Rorke’s Drift by Edmund Yorke.

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

Jim Bowie Alamo
The well-known story of Jim Bowie.

Bowie died on his cot, "back braced against the wall, and using his pistols and his famous knife."
Bowie is said to have killed and maimed ten of them before succumbing.

Rorke’s Drift by Edmund Yorke.

"One of the Natal Volunteers, sick in hospital, was found with his back against a stone near the hospital tent’ with’ nearly a 100 fired cartridges around him, his revolver empty and his Bowie Knife clutched in his hand;"

Not saying it did happen but is it not too much of a coincidence that these two story are rather similar, Did Edmund Yorke add this to fill pages.

Guest

CTS,

No it was recorded by a correspondent on a visit to Isandlwana, I'll see if I can dig out the reference.

Isandlwana

Posts : 2008 Join date : 2011-08-01 Age : 27

Quote :: "One of the Natal Volunteers, sick in hospital, was found with his back against a stone near the hospital tent’ with’ nearly a 100 fired cartridges around him, his revolver empty and his Bowie Knife clutched in his hand;"
.

What is the source for this Salute

Posts : 3379 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi DB14

As Chelmsfordthescapegoat is unable to answer at the moment, the scource for your question came from the following.

Recollections and correspondence, with a short account of his two sons, Lieutenants A.H.H. Parr and G.R. Parr ([1917])
Salute

Subject: Rorke's Drift by Edmund Yorke Fri Feb 03, 2012 10:52 pm

Hi all .
If this happened why isnt it mentioned in every publication on Isandlwana , it would be as iconic as the '' Last Of The 24th '' the chap firing away from the cave till he was gunned down by a well aimed volley . I'm sure there are instances of this happening but it's never been proven reliable .............Has it ?????.
cheers 90th. Shocked

Guest

“Zulu: The Battle for Rorke’s Drift 1879”, by Edmund Yorke, published 2005

“A Sketch of The Kafir and Zulu Wars” By Captain Henry Hallam Parr, Published 1880

“One of the Natal volunteers, who had been sick in hospital, was found with his back against a stone near the hospital tent, nearly a hundred fired cartridges round him, his revolver empty, and his bowie-knife clutched in his hand.” (page 221)

Looks like Captain Parr might have been the source. He states that this was told by a Zulu.

Petty Officer Tom

Guest

Another mention of the Natal Volunteer

“Recent British Battles on Land and Sea” by James Grant, published 1884

“A Natal Volunteer, who had been sick in hospital, was found dead with his back against a boulder near the hospital tent, with about a hundred fired cartridges about him, his revolver empty, and a bowie-knife crusted with blood in his hand.” (page 218)

Petty Officer Tom

Subject: Re: Rorke’s Drift by Edmund Yorke. Wed Jan 02, 2013 8:28 pm

Rorke's Drift, 1879: Anatomy of a Great Zulu War Siege by Edmund Yorke

Has anyone read this book? Is it worth buying?

Posts : 2008 Join date : 2011-08-01 Age : 27

Tasker

His book on Isandlwana was very poor but i've not read his RD book.

Cheers

Subject: Re: Rorke’s Drift by Edmund Yorke. Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:14 am

Thanks 90th, thanks DB. Hadn't much heard of this author; haven't yet heard anything glowing about him, from anyone. I think I'll steer clear for now then. You need to study mo

Posts : 2008 Join date : 2011-08-01 Age : 27

Would RD be classed as a siege ? scratch

Cheers

Subject: Re: Rorke’s Drift by Edmund Yorke. Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:06 pm

Drummer Boy 14 wrote:: Would RD be classed as a siege ?

Cheers

LOL! No! Mistake number 1.

Subject: Rorke's Drift By Ed Yorke Thu Jan 03, 2013 7:09 pm

Hi DB.
Siege ! , I think not . The zulu were only there for 12 or so hours , not 12 weeks ! . I agree with Tasker Lol.
90th.

Subject: Re: Rorke’s Drift by Edmund Yorke. Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:10 pm

90th I would say it was a "Defence"

The defence of Rorkes Drift mission station. Salute

Subject: Rorke's Drift by Edmond York Fri Jan 04, 2013 5:21 am

Hi Littlehand .
Certainly a ' defence ' . I think DB stated that Ed York in his book called it a siege ! .
90th. scratch

Subject: Re: Rorke’s Drift by Edmund Yorke. Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:23 am

Not really a "stand" either, but even that would be better than "siege."

In a 134 years, I reckon it has only ever been called the "defence" of Rorkes Drift, because that is what it was!

Subject: Rorke's Drift By Ed Yorke Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:28 am

Hi Tasker .
Agree 100 % .
90th

Guest

Rorke's Drift, 1879: Anatomy of a Great Zulu War Siege by Edmund Yorke

Rorke's Drift , a Great Zulu War Siege ??? Very Happy

» A talk given by Charles Aikenhead, owner of the Rorke's Drift Hotel, entitled "The ghosts of Rorke's Drift: their stories"; scroll down to the entry for 8th October 2016.
» Rorke's Drift men who never were
» Rorke's Drift By ThoseWho Were There !