In 1879, through the Zulu wars, both man-of-the-people,'' Lt. John Chard and snooty Lt Gonville Bromhead were in charge of protecting the isolated Natal outpost of Rorke's Drift from tribal hordes, carrying out during an Alamo-like siege till they have been inundated, losing the struggle, but going down in history as heroes. 150 soldiers defended a supply channel against several 4000 Zulus, aided by the Martini-Henry gun"with some guts behind it". In the hundred years since the Victoria Cross was created for valour and guts beyond that expected of the soldier in face of the enemy merely 1344 have been awarded. The defenders of this mission station at Rorke's Drift, Natal obtained eleven of these to the 1879.