“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

That well-known verse from John 15:13 formed the heart of the address delivered by tour guide and lodge owner Douglas Rattray at this week’s 147th commemoration of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift.

Moth members from across the district gathered at the historic site, joined by a contingent of soldiers from the Royal Welsh Regiment, to honour those who fought and died during one of the most significant battles of the Anglo-Zulu War.

Rattray said the commemoration was not about celebrating victory or defeat, but about remembering the sacrifice made by soldiers on both sides of the conflict.

He noted that both Zulu and British fighters gave their lives for their comrades, rather than simply fighting for king or country.

Honouring shared humanity

“They stood their ground for one another,” Rattray said, adding that this shared humanity remained a powerful lesson more than a century later.

Wreaths were laid at both the British cemetery at Rorke’s Drift and the Zulu memorial. The ceremony was led by District Old Bill Andries Heyns, together with Lieutenant Colonel Chris Cawley of the Royal Welsh Regiment.

The event was hosted by the Freedom Moth Shellhole of Vryheid. The Moths have marked the battle annually since 1979, the centenary year of the historic engagement, using the occasion to both commemorate the fallen and hold their district meeting.

Following the formal proceedings, members of the Royal Welsh Regiment and the Moths spent time together in fellowship under a blazing summer sun, reflecting on the enduring bonds formed through shared remembrance.

The annual commemoration continues to draw veterans, serving soldiers and history enthusiasts, reinforcing Rorke’s Drift’s place as a site of reflection, reconciliation and respect for sacrifice on all sides.