Once the officers and men that remained at Rorke's Drift learned of the events at Isandlwana they quickly set about fortifying the depot with mealie bags and biscuit boxes.  The initial Zulu attacks focused on the hospital and barricades around it.  An intense contest for the hospital took place with savage room to room fighting.  The walking wounded and able bodied defenders struggled to extract the very sick from the burning, Zulu filled structure.  Digging holes through the interior walls, blocking and defending doorways and using the bayonet to great advantage Privates Hook, Waters and Joseph Williams successfully evacuated nine of the eleven patients. 

After the withdrawal from the hospital, the battle raged on deep into the night with the British stubbornly holding their ground within the final perimeter and mealie bag redoubt.  At the end of the action the British had seventeen dead and eight seriously wounded with over 600 Zulus killed.  Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for the defense with seven alone going to members of the 24th Foot, the most ever received in a single action by one regiment.

The series has been developed in consultation with renowned Zulu War expert and author, Ian Knight.  His insight into the battle, buildings, uniforms, equipment and native dress have been invaluable in helping build this authentic recreation of Rorke's Drift.