The British successfully thwart the Zulu attack at Rorke’s Drift

During the Anglo-Zulu war Lord Chelmsford, commander of the British forces, took over the buildings of the Swedish Mission at Rorke's Drift, near Isandlwana hill, to serve as a hospital and supple base.  At 15:15 on the afternoon of 22 January the small garrison at Rorke's Drift was warned by two survivors that the British camp at Isandlwana had been wiped out by the Zulus. The small garrison, consisting of 110 men under command of Lieutenants John Chard and Gonville Bromhead, immediately barricaded and loop-holed the buildings. They used two wagons, biscuit-boxes and mealie-bags to construct a low wall between the buildings. Soon after the warning, at 16:30, the 4 500 men strong Zulu impi under Prince Dabulamanzi kaMpande started the attack, which lasted until 4:00 the following morning. The hospital was set on fire and some attackers who got inside were fought off by bayonets. The British troops, who took shelter behind the stone walls of a cattle kraal, held out till dawn and repelled the attack. 350 Zulu warriors were killed by rifle fire and bayonets while hundreds were wounded. British casualties were seventeen dead and ten wounded. Eleven Victoria Crosses for bravery were awarded to British soldiers. A bronze plaque was erected by the Historical Monuments Commission in 1954 in honour of the fallen heroes of Rorke's Drift. In 1999 another side to the story was remembered when a memorial was constructed to honour the brave Zulu warriors who fought for their embattled kingdom.