Zulu War

The defence of Rorke’s Drift 22-23 January 1879

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Defence of Rorke's Drift

This battle took place on 22-23 January 1879 during the Zulu War (1879). A huge force of Zulus attacked a small British garrison, but were eventually repelled after more than 12 hours of bitter fighting.

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Detail from painting of the Battle of Isandlwana

The Battle of Isandlwana, 22 January 1879

One of our most popular paintings is a depiction of the Battle of Isandlwana by Charles Fripp. Here, we take a closer look at the artwork to discover more about this infamous British defeat.

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Field Marshal Viscount Garnet Wolseley, 1910

Garnet Wolseley: The modern major-general

Field Marshal Garnet Wolseley won important victories in several colonial campaigns. Owing to his reforming zeal and attention to detail, the phrase ‘All Sir Garnet’ came to mean everything’s in order.

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Lieutenants Melville and Coghill saving the Colours at Isandlwana, 1879

Zulu War

In 1879, the British fought a war against the Zulu kingdom. The Zulus resisted bravely and were only defeated after a series of particularly bloody battles that have gone down in the annals of colonial warfare.

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Restoring Isandlwana

'The Battle of Isandlwana' is one of our most popular artworks. But before going on display again, the iconic painting needed some TLC: tender loving conservation!

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Defence of Rorke’s Drift

This battle took place on 22-23 January 1879. A huge force of Zulus attacked a small British garrison, but was eventually repelled after more than 12 hours of bitter fighting.

explore this story

Zulu War

Defence of Rorke's Drift

Explore Zulu War stories

The Battle of Isandlwana, 22 January 1879

Garnet Wolseley: The modern major-general

Zulu War

Restoring Isandlwana

Defence of Rorke’s Drift

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