"'Wrong men' given VCs at Rorke's Drift?" Topic

Old… but still interesting…

"The wrong soldiers were awarded Victoria Cross medals after the British Army's battle with the Zulus at Rorke's Drift, while the true heroes went unrecognised, a new BBC documentary will claim this week.

In stark contrast to the film Zulu, in which Lt John Chard and Lt Gonville Bromhead, the commanding officers of the Rorke's Drift outpost, are portrayed as heroes, the BBC programme depicts them as dithering and "hopeless".

The documentary also claims that the pair sought to flee during the battle in 1879, which has become renowned as one of the Army's most inspiring actions…."
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Amicalement
Armand

T'was always so. I remember talking with one young officer who had won a MC at Goose Green. He still seemed very uncertain as to why he had done so. Many years later I met another officer from the same regiment who told me an anecdote about another officer's bravery at the same battle. The tale fitted almost exactly with the first officer's citation. Slip of the pen? Misidentification? Politics? Who knows.

Outnumbered hundreds to one, I think anyone in their "right" mind would have wanted to flee.

The article is dated 2003! This revisionist claptrap was hashed over 15 years ago.

Still interesting perspective…

Amicalement
Armand

Written when Mr David had a book to sell hence the need for manufactured controversy.