Zulu War - Rorke's Drift Trivia Quiz

Answer: 139

The defenders were made up of: Royal Engineers - Lieutenant Chard and his Batman/Driver, 24th Foot - Lieutenant Bromhead and 109 other ranks, other units - 27 giving a total of 139 of whom 35 were sick. Of these 15 were walking patients.
Prior to the attack there were also a unit of Natal Native Contingent who fled their posts and a unit of Natal Native Horse (Durnford's Horse) who had fought at Isandhlwana but were exhausted and low on ammunition. After a brief skirmish with the Zulus the troopers refused to obey their officer and withdrew.

Answer: 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot

Although based in Brecon in South Wales and later renamed the South Wales Borderers, the 24th Foot Regiment was known as the Warwickshire Regiment at the time of Rorke's Drift. Soldiers of the 24th Foot Regiment taking part in the defence consisted of 49 Englishmen, 32 Welshmen, 16 Irishmen, 1 Scot, and 24 of other nationalities.

Answer: Lieutenant Gert Adendorff

Lieutenant Gert Adendorff's Natal Native Contingent escaped the slaughter at Isandhlwana and brought the message of the British column's fate to the defenders of Rorke's Drift. Although other survivors of Isandhlwana withdrew to Helpmekaar, he remained and helped defend the post.

Lieutenant Alfred Henderson Natal Native Horse fought at Isandhlwana, not withdrawing until given permission. He offered to help with the defence of Rorke's drift but after a brief engagement with the advancing Zulus his men (low on ammunition and exhausted) refused to obey his commands and retreated. He followed with them. Captain William Stephenson Natal Native Contingent fought at neither. He was stationed at Rorke's Drift to defend the river crossing but fled with his men before the battle started.


Lieutenant John Chard Royal Engineers, accompanied his party of Sappers from Rorke's drift to Isandhlwana on the morning of the battle. Although he witnessed the troops preparing for battle at Isandhlwana, he was informed his men were to remain with the Column and he was required to return to Rorke's Drift.

Answer: Gunshot wounds

According to former Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne (last surviving defender of Rorke's Drift) on a radio broadcast in 1936, the Zulus used captured rifles from Isandlhwana. He stated that, "this was the cause of every one of the British casualties" and that, "there was hardly a man even wounded by an assegai".

Historians believe this is unlikely as the Zulus attacking Rorke's Drift had formed the reserve at Isandhlwana and did not take part in the battle. However, the Zulus had many thousands of firearms obtained from European traders and it was probably these that were the main cause of casualties among the defenders.

Answer: Major Henry Spalding

Major Henry Spalding of the 104th Regiment was the senior officer at Rorke's Drift. He returned to Helpmekaar to investigate the late arrival of a British unit expected at the Rorke's Drift post. Before leaving he (almost as an afterthought) left Lieutenant John Rouse Merriot Chard Royal Engineers in charge as he had seniority, being commissioned approximately 3 years before Lieutenant Gonville, Bromhead 24th Regiment. Before leaving for Helpmekaar Spalding told Chard not to worry, that he would be back before anything happened.

Answer: He didn't order the attack.

Prince Dabulamanzi kaMpande commanded an impi of around 4,500. They acted as the reserve at Isandhlwana and despite the orders of his brother, King Cetshwayo kaMpande, not to cross the Buffalo River into Natal, he chose to attack the British at Rorke's Drift expecting a quick victory and battle honours for his impi.

Answer: 15 hours

Private Hitch 24th Regiment of Foot, who had been posted as a lookout on the roof of the storehouse, sighted the advancing Zulus at around 4:30pm. He fired on them although they were still out of range. He is reputed to have shouted, "Here they come; black as hell and thick as grass!" The Zulu attack on the post slackened at around 4am the following morning and at 5am Lieutenant Chard, Royal Engineers, sent out patrols.

The Zulu rearguard reappeared at 7am on the Oskarberg (the hill between Rorke's Drift and Isandhlwana) and the defenders again took up their positions.

However, after taking snuff and observing the British defences they withdrew shortly after 7am.

Answer: 17

17 defenders lost their life in the action and one later died of disease. Of the survivors one committed suicide some years later following complaints of nightmares related to his wartime experiences.
The Zulus left 351 dead when they withdrew. Apparently most of the wounded were shot or bayoneted by the British. It is estimated that a further 100-150 dead Zulu were carried from the field by their comrades.

Answer: The Zulus withdrew at the sight of Lord Chelmsford's approaching column.

The 1964 movie, Zulu starring Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Nigel Green, James Booth, Ivor Emmanuel and Michael Caine depicts the Zulus saluting 'fellow braves' before withdrawing. In fact both the Zulus and the defenders were exhausted after long hand to hand fighting.

When the Zulus saw Lord Chelmsford's column approaching along the route from Isandhlwana, they retreated from the post.

Answer: 11

11 VCs were awarded between May and November 1879 to: Lieutenant. J.R.M. Chard Royal Engineers, Lieutenant. G. Bromhead 24th Foot, Surgeon J.H. Reynolds Army Medical Department, Corporal 1240 W.W. Allan 24th Foot, Private 1362 F. Hitch 24th Foot, Private 1373 A.H. Hook 24th Foot, Private 716 R. Jones 24th Foot, Private 593 W. Jones 24th Foot, Private 1395 J. Williams 24th Foot, Corporal F.C. Schiess Natal Native Contingent.
The bravery and leadership of Acting Assistant Commissary James Langley Dalton, Commissariat & Transport Department, was not immediately recognised. He received his VC from General Hugh Clifford VC at a special parade at Fort Napier on 16 January 1880, almost exactly one year following the battle.
5 Distinguished Service Medals were also awarded, although one of these was later withdrawn.