THE president of Fairford Royal British Legion has said he hopes an upcoming multimedia talk on the Battle of Rorke’s Drift will shed new light on one of its most prominent figures.

Henry Hook was one of 11 British and Colonial soldiers to be awarded a Victoria Cross following the battle in 1879, though was presented as “hardnosed” and “drunken” in the popular 1964 film Zulu.

“He was in fact a model soldier who had recently been awarded his good conduct stripes,” said Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter.

Charles Aikenhead, the proprietor of Rorke’s Drift Lodge, is presenting a lively show on the battle, to be held at the Royal Agricultural University on Friday, June 23 from 7pm.

Henry Hook was born in Churcham, in the Forest of Dean in August 1850, and died not far away in 1904, and is buried in St Andrew’s churchyard in Churcham.

“He was wounded in the battle but not badly and although he served on he transferred to the Militia, a sort of Reserve Army,” said Major General Webb-Carter.

“The story of Rorke’s Drift is a fascinating battle. It followed closely after the disastrous Battle of Isandwana in which some 2,000 British soldiers died within two hours,” he said.

“It was one of the most expensive battles of the latter part of the 19th Century.”

Referring to Charles Aikenhead, himself a former soldier, Major General Webb-Carter said: “He has amassed an astonishing amount of detail of the action and the personalities which captured the imagination in Victorian times.”

Tickets are available for £25 by applying to Susanne Hollis, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity West Region.