Rorke's Drift
During the defence of Rorke's Drift on the 22 and 23 January 1879 Bromhead shared the command of the defenders of the post with John Chard, an officer of the Royal Engineers. Chard had received his promotion in April 1868, making Bromhead the junior Lieutenant and second-in-command at the Drift even though he was an infantryman and Chard an engineer. In the movie Zulu, it is stated that Bromhead received his commission only three months after Chard when, in fact, it was a full three years (after Chard).
Setting a fine example and conducting himself with great gallantry in most trying circumstances during the defence of Rorke's Drift, Bromhead was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Immediately after the battle he was promoted to Captain and then Brevet Major. The citation for his VC was published in the London Gazette on 2 May 1879:
| “ | THE Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officers and Soldiers of Her Majesty's Army, whose claims have been submitted for Her Majesty's approval, for their gallant conduct in the defence of Rorke's Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus, as recorded against their names, viz.:—
For their gallant conduct at the defence of Rorke's Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus on the 22nd and 23rd January, 1879. Royal Engineers Lieutenant (now Captain and Brevet Major) J. R. M. Chard 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment Lieutenant (now Captain and Brevet Major) G. Bromhead The Lieutenant-General commanding the troops reports that, had it not been for the fine example and excellent behaviour of these two Officers under the most trying circumstances, the defence of Rorke's Drift post would not have been conducted with that intelligence and tenacity which so essentially characterised it. The Lieutenant-General adds, that its success must, in a great degree, be attributable to the two young Officers who exercised the Chief Command on the occasion in question. |
” |
Read more about this topic: Gonville Bromhead
Famous quotes containing the word drift:
“But now they drift on the still water,
Mysterious, beautiful;”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)