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1879 was the start of what has become known as the Zulu wars, tensions between King Cetshwayo of the Zulus and the British In the colony of Natal rose after the Zulus failed to respond to a British request to hand over some men accused of murdering a party of British subjects.
On 11th January 1879 a large force of British soldiers led by Lord Chelmsford crossed the Buffalo River to confront the Zulu army whom Chelmsford saw as a threat to the British colony at Natal
The British set up camp at Isandlwana and on the 22nd January Chelmsford led a large force out from there to engage the Zulus.
The Zulus avoided the scouting party and led by chiefs Ntshingwayo KaMahole and Mavumengwana KaMdela Ntuli attacked the camp with a force of 12 thousand warriors,
Dispite having rifles and field guns they were no match for the Zulu army armed only with shields and spears.
Nearly all of the British, a thousand in all were killed and only a few managed to escape.
Another force of nearly five thousand warriors camped by the Buffalo river led by Prince Dabulamanzi KaMapande who wanted to share in the success of the earlier victory and decided to attack the mission station at Rorkes drift ignoring King Cetshwayos instructions not to cross the river into British controlled Natal province.
It was a fierce battle between 139 British soldiers of the 24th second battalion foot regiment and some soldiers from the Royal engineers (the first battalion of the 24th had been wiped out at Isandlwana a few hours earlier.) and nearly five thousand Zulu warriors who now in addition to their spears had guns taken from the dead at Isandlwana
In less than 24 hours, 11 Victoria crosses were won by officers and men for extreme bravery and courage in the face of the enemy.
The officer in charge at Rorke's drift was lieutenant Lieutenant John Chard, Royal engineers and his second in command was Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead of the 24th regiment of foot.
A movie was made of that historic battle called Zulu starring Stanley Baker, Michael Caine and Jack Hawkins in 1964.
