Hi Ken here's one from a WELSH brewer. That's two we have. Hopefully I will get to try both.
"Brewery’s 1879 lager toasts the heroes of Rorke’s Drift
Mar 24 2009 by Robin Turner, Western Mail
A WELSH brewer has produced a special lager dedicated to the small band of British soldiers who defended Rorke’s Drift against 4,500 attacking Zulu warriors 130 years ago.
And a percentage of the profits from the new 130th anniversary drink, named 1879, will go to armed forces’ charities to help modern day combatants and their families.
The new brew, which will be launched later this week, comes from the Swansea-based Hurns Brewery whose co-owner Phil Parry says it is important the sacrifice and bravery of British soldiers is remembered.
He said: “Whatever the rights and wrongs of any armed conflict involving the UK we feel we have a duty to acknowledge the courage of our brave brothers and sisters or sons and daughters who put their lives in harm’s way in our name.
“The new lager is named in honour of the participants in that historic event in Rorke’s Drift and equally as a ‘thank-you’ to all the men and woman in our armed forces both past and present. It will allow people across Wales to drink to the memory of the Rorke’s Drift defenders in the 130th anniversary year of the conflict.
“At the same time they will know some of the profits of the drink will go to help modern day armed servicemen and women and their families.”
The battle of Rorke’s Drift took place on January 22, 1879, when a small detachment of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot including a number of Welsh soldiers based at an isolated riverside supply depot and military hospital faced a force of 4,500 Zulu warriors.
The Zulus were planning to repeat the massacre their colleagues had carried out hours earlier at Isandhlwana when 1,800 British soldiers were wiped out by a 20,000-strong Zulu war party.
But wave after wave of Zulu attacks were beaten back in an epic struggle made famous by the Welsh actor Stanley Baker who produced and starred in the 1964 movie about the action, Zulu.
The defence of Rorke’s Drift earned 11 Victoria Crosses for the defenders, still the highest number issued for one action since the medal was inaugurated by Queen Victoria in 1856.
Baker played engineer John Chard in the film and one of Swansea’s Territorial Army centres is now named John Chard VC House after him.
Mr Parry added: “That conflict has always stuck in the minds of the Welsh because of the involvement of Welsh soldiers and of course because of the memorable 1960s film.”
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