Overview
Explores the men and action at this most legendary of battles in the Anglo-Zulu War. The small garrison based at Rorke's Drift in South Africa is forever immortalized as one of the British Army's most glorious moments. The garrison was defended by 139 British soldiers with 300 African colonial troops under their command when, on January 22, 1879, they were attacked by a Zulu force of nearly 4,000 warriors. Outnumbered by nearly 20 to one, the British soldiers constructed a makeshift defense and fought throughout the night. Their tenacity and bravery ensured that the British retained the garrison and won the battle. Their acts in the face of this overwhelming onslaught saw 11 Victoria Crosses being awarded to the British garrison, the highest number ever awarded for a single engagement. Rorke's Drift restored the British public's faith in the Army after the disaster of Isandlwana, and the battle was famously portrayed in the film Zulu. AUTHOR: Edmund Yorke is the author of Battle Story: Isandlwana 1879, Rorke's Drift 1879, and Zulu!: The Battle for Rorke's Drift, and he was the historical consultant for the History Channel/Discovery Channel television documentary on Rorke's Drift.
Full Product Details
Author: Edmund Yorke
Publisher: The History Press Ltd
Imprint: The History Press Ltd
Dimensions:
Width: 16.50cm
, Height: 1.00cm
, Length: 23.50cm
Weight: 0.320kg
ISBN: 9780752464008
ISBN 10: 0752464000
Pages: 160
Publication Date: 01 March 2012
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
Yorke's short introductory history is readable and well-illustrated, recommended for those interested in British colonial history, South African history, and the military context. -- Library Journal
Yorke's short introductory history is readable and well-illustrated, recommended for those interested in British colonial history, South African history, and the military context. -- Library Journal
"""Yorke's short introductory history is readable and well-illustrated, recommended for those interested in British colonial history, South African history, and the military context."" -- Library Journal"
Author Information
EDMUND YORKE is Senior Lecturer in War Studies at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and has written and researched extensively on the Zulu War. He was the historical consultant for the History Channel television documentary on Rorke’s Drift. He has also written Zulu! The Battle for Rorke’s Drift and Battle Story: Isandlwana (both, The History Press) and is writing the forthcoming Battle Story: Maiwand and Battle Story: Kabul.
