I had the luck to read the letters of some of the men at Rorke's Drift. The conditions were extreme and they had to keep their uniforms buttoned even in the intense heat! I also think it sad that the survivors, like Jobbins, suffered greatly on their return. In Jobbins case he lived until his eighties and died 'in want' and suffering 'mental distress and enfeeblement'.
“It is a modern myth that the battalion was comprised largely of ‘little Welshmen from the valleys, singing Men of Harlech’. Its regimental depot, established at Brecon, south Wales, in 1873, was largely administrative, and while some recruits processed there were certainly drawn from the militia units raised along the Welsh borders.......
, most came, as they always had, from the urban slums or depressed agricultural areas of England and Ireland.” Ian Knight ‘Zulu Rising: The epic story of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift’ (page 198) considered an expert on the Anglo-Zulu war.
Men of Harlech stop your dreaming Can't you see their spear points gleaming See their warrior pennants streaming To this battlefield Men of Harlech stand ye steady It cannot be ever said ye For the battle were not ready Stand and never yield From the hills rebounding Let this song be sounding Summon all at Cambria's call The mighty force surrounding Men of Harlech on to glory This will ever be your story Keep these burning words before ye Welshmen will not yield
Okay guys, ya, a bunch of Welshman fought at Rorke's Drift. A BUNCH. But it wasn't a "Welsh Regiment". If you look at the names of soldiers who fought, even some who were decorated, were Welsh. Anyways, I'm Welsh and Irish, both very war-like people, and I really do swell with pride when I watch this movie. Simply because, "Welshman will not yield!"
According to Wik 49 were English and 32 Welsh, doesn't make it a bunch of Welshmen but a bunch of Brits. I may come as a surprise to find that Jones and Williams are as English as they are Welsh surnames, most of those given the vc were English
The thing about this movie is it's more in keeping with Stanley Baker's interpretation of the men and the battle than with historical accuracy. For instance, the man who was considered the true hero -- at least by the surviving soldiers -- was Dalton, the commissary. Lieutenants Chard and Brom got all the glory because they were the officers who made the report. Plenty of sources online to read about the Battle of Rorke's Drift.
ref daniel james comment . sharpes regiment wearing green jackets were the start of snippers and thats how the royal green jackets came to be named , yorkshire regiment .
The names argument below is the common mistake and confusion of british regiments in the past as films call them by their name such as the 'south wales borderers' or in other period programmes such as sharpe they focus on the regiment 'prince of wales own' or the 'south essexs' (i know its fake for the program)
But regiments are called by their number suh as the 24th Regiment of Foot not by name!!
Of the 122 soldiers of the 24th Regiment present at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, 49 are known to have been English, 32 were Welsh, 16 were Irish, 1 was a Scot, and 3 were born overseas. The nationalities of the remaining 21 are unknown
@Henners1991 Hello, Interesting comment. I will have to view the movie again. I thought it was South wales borderers and I thought I read at least some of the VCs are now in Welsh Museum can you say more. May account for why Michael cane settled in the east end of London and changed his name to Hary Brown and became a Vigilantie. Interesting. things do come up
@40thegardener2 In the film they're depicted as Welsh but the wiki page says that apparently it was a Warwickshire Regiment... About 1/3rd were Welsh, though.
@Henners1991 no it was the 24th Foot who fought against the Zulus at Rorke's Drift (which this film is based on). The 24th of Foot were the South Wales Borderers which is now known as the Royal Regiment of Wales.
@40thegardener2 No problem. I have been living with the Royal Air Force since I was born (I am 18) which is why military History interests me plus my great uncle served in the RRW. and Yes I work for two ambulance companies as a volunteer but am also training to become an RDS Firefighter.
@Henners1991 however....the 24th Regiment of Foot (the regiment that fought at Rorke's Drift and is depicted in the film) were a regiment stationed in, and recruited from, the south wales area (especially the counties that bordered England). Tat is why they were given the name The South Wales Borderers.
@40thegardener2 hes right, they were the warwickshire regiment... werent actually called the south wales borderers til later a couple of years after this... colour sergeant bourne was actually a 5"6 man in his 20s so it isnt the only inaccuracy
@Henners1991 I don't know where you get your info' from, but I can assure you that the 24th Reg't of Foot was The South Wales Borderers. And the 23th Reg't of Foot was The Royal Welch Fusiliers, The "Welch" is not a typo either. That's the way it was spelt.
Maybe you'd like to discuss your reason for stating that it was not a Welsh Regiment?
Incidentally, I am Welsh, I'm ex-Army and I'm proud of my heritage.
@CBTinstructor I've said earlier that I'm not at all clued up on the subject and am merely citing Wikipedia, which claims that the regiment was not designated The South Wales Borderers until 1881, two years after the battle.Before then, 'its designation was the 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot.'
It may be a 'lesser' source to some, but I tend to trust Wikipedia and in this case it does carry three citations. I realise my statement might've seemed inflammatory
@Henners1991 It was an English (British) regiment,although it moved its HQ to Brecon in 1873..6 years before Rorkes Drift.The HQ,(depot) is where men are trained etc & generally 'recruited' from the surrounding areas..The 24th Reg.of foot became the South Wales Borderers in 1881.
@mrmarvellousmark It's too 'racist'. If they remade it, it would involve some melodrama about the indigenous privations of colonial Britain and the nobility of the zulu.
This is not a story of Race or Nationality being the best, This is a story of Warriors, both Black and White, who faught and gave their lives to their countries. They stood on the Battlefield, and when everything was stripped away and all there is left is Death, they stood tall, and will forever be rememberd in the hearts of Generations to come.
for all you welsh, scots or irish reading this. us english never decided to go to war, it was our ruling class. The ruthless, rich, heartless few at the top of the chain. beside that, look what we have made. a legacy... our ancestors will remain un-rivalled in history. !!!! follow in your fathers foot steps lads. defend your land. for urum people
you know what i dont get, the only 2 accounts of Private owen are this movie and a radio transcript from Color sargent(pardon my spelling for any of you grammar nazis out there) Bourne, but theres no account of him on wikipedia or anything, i'd like to learn more about him and not just every one else, and for those of you who dont know who private owen is he's the guy who starts singing men of Harlech
Rick Rescorla sang "Men of Harlech" as he directed fellow Stanley Morgan employees in descending the World Trade Center buildings on Sept. 11, 2001. After the first plane struck WTC Tower 1, he ignored building officials' advice to stay put and evacuated his people -- 2,700 employees on twenty floors of World Trade Center Tower 2 and 1,000 employees in WTC 5. Unfortunately he was among the last to evacuate and didn't make it. RIP Rick Rescorla. A great soldier, a great American, and a great man.
@zany2x Thank you for sharing that story zany2X. My Dad was supposed to be buried at Arlington Cemetery that day. The funeral home people ferrying the casket called and said they had been turned back from Ft. Myers. My brother was not at work in his usual place in the Pentagon, cause he was to attend Dad's funeral. His workmates died on the Navy side. Our family, who had come from California and Massachusetts stayed for days. No flights. It was a horrifying time I will never forget.
@monkee1969 Yes, I know. But he became an American citizen, I believe, around the time he went into the American Army. As a child, he was greatly influenced by the American GIs in Cornwall before D-Day.
The parents, sister and grandfather of Ivor Emmanuel ( who started the singing) were all killed during WW2 when a German bomb fell on their house. Ivor, along with his brothers was trapped in the rubble. Ivor and the narrator at the end of the clip - Richard Burton,were both born in the village of Pontrhydyfen, near to Port Talbot.
The number of VC awarded had more to do with what happened at Isandlwana, the British army and government needed a victory after the center column was virtually wiped out but yes my friend you are right the British soldier was expected to act like these back then, incidentally not all the VC were issued at the time some came years later for this action and in the case of VC at Isandlwana ten years after.
The number of VC awarded had more to do with what happened at Isandlwana, the British army and government needed a victory after the center column was virtually wiped out but yes my friend you are right the British soldier was expected to act like these back then, incidentally not all the VC were issued at the time some came years later for this action and in the case of VC at Isandlwana ten years after.
The number of VC awarded had more to do with what happened at Isandlwana, the British army and government needed a victory after the center column was virtually wiped out but yes my friend you are right the British soldier was expected to act like these back then, incidentally not all the VC were issued at the time some came years later for this action and in the case of VC at Isandlwana ten years after.
I had the luck to read the letters of some of the men at Rorke's Drift. The conditions were extreme and they had to keep their uniforms buttoned even in the intense heat! I also think it sad that the survivors, like Jobbins, suffered greatly on their return. In Jobbins case he lived until his eighties and died 'in want' and suffering 'mental distress and enfeeblement'.
coraclewoman
coracleman 1 day ago
Cymru am byth! Way to hold them back boys!
SerenityRebel 5 days ago
WERE THESE BRITISH COMPRISED MOSTLY OF ENGINEERS? BE IT WELSH, IRISH, SCOT OR ENGLISH?
I'M A TEXAN, BUT THESE GUY'S FOUGHT LIKE WILDCATS. I'M PROUD OF THEM!
gord8881 6 days ago
Gives me goosebumps
iceywales 1 week ago
I forget which historian said it, but....
"The most dangerous tribal warrior in Africa was a was a Welshman with a rifle"
Bunnahabhain1982 1 week ago 7
@Bunnahabhain1982 Try walking passed a North Wales pub at chucking out time even without rifles
bill
40thegardener2 1 week ago
@Bunnahabhain1982 Only if commanded by a Royal Engineer, Ubique
ExDJrocksquaddie 1 week ago
@Bunnahabhain1982 NO IT IS A CORNISH MAN STANDING IS GROUND !
jameslesliegoodier13 6 days ago
Yay they were Welsh?! How awesome :)
WelshFanaticxoxo 2 weeks ago
Just to throw a little fuel on the fire:
“It is a modern myth that the battalion was comprised largely of ‘little Welshmen from the valleys, singing Men of Harlech’. Its regimental depot, established at Brecon, south Wales, in 1873, was largely administrative, and while some recruits processed there were certainly drawn from the militia units raised along the Welsh borders.......
Beastialwail 3 weeks ago
@Beastialwail Bet your fun at parties...
bobbankdai 2 weeks ago
, most came, as they always had, from the urban slums or depressed agricultural areas of England and Ireland.” Ian Knight ‘Zulu Rising: The epic story of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift’ (page 198) considered an expert on the Anglo-Zulu war.
Beastialwail 3 weeks ago
Welsh men who hated britain fort that day ... Respect then, Brave soldiers
konvict63 3 weeks ago
@konvict63 Idiot
cosmictimes 6 days ago
Comment removed
Beastialwail 3 weeks ago
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Nigel Green committed suicide.
planetrockford 3 weeks ago
teocarlo 1 month ago 4
Who cares where they were from? They were British, that is what matters.
Theocook1 1 month ago
if your welsh this means a lot
defectedsi 1 month ago in playlist Favorite videos
excellent movie, I like the Zulu singing and Men of Harlech I'm 1/2 Welsh !/4 Scots and 1/4 English thanks for posting
papaalphamike 1 month ago
Okay guys, ya, a bunch of Welshman fought at Rorke's Drift. A BUNCH. But it wasn't a "Welsh Regiment". If you look at the names of soldiers who fought, even some who were decorated, were Welsh. Anyways, I'm Welsh and Irish, both very war-like people, and I really do swell with pride when I watch this movie. Simply because, "Welshman will not yield!"
IrishIronArmalite 1 month ago 3
@IrishIronArmalite
According to Wik 49 were English and 32 Welsh, doesn't make it a bunch of Welshmen but a bunch of Brits. I may come as a surprise to find that Jones and Williams are as English as they are Welsh surnames, most of those given the vc were English
fairplaynationalist2 2 weeks ago
why would you do that, i got all geared up for the final battle, lol
Tcedric89 1 month ago
The price of empire.
camabron1 1 month ago
The thing about this movie is it's more in keeping with Stanley Baker's interpretation of the men and the battle than with historical accuracy. For instance, the man who was considered the true hero -- at least by the surviving soldiers -- was Dalton, the commissary. Lieutenants Chard and Brom got all the glory because they were the officers who made the report. Plenty of sources online to read about the Battle of Rorke's Drift.
zany2x 1 month ago
ref daniel james comment . sharpes regiment wearing green jackets were the start of snippers and thats how the royal green jackets came to be named , yorkshire regiment .
3sqnrock 1 month ago
2nd battalion of the 24th regiment of foot the warwickshire regiment .
3sqnrock 1 month ago
welsh pride comes with birth :
6taffy7 1 month ago
The names argument below is the common mistake and confusion of british regiments in the past as films call them by their name such as the 'south wales borderers' or in other period programmes such as sharpe they focus on the regiment 'prince of wales own' or the 'south essexs' (i know its fake for the program)
But regiments are called by their number suh as the 24th Regiment of Foot not by name!!
xXDanielJamesSimsXx 1 month ago
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According to Wikipedia:
Of the 122 soldiers of the 24th Regiment present at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, 49 are known to have been English, 32 were Welsh, 16 were Irish, 1 was a Scot, and 3 were born overseas. The nationalities of the remaining 21 are unknown
karezza6 1 month ago
It wasn't a Welsh Regiment...
Henners1991 2 months ago
@Henners1991 Hello, Interesting comment. I will have to view the movie again. I thought it was South wales borderers and I thought I read at least some of the VCs are now in Welsh Museum can you say more. May account for why Michael cane settled in the east end of London and changed his name to Hary Brown and became a Vigilantie. Interesting. things do come up
Bill
40thegardener2 2 months ago 5
@40thegardener2 In the film they're depicted as Welsh but the wiki page says that apparently it was a Warwickshire Regiment... About 1/3rd were Welsh, though.
Henners1991 1 month ago 2
@Henners1991 no it was the 24th Foot who fought against the Zulus at Rorke's Drift (which this film is based on). The 24th of Foot were the South Wales Borderers which is now known as the Royal Regiment of Wales.
WhitakerSJA 1 month ago
@WhitakerSJA I thought so. Thanks for this are you emergency service worker also.
Bill
40thegardener2 1 month ago
@40thegardener2 No problem. I have been living with the Royal Air Force since I was born (I am 18) which is why military History interests me plus my great uncle served in the RRW. and Yes I work for two ambulance companies as a volunteer but am also training to become an RDS Firefighter.
WhitakerSJA 1 month ago
@WhitakerSJA They did not become the South Wales Borderers until 1881, but, again, I am using Wikipedia as my source here:
(Wiki)/Zulu_(film)#The_regiment
Henners1991 1 month ago
@Henners1991 however....the 24th Regiment of Foot (the regiment that fought at Rorke's Drift and is depicted in the film) were a regiment stationed in, and recruited from, the south wales area (especially the counties that bordered England). Tat is why they were given the name The South Wales Borderers.
WhitakerSJA 1 month ago
@40thegardener2 Historically it wasn't a Welsh regiment, but it was a Welsh regiment in the movie.
Stonegolem42 1 month ago
@40thegardener2 hes right, they were the warwickshire regiment... werent actually called the south wales borderers til later a couple of years after this... colour sergeant bourne was actually a 5"6 man in his 20s so it isnt the only inaccuracy
andylikespears 1 month ago
@40thegardener2 yeah henners is right it wasnt a welsh regiment but it was made up of a lot of the south wales men
lollylopdraws 2 weeks ago
@Henners1991 yes it was......The South Wales Borderers!
WhitakerSJA 1 month ago
Comment removed
xXDanielJamesSimsXx 1 month ago
@Henners1991 the 24th royal regiment of wales haha wasnt a welsh regiment?
OW41N 1 month ago
@Henners1991 I don't know where you get your info' from, but I can assure you that the 24th Reg't of Foot was The South Wales Borderers. And the 23th Reg't of Foot was The Royal Welch Fusiliers, The "Welch" is not a typo either. That's the way it was spelt.
Maybe you'd like to discuss your reason for stating that it was not a Welsh Regiment?
Incidentally, I am Welsh, I'm ex-Army and I'm proud of my heritage.
CBTinstructor 1 month ago
@CBTinstructor I've said earlier that I'm not at all clued up on the subject and am merely citing Wikipedia, which claims that the regiment was not designated The South Wales Borderers until 1881, two years after the battle.Before then, 'its designation was the 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot.'
It may be a 'lesser' source to some, but I tend to trust Wikipedia and in this case it does carry three citations. I realise my statement might've seemed inflammatory
Henners1991 1 month ago
@Henners1991 i agree with your comment, i think because there was a lot of welsh in the regiment, people naturally though this.
Tcedric89 1 month ago
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@Henners1991 Historically it wasn't a Welsh regiment, but it was a Welsh regiment in the movie.
Stonegolem42 1 month ago
@Henners1991 it was the south wales borderers, commanded by a royal engineer and a surgeon from the royal army medical corps
gunner1265 1 month ago
@Henners1991 Still mostly Welsh soldiers so does it really matter?
Revival1969 1 month ago
@Henners1991 It was an English (British) regiment,although it moved its HQ to Brecon in 1873..6 years before Rorkes Drift.The HQ,(depot) is where men are trained etc & generally 'recruited' from the surrounding areas..The 24th Reg.of foot became the South Wales Borderers in 1881.
JAILHOUSE41 5 days ago
Wonder if they would remake this classic film?
mrmarvellousmark 2 months ago
@mrmarvellousmark It's too 'racist'. If they remade it, it would involve some melodrama about the indigenous privations of colonial Britain and the nobility of the zulu.
MinisterAilingTongue 1 month ago
This is not a story of Race or Nationality being the best, This is a story of Warriors, both Black and White, who faught and gave their lives to their countries. They stood on the Battlefield, and when everything was stripped away and all there is left is Death, they stood tall, and will forever be rememberd in the hearts of Generations to come.
3volv 2 months ago 3
@3volv Well said. Bravo!
BenAliGtor 2 months ago
one of the most rousing scenes in cinematic history ! and a wonderful film......
hoggy226 2 months ago
forget that comment, just be proud. and let it drive you forward
untillambsarelions 2 months ago
for all you welsh, scots or irish reading this. us english never decided to go to war, it was our ruling class. The ruthless, rich, heartless few at the top of the chain. beside that, look what we have made. a legacy... our ancestors will remain un-rivalled in history. !!!! follow in your fathers foot steps lads. defend your land. for urum people
untillambsarelions 2 months ago
this is the shit that has happened always. It really annoys me when they drag horses and dogs into it.
Moonchalice 2 months ago
*SPIT TAKE*
Bradylama 2 months ago in playlist Favorite videos
shit this gives me goosebumps and i'm english!!
MegaCastigers 2 months ago 3
Welshmen will NOT YIELD
Bradylama 2 months ago
my dad showed me this film when i was 5 and to this day ive never seen a scene from a movie that has portaryed such valour against all odds :')
punish3r111 3 months ago
you know what i dont get, the only 2 accounts of Private owen are this movie and a radio transcript from Color sargent(pardon my spelling for any of you grammar nazis out there) Bourne, but theres no account of him on wikipedia or anything, i'd like to learn more about him and not just every one else, and for those of you who dont know who private owen is he's the guy who starts singing men of Harlech
Jack10000115 3 months ago
hook was english
weemansda 4 months ago
@weemansda and a bloody proud soldier. His descendants were very upset with his portrayal as a malingerer.
fundude365 3 months ago
I've actually heard this used in one other film. A western that climaxes with the settlers hold up in a mission church.
mpetersen6 4 months ago
well done Wales on just beating Ireland in the QF of the RWC in New Zealand, 22-10.
Zephyesa 4 months ago
Yes the welsh rugby player is related to hook
bluesuitedone 4 months ago
@40thegardener2 It could very well be, it could very well be...
cheesegrater999 5 months ago
I place my hand on my heart for this anthem!
cheesegrater999 5 months ago
I place my hand on my heart for this anthem!
cheesegrater999 5 months ago
god bless the martini-henry .577
WILLIEHUNTZ 5 months ago
DON'T F#@K WITH THE WELSH!
KoMmIzZaR98 5 months ago 15
@KoMmIzZaR98 Why's that then ? Is it because some of them are uncuth and are unable to express themselves without expletives ?
bisleybob3 3 months ago
everyone does realise this is not the real Men of Harlech song?
WolfytheWolf5667 5 months ago
@WolfytheWolf5667
Very true Wolfy, words written for the film. There are several versions out there, search google for more info.
oldhippiejon 5 months ago
Rick Rescorla sang "Men of Harlech" as he directed fellow Stanley Morgan employees in descending the World Trade Center buildings on Sept. 11, 2001. After the first plane struck WTC Tower 1, he ignored building officials' advice to stay put and evacuated his people -- 2,700 employees on twenty floors of World Trade Center Tower 2 and 1,000 employees in WTC 5. Unfortunately he was among the last to evacuate and didn't make it. RIP Rick Rescorla. A great soldier, a great American, and a great man.
zany2x 5 months ago 30
@zany2x A heart warming but sad story. no greater love hath man than to lay down his life for his friends. RIP>
40theg2
40thegardener2 5 months ago
@zany2x Thank you for sharing that story zany2X. My Dad was supposed to be buried at Arlington Cemetery that day. The funeral home people ferrying the casket called and said they had been turned back from Ft. Myers. My brother was not at work in his usual place in the Pentagon, cause he was to attend Dad's funeral. His workmates died on the Navy side. Our family, who had come from California and Massachusetts stayed for days. No flights. It was a horrifying time I will never forget.
Moonchalice 2 months ago
@zany2x he was from Hayle Cornwall ENGLAND - but nice to know ppl still remember him ;)
monkee1969 1 month ago
@monkee1969 Yes, I know. But he became an American citizen, I believe, around the time he went into the American Army. As a child, he was greatly influenced by the American GIs in Cornwall before D-Day.
zany2x 1 month ago
@zany2x
A Great Cornishman
custardaghost 1 month ago
The parents, sister and grandfather of Ivor Emmanuel ( who started the singing) were all killed during WW2 when a German bomb fell on their house. Ivor, along with his brothers was trapped in the rubble. Ivor and the narrator at the end of the clip - Richard Burton,were both born in the village of Pontrhydyfen, near to Port Talbot.
nicoalphalpha 5 months ago 2
The fact that only 11 VC's were awarded show what is normally expected of a British soldier. the finest in the world.
TheClaydon 6 months ago
@TheClaydon
The number of VC awarded had more to do with what happened at Isandlwana, the British army and government needed a victory after the center column was virtually wiped out but yes my friend you are right the British soldier was expected to act like these back then, incidentally not all the VC were issued at the time some came years later for this action and in the case of VC at Isandlwana ten years after.
oldhippiejon 5 months ago
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@TheClaydon
The number of VC awarded had more to do with what happened at Isandlwana, the British army and government needed a victory after the center column was virtually wiped out but yes my friend you are right the British soldier was expected to act like these back then, incidentally not all the VC were issued at the time some came years later for this action and in the case of VC at Isandlwana ten years after.
oldhippiejon 5 months ago
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@TheClaydon
The number of VC awarded had more to do with what happened at Isandlwana, the British army and government needed a victory after the center column was virtually wiped out but yes my friend you are right the British soldier was expected to act like these back then, incidentally not all the VC were issued at the time some came years later for this action and in the case of VC at Isandlwana ten years after.
oldhippiejon 5 months ago
Excellent, love it ~ Arthur
arinvests 8 months ago
@arinvests thank you Arthur.
Bill
40thegardener2 8 months ago
@40thegardener2 Hi Bill, your welcome , thanks for downloading it ~ Arthur
arinvests 8 months ago
Hi Bill-Thank you Bill for uploading this..
I love the WELSH !!!! Great inspiring song....Love Polly
luvperu1 11 months ago
Thank you Bill. I enjoyed watching this video.
65patbill 11 months ago