Frank Bourne
Frank Bourne | |
|---|---|
 Photograph of Frank Bourne taken c.1905 | |
| Born | 27 April 1855 Balcombe,England |
| Died | 9 May 1945(aged 90) Beckenham,London,England |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom/British Empire |
| Service/ |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1872–1907, 1914–1919 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | 24th Regiment of Foot |
| Battles/wars | Anglo-Zulu War World War I |
| Awards | Officer of theOrder of the British Empire Distinguished Conduct Medal |
Lieutenant-ColonelFrank Edward BourneOBEDCM(27 April 1855 – 9 May 1945) was a decorated Britishsoldierwho participated in thedefence of Rorke's Driftduring the 1879Anglo-Zulu War.
Early life
[edit]Born inBalcombe,Sussex,Englandon 27 April 1855 to James and Harriett (Gaston) Bourne. He was the youngest of eight children with five brothers and two sisters. Bourne enlisted in the Army atReigateon 18 December 1872.[1]Four years later he had been promoted tocolour sergeant,becoming the youngestNCOof this rank in the entire British Army. This earned him the nickname 'The Kid'.
Rorke's Drift
[edit]On 22 and 23 January 1879, Bourne was part of the garrison atRorke's Drift,Natal,South Africa,which held off aZulu army. Bourne, who was now an NCO in B Company, 2nd Battalion,24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot,helped organise the defence at the mission station and field hospital. Throughout the day and night of the battle, the Zulus made repeated attacks against the barricades, but the outnumbered defenders held out until relief arrived.
For his bravery, Bourne received theDistinguished Conduct Medal(DCM) for "outstanding coolness and courage" during the battle, with a £10 annuity. The DCM, until 1993, was the second highest military decoration (after theVictoria Cross) awarded to other ranks of theBritish Army.He was offered a commission, but "being an eighth son, and the family exchequer... empty", he declined it.
Later career
[edit]After Rorke's Drift, Frank Bourne served inBritish IndiaandBurma,being promoted to Quartermaster-Sergeant in 1884.[2]He was commissioned in 1890. In 1893 he was appointed adjutant of the School of Musketry atHythe, Kent,retiring from the army in 1907. DuringWorld War I,he rejoined and served as adjutant of the School of Musketry in Dublin.[3]At the end of the war, he was given the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel and appointedOBE.He retired for the 2nd time in 1919, at the age of 64.
Bourne lived in retirement at 16 Kings Hall Road,Beckenham,Kent.He was the last surviving defender from Rorke's Drift, dying on 9 May 1945 (the day afterVE Day), at the age of 90. Bourne was buried inBeckenham Cemetery.His house in Beckenham has been adorned with ablue plaque.[4]
Film portrayal
[edit]In the 1964 filmZulu,Bourne was played byNigel Green.Green was 17 years older than the man he portrayed: Bourne was 23 at the time of the battle.
References
[edit]- ^"A Local Hero – Sussex Living Magazine".Sussex Living Magazine.10 December 2015.Retrieved10 May2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Rorke's Drift, 1879 – The highest number of Victoria Crosses awarded in a single action".rorkesdriftvc.
- ^"We remember Frank Edward Bourne".Imperial War Museum.Retrieved26 July2023.
- ^"Frank Bourne blue plaque in Beckenham".blueplaqueplaces.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 20 May 2018.Retrieved10 May2017.
External links
[edit]- rorkesdriftvc,(2459 B Co. 24th. Regiment) (biography, photos, memorial details)
- Transcript of radio interview with Colour Sergeant Bournerecorded in 1936
- Rorke's Drift Detailsat victoriacross.co.uk listing of medal recipients, casualties