John Rouse Merriott Chard (1847-1897), Army officer

Sitter in 3 portraits
At the outbreak of the Anglo-Zulu war Lieutenant Chard of the Royal Engineers was stationed with a small garrison of 139 men to the supply base and hospital at Rorke's Drift on the border of Natal and Zululand. On the 22 January 1879, the garrison came under attack by 4000 Zulu warriors, which was repulsed only after ten hours of fighting. Chard received the Victoria Cross along with ten of his comrades; the highest number ever awarded for a single action.