252: What Happened to Private Hitch VC After Rorke's Drift?

from The History Chap Podcast · host Chris Green

Send me a messageIn the classic war film "Zulu", Private Fred Hitch is called a "slovenly soldier".He nevertheless goes on to be awarded the Victoria Cross at the battle of Rorke's Drift.But the story about what happened to him afterwards, as an invalid veteran in Victorian Britain that is every bit as fascinating, working for the world's oldest security company, losing his VC, accused of theft and becoming a London cabbie.A story of what happened to Victorian soldiers when then entered civvy street.Get my Free weekly newsletterChris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.Support My Work - Make A Donation - Buy Me A CoffeeSupport the show

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 21, 2026

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Send me a message In the classic war film "Zulu", Private Fred Hitch is called a "slovenly soldier". He nevertheless goes on to be awarded the Victoria Cross at the battle of Rorke's Drift. But the story about what happened to him afterwards, as an invalid veteran in Victorian Britain that is every bit as fascinating, working for the world's oldest security company, losing his VC, accused of theft and becoming a London cabbie. A story of what happened to Victorian soldiers when then entered ...