THE BATTLE FOR THE DEFENCE OF RORKES DRIFT
22nd AND 23rd JANUARY 1879
INDEX PAGE

Complete Roster of Personnel.
Roll Of Honour
Decorations Obtained

Updated: 17/09/2002

 

An Alphabetical List Of All Personnel That Actually Took Part In The Battle of Rorkes Drift On The 22nd and 23rd January 1879

 

After the massacre, at Isandhlwana, of the 24th Regiment, under the command of Lord Chelmsford, Cetshwayo's Zulu Impi attacked the small Swedish Mission at Rorke's Drift, Natal.
123 Men of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 24th Regiment of Foot, under the command of Lieutenant Chard of the Corps of Royal Engineers and Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead of the 24th Regiment, aided by eight men of the Natal Native Contingent; three troopers of the Natal Mounted Police; five personnel of the Medical Staff; three men of the Army Commissariat; four Royal Artillerymen; a Sergeant of the General's Staff; Chard's Driver, a Royal Engineer; one member of the 3rd Regiment; one Corporal of the 90th L.I.; a Corporal from the Army Service Corps. and a Chaplain and two helpers.
These 156 men, by doing their allotted tasks, held the Zulus at bay throughout the battle that raged unceasingly over the two days..
Miraculously, only seventeen men were killed and twelve wounded against around 350 of the Zulus killed. (This was Chard's original estimate) Other claims have been of much greater numbers..

25B/987 Private Robert Adams D Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
Lieutenant James Adendorff. 1st Battn. 3rd Regiment. (Natal Native Contingent).
2/24/1240 Corporal William Wilson Allen (or Allan) B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
Corporal Michael Anderson. 2nd Battn. 3rd Regiment. (Natal Native Contingent).
2/24/913 Private James Ashton B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
24692 Corporal Francis Attwood. Army Service Corps.
B/1381 Private Thomas Barry B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/135. Private William Beckett 1st Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/918 Private William Bennett. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1287 Private William Bessell B Coy 2nd Battn 24th Regiment.
2/24/2427 Private John Bly B Coy. 2nd Battalion. 24th Regiment.
2/24/2459 B Coy. Col.- Sergeant Frank Bourne. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1524 Private Joseph Bromwich. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1184 Private Thomas Buckley B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1220 Private Thomas Burke. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/2350 Private Thomas Bushe B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
Store-Keeper Mr Louis Alexander Byrne. Army Commissariat and Transport Dept.
25B/1181 Private William Camp B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2076 Gunner John Cantwell 5th Brigade, Royal Artillery
Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard, 5th Coy Corps of Royal Engineers
25B/1241 Private Thomas Chester B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/1335 Private James Chick. D Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/755 Private Thomas Clayton B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/1459 Private Robert Cole F Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/801 Private Thomas Cole B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1396 Private Thomas Collins B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/906 Private John Connolly. C Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/2310 Private Anthony Connors. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
2/24/1323 Private Timothy Connors. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
2/24/2453 Private William Cooper F Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
Acting Assist. Commissary James Langley Dalton. Army Commissariat and Transport Dept.
Mr Daniels, a Civilian working with Rev. Smith.
25B/470 Private George Davies. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/1363 Private William Henry Davis. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/1178 Private Thomas Daw. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/1467 Private George Deacon B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment*
25B1357 Private Michael Deane. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/568 Private Patrick Desmond. 1st Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/1697 Private James Dick. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
2/24/1634 Private William Dicks. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
Corporal William Doughty. 2nd Battn. 3rd Regiment. (Natal Native Contingent).
25B/971 Private Thomas Driscoll. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B1421 Private James Dunbar. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
Asst. Commissary Walter Alphonsus Dunne. Army Commissariat and Transport Dept.
25B/922 Private George Edwards B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment*
1643 Gunner Abraham Evans 5th Brigade, Royal Artillery
25B/953 Private Frederick Evans. H Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/969 Private John Fagan. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
2/24/582 Corporal George French. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
2/24/1713 Drummer Patrick Galgey. D Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25/B81 Sergeant Henry Gallagher. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/2429 Private Edward Gee B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
1123 Corporal James Graham. 90th Light Infantry.*
Trooper Robert Green. Natal Mounted Police.
25B/978 Private James Hagan. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1282 L/Corporal William Halley.. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25b/1062 Private John Harris. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/1769 Private Garret Hayden D Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/2067 Drummer Patrick Hayes B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1362 Private Frederick Hitch. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1373 Private Alfred Henry Hook. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
1/24/1861 Private William Horrigan. 1st Battn. 24th Regiment.
2077 Gunner Arthur Howard, 5th Brigade, Royal Artillery
Trooper Sydney Hunter. Natal Mounted Police.
25B/1061 Private John Jobbins. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/841 Private James Jenkins. 1st Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1428 Private Evan Jones. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1179 Private John Jones B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B970 Private John Jones., B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/716 Private Robert Jones. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/593 Private William Jones. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24 2437 Private Peter Judge, B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/972 Private Patrick Kears. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/2381 Drummer James Keefe. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/2389 Corporal John Key. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1386 Private Michael Kiley. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/963 Private David Lewis B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
458 Bombardier Thomas Lewis, 5th Brigade, Royal Artillery
2/24/1528 Private Henry Lines. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1409 Private David Lloyd. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1176 Private Thomas Lockhart. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/1304 Private Joshua Lodge. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
Private Thomas Ludding. Army Hospital Corps
Trooper Henry Lugg. Natal Mounted Police.
25B/942 Private Thomas M. Lynch. B.Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1112 Corporal John Lyons. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/1441 Private John Lyons A. Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
3359 Private Michael McMahon. Army Hospital Corps.
2/24/1731 Private John Manley. A Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/964 Private James Marshall. B.Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/756 Private Henry Martin. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1284 Private Charles Mason. B.Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25b/623 Sergeant Robert Maxfield. G Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
Colour Sergeant G Maybin of the General's Staff
Corporal Jesse Mayer. 1st Battn. 3rd Regiment.(Natal Native Contingent).
2/24/2383 Drummer John Meehan. A.Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
Corporal Robert Miller . Army Hospital Corps.
2260 Sergeant Frederick Milne. 2nd Battn. 3rd Regiment of Foot.
2/24/1527 Private Michael Minehan. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/968 Private Thomas Moffatt. B.Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1342 Private Augustus Morris. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/525 Private Frederick Morris. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B1371 Private Thomas Morrison. BCoy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/662 Private John Murphy. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1279 Private William Neville. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25b/625 Private Edward Nicholas. 1st Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1257 Private Robert Norris B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1480 Private William Osborne. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1399 Private Samuel Parry. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/1410 Private William Partridge. G Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/372 Private Thomas Payton 1st Battn. 24th Regiment
Mr Pearse. Surgeon Reynold's Manservant.
25B/1186 Private Samuel Pitt. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
Surgeon-Major James Henry Reynolds. Army Medical Department.
25B/1286 Private Edward Robinson. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
12046 Driver Charles John Robson, 5th Coy. Corps of Royal Engineers
1/24/1542 Private William Roy. 1st Battn. 24th Regiment
25B1065 Private James Ruck. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1185. Private Edward Savage. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/849 Corporal Alfred Saxty. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
Corporal Carl Scammell. 2nd Battn. 3rd Regiment. (Natal Native Contingent).
25B/1051 Private John Scanlon. A Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
Corporal Ferdinand C. Scheiss. 2nd Battn. 3rd Regiment (Natal Native Contingent).
2/24/2404 Private Arthur Sears. A Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/1618 Private George Shearman. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment
2/24/914 Private John Shergold. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
The Reverend George Smith. Acting Chaplain.
2/24/1387 Sergeant George Smith. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment..
25B/1005 Private John Smith. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/777 Private Thomas Stevens. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/1812 Private William Tasker. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B973 Private Frederick Taylor. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/82 L/Sergeant James Taylor. E.Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/889 Private Thomas E. Taylor B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1280 Private John Thomas. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1394 Private John Thompson. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/641 Private Michael Tobin. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/641 Private Patrick Tobin. BCoy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B1281 Private William J. Todd. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1315 Private Robert Tongue. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/104 Private Henry Turner. 1st Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1497 Private John Wall. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
1/24/1542 Private John Waters. 1st Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/977 Private Alfred Whetton. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B1187 PrivateWilliam Wilcox. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1395 Private John Williams. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.*
25B/934 Private John Williams. E Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1398 Private Joseph Williams. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1328 L/Sergeant Thomas Williams. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/56 Sergeant Edward Wilson. 1st Battn. 24th Regiment.
Corporal John Wilson. 2nd Battn. 3rd Regiment. (Natal Native Contingent).
2/24/735 Sergeant Joseph Windridge. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1316 Private Caleb Woods. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
.

There were also two unknown natives killed. One was manservant to the Rev. Smith. The other was serving with the Natal Native Contingent (1st Battn. 3rd Regiment)..

A Roll Of Honour Of The Men Who Fought And Died
At Rorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa on the 22nd and 23rd of January !879

Killed In Action
22nd January 1879

25B/987 Private Robert Adams D Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment*
Corporal Michael Anderson. 2nd Battn. 3rd Regiment. Natal Native Contingenmt
A Civilian, Louis A. Byrne Army Commissariat and Transport Department.
.25B/1335 Private James Chick D Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/801 Private Tom Cole. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/969 Private John Fagan. B Coy 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
2/24/1769 Private Garret Hayden. D Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
1/24/1861 Private William Horrigan 1st Battn 24th Regiment*
Trooper Sydney Hunter. Natal Mounted Police.
25B/841 Private James Jenkins 1st Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/623 Sergeant Robert Maxfield. G Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.**
25B/625 Private Edward Nicholas 1st Battn. 24th Regiment
25B/1051 Private John Scanlon A Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
25B/1398 Private Joseph Williams. B Coy. 2nd Battn. 24th Regiment.
Native of 1st Battn. 3rd Regiment of Natal Native Contingent.(Name unknown)

**Sergeant Maxfield was stabbed to death by Zulus, whilst delirious, before he could be rescued by Private Robert Jones who was awarded the VC.

23rd January 1879

25B/35 Private William Beckett 1st Battn 24th Regt.* (Died of Wounds)
25B/1328 L/Sergeant. Thomas Williams. 2nd Battn 24th Regiment.

* Both 1st and 2nd Battalions were of the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot.

Decorations Awarded for the Defence Rorke's Drift
List of Recipients of The Victoria Cross

Cpl William Wilson ALLEN (or Allan) 24th Regiment

Lieutenant Gonville BROMHEAD 24th Regiment.

Lieutenant John Rouse Merrieott CHARD, Corps of Royal Engineers.Assistant Commissary James
Langley DALTON, Army Commissariat.
.
Private Frederick HITCH, 24th Regiment.

Private Henry HOOK, 24th Regiment.

Private Robert JONES, 24th Regiment.

Private William JONES, 24th Regiment.

Surgeon-Major James Henry REYNOLDS, Army Medical Dept.

Corporal Ferdnand Christian SCHEISS. Natal Native Contingent.
Private John WILLIAMS, 24th Regiment. (Born Fielding).

For Individual Citations go to Home Page
**************
Recipients 0f The Distinguished Conduct Medal

Second Corporal Francis ATTWOOD
Army Service Corps
For outstanding coolness and courage
Colour Sergeant Frank BOURNE
2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment*
Colour Sergeant Bourne's ‘behaviour during the battle was one of, the greatest coolness and gallantry, which earned him the DCM. His career in the army continued, finally attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. For his devotion to duty he was also awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Gunner John CANTWELL
N Battery, 5th Brigade, Royal Artillery.
For outstanding coolness and courage in the face of the enemy.
Private Michael McMAHON
Army Hospital Corps
For outstanding coolness and gallantry in the face of the enemy.. Unfortunately, the medal was forfeited when he later deserted the army.
Private William ROY
1st Battalion 24th Regiment*
For his coolness and gallantry in the face of the enemy.

*2nd Warwickshire Regiment

For detailed informtaion on Rorke's Drift visit;

www.rorkesdriftvc.com

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Rorke's Drift

By Arthur WALTERS.

In the hush that was the dawning of a sultry tropic morning
Came suggestion of a rumble far away
We could not say from where, was it here or was it there?
To trace the sound was really hard to say.

As the mist rose from the grasses over hills and mountain passes
The rumble came more clearly to the ear.
As it echoed through the hills down the gullies and the rills,
The suspense filled mortal man with fear.

The rumble came on stronger, sometimes fading sometimes longer,
Looming nearer as each moment passed us by.
Chilling reason now was dawning, urgent bugles tuned a warning
And vultures circled slowly in the sky.

Now the din akin to thunder, made us scan the hills in wonder
The menace froze us solid to the core.
So with ammunition ready, we held our rifles steady,
A thin red line of soldiers braced for war.

We turned wagons on their backs, piled-up rows of mealie sacks,
Sturdy boxes... And all that lay to hand.
Now the heat was so intense, as we built up our defence,
T'was not our choice but we must make a stand.

Then suddenly against the sky, across the ridge, as thick as rye,
We saw a host and heard the stamping feet.
The mountainside became a mass of waving spears like ebon grass,
T'was do-or-die for us... With no retreat.

Four Thousand war-cries thundered as they came against our hundred,
Pouring down the hillsides and the slopes,
A solid wall, of shields, as they raced across the fields,
And encircling 'horns' were closing on our hopes.

We braced ourselves against the shock, our rifles ready at the 'cock'
The mighty Zulu impi now so near.
Our sergeant seeming very calm stood out front with lifted arm,
The sight of him dispelled a little fear.

He firmly ordered, Fire me boys them spears are sharp not toys!
And with those words we sent a hail of lead.
Mid bayonet thrust and cordite fumes, the stabbing spears and ostrich plumes,
The struggles raged around the mounting dead.

With savage conflict through the night our ranks were closed and sorely tight,
They pressed us to the buildings at our rear.
The battle now in Hellish glow from leaping flames set by the foe,
Our weapons red with heat, and hands to sear.

Inside we made a desperate stand, from room to room fought hand-to-hand,
With rifle butt we parried bloodied spear.
Companions falling all around, the Zulus slowly gave their ground.
Until at last the mission house was clear.

We chased them through the smoky pall, o'er the fence and mealie wall,
The rising sun proclaimed the break of day.
Wearily we turned aside to count the gallant men who died.
This carnage was a bitter price to pay.

Men in red coats, pallors white, once proud warriors, black as night,
Mingled where they'd fallen in their gore.
And around the gutted Mission station lay the bravest of the Zulu nation,
To never rise again for evermore...

 

Arthur Walters is a member of the Trowell and District Writers' Trust, in Nottinghamshire. He is also an active member of the theatre, helping in the production of shows.