 2008 at 5:02 pm)
"It wasan't racism, it was realism" The officers and NCO's assigned to the NNC, now THAT was racism. Just about every able-bodied unmarried white male in Natal was dragged into the war, including the scum of the earth. The bottom of the barrel went into the NNC. These guys couldn't speak Zulu, many couldn't speak much ENGLISH. They hated their African soldiers, and the feeling was mutual. In maneuvers, getting orders across led to complete disarray.

The unit should have been disbanded.
a0e0roberts (September 5, 2008 at 4:51 pm)
"The religous bloke at the start" Of all the characters in the film, the only one more fictional than the Rev. Otto Witt was his daughter, who was three years old and nowhere NEAR the battle. There's no more than 10 miles and a fast river between Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. For a messenger to get to Ulundi and Witt to return to Rorke's Drift (in a cart, over roadless wilderness) BEFORE the battle is absurd.
Approximately 600-700 Zulu dead. (Over 370 found)
brotherdevil (September 5, 2008 at 4:40 pm)
the reverend whitt was not at the royal krall when the battle of issandiwana was taking place. the guy was more likely in natal or he would of been at rorkes drift. it may be worth looking up. thats a hard question to answer as some of them were taken from the field, some were killed after 2-3 days from lead poisoning. on top of that there army many factors but if your talking of body count at the field 350 something i believe. not that many.
stgeorgereborn (September 5, 2008 at 4:22 pm)
The religous bloke at the start - was that true, that he was a guest of the Zulu who then fled to Rorke's drift? How many of the 4000 zulu's died at the battle?
brotherdevil (September 5, 2008 at 4:03 pm)
it was one in two one man got the rifle the other got the ammunition. then we had a gentleman who employed many of the nnc and gave them swinburn henry rifles. they were good. there officers abandon them what else would they do. the trained troopers also deserted at times. plus i must admit the nnc didnt do much anyway half the time. they were really just a meat shield. silly but thats britain.