Th e Bugle Rorkes Drift.

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

In the film Zulu there was a bugler. Is this fact or fiction? If fact is the Original Bugle on displaying anywhere. I have seen photos of the Bugle from Isandlwana, by not Rorke’s Drift.
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Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

All Line Regiments of infantry have a Corps of Drums or Pipes and Drums in Scots Division. This has been in place since the 1850s when the drummers of a regiment were brought as one, under the command of a Sergeant Drummer, which changed to Drum Major in the 1920s. Before that each Company had 1 Side Drummer and 1 Fifer, both of which were classed as 'Drummer'. Since the early 1800s, all 'Drummers' of the Army had to be competent on the Bugle as well. This custom continues to this day.

That might clear up the situation in which it appears at Rorke’s Drift that there were only drummers, Calgey, Hayes, Keefe and Meehan of the 24th, but a bugler appeared on the film.

The bugler played 'Stand Too', which oddly enough sounds identical to the 1st Battalion, A&SH Regimental Call, which at that time would have been the regiment call of the 1st Battalion, 91st Highland Foot.

Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

CTSG. Probably a stupid question. But was is the A&SH

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders .

Guest

Hi John,

I have no idea if the bugle was actually played at Rorke's Drift as depicted in the film, but there had been at least one bugler there, Pte Garrett Hayden, however he was killed in action during the attack on the hospital long before the final attacks.

Cheers
Bookworm

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