Zulu descendants and battle re-enactment enthusiasts will join dozens of family members by a graveside next month to honour a reluctant hero. Nearly 130 years after the battle of Rorke's Drift - immortalised by the film Zulu - why does the military defence still rate so highly in the public's imagination?
Zulu descendants and battle re-enactment enthusiasts will join dozens of family members by a graveside next month to honour a reluctant hero. Nearly 130 years after the battle of Rorke's Drift - immortalised by the film Zulu - why does the military defence still rate so highly in the public's imagination?
Lynn Whale was amazed to find the strange wreath lying on her great-grandfather's grave earlier this year.
Lynn Whale was amazed to find the strange wreath lying on her great-grandfather's grave earlier this year.
She had just dragged her husband along to a Nottingham cemetery to show him James Marshall's plot which she herself had discovered only months before by coincidence, while looking for the graves of other ancestors.
She had just dragged her husband along to a Nottingham cemetery to show him James Marshall's plot which she herself had discovered only months before by coincidence, while looking for the graves of other ancestors.
"I just couldn't figure out who would have left it, or what it was for," she says. "So I left my name and mobile number with it, asking: 'What's your connection with my great-grandfather?"
"I just couldn't figure out who would have left it, or what it was for," she says. "So I left my name and mobile number with it, asking: 'What's your connection with my great-grandfather?" In later life James gave no hints about his wartime experience
Hidden truth
As a result, a few days later she was contacted by a distant cousin she didn't know existed. He told her that he had made some inquiries and that the wreath had been left on behalf of James's regiment on the anniversary of the battle of Rorke's Drift.
As a result, a few days later she was contacted by a distant cousin she didn't know existed. He told her that he had made some inquiries and that the wreath had been left on behalf of James's regiment on the anniversary of the battle of Rorke's Drift.
What was more, he said, James had been among the survivors of the battle, which saw some 140 men successfully defend their garrison against an onslaught by up to 5,000 Zulu warriors.
What was more, he said, James had been among the survivors of the battle, which saw some 140 men successfully defend their garrison against an onslaught by up to 5,000 Zulu warriors.
In later life James gave no hints about his wartime experience
He also stunned her with the news that there was due to be a service of rededication at James's graveside in July, involving civil dignitaries, a Zulu theatre group and re-enactment enthusiasts the 1879 Group.
He also stunned her with the news that there was due to be a service of rededication at James's graveside in July, involving civil dignitaries, a Zulu theatre group and re-enactment enthusiasts the 1879 Group.
"I could hardly believe it. Had we not stumbled across his grave we would never have realised all this was going to happen," says mother-of-two Lynn.
"I could hardly believe it. Had we not stumbled across his grave we would never have realised all this was going to happen," says mother-of-two Lynn.
"You research your family hoping that you find something interesting out and then you discover something like this. It's very exciting.
"You research your family hoping that you find something interesting out and then you discover something like this. It's very exciting.
Bayonet point
"But I just wondered how it was that something like this did not get handed down through the generations. He just never told anybody about it. It was something hidden from the family. When he came out of the army I suppose he just didn't want to go there."
"But I just wondered how it was that something like this did not get handed down through the generations. He just never told anybody about it. It was something hidden from the family. When he came out of the army I suppose he just didn't want to go there."
That James's exploits came to light at all is largely thanks to the work of genealogist Kris Wheatley, who devotes "15 hours a day, seven days a week" to uncovering the stories of the forgotten heroes of Rorke's Drift.
Bayonet point
The Battle of Rorke's Drift The defence took place during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879Some 140 British soldiers defended the garrison against an assault by up to 5,000 Zulu warriorsThe force was based around B Company, 2nd Battalion. 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of FootBritish losses were recorded as 17. More than 500 Zulus diedEleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to survivors
That James's exploits came to light at all is largely thanks to the work of genealogist Kris Wheatley, who devotes "15 hours a day, seven days a week" to uncovering the stories of the forgotten heroes of Rorke's Drift. BATTLE OF RORKE'S DRIFT During Anglo-Zulu War of 1879140 British soldiers defended garrison against assault by up to 5,000 Zulu warriorsBased around B Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of FootBritish losses were recorded as 17 - more than 500 Zulus diedEleven Victoria Crosses awarded to survivors
She has spent many years painstakingly reconstructing the lives and times of the defenders - many of whom, like James Marshall, were reluctant to reveal their experiences of the "empire's longest day" to friends and family back home.
She has spent many years painstakingly reconstructing the lives and times of the defenders - many of whom, like James Marshall, were reluctant to reveal their experiences of the "empire's longest day" to friends and family back home.
She describes James as "known within the family as the man with no relatives and no past".
She describes James as "known within the family as the man with no relatives and no past".
Kris's own great-grandfather, Caleb Wood - who is also buried at Ruddington - was with the 21-year-old James as the members of B Company fought off the warriors, between the station's hospital and storehouse.
Kris's own great-grandfather, Caleb Wood - who is also buried at Ruddington - was with the 21-year-old James as the members of B Company fought off the warriors, between the station's hospital and storehouse.
In her published accounts of around 40 of the men's stories she relates that Caleb in later life recalled the battle, and told how he saw Private James Marshall find himself out of position and in mortal danger amid the fighting, before James switched round and speared three Zulus with the point of his bayonet.
In her published accounts of around 40 of the men's stories she relates that Caleb in later life recalled the battle, and told how he saw Private James Marshall find himself out of position and in mortal danger amid the fighting, before James switched round and speared three Zulus with the point of his bayonet.
'Very proud'
Some historians have argued that the importance of Rorke's Drift was exaggerated by military commanders in order to draw attention away from the Army's disastrous defeat at nearby Isandwlana earlier the same day. Two of the soldiers at Ruddington were honoured at a ceremony in 2004
Some historians have argued that the importance of Rorke's Drift was exaggerated by military commanders in order to draw attention away from the Army's disastrous defeat at nearby Isandwlana earlier the same day.
Two of the soldiers at Ruddington were honoured at a ceremony in 2004
But even though 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded to the defenders, many of the men were forgotten about as soon as they returned home - several suffering the effects of what is now recognised as post-traumatic stress, say Kris.
But even though 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded to the defenders, many of the men were forgotten about as soon as they returned home - several suffering the effects of what is now recognised as post-traumatic stress, say Kris.
For her it is a fitting tribute to them to now tell their stories, and she has vowed to carry on "as long as God spares me".
For her it is a fitting tribute to them to now tell their stories, and she has vowed to carry on "as long as God spares me".
"These lads just had a wool jacket and a bayonet and a rifle," says Ms Wheatley, 64.
"These lads just had a wool jacket and a bayonet and a rifle," says Ms Wheatley, 64.
Lynn Whale was barely aware of the battle until she found out her own connection. Now she has watched the film Zulu for the first time and become fascinated by the story.
Lynn Whale was barely aware of the battle until she found out her own connection. Now she has watched the film Zulu for the first time and become fascinated by the story.
"I think one of the reasons that it captures the imagination so much is down to the regiments, who are so fiercely proud of their history - they perpetuate it."
"I think one of the reasons that it captures the imagination so much is down to the regiments, who are so fiercely proud of their history - they perpetuate it."
The ceremony at Ruddington cemetery on 13 July will bring together many branches of her family for the first time. She is pleased that it has given a fresh focus for her recently widowed father.
The ceremony at Ruddington cemetery on 13 July will bring together many branches of her family for the first time. She is pleased that it has given a fresh focus for her recently widowed father.
"It's something he's very proud of, she says. "We are all very proud."
"It's something he's very proud of, she says. "We are all very proud."
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