A report by the Chairman, Michael Neale Dalton, on a recent lecture given in London by David Rattray on the defence by the British of Rorke’s Drift in the Anglo Zulu War.
Some months back my attention was drawn to a series of lectures being given towards the end of June at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the Zulu War. These lectures are now given annually by David Rattray, an acknowledged authority on the subject. David, who lives in South Africa, has made a lifetime study of the Zulu War and he and his wife, Nicky, own and manage Fugitives’ Drift Lodge, which is a centre for visiting the famous Zulu War battlefield sites, including Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana.
Rorke’s Drift is of particular interest to the Dalton Genealogical Society on account of the heroic defence by James Langley Dalton, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the battle. The second lecture in the series was devoted specifically to Rorke’s Drift.
DGS Committee member Sir Geoffrey Dalton joined myself and my wife Kate for the lecture on a warm summer evening and we were treated to a “tour de force” which lasted for an hour and a half and kept us spell bound. David has that rare ability to hold the attention of his audience and keep them entertained with his excellent delivery and his skill at painting a verbal picture of what happened on the battlefield. Rorke’s Drift is a particularly poignant turning point in the unfolding of the Anglo Zulu War, and quite remarkable in that less than 200 British soldiers held their position throughout the night against some 4000 Zulu warriors. The part played by Assistant Commissary James Langley Dalton was pivotal. His cool-headed leadership and organisation of the defence contributed enormously to the achievement of a British victory. David Rattray made a particular point of emphasising this and left his audience in no doubt about how important the role of Dalton was.
After the lecture there was a wine reception and we had the opportunity to introduce ourselves to David Rattray and ask him some more specific questions about James Langley Dalton. Sadly very little is known about his family background – he did not marry and have a family and there are no known collateral descendants living today. The Society would be interested in hearing from anyone who can provide further information.
An article about James Langley Dalton by Pamela Richards was published in the DGS Journal in 1988 (DGSJ Vol 17 No 1 pp 28-32). See also MN&Q 18.13 (Vol 18 No 2 pp 11-12) and MN&Q 25.7 (Vol 25 pp 10-12). For more information about Rorke’s Drift, visit www.rorkesdriftvc.com . This is an excellent website with a wealth of material about the defence and the eleven recipients of the VC and links to other sites. Information about Fugitives’ Drift Lodge may be found at www.fugitives-drift-lodge.com This includes information about battlefield tours as well as details of forthcoming lecture programmes.
James Langley Dalton, VC
James Langley Dalton was awarded the VC for superintending the work of defence at Rorke’s Drift and was amongst those receiving the first wave of attack, where he saved the life of a man by killing the Zulu assailant. Although wounded himself, he continued to give the same display of cool courage throughout the action. He was 46 at the time of the defence.
The citation for the award of the Victoria Cross to James Langley Dalton reads:
“For his conspicuous gallantry during the attack on Rorke’s Drift Post by the Zulus on the night of 22nd January 1879, when he actively superintended the work of defence, and was amongst the foremost of those who received the first attack at the corner of the hospital, where the deadliness of his fire did great execution, and the mad rush of the Zulus met his first check, and where, by his cool courage, he saved the life of a man of the Army Hospital Corps by shooting the Zulu, who having seized the muzzle of the man’s rifle, was in the act of assegaiing him. This officer, to whose energy much of the defence of the place was due, was severely wounded during this contest, but still continued to give the same example of cool courage.”
Dalton was born in London in 1833. He enlisted in 85th Foot in November 1849 aged 17. He transferred to the Commissariat Corps in 1862 as a Corporal, and was promoted to Sergeant in the following year. Four years later, he became a clerk and a Master-Sergeant. He served with Sir Garnet Wolseley on the Red River Expedition (Canada) in 1870.
He retired from the army, with a Long Service & Good Conduct medal in 1871 after 22 years service. By 1877, he was in South Africa and volunteered for service as Acting Assistant Commissary with the British Force. It was largely due to his experience, which made the defence of Rorke’s Drift a success. At first his contribution was not recognised; however reports of his actions finally reached the ears of senior officers and even Queen Victoria.
He received his VC from General Hugh Clifford VC at a special parade at Fort Napier on 16 January 1880. He returned to army service being given a permanent commission. He sailed for England in February 1880. He soon returned to South Africa and took part shares in a gold mine. It is thought that he went to stay with his old friend, ex-Sgt John Sherwood Williams, at the Grosvenor Hotel, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape just before Christmas 1886. After spending the 7th January 1887 in bed, he died suddenly during the night, aged 53. (His VC is now in the Royal Logistic Corps Museum, Blackdown, Camberley, Surrey). He is buried in the Russell Road Roman Catholic Cemetery at Port Elizabeth with a memorial which survives today.
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