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
Dalton was the oldest Victoria Cross recipient at Rorke's Drift. After the war, he invested in a South African gold mine but died in 1887 without significant wealth. He is buried in Port Elizabeth.Surgeon James Henry Reynolds
Reynolds was promoted to Surgeon Major after the battle and served in the army for another 17 years, eventually becoming a Brigade Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel. He died in 1932 and is buried in London.Private John Williams Fielding
Fielding, who assumed the name John Williams, fought bravely in the hospital and later returned to South Wales, where he married and had five children. His hair turned white from the trauma of the battle. He volunteered for service in World War I at the age of 55 and served on the depot staff. He died in 1932 and is buried in Cwmbran, South Wales.Private Henry Hook
Contrary to his portrayal in Zulu as a drunken barrack-room lawyer, Hook was a teetotal Methodist preacher and the hospital cook. He sustained a head wound during the battle, which caused lifelong headaches. After struggling to find work, he became a janitor at the British Museum. Hook died of tuberculosis in 1905 and is buried in Churcham, Gloucestershire.Corporal Christian Ferdinand Schiess
Schiess, a Swiss-born soldier, became the first member of a South African military unit to receive the Victoria Cross. After the war, he fell into destitution and died at sea while returning to England. His Victoria Cross is on display at the National Army Museum in London.Private William Jones
Jones, another hospital defender, struggled with rheumatism after the battle and lived a hand-to-mouth existence. He even appeared in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show when it visited Britain. He suffered from nightmares about the battle and eventually died in a pauper's grave in 1913. His grave finally received a headstone in 2007 after a public fundraising effort.
Private Robert Jones
Robert Jones also fought in the hospital and suffered multiple wounds. He struggled with recurring nightmares and committed suicide in 1898, likely due to PTSD. Due to the stigma around suicide, his coffin was not allowed to enter the churchyard through the main gate, and his headstone was turned in the opposite direction of other graves.
These men, celebrated as heroes in their time, often led troubled and tragic lives after the battle. Their stories serve as a reminder of the enduring impact of war and the importance of supporting our military heroes, both in their time and ours. As Rudyard Kipling wrote, “Lest we forget, lest we forget.”
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