The defence of Rorkes Drift is incontestably one of the most notable actions in the past in the English armed forces. It was at this modest mission station along the border of Zululand and Natal where 4,000 Zulu warriors attacked the garrison of not more than 140 Brit squaddies. The soldiers fought for their lives all night and by the early morning, the Zulu warriors had retreated. The top award for gallantry in the UK Army is the Victoria Cross and the action at Rorkes Drift saw 12 VCs awarded, more than in each other individual action in history.
The fight was portrayed in the Stanley Baker movie "Zulu" and one of one or two leading characters who acted heroically at Rorkes Drift, at the end did not get a Victoria Cross. Color Sergeant Frank Bourne was instead awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal that is ranked 2nd behind the Victoria Cross. Additionally, Bourne was also offered a commission but he declined. Being the eighth son in their household, there wasn't any money available and this was a point in time when wealth was used to buy commissions for officials in the UK Army.
Bear in mind, Bourne was destined to be a vocation infantryman and a really good one also. Closely following S. A. , he served in both India and Burma prior to eventually earning his commission 11 years following the Battle of Rorkes Drift. He at long last retired from the English Military in 1907. Only 7 years later, The 1st World War started and Bourne rejoined the regiment. By the conclusion of the first World War in 1918, he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was made an OBE. He left the division again, on this occassion for ever.
A result of the actor who played the part of Bourne in the motion picture Zulu, a lot of people assumed Frank Bourne to once have been in his mid-50s during the time of the Battle of Rorkes Drift however honestly he was only 24 years of age.
After the finish of The First World War, Bourne lived in retirement in Beckenham, South London and he was the last survivor of the battle to pass away at the age of 91 on 8th May 1945, the day World War Two in Europe came to a close.
The fight was portrayed in the Stanley Baker movie "Zulu" and one of one or two leading characters who acted heroically at Rorkes Drift, at the end did not get a Victoria Cross. Color Sergeant Frank Bourne was instead awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal that is ranked 2nd behind the Victoria Cross. Additionally, Bourne was also offered a commission but he declined. Being the eighth son in their household, there wasn't any money available and this was a point in time when wealth was used to buy commissions for officials in the UK Army.
Bear in mind, Bourne was destined to be a vocation infantryman and a really good one also. Closely following S. A. , he served in both India and Burma prior to eventually earning his commission 11 years following the Battle of Rorkes Drift. He at long last retired from the English Military in 1907. Only 7 years later, The 1st World War started and Bourne rejoined the regiment. By the conclusion of the first World War in 1918, he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was made an OBE. He left the division again, on this occassion for ever.
A result of the actor who played the part of Bourne in the motion picture Zulu, a lot of people assumed Frank Bourne to once have been in his mid-50s during the time of the Battle of Rorkes Drift however honestly he was only 24 years of age.
After the finish of The First World War, Bourne lived in retirement in Beckenham, South London and he was the last survivor of the battle to pass away at the age of 91 on 8th May 1945, the day World War Two in Europe came to a close.
About the Author:
Despite the fact he didn't receive the Victoria Cross, CSM Frank Bourne was one of the most renowned squaddies who fought at Rorkes Driftduring the Anglo Zulu War of 1879.
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