Battle of Rorke's Drift close to defeating the much smaller garrison, but were ultimately repelled. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to the defenders, along with a number of other decorations and honours. Rorke's Drift, known as "kwaJimu" ("Jim's Land") in the Zulu language, was a mission station and the former trading post of James Rorke, an Irish merchant. It was located near a drift, or ford, on the Buffalo (Mzinyathi) River, which at the time formed the border between the British colony of Natal and the Zulu Kingdom. On 9 January 1879, the British No. 3 (Centre) Column, under Lord Chelmsford, arrived and encamped
Battle of Rorke's Drift battles demonstrating the superior effectiveness of Western military practices. The sixth track of the Swedish heavy metal band Sabaton's 2016 studio album "The Last Stand", titled “Rorke’s Drift”, depicts the events of the battle. "The Tale of Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift" is an account written by H. Rider Haggard in "True Story Book" by Andrew Lang. While being a true account of the battle and naming many important figures, the writing omits Surgeon Reynolds, who played a crucial role in the defence. Battle of Rorke's Drift The Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was