Original subtitles

[peaceful music]

[dramatic music]

[Narrator] The secretary of state for war has today

received the following dispatch from Lord Chelmsford,

Commander in Chief of Her Majesty's forces

in Natal Colony, South Africa.

"I regret to report a very disastrous engagement,

which took place on the morning of the 22nd January

between the armies of the Zulu king, Cetewayo,

and our own number three column

consisting of five companies of the First Battalion,

24th Regiment of Foot,

and one company of the Second Battalion,

a total of nearly 1,500 men, officers, and other ranks.

The Zulus, in overwhelming numbers, launched

a highly disciplined attack on the slopes

of the mountain of Isandhlwana.

and in spite of gallant resistance..."

[fire crackling]

[triumphant music]

[fire crackles]

[warriors chanting]

[drums playing]

[people singing in Zulu]

[singing continues in distance]

[singing, drumming continue]

[people clapping, whistling]

[women ululating]

[singing, drumming continue]

[inaudible dialogue]

[whispering indistinctly]

[inaudible dialogue]

[singing, drumming fade]

What did he ask, Father?

Whether a man of God like myself was pleased

to see so many warriors married

to so many maidens at one time.

How can he imagine it would please anyone?

Oh, do you think I said it pleased me, daughter?

I told him I was unhappy to see so many brides

who may soon become widows.

That was a very good answer, Father.

[people singing in Zulu]

[drums playing]

[women continue singing]

[warrior and women singing in Zulu]

[warriors and women singing in Zulu]

[drums playing]

Why do they have those little spears?

The girls, I mean.

It's...the symbol of their chastity, daughter.

Oh.

[singing, drumming continue]

[women ululating]

It's splendid, I know, but...

it's quite horrible too, isn't it?

The book says, "What went ye out into the wilderness

to see? A man clothed in soft raiment."

Yes, Father.

[singing, drumming continue]

[women ululating]

You must understand these things

if you are going to stay in Africa, Margareta,

that's why I brought you here.

They are a great people, daughter.

[Margareta] But how can they let themselves be married

in droves like this,

young girls to...to old men?

In Europe, young women accept arranged marriages

with rich men.

Perhaps the Zulu girls are luckier, getting a brave man.

[people singing in Zulu]

- [drums playing] - [women ululating]

[speaking Zulu]

[singing stops]

[speaking Zulu]

[speaking Zulu]

[men cheering]

[all speaking Zulu indistinctly]

Margareta.

[Margareta screams]

Wait.

- All right. - Stop, Father.

Wait, wait, Margareta.

[speaking Zulu]

[all cheering]

[dramatic music]

I...Oh, Lord in heaven.

What is it, Father?

A thousand British soldiers have been massacred.

While I stood here talking of peace, a war has started.

- [dramatic music] - [warriors chanting]

Ishiwan, didn't you say that Ishiwan--

Yes, it's their name for our mission station

at Rorke's Drift.

They're going to destroy it.

Why?

Because there are British soldiers at Rorke's Drift.

- It's only a handful. - Come.

[tense music]

But it's a hospital! Father, tell him.

Do you think he will listen?

We must get there, there's going to be a massacre.

- [tense music] - [drums playing]

- [shouting in Zulu] - [Margareta screams]

Father!

Father!

[continues shouting in Zulu]

[speaking Zulu]

[soldier groans]

- [dramatic music] - [Margareta gasps]

[carriage rattles]

[gun fires]

- All right, Corporal Allen. - Sir. Corp, let go.

[shouts in Zulu]

[group chanting in Zulu]

[chanting continues in distance]

[group sings in Zulu]

[gun fires]

[singing continues in distance]

[gun fires]

[pot rattles]

[gun fires]

[soldier] Right turn.

Quick march

[gun fires]

[gun fires]

Color Sergeant Bourne,

what's that shooting?

- [Bourne] A rifle, Hughes. - Eh?

If you're sick in hospital, I suggest you go and lie down.

Yes, Color Sergeant.

Hey, Hookie, who's doing all that shooting?

Eh, who do you think?

Who do you think?

Mr. flaming Bromhead is shooting flaming defenseless animals

for the flaming officers' flaming dinner.

[cheetah growls]

[gun fires]

[gun fires]

I wish he'd bring us some fresh meat.

Wonder what they're cooking for supper.

Same as usual, horse meat and axle grease.

Which one has got the bullet?

[soldier whispering] She was as beautiful as a butterfly.

She was as beautiful as a butterfly.

And as proud as a queen...

♪ Was pretty little Polly Perkins of Paddington Green ♪

Shut up, you cripple!

[soldier] ♪ She was as beautiful as a butterfly, and as-- ♪

[groans]

Come on now, Howarth, make your mind up.

It's turning blue.

Yeah, yeah, very pretty, lovely. Which one?

It's under that one.

The boy's clever, the boy's good.

How about putting some money on, eh?

[soldier] Five rounds!

Independent, fire!

Stuff me with green apples.

You know, if a dog was as sick as him, they'd shoot him.

Five rounds, independent, fire!

Shut up, you rotten, sick dodger!

- Shut up! Shut up! - [soldier 2] Why don't you leave him alone, Hookie?

He's sick enough, you'll kill him.

Wouldn't bother, Hookie, would it, Hookie?

Wouldn't bother Hookie at all, it wouldn't matter if Maxfield was dead.

I don't care if you were all dead.

Blimey.

Rorke's Drift,

take an Irishman to give his name

to a rotten, stinking, middle of nowhere hole like this.

[peaceful music]

[post squeaks]

Hold that pont!

- Corporal Allen! - Sir.

[both laugh]

Get some men in the water!

Sir.

[soldiers laughing]

Hey!

You heard that officer of engineers.

Get it!

Heave! Put a bit more weight on that rope, you men.

He's even got a voice like a corporal.

Yeah, sort of like a female hippopotamus

in labor. [giggles]

Hot work?

[Chard] Damned hot work.

Still, the river cooled you off a bit, though, eh?

Who are you?

John Chard, Royal Engineers.

Bromhead, 24th,

that's my post up there.

You've come down from the column?

That's right, they want a bridge across the river.

Who said you could use my men?

They were sitting around on their backsides doing nothing.

Rather you asked first, old boy.

I was told their officer was out hunting.

Ah,

yes.

I'll tell my man to clean your kit.

Don't bother.

No bother,

I'm not offering to clean it myself.

Still, a chap ought to look smart in front of the men.

Don't you think?

Well, chin-chin. Do carry on with your mud pies.

[Owen singing indistinctly]

You.

What's your name?

Owen.

Sir.

Are you supposed to be here?

Yes, sir.

Uh, well, uh, not exactly.

You see, sir, only you got my solo tenor out there.

I've got your what?

[Owen] 612 Williams, sir.

We were gonna practice this afternoon with a company choir,

but you've got my only solo tenor

working out there in the cold water.

Well, I hope he sings better than he works.

Oh indeed, sir, he does.

Every piece of wood in this blistering country

is eaten by ants.

Ah, the heat and the dust, sir,

very nasty on the larynx.

[clears throat]

Mr. Bromhead lets you have a choir, does he?

Well, every Welsh regiment has a choir, sir.

Mr. Bromhead is English,

but he is a proper gentleman.

There's no doubt of that.

And what do you sing?

Me, sir? Baritone, sir.

Good.

I can find work for baritones as well as tenors.

See what you make of that.

Over there below the escarpment, two riders.

[Owen] Gallopers from the column, sir.

Very wonderful things these are, aren't they?

[dramatic music]

- Corporal Allen. - Sir.

Get your party ashore at the double.

Sir. All right, you heard that officer of engineers.

Make fast and back to the bank! Move!

Come on lad, hop on it.

[soldier speaking Zulu]

[Allen] Trouble, sir?

Could be.

I can anchor the ponts midstream, sir,

with six riflemen I could.

This is a situation you think an engineer officer

can't handle, Corporal?

- No, sir. Beg pardon, sir. - Fall them in.

We ain't finished the bridge, sir.

Fall them in, Corporal.

Sir.

Come on, get fell in, you men.

Squad! Squad, 'tion! Left turn!

Left wheel by the left, quick march!

Left, left! Take 'em on, Corp.

Left, left, left, right, left.

Left, left.

[music continues]

[soldier] Hey! Hey, you! What's going on down there?

They're building barricades or something.

What's that?

Ride like hell.

Tell them they can't get here too soon.

- Corporal. - Sir.

I want all these people out of here.

[Corporal speaking Zulu]

Douse these cooking fires and turn the boilers over.

- But they've got soup in them, sir. - Pour it on the fires

- and get yourself a rifle. - A rifle, sir, but I don't--

[Dalton] Oh, Mr. Chard. Mr. Chard.

- Commissary Dalton, is it? - That is correct.

Mr. Chard, you've just asked this man,

to pour the soup on the fires.

See that he does it.

And all these bags of maize, inside the perimeter.

And I don't want these tents providing cover for the enemy.

Does he know what it's like to make soup for a hundred men in this flaming heat,

Mr. Dalton, sir, does he, sir?

Oh, now don't distress yourself, my dear fellow.

There's your own officer over there.

- You go and speak with him. - Yes, sir.

Chard!

This is Adendorff, from Natal Native Contingent

from Isandhlwana.

Bromhead, 24th Foot.

You've come from there?

All right, man.

Is it true?

Beg your pardon, sir.

About the soup, sir.

- What about the soup? - Well, this gentleman, sir,

said to put it on the fire.

He did?

We have thatched roofs here, Bromhead.

No need to make the Zulus a present of fire.

Yes.

Then get on with it,

there's a good fellow.

Well, am I to take a rifle too, sir?

The entire column?

It's damned impossible, 800 men.

1,200 men, there were 400 native levies, also.

Damn the levies, man, more cowardly Blacks.

What the hell do you mean "cowardly Blacks"?

They died on your side, didn't they?

And who the hell do you think is coming

to wipe out your little command, the grenadier guards?

What the deuce is the matter with him?

Adendorff.

Are you staying?

Is there anywhere else to go?

Talk to our levies, will you?

Tell them whose side they're on.

Did the runner bring orders?

He brought orders to the commander of this post.

To do what?

To hold our ground.

"To hold our ground."

What military genius thought up that one?

Somebody's son or heir?

Got a commission before he learned to shave?

I rather fancy that he's nobody's son and heir now.

[cow moos]

Who are they?

- The Witts. - Witts?

The Swedish missionaries here. This is their station.

They've chosen a damned odd time for a prayer meeting.

[cow moos]

[Chard] I think you better get them out of here.

Are you giving me an order, old boy?

[Chard] Bromhead.

Let's get one thing clear.

I'm no line officer, I'm an engineer.

I came here to build a bridge.

Jolly lucky for you, eh?

I mean otherwise, you would've been chopped

with the rest of the column, wouldn't you have?

All right.

What's the date of your commission?

Now don't tell me. I suppose you have seniority.

1872, May.

1872, February.

Oh well, I suppose there are such things as gifted amateurs.

- If I may-- - Are you questioning

- my right to command? - Oh not your right, old boy.

Never mind.

We can cooperate,

as they say.

I'll be here, won't I?

Bromhead.

Have you been here long enough to put a lookout on that hill?

Um.

Not since we've been chatting, no.

Started the barricades, though.

Managed to think of that.

Who's the sergeant with the muscles?

[Bromhead] Sergeant Windridge, good man.

Oh, not you again.

Uh, yes, sir. Surgeon Reynolds, sir. It's me arms.

The only trouble with your arm is

you never do any work with it.

Pretty terrible pain, sir.

All right, off with your vest.

Now, sir?

Now, sir.

Yes, sir.

[groans]

It's cruel to bend, sir.

You know what you've got there, my malingering Hector?

No, sir.

Uh, Hook's the name, sir.

You've got a fine, handsome boil, my friend.

There's one glistening boil for every soldier in Africa.

You may not win many medals on this campaign, Hook,

but you'll certainly get more boils.

For every gunshot wound I probe,

I expect to lance three boils.

[stammers] A spot of medicinal brandy would set up me up--

Brandy's for heroes. Mr. Hook,

the rest of you will make do with boils in your skin,

flies in your meat, and dysentery in your bellies.

Now then,

this is gonna hurt you a lot more than it will me,

I'm happy to say.

[groaning]

[crying]

Mr. Bromhead, Cetewayo is coming

with two impisto destroy you.

You must talk to Lieutenant Chard, Mr. Witt.

He commands here.

Margareta.

Mr. Chard, I'm ready to take away your sick and wounded,

please supply the wagons.

Daughter, tell the men in the hospital to get ready.

One moment, Miss Margareta.

Mr. Witt.

I don't suppose you hold the queen's commission.

I am a man of peace, sir.

[Chard] Then allow a queen's officer to give orders to her soldiers.

Now, how do you know what Cetewayo is doing?

We have just come from his kraal, sir.

He's a member of my parish.

Your parish?

Are you sure you're on the right side of the river, Mr. Witt?

I'm here to do my duty.

I expect your cooperation.

What's our strength?

Uh, seven officers, including surgeon,

commissaries, and so on.

Oh, and Adendorff now I suppose.

Wounded and sick, 36.

Fit for duty, 97.

And about 40 native levies.

Not much of an army for you.

[Mr. Witt] There are 4,000 Zulus coming against you.

You must abandon this mission.

Mr. Chard.

Adendorff sent his trooper to Helpmekaar.

There's a relief column there, isn't there, cavalry?

There was three days ago.

Mr. Bromhead, issue all our walking wounded

with arms and ammunition.

You will all be killed like those this morning,

and now the sick in their beds, all of you.

I don't think so, Mr. Witt.

The army doesn't like more than one disaster in a day.

Looks bad in the newspapers and upsets civilians at their breakfast.

Sir, the book says, "There is no king

that can be saved by the multitude of a host,

- neither is any man--" - [Chard] Mr. Witt.

When I have the impertinence to climb into your pulpit

and deliver a sermon, then you may tell me my duty.

It is not your duty to sacrifice the sick.

Are you a student of tactics, too, Ms. Witt?

Are you a Christian?

- Sergeant Windridge. - It is your duty to let us take those men away.

[Chard] Not that way. Ms. Witt.

- Sir. - Come, daughter.

Sergeant, put two good men on that hill

and tell them to keep their eyes peeled.

- Mr. Bromhead, sir. - Double up, damn it!

Carry on, Sergeant Windridge, there's a good fellow.

Sir.

- Color Sergeant Bourne! - [Bourne] Sir.

Mr. Bromhead.

[soldier] You know, I had a calf like you once

back home in Merioneth.

I'll get you some milk, eh? I'll make you strong.

Would you like that then?

What the hell do you think you're doing at a time like this?

- I was-- - Shut up.

♪ And the part looks steady, steady ♪

♪ It cannot be ever said he...

- ♪ For the ba-- - [Windridge] Owen!

Yes, sergeant?

You've got a voice, haven't you?

Yes, baritone, sergeant.

Well get up on that hill

and sing out if you see anything.

You, too.

And take your bundle, you dozy Welshmen.

[tense music]

The classical attack of the Zulus

is in the shape of a fighting bull buffalo like this,

the head, the horns, and the loins.

First, the head moves forward

and the enemy naturally moves in to meet it,

but it's only a feint.

The warriors in the head then disperse to form

the encircling horns and the enemy is drawn in

on the loins

and the horns close in on the back and sides.

Finish.

It looks jolly simple, doesn't it?

Oh, it's jolly deadly, old boy.

[laughs]

Well done, Adendorff.

We'll make an Englishman of you yet.

No, thanks. I'm a Boer.

The Zulus are the enemies of my blood.

What are you doing here?

You don't object to our help, I hope.

It all depends on what you damn English

want for it afterwards.

All right. Hospital, church,

cattle crawl, stables.

An outside perimeter joining the buildings here and here.

Now we don't move out to meet the feint of the buffalo head.

We hold the outside perimeter.

If and when that collapses,

we move back into this area here.

How high can you build a wall there, Bromhead?

Well, it should be about shoulder high,

but if the fuzzies moved out of Isandhlwana immediately,

they could be here, well now.

It's just a matter of time.

[Chard] Now we'll have to make the time.

You mean your only plan is to stand behind

a few feet of mealy bags and wait for the attack?

That's right.

We wait.

If 1,200 men couldn't hold a defensive position

this morning, what chance have we with 100?

Listen, old boy, I'll take the company up into the hills.

I know exactly how to disperse them.

Ambush, you see.

We cut them down in the passes.

Bromhead, I want that line of boxes

across here from the cattle crawl

to the outside perimeter.

If they get over this redoubt...

The final redoubt here.

[soup sizzling]

[door opens]

That, put it in the middle.

What are you doing in here?

This is a church.

Don't you realize this is an altar table?

I'm sorry, there's nothing larger, we need it now.

Damn it, no chloroform.

Go to the hospital and tell the sick to be ready to leave.

I want water, cold water, lots of it.

A probe, a saw, some nitric acid.

Don't take it so badly, Mr. Witt.

Isn't this as good a place as any for a man

to be when he's in pain?

[door closes]

Excuse me, sir.

Tuck your heads in before they fall off.

Sorry, sir.

I have orders to get some of these bags outside.

All right, get on with it.

I was praying that your officer may turn to God's word.

That's right, sir.

A prayer is as good as a bayonet on a day like this.

Have you prayed?

There will be a time for it, sir.

What will you say?

Oh. Pick it up.

Bit of the Psalms, I suppose.

My father was a lay preacher.

A great one for the Psalms, he was.

There was one, well, might have been written for a soldier.

[Mr. Witt] Say it, man.

Lift your voice to God.

- Now, sir? - Yes, let them hear your voice.

They know my voice when they hear it, sir.

Let them hear it now in praise of the Lord. Call upon Him.

Call upon Him, man, for your salvation.

Well, as far as I can remember, sir,

it goes something like this.

"He maketh wars to cease in all the world,

He breaketh the bow and snappeth the spear in sunder."

Do you know it, sir?

"I shall be exalted among the heathen,

I shall be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us."

That's it, sir.

All right, nobody told you to stop working.

You lead backsided... get sweating.

[Hook] I've been sitting there thinking,

I got it all sorted out.

[chuckles] Company.

What are you doing here, miss?

[chuckles]

He doesn't need any help.

I'll look after him.

Won't I? [cackles]

You are all to be evacuated soon in the wagons.

- Who says? - [Margareta] My father.

Oh, that's nice, isn't it?

Your father, eh?

You and me Hookie,

Mr. Chard's orders, in this room.

Here we are.

Hey, what are you talking about? I'm sick, I'm excused duty.

What are you doing?

Oh, making a loophole, see.

Me and Hookie's gonna fight in here, aren't we, Hookie?

You're joking, I'm sick.

Nobody's got any right to ask me to muck around

in a flaming battle.

I'm getting out.

- Private Hook. - Yeah.

"Yes, Sergeant."

I know you, Hook.

Yeah, you ought to.

[Maxfield] You're no good, Hook.

They gave us you because you are no good to anyone,

except the queen and Sergeant Maxfield.

Thank you very much, the both of you.

Take this rifle, Hook.

And get to it!

I'll make a soldier of you yet.

And what for?

Did I ever see a Zulu walk down the city road? No.

So what am I doing here?

You are here because you were a thief.

Yeah.

[Maxfield] And you still are one.

- Certainly. - [Maxfield] Hook, my lad.

Now, you can be a soldier,

like what they pay you for.

Look, you've got me 28 days field punishment in Brecon.

Isn't that enough, hm?

Pick up the bayonet and help Williams.

And put your tunic on!

28 days field punishment, no pay.

Know what he did?

Sent money to my missus.

What'd you do that for?

You hate him for it?

What do you want me to do, cry me heart out?

Give him a big kiss?

I thought you might pray for him.

[chuckles]

Oh, she's a dry one, very cool.

You know what she needs.

Play your cards right and it could be you.

[soldiers laughing]

Can I help anyone?

There will be wagons soon to take you away.

He's dying, there's nothing you can do.

Nothing?

There must be.

[Windridge] 'Tion!

Now pay attention.

Are there any walking sick without rifles?

Me.

You, Dutchy?

You couldn't walk to the latrine.

This is not my first action. Come on.

Are you expecting sick men to fight?

[rifle clicks]

What's he gonna do, 593?

Oh, I think he wants to be a hero, 716.

Haven't you rednecks got names instead of numbers?

This is a Welsh regiment, man.

Well, there are some foreigners from England in it, mind.

I am Jones from Bwlchgyn,

he is Jones from Bulith Wells,

and there are four more Joneses in C Company.

Confusing, isn't it, Dutchy?

[glass shattering]

What's your name then?

It's Schiess. And I'm not Dutch, I'm Swiss.

Well, there's a silly man, by damn.

He's got himself into a private war.

I belong to Natal Mounted Police.

Is that true, then?

He's a peeler, 716,

come to arrest the Zulus.

What do you know about Zulus?

Bunch of savages, isn't it?

[chuckles]

All right, how far can you rednecks march in a day?

Oh, 15, 20 miles, is it?

Well, a Zulu regiment can run,

run 50 miles and fight a battle at the end of it.

Well, there's daft, it is then.

I don't see no sense in running to fight a battle.

What are you doing here at such a time like this?

Why don't you go?

No, not until you've gone.

You know Cetewayo has a regiment

of young girls, warriors called Ripen at Noon.

That's pretty.

Hey, come on, come on.

[laughing] Give us--

Come on, come on, just a little kiss, eh?

[grunts] Come on.

- [Margareta gasps] - [soldiers laughing]

Hey. Hey, boys!

Take a look at this.

- What is it, Boyle? - Flaming dust, what else?

No, by damn, it's horses!

[upbeat music]

- The cavalry! - It's a relief column,

you long-range sniper, you.

[laughs]

[indistinct shouting]

[hooves thudding]

Color Sergeant.

Sir.

Stephenson, Dumford's Horse.

[Chard] Thank God you're here.

I'm surprised you're still here.

You know there are 4,000 Zulus coming this way.

We know. Can you throw out your men in a screen to the south of here?

You know how the Zulus feel about cavalry.

I know how my men feel about Zulus.

We've only just got through them.

- Stephenson. - Bromhead.

What price, this?

You know your whole regiment's gone.

Bromhead, you know this man, tell him we need him.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, look at my men.

Stand fast! Stand fast, all of you!

Where the hell are they going?

Get them back here.

Let go of my bridle!

Get them back here!

If they're gonna die, they'll die on their own farms.

You're the professionals, you fight here if you want to.

[Chard] We need you!

Don't go.

Don't go, stay!

We need you, damn you!

We need you!

You didn't say a single word to help, Bromhead.

Oh, when you take command, old boy, you're on your own.

The first lesson the general, my grandfather,

ever taught me.

All right, then.

Nobody told you to stop working.

[men speaking Zulu]

Brothers! Oh, brothers!

The way of the Lord has been shown to us.

"Thou shalt not kill," sayeth the Lord.

Brothers, oh, brothers,

God's love is peace.

- [Chard] Color Sergeant Bourne. - [Mr. Witt] Go in peace.

Stay not to kill and be killed.

Go, I say!

[men speaking Zulu]

The sin of Cain will be upon you.

"Am I my brother's keeper?" asked Cain.

Yay, we are all our brother's keeper.

[men speaking Zulu]

The nations are but a drop of the bucket

and are counted as the small dust of the balance.

Bring him along.

[men speaking Zulu]

Mr. Witt, I'm getting you off this post.

[Windridge] Sir!

They've all hoofed it, all of them.

Give me those wagons and I will save the sick.

You want the wagons?

Mr. Bourne, Windridge, get those wagons in.

[Bourne] Sir.

God loves a sinner come to his understanding.

[dramatic music]

[soldier] Whoa, there! Heave!

[wagon rattles]

Hey, we're in luck.

Hey, looks like the old parson got Chard to let us go.

[laughs]

[music continues]

[wagon crashes]

[soldier] Heave!

[music continues]

[Windridge] Right, lads. Heave!

Heave!

[music continues]

Oh Lord, God, give me strength.

Oh God, God, forgive me.

I have the strength of thousands

while the spirit of God is with me.

- Color Sergeant Bourne. - [Bourne] Sir.

Oh God, forgive me.

Get him away from here.

Leave him alone!

Leave him alone!

Ms. Witt.

Animals.

All of you, animals.

- Sergeant Windridge. - [Margareta screams]

- [Windridge] Sir. - We shall not go.

If you send us away, we shall come back.

Lock him up. Lock him in the storeroom,

- put a man on the door. - [Bourne] Sir.

[Chard] All right, you men, get back to work.

And you.

Put Ms. Witt in the church

- with Surgeon Reynolds. - Sir.

[Margareta screams]

Aye, it was sad, you know, and sick.

With the battle coming, see.

Animals are very sensitive to noise, you know.

Why worry about a calf?

[soldier] I thought I was tired of farming, no adventure in it.

But when you look at it,

why, this country's not a bit as good as Bala

and the lake there.

Not...not really green-like.

And the soil...

there's no moisture in it.

Nothing to hold a man in his grave.

Chard.

One of my men, Hook, do you know him?

No.

In the hospital, malingering, under arrest.

He's a thief, a coward,

and an insubordinate barrack-room lawyer.

And you've given him a rifle.

What?

In Queen's regulations, it specifically states...

[thudding in distance]

Damn funny.

Like a...

like a train in the distance.

[thudding in distance]

You were saying about Hook?

Mr. Bromhead, sir, sentries come in from the hill,

- they say-- - Color Sergeant.

- Sir. - Do you have something to report?

Sir.

[Chard] Then tell me.

Very good, sir.

The sentries report Zulus to the southwest,

thousands of them.

All right, Color Sergeant. Stand to.

Stand to!

[bugle blares]

To the front, mark the orders.

Mark a target when it comes.

Look to your front.

[soldier] Mark your target when it comes.

Look to your front.

[Bourne] Look to your front.

Mark a target when it comes.

Mark your target, look to your front.

Hitch, do your tunic up.

- My tunic? - Do it up.

Who do you think you are, man?

Look to your front.

Mark a target when he comes.

- Look to your front. - [soldier] Mark a target when it comes.

[soldier 2] Look to your front.

[Bourne] Mark the orders.

Mark a target when it come.

Look to your front.

[man 3] Mark a target when it comes.

[soldier 4] Look to your front.

[Bourne] Look to your front.

Mark your target when it comes.

[soldier 2] Mark your target, look to your front.

Boy, hear me, boy.

Will you be Cain and kill your brother?

"Thou shalt not kill," sayeth the Lord.

You believe in the Lord's word, don't you?

Obey the word, boy. Obey the Lord.

Go to the others.

Boy, go to the others.

He sa...

Mr. Witt says...

Never mind him, boy.

Now you cut along back to the ramparts with your mates.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Witt, sir.

Be quiet now, will you? There's a good gentleman.

You'll upset the lads.

You know my father was at Waterloo.

He was?

He got his colonelcy after that.

Did he?

And my great-grandfather,

he was the Johnny who knelt beside Wolfe at Quebec.

Did they make him a colonel, too?

No, you...you don't see what I'm driving at.

You're telling me that you're the professional,

I am the amateur.

No.

What I mean is, I mean,

I wish right now,

I were a damn drinker,

like Hook or Hitch.

You're not, are you?

You're an officer and a gentleman.

[thudding in distance]

Listen.

That damn train again.

[thudding in distance]

[glass shattering]

"He breaketh the bow and snappeth the spear in sunder!"

"I will be exalted among the heathen,

I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us."

I hope so.

As I live and die, I hope so.

Company will fix bayonets!

Fix!

Bayonets!

[bayonets unsheathe]

Attention!

[bayonet clangs]

You slovenly soldier, Hitch.

[suspenseful music]

[dramatic music]

[music ends]

[gun clicks]

Load!

[bullet clicks]

[warriors banging on shields]

[warriors calling]

[warriors shouting in Zulu]

[warriors shouting in Zulu]

[warriors shouting in Zulu]

[banging on shields]

[warriors chanting in Zulu]

- [warrior calls] - [warriors call]

[warriors chanting]

North rampart, stand fast!

South rampart! At 100 yards...

volley fire!

Present!

[chanting continues]

- [warrior calls] - [warriors call]

Fire!

- [guns fire] - [warriors shouting]

[warriors shouting in Zulu]

- [warriors banging on shields] - [warriors chanting]

Fire!

- [guns fire] - [Bromhead] Reload!

- Fire! - [guns fire]

[Bromhead] Reload!

Independent, fire at will!

That's very nice of him.

[guns firing]

- [banging on shields] - [chanting]

[guns firing]

They're just standing there asking for it.

Keep firing, soldier.

Mark your targets before you fire.

- [guns firing] - [banging on shields]

Adendorff, what's wrong with them?

Why don't they fight?

They're counting your guns.

What?

[Adendorff] Can't you see that old boy up on the hill?

He's counting your guns, testing your firing power

with the lives of his warriors.

[warriors banging on shields in distance]

[guns firing]

[Bromhead] Cease firing!

[soldiers sing and cheer]

Well?

They'll be back.

[soldier] Stand fast!

60. We dropped at least 60, wouldn't you say?

That leaves only 3,940.

[Mr. Witt] Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

Behold, thou art fair, my love.

How long?

10, 15 minutes, maybe less.

As soon as they've regrouped.

[Mr. Witt] Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet

and they speech is comely!

He can't be.

He is.

Drunk as a lord.

[Mr. Witt speaking indistinctly]

- 15 minutes. - If we're lucky.

Color Sergeant Bourne!

[Mr. Witt] Many waters cannot quench love

neither can the floods drown it!

Yes, sir, the gentleman has a bottle.

Then get him out of here.

Put him on his cart, tie him on it if necessary.

The sooner we get rid of them, the better.

Sir.

[Bromhead] Chard.

They won't stand a chance with the Zulu.

They're Witt's parishioners, aren't they?

[Bromhead] But the woman, do you want to see her killed?

Do you, Bromhead?

Because you will if you don't get them out of here.

Come along, sir, there's a good gentleman.

All right, pick him up.

Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee.

Oh, no.

[bottle shatters]

[dramatic music]

Father.

[dramatic music]

Oh, peace be within thy wall.

Father.

[somber music]

Keep driving with the sun at your back,

you should make it safely.

Sergeant.

Father.

Leave me alone.

Try to understand him, Ms. Witt.

- [Mr. Witt] Death awaits you! - [Margareta] No!

You have made a covenant with death and with hell,

you are in agreement.

You're all going to die.

Don't you realize?

Can't you see?

You're all going to die!

Die!

Death awaits you all!

- He's right. - [Mr. Witt] Die!

Why is it us?

- [Mr. Witt] Die! - Why us?

Because we're here, lad.

Nobody else.

Just us.

- Color Sergeant. - Right.

Now get back to your posts, at the double.

- [wagon rattles] - [rein whips]

[no audible dialogue]

[soldier] Here they come again!

[Bromhead] Volley!

- Fire! - [guns fire]

I can't see a bloody one now.

They've gone to ground.

Oh.

[Bromhead] Reload!

There they go!

Eyes front, look to the front.

What the devil's going on?

Well, tell me what's happening, I've got to know.

They're on both sides.

We haven't enough men at the north wall.

Can't you take some from the south?

And how will we hold that if we do?

Damn it, Adendorff, you are supposed to know.

Are they going to hit us everywhere at once?

I told you, remember, the horns of the Buffalo.

The south could have been a feint.

We can't man the whole perimeter,

we've got to outgun them somewhere, right?

All right, Bromhead.

Take men from the south, one section in three,

reinforce the north wall.

But if they do come up from the south again?

Get on with it, Mr. Bromhead.

At the double.

[Bromhead] Color Sergeant Bourne.

- [Bourne] Sir! - [Bromhead] I want every other man from sections one,

three, and five over at the north wall.

- Corporal. - [Corporal] Sir.

[soldiers speaking indistinctly]

[Bourne] Come on then, at the double.

First two.

Follow me.

Where would you like me?

You pick your own ground.

It's your country, isn't it?

[gun clicks]

[bullet clinks]

[guns fire]

Hey, who left the door open?

[guns fire]

Blazes, where the deuce did they get those?

I'd say off the bodies of your regiment at Isandhlwana.

Well, that's a bitter pill, our own damn rifles.

[guns fire]

[soldier] Keep your heads down.

- [Chard] Corporal Allen. - [Allen] Sir.

- This is your section now. - Sir.

Now see if you can keep the heads of those marksmen down.

Can't see none of them, sir.

You should know, Corporal Allen, fire at the smoke.

Keep them pinned down, not us.

[guns fire]

[guns firing]

[branches rustle]

[guns firing]

Mr. Bromhead.

[guns fire]

Not the best of shots, are they?

Get a platoon together.

I'll need more than one, old boy,

if I'm going up there after them,

You're not going up there after them.

Get a platoon of good bayonet men,

take them head on at anything that breaks through

where our lines weaken.

Ah, it's still a holding action, is it?

That's right, your job is to plug the gaps

from the inside and get yourself a good sergeant.

Yes, sir.

[guns firing]

[guns firing]

Hitch, get down from there.

How can I shoot them if I can't see them?

[warrior screams]

- Oh. - Hitch.

My leg, Corp.

- [gun fires] - Argh!

[guns fire]

[guns fire]

[soldier coughs]

Corp.

Can I undo me tunic buttons now, Corp?

Corp!

Stretcher bearers!

Come on, attack, damn you.

[guns firing]

[warriors shouting]

[Bromhead] Here they come!

North wall, volley fire, present, at 100 yards.

[warriors shouting]

- Fire! - [guns fire]

[Chard] Reload!

Independent, fire at will!

[warriors shouting]

[guns fire]

[warriors shouting]

[gun fires]

[men groaning]

[shouting continues]

[soldier screams]

[gun fires]

[shouting continues]

[gun fires]

[soldier shouts]

[dramatic music]

- [Chard] Bromhead! - Follow me!

Forward!

[music continues]

[gun fires]

[gun fires]

[music continues]

[gun fires]

[gun clicks]

[bayonet clacks]

[spear clacks]

Mr. Chard, I'll get you help.

[music continues]

[gun fires]

[gun fires]

Keep our squad on the wall, Sergeant.

Chard!

Are you all right?

Take...

command.

Corporal!

You're the professional.

Take command.

Lance corporal!

Now listen, old boy,

you're not badly hurt.

We need you. Damn you, we need you.

Understand?

Get him to Surgeon Reynolds.

Take command, you want it, don't you?

- [Bromhead] Sergeant Windridge! - [Windridge] Sir.

[music continues]

[tense music]

[gun fires]

Scalpel.

Orderly, damn it, will you keep the flies away.

Fan it.

Damn you, Chard!

Damn all you butchers!

[patient gasps]

[gun fires]

Why?

Why?

Why?

- Why? - It's all right, boy, you sleep.

I'm damned if I could tell you why.

You know this boy?

Name of Cole, sir, he was a paperhanger.

He's a dead paperhanger now.

Orderlies.

[Zulu warriors continue shouting]

You all right?

[speaking Zulu]

[guns fire]

[soldier] There they go, boys, after them.

[Bourne] Stand fast!

They're retiring, sir.

North wall, hold your fire.

[guns fire]

[soldier] Down!

[guns fire]

What is it now, another blasted trick?

They're forming up on the south plane again, sir.

I knew it, I knew it.

They're going to attack both walls at once.

I doubt it, not unless they have no other choice, anyhow.

It would mean the old general couldn't use his rifles

on the hillside for fear of hitting down into his own men.

This way he keeps probing for weaknesses on the one wall

while he keeps the other one pinned down.

- Oh, yes. - [shouting in Zulu]

[shouting in Zulu]

[warriors shouting in Zulu]

[Bourne] They're on the move, sir.

North wall, keep those riflemen on the hillside pinned down.

South wall, volley fire, present!

[warriors shouting]

- [Bromhead] Fire! - [guns fire]

- [Bromhead] Reload! - [guns fire]

Hookie, come on, boy, do something.

I'm excused duty.

Well, I haven't excused you, have I?

Ah, you want some help.

Well, why didn't you say so?

[glass shattering]

[gun fires]

[guns fire]

- [gun fires] - This rifle, sir, honestly, I can't manage it.

[soldier] Now, now, you heard what the officer said, come on.

But if it really came down to it, sir,

I couldn't really shoot anyone.

Careful! Pop that chap, somebody!

[gun fires]

Good fellow, good fellow.

You see? [gasps]

Sir.

- [tense music] - Sir.

[gun fires]

[guns fire]

Now, you're doing fine.

Where?

Want to rest here a bit?

[gun fires]

Watch it.

[dramatic music]

Can you move your leg?

- If you want me to dance... - I want you to crawl.

Come on, you slovenly soldier, we've got work to do.

It's all right, sir, we'll do that.

I'm all right.

You better get along to the surgeon, sir.

I'll try to get someone to help you, sir.

- I can manage. - Come, Hitch. Come.

- [guns fire] - Here.

Here.

Hold them! Hold them!

Hey, Noel, Tommy, look.

[Zulu warrior shouts in Zulu]

[Zulu warriors shout in Zulu]

- Oh, my God. - [guns fire]

Bromhead, reorganize your flying platoon

- with Sergeant Windridge. - But...

Yes, of course.

Sir.

Well done, Corporal, standby.

- Sir. - [guns firing]

[insects chirping]

- [gun fires] - Color Sergeant Bourne!

Sir. Are you all right, sir?

[gun fires]

Thank you, Mr. Bourne.

The men on the church roof,

have them support your fire against the hillside.

- Corporal. - Sir.

Section on the roof,

bring your rifles about on hillside, fire at the smoke.

The men on the hospital loopholes,

- Sir. - They have nothing to fire at.

Bring them to the front windows, support the north wall.

- Sir. - Color Sergeant.

- Sir. - I want half your men, now.

Even number, sir?

Form two lines, on the double.

Sir.

[shouting in Zulu]

[warriors shouting in Zulu]

[guns fire]

[Bourne] Company, hut!

Company, en garde!

[warriors shouting]

[guns fire]

- [soldier] Fall back. - [soldier shouts indistinctly]

- Front rank, fire! - [guns fire]

- [Chard] Rear rank, fire! - [guns fire]

[Chard] Advance!

- Rear rank, fire! - [guns fire]

[Chard] Advance!

- Rear rank, fire! - [guns fire]

[Chard] Advance!

- Rear rank, fire! - [guns fire]

Advance!

Rear rank,

- fire! - [guns fire]

[Chard] Advance!

- Rear rank, fire! - [guns fire]

[Chard] Advance! Rear rank,

- fire! - [guns fire]

[Chard] Advance!

- Rear rank, fire! - [guns fire]

[Chard] Advance!

- Rear rank, fire! - [guns fire]

Advance! Independent, fire at will!

[warriors shouting]

[guns fire]

[Chard] Cease firing!

[guns firing in distance]

[wind whistling]

[wind whistling]

[buckets clang]

Hey, Thomas, there's some water.

Oh, thank God.

Hey, 470 Davies was hit, you know.

No.

Aye, right in the throat.

What a pity.

The man is a great bass baritone.

In the throat, you said?

Aye.

Hey, where are you going?

I'm going to see that calf, man.

Hey, come back, you fool. What are you doing?

Tommy!

Mr. Bourne,

there should be 12 more men working on this redoubt.

They're very tired, sir.

I don't give a damn.

And I want this nine foot high,

firing steps inside.

Form details to clear away the Zulu bodies.

Rebuild the south ramparts.

Keep them moving.

- Do you understand? - [Bourne] Yes, sir.

Very good, sir.

All right, lads, keep it moving.

We're next, boys, this is the blind spot.

Even if those flaming officers ain't seen it,

I bet the Zulus have.

Come on, Howard, put your money up.

Have you gone stupid?

What bloody good do you think it'll do you if you do win?

We're all goners.

Well, it don't matter if you lose, does it?

Hey, Hookie.

[Hook] Hughsie,

there's some Brandy in Reynolds's medical cabinet,

go ahead and borrow some.

- It's locked up down that end. - Kick it down, then.

Hey, that's company punishment.

[laughs] Company punishment.

[Maxfield] On the right.

Form close columns of platoons.

By the right!

You lucky bastard.

[wind blows]

Oh dear, oh dear.

Well, your mum will need somebody

to milk her now, won't she?

- [Bourne] Stand to! - All right, all right,

- I can hear you. - [soldier shouts indistinctly]

[bugle blares]

[warriors shouting]

[guns fire]

[soldier screams]

[warrior screams]

- [gun fires] - [warrior grunts]

[guns fire]

Hey!

[gun fires]

Out you get, Hookie, you've done your bit.

[warriors continue shouting]

[banging on door]

Quick, thousands of them! 612!

[warriors shouting]

[gun fires]

Knock a hole in that wall!

[guns fire]

[fire crackles]

[guns fire]

[guns firing]

[warrior screams]

Better get down now, sir.

[guns fire]

Sir!

Get down now, sir!

[gun fires]

- [warriors shouting] - [gun fires]

No, Jones, it's me!

Oh, come on, get through, you bloody Englishman.

Get out! Get out! Get out!

[warriors shouting]

[gun fires]

Jonesy!

[guns fire]

Get to Surgeon Reynolds.

Right, get on the wall.

[grunting]

[Hook shouting]

Hook!

I know you.

What about the money you sent my old woman?

Hook!

[gun fires]

[Hook shouts]

[Hook grunting]

That's it, Hook, me lad.

That's it, soldier.

[soldier] Hookie!

[gun fires]

Stay where you are, Maxfield.

Hookie!

[Maxfield laughs]

That's my boy, Hook!

You're a soldier now, I've made a soldier of you.

Where's my bloody sergeant?

[all screaming]

[crashing]

[soldier] Get out, come on!

[warriors shouting]

[guns fire]

- Is everybody out? - Yes, sir.

On the wall.

Hookie, where's Hookie?

Hookie, come down, Hookie!

Hookie! Hookie!

[fire roars]

[glass shatters]

[glass shatters]

Hookie, that's a flogging offense.

Get out, for God's sake, man!

[fire roars]

- Everybody out? - Everybody that will get out.

[guns firing]

Abandon the outside ramparts.

Bugler! Retire to this wall!

[bugle blares]

[cows moo]

[warrior screams]

[warrior screams]

[warriors shouting]

[cows mooing]

- Color Sergeant. - Sir.

Carry on building the inner redoubt.

Sir.

All right, nobody told you to stop working.

[fire crackling]

Look at that.

Do you think he wanted it that way?

Look at it burn.

[fire roars]

Any more in there?

Then we'll have to take them from the outside walls.

[Bromhead] Color Sergeant Bourne.

[Bourne] Sir.

Hey, Owen.

Are you awake, man?

What is it?

I didn't think it was going to die, though.

Can you see something?

No, the calf I'm talking about.

Oh, then sorry, I am.

Aye, seems a pity, doesn't it?

[fire roars]

How many times have they come since sunset, do you reckon?

I don't know.

Do you reckon they'll come again?

[gun fires]

I think they've got more guts than we have, boyo.

[guns fire]

Soldiers!

[soldier groans]

[gun fires]

[gun fires]

All right, back to your post.

You, hold there.

Orderly, see to these men.

[fire roars]

[crashing]

Color Sergeant.

Put a third of our men in the redoubt.

Send the bugler to me.

I was asleep, sir.

[Bromhead] You let me sleep?

You shouldn't have done that.

[Bromhead coughs]

Is there any water?

I sent all that was left to Reynolds.

Yes, of course.

It's fear dries the mouth, isn't it?

When a man's as thirsty as this.

I could have drunk a river.

Thank you for what you said.

Hmm? Oh.

You mean about our needing you.

Yes, sir, don't bother, old boy, it's true.

Sir.

Come with me.

[bird chirp]

[thudding in distance]

[Bourne] Get the redoubt, all my lucky lads.

Make a move.

Come on, come on.

All right, lads, take up your positions on the firing step.

Keep your heads down.

[thudding continues]

How old are you, boy?

Sir?

It doesn't matter.

You know how to sound?

Yes, sir.

Stay by me.

[warrior singing in Zulu]

[warriors singing in Zulu]

[singing continues]

Do you think the Welsh can do better than that, Owen?

Well, they've got a very good bass section, mind,

but no top tenors, that's for sure.

[warriors continue singing]

[Owen humming]

♪ Men of Harlech, stop your dreaming ♪

♪ Can't you see their spear points gleaming ♪

♪ See their warrior pennants streaming ♪

♪ To this battlefield

Sing!

♪ Men of Harlech, stand ye steady ♪

- [Chard] Come on, sing - ♪ It cannot be ever said ye

♪ For the battle were not ready ♪

♪ Welshmen never yield

[warriors continue singing]

- [warrior shouting in Zulu] - [warriors grunting]

[warriors chanting]

♪ The mighty force surrounding

♪ Men of Harlech on to glory

♪ This will ever be your story

♪ Keep these burning words before ye ♪

♪ Welshmen will not yield

[warriors chanting]

♪ Battlefield

♪ Men of Harlech stand ye steady ♪

♪ It cannot be...

[warriors chanting]

- [warrior shouts in Zulu] - [warriors shouting]

[soldiers singing indistinctly]

At 100 yards!

Volley fire, present!

Aim!

- Fire! - [guns fire]

[warriors continue shouting]

[gun fires]

All right, stand by.

Lips dry?

- Color Sergeant. - [Bourne] Prepare.

Now.

- [bugle squeaks] - Spit, boy, spit.

[bugle blares]

Redoubt party!

- Fire! - [guns fire]

Volley by ranks! Front rank, fire!

[guns fire]

- [Bromhead] Second rank, fire! - [guns fire]

- [Bromhead] Third rank, fire! - [guns fire]

- First rank, Fire! - [guns fire]

Rear rank, fire! [guns fire]

[Bromhead] Third rank, fire!

[guns fire]

- First rank, fire. - [guns fire]

- [Bromhead] Second rank, fire. - [guns fire]

- Third rank, fire. - [guns fire]

- Fire! - [guns fire]

- Fire! - [guns fire]

- Fire! - [guns fire]

Fire!

[guns fire]

Cease firing!

[warriors groaning]

[soldiers panting]

[shields clatter]

[Bromhead] Three hours and they haven't come again.

Mr. Chard, sir.

The patrol's come back, the Zulus have gone,

all of them.

It's a miracle.

If it's a miracle, Color Sergeant,

it's a short chamber Boxer-Henry 0.45 caliber miracle.

And a bayonet, sir,

with some guts behind it.

- Fall them in, call the roll. - Sir.

By section, fall in.

- Well, you did it. - Me?

- Abel. - Sir.

Adams.

Adams.

- Barry. - [Barry] Sir.

- Beckett. - He's wounded, sir.

- He's dying, sir. - It's sad.

Keep your voices down.

Byrne.

- Camp. - [Camp] Sir.

Chick.

Cole.

- Colin. - [Colin] Sir.

[Bourne speaking indistinctly]

[Chard] Who was left in here?

I don't know.

They had names, they had faces,

they were our men, what you mean you don't know?

Chard!

All right.

- [Bourne] 470 Davies. - [470 Davies] Sir.

- [Bourne] 363 Davies. - [363 Davies] Sir.

Well...

you've fought your first action.

Does everyone feel like this afterwards?

How do you feel?

Sick.

Well, you have to be alive to feel sick.

You asked me, I told you.

There's something else.

I feel ashamed.

Was that how it was for you

the first time?

First time?

You think I could stand this butcher's yard more than once?

- [Bourne] Dunbar. - Sir.

I didn't know.

I told you,

I came up here to build a bridge.

Fagan.

Green 459.

[green 459] Sir.

- Hughes. - Excused duty.

[soldiers chuckling]

No comedians, please.

- Hughes. - [Hughes] Yes, Color Sergeant.

Say, "sir," officer on parade.

[Hughes] Sir.

Hayden.

Hitch.

Hitch, I saw you. You're alive.

[Hitch] I am? Oh, thanks very much.

Answer the roll, say, "sir."

- Sir. - All right.

Now get off into the sick bay where you belong.

Hook.

Yes, sir, me too, sir.

[Bourne] Stand where you are, Hook!

428 Jones.

Well, we haven't done too badly.

Hm?

[tense music]

[Bourne] 570 Jones.

Oh my God.

[dramatic music]

- [warrior shouts in Zulu] - [warriors shouting]

- [warrior shouts in Zulu] - [warriors shouting]

Adendorff, why have they stopped?

God damn you.

- I want an answer. - Haven't you had enough?

Both of you.

My God, can't you see it's all over?

Your bloody egos don't matter anymore.

We're dead.

What are you waiting for?

Come on.

Come on!

[chuckles]

[warrior shouting in Zulu]

[warriors shouting in Zulu]

[warriors singing in Zulu]

Those bastards.

They're taunting us.

[chuckles]

[singing continues in distance]

- You couldn't be more wrong. - [both laughing]

They're saluting you.

[both laugh]

They're saluting fellow braves.

[both laugh]

They're saluting you.

[warriors continue singing]

[singing continues in distance]

Oh, my eye. Oh, my eye, will you look?

[singing continues in distance]

[singing fading]

[Narrator] In the 100 years since the Victoria Cross

was created for valor and extreme courage

beyond that normally expected of a British soldier

in face of the enemy,

only 1,344 have been awarded.

11 of these were won by the defenders

of the mission station at Rorke's Drift,

Natal, January 22nd to the 23rd, 1879.

Frederic Schiess, Corporal, Natal Native Contingent.

William Allen, Corporal, B Company,

Second Battalion, 24th Foot.

Fred Hitch, Private, B Company,

Second Battalion, 24th Foot.

James Langley Dalton, Acting Assistant Commissary,

Army Commissariat Department.

612 John Williams, Private, B Company,

Second Battalion, 24th Foot.

716 Robert Jones,

593 William Jones, Privates, B Company,

Second Battalion, 24th Foot.

Henry Hook, Private, B Company,

Second Battalion, 24th Foot.

James Henry Reynolds, Surgeon Major,

Army Hospital Corps.

Gonville Bromhead, Lieutenant, B Company,

Second Battalion of the 24th Regiment of Foot,

South Wales Borderers.

[inaudible dialogue]

[somber music]

[Narrator] John Rouse Merriott Chard, Lieutenant,

Royal Engineers, Officer Commanding, Rorke's Drift.

[men] ♪ From the rocks rebounding

♪ Let the war cry sounding

♪ Summon all at Cambria's call ♪

♪ The mighty force surrounding ♪

♪ Men of Harlech on to glory

♪ This will ever be your story ♪

♪ Keep these burning words before ye ♪

♪ Welshmen will not yield

[triumphant music]