Interview with Frank Bourne - Hero of Rorkes Drift - Pt 2

[Cromwell611]

There are quite a few things which i think he remembered wrong in his old age,but still facinating all the same

[Cromwell611]

because they did"nt take part,these 4 regiments (over 40"s) went behind the mountain

(right horn)it was all over when they got there so they carried on the mission against

orders.

[Cromwell611]

Very interesting,but he was obviously mistaken about the Rifles being taken from

the earlier battle as these regiments did"nt take part and infact were using old

hunting Rifles sold to them by traders etc.

[kenns9]

@Cromwell611

???

why wouldn't the Zulus take the rifles from the 1200 killed?

[shivalinger]

Yeah, what would I give to have sat in a pub with this man and listened to his story. What a brave and tough man this soldier was....as were they all.

[dmax631]

a real soldier

[MARTIN512610]

stanley Baker the Actor/producer of Zulu had Chards actual VC. I guess the family still has it

[bigbluemarbleuk]

@MARTIN512610 Sometime after Baker's death, Chard's VC has passed into the hands of a private collector. I've read that the collector is Lord Ashcroft who has an incredible collection of Victoria Crosses. I think its about 45 medals and he has paid in excess of £14m for them.

[AquilaRomana8]

Just purchased 'Zulu Rising' by Ian Knight.

So far it's been a great read.Since I am no expert on the Anglo-Zulu conflict I can't say the content of the book is flawed or not, but I can definitely recommend it to all those interested.

[turkey08041954]

@AquilaRomana8 If anybody knows about the zulu war its Ian Knight. The book is well researched. What he writes can be taken as true as can be ascertained.

[AquilaRomana8]

It's quite interesting as to how the accounts differ in some aspects. Henry Hook, another survivor of the battle, reported that the European officer of the deserting native horse was actually shot dead whilst fleeing rather brought back and court-marshaled.

[bigbluemarbleuk]

@AquilaRomana8 I believe it was Corporal Anderson of the Natal Native Contingent (NNC). They had all the defences in place and some Edendale troops shouted in Zulu about what happened at Isandlwana. Over 300 NNC men deserted Rorke's Drift at once. I can understand why the soldiers shot at them. I think by then, Hook would have been in the hospital so may not have seen exactly what happened.

[MARTIN512610]

amazing. thank you for posting. like many I'm facinated by the history of this conflict. My mother went to school in the former home of the Empress Eugenie (circa 1950). there was a bowl of dried African grass said to be the blood stained soil upon which her son the prince imperial was killed. Mother 'liberated' a few strands which we still have today. Amazing period of British history and folly!

[bigbluemarbleuk]

@MARTIN512610 The whole Anglo-Zulu War was an amazing story but much of the focus remains on Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift.

[Flags61]

Many thanks for this. Fascinating.

From the movie I loved "do your tunic up lad, where do you think you are?"

[hawickman]

Thank God , we don't have the same battles. Or do we, with USA as the new empire, with UK as good little boys doing as they are told

[KevinJKtheman]

As I understand it he died on VE day 1945 ?

[battlefieldexplorer]

@KevinJKtheman Yes, Bourne was the last survivor of Rorke's Drift. He was 91 years old.

[FLSHBK1]

How I wish I could have bought this man a pint, and chatted with him in person.

[bigbluemarbleuk]

@FLSHBK1 I was at a talk in Brecon a couple of weeks ago and Bourne's grandson was there. He was 17 when Bourne died so he was old enough to remember him.

[ikke64]

Hey ... you know he was called babyface in the regiment because of his young looks as CS? He's a hero!!!!

[anthonythirteen]

@ikke64 wasn't he the youngest CS in the British army at the time?

[Calam95]

@anthonythirteen yes he was

[FILABJBOY]

"Alright then","nobody  told you to stop working"......

[TRUMPHENT]

"Private Hook!"

[mainface]

amazing 5 stars