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Rorke's Drift: A New Perspective
he battle of Rorke's Drift is established in history as one of Britain's most incredible actions where approximately 155 defenders held off a Zulu force of over 4,000 warriors, in a savage, bloody conflict with no quarter given by either side. The battle led to a display of incredible fortitude, courage and tenacity resulting in mutual respect between British red coat and Zulu warrior. Using a vast array of primary accounts, including lesser known, and previously unpublished examples, the author describes the battle in vivid detail. The actions of each of the 11 Victoria Cross recipients are looked at in detail, together with those men who were awarded the DCM. Illustrated with previously unpublished artwork, 'Rorke's Drift-A New Perspective' is a gripping account, which questions what is commonly believed to be the true interpretation of the hospital fighting. A truly compelling read, packed with numerous footnotes and sources, appealing to both the casual reader and the serious historian.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 29, 2017
Fairly interesting look the amazing 1879 battle, but somehow it seemed rather dry. The author did try to do justice to Chard and Bromhead, and the nine others who received the Victoria Cross. It's just that I have read several books on Rorke's Drift, and this one seemed lacking in some ways.
December 31, 2020
A different perspective is mentioned in the title but it was mostly for the view of the British. The print of the diagrams is too small to read.
November 6, 2022
I've read a few books about Rorke's Drift and this is one I will be keeping in my library. The book covers aspects of the battle not previously covered in anything else I've read, such as the defence and the withdrawal from the hospital and who was where and when during this time.
Rorke's Drift was the defence of a mission station by 155 British soldiers against at least 3,000 Zulus, possibly more, over the afternoon, evening, and night of 22-23 January 1879. The British survived with 15 dead (2 later dying from their injuries) and the Zulus lost between 600 - 900. The defenders were down to their last boxes of ammunition when Lord Chelmsford, with a column of soldiers, turned up early in the morning of the 23rd to stop the Zulus attacking again otherwise it would likely have been a different story.
The book includes all the citations for the 11 (yes eleven) Victoria Crosses earned over the 12 hours of fighting. The fighting was hand-to-hand at times, with bayonets being used against spears in the night time.
The attitude of Garnett Wolseley shines through. He despised the two lieutenants, Chard and Bromhead, who lead the defence, writing about Chard after presenting him with his VC
"A more uninteresting or more stupid-looking fellow I never saw. Wood (a subordinate of Wolseley) tells me he is a most useless officer, fit for nothing."
This is sheer class bias written about a man who'd recently organised the greatest defence of a place by the British army there's ever been. Chard was very modest, almost shy, and unassuming. His actions did the talking and his men admired him.
14 hours prior to Rorke's Drift, the Zulus had massacred 1300 British soldiers at iSandlwana, about 6 miles away. Survivors from this massacre passed by Rorke's Drift as they were fleeing, telling the men there what was coming their way.
The soldiers stayed where they were.
Rorke's Drift was the defence of a mission station by 155 British soldiers against at least 3,000 Zulus, possibly more, over the afternoon, evening, and night of 22-23 January 1879. The British survived with 15 dead (2 later dying from their injuries) and the Zulus lost between 600 - 900. The defenders were down to their last boxes of ammunition when Lord Chelmsford, with a column of soldiers, turned up early in the morning of the 23rd to stop the Zulus attacking again otherwise it would likely have been a different story.
The book includes all the citations for the 11 (yes eleven) Victoria Crosses earned over the 12 hours of fighting. The fighting was hand-to-hand at times, with bayonets being used against spears in the night time.
The attitude of Garnett Wolseley shines through. He despised the two lieutenants, Chard and Bromhead, who lead the defence, writing about Chard after presenting him with his VC
"A more uninteresting or more stupid-looking fellow I never saw. Wood (a subordinate of Wolseley) tells me he is a most useless officer, fit for nothing."
This is sheer class bias written about a man who'd recently organised the greatest defence of a place by the British army there's ever been. Chard was very modest, almost shy, and unassuming. His actions did the talking and his men admired him.
14 hours prior to Rorke's Drift, the Zulus had massacred 1300 British soldiers at iSandlwana, about 6 miles away. Survivors from this massacre passed by Rorke's Drift as they were fleeing, telling the men there what was coming their way.
The soldiers stayed where they were.
June 9, 2025
Ever since I first saw Zulu as a child, it has been my favourite film, and I have found the story of the defence of Rorke's Drift fascinating. In reading more extensively on the subject in recent years, I have found the reality to be even more compelling (even if they didn't sing Men of Harlech).
The first half of the book, detailing the progress of the defence of Rorkes Drift, was excellent, combining a riveting narrative, apposite detail, and convincing and thoughtful analysis. In particular, Thornton's hypothesis that there were two separate evacuations from the hospital rather than one seems to be well thought through. The second half of the book is an assortment of loosely related chapters and appendices, including some particularly interesting primary sources and various points of dispute in the detail of the defence. While this is useful in understanding some of the detailed aspects of the battle, it will only be of limited interest to the casual reader.
As I've read more about Rorke's Drift, I've come to admire both Chard and Bromhead, who displayed and provided exceptional confidence, inspiration, guidance and courage throughout the defence: "The success of the defence can be attributed to a number of aspects. A main factor was the exceptional leadership displayed throughout the battle. The key men involved provided a fine mix of experience, fearlessness, foresight, and influence. These key players operated in a smooth and mutually supportive manner, enabling the garrison to adapt to any situation or predicament that was thrown at them."
In the aftermath of the battle, modesty and graciousness were two other attributes displayed by both officers, as demonstrated in this quote from Chard: "Those Zulus were an enemy that it was some credit to us to have defeated. Their bravery and courage could not have been excelled, and their military organisation and their discipline might have given a lesson to more civilised nations. Cruel and savage as they were, the Zulus were, however, a gallant enemy."
Like Wolves on the Fold, by Col. Mike Snook, is still my favourite book on Rorke's Drift, but this is a very worthy addition to the growing pile of literature on one of the British Army's known actions.
The first half of the book, detailing the progress of the defence of Rorkes Drift, was excellent, combining a riveting narrative, apposite detail, and convincing and thoughtful analysis. In particular, Thornton's hypothesis that there were two separate evacuations from the hospital rather than one seems to be well thought through. The second half of the book is an assortment of loosely related chapters and appendices, including some particularly interesting primary sources and various points of dispute in the detail of the defence. While this is useful in understanding some of the detailed aspects of the battle, it will only be of limited interest to the casual reader.
As I've read more about Rorke's Drift, I've come to admire both Chard and Bromhead, who displayed and provided exceptional confidence, inspiration, guidance and courage throughout the defence: "The success of the defence can be attributed to a number of aspects. A main factor was the exceptional leadership displayed throughout the battle. The key men involved provided a fine mix of experience, fearlessness, foresight, and influence. These key players operated in a smooth and mutually supportive manner, enabling the garrison to adapt to any situation or predicament that was thrown at them."
In the aftermath of the battle, modesty and graciousness were two other attributes displayed by both officers, as demonstrated in this quote from Chard: "Those Zulus were an enemy that it was some credit to us to have defeated. Their bravery and courage could not have been excelled, and their military organisation and their discipline might have given a lesson to more civilised nations. Cruel and savage as they were, the Zulus were, however, a gallant enemy."
Like Wolves on the Fold, by Col. Mike Snook, is still my favourite book on Rorke's Drift, but this is a very worthy addition to the growing pile of literature on one of the British Army's known actions.
November 19, 2022
First Book I have read by the Author, I have a lot of interest in the Zulu wars, and would say that it is the best book I have read on Rorke’s Drift, accurate and informative an easy read, I like how there were personal accounts from some of the Hero’s that fought there. I highly recommend this book.
October 9, 2020
The Duke of Wellington was famously dismissive of any attempt to create a record of the events of the Battle of the Waterloo. He compared it to trying to remembe who danced with whom a at a Ball. Since eveeryone's recollection is different it is impossible to divine the truth.
The point is well worth remembering when reading this "New Pespective" on the renowned battle of Rorke's Drift based only on primary sources of the survivors. I had mild concerns about this book simply becasue the title suggests a revisionist approach that this book makes no effort to atttempt.
What we get is a sensible, reasoned and well supported new analysiss that eschews all modern accounts to return to the words of those whe were there. His arguments are cogent and difficult to deny but he is the first to admit that several survivors change their accounts over the years. Some to appease the communities where the dead came from others for self aggrandisement or simple old agae and confused memory.
His main "revision" is to promote the idea that the Hosvalpital was evacuated in two seperate groups one by Hook and Williams and earlier by R.Jones and W.Jones, all of whom earned teh V.C for their efforts All his claims are supported with quotes from survivor accounts and are credible.
You can question whether his unquestioning defence of the qualities of Chard and Bromhead is wholly justified but that is a small quibble
He goes beyond the eleven V.Cs when he provides biographies of all the men awarded medals and his collection of accounts and recollections is a valued addition to the corpus
I agree that this can be slightly dry in tone and is not my favourite baok on the subject but well worth the read.
The point is well worth remembering when reading this "New Pespective" on the renowned battle of Rorke's Drift based only on primary sources of the survivors. I had mild concerns about this book simply becasue the title suggests a revisionist approach that this book makes no effort to atttempt.
What we get is a sensible, reasoned and well supported new analysiss that eschews all modern accounts to return to the words of those whe were there. His arguments are cogent and difficult to deny but he is the first to admit that several survivors change their accounts over the years. Some to appease the communities where the dead came from others for self aggrandisement or simple old agae and confused memory.
His main "revision" is to promote the idea that the Hosvalpital was evacuated in two seperate groups one by Hook and Williams and earlier by R.Jones and W.Jones, all of whom earned teh V.C for their efforts All his claims are supported with quotes from survivor accounts and are credible.
You can question whether his unquestioning defence of the qualities of Chard and Bromhead is wholly justified but that is a small quibble
He goes beyond the eleven V.Cs when he provides biographies of all the men awarded medals and his collection of accounts and recollections is a valued addition to the corpus
I agree that this can be slightly dry in tone and is not my favourite baok on the subject but well worth the read.
April 12, 2025
Most interesting retelling of the story of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, based entirely on first hand accounts and challenging some of the established ‘history’ of the battle.
December 7, 2020
Outstanding treatment of this battle. I love the way Thornton used previously unused letters and documents to delve into some mysteries and controversies surrounding the battle of Rorke's Drift. I especially like the biographical backgrounds he provided for all of the major actors in the battle -- including what happened to them after the battle.
Overall, if you are interested in the battle of Rorke's Drift or the Zulu Wars, or are simply a fan of the movie classic, Zulu, you should get this book!
Overall, if you are interested in the battle of Rorke's Drift or the Zulu Wars, or are simply a fan of the movie classic, Zulu, you should get this book!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews