Corporal
Lyons and Corporal Allen defending Rorke's Drift during the Zulu War.
Britain's highest military award for bravery the Victoria Cross was awarded to Corporal
Allen at the Defence of Rorke's Drift in Zulu War military art print by
Mark Churms, published by Cranston Fine Arts.
Corporal
William Allen of the 24th regiment South Wales Borderers was awarded the
Victoria Cross for his undaunted bravery at Rorkes Drift, with Frederick
Hitch, he held a most dangerous and difficult position, the removal of
the wounded and sick patients from the burning hospital across the inner
defence was able to be accomplished. severely wounded, he still held his
post, racked by a heavy fire from the Zulus on the adjacent hill. When
the wounded had been removed and his post was no longer tenable, he
served out ammunition to the holders of the barricade. After
returning the Britain, he was later promoted to Sergeant-instructor of
Musketry.
Wounded by Mark Churms.
Corporal Allen and Corporal Lyons, B. Company 2nd Battalion 24th Foot Rorkes Drift Back Wall, 6pm January 22nd 1879. After the initial Zulu assault on the back wall of the post failed at about 4.30pm, a fire-fight broke out between Zulu snipers posted on the terraces of the Shiyane (Oskarsberg) Hill and the defenders posted behind the barricade of wagons and mealie-bags. This section of the wall as commanded by Sergeant Henry Gallagher, of B Company. At about 6 pm, Corporal Lyons was leaning over the barricade to aim when he was hit in the neck by a bullet which paralysed him, as his friend, Corporal Allen, bent to help him, Allen too was shot through the arm. In the foreground Corporal Attwood of the Army Service Corps distributes ammunition. The wall was abandoned shortly after and the British retired to the small are in front of the storehouse. Allen was later awarded the VC, and Attwood the DCM. He was born at Churcham, Gloucestershire, and served for five years in the Monmouths.........
The original study for Wounded which was not used due to the size of the figures compared to the rest of the series even though as an oil study it shows more detail and is probably the best in this series of studies by Mark Churms.
