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Defenders of Rorke's Drift
Lieutenant John Rouse Merriot Chard No. 5 Coy. Royal Engineers
Chard was born in Boxhill on the 21st December 1847 and he joined the Royal Engineers after passing out of the Royal Military Academy Woolwich in 1868.
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Lieutenant John Rouse Merriot Chard No. 5 Coy. Royal Engineers
Chard was born in Boxhill on the 21st December 1847 and he joined the Royal Engineers after passing out of the Royal Military Academy Woolwich in 1868.
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He served in numerous postings including Chatham, Bermuda and Malta but had never seen action. In January 1879 he arrived in the Cape for the beginning of the 9th Frontier War
He was attached to Lord Chelmsford’s invasion column and was left at the River crossing below the
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He was attached to Lord Chelmsford’s invasion column and was left at the River crossing below the
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outpost at Rorke’s Drift to supervise the ponts there.
On the morning of the 22nd January, Chard travelled up to the main British camp at Isandlwana for orders but was sent back to the river as he wasn’t needed thus missing the slaughter there by about half an hour.
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On the morning of the 22nd January, Chard travelled up to the main British camp at Isandlwana for orders but was sent back to the river as he wasn’t needed thus missing the slaughter there by about half an hour.
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On account of him being the senior lieutenant at Rorke’s Drift, Chard is in command when the Zulus attacked and for outstanding leadership during the battle he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
After the battle,
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After the battle,
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Chard contracted a fever so was sent back to Ladysmith to recover, he was promoted to Major and was present in South Africa for the rest of the war and was present at the Battle of Ulundi.
His VC was presented to him by Lord Wolseley and he arrived back in England
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His VC was presented to him by Lord Wolseley and he arrived back in England
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in October 1879. He received an invitation to Balmoral to meet Queen Victoria and he became a firm favourite of hers.
He served in the Royal Engineers for the rest of his life but never saw action again. He was promoted to Colonel but while in Scotland he was diagnosed with
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He served in the Royal Engineers for the rest of his life but never saw action again. He was promoted to Colonel but while in Scotland he was diagnosed with
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terminal cancer of the tongue. He suffered terribly in the last months of his life, enduring numerous operation to remove his tongue and finally died in Taunton on the 1st November 1897.
He was buried with full military honours and the Queen sent a wreath bearing the
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He was buried with full military honours and the Queen sent a wreath bearing the
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inscription “A mark of admiration and regard for a brave soldier, from his sovereign” This was placed on his coffin and buried with him. The Duke of Connaught and Lord Chelmsford both sent letters of sympathy and a fine marble cross was erected above his grave.
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@April_1970s Thread above for a bit more info on the man.
