Frank Bourne Veteran of Rorkes Drift
The defence of Rorkes Drift is amongst the most famous battles from the history of the British army. It had been at the small mission station along the border of Zululand and Natal where 4,000 Zulus attacked the garrison of only 140 British soldiers. The soldiers fought for their lives all night and by day break, the Zulu warriors had retired back to Zululand. The top award for gallantry while in the British Army is the Victoria Cross and the Battle of Rorkes Drift saw twelve VCs awarded, more than in any other individual action in the past.
The battle was depicted in the Stanley Baker motion picture “Zulu” and one of the leading characters who performed heroically at Rorkes Drift, ultimately did not receive a Victoria Cross. Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal that is ranked 2nd behind the Victoria Cross. On top of that, Bourne was also offered a commission however he turn it down. Being the eighth son in his family, there wasn’t any money on hand and this was a period when money paid for commissions for officers while in the British Army.
Nonetheless, Bourne became a career soldier and a great one too. Just after South Africa, he was deployed to both India and Burma prior to eventually earning his commission eleven years on from the Battle of Rorkes Drift. He at long last retired from the British Army in 1907. Only 7 years afterwards, World War I started and Bourne rejoined the army. At the finish of World War I in 1918, he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was made an OBE. He left the military again, now permanently.
A result of the actor who played the part of Bourne in the film Zulu, a good number of people assumed Frank Bourne to have been middle aged during the time of the Battle of Rorkes Drift although in reality he was simply 24 years old. Just after the conclude of World War I, he lived in old age in Beckenham, South London and he was the last survivor of the battle to pass away at the age of 91 on 8th May 1945, the day the Second World War in Europe came to an end.
About the Author
Rob Atherton
www.RobAtherton.com
Battle of Rorke’s drift
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