Mr. Clinton Reilly on The Battle of Rorke’s Drift

The Battle of Rorke’s Drift was remarkable in that a British force outnumbered approximately 40:1 was able to survive and beat off the attack, while at the prior Battle of Isandlwana a British force outnumbered 20:1 was wiped out. How did the defenders of Rorke’s Drift manage this feat? How can the different outcomes be explained? The lecture will explore this issue and explain the political and military significance of both Rorke’s Drift and the related battle of Isandlwana.