Forgotten hero of the Zulu war

He bravely handed out bullets at Rorke's Drift

- BY JAMES PODESTA

THE medals of an army chaplain and forgotten hero of one of Britain’s most famous military actions are going up for sale.

Padre George Smith risked his life to hand out bullets to the 150 British troops defending a mission station at Rorke's Drift, South Africa, against 4,000 Zulu warriors in January 1879.

Gallant George, who earned the nickname Ammunition Smith, repeatedly circled the barricades with a large haversack slung around his neck full of cartridges.

He gave the soldiers bullets, rousing phrases from the bible and also rebukes for blasphemy and swearing.

Padre Smith was pictured in photos from the time and, wearing his blue tunic, in 19th-century paintings recreating the desperate defence.

But he was not characterised in the 1964 epic historical drama film Zulu, starring Michael Caine, Jack Hawkins and Stanley Baker.