Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne, was the senior NCO at the Battle of Rorke's Drift during the Zulu War of 1879.

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Superbly played by actor, Nigel Green, in the 1964 film "Zulu", many have wondered why he was never awarded a Victoria Cross when 11 others were.

This is the story of what happened to Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne after Rorkes Drift.

He was actually awarded Britain's second highest military medal (at the time), the Distinguished Conduct Medal and ultimately rose from the ranks to become an officer.

His military career continued all the way to the First World War, where he was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel.

Frank Bourne, the last surviving defender of Rorke's Drift died in 1945, one day after the Germans surrendered.


Watch my video about the Battle of Rorke's Drift:
   • The Battle of Rorke's Drift  | Anglo-...  

What happened to the men who did win Victoria Crosses at Rorke's Drift?
   • What Happened to the Victoria Cross S...  

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Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:30 Zulu
1:00 CS Bourne in Zulu
3:02 The Real CS Bourne
5:30 Zulu War
6:33 Battle of Rorke's Drift
7:57 Why No VC?
9:28 Later Career
10:56 Retirement & WW1
12:20 Lost BBC Interview
13:52 What next?


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   / thehistorychap  
My name is Chris Green ("The History Chap") and I am on a mission to share the amazing history of Britain so that we can appreciate where we have come from and why we are here.

History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.

My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"

Just for the record, I do have a history degree and continue to have a passion for the subject I studied.

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