Rorkes Drift and Zulu War Victoria Cross Winners, led by James Aitchison

Independent travel to the hotel in Cardiff to meet your guide. This afternoon we drive to Hatch Beauchamp and visit the grave of John Chard, a Lieutenant in the 5^th Company, British Royal Engineers. We learn how for two days 150 British and colonial soldiers defended Rorke’s drift mission station from up to 4,000 Zulu warriors and as Officer in Command, John Chard was awarded a Victoria Cross for his actions. We check-in to the hotel late afternoon and following dinner in the hotel’s restaurant enjoy an after-dinner talk by James Aitchison on the Battle of Isandlwana.

On today’s tour we visit the graves of four men awarded the VC for gallantry in the face of the enemy of Rorke’s Drift. It’s a chance to hear the stories of colourful characters like Private Alfred ‘Harry’ Hook, who fought alongside Lance Corporal John Williams. We’ll learn about the actions of Corporal William Allen, who was later promoted to Sergeant, and Private Robert Jones from the 2^nd Battalion, 24^th Regiment of Foot. Each story will introduce other key soldiers including a number awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for their bravery. 

This morning we visit the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh, which tells the long and proud story of some of the British Army’s most famous regiments. The museum’s extensive collection includes artefacts and documents from the British campaign in South Africa relating to the Battles of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. We visit Brecon Cathedral where the Regimental Chapel is dedicated to the memory of the famous Brecon-based 24^th Regiment of Foot. The Cathedral’s main east window is dedicated to the men who lost their lives in the 1879 conflict and we’ll see the famous colours carried by the Regiment during the Zulu War.