What Happened To Lt. Bromhead After Rorke's Drift?
The History Chap
417,149 views
The 1964 film, "Zulu" saw Michael Caine's debut on the big screen.
He played Lt. Gonville Bromhead, one of the 11 men awarded the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, fought in the Anglo-Zulu War, 1879.
But how close was Caine's character to the real Lt. Bromhead?
Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.
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Michael Caine's very first leading film role was playing Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead in Zulu (1964) — the story of the legendary defence of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War.
But how much of Caine's portrayal was fact, and how much was 1960s dramatic license?
The real Gonville Bromhead was three years older than Caine's character, came from a landed-gentry family in Lincolnshire, not the aristocracy the film implies, and his military career before 1879 was, in the words of his own commanding officer, "hopeless."
Commissioned as an ensign in the 24th Regiment of Foot in 1867, he took twelve years just to make lieutenant — a far cry from the confident officer on screen.
At Rorke's Drift on the night of 22nd January 1879, with news of the disaster at Isandlwana just arrived, 139 men — 36 of them sick — faced over 4,000 Zulu warriors.
Contrary to the film, it was Bromhead, not Chard, who was already barricading the store and hospital and had sent a rider for help before John Chard even arrived at the station.
Command fell to Chard only because Major Spalding consulted the Army List and found he'd held his lieutenancy three years longer than Bromhead.
During the battle, Bromhead led the defence of the most vulnerable gap in the makeshift wall — described by Private Fred Hitch as where "the hardest fighting of the night took place."
With his men killed or wounded around him, Bromhead and the wounded Hitch held that gap alone for close to an hour.
Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for Rorke's Drift — still the most ever given for a single action — and Bromhead was one of them.
But not everyone was convinced: General Sir Garnet Wolseley believed the garrison fought only because they had no choice, and one officer dismissed Bromhead as "a stupid old fellow, as deaf as a post."
This video then follows Bromhead beyond the battle and the film's ending — his hero's welcome in Britain, the withdrawal and lethargy that look very like undiagnosed PTSD, his quiet kindness in helping fellow VC recipient Henry Hook find work, and his unremarkable later career with the South Wales Borderers through Gibraltar, India, and the Third Anglo-Burmese War, before his death from typhoid in 1891 at just 45 — buried far from home in Allahabad, India.
The real Gonville Bromhead VC was never the man Michael Caine played. He was something more ordinary, and in its way more remarkable: proof that heroism at Rorke's Drift wasn't reserved for the exceptional.
#RorkesDrift #AngloZuluWar #VictoriaCross #BritishHistory
Chapters
0:00 Michael Caine - Zulu
0:43 Gonville Bromhead
1:42 A Military Family
4:40 His Early Career
6:16 Anglo-Zulu War
7:33 Command at Rorke's Drift
8:50 Prepares Defences
9:41 Battle of Rorke's Drift
11:50 Victoria Cross
14:05 Later Career
15:01 Death
Follow me at:
https://www.thehistorychap.com
Podcast: https://www.thehistorychappodcast.com
Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH
thehistorychap
My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham and am a member of the Royal Historical Society.
I am also a member of the Victorian Military Society, the Anglo Zulu War Society and the Military Historical Society.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
The History Chap is a trading name of Chris Green Communication Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales (Co No: 05025587)
20 Comments
His actions seem to have suggested he wasn’t stupid.
There was a Captain David de Gonville-Bromhead who was the Adjutant. He was a good officer and easy to converse with, I believe he ended up as a Brigadier commanding in Belize,
One has to wonder about the man's perceived lack of ability,
when he certainly displayed a more than competent grasp of the situation
in the hour of need, to say nothing of his courage in what was a desperate battle.
I must admit that I have trouble thinking ill of any officer who displays an obvious concern for his men's well being.
One of my college history professors, Harry A. Galey, was SJSU’s resident African history and British empire expert. He related to us in class about Bromhead‘s hearing problem. I heard this over 40 years ago when I when I was a student.
Dr. Galey complained that Hollywood or filmmakers in general, could not leave an actual story alone. They would continually mess it up by adding plot elements that weren’t needed in his opinion.
What Happened To Lt. Bromhead After Rorke's Drift?
The History Chap
417,149 views
The 1964 film, "Zulu" saw Michael Caine's debut on the big screen.
He played Lt. Gonville Bromhead, one of the 11 men awarded the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, fought in the Anglo-Zulu War, 1879.
But how close was Caine's character to the real Lt. Bromhead?
Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.
Love "Zulu" and the Zulu War?
Get My Free Weekly Newsletter
https://www.thehistorychap.com/Newsle...
WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT MY CHANNEL
Become A Patron and get exclusive history talks
https://www.thehistorychap.com/Suppor...
Make a one-off donation
https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistorychap
Michael Caine's very first leading film role was playing Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead in Zulu (1964) — the story of the legendary defence of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War.
But how much of Caine's portrayal was fact, and how much was 1960s dramatic license?
The real Gonville Bromhead was three years older than Caine's character, came from a landed-gentry family in Lincolnshire, not the aristocracy the film implies, and his military career before 1879 was, in the words of his own commanding officer, "hopeless."
Commissioned as an ensign in the 24th Regiment of Foot in 1867, he took twelve years just to make lieutenant — a far cry from the confident officer on screen.
At Rorke's Drift on the night of 22nd January 1879, with news of the disaster at Isandlwana just arrived, 139 men — 36 of them sick — faced over 4,000 Zulu warriors.
Contrary to the film, it was Bromhead, not Chard, who was already barricading the store and hospital and had sent a rider for help before John Chard even arrived at the station.
Command fell to Chard only because Major Spalding consulted the Army List and found he'd held his lieutenancy three years longer than Bromhead.
During the battle, Bromhead led the defence of the most vulnerable gap in the makeshift wall — described by Private Fred Hitch as where "the hardest fighting of the night took place."
With his men killed or wounded around him, Bromhead and the wounded Hitch held that gap alone for close to an hour.
Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for Rorke's Drift — still the most ever given for a single action — and Bromhead was one of them.
But not everyone was convinced: General Sir Garnet Wolseley believed the garrison fought only because they had no choice, and one officer dismissed Bromhead as "a stupid old fellow, as deaf as a post."
This video then follows Bromhead beyond the battle and the film's ending — his hero's welcome in Britain, the withdrawal and lethargy that look very like undiagnosed PTSD, his quiet kindness in helping fellow VC recipient Henry Hook find work, and his unremarkable later career with the South Wales Borderers through Gibraltar, India, and the Third Anglo-Burmese War, before his death from typhoid in 1891 at just 45 — buried far from home in Allahabad, India.
The real Gonville Bromhead VC was never the man Michael Caine played. He was something more ordinary, and in its way more remarkable: proof that heroism at Rorke's Drift wasn't reserved for the exceptional.
#RorkesDrift #AngloZuluWar #VictoriaCross #BritishHistory
Chapters
0:00 Michael Caine - Zulu
0:43 Gonville Bromhead
1:42 A Military Family
4:40 His Early Career
6:16 Anglo-Zulu War
7:33 Command at Rorke's Drift
8:50 Prepares Defences
9:41 Battle of Rorke's Drift
11:50 Victoria Cross
14:05 Later Career
15:01 Death
Follow me at:
https://www.thehistorychap.com
Podcast: https://www.thehistorychappodcast.com
Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH
thehistorychap
My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham and am a member of the Royal Historical Society.
I am also a member of the Victorian Military Society, the Anglo Zulu War Society and the Military Historical Society.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
The History Chap is a trading name of Chris Green Communication Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales (Co No: 05025587)