The Battle of Rorke's Drift, which took place on January 22 and 23, 1879, was the most famous battle of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. A contingent of British troops led by Lord Chelmsford entered Zululand, believing they could defeat the native forces in a matter of weeks. However, the campaign turned into a devastating seven-month war.

Immediately following the disastrous British defeat at Isandlwana, a small group of 150 British soldiers, many of whom were sick or wounded, found themselves defending a small supply depot located at the Rorke's Drift mission in eastern South Africa. Facing them was an army of about 3,000-4,000 Zulu warriors, ready to attack.

The Zulu, known for their ferocity in battle, launched a series of attacks against the outpost in multiple waves. The British soldiers, led by Lieutenant John Chard and Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, quickly organized. They built barricades from whatever they could find—sandbags, crates, furniture—and prepared for the assault. Despite being vastly outnumbered, they held out for 12 hours, fighting off wave after wave of determined Zulu warriors.

The discipline of the British soldiers, combined with the effectiveness of their Martini-Henry breech-loading rifles, allowed them to maintain control of the situation, repelling the continuous assaults. After several failed attempts, the Zulu were finally forced to retreat. By the end of the battle, 17 British soldiers had died, and another 10 were wounded. On the other side, it is estimated that the Zulu lost between 300 and 500 men. The defense of Rorke's Drift immediately became a symbol of propaganda for the British Empire. A record 11 Victoria Crosses, the highest British military honor, were awarded to the defenders for this single battle.

Although it was a small tactical victory, Rorke's Drift helped boost British morale, turning into a legend. The battle was further immortalized by the 1964 film "Zulu," which cemented this bloody colonial war in collective memory.