I finished making this diorama last week, which was quite apt as it was close to the 133rd anniversary of both the Battle of Islandlwana and Rorke's Drift. It was made for my Dad on his 70th Birthday. I try and make him a model a year, either for Christmas or on his birthday in January.
The figures are Plastic 54mm but I haven't a clue who made them, (do you?). I searched the web for answers, but just can't find them anywhere. I bought them when I was on holiday in the Lake District, SHMBO, dragged me out of bed early on a Sunday morning for a visit to a Boot Fair, where I found these figures, for the princely sum of £1. There were another three figures in the bag, but they were damaged and to be honest I couldn't be bothered to fix them, and I would've needed a bigger base as well!! So I just kept to the 8 figures.
The British are painted to represent the B Company, 24th Foot, (The 2nd Warwickshire Regiment of Foot)
At Rorke's Drift, eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded. Seven to the 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot, one to the Army Medical Department, one to the Royal Engineers, one to the Commissariat and Transport Department and one to the Natal Native Contingent.
Lieutenants Chard and Bromhead were both awarded the Victoria Cross, as were the redoubtable privates Alfred Hook, Frederick Hitch, Robert Jones, William Jones, Corporal Allen, James Langley Dalton and Pte. John Williams. Surgeon Reynolds got the Cross for tending the wounded under fire; and the Swiss volunteer Christian Schiess - the first to a soldier serving with South Africa forces.
I entered this into the Analouge Painting Challenge, and was awarded 100 points!!!!