The real men

Lt. John Rouse Merriott Chard (Royal Engineers)

Chard, officer left to command Rorke's Drift by Major Spalding. Died of cancer of the tongue 1st. November 1897 while living with his brother.

Directions to Memorial

He is buried in the churchyard of St. John the Baptist, Hatch Beauchaup, near Taunton in Somerset. From the A5 south from Bristol, take the A358 south. Follow the sign off to the left for Hatch Beauchamp.

Entering the village turn left at the junction. 400 yards along turn left and head to the large house which has the church behind it. The grave of Chard is on the south side of the church, easily found.

There is also nearby round the corner to the right, a stained glass window in the church which is dedicated to him, best viewed from inside the church. Note the gravestone reads 'The hero of Rorke's Drift'.

Why was he awarded the Victoria Cross?

Aged 31, he was in command of Rorke's Drift with Bromhead his second in command, showing great leadership throughout.

Read Lieutenant Chard's report to Queen Victoria and hear how "In wrecking the stores in my wagon, the Zulus had brought to light a forgotten bottle of beer, and Bromhead and I drank it with mutual congratulations on having come safely out of so much danger."

Further Information

John Chard was born near Plymouth in December 1847. His elder brother became a Colonel in the Royal Fusiliers. His younger brother was a clergyman. There were four sisters. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in July 1868. He served in Bermuda and Malta. He joined No. 5 Company RE in South Africa in 5 January 1879.

He did not arrive at Rorke's Drift until 19 January and was the senior officer present on 22/23 January 1879, having been left in command by Major Spalding. He was given a brevet Majority after Rorke's Drift. He received the VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley at St Paul's, Zululand on 16 July 1879.

Chard visited Queen Victoria at Balmoral twice in October 1879 and February 1880. He served in Singapore as a Lieutenant Colonel between 1892-1896.

He returned to take up a post in Perth in Scotland. Whilst there, he was again invited to see Queen Victoria, but soon began to suffer from cancer.

Chard visited Queen Victoria at Balmoral twice in October 1879 and February 1880. He served in Singapore as a Lieutenant Colonel between 1892-1896. He returned to take up a post in Perth in Scotland. Whilst there, he was again invited to see Queen Victoria, but soon began to suffer from cancer. He died at his brother's home at Hatch Beachamp, Somerset in November 1897, aged 49. He never married.

Interestingly, the Republic of South Africa created 'The John Chard decoration' and 'John Chard medal' as long service awards for their Citizen Force. (His VC is in a private collection).

web site: http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/vc/chard.htm

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Lt. Gonville Bromhead (B Co. 24th. Regiment).

Died of typhoid at Camp Dabhaura, Allahabad, India on 9th. February 1892.

Directions to Memorial

He is buried in the New Cantonment Cemetery in Allahabad, Plot B-1, grave 66. There is a plaque and his name on the colour pole in Brecon Cathedral. Details of how to get there...

Why was he awarded the
Victoria Cross?

Aged 33, he was second in command of the post, under Chard, showing great gallantry throughout the defence.

Click here to find out more about his
distinguished family history...

Further Information

Gonville Bromhead came from a well-known military family. The family home was in Thurlby Hall, Newark. Born at Versailles in August 1845. He was commissioned into 2/24th in April 1867. He was aged 33 at the time of Rorke's Drift. Following the defence he was appointed a brevet Major.

He received his VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley at Utrecht on 22 August 1879. He later served in India and the Burma campaign. He attended two successful courses at School of Musketry, Hythe. He died, unmarried at Allahabad in February 1892. (His VC is in the SWB Museum Collection).

Web: http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/vc/bromhead.htm

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Pte. Henry (Harry) Hook (1373 B Co. 24th. Regiment).

Directions to Memorial

Buried in St. Andrews Parish churchyard, Churcham, Near Gloucester. Diagonally opposite to the entrance on the other side of the church. Died 12 March 1905. The graveyard will be found coming out of Gloucester on the A40 heading West. 5 miles out, a sign on the right hand side of the road points to the road opposite indicating Churcham Church.

There is also a memorial plaque in Brecon Cathedral.

Why was he awarded the Victoria Cross?

With John Williams, he held out for over an hour in a distant room of the hospital until their ammunition ran out. As the Zulus advanced, he and Williams burst through three more partition walls until they reached the safety of the inner defences, bringing eight patients with them. He was 28 at the time of the defence.

Click here to read Pte. Henry Hook's account of the battle

Further Information

Born at Churcham in Gloucestershire in 1850. He first served in the Monmouth Militia and enlisted into the regular army at Monmouth in March 1877 aged 26. He received a scalp wound from a Zulu assagai at Rorke's Drift, which, in later years caused him some discomfort. He purchased his discharge from the regular army in June 1880, but later served 20 years in 1st Volunteer Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

After his discharge in 1880, he resided at Sydenham Hill and worked at the British Museum. He retired in 1904 and returned to live in Gloucestershire. Interestingly, there is some mystery about his first marriage. His wife thought he had been killed in South Africa and ran off with someone else. Hook married again in 1897 in Islington.

He died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 12th March 1905 at Osborne Villas, Roseberry Avenue, Gloucester and is buried at Churcham. He received his VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley, GOC South Africa at Rorke's Drift on 3 August 1879. (His VC is in the SWB Museum Collection).

Web: http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/vc/hook.htm