This battle took place in 1879. If the soldiers had had 1866 Winchesters (~15 round magazine) rather than the single shot Martini Henry rifle they would have prevailed with no losses. The British military brass thought that the MH was good enough for dealing with the Zulus.
I watched this when I was a small child and ever since learning the song a couple of days after watching it for the first time, I sing it ever time i'm scared or nervous and it fills me with courage and hope and I feel I can take on the world. And it also helps that i'm fiercly proud of being Welsh.
My Parents are Welsh (I was born there too) have lived in Australia over 40yrs - but love this. Have seen this film approx. 20 times. My Dad loves this!
My Parents are Welsh (I was born there too) have live in Australia over 40yrs - but love this. Have seen this film approx. 20 times. My Dad loves this!
@VampiricVeils Only 19 of the soldiers of B Coy were Welsh; the rest were from England, Scotland and Ireland. The regiment had not long moved to Brecon (in south Wales) when it was still called the 2nd Warwickshires(?). I don't know why you'd correct someone referring to the Welsh as British anyway seeing as they're native Britons as opposed to the German English and Irish Scots.
@VampiricVeils actually i jus did this in history and this bit is fictional, only a third of the men station there were welsh because the welsh regiments had not been formed yet
Later, after the Zulus have lost about half of their men and are now retreating, they continue to chant; Stanley Baker wonders what kind of warrior taunts the victors as if he were inviting further combat. The Boer scout starts laughing heartily; Baker says "What's so funny?" The Boer says, "They're not TAUNTING you-- they're SALUTING you!" Aside from the "Harlech" scene, that's my favourite scene.
@Wyrdtimes That's not the point of the scene, it's that the Welsh soldiers pulled them all together. Yes, I know it's total bollocks but you've got to admit it's a great scene.
@ALEXJDXBL Your fighting yourself here, I was simply pointing out that this was mostly a company of Englishmen not Welsh. But i do believe they should have something in their memory.
Go to "google earth, street view" and have a look at the blue disc on "16 Kings Hall Road, Beckenham, Kent" . This is the house where Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne ended his days on VE day 1945 at the age of 91. I wonder what kind of car he drove.
great song....unfortunately it wasn't the regimental song at the time this battle took place. Great for the movie....good cinematic imagery, but still only poetic license taken by the movie studio to put bodies in theater seats!
Take it from me, no singing took place at Rork's Drift by Welshmen or anyone else. Anyone on here ever fired a Martine Henry? well after a few rounds your throat is so full of black powder you can hardly talk let alone sing, nice touch by the director though. If you are ever in Brecon take time out to visit the South Wales Borderers Museum at the Barracks a very interesting hour and a half with relics from Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift, the museum also holds several of the VC's won in the action.
"singing in a firefight would kind of give your positions"
LOL! That's some comical military analysis right there! They're in a damn fort or redoubt, it's not like the Zulu's were wondering were the British were.
It,s only a film for crying out loud lets chat about the entertainment quality n not have experts who weren't there telling us what happened! I liked the FILM it was sort of "feel good" especial in these present days when were all getting battered to death by our politicians. I thought Colour Sargent Bourne " Nigel Green" was the best actor on the set, he portrays what every one believes a Sargent should be like.
British actor Stanley Baker who died 1976 aged 48 and there was a ceremony in Ferndale Rhondda, and such was their admiration for him that many of the Zulu actors and extras that were on the film with him came from Zululand to pay their respects.
you know all the correct history aside its a great movie and agreat story and follows the incidents closely enuff to stand on its own. besides, ina similar situation do you think you would give a shit where the man on either side of youcame from as long as he had a gun ,could pull th trigger and was on your side? Its time after 2000 or more years that the UK became the United Kingdom it professes to be.
sorry wales but this song was NOT sung at rorkes drift. the regiment was called the 2nd warwickshires at the time, and of the 100 odd men only about 15% were welsh, the majority were ENGLISH!!
@FaTmaN9009 It must be wonderful to be English. It was the English who fought with Spartacus against Rome, Alexander the Great came from Essex, The Alamo was defended by men from Surrey, the list goes on.
Of the 122 soldiers of the 24th Regiment present at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, 49 are known to have been of English nationality, 32 were Welsh, 16 were Irish, 1 was a Scot, and 3 were born overseas. The nationalities of the remaining 21 are unknown.
@TheStandofTheLastGuy How sad is the comment above about this being sung by Welsh troops in the heat of battle, think you'll find singing in a firefight would kind of give your positions away and usually troops are relaying info and orders to each other not singing, total BS, what next the Scots playing bagpipes while fighting the Taliban, this is the sort of crap you expect from the Yanks not the Brits
@mhffc ..As an old man and a "yank" I can tell you this; When a man is facing mortal combat, the last thing on his mind is singing, playing bugles, yodeling or playing rock music by the 'Stones.
@mhffc Scots regiments regularly play Bagpipes while in Combat. It is recorded recently in Afghanistan that the Black Watch made a bayonet charge against the Taliban, while Bagpipes were playing, and following the men in. PS. I am a Yank. :D (Britain FTW)!
More Mel Gibson history, this regiment was'nt Welsh, there was more Englishmen there than Welsh, shame when Brits fall into the same lazy way of learning history like the Yanks.
That's not even the right words to the true song 'men of harlech'. And yes it is true that it was in-fact a predominantly english regiment (2nd Warwickshire) that fought that day. And there was no 'sing off' between the zulus and the british.
But really how many films are factually accurate? Not many.
When I first saw this movie on TV, at almost the end of the movie, when the fighting's done and everyone's relaxing , my dad (he was with the army in Kenya 1954, fighting the Mau Mau,) said to me "See that Chieftan saluting? He knows what warriors are. "
My dad didn't talk much about his experiences as most vets don't (or didn't; we only think of WWI or WWII or Korea or Vietnam as those days grow misty)...
This coming Remembrance Day, think of the heroes past and present and thank them.
@senoJyrreT There wasn't much saluting done in the Mau-Mau campaign on either side. It was a dirty little conflict fought by the British on one side and the communist-backed Kikuyu on the other. Led by Jomo Kenyatta nd his 2 i/c Dedan Kamathi..
The Zulu Empire won three major victories over the British Royal Army during the Zulu War: Isandlwana, Intombe, and Hlobane. Rooke's Drift was the only major British Victory between January 11 1879 and March 11 1879 and even then it was only a tactical victory
@snakes3425 they were more like minor skirmishes rather "major victories". Yes you talk of Hlobane, where it was 25,000 Zulus against 700 British. Thats being outnumbered over 30:1, even if they had M16s they probably wouldnt of won. The overall casualty rates for the campaign were 10:1 in British favour, and the campaign ended in a decisive defeat for the Zulus.
And a few weeks after Rorkes Drift we won a spectacular victory at Kambula practically ending the campaign.
"Rooke's Drift was the only major British Victory between January 11 1879 and March 11 1879"
At least get the name of the battle right before you pontifiate about it. I find it rather comical you would refer to Intombe where only 60 British died as a "major victory" for the Zulu.
Point is when the British first went in they underestimated the Zulu and yes the Zulu also used firearms, outdated firearms but firearms none the less, even if i was just 60 men it helped shatter the myth that the British Army was invincible.
@snakes3425 yes you're right, in fact in the Anglo Afghan wars the tribesmen rifles had much greater range than the British which they used to slowly pick off the columns. Far from invincible, but the British army would always adapt and most often that not (especially in the 19th century) win.
the SWB were the 'junior' regiment, the other regiment were the Worcs. There is an SWB museum in Brecon, some of the diaries I've seen make intersting reading.
@veteran2000 actually the movie is a gross misrepresentation. the welsh were the minority in the battle. there were more english and irish in the battle!
@veteran2000 no ofence mate but thers only two things in the world better than a welsh company 2nd a scottish company (black watch) 1st an english regiment but the welsh are bloody good fighters i have to give you that your english brother
@chaos574 no offence taken but I did mean the Zulu's at the time and no argument about the Scots, English or even the Australian regiments being the best fighters to have.
I heard in the news that a welsh regiment in afghanistan a few weeks back sang this song while in the heat of battle. The Taliban must of shit themselves.
@EmsionProductions I very much doubt that! the russians lost to them and every one else loses ,more like the americans crap themselves. what s the welsh doing in afganistan except losing
@EmsionProductions: I would've paid to be embedded with that Battalion just to see their reaction, but T.B.H, I'd be more nervous about a battalion of Scotsmen. Especially if they're crazy enough to march into battle with a full band!!
@EmsionProductions The Brits should be glad to have so many Celts in their army. I've heard several stories of Scottish soldiers doing bayonet charges in the past few years.
The welsh having been colonised by the english should have know better than to go out colonising and murdering other people.The difference between the english and the africans is that the english had bullets,the africans spears.
2/24th Foot became the South Wales Borderers, not Warwickshire Regiment - and at the time of Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift was recruited almost exclusively in South Wales.
2/24th Foot became the South Wales Borderers, not Warwickshire Regiment - and at the time of Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift was recruited almost exclusively in South Wales.
dont want to shit on anyones parade but most of the men at rorkes drift were englishmen previously a regiment from the gloucester witls area and of the winners of the vc 7 were english 2 were welsh 1 was swiss and 1 was irish , id call that a truly British adventure and one to be proud of
La Grande Illusion - of the 11 VCs 2 went were to Welshmen. Although the regiment was based in Brecon in South Wales at the time and called the 24th. Regiment of Foot (later South Wales Borderers), it was formerly the Warwickshire Regiment. Many of the defenders had never been to Brecon. Of the 24th Regt. at the defence, the 49 were English, 18 Monmouthshire,16 Irish, 1 Scottish, 14 Welsh and 21 of unknown nationality.
Im from england, and I think that Scottish and welsh soldiers are still the more reliable choice, they are just naturally harder because of their surroundings at home, like russians
Despite the fact that England raped the welsh women pillaged the welsh towns and killed the welsh men (not to mention the occasional racist comment thrown about such as "sheepshagger") the welsh still proved to be the most disciplined and loyal fighting force in Britains arsenal whether it was welsh brigades or welsh longbowmen...strangely the welsh come in above the scottish and they just come above the irish in fighting prowess
@al1ad2 well you would say that cos your welsh like a scotsman would say there the best fighters for the british army in my personal opinion i would say the scots are the best sorry
It was the British that who kicked off the war through the actions of Lord Chelmsford and Bartle Frere.
Most of the men in the 1/24th battalion were English, whilst many from the 2/24th were Welsh...this was not an entirely Welsh affair. What it highlights is the strength and quality of the UK's armed forces drawn from the whole of the British Isles, a tradition and standard that continues today.
The British soldier is a professional soldier deserving of the admiration history gives him.
Typical viewpoint of you anti-imperialists, you seem to think every civilisation that ever fought a battle with the British Empire sat around picking flowers and writting poems on how lovely life is. The Zulu nation was a Warrior society, very aggressive and very warlike and it started a war and lost. Hardly the fault of the British.
@RedcoatMic24 Check your history -- The Zulus never started the war. They were pushed into it. This was the time of British expansion and was continued thru the Boer Wars.
The Zulus were warlike but they were also a very organized government. The British were the same.
@RedcoatMic24 No, the Boers got along with most of the tribal groups. The British were just into world expansion and did not care how they got it.
Ask the Australian Army what they think of the British Army. They really loved them after the Boer Wars and the First World War. But then again the Irish have a way of reflecting on the quality of English rule.
What hell no i'm an Anthropologist so i know everyones a douchebag. Its just i'm Scottish and a socialist so i naturally hate the English monarchy and most things connected to them including the British Empire.
Also didn't the British start it by encrouching into Zulu Land wih out the permission of the Zulu nation?
@dawgchief thats the spirit especially to the horrible cunts who want to protest when are dead army boys are brought home pity there not on the workin end of them bayonets
one of the Men is this film is based on someone from my town who I believe got a VC he has a war grave. However he was portrayed as a drunk in the film :(
@dawgchief You need to read the real sotry - scarcely a Welshman there. Don#t know why the producers didn't tell it like it was. Was almost exlusivley an English affair. What would Taffies be doing in the Warwickshire Regiment?
@dawgchief "At Rorke's Drift, eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded. Seven to the 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot, one to the Army Medical Department, one to the Royal Engineers, one to the Commissariat and Transport Department and one to the Natal Native Contingent".
@dawgchief We complain about the Americans hikacking British Military history in their filsm (Objective Burma U5 whaterver it was) but here English bravery is ascribed to the Welsh. Shocking
@jonnybottle english bravery what fucking retarded bastard u r ,fuck the british you disrespectful cunt ,welsh regiment one english in charge ,big fucking cheese,you leave the bottle alone jonny
@RICHARDTOMLEY10WHARF The voice of reason! Although the regiment was based in Brecon in South Wales at the time and called the 24th. Regiment of Foot (later South Wales Borderers), it was formerly the Warwickshire Regiment. Many of the defenders had never been to Brecon. Of the 24th Regt. at the defence, the 49 were English, 18 Monmouthshire,16 Irish, 1 Scottish, 14 Welsh and 21 of unknown nationality. Of the 11 VCs 2 went were to Welshmen, see: rorkesdriftvc webiste
@dawgchief Agreed, Rourkes Drift was an heroic engagement. I'm not saying that the 11 VCs weren't deserved but the real "politically motivated" reason for their award had more to do with the restoration of public credibility after the disaster in Isandlwana the previous day. Kind of 19th Century Information Operaions & Spin! That's nor being a detractor it's a realistic interpretation of history!
@conbar777 in general, if you discover a battle at which there was a mass of VCs it's because some senior officer fucked up and the guys on the ground had to make up the slack. e.g. the Battle of Arnhem.
@conbar777 Or because 100 men defeated 4000.... Each 11 of them each had a seperate reason for getting the VC because they all deserved it. Rourkes Drift didn't need any spin.
@dawgchief the VCs were awarded to deflect attention from the debacle of what happened the day before (Zulu Dawn). This was really a minor skirmish and very one-sided.
@dawgchief apparently it was actually an english regiment who fought that day, not the welsh. but fuck it, doesn't matter anyway we still won (england!!)
"United in the strife that divided them"
This battle took place in 1879. If the soldiers had had 1866 Winchesters (~15 round magazine) rather than the single shot Martini Henry rifle they would have prevailed with no losses. The British military brass thought that the MH was good enough for dealing with the Zulus.
BRowe99 4 weeks ago
I watched this when I was a small child and ever since learning the song a couple of days after watching it for the first time, I sing it ever time i'm scared or nervous and it fills me with courage and hope and I feel I can take on the world. And it also helps that i'm fiercly proud of being Welsh.
Mikefoot1 1 month ago 2
Sums up welsh spirit in every single way.
bobby76able 2 months ago 5
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My Parents are Welsh (I was born there too) have lived in Australia over 40yrs - but love this. Have seen this film approx. 20 times. My Dad loves this!
JamIndia5 2 months ago
My Parents are Welsh (I was born there too) have live in Australia over 40yrs - but love this. Have seen this film approx. 20 times. My Dad loves this!
JamIndia5 2 months ago
Yep i agree! There red coats would give away there position long before the singing lol
guyface1000 3 months ago
when the british sing shit has gone down
Chingchong052 3 months ago
@Chingchong052 Welsh. They are Welsh, none of the other countries which make up Great Britain fought this battle. Harlech is in North Wales :)
VampiricVeils 3 months ago
@VampiricVeils Only 19 of the soldiers of B Coy were Welsh; the rest were from England, Scotland and Ireland. The regiment had not long moved to Brecon (in south Wales) when it was still called the 2nd Warwickshires(?). I don't know why you'd correct someone referring to the Welsh as British anyway seeing as they're native Britons as opposed to the German English and Irish Scots.
fealhach 3 months ago
@fealhach This what a few men from the same island can do when they put aside their clannish warring! AWESOME!
MrCeallaigh 2 months ago
@VampiricVeils actually i jus did this in history and this bit is fictional, only a third of the men station there were welsh because the welsh regiments had not been formed yet
Chingchong052 3 months ago
Later, after the Zulus have lost about half of their men and are now retreating, they continue to chant; Stanley Baker wonders what kind of warrior taunts the victors as if he were inviting further combat. The Boer scout starts laughing heartily; Baker says "What's so funny?" The Boer says, "They're not TAUNTING you-- they're SALUTING you!" Aside from the "Harlech" scene, that's my favourite scene.
therealjoebloggs 4 months ago
Newsflash. It was the Warwickshire regiment at Rourke's Drift - an English regiment.
Wyrdtimes 4 months ago
@Wyrdtimes That's not the point of the scene, it's that the Welsh soldiers pulled them all together. Yes, I know it's total bollocks but you've got to admit it's a great scene.
Whatupwidat 4 months ago
Cymru!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JayWobbs 4 months ago
WELSH MEN WILL NOT YIELD!!!!!
freff88 4 months ago
I always wondered what the lyrics are to the zulu soldiers song is.
wingright2nd 4 months ago
The best scene of the movie.
thehotshirtguy2008 4 months ago
cymru am byth
91Williams91 4 months ago
When I hear this I am not Scottish I am a proud Brittish man
cosawanty 4 months ago 2
@cosawanty ...yea good analysis, i'm british and proud when this part of the film comes on.
NewDayStudios 2 months ago
Like any family we bicker and fight, but when the four of us unite we can take on anyone. Rule Britannia!
kjclarke56 5 months ago
OPEN FIRE
thousandson556 5 months ago
South Wales Borderes...wernt they ?
frog77 5 months ago
@frog77 I believe so, my Grandfather was in the Borderers!
nrjelley 5 months ago
Does anyone realise that most men at Rorke's drift were English not Welsh.
arsenaljsutliffuk 5 months ago
@arsenaljsutliffuk It's not about how many Welshmen were there or how many more Englishmen there were.
It's about they were there
and with no reward, we didn't get a place on a fancy flag or a towering memorial to remember those who died there.
ALEXJDXBL 5 months ago
@ALEXJDXBL Your fighting yourself here, I was simply pointing out that this was mostly a company of Englishmen not Welsh. But i do believe they should have something in their memory.
arsenaljsutliffuk 5 months ago
@ALEXJDXBL
Hell, i'd have been glad to get out with my life. British captains have often been known to be retarded.
(battle of the Sommé, Islandhawa, etc.)
WolfytheWolf5667 4 months ago
WELSHMEN FTW!...and this from a lad born and bred in derby!
KoMmIzZaR98 5 months ago
staring death in the face and still they stand proud and sing
coolrunnings1021 5 months ago 2
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mitchmiester1 6 months ago
There were mighty men in those days.
freeman8128 6 months ago 3
coolest seen of the movie for sure
rocknrolla12992 6 months ago
it's just another day in chicago, st. louis, d.c. or new york and of course DETROIT!
ERROLCUSTERFLYNN4EVR 6 months ago
Well done, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot!
ImperialistRunningDo 7 months ago
"..and bayonets sir..with a bit of guts behind 'em"
BassDudeBear 7 months ago
True, the Welsh can sing and talk 24 hrs a day with out taking a breath.
(proud Brit)
349quinman 7 months ago 2
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Go to "google earth, street view" and have a look at the blue disc on "16 Kings Hall Road, Beckenham, Kent" . This is the house where Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne ended his days on VE day 1945 at the age of 91. I wonder what kind of car he drove.
MrGoldsable 7 months ago
great song....unfortunately it wasn't the regimental song at the time this battle took place. Great for the movie....good cinematic imagery, but still only poetic license taken by the movie studio to put bodies in theater seats!
bluegreydude4 8 months ago
when the welsh start singing you know the shit's going down
ucoconut 8 months ago 43
@ucoconut too true boyo.
veteran2000 3 months ago in playlist Liked
great scene. even better movie!
TheFatdog11 8 months ago
Hmmm.The Argies didnt in the Falklands.
drongolips 8 months ago
FiX BAYONETS!
infokemp 8 months ago
Fair play we are AWESOME. I wouldn't like to of been Jonny Foreigner 100 years ago ;)
TheEarlos99 9 months ago
Take it from me, no singing took place at Rork's Drift by Welshmen or anyone else. Anyone on here ever fired a Martine Henry? well after a few rounds your throat is so full of black powder you can hardly talk let alone sing, nice touch by the director though. If you are ever in Brecon take time out to visit the South Wales Borderers Museum at the Barracks a very interesting hour and a half with relics from Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift, the museum also holds several of the VC's won in the action.
oldhippiejon 9 months ago
This movie + song always gives you the inspiration that no matter how bad things get, stand on your feet and face it like a man.
Falsel1ght 9 months ago 3
Wouldnt like to trip if those lot were coming behind me!!!
Pepperami369 9 months ago
Best war films:
A Bridge Too Far
Zulu
columnsx 10 months ago
@columnsx Add to "Best War Films:"
Das Boot
Saving Private Ryan
Bridge over River Kwai
ImperialistRunningDo 9 months ago
1 person must've been a Zulu.
pdizzlemac 11 months ago
@pdizzlemac
Impossible, they don't have computers. :)
WolfytheWolf5667 7 months ago
"singing in a firefight would kind of give your positions"
LOL! That's some comical military analysis right there! They're in a damn fort or redoubt, it's not like the Zulu's were wondering were the British were.
SeanFication 11 months ago 31
@SeanFication
He was not talking about the Zulus. Read the comment of the guy he replyed to....then feel silly.
MrDeano324 9 months ago
@SeanFication
No kidding. Some people are just clueless about reality.
TheBlacksmith45 4 months ago
It,s only a film for crying out loud lets chat about the entertainment quality n not have experts who weren't there telling us what happened! I liked the FILM it was sort of "feel good" especial in these present days when were all getting battered to death by our politicians. I thought Colour Sargent Bourne " Nigel Green" was the best actor on the set, he portrays what every one believes a Sargent should be like.
coxwain255 1 year ago
British actor Stanley Baker who died 1976 aged 48 and there was a ceremony in Ferndale Rhondda, and such was their admiration for him that many of the Zulu actors and extras that were on the film with him came from Zululand to pay their respects.
I wonder what they thought of Ferndale?
bobdydd 1 year ago
you know all the correct history aside its a great movie and agreat story and follows the incidents closely enuff to stand on its own. besides, ina similar situation do you think you would give a shit where the man on either side of youcame from as long as he had a gun ,could pull th trigger and was on your side? Its time after 2000 or more years that the UK became the United Kingdom it professes to be.
jack102248 1 year ago
sorry wales but this song was NOT sung at rorkes drift. the regiment was called the 2nd warwickshires at the time, and of the 100 odd men only about 15% were welsh, the majority were ENGLISH!!
FaTmaN9009 1 year ago
@FaTmaN9009 It must be wonderful to be English. It was the English who fought with Spartacus against Rome, Alexander the Great came from Essex, The Alamo was defended by men from Surrey, the list goes on.
rogiet3 1 year ago
@rogiet3 yep you're quite right!! and don't forget jesus was english too!! :)
FaTmaN9009 1 year ago
@rogiet3 ..LOL...excellent satirical pronouncement.
SpeedyNeutrino43 1 year ago
Of the 122 soldiers of the 24th Regiment present at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, 49 are known to have been of English nationality, 32 were Welsh, 16 were Irish, 1 was a Scot, and 3 were born overseas. The nationalities of the remaining 21 are unknown.
gunner81uk 1 year ago 2
@TheStandofTheLastGuy How sad is the comment above about this being sung by Welsh troops in the heat of battle, think you'll find singing in a firefight would kind of give your positions away and usually troops are relaying info and orders to each other not singing, total BS, what next the Scots playing bagpipes while fighting the Taliban, this is the sort of crap you expect from the Yanks not the Brits
mhffc 1 year ago
@mhffc ..As an old man and a "yank" I can tell you this; When a man is facing mortal combat, the last thing on his mind is singing, playing bugles, yodeling or playing rock music by the 'Stones.
SpeedyNeutrino43 1 year ago
@mhffc Scots regiments regularly play Bagpipes while in Combat. It is recorded recently in Afghanistan that the Black Watch made a bayonet charge against the Taliban, while Bagpipes were playing, and following the men in. PS. I am a Yank. :D (Britain FTW)!
24michiganironbrigad 1 year ago 3
More Mel Gibson history, this regiment was'nt Welsh, there was more Englishmen there than Welsh, shame when Brits fall into the same lazy way of learning history like the Yanks.
mhffc 1 year ago 3
1 Zulu disliked this video.
ktockly 1 year ago
Stanley Baker. Great actor (not such a great Welshman though!)
chrisbristol 1 year ago
it's sad how long the people of south africa have suffered under tyranny, first the zulu, then the british and dutch, then the apartheid system
Randompzycho 1 year ago
dawgchief, you ROCK!
schaffermatt 1 year ago
A fantastic moment in cinema history..& a fucking brill film
DOKK212 1 year ago 2
Good film, but the regiment was actually English.
folcwigga 1 year ago
ccfc soulcrew warcry. awesome
thesoulcrew 1 year ago
@thesoulcrew fuck off your cardiff scummer 1-0!!!!!!! shove that up chopra ass
glennsibz 1 year ago
White men of those days had balls...
Caxton1488 1 year ago
That's not even the right words to the true song 'men of harlech'. And yes it is true that it was in-fact a predominantly english regiment (2nd Warwickshire) that fought that day. And there was no 'sing off' between the zulus and the british.
But really how many films are factually accurate? Not many.
ryanm198 1 year ago
When I first saw this movie on TV, at almost the end of the movie, when the fighting's done and everyone's relaxing , my dad (he was with the army in Kenya 1954, fighting the Mau Mau,) said to me "See that Chieftan saluting? He knows what warriors are. "
My dad didn't talk much about his experiences as most vets don't (or didn't; we only think of WWI or WWII or Korea or Vietnam as those days grow misty)...
This coming Remembrance Day, think of the heroes past and present and thank them.
senoJyrreT 1 year ago 3
@senoJyrreT There wasn't much saluting done in the Mau-Mau campaign on either side. It was a dirty little conflict fought by the British on one side and the communist-backed Kikuyu on the other. Led by Jomo Kenyatta nd his 2 i/c Dedan Kamathi..
I was there.
jimincairns 10 months ago
One bullet, one Kaffir!
Don't delete this modereators....fist speak to Peter Mokaba
yozzaman 1 year ago
was this filmed in Peckham?
BadEggCymru 1 year ago 4
yeah, some time earlier 1000 Englishmen were slaughtered by the same stone age warriors....lol
jungenaziboy 1 year ago
@jungenaziboy
The Zulu Empire won three major victories over the British Royal Army during the Zulu War: Isandlwana, Intombe, and Hlobane. Rooke's Drift was the only major British Victory between January 11 1879 and March 11 1879 and even then it was only a tactical victory
snakes3425 1 year ago
@snakes3425 kill joy
20cFilmWannabe 1 year ago
@snakes3425 they were more like minor skirmishes rather "major victories". Yes you talk of Hlobane, where it was 25,000 Zulus against 700 British. Thats being outnumbered over 30:1, even if they had M16s they probably wouldnt of won. The overall casualty rates for the campaign were 10:1 in British favour, and the campaign ended in a decisive defeat for the Zulus.
And a few weeks after Rorkes Drift we won a spectacular victory at Kambula practically ending the campaign.
smoochym 1 year ago
"Rooke's Drift was the only major British Victory between January 11 1879 and March 11 1879"
At least get the name of the battle right before you pontifiate about it. I find it rather comical you would refer to Intombe where only 60 British died as a "major victory" for the Zulu.
smoochym 1 year ago
@smoochym
Point is when the British first went in they underestimated the Zulu and yes the Zulu also used firearms, outdated firearms but firearms none the less, even if i was just 60 men it helped shatter the myth that the British Army was invincible.
snakes3425 1 year ago
@snakes3425 yes you're right, in fact in the Anglo Afghan wars the tribesmen rifles had much greater range than the British which they used to slowly pick off the columns. Far from invincible, but the British army would always adapt and most often that not (especially in the 19th century) win.
smoochym 1 year ago
YOU'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BLOW THE BLOODY BALLS OFF
jamesjonesrocket 1 year ago 2
the SWB were the 'junior' regiment, the other regiment were the Worcs. There is an SWB museum in Brecon, some of the diaries I've seen make intersting reading.
coraclewoman
coracleman 1 year ago
from an american saw this movie as a kid and loved it ! brave troops on both sides.
t328 1 year ago
excellent movie....shows that valor and courage are mates with fear.
sx42day 1 year ago
No matter how many zulu's sing , you can't beat a company of welshmen!
veteran2000 1 year ago 92
@veteran2000 actually the movie is a gross misrepresentation. the welsh were the minority in the battle. there were more english and irish in the battle!
ricardocummins1988 1 year ago
@ricardocummins1988 and they still did an exellent job of it!
veteran2000 1 year ago
@veteran2000 thats what they said as isandlwana hahahhahahah
BostonBruinsOWN 1 year ago
@veteran2000 They've got a very good bass section, mind, but they've no top tenors that's for sure.
SirDanOfHell 9 months ago 5
@veteran2000 I wanna see them zulus aginst a Highland company, have the company play bagpipes while they fight.
CM99501 7 months ago
Comment removed
veteran2000 6 months ago in playlist WAR
@veteran2000 no ofence mate but thers only two things in the world better than a welsh company 2nd a scottish company (black watch) 1st an english regiment but the welsh are bloody good fighters i have to give you that your english brother
chaos574 6 months ago
@chaos574 no offence taken but I did mean the Zulu's at the time and no argument about the Scots, English or even the Australian regiments being the best fighters to have.
veteran2000 6 months ago
@veteran2000
As noted in the movie by Lt. Chard, "If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer-Henry point-four-five caliber miracle."
Sgt. Bourne: "And a bayonet, sir, with some guts behind it." Which the Welsh have in abundant supply.
Pops53 4 months ago
I heard in the news that a welsh regiment in afghanistan a few weeks back sang this song while in the heat of battle. The Taliban must of shit themselves.
EmsionProductions 1 year ago 102
@EmsionProductions I very much doubt that! the russians lost to them and every one else loses ,more like the americans crap themselves. what s the welsh doing in afganistan except losing
geisterbahn1 1 year ago
@EmsionProductions: I would've paid to be embedded with that Battalion just to see their reaction, but T.B.H, I'd be more nervous about a battalion of Scotsmen. Especially if they're crazy enough to march into battle with a full band!!
NobleKorhedron 11 months ago
@EmsionProductions The Brits should be glad to have so many Celts in their army. I've heard several stories of Scottish soldiers doing bayonet charges in the past few years.
Bigsquid91 7 months ago
@Bigsquid91
didn't they bayonet charge in the Falkland's war?
WolfytheWolf5667 7 months ago
@WolfytheWolf5667 The British Army did a few bayonet charges, but I do not know if they were Scottish soldiers or not.
Bigsquid91 7 months ago
THe tactic wasted precious moments for the redcoats. And suppose that boy couldn't spit?
Robbysmile1 1 year ago
@Robbysmile1
...?
What tactic wasted time? them waiting for the enemy to get into effective range?
They were short on ammunition, and so they couldnt waste ammo when the zulu were farther off, as far to little would hit.
Also...what if the boy couldnt spit? get an arguement and come back to try again...
Solarian2495 1 year ago
@Robbysmile1 Its a FILM! Chances are, most of what you saw didn't happen anyway!
Factnotfictionpeople 1 year ago
Best singers in the world
t1t296 1 year ago
i know it is a walsh regament but mast of the people where from woster in the battel
clonehero1 1 year ago
Not one drop of Welsh blood in me,
But so proud of all of you true Britons,
Defend our shared culture to the last drop of your sacred Celtic blood.
No Surrender!
OrwellEDL 1 year ago
no matter wot the zuluz kicked ass
TONYIRISHPROUD 1 year ago
@TONYIRISHPROUD wait, the zulu's kicked ass?
MrGezamo 1 year ago
FREEDOM FOR IRELAND .
AquilaRomana22 1 year ago
The welsh having been colonised by the english should have know better than to go out colonising and murdering other people.The difference between the english and the africans is that the english had bullets,the africans spears.
trotter23 1 year ago
@trotter23 "Colonising and murdering other people"... How do you think the Zulus built their empire ?
NapoleonCalland 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
2/24th Foot became the South Wales Borderers, not Warwickshire Regiment - and at the time of Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift was recruited almost exclusively in South Wales.
macshealbhaich 1 year ago
2/24th Foot became the South Wales Borderers, not Warwickshire Regiment - and at the time of Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift was recruited almost exclusively in South Wales.
macshealbhaich 1 year ago
WELSH!!
twotellys12 1 year ago
Sounds like the zulu were singing a funeral dirge. Chilling. But the retort, of course, equals.
Wargoat6 1 year ago
Gd Vid, except that they weren't the Welsh Guards mate ;)
BudgetAirsoftReviews 1 year ago
Hey, I'm American and I can say that it's a wonderful movie, and I respect the men that died that day. No opinions other than those.
sorabain 1 year ago 4
Those VC' s were well earned.
tmlafrance 1 year ago
dont want to shit on anyones parade but most of the men at rorkes drift were englishmen previously a regiment from the gloucester witls area and of the winners of the vc 7 were english 2 were welsh 1 was swiss and 1 was irish , id call that a truly British adventure and one to be proud of
sosseries 1 year ago 3
SING!
Stokie09123 1 year ago
La Grande Illusion - of the 11 VCs 2 went were to Welshmen. Although the regiment was based in Brecon in South Wales at the time and called the 24th. Regiment of Foot (later South Wales Borderers), it was formerly the Warwickshire Regiment. Many of the defenders had never been to Brecon. Of the 24th Regt. at the defence, the 49 were English, 18 Monmouthshire,16 Irish, 1 Scottish, 14 Welsh and 21 of unknown nationality.
jonnybottle 1 year ago
@jonnybottle nice to see youve acknowledged the welsh part of it ,as my father was in the borderers thankyou
RICHARDTOMLEY10WHARF 1 year ago
Some highlights of New Zealand v Wales.
Welshgr81 1 year ago
currently being attacked by a horde on left 4 dead this song fits!
neilam6 1 year ago
Im from england, and I think that Scottish and welsh soldiers are still the more reliable choice, they are just naturally harder because of their surroundings at home, like russians
Thgrt0 1 year ago
Brilliant scene, brilliant film. Epic idea, whatever the truehistorical case.
Kosorovich 1 year ago
2:20 Listen to the Zulu chant. Ridley Scott nicked that for the Germans in Gladiator.
fitnessisgood4u 1 year ago
@fitnessisgood4u Yup he did, I think he mentions it in an interview somewhere that it was an homage but I can't find it. Good ears though!
TMPolimeno 1 year ago
just saying this regiment weren't the welsh guards til years later and most of the men there were english
ebonyflesh69 1 year ago
Bluearmy!
sionjjones1 1 year ago
Despite the fact that England raped the welsh women pillaged the welsh towns and killed the welsh men (not to mention the occasional racist comment thrown about such as "sheepshagger") the welsh still proved to be the most disciplined and loyal fighting force in Britains arsenal whether it was welsh brigades or welsh longbowmen...strangely the welsh come in above the scottish and they just come above the irish in fighting prowess
al1ad2 1 year ago
@al1ad2 well you would say that cos your welsh like a scotsman would say there the best fighters for the british army in my personal opinion i would say the scots are the best sorry
20cFilmWannabe 1 year ago
@20cFilmWannabe I'm not welsh, I'm from leicester
I'm just oppinionated :P
al1ad2 1 year ago
It was the British that who kicked off the war through the actions of Lord Chelmsford and Bartle Frere.
Most of the men in the 1/24th battalion were English, whilst many from the 2/24th were Welsh...this was not an entirely Welsh affair. What it highlights is the strength and quality of the UK's armed forces drawn from the whole of the British Isles, a tradition and standard that continues today.
The British soldier is a professional soldier deserving of the admiration history gives him.
Elysiumfire 1 year ago
the zulus are better its like they are thier to own them
cash4g0ld 1 year ago
Shoot the Zulu bastards!
ericclaptonismygod31 1 year ago
its rorke's drift in washington dc this weekend.......SING,,,C'MON SING! defeat OBAMA and his zulu commies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ERROLCUSTERFLYNN4EVR 1 year ago
Catchy tune.
Surprising that us Americans didn't steal it like we did Garry Owen for the 7th.
What ever the Zulu are singing is "music to swat flies by".
notahemi 1 year ago
gotta respect the British, they're empire went all over the world from the Americas to Asia and Africa.
pgamer4life 1 year ago
@pgamer4life Ge whiz -- the Russians and the Nazis went pretty far to -- so you probably respect them too.
JCDenslow 1 year ago
Average height of a zulu.....7ft.....average height of a Brit, 5ft 5' (i think?) and average weight like 7 stone O_o
JKno1 1 year ago
Hurray for the british empire for causing such blood shed
zombiesatemyfamily 1 year ago
@zombiesatemyfamily
Zulus started the war I'm afraid.
Typical viewpoint of you anti-imperialists, you seem to think every civilisation that ever fought a battle with the British Empire sat around picking flowers and writting poems on how lovely life is. The Zulu nation was a Warrior society, very aggressive and very warlike and it started a war and lost. Hardly the fault of the British.
RedcoatMic24 1 year ago 3
@RedcoatMic24 speak truth to ignorance my friend
dizzypilots1 1 year ago
@RedcoatMic24 Check your history -- The Zulus never started the war. They were pushed into it. This was the time of British expansion and was continued thru the Boer Wars.
The Zulus were warlike but they were also a very organized government. The British were the same.
JCDenslow 1 year ago
@JCDenslow Ey? It was Zulu aggression on the Boers that began the war...
RedcoatMic24 1 year ago
Comment removed
JCDenslow 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@RedcoatMic24 No, the Boers got along with most of the tribal groups. The British were just into world expansion and did not care how they got it.
Ask the Australian Army what they think of the British Army. They really loved them after the Boer Wars and the First World War. But then again the Irish have a way of reflecting on the quality of English rule.
JCDenslow 1 year ago
@RedcoatMic24
What hell no i'm an Anthropologist so i know everyones a douchebag. Its just i'm Scottish and a socialist so i naturally hate the English monarchy and most things connected to them including the British Empire.
Also didn't the British start it by encrouching into Zulu Land wih out the permission of the Zulu nation?
zombiesatemyfamily 1 year ago
@zombiesatemyfamily True but Roukes drift was our side of the river
BudgetAirsoftReviews 1 year ago
great welsh singer
055scaldwa 2 years ago 2
11 VC's won on that day. Absolutely fantastic. A credit to Wales and the United Kingdom. To all the detractors FUCK OFF!
dawgchief 2 years ago 63
I say! Steady on old man.
STANLEYCOURT 2 years ago 2
@dawgchief thats the spirit especially to the horrible cunts who want to protest when are dead army boys are brought home pity there not on the workin end of them bayonets
finscouser 2 years ago
one of the Men is this film is based on someone from my town who I believe got a VC he has a war grave. However he was portrayed as a drunk in the film :(
fmoloney 1 year ago
@dawgchief You need to read the real sotry - scarcely a Welshman there. Don#t know why the producers didn't tell it like it was. Was almost exlusivley an English affair. What would Taffies be doing in the Warwickshire Regiment?
jonnybottle 1 year ago
@dawgchief "At Rorke's Drift, eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded. Seven to the 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot, one to the Army Medical Department, one to the Royal Engineers, one to the Commissariat and Transport Department and one to the Natal Native Contingent".
jonnybottle 1 year ago
@dawgchief We complain about the Americans hikacking British Military history in their filsm (Objective Burma U5 whaterver it was) but here English bravery is ascribed to the Welsh. Shocking
jonnybottle 1 year ago
@jonnybottle english bravery what fucking retarded bastard u r ,fuck the british you disrespectful cunt ,welsh regiment one english in charge ,big fucking cheese,you leave the bottle alone jonny
RICHARDTOMLEY10WHARF 1 year ago
@RICHARDTOMLEY10WHARF The voice of reason! Although the regiment was based in Brecon in South Wales at the time and called the 24th. Regiment of Foot (later South Wales Borderers), it was formerly the Warwickshire Regiment. Many of the defenders had never been to Brecon. Of the 24th Regt. at the defence, the 49 were English, 18 Monmouthshire,16 Irish, 1 Scottish, 14 Welsh and 21 of unknown nationality. Of the 11 VCs 2 went were to Welshmen, see: rorkesdriftvc webiste
jonnybottle 1 year ago
@dawgchief The 24th regiment wern't the south wales borders until 2 years AFTER Rorke's Drift they were the Warickshire regiment before that.
dani981000 1 year ago 2
@dani981000 2nd Warickshire Regiment to be exact :)
BudgetAirsoftReviews 1 year ago
@dawgchief Agreed, Rourkes Drift was an heroic engagement. I'm not saying that the 11 VCs weren't deserved but the real "politically motivated" reason for their award had more to do with the restoration of public credibility after the disaster in Isandlwana the previous day. Kind of 19th Century Information Operaions & Spin! That's nor being a detractor it's a realistic interpretation of history!
conbar777 1 year ago
@conbar777 in general, if you discover a battle at which there was a mass of VCs it's because some senior officer fucked up and the guys on the ground had to make up the slack. e.g. the Battle of Arnhem.
dannidandannikins 1 year ago
@dannidandannikins 4 VCs were awarded at the Battle of Arnhem, All won by senior officers...
Wadeshavedhead 1 year ago
@conbar777 Or because 100 men defeated 4000.... Each 11 of them each had a seperate reason for getting the VC because they all deserved it. Rourkes Drift didn't need any spin.
BudgetAirsoftReviews 1 year ago
@dawgchief the VCs were awarded to deflect attention from the debacle of what happened the day before (Zulu Dawn). This was really a minor skirmish and very one-sided.
DadaMungo 1 year ago
@dawgchief apparently it was actually an english regiment who fought that day, not the welsh. but fuck it, doesn't matter anyway we still won (england!!)
pulsengine 1 year ago