The secrets of the Zulu War's most famous painting: The Defence of Rorke's Drift
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 มิ.ย. 2024
- The painting "The Defence of Rorke's Drift" is an intense and dramatic piece of art. But how much do you know about it?
In this video, Brad Manera of the ANZAC memorial in Sydney talks me through all the details of the image, including its little-known secrets.
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This interview was filmed at the Clash of Empires Exhibtion in London. It's now finished but the website is clashofempires.org/
![[UNCUT] ฝันรักห้วงนิทรา | EP.8 (4/4)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RDYJYiDwsj0/mqdefault.jpg)
Living in Sydney I have seen it in the flesh, so to speak. It is far more impressive than you might imagine. A huge painting, most people just walk past with barely a glance and hardly any interest... then there's my late Dad and I, two retired soldiers from a long line of old soldiers, sitting on the seat and spending an hour studying it. Dad, also an artist in his time, loved the composition and detail. We've both seen the movie over a dozen times but this painting really should be on any Zulu War buff's bucket list.
Im a American who is obsessed with everything about Rorke's Drift, The Indian Mutiny, and VC recipients. Please keep it up!
You my colonial cousin are a hard liner keep it up 😎💪
Great. In that case this is the perfect channel for you!
@@s.wvazim6517 Thanks, I try 😁
I’d love to see a remake of Zulu that followed the history as closely as possible, give Dalton and Smith their due, dont defame Hook and Witt etc.
If that movie was made at this point in time, it would be a politically correct perversion of history.
And the defenders finishing off the many wounded Zulus after the battle. 😮
@@beachcomber1able Had to be done , no Geneva convention back then. They couldn’t risk Zulus with “minor” wounds re-joining the fight plus they were probably aware of the Zulu atrocities inflicted to the British soldiers at Ishandlawana.
Just my thoughts 💭
@@frakismaximus3052 Ms Bromhead would call everyone together for a Diversity Meeting before the battle whilst Havildar Bourne, replete with turban, would push around Chard in his rainbow wheelchair.
@@robertstallard7836 Yes, it would most likely be like that.
Great film. This is a painting I've never seen before, and what a superb rendition. As much as I love Lady Butler's work, her Rorkes Drift looks dull in comparison.
A dog appearing in a painting is traditionally a symbol of loyalty. That's why it occupies a central place in the painting. It is making that statement about all the soldiers.
That is certainly one of the most accurate war paintings of the Victorian era. I have seen copies before but it was great to have it explained in so much detail. Thank You.
Thanks a lot for watching. It is a lovely painting. Would love to see the original in Australia one day.
This is truly an impressive deep dive on the painting. I hadn't realized how many accurate details this painting managed to fit in!
Thanks a lot. Brad Manera is such a great bloke. Supped a few beers with him also.
I hadn't realised that it was such a large painting, but I'm not surprised though and I like how surgeon major Reynolds' dog - Dick - is included. A very impressive painting indeed.
@@redcoathistory Of course he is, he's an Aussie.
Very interesting, excellent. I still don’t fully understand how the British held the Zulu’s off, no matter how much info I look at, simply baffles the imagination, it must have been a hell of a fight!
It was the Martini Henry. Plus bayonets with guts behind them. 😉
I think the biggest problem the Zulus had was that all their battle tactics, the Fighting Bull deployment etc were all designed for fighting a mobile battle against other tribes who would simply line up against them and be encircled and destroyed. Isandlwana was the first time they came up against an enemy with modern rifles who stood their ground and didn't break and run, and Rorkes Drift was the first time they had to attack a fortified fixed position with barricades and buildings. The Zulus won the first with sheer numbers but couldn't break into the defences at the Drift - both battles were very costly to the Zulus, Ceteshwayo described both battles as "An Assegai has been plunged into the belly of the Zulu nation!"
@@plymouth5714
Excellent post.
@@plymouth5714 Great post.
I suspect that one of the reasons both officers, Chard and Bromhead, are carrying and using the MH rifle is the availability of ammunition. I think both were carrying privately purchased revolvers as their side-arms and extra ammunition for these may not have been readily available at RD. Another interesting aspect of the battle at RD is the depiction of the state of the British defenders uniforms. In the film Zulu and to a lesser extent in this painting, the uniforms look to be in good order the fact is that they were in a very bad condition, some almost rags. As an Aussie, I am very proud that this magnificent painting, purchased with much foresight by the Art Gallery of NSW, remains here in Oz.
I remember seeing Scheiss's VC at the Chelsea Army Museum years back. What the painting doesn't tell you is that he was penniless after this action, wandered about India for a bit and in 1884 was to be found begging and suffering from malnutrition in the street of some South African town. The Royal Navy found him and were bringing him back to Britain, but he died mid-voyage at the age of 28. The other 10 VC holders from that day fared....not quite as well as we would expect and like to think they might.
Kipling, who lived near me at Burwash, summed it all up well in his poem, 'Tommy'.
I was born and bred to England, with ancestors here going back well over 1,000 years, but if we are ever to learn from history we must be ruthlessly objective and honest.
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I have a print of this above me fireplace. Fabulous image. Great videos mate !!! 👍
Thank you 🙏! I have that painting in my office. My Regiment was allied with the RRW and I got it at their 300th anniversary. Nice to learn about it. Cheers 🍻
Brilliant - I'm really glad you found it interesting.
Chris, There was a link between Henry James Degacher, the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment and Alphonse de Neuville. Both were born in St. Omer, France in 1835, and apparently attended school together. Degacher’s younger brother, William, who was killed at iSandlwana, was educated at the Imperial College, St. Omer. William’s grandson was the actor, David Niven. The St. Omer link might account for the fact why de Neuville was commissioned to paint three Zulu War paintings that relate to the 24th Regiment. By-the-way thanks for the Iron Duke!
Very interesting discussion of a painting I was not aware of. Thanks!
Chris, your content is phenomenal. Thank you for all the work and hours you put into these videos. Much appreciation from the USA.
I had no idea this was hanging in Sydney, I'll have to take a trip up there to have a butcher's and the ANZAC museum in general, of course...a good excuse to get out of Melbourne for a couple of days!
Brad! Members of the Antique Arms Society of NSW love and admire you even more now that you are a star of youtube!!!!
The artist wasn't there so what we're seeing in the painting is true artist's impression.
Fantastic video! ❤ So much interesting info about the artist and the authenticity of what's being depicted. Thank you... Rorke's Drift remains one of the most captivating Redcoat engagements...
Thanks a lot. I'm really glad that you enjoyed the video.
I have a print of this in my living room. Many thanks for your video.
Hi There, I served in the British Army from 1970 to 1995. I spent a number of years in 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales 24th/41st Foot. the successor regiment to the SWB ( which my father had served in, in World War Two). I later transferred to the RAOC (which became RLC later). The PMC of the WOs & Sgts Mess asked me what presentation I would like from the Mess upon the completion of my service in 1995. I chose a framed print of this famous painting. It hangs proudly in my lounge. Fascinating to learn the details of the painting. (I`m making notes so I can let visitors know more about it. Thank you for a most informative and interesting video.
That's great, thanks so much for letting us know,
Your more than welcome. Great channel.@@redcoathistory
I had the privilege of seeing Brad's fantastic presentation at Clash of Empires. In fact, his was right before my own. As I went up to speak, I shook his hand told him, "That is going to be a hard act to follow." 😊
And your talk was also brilliant mate! REally enjoyed hanging out with you. Looking forward to having you on the show again in the future!
@@redcoathistory, anytime, Brother. Perhaps when I jump into the Anglo-Egyptian War (hopefully) in the near future. I have a few ideas I'll email you about as well.
Bravo. Job well done. Excellent interview with Mr. Manera. I appreciated his sharing of who is who in the painting. Thanks for sharing and for thank you for all you do.
Thanks a lot - glad you liked it.
Thanks. Great to learn how those paintings came about.
Superb video, really interesting. Wasn't aware of the history of the painting or the painter. Keep up the great work.
Thanks, will do. I also learned loads from making this video.
Thanks Chris.
As always, a beautifully and well done video, Chris. Respect !
As a Cultural Anthropologist/ African Studies (History) i only can say you bring history for a large public in an interesting way.
The commentary about the painting, the historical background, the info of the artists way of creation, is very well done.
Wish you a lot of energy to continue the good work. Many greetings from Belgium!
Thanks a lot - that feedback means a lot.
@@redcoathistory you're welcome! Keep on the good work!
G'day mate, as a proud owner of 3 M/H,s it's great to see the old girls getting a bit of love, cheers from the other SA(south Australia)
Thank you for taking your time to show these secrets I enjoy most things about this battle I still find it amazing these brave men defeated the Zulu’s after the infamous defeat only a few hours earlier. I like the comment made in the film that it wouldn’t go down well with the people at home even though it was clearly a battle they should of lost. Truely brave men though I read that Hook got a head wound that troubled him for the rest of his life
🎉 I painted a copy from two of these mentioned paintings.
That one of Lsdy Butlers Scots Greys and from Fripp the battle of Isandlhuana.
My wife brought me a cooy of this painting for xmas about 20 years ago it hangs up in our living room 👍
I have always been fascinated with the power of that painting! Thank you for bringing it to us! Please keep up your good work. Regards from Canada 🇨🇦
What a perfect video to enjoy my morning coffee.
Another excellent ,informative video Chris, some new light shone on a great painting.👍
Thanks Alex
Brilliant!
Love your work mate.
Thanks a lot, Paul. Really appreciate that. WIll also check your channel out as it looks great.
Another very interesting video! Thanks!
Great analysis of an iconic painting - I was there at the NSW Art Gallery some years ago looking at the same - amazing painting - I went out and brought a print in the Art Gallery shop have it on the wall at home - the painting is quite a gathering - not mentioned in the commentary but - I believe that is Fred Hitch standing next to Bromhead ? and Hook is one of the soldiers in a white shirt carrying a patient away from the hospital ?
What makes me sad is that so many of the troops suffered from Post Traumatic Stress afterwards.
Both Bromhead VC and Chard VC were burnt out emotionally and depressed, and suffered badly at the hands of their superiors who resented the fact that they didn't have the emotional bandwidth for more than the minimum amount of work, and both initially sought quiet lives after the fact which their military careers would not allow.
Robert Jones VC was so traumatised that he left the Army and found work as a farm labourer and had five children, but he was plagued with painful headaches and extreme nightmares about the hand to hand fighting and ultimately borrowed his employer's shotgun and ended his own life
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I have a framed print of this and love looking at the details.
I really appreciate the effort and detail your putting into these historical videos. I had a YT channel called Finding Saint Johns when I lived in St. Augustine Florida and I made videos on local history. There’s a lot of material there, it being the oldest continuously occupied American city. I left the channel up, but haven’t contributed to it in two years.
That being said, I’m a huge fan of the British Army, especially Napoleonic era. After reading the entire Horatio Hornblower series when I was a wee boy, I was hooked.
Thank you for satisfying my appetite for redcoats!
Thanks a lot for letting me know. Have you thought about keeping your channel going with some new videos?
@@redcoathistory I’ve looked into the history of the area I live in now, which is Northeast Georgia, USA. The history here is nowhere near as interesting to me as that of Florida’s. The Spaniards, the Dutch, the English, in and around the First Coast as we called it, is so colorful.
I’ll just have to leave my old videos up and watch your new videos :)
Good program ❤😮
Very good video and very informative! I always thought the little dog was called Pip not Dick, I do know that he was the only dog to have been given a full burial service and buried in a human cemetery when he died. I don't know where except that its in London somewhere. I also don't know if its the same one as his master would have been interred in as well?
The Mark Felton of the British (Empire) !
Ha! I’m not sure if that is a compliment or not 😅 I wish I had as many views as him tho!
Compliment, for similar detailed thoroughness, is meant!@@redcoathistory
You get a nice pen and ink drawing of Rorke's Drift from hellsteeth illustration
Hi Christian.. how do they know it's Chard with the rifle? He has no rank markings.. could just be a very old Private who has never been promoted, such as Hogan. [Edit: Ahh the shoulder epaulettes?]
I have always been interested in the Redcoats of the American war.
Not a great deal of interest in them on this side of the Atlantic.
Stuck in an 18thC historical cartoon
They need bringing back to life in a series of their own
I plan to cover the American Revolitionary era eventually 👍🏼
Dang i meant to ask, was sgt Bourne in the painting?
Yes, but only a back view as he leans over the baricade to pot a Zulu. he's on the right hand edge.
do you think that the painting wasdon in the midel of a battel
Isandlwana would be called a "butte" in North America.
I read some of the conversations below (particularly the responses to christopherhahn6728) and its obvious that some particularly vicious woke keyboard warriors are determined to misrepresent the events depicted and the reasons for them. The British government were very keen to avoid the Zulu war. Anyone who bothered to put in a little bit of work and actually read the history of the British Empire rather than glean their "knowledge" from You Tube would be astonished at how it developed. It was not planned by some Machiavellian group of politicians in London (so beloved by Hollywood), it actually grew as the result of many, many local actions that resulted in the government consolidating the changes that dropped into their laps, many of which were actually unwelcome but necessary to integrate in the ever expanding empire. This is exactly what happened in Zululand and it led directly to the Boer War. The woke "Colin Robinson" energy vampires of the world, entirely ignorant of the facts, can race bait all they like but they cant deny the amazing courage of both sets of combatants during the events at Rourke's Drift.
What happened to the dog ,
He left Rsa ,
Dog left behind ?.
As waste ?
Thete was a dog at Rorkes drift called "Pip" Not sure who he belonged to.
He belonged to Lt. Bromhead’s senior officer in B Company, Captain
A.G. Godwin-Austen. Godwin-Austen was wounded on the Cape Frontier and when he
returned to England he left Pip with Bromhead.
@@robertstallard7836 very interesting. Thank you.
Nobody told you to stop working...Color Sgt. Bourne V.C. recipient.
Sorry but I'm sad to say, CS Bourne received the DCM not the VC. Though he fared far better than most medallists in terms of a military career.
Did i miss it, or did you skip over the dog?
3:15 👍
Defintely there - maybe watch again?
So let me get this straight, a south african talking about a French painting hanging in Australia that was commissioned by the British and the queen dodnt want that one. Seems a round about way, very interesting. This does make me wonder why Dalton wasnt portrayed in zulu as a mpre leadong character and Smith not even being in it at all, i dont understand that reasoning.
It would be too confusing for cinema audiences to have a Commissariat Officer knowing about tactics and advising the officers. Also, Smith wasn't included because they already had the Rev Witt in a leading role and to have two sky pilots would, again, confuse the audience.
Don't forget, a movie is made to make money in the Box Office rather than to pander to military historians (and, in the case of "Zulu" to satisfy Stanley Baker's Wesh fantasy, with all the male voice choir singing and the Boyo-ing).
@@robertstallard7836 I cannot argue any of those aspects. Thank you for telling me.
The Brits asked for it and found out...
Hi, Asked for what? Also they did win this battle and the war…
I would really like to know why are you obsessed with dogs?