The defence of Rorke's Drift on 22nd/23rd January 1879 was a significant event in Welsh military history. A force of 4500 Zulu warriors was kept at bay for over 12 hours by 140 British soldiers who garrisoned the small trading post at the crossing of Buffalo River into Zululand. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded, seven to soldiers of the 24th Foot, later the South Wales Borderers. This photograph was taken soon after the action by Lloyd of Pietermaritzburg.