Anglo-Zulu War 1879 — Rorke’s Drift, Isandlwana & Victoria Crosses
The invasion of Zululand, Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, the principal personalities and the political decisions behind the campaign.
The Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 is one of the most studied campaigns of the Victorian era. This research hub brings together the political road to invasion, the campaign as a whole, the disaster at Isandlwana, the defence of Rorke’s Drift and the individual stories of the men awarded the Victoria Cross.
Start here
- Battle of Rorke’s Drift 1879 — Map, Defenders, Timeline & Victoria Crosses — the main battle guide: ground, order of battle, timeline, personalities, casualties and contemporary accounts.
- Rorke’s Drift Battlefield: Map, Location & What to See Today — where the battle was fought, mission-station layout, river crossing, attack approaches, surviving site and visitor context.
- List of Soldiers at Rorke’s Drift — the defenders grouped by unit, with notes on disputed rolls and historical totals.
- Rorke’s Drift Victoria Cross Winners — the 11 recipients, with every name linked to a full biography.
- Battle of Isandlwana 1879 — Complete Field Guide — the battle fought earlier on 22 January and the essential context for understanding Rorke’s Drift.
- Anglo-Zulu War 1879 — Complete Campaign Guide — follow the invasion and campaign beyond the two best-known battles.
- The Political Road to Invasion — the decisions, personalities and pressures that led to war.
Rorke’s Drift: quick answers
When was the Battle of Rorke’s Drift? The defence took place on 22–23 January 1879, immediately after the British defeat at Isandlwana.
Where is Rorke’s Drift? The battlefield is in present-day KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, beside the Buffalo (Mzinyathi) River. In 1879 the mission station stood on the Natal side of the river, close to the crossing used by the British centre column. See the Rorke’s Drift Battlefield map and location guide.
What happened at Rorke’s Drift? A small British garrison defended the mission station against a much larger Zulu force through the afternoon, night and early morning. The full sequence, battlefield layout and order of battle are covered in the complete Rorke’s Drift field guide.
Who fought at Rorke’s Drift? The garrison was built around B Company, 2/24th Foot but included men from other companies and battalions, Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, medical and transport organisations, colonial units and civilians. See the unit-by-unit defenders roll.
How many Victoria Crosses were awarded for Rorke’s Drift? Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to defenders for the action. Read the complete VC winners guide, or open any recipient below for a full biography.
Why does Isandlwana matter? Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift were fought on the same day and are best understood together. Read the Isandlwana field guide before or after the Rorke’s Drift account.
The 11 Rorke’s Drift Victoria Cross recipients
- Lieutenant John Chard VC — command at Rorke’s Drift.
- Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead VC — B Company and the defence.
- James Langley Dalton VC — the decision to stand and fight.
- Corporal William Wilson Allen VC — the hospital defence.
- Private Frederick Hitch VC — wounded and still in the fight.
- Private Alfred Henry Hook VC — fighting through the hospital.
- Private Robert Jones VC — room-to-room fighting in the hospital.
- Private William Jones VC — the ward defence.
- Private John Williams VC — breaking through the hospital walls.
- Surgeon James Henry Reynolds VC — medicine under fire.
- Corporal Christian Ferdinand Schiess VC — the Swiss defender of Rorke’s Drift.
Follow the campaign in sequence
- The political road to invasion
- The complete 1879 campaign
- Isandlwana — 22 January 1879
- Rorke’s Drift — 22–23 January 1879
- Rorke’s Drift Battlefield map and location
- The defenders roll
- The 11 Victoria Cross recipients
Explore the history in the collection
The history comes first. For readers who want to carry the subject beyond the archive, the Anglo-Zulu War collection brings together designs based on Rorke’s Drift, Isandlwana, real people, dates and places from the 1879 campaign.
