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When it was evident that all was lost,
Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill were ordered to endeavour
to save the Queen's Colour of the 1st Battalion. They
fought their way through to the Buffalo River, but there
both officers were killed. Fortunately the Colour was
later recovered from the water and now hangs in the
Regimental Chapel in Brecon Cathedral.
Meanwhile, B Company 2nd/24th under
Lieutenant Bromhead was at Rorke's Drift, some ten miles
from the scene of the disaster. That same afternoon
the victorious Zulus swept on and some 4,000 of them
launched a series of fierce attacks on the tiny garrison
at Rorke's Drift. The attacks continued until the early
hours of the next morning, but were all beaten off.
This action undoubtedly saved Natal from invasion. Of
the 24th, Lieutenant Bromhead and six soldiers were
awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry at Rorke's
Drift. Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill later received
posthumous VCs.
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