Lieutenants Gonville Bromhead and John Chard were the commanding officers of the British troops at the Battle of Rorke's Drift. They were among eleven men who were awarded Victoria Crosses for their parts in the battle.
Seven of the VCs went to soldiers of the 2nd/24th Foot. This is the highest number ever received for a single action by one regiment – but not, as is commonly thought, the most awarded in a single action or the most in a day: 16 were awarded for actions at the Battle of Inkerman, on 5 November 1854, and 28 were awarded as a result of the Second Relief of Lucknow, 14–22 November 1857.
In 1879 there was no provision for the posthumous granting of the Victoria Cross, and so it could not be awarded to anyone who had died during the battle. If there had been, a 12th VC would no doubt have been awarded to Private Joseph Williams, B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot, of whom it was reported in despatches that "had he lived he would have been recommended for the Victoria Cross".
© Haydn Thompson 2017