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Date	Original Topic
8th June 2002	Fighting on the roof of the hospital????????/ By Glenn Wade In Zulu, Bromhead, Windridge and another poor felow who gets shot climb to the roof of the hospital and fight Zulus who have made holes in the thatch. Did this happen? Does anybody know? I would be grateful for any comments! Bye Glenn
Date	Replies
8th June 2002	Ian Glenn, Not likely to be honest. No mention is made in the handful of written accounts that have been found. The hospital was a main target for the Zulu's from very early in the battle and just getting on to the roof, let alone staying on it would have proved very difficult. If not a little foolish. Remember, the lay out of the mission station in the film is different to how it was really. It suits the film's purpose to add drama and being on the roof, running through fire is very good cinema but not a very good tactic in real battles. Others may disagree but I do not know of anybody writing an account saying that someone went up on the hospital roof during the defence. Hitch was posted on it before to act as a lookout and the store roof was used, I believe later in the battle. This is mentioned in an account (without going through them, I cannot remember who says this) where some soldiers were posted on to fling off burning 'spears' so as the roof and presumably what was left in the building, did not go the way of the hospital. Hope this helps, only my opinion mind....
8th June 2002	Gary Laliberty Hi Glenn, Well, with my small reference library of books, (about 6 books) on the Anglo-Zulu War,and the battles of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. The only reference that I can find is that 'LookOuts' were posted on the roof just before the battle of Rorke's Drift. I can't find any refernces to fighting between the British and the Zulus on the roof top. Maybe someone like John Young would have more information on this subject. Gary
8th June 2002	Arthur Bainbridge It seems reasonable to assume it didn;t happen that way,but mebbes is should have,when the legend becomes fact print the legend