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

Part 2 of the transcript of a radio interview with Lt Col Frank Bourne who fought at the Battle of Rorkes Drift on 22/23 January 1879. The transcript of the interview was published in the Listener magazine on 30 December 1936.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• frank bourne
• colour sergeant bourne
• zulu war
• rorkes drift
• south wales borderers
• zulu wars rorkes drift
• anglo zulu war
• zulu war battles
• anglo zulu war 1879

[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.

[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.

[kenns9]

@Cromwell611

???

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

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[MARTIN512610]

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

[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.