The Battle of Rorkes Drift is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated actions from the past within the British army. It had been at the little mission station near the border of Zululand and Natal where 4,000 Zulu warriors attacked the garrison of only 140 British soldiers. The soldiers battled for their lives through the night and by day break, the Zulus had gone. The highest award for gallantry while in the British Army is the Victoria Cross and the Battle of Rorkes Drift saw twelve VCs awarded, more than in any other single action in the past.
The fight was portrayed by the Stanley Baker movie “Zulu” and one of many leading characters who carried out their duty heroically at Rorkes Drift, ultimately failed to receive a Victoria Cross. Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne was instead awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal that is ranked 2nd behind the Victoria Cross. Additionally, Bourne was also offered a commission however he turn it down. As Bourne was the eighth son in the family, there wasn’t any money to be had and this would be a time when money bought commissions for officers while in the British Army.
Of course, Bourne was destined to be a career soldier and an excellent one as well. Soon after South Africa, he served in both India and Burma before at long last earning his commission 11 years after the Battle of Rorkes Drift. He eventually retired from the British Army in 1907. Merely 7 years afterwards, The Great War broke out so Bourne re-enlisted in the army. At the conclusion of World War I in 1918, he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was made an OBE. Bourne left the army again, now permanently.
Due to the actor who portrayed Bourne in the movie Zulu, a lot of folks understood Frank Bourne to have been in his mid-50s at the time of the Battle of Rorkes Drift however in truth he was simply twenty four years old. Just after the end of The Great War, Bourne lived in old age in Beckenham, South London and he was the last survivor of the battle to pass away at the age of 91 on 8th May 1945, the day the Second World War in Europe came to an end.