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To: X Fretensis
Granville Bromhead, was an experienced professional soldier. He had 12 years service as an infantry officer prior to Rorks Drift.

Agreed but his first name was Gonville and the battle was Rorke's Drift. Attention to details is probably what kept them alive in that battle.

As for the aftermath, the movie has it correct in that there were only 11 Victoria Crosses (VC) awarded with a 12th mentioned in dispatches, Private Joseph Williams, as being worthy but being deceased, was ineligible. The British did highlight this David & Goliath battle not only for real heroism but also to distract from the disaster of the Isandlwana defeat.

Interesting fact from the movie, lead actor Stanley Baker (Chard) bought what he thought was a copy of Chard's VC at an auction in 1972 which Baker's family sold after his death in 1976. In 1996 that same 'copy' was found to be genuine as its metal content matched to all of the other contemporary VCs .

78 posted on 06/29/2014 12:18:33 PM PDT by SES1066 (Quality, Speed or Economical - Any 2 of 3 except in government - 1 at best but never #3!)
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To: SES1066
In 1996 that same 'copy' was found to be genuine as its metal content matched to all of the other contemporary VCs .

That's a neat story. Who owns it now?

85 posted on 06/29/2014 12:38:34 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I don't feel obligated to provide you with a non-boring gun.)
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