British Army Officer. He was the last survivor of the famous and climactic January of 1879 Battle of Rorke’s Drift, where under 175 British soldiers defended a post against 3,000 to 4,000 South African natives of the Zulu Empire. Born in 1854 in Balcombe, Sussex, England, he enlisted in the British Army at Reigate, England, on December 18, 1872, at the age of 18. He was promoted to Corporal in 1875, Sergeant in 1878, and Color Sergeant in April of 1878. He fought in the Defense of Rorke's Drift on January 22nd and 23rd of 1879, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After the Battle of Rorke's Drift, he served in India and Burma, he was promoted to Quartermaster-Sergeant in 1884. He was offered an immediate commission but refused, yet was commissioned in 1890 as a Quartermaster. In 1893 he was appointed Adjutant of the School of Musketry in Hythe, Kent, England, retiring in 1907. Leaving retirement during World War I, he rejoined the British Army and became Adjutant of the School of Musketry in Dublin, Ireland. At the end of the war, he was given the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel and appointed OBE DCM. In 1936 he made a tape recording of the Defense of Rorke’s Drift but the tapes did not survived. He spent his last years attending the funerals of former veterans until he died on May 9, 1945, at the age of 91.
British Army Officer. He was the last survivor of the famous and climactic January of 1879 Battle of Rorke’s Drift, where under 175 British soldiers defended a post against 3,000 to 4,000 South African natives of the Zulu Empire. Born in 1854 in Balcombe, Sussex, England, he enlisted in the British Army at Reigate, England, on December 18, 1872, at the age of 18. He was promoted to Corporal in 1875, Sergeant in 1878, and Color Sergeant in April of 1878. He fought in the Defense of Rorke's Drift on January 22nd and 23rd of 1879, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After the Battle of Rorke's Drift, he served in India and Burma, he was promoted to Quartermaster-Sergeant in 1884. He was offered an immediate commission but refused, yet was commissioned in 1890 as a Quartermaster. In 1893 he was appointed Adjutant of the School of Musketry in Hythe, Kent, England, retiring in 1907. Leaving retirement during World War I, he rejoined the British Army and became Adjutant of the School of Musketry in Dublin, Ireland. At the end of the war, he was given the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel and appointed OBE DCM. In 1936 he made a tape recording of the Defense of Rorke’s Drift but the tapes did not survived. He spent his last years attending the funerals of former veterans until he died on May 9, 1945, at the age of 91.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
Inscription
In
Loving Memory
— of —
CONSTANCE ETHEL BOURNE
WHO DIED THE 7TH JANUARY 1922
AGED 29 YEARS.
THY WILL BE DONE.
ALSO ELIZA MARY BOURNE
THE LOVING WIFE OF LT COLONEL F. BOURNE.
LATE THE SOUTH WALES BORDERERS.
WHO DIED THE 22ND APRIL 1931
AGED 77 YEARS.
PEACE, PERFECT PEACE.
ALSO LT COLONEL FRANK EDWARD BOURNE,O.B.E D.C.M
LATE 24TH REGT
WHO DIED 9TH MAY 1945
AGED 90 YEARS.
BELIEVED TO BE THE LAST SURVIVOR OF RORKES DRIFT 1879
Family Members
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