The Victoria Cross, Britain's highest medal for gallantry, has been awarded just over 1,300 times since its inception in 1856. Remarkably, 11 of these were awarded to the defenders of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, a battle made famous by the 1964 film Zulu. While the battle itself is well-documented, the fates of these 11 men after the event are less known. Here's a journey through their lives post-Rorke's Drift.
Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard
The officer commanding Rorke's Drift, Chard, a Royal Engineer, received his Victoria Cross from General Sir Garnet Wolseley in July 1879. He remained in the army, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Chard suffered from cancer of the tongue, likely exacerbated by his habit of pipe smoking, and retired in great pain. He died in November 1897 and is buried in Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset.Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead
Bromhead, portrayed by Michael Caine in Zulu, came from a distinguished military family. Despite his lineage, he was not considered a high-flyer due to a hearing problem. After Rorke's Drift, Bromhead served in the Third Anglo-Burmese War and rose to the rank of Major. He suffered from what we might now recognize as PTSD, withdrawing socially and avoiding any discussion of the battle. Bromhead died of typhoid in India and was buried near the Ganges River.Corporal William Allen
Allen was 35 during the battle and played a crucial role in evacuating patients from the burning hospital, despite being injured. After receiving his Victoria Cross from Queen Victoria, he returned to South Wales, where he married and had seven children. He became a sergeant instructor before dying of influenza in 1890, aged just 45. His grave is in Monmouth Cemetery.Private Frederick Hitch
Hitch, severely injured during the battle, was awarded his Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at Netley Hospital. Unable to continue in the army due to his injuries, he became a London cab driver. Despite losing his original Victoria Cross in a robbery, he successfully obtained a replacement. Hitch died in 1913 of pneumonia and heart failure, and his funeral was attended by over a thousand London taxis.Acting Assistant Commissary James Langley Dalton
