Rorke's Drift Tribute

Tribute to the fallen soldiers at Rorkes Drift - Richard Burton's Victoria Cross roll call overlaid to Cozy Powell's "Dance with the Devil" and "Men of Harlech".

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Zulu
• Michael
• Caine
• Victoria
• Cross
• Cozy
• Powell
• England
• Wales
• United
• Kingdom

[peterleethree]

Who's Penguin?

[UB00T235]

Just some French twit who is so far up his own arrogant arse that he needs a nurse on stand by with an oxygen trolley and who's favourite musical tastes include such legends as Daft Puke, Vanessa Parasite and the Plastic Beetroot Band

Find him in my - er hem - "friends"!

[tobaritchpingun]

Damn it you removed my thoughtful and marvelous comment. I call that fascist censorship, you can't take a joke sorry bastard.

Hold on, why are there Welsh flags on that monument... Oh, I guess we all know why, Englanders stole another victory to someone! Poor lads!

[UB00T235]

The county designation of the 24th Regiment in 1879 was the 2nd Warwickshires; they didn't change their title to the South Wales Borderers until 1st July 1881 - almost exactly two years after the war had ended. True, the Regimental Depot had been established at Brecon, in South Wales, in 1873, and from that point there was a small increase in Welsh recruits in the ranks.

[UB00T235]

In fact, however, recruits for the regiment - like every other battalion in the British army - were signed on at recruiting depots across the country, and the 24th consisted of men from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

[UB00T235]

What's up pengiun - truth too hard to deal with?Oh well there's always Deep Purple to argue you about and you can always fall back on your most boring and quite tedious "Hundred Years War" routine!

[macmedman]

@ImperialistRunningDo This message is not intended as an insult, but some of the medals (and the amount), that are displayed on the chests of US soldiers has been a source of ridicule amongst us Brit forces for years., they are a bit over the top. We know that some of our medals are issued for political means to gain favour with Joe public, but the VC is held in the highest esteem, and is usually recieved posthumously, the ultimate sacrifice. Rorke's Drift has always been an inspiration to us

[mgwilliams1000]

@ImperialistRunningDo You are correct. But then the Medal was new then. There are those "single" men (not apart of a group like Rorkes Drift fighting for survial or death) who DID earn the CMoH. The one I think of the most is Desmond T. Doss, a medic, at Okinawa.

[ImperialistRunningDo]

@mgwilliams1000 During the Civil War, the CMoH was handed out fairly liberally, to be polite. Even after, there were those I don't think went "above and beyond." Admiral Byrd got one for visiting the North Pole, for example. In my lifetime, thought, only the greatest of heroes gets them. Sometimes, alas, years after the action in question.

[mgwilliams1000]

Amazing... One "small" battle (of course, not small to the gallent men cornered in a little piece of history) produced 11 VC's. Even the CMH here in the US has never been awarded as such. Be proud, regardless of what part on Britain you are from. History like this can NEVER be forgotten. I was 7 years old and had my sister in-law take me to the theater to watch this on a Saturday afternoon. I have been hooked on History ever since.

[beatlesandbeyond]

@tobaritchpingun The 24th Foot was NOT a WELSH Regment, it was the WARWICKSHIRE Regiment with a few Welshmen in it. It became the SOUTH WALES BORDERERS years after the Battle. I wish people would get it right, eh?

[1MagicAndMayhem1]

@tobaritchpingun The Soldiers Of Rorke's were majority English,

Clever boy you are

[malcs0]

Another lesson I learned was that good officers know the men who serve with them. Senior officers know they have to rely on those in the field. There is no other way. But if the screenplay does reflect actual events Chard exhibited all the best qualities of a junior officer; coolness under pressure, clear and decisive decision-making and good discipline. Bromhead was a brilliant second-in-command, he felt he should be commanding, but brilliantly supported Chard.

[malcs0]

The British Army is famed for its "holding" actions, with Rorke'Drift being one of it's most famous. The concept of holding and consolidation is the reason why the British Army is probably so successful in its endeavours. I was in the Territorial Army for some years in the 1990's. The emphasis was on the ability to defend yourself; know your enemy; know your terrain; in other words "Prior Preparation and Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance". If you are prepared you survive.

[toddness]

It must have been horrifying to be attacked by so many negroes.!