The Battle of Rorkes Drift is without doubt one of the most famous battles during the background within the British army. It was around this little mission station along the border of Zululand and Natal where a few thousand Zulu warriors attacked a garrison of no more than 140 British soldiers. The soldiers fought for their lives through the night and by morning, the Zulu warriors had retired back to Zululand. The top award for gallantry while in the British Army is the Victoria Cross and the action at Rorkes Drift saw twelve VCs awarded, greater than in any other single action in the past.
The struggle was portrayed by the Stanley Baker motion picture "Zulu" and one of several leading characters who performed with distinction at Rorkes Drift, ultimately didn't get a Victoria Cross. Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and is ranked second behind the Victoria Cross. Furthermore, Bourne was also offered a commission although he turn it down. Being the 8th son in the family, there was no money to be had and this was a time when wealth was used to buy commissions for officers from the British Army.
Nevertheless, Bourne was a career soldier and a very good one too. Immediately following South Africa, he served in both India and Burma prior to at long last earning his commission 11 years following the Battle of Rorkes Drift. He eventually retired from the British Army in 1907. Only seven years afterwards, The First World War started and Bourne re-enlisted in the army. By the conclusion of the Great War in 1918, Bourne had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was made an OBE. Bourne left the military again, on this occasion for good.
A result of the actor who played the part of Bourne in the motion picture Zulu, a lot of folks assumed Frank Bourne to have been in his mid-50s during the time of the Battle of Rorkes Drift however in truth he was only 24 years old.
Soon after the end of World War I, he lived in old age in Beckenham, South London and he was the last survivor of Rorkes Drift to pass away at the age of 91 on 8th May 1945, the very day World War II in Europe came to an end.
The struggle was portrayed by the Stanley Baker motion picture "Zulu" and one of several leading characters who performed with distinction at Rorkes Drift, ultimately didn't get a Victoria Cross. Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and is ranked second behind the Victoria Cross. Furthermore, Bourne was also offered a commission although he turn it down. Being the 8th son in the family, there was no money to be had and this was a time when wealth was used to buy commissions for officers from the British Army.
Nevertheless, Bourne was a career soldier and a very good one too. Immediately following South Africa, he served in both India and Burma prior to at long last earning his commission 11 years following the Battle of Rorkes Drift. He eventually retired from the British Army in 1907. Only seven years afterwards, The First World War started and Bourne re-enlisted in the army. By the conclusion of the Great War in 1918, Bourne had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was made an OBE. Bourne left the military again, on this occasion for good.
A result of the actor who played the part of Bourne in the motion picture Zulu, a lot of folks assumed Frank Bourne to have been in his mid-50s during the time of the Battle of Rorkes Drift however in truth he was only 24 years old.
Soon after the end of World War I, he lived in old age in Beckenham, South London and he was the last survivor of Rorkes Drift to pass away at the age of 91 on 8th May 1945, the very day World War II in Europe came to an end.
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Despite the fact he wasn't given the Victoria Cross, CSM Frank Bourne was one of the most well known soldiers who served at Rorkes Drift.. This article, Frank Bourne Hero of Rorkes Drift has free reprint rights.
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