Rorkes drift defenders killed by gun shot

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 42

Not sure if this has been covered before, it's just a simple question.
Of all those defenders killed by gunshot. Was it ever established if they were hit by musket ball or MH rounds.

Subject: Rorkes Drift Killed By Gunshot Fri Aug 10, 2012 3:56 am

Hi Impi.
No Rorke's Drift defenders were either killed or wounded from M.H Bullets according to ' Surgical Experiences In The Zulu and Transvaal Wars - 1879 - 1881 by Dugald Blair Brown .
Cheers 90th.

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

I wonder why Col sgt Bourne said they were using our own rifles against us. scratch

Subject: RD Defenders killed by gun shot Sat Aug 11, 2012 6:33 pm

Hi 24th.

Some MH rifles would have been captured by the zulus from the fugitives fleeing iSandlwana.

Posts : 1604 Join date : 2009-09-21

But would they have had ammuntion. And I'm guessing most of the rifles would have been fairly useless.

Posts : 2008 Join date : 2011-08-01 Age : 25

A. Greaves found MH ammo on the hills the Zulus were shooting from, apparently
the farmers come across the cases quite frequently.

Subject: Re: Rorkes drift defenders killed by gun shot Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:06 pm

Bit hard to believe as the Zulu preferred to bite off the heads of the MH bullets to get at the powder. And then we have to go back to their lack of knowledge with regards to the use of the MH.

» Defenders of Rorkes Drift
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» Rorkes Drift Defenders
» Harry Boik, Natal Mounted Police
» Rorkes Drift Defenders Later Years!