Not what you think - Britain's Legendary Zulu War Private - Henry Hook VC

Henry Hook VC has been called the most famous private soldier in British military history.
Does the name ring a bell? I’m sure it does - he was the bad lad in the film Zulu.
We’ve spoken about him before on the show, but today Neil Thornton and I are going deep, learning more about his life and about the actions that lead to his Victoria Cross at the Defence of Rorke’s Drift.
Purchase Neil's book here - amzn.to/3x0KxZG
Neil's new publishing company can be found here - / barnthorn
If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: redcoathistory...
If you are very generous, you can also buy me a coffee and help support the channel via / redcoathistory

[@Maverick0451]

Like many Americans my age, I first learned of Hook through the character portrayed in the film. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I learned how different the real man was from the character!! Great video on an amazing soldier!!

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate - any other subjects you'd like to see me tackle on the show?

[@Maverick0451]

@@redcoathistory Thank YOU for all the brilliant work!! Honestly, I would just love to see more of what you are already doing yourself in the content you've made!! Short pieces or long deep dives, all of your work is great in my humble opinion. I love most all the pieces about individual VC recipients like this and many others, especially some of those who are less well known to mainstream history. The actions of those brave men deserve to be remembered and recognized, and I think you do a fantastic job of doing exactly that, and furthermore sharing that legacy with all of us here!! AND you always provide fantastic sources for further reading on anything you cover. Thank you again for all the brilliant content, it's a sincere joy to see a notification for a new video, whatever the topic!!

[@anthonyburke5656]

A piece of trivia for you about Zulu, Michael Caine was sacked by the Producer in the 1st week of shooting, Caine intercepted the Telegram and by the time the Director knew, there was so much footage in the can, they went ahead using Caine.

[@redcoathistory]

I didn't know that - can you share a link or book reference as I'd love to find out more. Thanks

[@grahamrock3942]

And for those interested, being a Direct Descendant of John William Fielding V.C. who fought at the shoulder with Henry, Michael Caine was actually "shortlisted" to play the part of Pt. Henry Hook V.C., obviously Cy Enfield and Stanley Baker had 'reservations' of their own. And to add to the 'Trivia' Michael Caine had NO IDEA, or wish, to sit astride a Horse...all well documented by our 'Family'. G.A.R.

[@jonathansteadman7935]

The reason we remember Hook is because of his portrayal as a bad lad in the film, it makes you remember the name.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Exactly. He wouldn't have been as remembered if his character in the film was mundane or ordinary.

[@raywillcox8622]

He was not ordinary

[@grahamrock3942]

SIR...My Great Grandfather, on my late Mother's side, was none other than JOHN WILLIAM FIELDING V.C., who fought side by side with Henry to save themselves and their fellow Comrades at Arms...all well documented. The 'FIELDING' name follows on through my Cousins, Peter and Colin with their extended families. I had the privilege to meet Zulu King GOODWILL ZWELITHINI at a Pageant held at Brecon Barracks on the 21st July 2019, sadly now passed away. My Mother passed away last year at the age of 95, Her Sister, Hilary, will attain the age of 93 this coming July. It is understood that John NEVER mentioned his involvement with immediate Family, and certainly not HENRY HOOK V.C., it is true however that John's hair actually turned WHITE following the Battle...STAY SAFE, Friend...G.A.R.

[@redcoathistory]

Many thanks for sharing Graham. A wonderful family history and one to be proud of.

[@richardhoare9963]

👍

[@UkrainianPaulie]

I still say the Hook representation in Zulu was an outrage. A damn shame.

[@bryansammis998]

I agree! The “real” Hook, was the best soldier in the outfit. But , in the movie, they made Hook a malingerer

[@christopherhahn6728]

The "Hook" character is great, but they should have made up another fictitious soldier or maybe used Corporal Allen who, I think, had recently been busted down from Sergeant because of drunkeness. Hook should have been portrayed as the great soldier he was.

[@Roddy556]

​@christopherhahn6728 the portrayal was really uncalled for.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Why? He's a loveable rogue, humorous and becomes a brave hero. People act as if he was portrayed as a serial killer. The film gave him fame and attention. A lot of people know know the name Henry Hook, VC winner.

[@tomtaylor6163]

It certainly would have been a boring movie without Hookie and Tommy going off to tend to that Calf.

[@tomtaylor6163]

I really enjoyed you using those drawings. Great portrayal of close fighting.

[@johannleuckx1625]

As always, well told and documented, Chris! Please, more stories of that kind. And maybe also telling such stories from the Zulu side, would also interesting, isn't it? Many greetings from Belgium!

[@redcoathistory]

Many thanks mate. Sadly there are almost no first hand accounts from Rorke's Drift from a Zulu perspective. I am planning a Isandlwana from the Zulu perspecive though so watch this space. Thanks.

[@johannleuckx1625]

@@redcoathistory splendid!

[@thomasglass4140]

Great episode. This war is my favorite British war to study.

[@WilliamJohnwon1522]

If they have a remake of the film Zulu, Henry Hook should be played by a leading actor, to be defined as a hero.

[@redcoathistory]

Yep, sadly I doubt there will ever be a remake though...I think we all know the modern film industry wouldn't touch a film like this with a long barge pole these days.

[@skypilot7162]

Agree with both of you. The movie industry either ignore history or make embarrassing movies apologizing for everything.

[@kristianhumphreys]

Any remake would be inferior I think, Zulu is a 10/10 movie British classic

[@kristianhumphreys]

Plus they would also probably put women and Chinese men and middle eastern men in the film for diversity😂

[@skypilot7162]

@@kristianhumphreys the women for sure. But they already made a movie about the "elite" Agojie women warriors. And it was the greatest movie of all time, according to Rotten Tomatoes.🥰

[@JohnnyRep-u4e]

Zulu was a favorite movie: "And take your bandook, you dozy Welshman."

[@petem7118]

I found this very interesting and informative, thank you 🙏 I would like to have heard more about how the decision was made to award Pvt Hook the VC….. so who put him forward for the award in the first instance and what evidence was presented to confirm the award…. Given how many VCs were awarded that day I do wonder how all the recipients were identified for awards and were others also considered and if so why were they not awarded the VC…. Thanks again mate 👍

[@redcoathistory]

Hi mate - I believe the award was based on Chard's account of the battle as were most of them. While, Chard wasn't inside the hospital itself I think he would have received a full brief on what happened from those who were.

[@quirkygreece]

I like the format of the images either side of the photographs with small inset videos toward the top. Very effective presentation, Chris.

[@cameronsimpson-ld8nk]

A superb interview with Neil

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate

[@welshwarrior5263]

This had the best information I have ever heard and seen. Excellent.Thanks both

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate - I also learned loads from Neil regarding the movement through the hospital. I'd always struggled to get my head around it until now.

[@jayturner3397]

Fascinating man, I looked him up a good few years ago..very different to the film portrayal 😮

[@kenattwood8060]

Thank you for this fair and balanced video. Any chance of you taking a look at General Bill Slim at a later date?

[@anthonyburke5656]

People with 20/20 hindsight! They forget that people drank a LOT more in those days, British seamen were issued a pint of rum a day! British soldiers were issued “a tot”, of concentrated Rum, which was meant to be diluted by addition of water and sometimes fruit juice. Most people drank “small beer” because the alcohol killed cholera, even children drank beer in preference to water. It was only when tea became cheaper and the gin distillers were closed down in the 19th century that the drift away from alcohol started. In the RN, a definition of drunk was “unable to stand unaided” if you could stand you weren’t drunk!

[@andygeorgeparkinson2515]

Wow so much amazing detail , really enjoyed it 👏👏👍

[@redcoathistory]

Thank you very much!

[@stephenmcdonald7908]

I think that the 24th were not a predominant Welsh regiment as implied in the film. In 1879 the 24th were the 2nd Warwickshire although having nothing to do with the 6th who were the Royal 1st Warwickshire.

[@redcoathistory]

Yep, that's right - they were a number of Welshmen but it wasn't a "Welsh" regiment at this point.

[@jonathanlewis453]

@@redcoathistory Depot at Brecon probably had something to do with it.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Excellent as usual Christian. Cheers to both of you. As you might remember, the Anglo-Zulu War holds the most interest for me as far as Redcoat history is concerned. Probably because my father and grandfather were in the South Wales Borderers, so I was brought up with it. It's always great when you come back to it. Even though he's portrayed inaccurately in Zulu, he's still a humorous loveable rogue and becomes a brave hero at the end. He's not portrayed as a nasty drunk or anything like that. He's even given a poignant line "did I ever see a Zulu walking down the City Road? No! So what am I doing here?". At least his character in the film was well remembered, and now a lot of people know Henry Hook, VC winner. ✌️

[@redcoathistory]

Fair points mate. Whatever the pros and cons of the film he will always be remembered for sure.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@redcoathistory Yeah I think that is the ultimate consequence. We all know the name Henry Hook now. 😊✌

[@keithagn]

Total Respect for this brave man, Hook. A VC very well earned. What I don't understand is why he was portrayed as a drunk and trouble maker in the movie, in real life quite the opposite. Great video, thanks Chris!

[@lyndoncmp5751]

He wasn't portrayed as a drunk or trouble maker.

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

Films are not documentaries. Artistic licence- to make the film more interesting to view- that's your answer.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

@@liverpoolscottish6430 Yep, and we remember Hook very well BECAUSE of that artistic license with the character.

[@raywillcox8622]

Holly would

[@sherwoodforester4666]

Absolutely fantastic work chaps, thankyou.

[@redcoathistory]

Glad you enjoyed it. - Neil's research has certainly been first rate.

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

No one should ever base anything on how something is depicted in a movie. In the movie _Money Ball_ the manager is portrayed as the bad guy obstructing the hero's efforts when in reality he cooperated in them. In the movie _Sully_ they had to have a bad guy - and decided not to use the Geese - so they made the NTSB the Bad Guys and depicted them as trying to blame everything on Sullenberger. The real Sullenberger was infuriated by this depiction of the NTSB as it was in direct contradiction to the way he was really treated. The Hearing was a formality and the NTSB guys loved him. He had saved them from looking at another hangar full of dead bodies. The last thing they were doing was being out to get him. That's movies. In the movie _Zulu Dawn_ they blame everything on Chelmsford - when the real culprit was Pulleine - he was the Officer in Charge but the movie makers wanted to condemn British Colonialism so - they placed the blame for the disaster on Chelmsford. Now - Chelmsford did deserve part of the blame as it was his dispositions of the Army that split it in two - but Pulliene was the Officer On The Spot and it was his decisions that controlled the British Garrison of the Camp. .

[@olafjensen4508]

Thanks

[@davidwhelan1545]

Having ex-military offspring, and some family knowledge of the humour of squaddies, Hook will probably find the film ironically humourous. I hope?🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧

[@mattredfern1339]

got to be honest i never knew that Hook had been a proper soldier before now, always thought he was probably the best example of a squaddie marking time and having fun with his army career until it was on him to do some proper soldiering and then stepping up to the mark and carrying it so well he got the v.c. to be fair i still like that first impression i had of him. can You think of another example of such a fella? squaddie turned soldier when it counted that is? if so i would really like to see a video on such a character from the British army for sure.

[@redcoathistory]

I'll keep my eyes peeled for a story like that. Thanks!

[@anthonyburke5656]

Redcoat, sorry, it was an interview with Michael Caine some years ago, I can’t give you a reference, I suppose you could Google every interview he has ever given, they are all on KZbin. The history of that “war” is interesting, years ago I worked with a very erudite South African, he had/has a huge library of books on Africa generally and in particular on Afrikaans history. I was interested because one of my ancestors was decorated for bravery in the Second Boer War and jailed for his anti-conscription activity in World War 1. The machinations in the Foreign Office, the “interested” parties etc. the old documents have been released but now only crusty old historians are interested.

[@johnhudghton3535]

Shame Ammunition Smith the Padre was missed out of the film too. Also the representation of the mission station minister was likewise severely skewed.

[@tomtaylor6163]

Now that I think about it, James Booth and Richard Dawson should have HOOKED UP and been on as TV Game Show Hosts. Rogue TV Game Show Hosts

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

Tbh, I've never thought of the "film Hook" as a bad lad. Bit of a rouge and chancer maybe, but no real bad in him. As to the miss-characterisation, well, the film does that to most of the soldiers who fought at the drift, especially Chard and Bromhead. Still a great film.

[@zach7193]

Well, this was something. I watched the movie Zulu last week on tape. Hook was seen as antihero in the film. The real life Hook was nothing like that in the film. Wasn't a troublemaker. He was a model soldier. Don't think of him as a drunk. I have a documentary on the Zulu war and has Hook give his account of what happened at Rorke's Drift.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

He's not a drunk in Zulu. He merely glugs some brandy after a harrowing ordeal. That doesn't make somebody a drunk. Nor is he portrayed as a trouble maker. He's portrayed as a loveable humorous rogue who becomes a hero.

[@slowerthinker]

I'd counter your assertion that Henry Hook is the most famous British private in history by suggesting a certain Private Baldrick. Now people may quite reasonably point out that he was merely a _fictional_ character, however, if one were to do a poll on the matter I don't think that the public would be so discriminating on the issue of whether or not the soldier actually existed.

[@thomaseley8386]

The film and the portrayal of Hook reflect the attitudes of 1960s as much as the battle itself. The film itself was meant to be anti-war. Hook provides an anti-war, counter-culture, anti-hero who would the writers presumably thought would appeal to younger film goers? Films such as Saturday night, Sungday morning and loneliness of the long distance runner had recently been released and were influential.

[@redcoathistory]

That makes sense. Thanks. Are you a bit of a film buff? How do you rate the film overall.

[@thomaseley8386]

@redcoathistory Zulu is one of my favourite films of all time! I like movies but can't comment if I am that knowledgeable.

[@MySlamma]

I am Henry Hooks great grandson ,my grandmother was Letitia Jean Hook. My father Henry Bunting always told me that his mother was always upset by the film portrail was a complete lie.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot for clarifying. That's great to know. Keep in touch!

[@raywillcox8622]

Pure holivood

[@kcw8181]

Who is that other soldier he was stood next to in that photograph

[@colinjones7741]

My commanding officer when I was serving his name was bromhead who is the great great grandson of Gonville bromhead at the battle of roarks drift any way how would you know this story if you wornt there where's your proof.

[@redcoathistory]

Sorry Colin you've lost me a little - how would we know which story?

[@peterrooke5336]

Despite all the upset I don't think Henry would have been half as famous if they portrayed him any other way

[@davidshattock9522]

My.old dads favourite saying when the drink.is in the sense is out .. i have had to vastly cut back my consumption of booze for medical reasons you may.not live longer but it just seems like it..illness can be cruel..but cheaper too..

[@davidmccullough1913]

Do you do stories for the entire empire? Because there is a man, a Canadian. I ccan't remember his real name but he was a VC winner. Best I can do is give you a nickname "Smokey". Funny story, check it out.

[@keithagn]

Would you be thinking of "Smokey Smith"? WW2 Seaforth Highlanders Vancouver, British Columbia? Won the VC in October 1944 in the Italian Campaign.

[@davidmccullough1913]

@@keithagn maybe, he was known for being promoted to corporal 9 times and and then being demoted.

[@keithagn]

@@davidmccullough1913 oh yes, I'm aware of Smokey's misadventures, but I'm glad he was on our side! Regards

[@richardt.4224]

It is a pity that there were two narrators in this, as I feel they just prolonged a good storey and ruined the telling of it!

[@redcoathistory]

Sorry you feel that way, but that is generally how interviews work mate.

[@richardt.4224]

@@redcoathistory It just felt like there were two people telling the same story! Not one person interviewing the other. The narrating did not work for me, as it felt disjointed.

[@richardt.4224]

I didn't say that!

[@trampertravels]

No sound throughout the whole video.

[@redcoathistory]

I suspect you had muted the video by mistake?

[@brucesmith6007]

I think copyright restrictions.

[@danforbes4513]

hook was never a bad lad the flim makes him look it,

[@neilgill2269]

Drink,might have been a necessity,in those days! Toothache,no dentist! Aches and pains, thru over work,heat,tropical illness, then you got to fight a load of nasty drugged up black people, who you're only trying to help! To the death! Pass me another cold pint of Stella, Please!!! QUICK!