ZULU
135 years ago today, 20,000 Zulu warriors attacked the British encampment at Islandwana, killing approximately 1200 British soldiers and 300-600 native levies.
The anti-British biased Wikipedia account leaves out the cause of the British defeat, namely logistics. The commissariat were miserly with the distribution of ammunition,at times refusing to issue it to runners not of their unit.
Later today, almost 5,000 Zulu warriors, most of whom had arrived late for the battle at Islandwana, went to the mission station/trading post of Rorke's Drift, serving as a hospital, in order to perpetuate the slaughter.
They were met by 139 British Tommies of B Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot (a Welsh Regiment, though at least equally populated by English foreigners at the time). Some of whom were on the sick list.
11 men won the Victoria Cross at Rorke's Drift. The Zulu's lost 500-700 men. The British losses were 17 dead, 10 wounded. Payback's a bloody bitch.
http://www.britishbattles.com/zulu-war/r...
In the 1980s, this movie account of the defense of Rorke's Drift was rated the number one movie among American men (in terms of video rentals, etc). Of course, that was before political correctness made it a number of mortal sins to appreciate the account...
Never in the annals of martial combat has there ever been a more shining example of professionalism and indomitable courage.
The anti-British biased Wikipedia account leaves out the cause of the British defeat, namely logistics. The commissariat were miserly with the distribution of ammunition,at times refusing to issue it to runners not of their unit.
Later today, almost 5,000 Zulu warriors, most of whom had arrived late for the battle at Islandwana, went to the mission station/trading post of Rorke's Drift, serving as a hospital, in order to perpetuate the slaughter.
They were met by 139 British Tommies of B Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot (a Welsh Regiment, though at least equally populated by English foreigners at the time). Some of whom were on the sick list.
11 men won the Victoria Cross at Rorke's Drift. The Zulu's lost 500-700 men. The British losses were 17 dead, 10 wounded. Payback's a bloody bitch.
http://www.britishbattles.com/zulu-war/r...
In the 1980s, this movie account of the defense of Rorke's Drift was rated the number one movie among American men (in terms of video rentals, etc). Of course, that was before political correctness made it a number of mortal sins to appreciate the account...
Never in the annals of martial combat has there ever been a more shining example of professionalism and indomitable courage.
SOURCE URL: http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=aOoCrCeHxpI
I'll let the read/viewer make his own decisions about the lessons to be gleaned from the film.
There are a few historical inaccuracies but for the mot part it is right on.
if you don't want to watch the entire file, skip to the end and listen to the number of Victoria Crosses given at this one battle.
A trivia question: What makes the Victoria cross special? hint: it is not that it is England's highest decoration for bravery.