In January of 1879, British Imperialism suffered one of its most embarrassing defeats at the battle of Isandhlwana, when an invading British Army of 1,700 men were surprised and nearly annihilated by a force of over 20,000 Zulu warriors. The next day as the shattered remnants of the British army fled south, one wing of the vast Zulu force encountered a small British Garrison at a place called Rorke's Drift. The ensuing daylong battle has become legendary in the annuals of British Military History.
At the time, Rorke's Drift was being used by the British as a military supply station and hospital. It consisted of two main buildings, a large colonial house used as the hospital and a stone chapel. The small outpost was under the command of Lieutenant Chard of The Royal Engineers and contained 120 fighting men, plus 15 bed-ridden patients. Some of the fighting men were actually walking wounded.
When word of the disaster at Isandhlwana was received, Lt. Chard immediately set about fortifying the garrison. Using sacks and boxes a barricade was constructed with the two buildings serving as either end of the fort. Late that afternoon, the Zulus attacked.
No one knows the exact number of the Zulu attackers but it was thought to be between 3,500 - 4,500. Most were armed with short stabbing spears. A few possessed rifles, but were poorly trained in their use. The first attack on Rorke's drift was met with a hail of accurate British gunfire, likely surprising the Zulu's with its effectiveness. The Zulus pulled back and launched another attack, concentrating on the hospital side. Despite the continuous deadly fire, the Zulus reached the hospital, forced their way inside, and began attacking the wounded men. Through the heroic sacrifice of several British soldiers, many of the wounded were saved by being passed out windows or through holes hastily cut in the walls. As the Zulu's set the hospital ablaze, Lt. Chard had the men construct a new barricade between the hospital and chapel, thus creating a new little fort inside the old one.
The fight continued throughout the night, lightened by the burning hospital. The Zulus attacked again and again, but were unable to break through the last desperate line of British defense. At one point in the early morning, Lt. Chard led an attack outside his barricade in order to capture the nearby water wagon. Soon after, the attack tapered off, and the Zulus retreated.
The battle left 17 British dead. The Zulus had lost an estimated 400-500 warriors. 11 Victoria Crosses (Britain's highest military honour) were awarded among the defenders of Rorke's Drift. The battle of Rorke's Drift still lives strong in the hearts of many British, even though the context in which it was fought is largely forgotten.
