Whats coming on TV soon!

[Marco]

This looks as if it might have some potential:

http://www.sky.com/tv/show/stalker/a...EB/SPT/Stalker



Marco.

[struth]

On film 4 at 13.10 today is ZULU! Michael Caine and Stanley Baker take on the whole Zulu nation and kick ass!

[Marco]

Indeed (great film), and the Welsh heroes came from Bwlchgwyn, in Wrexham!

Listen out for that fact when it’s mentioned…..

Marco.

[Macca]

Great film but bears very little resemblance to the historical events it depicts, regrettably. There were only a few Welshmen present, no opera singers, and no rousing rendition of 'Men of Harlech.' The classic scene at the end of the battle in which the British survivors look out from their redoubt, surrounded by heaps of dead Zulus, was copied exactly from a drawing in the Illustrated London News but the drawing was made entirely from imagination.

The prequel, Zulu Dawn, is much closer to real events.

[Marco]

Great film but bears very little resemblance to the historical events it depicts, regrettably. There were only a few Welshmen present...

Well, yes, but maybe they were indeed from Bwlchgwyn?

The rousing rendition of ‘Men of Harlech’, full of blood-surging emotion and passion, raising hairs up on the back of your neck, is precisely what being proudly Welsh (and a Celt) is all about!

Marco [Loves Welsh male-voice choirs].

[Macca]

That scene is very powerful, it's a poor man who does not get a bit misty-eyed at that point in the film, Welsh or not.

EDIT I think the regiment concerned was based in Hereford hence there were some Welsh troops but it was not a Welsh regiment (despite what they say in the film) and it would be unlikely to have anyone from the Wrexham area.

[Marco]

Indeed… I’ve been present at Welsh male-voice choirs, numbering 100s, and when that song is sung, or ‘Land of my Fathers’, especially by thousands of Welshman inside a huge stadium, the effect is spectacular and mesmerising in the extreme:








Just LISTEN to THAT (talk about ‘fired up’ ) - no wonder they won!!


Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

That scene is very powerful, it's a poor man who does not get a bit misty-eyed at that point in the film, Welsh or not.

EDIT I think the regiment concerned was based in Hereford hence there were some Welsh troops but it was not a Welsh regiment (despite what they say in the film) and it would be unlikely to have anyone from the Wrexham area.

Fantastic film and a controversial historical event, there have been many who have belittled it claiming it was bigged up to take the bad taste away from the previous days total rout of the army at Isandlwana, the exact reasons for this still debated. However the mission at Rorke's Drift was held against overwhelming odds and as such was an amazing victory especially as the Zulu's were amazing warriors. 150 held against thousands, possibly as many as 4000

More can be read here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rorke's_Drift

Got a book a week or so ago about it and I am looking forward to having a read soon.


Regards Neil

[Macca]

I think there is no question that it was 'bigged up' to distract attention from the Isandhlwana fiasco which was the worst defeat ever suffered by the British army at the hands of indigenous troops and a huge scandal back in the UK. But the defense of Rorke's Drift certainly was a triumph of organization and discipline.

[Spectral Morn]

I think there is no question that it was 'bigged up' to distract attention from the Isandhlwana fiasco which was the worst defeat ever suffered by the British army at the hands of indigenous troops and a huge scandal back in the UK. But the defense of Rorke's Drift certainly was a triumph of organization and discipline.

I am with those who feel it stands on its own merits and that each man who won the VC deserved it.

Awarded the Victoria Cross:[49]
Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard, 5th Field Coy, Royal Engineers
Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot
Corporal William Wilson Allen; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot
Private Frederick Hitch; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot
Private Alfred Henry Hook; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot
Private Robert Jones; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot
Private William Jones; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot
Private John Williams; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot
Surgeon James Henry Reynolds; Army Medical Department
Acting Assistant Commissary James Langley Dalton; Commissariat and Transport Department
Corporal Christian Ferdinand Schiess; 2nd/3rd Natal Native Contingent

and Private Joseph Williams, B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot who would have been awarded it if he had lived.

Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal:[51]
Gunner John Cantwell; N Batt, 5th Brig Royal Horse Artillery (demoted from bombardier wheeler the day before the battle)
Private John William Roy; 1st/24th Foot
Colour Sergeant Frank Edward Bourne; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot
Second Corporal Francis Attwood; Army Service Corps

All imho very brave men, as were the Zulu warriors too.


Regards Neil