British 24th Regiment of Foot (Rorke's Drift 1879)

Men of the 1st and 2nd Battalions 24th Regiment of Foot were engaged in the Zulu War of 1878-79 and suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of a massive Zulu army at Isandlwana. This was closely followed by a heroic defence of the mission station at Rorke's Drift where two officers and less than 100 men of the 24th, along with others held out against a Zulu impi of 4,000 men. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for the action at Rorke's Drift, most went to the men of the 24th Foot, more than for any other single action in British history.