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The Defence of Rorke's Drift by Jason Askew. - Cranston Military Prints

The Defence of Rorke's Drift by Jason Askew.


The Defence of Rorke's Drift by Jason Askew.

The Battle at Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was an action in the Anglo-Zulu War. The defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenant John Chard of the Royal Engineers, immediately followed the British Army's defeat at the Battle of Isandlwana on 22nd January 1879, and continued into the following day, 23rd January. 150 British and colonial troops successfully defended the garrison against an intense assault by approximately 2000 Zulu warriors. The intense and noisy Zulu attacks on Rorke's Drift came very close to defeating the tiny garrison, but were ultimately repelled by blasts of Martini-Henry rifle fire-and some smart bayonet work-with some guts behind the bayonet thrusts! Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to the defenders, along with a number of other decorations and honours. Of particular note in the painting is the dog 'Pip' - he survived Isandlwhana by retreating along the fugitive's trail to Rorke's Drift. During the Zulu attacks on Rorke's drift, Pip did his part in the defence - by jumping on the mealie bag parapets and barking at Zulus- who were hiding in the long grass and sneaking up to the defences, then biting any Zulu who came within range. Unfortunately Pip was not officially recognised for his part in the action. He was not awarded a VC, on the basis that he was a volunteer canine that accompanied an officer, rather than a War Office issued canine. Conversely, if Pip had been killed, then he would not have been officially listed as a casualty, as he accompanied the army in a strictly private capacity. British army horses were in a different category as they were War Office issue, therefore the loss of a horse in action, or to disease, carried a financial liability for the War Office.
Item Code : DHM6069XXThe Defence of Rorke's Drift by Jason Askew. - Editions Available
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Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm)Artist : Jason AskewHalf
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Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm)Artist : Jason Askew£20 Off!
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Limited edition of up to 50 giclee canvas prints. Size 40 inches x 25 inches (102cm x 64cm)Artist : Jason Askew
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Limited edition of up to 50 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 22.5 inches (91cm x 57cm)Artist : Jason Askew
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Limited edition of up to 50 giclee canvas prints. Size 30 inches x 18.5 inches (76cm x 47cm)Artist : Jason Askew
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Original painting oil on canvas by Jason Askew. Size 50 inches x 30 inches (128cm x 76cm)Artist : Jason AskewSOLD
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Collector's Postcard - Restricted Initial Print Run of 100 cards.Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm)none£2.90

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Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm)Artist : Jason Askew£40 Off!Now : £35.00
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On the 11th January 1879, a British Force under the command of Lord Chelmsford crossed the Buffalo River into Zululand. A small garrison was left at Rorkes Drift. The force consisted of 1600 British troops, mainly from the 1st and 2nd Battalions 24th Regiment, and 2500 native soldiers. A tented camp was established at Isandhlwana Hill. At 4am on the morning of 22nd January, Lord Chelmsford took half his force to reconnoitre to southeast in search of main Zulu army. Just after 8am a force of 25000 Zulu warriors attacked the remainder of the force in the camp. Surprised, outnumbered by more than six to one, in a position offering little defence, the defenders were soon overpowered and a dreadful slaughter ensued. A few men escaped and re-crossed the Buffalo River to safety. Victoria Crosses were awarded to Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill, who saved the Queens Colour of the 1st/24th and to Private Wassell, 90th Foot, who saved a comrade while escaping across the Buffalo River.

Battle of Isandhlwana by Charles Fripp.		 Ian Knight and Ian Castle.
Isandlwana - Zulu War.		 Men of the 24th Foot defend Rorkes Drift against an overwhelming number of Zulus near the barricades, and the hand to hand fighting. Surgeon Reynolds can be seen attending a wounded soldier.

Defence of Rorkes Drift by Brian Palmer. 		By about 6pm the Zulu attacks had extended all around the front of the post, and fighting raged at hand-to-hand along the mealie-bag wall. Lieutenant Chard himself took up a position on the barricade, firing over the mealie-bags with a Martini-Henry, whilst Lieutenant Bromhead directed any spare men to plug the gaps in the line. The men in the yard and on the front wall were dangerously exposed to the fire of Zulu marksmen posted in the rocky terraces on Shiyane (Oskarsberg) hill behind the post. Several men were hit, including Acting Assistant Commissary Dalton, and Corporal Allen of the 24th. Surgeon Reynolds treated the wounded as best he could despite the fire. Once the veranda at the front of the hospital had been abandoned, the Zulus had mounted a determined attack on the building itself, setting fire to the thatched roof with spears tied with burning grass. The defenders were forced to evacuate the patients room by room, eventually passing them out through a small window into the open yard. Shortly after 6pm Chard decided that the Zulu pressure was too great, and ordered a withdrawal to a barricade of biscuit boxes which had been hastily erected across the yard, from the corner of the store-house to the front mealie-bag wall. In this small compound the garrison would fight for their lives throughout most of the coming night.

The Defense of Rorkes Drift by Alphonse De Neuville

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