1-273-649 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Major John Rouse Merriott Chard, VC, 1881. Chard (1847-1897), then a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, commanded the British defenders at Rorke's Drift, South Africa, in January 1879. With only 104 men fit for duty, Chard held off an attack by a force of some 4500 Zulu warriors. For this he was awarded the Victoria Cross, as were 10 other officers and men under his command. Chard was also promoted to Major after his exploits at Rorke's Drift. From Men of Mark: a gallery of contemporary portraits of men distinguished in the Senate, the Church, in science, literature and art, the army, navy, law, medicine, etc. Photographed from life by Lock and Whitfield, with brief biographical notices by Thompson Cooper. (Conducted by G. C. Whitfield.) (London, 1876-1883).