Gonville Bromhead
Gonville Bromhead VC (born August 29, 1845 in Versailles , † February 9, 1892 in Allahabad ) was a British officer and bearer of the Victoria Cross . He commanded the British forces at Rorke's Drift in the Zulu War .
Life
In January 1879, English colonial troops invaded the Kingdom of Zululand from the colony of Natal . The strongest attack column, under Lord Chelmsford , advanced over the Buffalo River , at the Rorke’s Drift mission station . Lieutenant Bromhead was assigned to protect the station with B Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 24th Regiment of Foot (The South Wales Borderers) . On January 22, 1879, he took part in the battle of 139 British soldiers against approximately 4,000 Zulu at Rorke's Drift. He co-directed the defense of this post with John Rouse Merriott Chard . For his services in this battle, he received on August 22, 1879 in Utrecht from Garnet Joseph Wolseley the Victoria Cross , Great Britain's highest award "for outstanding bravery in the face of the enemy".
After the fighting at Rorke's Drift, Bromhead was promoted to captain and brevet major . In 1883 he reached the regular rank of major . He served in India where he died of typhus .
Michael Caine played him in the 1964 film Zulu .
literature
- Kevin Brazier: The Complete Victoria Cross: A Full Chronological Record of All Holders of Britain's Highest Award for Gallantry. Fully Revised and Updated Paperback Edition. Pen & Sword Military, Barnsley 2015, ISBN 978-1-4738-4351-6 .
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Bromhead, Gonville |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British officer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 29, 1845 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Versailles |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 9, 1892 |
| Place of death | Allahabad |