What Cheered You Up Today?

[buffnut453]

Last week I went with the Pre-wife to a thrift store. She likes those things. As I walked around I came upon a painting, very nicely framed. Not the original but I knew exactly what it was. "The Last Sleep Of the Brave" depicting the bodies of British Army officers Coghill and Melville, who were charged with rescuing the flags of the 24th Regiment from the Zulus during the Battle of Isandlwana January 22, 1879. I love this period of British history and I immediately grabbed it. $10 and I have a great painting for my wall. (yes, I know it's a copy, not the original but...I love it!). It measures 2'X3'.View attachment 812059

Interesting image...although inaccurate (at least according to the Harvard Chapel in Brecon Cathedral - the Chapel is dedicated to the South Wales Borderers, formerly the 24th Foot). The image below shows the Chapel with the staff of the 24th Foot's colours that were lost at Isandlwana.

The 24th Foot lost their colours at Isandlwana but the staff was later recovered during a raid on a Zulu kraal (the colours were never recovered). The staff was presented to Queen Victoria who later returned it to the Regiment. It's been on display in the Harvard Chapel ever since, still without its colours.

Despite being a curmudgeonly grinch regarding the propagandistic painting, it is still evocative and a suitable tribute to a couple of brave men. All those at Isandlwana, and later Rorke's Drift, were incredibly brave. I can heartily recommend the Royal Welsh Regiment Museum, also in Brecon, which has arguably the best set of displays related to the Zulu Wars, including artifacts from Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift.

 

[Zippythehog]

Victor Davis Hanson's book Carnage and Culture gives, IMHO a very good treatment of both battles. I didn't know very much about those actions or the events that precipitated them (beyond the Michael Caine movie).

 

[Njaco]

Interesting image...although inaccurate (at least according to the Harvard Chapel in Brecon Cathedral - the Chapel is dedicated to the South Wales Borderers, formerly the 24th Foot). The image below shows the Chapel with the staff of the 24th Foot's colours that were lost at Isandlwana.

View attachment 812086

The 24th Foot lost their colours at Isandlwana but the staff was later recovered during a raid on a Zulu kraal (the colours were never recovered). The staff was presented to Queen Victoria who later returned it to the Regiment. It's been on display in the Harvard Chapel ever since, still without its colours.

Despite being a curmudgeonly grinch regarding the propagandistic painting, it is still evocative and a suitable tribute to a couple of brave men. All those at Isandlwana, and later Rorke's Drift, were incredibly brave. I can heartily recommend the Royal Welsh Regiment Museum, also in Brecon, which has arguably the best set of displays related to the Zulu Wars, including artifacts from Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift.

Fun fact: Colour Sgt. Bourne was the last surviving member of Rourke's Drift and passed away the day after WWII ended in Europe.