Rorke s Drift: The Commander Who Wasn t There

On the morning of 22nd January 1879, Major Henry Spalding was the senior officer at Rorke's Drift.

The mission station on the Buffalo River was a supply depot and hospital for Lord Chelmsford's invasion of Zululand, and Spalding, as deputy assistant adjutant and quartermaster general, was responsible for keeping it moving.

When Lieutenant John Chard raised concerns about the pontoons and Zulu movement near Isandlwana, Spalding rode ten miles to Helpmekaar to hasten forward the company that should have been building them.

Before he left he placed Chard in command. It was a routine decision about logistics, but not for long.