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.
.