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47-562: Colonel John Rouse Merriott Chard VC (21 December 1847 – 1 November 1897) was a British Army officer who received the Victoria Cross , the highest military decoration for valour "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British armed forces. He earned the decoration for his role in the defence of Rorke's Drift in January 1879 where he assumed command of the outpost and

94-635: A "more uninteresting or more stupid-looking fellow I never saw". Chard was present in the British square during the decisive victory at the Battle of Ulundi and remained in Africa until the end of the war. His arrival back in Portsmouth in October 1879 was greeted with celebration. In addition to a series of presentations and dinners bestowed in his honour, he attended Balmoral Castle to dine with Queen Victoria , who

141-691: A brave soldier from his sovereign". In 1899 a stained glass memorial window dedicated to Chard was installed in the south wall of the church's chancel . Another memorial donated by the Royal Engineers was placed in Rochester Cathedral . A display at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham , Kent, commemorates Chard's leadership at Rorke's Drift and includes the Webley Revolver he used in

188-532: A company of the 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment of Foot commanded by Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead , and a large company of the 3rd Natal Native Contingent (NNC). Chard's group arrived on 19 January and set up camp near the crossing. On the morning of 22 January, he received an order that his sappers were required at Isandlwana 10 miles (16 km) to the east, where Chelmsford had set up an advanced camp for his main invasion column, which had marched into Zulu territory two weeks before. However, when he arrived, Chard

235-629: A contingent of approximately 1,750 British and African troops in one of the first engagements of the Anglo-Zulu War . The Zulu force was primarily under the command of Ntshingwayo kaMahole Khoza . The battle was one of the worst defeats suffered by the British Army during the Victorian era . Isandlwana hill rises 16 kilometres (10 mi) Northeast of Rorke's Drift , a ford on the Buffalo River ,

282-554: A copy of the Army List , which confirmed that Chard was senior to Bromhead. Therefore, Chard, a "notoriously relaxed" man with no combat experience, was unexpectedly placed in command of the small garrison. Unconcerned by the presence of the Zulus nearby, Chard returned to his tent by the river crossing. He was soon after disturbed by two NNC officers on horseback who informed him that the camp at Isandlwana had been overwhelmed and annihilated by

329-485: A military contract with a sovereign. The colonel purchased the regimental contract—the right to hold the regiment—from the previous holder of that right or directly from the sovereign when a new regiment was formed or an incumbent was killed . As the office of colonel became an established practice, the colonel became the senior captain in a group of companies that were all sworn to observe his personal authority—to be ruled or regimented by him. This regiment, or governance,

376-704: A parish church in Hatch Beauchamp , Somerset . He was educated at Cheltenham Grammar School and Plymouth New Grammar School. After a period of private tuition, he enrolled at the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich . On 14 July 1868, Chard received a commission as a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers and continued his training at Chatham for the next two years. He was posted to Bermuda , along with Lieutenant HP Knacker, in 1870 to construct fortifications at

423-404: A professional military rank that was still held typically by an officer in command of a regiment or equivalent unit. Along with other ranks, it has become progressively more a matter of ranked duties, qualifications, and experience, as well as of corresponding titles and pay scale, than of functional office in a particular organization. As European military influence expanded throughout the world,

470-456: A request from Lord Chelmsford , commander of the British forces in southern Africa, for an additional unit of engineers to assist with preparations for the invasion of the Zulu Kingdom . After their arrival on 5 January, Chard was dispatched with a small group of sappers to repair and maintain the punts at one of the few crossings of the Buffalo River , which ran along the border of Natal and

517-511: A small garrison of 139 soldiers and successfully repulsed an assault by some 3,000 to 4,000 Zulu warriors . The battle was recreated in the film Zulu (1964), in which Chard was portrayed by Stanley Baker . Born near Plymouth , Chard attended the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in July 1868. He was involved with the construction of fortifications in

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564-485: Is an isolated hill in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa . It is located 169 kilometres (105 mi) north by northwest of Durban . The name is said to mean abomasum , the second stomach of the cow, because it reminded the Zulus of its shape. This mountain has historical significance. On 22 January 1879, Isandlwana was the site of the Battle of Isandlwana , where approximately 22,000 Zulu warriors defeated

611-489: Is linked to the word column (from Latin : columna ; Italian: colonna ; French: colonne ) in a similar way that brigadier is linked to brigade , although in English this relationship is not immediately obvious. With the shift from primarily mercenary to primarily national armies in the course of the 17th century, a colonel (normally a member of the aristocracy) became a holder (German Inhaber ) or proprietor of

658-558: The Bermuda Garrison (three years) and at Malta (two years) before he was deployed to southern Africa at the start of the Anglo-Zulu War . At the end of the war, he returned to a hero's welcome in the UK and was invited to an audience with Queen Victoria . After a series of overseas postings, he took up his final position in Perth, Scotland. He retired from the army as a colonel in 1897 after he

705-673: The Vatican , colonel is the highest rank . Equivalent naval ranks may be called captain or ship-of-the-line captain . In the Commonwealth 's air force ranking system, the equivalent rank is group captain . By the end of the late medieval period, a group of "companies" was referred to as a "column" of an army. According to Raymond Oliver, c.  1500 , the Spanish began explicitly reorganizing part of their army into 20 colunelas or columns of approximately 1,000–1,250 soldiers. Each colunela

752-527: The Zulu Kingdom . A short distance downstream was Rorke's Drift, an isolated mission station used as a staging post for the British invasion force. It consisted of two thatched bungalows about 30 metres (98 ft) apart—the western building was used as a hospital, and the eastern building had been converted into a storehouse. Garrisoned at the Drift were Chelmsford's quartermaster general , Major Henry Spalding,

799-511: The 16th century, the French army adopted this organizational structure, renaming colunelas regiments. Even so, they simply Gallicized colunela to the French colonel and pronounced it as written. The English then copied the unit and rank from the French. However, for reasons unknown, the English adopted the Spanish pronunciation of coronel , and after several decades of use shortened it to its current two-syllable pronunciation "kernel". Colonel

846-502: The Commonwealth of Kentucky bestows the honor of a colonel's Commission, by issuance of letters patent. Perhaps the best known Kentucky colonel is Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame. The rank of colonel is also used by some police forces and paramilitary organizations. Isandlwana Isandlwana ( Zulu pronunciation: [ísanˈdɮwáːna] ) (older spelling Isandhlwana , also sometimes seen as Isandula )

893-725: The Medal and the Decoration were awarded for 12 years and 20 years service, respectively, until 2003, when they were superseded by the Medalje vir Troue Diens and the Emblem for Reserve Force Service . Colonel In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of a regiment in an army. Modern usage varies greatly, and in some cases, the term is used as an honorific title that may have no direct relationship to military. In some smaller military forces, such as those of Monaco or

940-480: The NNC troops to panic and desert the station, reducing the number of defenders from around 350 to approximately 140 (including 30 sick and wounded). Chard immediately ordered an additional barricade of biscuit boxes to be built across the inner perimeter to provide a smaller fall-back area should the Zulus overwhelm a part of the thinly manned perimeter. The first waves of Zulu assault were repulsed by British volley fire, but

987-533: The Naval Dockyard near Hamilton . He returned to England four years later for his father's funeral. He was assigned to Malta to assist with the improvement of the island's sea defences. He returned to England in 1876, where he was based at Aldershot and Chatham, and was assigned to the 5th Company Royal Engineers. On 2 December 1878, the 5th Company Royal Engineers were sent to the Colony of Natal in response to

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1034-530: The Regiment (to distinguish it from the military rank of colonel) continues to be used in the modern British Army. The ceremonial position is often conferred on retired general officers , brigadiers or colonels who have a close link to a particular regiment. Non-military personnel, usually for positions within the Army Reserve may also be appointed to the ceremonial position. When attending functions as "Colonel of

1081-494: The Regiment", the titleholder wears the regimental uniform with rank insignia of (full) colonel, regardless of their official rank. A member of the Royal Family is known as a Royal Colonel . A Colonel of the Regiment is expected to work closely with a regiment and its Regimental Association . Some military forces have a colonel as their highest-ranking officer, with no 'general' ranks, and no superior authority (except, perhaps,

1128-446: The Zulu kingdom. Meanwhile, Chard's report of the battle had been dispatched to England and received with enthusiasm by the British press and public. The War Office subsequently promoted Chard to captain and brevet major and awarded him and 10 other defenders of the station with Victoria Crosses , the highest decoration for valour that could be awarded to British troops. The citation for

1175-434: The Zulus. Returning to the station, Chard found Bromhead and Assistant Commissary James Dalton had already instructed the troops to use mealie bags to construct a defensive perimeter between the storehouse and hospital. Chard consented and by 4 pm the hastily constructed perimeter was complete. Soon afterwards, the Zulu impi , which contained some 3,000–4,000 men, was sighted advancing on their position. This caused

1222-610: The adulation bestowed on the pair. Wood took a particular dislike to his new subordinate. Unimpressed with his temperament and sceptical of his role in the battle, he denounced Chard as a "useless officer" and "a dull, heavy man, scarcely able to do his regular work". Lieutenant-General Sir Garnet Wolseley , who thought the desperate defence of the Rorke's Drift was merely a case of "rats [fighting] for their lives which they could not otherwise save", presented Chard with his VC on 16 July. Likely influenced by Wood, he subsequently said of Chard that

1269-432: The attackers pushed on relentlessly, particularly along a vulnerable section of the British perimeter by the hospital, which became the centre of fierce hand-to-hand combat. With British casualties mounting, Chard ordered his troops to withdraw behind the biscuit boxes, which left the western half of the station in Zulu hands, including the hospital, which was subsequently set alight by the attackers. Once inside, Chard ordered

1316-590: The award was published in the London Gazette on 2 May 1879: THE Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officers and Soldiers of Her Majesty's Army, whose claims have been submitted for Her Majesty's approval, for their gallant conduct in the defence of Rorke's Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus, as recorded against their names, viz.:— For their gallant conduct at

1363-427: The battle. Welsh actor Stanley Baker portrayed Chard in the 1964 film Zulu , which depicted the defence of Rorke's Drift. Baker acquired Chard's campaign medal and a "cast copy" of his Victoria Cross at an auction in 1972; they were sold by his family after his death in 1976. However, in 1996 the Victoria Cross was discovered to be the original rather than a copy after its metallic characteristics were compared with

1410-723: The bronze ingot from which all Victoria Crosses are cast. The medal was subsequently acquired by Lord Ashcroft , owner of the world's largest collection of VCs, and is on display at the Imperial War Museum , London. Chard was commemorated by the South African military with the John Chard Decoration and the John Chard Medal , which were awarded to members of the Citizen Force . Instituted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1952,

1457-516: The colonel of the division. Kentucky colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky . Commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the Governor and the Secretary of State to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation. This is the equivalent to a full colonel in the militia. The sitting governor of

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1504-473: The construction of a redoubt made from a tall pyramid of mealie bags to provide shelter to the wounded and form the last line of defence. The Zulus continued to attack in intermittent waves during the night, but they were illuminated by the burning thatch, which enabled the defenders to spot their advances. By 5 am, the exhausted Zulus had abandoned the attack. After British reinforcements arrived later that morning, Chard counted 351 dead Zulus scattered around

1551-423: The defence of Rorke's Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus on the 22nd and 23rd  January, 1879. Royal Engineers Lieutenant (now Captain and Brevet Major) J. R. M. Chard 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment Lieutenant (now Captain and Brevet Major) G. Bromhead The Lieutenant-General commanding the troops reports that, had it not been for the fine example and excellent behaviour of these two Officers under

1598-567: The head of state as a titular commander-in-chief) other than the respective national government. Examples include the following (arranged alphabetically by country name): The term colonel is also used as a title for auctioneers in the United States; there are a variety of theories or folk etymologies to explain the use of the term. One of these is the claim that during the American Civil War goods seized by armies were sold at auction by

1645-470: The most trying circumstances, the defence of Rorke's Drift post would not have been conducted with that intelligence and tenacity which so essentially characterised it. The Lieutenant-General adds, that its success must, in a great degree, be attributable to the two young Officers who exercised the Chief Command on the occasion in question. Some of Chard and Bromhead's superiors, however, were resentful of

1692-403: The perimeter. The British suffered 17 killed and 10 wounded. Chard remained at Rorke's Drift for several weeks after the battle and assisted with the construction of a new stone perimeter wall. However, conditions at the camp were poor; Chard became ill with fever and was taken to Ladysmith for treatment. Once recovered he was attached to Colonel Evelyn Wood 's column for the second invasion of

1739-421: The position of the colonel as the figurehead of a regiment is maintained in the honorary role of "colonel-in-chief", usually held by a member of the royal family , the nobility, or a retired senior military officer. The colonel-in-chief wears a colonel's uniform and encourages the members of the regiment, but takes no active part in the actual command structure or in any operational duties. The title Colonel of

1786-410: The rank of colonel became adopted by nearly every nation (albeit under a variety of names). During the 20th century, with the rise of communism , some of the large communist militaries saw fit to expand the colonel rank into several grades, resulting, for example, in the unique senior colonel rank, which was found and is still used in such nations as China and North Korea . In many modern armies,

1833-407: The regiment has more importance as a ceremonial unit or a focus of members' loyalty than as an actual battle formation. Troops tend to be deployed in battalions (commanded by a lieutenant colonel ) as a more convenient size of military unit and, as such, colonels have tended to have a higher profile in specialist and command roles than as actual commanders of regiments. However, in Commonwealth armies,

1880-487: Was commanded by a cabo de colunela or column head. Because they were crown units who are directly under the control of the monarch or sovereign of a country, the units were also confusingly called coronelas , and their commanders coronels . Evidence of this can be seen when Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba , nicknamed "the Great Captain", divided his armies in coronelías , each led by a coronel , in 1508. Later, in

1927-528: Was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died at his brother's home in Somerset later that year. Chard was born at Boxhill near Plymouth on 21 December 1847 to William Wheaton Chard and his wife Jane Brimacombe. He had two brothers and four sisters. His elder brother William Wheaton Chard served with the Royal Fusiliers , rising to the rank of colonel, and his younger brother Charles Edward Chard became rector of

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1974-642: Was impressed by his modest and unassuming demeanour. Chard returned to duty at Devonport in January 1880 and was posted to Cyprus in December 1881. His brevet majority was substantiated on 17 July 1886 and he returned to England in March 1887 to take up a position in Preston . He was ordered to Singapore in December 1892 and received a promotion to lieutenant colonel. He returned to England in 1896 and took up his final post as Commanding Royal Engineer at Perth , Scotland, and

2021-399: Was informed that only his men were required and that he should return to Rorke's Drift. While at Isandlwana, Chard had witnessed a Zulu army approaching the camp in the distance and upon his return to the Drift at about 1 pm, he informed Spalding of the situation. Spalding decided to depart the Drift to hurry British reinforcements en route from Helpmekaar, but before he left, he checked

2068-541: Was promoted to colonel on 8 January 1897. While stationed in Perth, Chard—a lifelong pipe smoker—was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. He underwent two operations: the second—which took place in March 1897—resulted in the removal of his tongue but despite this it was reported that he could still converse clearly. However, by August it was discovered the cancer was terminal and Chard retired to his brother Charles' rectory at Hatch Beauchamp , Somerset. After two weeks of "terrible suffering", Chard died on 1 November 1897. He

2115-494: Was the colonel general , and, in the absence of the sovereign or his designate, the colonel general might serve as the commander of a force. The position, however, was primarily contractual and it became progressively more of a functionless sinecure . The head of a single regiment or demi-brigade would be called a ' mestre de camp ' or, after the Revolution , a ' chef de brigade '. By the late 19th century, colonel had evolved to

2162-423: Was to some extent embodied in a contract and set of written rules, also referred to as the colonel's regiment or standing regulation(s). By extension, the group of companies subject to a colonel's regiment (in the foregoing sense) came to be referred to as his regiment (in the modern sense) as well. In French usage of this period, the senior colonel in the army or, in a field force, the senior military contractor,

2209-517: Was unmarried. He was buried in the churchyard by the south east transept of The Church of St John the Baptist in Hatch Beauchamp , Somerset. Among the numerous messages of sympathy and floral tributes was a wreath of laurel leaves sent by the Queen, who had remained in contact with Chard and frequently enquired about his health. The wreath bore the handwritten inscription "A mark of admiration and regard for

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