The defence of Rorkes Drift is irrefutably one of the most prominent actions in the past in the British army. It was at this modest mission station along the border of Zululand and Natal where 4,000 Zulu warriors attacked the garrison of no more than 140 British soldiers. The infantrymen fought for their lives all night and by the early morning, the Zulu warriors had retreated. The top award for gallantry in the British Armed forces is the Victoria Cross and the action at Rorkes Drift saw 12 VCs awarded, more than in each other individual action in history.
The fight was portrayed in the Stanley Baker motion picture "Zulu" and one of a few leading characters who acted heroically at Rorkes Drift, in the final analysis failed to get a Victoria Cross. Color Sergeant Frank Bourne was instead awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal that is ranked 2nd behind the Victoria Cross. Additionally, Bourne was also offered a commission but he fell. Being the eighth boy in their household, there wasn't any money available and this was a time when wealth was used to buy commissions for officials in the Brit Military.
Bear in mind, Bourne was destined to be a vocation infantryman and a really good one also. Closely following S. A. , he served in both India and Burma prior to eventually earning his commission 11 years following the Battle of Rorkes Drift. He at long last retired from the English Military in 1907. Only 7 years later, The 1st World War started and Bourne rejoined the regiment. By the conclusion of the first World War in 1918, he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was made an OBE. He left the division again, on this occassion for ever.
A consequence of the actor who played the part of Bourne in the motion picture Zulu, a large amount of folks believed Frank Bourne to have once been in his mid-50s in the time of the Battle of Rorkes Drift however in truth he was only 24 years old.
After the finish of The First World War, Bourne lived in retirement in Beckenham, South London and he was the last survivor of the fight to pass away at the age of 91 on 8th May 1945, the day WW2 in Europe came to a close.
The fight was portrayed in the Stanley Baker motion picture "Zulu" and one of a few leading characters who acted heroically at Rorkes Drift, in the final analysis failed to get a Victoria Cross. Color Sergeant Frank Bourne was instead awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal that is ranked 2nd behind the Victoria Cross. Additionally, Bourne was also offered a commission but he fell. Being the eighth boy in their household, there wasn't any money available and this was a time when wealth was used to buy commissions for officials in the Brit Military.
Bear in mind, Bourne was destined to be a vocation infantryman and a really good one also. Closely following S. A. , he served in both India and Burma prior to eventually earning his commission 11 years following the Battle of Rorkes Drift. He at long last retired from the English Military in 1907. Only 7 years later, The 1st World War started and Bourne rejoined the regiment. By the conclusion of the first World War in 1918, he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was made an OBE. He left the division again, on this occassion for ever.
A consequence of the actor who played the part of Bourne in the motion picture Zulu, a large amount of folks believed Frank Bourne to have once been in his mid-50s in the time of the Battle of Rorkes Drift however in truth he was only 24 years old.
After the finish of The First World War, Bourne lived in retirement in Beckenham, South London and he was the last survivor of the fight to pass away at the age of 91 on 8th May 1945, the day WW2 in Europe came to a close.
About the Author:
In spite of the fact he didn't receive the Victoria Cross, CSM Frank Bourne was one of the most famous infantrymen who fought at Rorkes Driftduring the Anglo Zulu War of 1879.
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