The Rorke's Drift VC Discussion Forum
(View Discussion Rules)

** IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL USERS **

PLEASE NOTE: This forum is now inactive and is provided for reference purposes only. The live forum is available at www.rorkesdriftvc.com/forum

(Back To Topic List)

Date	Original Topic
29th April 2002	The Last Survivor of Isandlwana? By Glenn Wade Since watching 'Black As Hell, Thick As Grass' by Kenneth Griffith and reading countless books and magazine articles, I have always been facinated with the mysteries surrounding the battle of Isandlwana. One of the most interesting is that of the last survivor's cave. It is said that this man was from Younghusband's C coy and did not charge down to the wagons with Younghusband but 'Retreated up the hill until he found a small cave, into which he crept and with his gun picked off his enemy. Any thoughts (I've got to go to school)
Date	Replies
29th April 2002	Julian whybra This incident appears in the contemporary account by a warrior of the uVe Regiment in F Colenso and E Durnford's History of the Zulu War 1st edition only (you'll have to order this from your local library). The story is related in David Jackson's 'Isandhlwana the sources Reexamined' and in Furneaux's book. The soldier defended the cave shooting or bayonetting all who came near until the Zulus fired a volley into the cave and killed him "when the shadows were long on the hills" - perhaps about 5 pm. Younghusband's company's fate is mentioned in several Zulu accounts including this one - they all relate how the last men were thrown down off the edge on to the saddle (cf Black's report on burying the dead) but none speak of any handshaking.
3rd May 2002	Dave Nolan There was a good article on this soldier in the centenary issue of the Victorian Military Society's 'There Will Be An Awful Row About This' with additional information in the 1988 edition. Castle and Knight's 'The Zulu War - Then and Now' has an interesting photo, possibly identifying the cave - page 274 - I think the book is still available. Dave
8th May 2005	Nigel H Crosby Julian Whybra; Your details are correct. The last stand was by a Pte of Younghusband C Comp; whom stayed in the Cave until the Zulu fired a large volly into the cave. His body was found at the foot of the cave with a rope around his kneck used to pull him out and down the slope; From Blacks Report.