It is approaching that time of year when Sappers of all ranks commemorate the Defence of Rourkes Drift, lead by Lt John Merriot Chard RE VC, but we completely forget the other Royal Engineer that was there, on the mealie bag barracade, armed with Rifle and Bayonet, shoulder to shoulder with the other defenders of the Station.
Another Sapper at Rorkes Drift? Yes, but perhaps due to Kipling’s excellent work “The Sapper” and the famous line of “With the rank and the pay of a Sapper” we often and regularly forget that the Royal Engineers had other titles for some of their private soldiers.
The forgotten man is Royal Engineer Driver Charles Robson.
Driver Robson was Chard’s batman and accompanied Chard to Rorkes Drift with a working party of a Corporal and 3 Sappers. All 5 Royal Engineers arrived at Rorkes Drift on the 19th January and started to carry out repairs to one of the ponts on the river, which was repaired and in use by the evening off the 21st January. On the morning of the 22 January the Corporal and the 3 Sappers had received orders to move up and rejoin the main column at Isandhlwana. Chard accompanied by Robson had been up at the HQ of 5 Fld Coy RE at Isandhlwana first thing that morning to receive orders and returned to the drift just before lunch.
Soon after word about the attack at Isandhlwana was received at the Station and the defence was started.
It is noted that Driver Robson worked on the defences and fought along side the men of B Company of the 24th foot. He took his place on the barricade in front of the Stonehouse and where the barricade met the Krall. From this position Robson could keep and eye on the engineer wagon and kit that was outside of the defended perimeter.
John Chard made particular reference to Robson and his location on the defences in his written account of the fight.
“..the Zulus were wrecking the camp of the company of the 24th, and my wagon which had been left outside, in spite of the efforts of my batman, Driver Robson (the only other man of the Royal Engineers with us), who had directed his particular attention to keeping the Zulus off this wagon in which were, as he described it, ‘our things’.”
Robson survived the fight uninjured and along side Chard would remain at Rorkes Drift after the battle for several weeks to improve the defences before they both rejoined 5th Field Company RE. They would both be present at the final battle of the Campaign at the Zulu capital – Ulundi.
When 5th Field Company RE returned to Britain, Chard went on an unofficial tour, and was accompanied by Robson. As they met all of the great and good of Victorian society, Chard made a point of not forgetting about Robson and would make a point of introducing him as a fellow defender of Rorkes Drift.
So if you are a Sapper, serving or retired, who may be of the habit of perhaps raising a glass of port (or something else) to the Defenders of Rorkes Drift on the 22nd January, just remember it isn’t just Lt John Chard RE that was there, it was also Driver Charles Robson RE and they both deserve a toast raising to them!
Charles Robson’s medals
Charles Robson in later life
Some articles worth looking at with some more information on Driver Robson:
https://molegenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-driver-at-drift-zulu-war-1879.html
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/774256/Medal-awarded-defender-Rorkes-Drift-sells-auction-Zulu-war
https://www.1879zuluwar.com/t158-12046-driver-charles-robson-royal-engineers-rorkes-drift-defender-22nd-23rd-jan-1879
A great read mate. I’ve only just learnt about the driver as I’ve only just read Chard’s report.