Khartoum, Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift: Three Battles for Empire Told By British Movie Studios

I am both a lover of history, and a lover of motion picture's. I enjoy how a film maker can take a real historic event and bring it to life on the motion picture screen through their eyes to mine. 

Perhaps, because of an excellent written fictional trilogy by American writer's, Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall, and several motion picture versions of their work. Many people believe the story of a mutiny on the British ship "Bounty", is pure fiction. Actually it's not, and my article about the actual events and the motion picture's prior to the writing of the trilogy and after, can be found in "The Mutiny on the 'HMAV (His Majesty's Armed Vessel) Bounty' in Motion Pictures" at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2021/02/the-mutiny-on-hmav-his-majestys-armed.html 

At the conclusion of the First World War, British and French politicians got together to divide the oil rich Arab counties along the Mediterranean Sea and below it. I look at the history of the region and several motion picture's, including one about British soldier and politician, Thomas Edward Lawrence, in my article "The Creation of Today's Middle East-HISTORIC REALITY vs HOLLYWOOD: T. E. Lawrence, Prince Faisal, Lowell Thomas, and Mickey Marcus" at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2021/05/the-creation-of-todays-middle-east.html

This article is a look at Three historic battles engaged by Queen Victoria's British Army, as interpreted by the British Film Industry. One on the Northeast corner of the African Continent, and Two in South Africa. All three occurred between 1879 and 1885, resulting in only one successful action.

THE SIEGE OF KHARTOUM

The Two Opponents:

Above, British General Charles George "Chinese" Gordon. below, محمد أحمد بن عبد الله بن فحل (Muhammad Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Fahal) aka: the "Mahdi".

The Historical Background:

On July 1, 1798, French troops under Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Egypt and Syria, and occupied the area until September 2, 1801. As a result of the French leaving, the Ottoman Empire established the Khedivate of Egypt.

In 1805, Muhammad Ali of Egypt, born in Albania within the Ottoman Empire, see my above linked article on the Middle East, was appointed the Ottoman Viceroy of Egypt, and for all purposes was that country's ruler. 

In July, 1820, Muhammad Ali's, Sudan invasion force left Egypt. It totaled 4,000 strong and was under the command of his third son, Isma'il Kamil Basha (Pasha).

Note: the  rank of "Pasha" was one of the highest awards within the Ottoman political and military systems.

According to historians M. W. Daly, and P. M. Holt's, "A History of the Sudan: From the Coming of Islam to the Present Day", Muhammad Ali told his son-law, Muhammad Khusraw Bey al-defterdar on September 23, 1823:

You are aware that the end of all our effort and this expense is to procure negroes. Please show zeal in carrying out our wishes in the capital matter.

Muhammad Ali's sole purpose to invade and conquer the Sudan, was to have a constant supply of slaves to train for his army. For use to conquer other areas for his own personal sub-Ottoman Empire.

The initial invasion and conquest of the "known" Sudan ended in 1824. Seven-other areas of land were conquered and incorporated, between 1840 and 1874, to form the current Sudan. However, the "Sun Never Sets on the British Empire", and both England and France were influencing the Khedivate of Egypt. 

In November, 1879, Ahmed Urabi, a "Colonel" in the Egyptian Army, and a group of his followers, formed the "Egyptian Nationalist Party", hoping to create a stronger national identity. 

Unknown to the Egyptian's and the British, within the Sudan, a religious leader, on June 29, 1881, named Muhammad Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Fahal, claimed to a small group of followers to be the predicted "MAHDI (Mahdiyya)".

According to the website "answering-island.org" at:

https://answering-islam.org/Authors/JR/Future/ch04_the_mahdi.htm

Among the Major Signs, the most anticipated and central sign that Muslims are awaiting is the coming of a man known as, “The Mahdi.”  In Arabic, al-Mahdi means, “The Guided One”. He is also sometimes referred to by Shi’a Muslims as Sahib Al-Zaman or Al-Mahdi al-Muntadhar which translated means “The Lord of the Age” and “The Guided/Awaited One.” 

"The Mahdi" foretold the second coming of Isa (Jesus). 

In August, 1881, the governor of the Sudan, Muhammad Rauf Pasha, sent two companies of infantry, each with one mounted machine gun, to arrest Muhammad Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Fahal.

 

Whichever captain's company brought Muhammad Ahmad, the self-proclaimed "Mahdi", to Muhammad Rauf, would be promoted. As a result both captain's were arguing with each other over how to capture, or kill Muhammad Ahmad. 

On August 12, 1881, the two Egyptian companies disembarked from the steamer that took them up the Nile to Aba Island. Once on shore, the Egyptian army split up into their respective companies and operated separately, as a result of their captain's disagreements. From different paths, the two groups headed for Muhammad Ahmad's village. It had rained, and Aba Island's dirt roads and soil had turned to mud. Which completely slowed down the movement of the Egyptian troops in their heavy boots, that kept getting stuck in that mud. Both groups converge on the village at the same time. However, one glory minded captain, Ali Effendi, ran into Muhammad Ahmad's hut, saw a person's back, and shot and killed him. The occupant, turned out to be only a guest of the self-proclaimed "Mahdi". Ali Effendi's action started the "Battle of Aba" with the "Mahdist's".

Making it back to the steamer, but under attack. The Egyptian soldiers fired one shell from a canon, but it went over the gathered "Mahdist's". Who just stepped out of the canon's range and taunted the departing soldiers.

As a result of that battle, the Egyptian soldier's suffered 120 casualties, that included 9 taken prisoner. The shoeless, for easy movement, "Mahdist's", had 12-killed. Their weapons had included sticks, stones, hoes, palm-knives, and a few old swords. The Egyptian army had succeeded in slightly wounding  their target in the right shoulder, but besides the one battle. They had started what now became known as the "Mahdist War", that would last into 1899.

In January, 1882, the British and French governments sent a joint political note to the Egyptian Government stating their recognition of the Khedive's authority.

In February, 1882,  Army Colonel Ahmed Urabi now led the "Urabi Revolt". A coup against Mohamed Tewfik Basha (Pasha), the current Khedive of Egypt and the Sudan. Urabi's stated purpose was to end Imperial British and French influence over the two countries.

The revolt was followed, on May 20th,  by British and French warships arriving off the coast of Alexandra. One unproven theory behind the British show of strength was to stop the "Urabi Revolt". Whatever the reason for the warships, on June 11th, an anti-Christian riot took place in Alexandra murdering 50-Europeans. Army Colonel Urabi ordered his forces to put down the riot. Which now showed the British and French a view of the Egyptian populace that Urabi was hoping would have changed. The remaining European's fled the city before control could be reestablished. France recalled its fleet, and the British began a 10 and a half hour bombardment of the city of Alexandra. 

Officially, from July through September 1882, the "Anglo-Egyptian War" took place. At its end, Egypt had become a British protectorate, but seemingly unnoticed, the "Mahdi's" followers were growing.

His name was William "Billy" Hicks, and he had retired with the "Honorary Rank of Colonel" from the British Army in 1880. At the end of the "Anglo-Egyptian War", Hicks came to Egypt and entered the service of the "Khedive" as a Pasha. 

No month is given, but early in 1883, William Hicks was sent to Khartoum as the "Egyptian Army Chief of Staff" to its commander, Suliman Niazi Pasha. A force of approximately 8,000-men were formed and trained. After completing their training, Hicks led a force of 5,000-men to fight an equally sized force of rebellious religious dervishes. He succeeded in clearing the rebels out of their strongholds at Sennar and Khartoum. 

However, now relieved that the dervishes would not be able to join the "Mahdi". The Egyptian officials in Khartoum wanted to get rid of the ex-British officer, but it backfired. Instead, Niazi was replaced as commander of the army by Hicks.

Meanwhile, the "Mahdi" and his followers, in January, 1883, had taken the capital city of the central Sudan province of Kordofan, El-Obeid. Knowing that his forces would be useless in the religious style of war the "Madhi" was engaged in. Hicks Pasha suggested that the Egyptian army just wait out the situation and see what transpires, but he was overruled by the "Egyptian Ministry" of politicians without military experience. Who were underestimating the power of Muhammad Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Fahal, the "Mahdi".

William Hicks Pasha's force consisted of either 7,000, 8,000, or 10,000-infantry, depending on the source researched. They carried supplies for 50-days, on part of a baggage train of 5,000 camels. Besides the soldiers own weapons, Hicks had 10-"RML" 7-pounder, weight of the shell, mountain guns, 4-Krupp field guns, and 6-Nordenfelt machine guns. 

Even though it was known that the city of El-Obied had fallen to the "Mahdi's" forces and that most of Kordofan was probably sympathetic to the religious leader. Hicks's forces were, NOW, being sent to rescue one man, the "Governor of Darfur", Slatin Bey, actually the retired, Austrian-Hungarian Major-General Rudolf Carl von Slatin.

On September 9, 1883, Hick's force traveled up the Nile River. On September 10th, they left the Nile at Duem, and headed in-land for El-Obeid, 200-miles away. Hicks's troops had to cross the waterless desert of Kordofan to get to their destination. It took Hick's a full two-months, after being given misleading directions by local guides that were probably followers of the "Mahdi".

According to page 52, of Winston Churchill's, 1899 published, "The River War". Hick's army was:

perhaps the worst army that has ever marched to war

On November 3, 1883, William Hicks Pasha, found his force in the dense forest of Kashgil, 30-miles before El-Obeid. There, he was ambushed by the "Mahdi" and his followers, believed to be about 40,000. Hicks Pasha held his position through most of November 5th, but lost his life in the following action.

We do not know the casualties sustained by the "Mahdi", but have an agreed estimate, based upon documents at Khartoum, that Hicks Pasha, lost 7,000-killed, and 2,000-captured. There is no record on the amount of wounded, if these two figures are accurate, then the size of the initial force is closer to the 10,000 figure, or possibly even higher.

Enter, in January, 1884, British Army Major-General Charles George Gordon, known as "Chinese Gordon", because he led "The Ever Victorious Army". Which were a group of Chinese soldiers that put down the Taiping Rebellion, 1850 - 1864. That rebellion, in China, seemed very similar to the story of the "Mahdi", he was about to face. The Taiping Rebellion was led by Hong Xiuquan, who claimed to be "The Brother of Jesus Christ".

Gordon had been governor general of the Sudan once before, 1874 -1879.

Motion Picture biographical features can be interesting in what they say, and what they don't say about the actual facts. 

KHARTOUM had "The British Royal's World Premier", in London, on June 9, 1966, with a "Road Show" running time of 134-minutes. Representing the Royal Family was Princes Margaret and her husband Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, 1st-Earl of Snowdon. Also in attendance were, Charlton Heston, and Sir Laurence Olivier.

The "Cinerama" version of "Khartoum" in the United States, opened on June 15, 1966, with a running time of 128-minutes. The "General Release" for both countries was in "Ultra Panavision", a form of filming similar to 1956's "Todd AO".

The screenplay, which was nominated for the "Academy Award for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen", was written by Robert Ardrey. The Lana Turner, Gene Kelly, and June Allyson, 1948 version of French author Alexander Dumas', "The Three Musketeers", the Jennifer Jones, Van Heflin, and Louis Jourdan, 1949 version of French author Gustave Flaubert's, "Madame Bovary", and director Vincente Minnelli's, 1962 version of Spanish author, Vicente Blasco Ibanez's, "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse".

There were two directors, Eliot Elisofon, a cinematographer, directed the introduction sequence about the history of the Nile, Egypt, and the Sudan, setting the stage for what was to come.

The actual story was directed by Basil Dearden, the excellent 1945, British supernatural horror film, "Dead of Night", with Sir Michael Redgrave. Also with Redgrave, the excellent war drama, 1946's, "The Captive Heart", the 1950 crime drama, "Cage of Gold", starring Jean Simmons, and the Benny Hill comedy, 1956's, "Who Done It?".

Charlton Heston portrayed "General Charles 'Chinese' Gordon, military governor of Sudan, commander and construction engineer". Heston had just portrayed "Michelangelo" in 1965's, "The Agony and the Ecstasy". In 1954, Charlton Heston appeared in the 3-D, "The Secret of the Incas". My reader may not agree with my article's title, but both George Lucas and Steven Spielberg say otherwise. That article is "CHARLTON HESTON: The Original 'Indiana Jones'?" at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/07/charlton-heston-original-indiana-jones.html 

Sir Lawrence Olivier portrayed "Muhammad Ahmad, the Mahdi". Olivier is only in the motion picture for approximately 20-minutes, spread over the entire 134-minutes. He had just been seen in his own film production of British playwright, William Shakespeare's, "Othello". 

Richard Johnson portrayed "Colonel John Donald Hamil 'J. D. H. ' Stewart, Gordon's aide". Johnson co-starred in director Robert Wise's, outstanding 1963 ghost story, "The Haunting". 

Below, the real Stewart.

Sir Ralph Richardson portrayed "William Ewart Gladstone, Prime Minister". Richardson was in director Bryan Forbes', 1966, crime comedy, "The Wrong Box".

Below, the real Gladstone.

The Very Basic Screenplay:

After the introduction, the audience is told the action is in the Sudan during 1883, and now sees William Hicks, portrayed by Edward Underdown, leading his 10,000 well armed, but poorly trained Egyptian troops. 

The audience is seeing the effects of a long march across the desert with low water on Hicks's column.

There is no dense forest of Kashgil and the column is attacked by the "Mahdi" and his followers.

Where most everyone, including "Billy Hicks", are killed, and all the weapons come to the 'Mahdi's" forces.

Back in England, the populace are protesting the death of a British hero, who to the government was the blundering William Hicks. There is no way that Prime Minister Gladstone is going to send the British army to Egypt to chase some religious fanatic all over the desert, but something must be done. The answer comes from Lord Granville, the British Foreign Secretary, portrayed by Sir Michael Murray Hordern.

Below the real Lord Granville

Granville's answer, send another religious fanatic, who happens to be a British hero, liked even by Queen Victoria, "Chinese" Gordon. He has strong ties to the Sudan, as Gordon had attempted to break the slave trade, but also made some enemies. Should he solve their problem, he will become a National hero again, but should be fail. Charles Gordon becomes the two politician's scapegoat. 

The Prime Minister instructs their new representative to the Egyptian government, that his mission is to evacuate all foreign troops and civilians from Khartoum. Adding that his mission is officially unsanctioned by the British government, and, of course, should he fail. Then the British government will deny all responsibility for his actions. 

Gladstone, however, still does not trust the glory hunting Major-General Charles George Gordon, and assigns Colonel J. D. H. Stewart as Gordon's aide. Stewart is under orders to report everything "Chinese" Gordon is doing. When the two first meet, Gordon asks Stewart what his real job is and the two clear the air between them.

The two men's first stop is to meet with the former slaver, Al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur aka: Zobeir Pasha, portrayed by Zia Mohyeddin, Gordon caused the death of Zobeir Pasha's slaver brother and he will not help the murderer.

Below, the real Al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur

On February 18, 1884, Gordon and Stewart, after traveling up the Nile, arrive at Khartoum. Where the new military governor of the Sudan, Charles George Gordon, is cheered as the "Savior of Khartoum" by the Europeans and Egyptians within the city walls.

That night, Gordon sneaks out of the city with a guide. He goes to the camp of the "Mahdi" to speak to him about peace and the safety of the people within Khartoum.

Above, the movie's meeting between the two opponents. Which makes a great plot point for the viewing audience, but it never happened! Charles George Gordon and Muhammad Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Fahal never met in real life. 

At his meeting with the "Mahdi", Gordon discovers that he plans to use the taking of Khartoum and the killing of all the people within as a rallying cry to take the Sudan from Egypt. 

Returning to Khartoum, from both a military mind set and that of a construction engineer's. The military governor of the Sudan, makes the decision to defend the city against the Prime Minister's specific orders to him. Khartoum is located where the White Nile and the Blue Nile come together to form the main

Nile River. Colonel Stewart objects, as defending Khartoum is not Gordon's mission, but getting the Europeans and the Egyptians out is. However, the military governor stands firm and Stewart joins him.

The digging of a ditch, between the White and Blue Nile's, is constructed to create a protective moat around Khartoum. What is known as "The Siege of Khartoum" began on March 13, 1884. While in Britain, Prime Minister Gladstone has become aware of the situation in the Sudan and especially in Khartoum, he orders Gordon to return to England, as expected Gordon refuses and sends Stewart to explain the real situation. 

The word about Khartoum and the heroic Charles George Gordon can't be kept from the newspapers and the people. Colonel Stewart returns to Khartoum as the months of the siege pass and the British public is yelling in the Prime Minister's ears.

Gordon finds a man hiding food from the besieged populace and the man is executed by firing squad.

Prime Minister Gladstone finally gives in to public and Royal pressure in July 1884. The Prime Minister's plan is for Field Marshal Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley", portrayed by Nigel Green, to take command of a rescue mission.

Below, the real Wolseley

In September 1894, Colonel John Donald Hamill Stewart, takes the "Steamer Abbas" with residents of Khartoum and attempts to run the blockade of the Nile at Abu Hamad, but the steamer hits a rock and is attacked from shore by the "Mahdi's" followers. 

Later, a letter will be delivered to Gordon from the "Mahdi". His letter is proof that all on the steamer are dead, as it quotes letters from the Gordon in the possession of Stewart, for the British government

Field Marshal Wolseley does have an army of 9,000 British Troops, BUT they need to learn to ride camels and it takes until January 1895 to train them and move toward Khartoum.

While Wolseley's 9,000 British troops, on their camels, march toward Khartoum. On the night of January 25, 1885, the "Mahdi's followers attack the city. There was an estimated 50,000 Mahdist's, and the following day Khartoum Falls. The "Mahdi" gave specific instructions not to touch Gordon. The population of Khartoum is overwhelmed by the size of "Mahdi's" followers and all 30,000 were killed including Charles George Gordon. 

In the film, the "Mahdi" arrives and says he gave instructions not to kill Gordon. The camera becomes his eyes as he stares upward at a large pole with ---- the audience knows, but does not see, the head of Charles George Gordon on it.

The British relief column arrives two-days-later. 

The narrator tells the audience that five-months after the fall of Khartoum, Muhammad Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Fahal, DIED FROM TYPHUS.

So ends an "Epic" motion picture about Queen Victoria's British Empire and how politics and military incompetence caused the fall of a British, European, and Egyptian bastion in Northeast Africa. 

Eleven-months prior to Ahmed Urabi forming the "Egyptian Nationalist Party",  a battle took place in South Africa that confirmed the incompetence of Queen Victoria's army. There are two motion picture's I want to speak too, both related to that battle. The second was released four-years prior to the release of "Khartoum", and the first of these two was released thirteen-years after that motion picture.

THE BATTLE OF ISANDLWANA (ISANDHLWANA), THE ZULU EMPIRE

The Historical Background:

Lord Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, after the passing of the "British North America Act 1867", that formed a federation in Canada for the Empire. Now believed - - -

- - - that a similar political effort, combined with military action, might lead to a white ruling minority, over the black majority of South Africa. Which would bring to the Empire, a cheap pool of labor for the British mines, and sugar plantations. Also, adding, the incorporation of the African Kingdoms, and the Dutch Boer Republics into British controlled South Africa.

In 1874, Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, 1st Baronet, was appointed "High Commissioner for South Africa", to carry out Lord Carnarvon's plan.

Of his own initiative, on December 11, 1878, Frere sent a provocative ultimatum to Cetshwayo kaMpande, the King of the Zulu Nation, who rejected the ultimatum.

Next, Frere, ordered General Lord Frederic Augustus Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford,  to invade Zulu Land. On Saturday, January 11, 1879, the British crossed the "Buffalo River", setting in motion one of the bloodiest wars during Queen Victoria's reign, the "Anglo-Zulu War". 

Chelmsford originally planned a five-pronged attack of a total British force of 16,500-troops to completely surround Cetshwayo kaMpande's Zulu's. His concern was that the Zulu's might not fight and slip away into neighboring Natal. However, Chelmsford entirely abandoned that idea, and decided upon just three columns. The main column of 7,800-troops was under his direct command . 

Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony William Durnford was an Ireland born officer of the "Royal Engineers", in command of "Number 2-Column". His complement, including himself, was 511 Native and Colonial Troops, and 14 British, for a total of 525

Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Thomas Glyn was born in Hampshire, and was in command of "Number 3-Column". However, in what became "The Battle of Islandlwana", Glyn was on a reconnaissance mission with Lord Chelmsford and by luck was not at the Islandlwana camp. He would survive the court of inquiry held over the battle, because it was hard to blame him for the actions of "Number 3-column. When he was with the "Commander-in- Chief" elsewhere.

Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Burmester Pulleine was a Yorkshire born British Army administrator in charge of the Pietermaritzburg horse remount depot. When the "Anglo-Zulu War" started, Pulleine left the safety of the horse remount depot and hurried to rejoin his regiment,"Number 3-column",

under Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Thomas Glyn. When Glyn left with Chelmsford, Pulleine 

assumed command of "Number 3-column" at Isandlwana. His complement, including himself, was 734 British, and 578 Native and Colonial Troops, for a total of 1,312.

The British, Colonial, and Native troops were armed with the, modern for the year, "Martini-Henry Breech-Loading Rifes", 2-"RML" 7-pounder mountain guns, and a battery of British inventor William Hale's rockets. 

The Zulu's had traditional Assegai spears, cow-hide shields, and an unknown amount of antiquated muskets and rifles. However, the Zulu's numbered approximately 20,000, but between 10,000 to 15,000, engaged the British Army in the battle. The difference was being sent to "Rorke's Drift", see the second movie below.

Isandlwana was the first battle of the "Anglo-Zulu War" and is the subject of the first of the two motion pictures I want to speak about, although it was the second made about the Zulu war.

ZULU DAWN premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, France, on March 15, 1979

The original story and scenario was by American co-screenplay writer Cy Endfield. Endfield was both a legitimate theatre and motion picture director, and writer. He was both writer and director of the second feature film about the "Anglo-Zulu War" I will be mentioning. He also had to leave the United States after being "Blacklisted" by the "House Committee on Un-American Activities". Why was he "Blacklisted"? His views were "Leftist" in a "Right Wing" minded United States.

Anthony Storey wrote the screenplay, this was the fourth of only four screenplays Storey would write.

The motion picture was directed by London born Douglas Hickox. Among his film directing work is the 1972, Oliver Reed and Jill St. John, "Sitting Target", the Vincent Price and Diana Rigg, 1973, "Theatre of Blood", and the John Wayne and Sir Richard Attenborough, 1975, "Brannigan".

Burt Lancaster portrayed "Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony William Durnford". Lancaster had just starred in the Vietnam War movie, 1978's, "Go Tell the Spartans". My article is "Burt Lancaster: Circus Acrobat Turned Actor" swinging on the trapeze at:

https://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/04/burt-lancaster-circus-acrobat-turned.html 

Peter O'Toole portrayed "General Lord Frederic Augustus Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford". O'Toole was just in the Malcolm McDowell, 1979, "Caligula", and followed this feature film with the psychological thriller, 1980's, "The Stunt Man".

Sir John Mills portrayed "Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, 1st Baronet". Mills portrayed the head of the "Rocket Group, Bernard Quatermass", in 1979's, "The Quatermass Conclusion".

Denholm Elliott portrayed "Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Burmester Pulleine". Elliott is always recognized for portraying "Marcus Brody", in the "Indiana Jones" motion picture series.

Simon Sabela portrayed Cetshwayo kaMpande, the King of the Zulu Nation.

The Basic Screenplay:

The screenplay opens at a large party at the "Cape Colony", in January 1879, attended by the local British and Colonial Planters. 

During the festivities, diplomat Sir Henry Bartle Frere plots with Lord Chelmsford to annex the neighboring "Zulu Empire".

Next, Frere issues an ultimatum to the Zulu King, Cetshwayo, who rebuffs the demand, giving Frere the reason he needs for war against the Zulu Empire. However, Frere receives objections from both Britain and Cape Town against such action as he wants. Ignoring all of them, Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere authorizes now, General Lord Frederic Augustus Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford, to organize an "Expeditionary Force" and INVADE the Zulu Empire.

"General Lord Chelmsford",  now marches his army into Zulu land and toward its capital Ulundi, with his dreams of a short and deceive war.

However, the British commander, as many British officers, doesn't understand how the Zulu army fights. Instead of Lord Chelmsford's magnificent battle, the Zulu only offer hit and run skirmishes, resulting in a frustrated British command and worn down soldiers. Then, three Zulu warriors are captured, and under interrogation, the three refuse to give out information. The three are able to escape, giving Cetshwayo and his generals needed information about the British, their actual mission upon being captured.

The British march on, and half-way to Ulundi, Lord Chelmsford orders the army to make camp at the base of "Mount Isandlwana". Ignoring the advice of his Boer (Dutch) attendants to laager, and make a defensible circle of his supply wagons. His Lordship and officers discuss the situation while calmly eating in a large tent.

British scouts return with deliberate inaccurate reports of the location of the Zulu's. This causes British Army General Lord Chelmsford to make his biggest mistake. He decides to take half of his force and go after the reported, but phantom,  Zulu's. The date is January 21, 1879, now only half the British Expeditionary Force remains at Isandlwana. 

The following day, January 22, 1879, with no sign of Lord Chelmsford and his half of the British Expeditionary Force, Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony William Durnford arrives with his reinforcements. Durnford dispatches scouts to survey the region, and personally leaves to check the disposition of the Isandlwana camp in relation to the Zulu's.

One of Dunford's scouting parties witnesses a massing of Zulu's in a valley, and reports it to Dunford as he returns to camp.

What follows is a massive frontal attack of the Isandlwana camp by the Zulu's, which is repulsed. 

Cetshwayo and his generals rethink their style of attack, and now encircle the British, pushing them inwards to the center of their camp.

On the evening of January 22, 1879, British General Lord Frederic Augustus Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford, and his half of the Expeditionary Force return to Mount Isandlwana. To find 

Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony William Durnford, and Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Burmester Pulleine, and their half of the British Force dead!

The movie ends with the shocked Lord Chelmsford receiving news that the Zulu's have attacked "Rorke's Drift", and the audience next sees the Zulu's dragging captured artillery back to Ulundi.

The actual losses from "The Battle of Isandlwana" are not one-hundred-percent known, because of the variations of forces on both sides. The following are the most agreed upon:

British Expeditionary Force had a total killed of 1,388. I could not locate a wounded total and it was known that some on horseback may have gotten out.

Zulu Forces had a total of approximately 3,000 killed and 2,000 wounded.

Whether you think of the real facts, or the fictional facts related to "The Battle of Isandlwana", one name reminds the same:

THE BATTLE FOR RORKE'S DRIFT, AKA THE DEFENSE OF RORKE'S DRIFT, VS THE ZULU EMPIRE

The  Historical Background:

"Rorke's Drift" begin as a trading post run by Jame "Jem" Alfred Rorke. In 1846 Irish immigrant Rorke found himself as a civilian member of the British commissariat during the 7th of 9-wars against the "Xhosa People". A Bantu ethnic group that over centuries migrated into what became South Africa. The 1st-war between the Xhosa's, the British Empire, and Trekboers of the Dutch Colonial Empire, had been fought in 1779. The final and 9th-war would be fought in 1879.

In 1849, "Jem" Rorke purchased a homestead in the "Natal Colony", on the border of "Zulu Land". There he built his trading post on the Natal Bank of the Buffalo River that became known as "Rorke's Drift", the following is an 1882 photo of the "Drift". Rorke had developed a very good relationship with the Zulu. Missionary Karl Titlestad wanted to buy "Rorke's Drift" to establish a mission among the Zulu's. We know "Jem" Rorke wanted to sell it to Titlestad. However, on October 24, 1875, James Rorke committed suicide by gunshot, at least that's one story. He had been very sick prior to that date and was it that condition that caused him to take his life? Others believe his suicide was over a lost shipment of Gin to his trading post, but that remains questionable also. 

In 1878, the "Norwegian Missionary Society" purchased the property from James Rorke's widow. The missionary stationed at "Rorke's Drift", with his wife and daughter, to bring Christianity to the Zulu's, was Otto Witt.

My reader should understand the following began in parallel to the "British Expeditionary Force's" actions at Mount Isandlwana.

According to the website"rorkesdriftvc.com" at:

https://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/battle/full_defence_account.htm

Just before Lord Chelmsford's "Expeditionary Force" crossed the Buffalo River:

The church was pressed into service as a store, and Witt's house transformed into a hospital, to house a few sick and injured men. Witt made arrangements for his wife and daughter to go and stay with friends at Msinga, whilst he remained to keep a watchful eye on his mission-station.   

Overall command of the "Rorke's Drift"  supply depot and hospital was Brevet Major Henry Spalding of Lord Chelmsford's staff.

The protective garrison of the new hospital, and supply depot, was "B' Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot. They were under the command of Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead. Who according to the above website, was extremely popular, but was also: 

so deaf, that he could never hear the commands given on parade.

Bromhead's Colour Sergeant Frank Edward Bourne had risen through the ranks in seven-years and was only 24-years-old.

In the "Hospital", was Surgeon James Henry Reynolds, Army Medical Department

Reverend George Smith, was a local Anglican Missionary and the Chaplain of the Weenen Yeomanry, a Dutch Boer military group.

On January 19, 1879, Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard, Royal Engineers, and a small party of sappers, combat engineers, assigned to him, arrived at "Rorke's Drift" to repair and maintain the ponts (ferries) across the Buffalo River. 

On January 20, 1879, Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony William Durnford arrived with "Number-Two-Column" and rested his men o the Zulu Bank of the Buffalo River. On the evening of January 21st, Dunsford was ordered to bring his men to Isandlwana and left.

In the early morning of January 22nd, Lieutenant Chard received orders for his men to report to Isandlwana, but it was unclear if the order pertained also to Chard. Obtaining permission from Brevet Major Henry Spalding to go with his men's wagon to the Isandlwana camp to clarify the order, he left "Rorke's Drift". Around 8 AM, the Royal Engineer arrived at that camp, but was told to return to the supply depot and entrench the positions overlooking the ponts on the Natal bank. Before he left, the lieutenant was told of reports of Zulu's on the Nquthu Plateau. On his ride back, he encountered fellow Royal Engineer Dunsford and passed on the information about the Zulu's.

Sometime close to noon on January 22, 1879, Brevet Major Henry Spalding, needed to leave the supply depot and locate a missing company. It was Spalding that put Royal Engineer Chard in temporary command of "Rorke's Drift", over the experienced Bromhead. Who had taken temporary command of his company during the final "Xhosa War". The reason for this off choice, was simply, that in Queen Victoria's army, Chard was 3-years-senior in rank to Bromhead. 

About 12:30, as Chard was in his tent at the pont's on the Natal bank of the Buffalo, having his lunch. Canon fire was heard from the direction of Mount Isandlwana, and Surgeon Reynolds, Otto Witt, and the Reverend George Smith, all climbed a hill, Oscarberg, 350-yards, southeast, of the two buildings making up the supply depot. Through a telescope, the three men observed a battle taking place in the direction of Isandlwana. Then on the Natal side of the Buffalo River, the three men observed three other men riding fast toward the supply depot and came down from the Oscarberg.

Riding up to Bromhead, was Lieutenant Gert Wilhelm Adendorff, "Natal Native Contingent". He informed the other about the massacre at Islandlwana and that he planned to stay at "Rorke's Drift" to help defend it. Bromhead sent a message to Chard to return to the mission supply deport immediately. 

Note: There still continues, as I write these words, questions about Adendorff. He would become the only British soldier to fight both "The Battle of Isandlwana" and "The Battle of Rork's Drift". However, many argue that he was a deserter from the initial battle and conditions just took over bringing him to fight at the mission supply depot.

Chard now returned and preparations were made for the defense of the mission hospital supply depot, but only after Assistant Commissary, Staff Sergeant, James Langley Dalton, of the "Commissariat and Transport Department", got the two lieutenant's to realize they had only two choices. One was to take flight with everyone at "Rorke's Drift", or to stand and fight the Zulu's. 

The hospital's cook was Private Henry "Harry" Hook. Who in the afternoon of January 22, 1879, was ordered to protect approximately 30-patients unable to be moved during the Zulu attack,

When the battle began later that day, including those in hospital, Chad and Bromhead had 141-British Regular Soldiers, 11-Colonial Troopers, and 4-Civilians, a total of 156-Defenders. At one point there were 100-members of the "Natal Native Horse", but they fled before the actual fighting began.

While the Zulu's totaled according to estimates, somewhere between 3-to-4,000-warriors.

I first mentioned that biographical motion pictures can be interesting in what they say, or don't reflect from the actual facts. The following is one such motion picture:

ZULU premiered in London, on January 22, 1964

As I mentioned earlier, the motion picture was directed and co-written by Cy Enfield. Who also was co-producer with actor Stanley Baker and Joseph E. Levine. 

Enfield's co-screenplay writer was John Prebble. Prebble was the screenplay writer for producer Cy Enfield's, 1961 version of French author Jules Verne's "The Mysterious Island", with stop-motion special effects by Ray Harryhausen.

Stanley Baker portrayed "Lieutenant John Chard, Royal Engineers". Among Baker's roles is "Modred" in 1953's, "Knights of the Round Table", "Achilles" in director Robert Wise's, 1956, "Helen of Troy", "Attalus" in Richard Burton's, 1956, "Alexander the Great", and "Astaroth" in co-directors Robert Aldrich and Sergio Leone's, 1962, "The Last Days of Sodom and Gomorrah".

Jack Hawkins portrayed "Reverend Otto Witt". Among Hawkins's other roles was "Pharaoh Khufu" in director Howard Hawks's, 1955, "Land of the Pharaoh's", co-starring Joan Collins, "Major Warden" in director David Lean's, 1957, "The Bridge on the River Kwai", and "Quintus Arrius" in director William Wyler's, 1959, "Ben Hur".

Ulla Jacobsson portrayed "Margareta Witt". The Swedish actress had just been seen in a 1963-episode of two American television series, "The Virginian", and "Ben Casey", and followed this feature film with an episode of television's "The Bing Crosby Show".

James Booth portrayed "Private Alfred Henry 'Harry' Hook". Booth had a varied career in film and stage, but this role is the one most people speak about. In any scene with "Hook", Booth placed his role center stage,  even if his written character wasn't anything like the real man.

Michael Caine portrayed "Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead". Although Caine had been acting either on British television, or in motion pictures since 1946, many were either uncredited, or blink and you might miss him. "Zulu" was finally the actor's break-out role.

Nigel Green portrayed "Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne". Character actor Green had some varied roles, but many were either strong military, police detectives, or classic adventure characters. These included a "Police Officer" in the British take-off of 1951's, "The Day the Earth Stood", 1954's, "Stranger from Venus", also starring Patricia Neal. He was another "Police Inspector" in the Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee, 1958, "Corridors of Blood", "Hercules" in stop-motion-animator Ray Harryhausen's, 1963, "Jason and the Argonauts", and "Ludovico", in director Rodger Corman's, 1964, "Masque of the Red Death", starring Vincent Price and Hazel Court.

This Version of "The Battle of Rorke's Drift":

I admit, this film is a favorite film of mine, but if you're looking for the true story of "The Defense of Rorke's Drift", you've come to the wrong place. However, if you're looking for a good adventure film, now, that's a different story.

The opening is narrated by Richard Burton as the audience sees the battlefield of Isandlwana with dead British soldiers covering the grounds. Burton tells the viewer what just transpired as Zulu warriors  pick up rifles and other military gear.

Cut to a masive Zulu marriage ceremony as "Margareta Witt" objects to seeing so many very young women marrying old men. Her father, Otto Witt, explains that the young women are being honored marrying a true warrior. STOP: We know that Otto Witt's family were sent away, but more importantly, there is no adult daughter named "Margareta".

While the marriage ceremony proceeds, a runner arrives to speak to Cetshwayo portrayed by Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, and Otto overhears the mention of the Isandlwana massacre. With his daughter they start to leave, are stopped by some Zulu's, but let to go on by Cetshwayo. Otto realizes the Zulu's are going to attack his mission, turned military hospital and supply depot at "Rorke's Drift".

Outside of "Rorke's Drift", Lieutenant Bromhead is hunting wild animals, he gets his kill and is returning back to the mission. When he spots some of his men in the water helping Lieutenant Chard of the Royal Engineers fixing the pont's. Bromhead tells Chard he should have got his permission before using any of his men. Chad reminds the other that he wasn't at the mission, but out hunting. Bromhead comes across as a little stuffy and looking down on a non-combatant Royal Engineer.

Arriving is "Natal Native Contingent Commander Adendorff", portrayed by Gert van den Bergh, who informs Chad and Bromhead about the Isandlwana massacre and that a force of 4,000-Zulu's are advancing upon "Rorke's Drift". 

Bromhead makes a racial remark about how could Zulu's do what Adendorff claims to British troops? Next, it becomes a question of command and what to do next. It becomes obvious to Chad, that Bromhead has had no military action and the question of command is settle by the Royal Engineer having gotten his commission just a few short months before the other in the same year. Bromhead wants to flee, but Chad decides to fight and reinforce the mission supply depot. Adendorff is asked to stay, and he remarks there is no other place to go and will advise Chad on Zulu tactics. Once Colour Sergeant Bourne understands both the situation and who's in command, he goes to work following Chard's orders.

The Royal Engineer's mind is designing a defensive perimeter using sacks of hardtack and maize, and wagons to fill the gaps. Witt thinks Chard is crazy, because they could take the 30-sick men in the hospital out. Chard now enters the hospital and finds places that those men capable of using a rifle can defend the hospital and the rear entrance to the mission supply depot. There he meets Private Henry Hook, described in the screenplay as:

a thief, a coward, and an insubordinate barrack-room lawyer

Not the official description of the hospital's cook I mention above.

 

Next. South African cavalry men arrive from having fought at Isandlwana and refuse to help defend "Rorke's Drift" and just ride away. Alarmed by Chad not using the wagons to move the men in the hospital and, instead arming them. Otto Witt convinces the Zulu's serving in the "Natal Native Contingent" to desert.

Chard now orders that the wagons be turned over creating more coverage for the soldiers and making sure no one can use one to flee, rather than fight. To avoid anymore trouble, Otto Witt is locked in the church's chapel.

What follows are some excellent battle sequences, but not completely historically accurate. 

One thing stands out in those sequences, which had also to be problem for the British forces at Isandlwana. I'll let this quote from the website https://www.1879zuluwar.com/t165-ammunition-boxes explain it.

British General Sir Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien is famous for his part in two famous events; the Battle of Isandhlwana in 1879, and the Battle of Le Cateau in 1914. At Isandhlwana, he was one of only five soldiers to survive the Zulu Army's envelopment of an invading column of British troops.

"I will mention a story which speaks for the coolness and discipline of the regiment. I, having no particular duty to perform in camp, when I saw the whole Zulu Army advancing, had collected camp stragglers, such as artillerymen in charge of spare horses, officers' servants, sick, etc., and had taken them to the ammunition-boxes, where we broke them open as fast as we could, and kept sending out the packets to the firing-line. (In those days the boxes were screwed down and it was a very difficult job to get them open, and it was owing to this battle that the construction of the ammunition-boxes was changed.)"

Returning to this version of Otto Witt, he is found to be drunk in the church, having hidden bottles of liquor. Chad permits his daughter (?) Margareta to take him away and the Zulu's let the two pass.

In another sequence the "Thief and Coward" Henry Hook changes to a solid British soldier and leads the defense of the hospital against the Zulu's. At the London premier of the motion picture, Hook's two elderly daughters walked out over the inaccurate portrayal of their father.

The motion picture ends with the defenders of "Rorke's Drift" apparently alone and the Zulu's gone. Then on top of Oscarberg, thousands of Zulu's appear and they start to strike their shields and are speaking in Zulu. Both Chad and Bromhead fear another major attack, but Adendorff corrects the two British officer's by telling them they are being saluted as fellow warriors. Then the Zulu's turn and start walking away from "Rorke's Drift". Richard Burton's return to tell the audience about those defenders of "Rorke's Drift" that received "Victoria Crosses" for the action.

Returning to the website "rorkesdriftvc.com" at:

 https://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/battle/full_defence_account.htm 

We find the real reason the Zulu's left "Rorke's Drift":

At 7 o'clock a large body of Zulus were seen to the southwest, Chard recalled his patrols and ordered the demolition operations stayed, but the Zulus made their way back towards the Buffalo. From their position the Zulus could see the approach of Lord Chelmsford's force, which had spent the night on the bloody field of Isandlwana.