Corporal
Friederich Schiess
Natal Native Contingent
(Zulu War 1879) THE heroic share of
Corporal Schiess in the splendid Defence of Rorke's Drift was
only tardily recognized by the authorities, and the same
pressure was brought to bear upon them as was necessary in the
case of James Dalton (V.C.), before his undoubted merits were
rewarded. By birth a Swede, he was one of the wounded in the
Hospital when the news was brought that the Zulus were marching
on the Drift, and in spite of a severe and painful injury to his
foot, he came from his bed and took part in the heroic defence.
His conduct at the barricades was brave to a degree. On one
occasion he leapt on to the wall of mealie-bags, stabbed a Zulu,
and sprang down again, repeating the performance three times in
succession.
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