Gert Adendorff information

Gert Wilhelm Adendorff (10 July 1848 – c. 1914) was a member of the Natal Native Contingent notable for being the only soldier on the British side present at both the Battle of Isandlwana and the Battle of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 made memorable in the film Zulu (1964).^[1][2]

When soldiers at Isandlwana fled in the heat of the overwhelming Zulu attack, it made it untenable for officers to remain engaged, and Adendorff fled along with others. As all but he headed for the safety of Helpmekaar he commandeered a horse after his was shot out from beneath him and made for the British garrison at Rorke's Drift, both bringing warning of potential attack and contributing effective rifle fire throughout the subsequent battle.

In spite of numerous first-hand accounts of his presence and contributions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, and being mentioned twice in its commanding officer's account of it to Queen Victoria, a modern author claimed without support that Adendorff had fled the combat there just as he was claimed by the writer to have done so at Isandlwana. His heroic actions subsequent to the Battle of Isandlwana and the multiple contemporary accounts of that at Rorke's Drift remain in defense of his name and conduct in both actions.