|
 Listen
to memories of a Zulu War VC
Listen
to Excerpts from Henry Hook: The Hero of Rorke's Drift
 Picture
gallery
The
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Features
Index
2005
Features Archive
|
|
| Recommended
Reading |
|
"The
Life of Henry Hook VC" by Barry C.Johnson. To mark
the 125th anniversary of the Zulu War, the new expanded
biography of one of the Rorke's Drift heroes. 331 pages,
24 illustrations, in both casebound and paperbound.
Available from Bartletts Press, 37, Larchmere Drive,
Hall Green, Birmingham B28 8JB.ISBN 0-9517115-6-3
"Rorke's
Drift - By Those Who Were There" by Alan Baynham
Jones & Lee Stevenson. A true version of the battle
as told by those who were actually there. Combining
many known accounts along with previously unpublished
material. Foreword by Ian Knight. 312 pages and 25 illustrations.
Published by Stevenson Publishing, 80 Hollingbury Park
Ave, Brighton BN1 7JF. ISBN no. 0-9541963-1-7
"The
Register of the Victoria Cross". All 1,348 VCs
are listed alphabetically together with details of birth,
place of deed, town or county connections, place and
date of death and memorials. ISBN 0 906324 03 3. A similar
book is produced about the GEORGE CROSS. ISBN 0 906324
06 8. Available from This England, PO Box 52, Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire GL50 1YQ
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Have
you seen the Michael Caine film "Zulu"?
The
1964 movie depicted the famous defence of Rorke's Drift when about
100 British soldiers fought off an attack by 4,000 Zulu warriors.
The
film was only partly accurate but a Gloucestershire man is determined
to tell the real story of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.
Enthusiasts
 |
| "Don't
throw those bladdy spears at me" |
Alan
Gibbs from Warden Hill, Cheltenham is a member of the 1879 Group
- a dedicated band of enthusiasts, historians and military experts.
Their aim is to spread knowledge and interest in the Zulu War as
well as preserving the memory of the men who fought at Rorke's Drift,
Isandhlwana and the other battles in South Africa.
On
a visit to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Gloucestershire, Alan was interviewed by John
Hellings and showed off his British army tunic and white helmet,
as worn by the soldiers of Queen Victoria.
Living
History
At
Living History events, re-enactments and official occasions, Alan
portrays Lt. John Chard of the Royal Engineers. Chard was one of
the 11 men who received the Victoria Cross for their heroism at
Rorke's Drift. Chard
was educated at Cheltenham College and was played by Stanley Baker
in the film "Zulu".
Alan
Gibbs owns an original engineer's sword and authentic tunic buttons
along with a heliograph of the period. The heliograph was the internet
of its day, using the sun and mirrors to send messages over long
distances. Alan
bought the device at a living history event in Kent.
Rorke's
Drift
 |
| Suits
you Sir! Alan proudly shows off his uniform |
The
most famous Private soldier in military history was a Gloucestershire
man and one of the defenders of Rorke's Drift. Henry Hook was awarded
his VC for saving sick and wounded patients from the burning hospital
at the mission station in Natal.
After
the Zulu War, Hook had a long career at the British Museum in London
and returned to his native Gloucester shortly before his death in
1905. His grave and memorial cross are at Churcham, a few miles
west of the city.
Documentary
In
1996, his story was told in detail when he was the subject of an
hour-long documentary on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Gloucestershire; 'Henry Hook
- The Hero of Rorke's Drift' (see audio links below).
(Alan Gibbs interviewed by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio
Gloucestershire's John Hellings - 6 pics)
AUDIO
Memories
of a Zulu War VC
91 year old Cecilia Cheetham recalls her grandfather; Surgeon
James Henry Reynolds VC. Interview recorded in 2004 at the
Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum.
Excerpt
from "Henry Hook - The Hero of Rorke's Drift"
broadcast on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Gloucestershire in January 1996.
To
listen to audio content on the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ you will need to have a
program called RealPlayer installed on your computer.
|
If
you would like to comment on this story get in touch at gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk
or have your say on our
|
What
do you know about the Zulu War? Maybe you've seen the classic film
"Zulu" starring Michael Caine? Meet the Gloucestershire
man who's doing his bit to tell the truth...
