Rorke's Drift (W&N Military) - Softcover

Greaves, Adrian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0304366412 ISBN 13: 9780304366415

Publisher: W&N, 2003

Synopsis

The story of the bravest battle ever fought.

On 22nd January 1879 a force of 20,000 Zulus overwhelmed and destroyed the British invading force at Isandlwana, killing and ritually disemboweling over 1200 troops. That afternoon, the same Zulu force turned their attention on a small outpost at Rorke's Drift.

The battle that ensued, one of the British Army's great epics, has since entered into legend. Throughout the night 85 men held off six full-scale Zulu attacks at the cost of only 27 casualties, forcing the Zulu army to withdraw. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for bravery shown on that night, the largest number for any one engagement in history.

But as Adrian Greaves's new research shows there are several things about the myth of Rorke's Drift that don't add up. While it was the scene of undoubted bravery, it was also the scene of some astonishing cases of cowardice, and there is increasing evidence to suggest that the legend of Rorke's Drift was created to divert attention from the appalling British mistakes which caused the earlier defeat at Isandlwana.

About this title

Review:

The DAILY MAIL ran an extract from RORKE'S DRIFT by Adrian Greaves on Saturday 22nd June. Adrian Greaves will be interviewed on BBC RADIO WALES's 'Good Morning Wales' (their equivalent of the Today programme) on Thursday 11th July. '...this account of the legendary battle of Rorke's Drift is highly recommen

Book Description:

The story of the bravest battle ever fought.

About this edition

• Publisher: W&N
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0304366412
• ISBN 13: 9780304366415
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 464