If you have seen the movie “ZULU”, Michael Caine played the role of Gonville Bromhead in the defense of Rorkes Drift.
The Battle of Rorke’s Drift, during the afternoon of January 22, 1879, is one of the most famous in the history of the British Army. The battle began at 4:30 p.m. and continued for twelve hours.
Around 4,000 Zulus against 139 of our men and that included medical staff and hospital patients.
The Defenders of Rorkes Drift received 11 Victoria Crosses and many other awards. The most surprising part was that the Bourne color sergeant only received a Distinguished Conduct Medal.
One of the 11 VCs awarded went to:
Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead 2nd Battalion 24th Warwickshire Regiment
London Gazette May 2, 1879.
The quote summary says:
On 22 and 23 January 1879 at Rourke’s Drift, Natal, South Africa, Lieutenant Bromhead shared command of the post defenders with Lieutenant JRMChard of the Royal Engineers, setting a good example and behaving with great courage under the most trying of circumstances.
The Gazette also stated:
Lieutenant Chard, Royal Engineers and Lt. Gonville S. Bromhead, 2nd Battalion. 24th Regiment For their brave conduct in the defense of Rourke’s Drift, on the occasion of the attack of the Zulus on June 22 and 23, 1879.
Lieutenant General Commanding the Troops, in his report, stated that were it not for the good conduct and excellent behavior of these two officers under the most trying circumstances, the defense of the Rorke’s Drift post would not have been carried out with that intelligence and tenacity that so essentially characterized him.
After the battle, Lieutenant Bromhead was immediately promoted to captain.
Sir Garnet Wolseley presented G Bromhead with his Victoria Cross at a ceremony on 22 August 1879 in Utrecht, Holland.
Gonville Bromhead was born in Versailles, France, on August 29, 1845.
His father and mother were Sir Edmund de Gonville Bromhead Bart. and Judith Christine, daughter of James Wood Esq. He went to school at Magnus Grammar in Newark.
He joined the 24th Regiment on April 20, 1867. Not only did he win the Victoria Cross, but he was mentioned twice in Dispatches and of course he was awarded the Zulu Wars Medal with the 1877-8-9 bar. He also served in the Burmese Expedition of 1885 and 1887-9 for which he received the two Burma locks.
He was promoted to Captain and finally to Major and his right to the medal was
victory cross
South African Medal 1877-79
1 video:
“1877-8-9”
Indian General Service Medal 1854-95
2 closures:
“Burma 1885-87” – “Burma 1887-89”
He died in India on February 9, 1891 in Allahabad and his grave is there in The New Cantonment Cemetery.