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The Hero of the Battle of Rorkes Drift - CSM Frank Bourne
The defence of Rorkes Drift is incontestably one of the most notable actions in the past in the English armed forces. It was at this modest mission station along the border of Zululand and Natal where 4,000 Zulu warriors attacked the garrison of not more than 140 Brit squaddies. The soldiers fought for their lives all night and by the early morning, the Zulu warriors had retreated. The top award for gallantry in the UK Army is the Victoria Cross and the action at Rorkes Drift saw 12 VCs awarded, more than in each other individual action in history.
The fight was portrayed in the Stanley Baker picture "Zulu" and one of several leading characters who acted heroically at Rorkes Drift, in the end didn't get a Victoria Cross. Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne was instead awarded the Distinguished Conduct Gong that's ranked 2nd behind the Victoria Cross. In addition, Bourne was also offered a commission but he dropped. Being the 8th child in their household, there was no cash available and this was a point when wealth was employed to buy commissions for officers within the British Armed forces.
Do not forget, Bourne was fated to be a job soldier and a very good one too. Following SA, he served in both India and Burma before ultimately earning his commission 11 years following the Battle of Rorkes Drift. He finally retired from the UK Army in 1907. Only 7 years after, The First World War started and Bourne rejoined the army. By the conclusion of the First World War in 1918, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was made an OBE. He left the army again, this time around for ever.
A consequence of the actor who played the part of Bourne in the motion picture Zulu, a large amount of folks believed Frank Bourne to have once been in his mid-50s in the time of the Battle of Rorkes Drift however in truth he was only 24 years old.
After the finish of The First World War, Bourne lived in retirement in Beckenham, South London and he was the last survivor of the battle to pass away at the age of 91 on 8th May 1945, the day World War Two in Europe came to a close.
The fight was portrayed in the Stanley Baker picture "Zulu" and one of several leading characters who acted heroically at Rorkes Drift, in the end didn't get a Victoria Cross. Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne was instead awarded the Distinguished Conduct Gong that's ranked 2nd behind the Victoria Cross. In addition, Bourne was also offered a commission but he dropped. Being the 8th child in their household, there was no cash available and this was a point when wealth was employed to buy commissions for officers within the British Armed forces.
Do not forget, Bourne was fated to be a job soldier and a very good one too. Following SA, he served in both India and Burma before ultimately earning his commission 11 years following the Battle of Rorkes Drift. He finally retired from the UK Army in 1907. Only 7 years after, The First World War started and Bourne rejoined the army. By the conclusion of the First World War in 1918, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and was made an OBE. He left the army again, this time around for ever.
A consequence of the actor who played the part of Bourne in the motion picture Zulu, a large amount of folks believed Frank Bourne to have once been in his mid-50s in the time of the Battle of Rorkes Drift however in truth he was only 24 years old.
After the finish of The First World War, Bourne lived in retirement in Beckenham, South London and he was the last survivor of the battle to pass away at the age of 91 on 8th May 1945, the day World War Two in Europe came to a close.
About the Author:
In spite of the fact he didn't receive the Victoria Cross, CSM Frank Bourne was one of the most famous infantrymen who fought at Rorkes Driftduring the Anglo Zulu War of 1879.