Gonville Bromhead

Major Gonville Bromhead VC was a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of the British armed forces. He received the medal for his part in the defence of Rorkes Drift in January 1879 where a small British garrison of 139 soldiers successfully repulsed an assault by some 4,000 Zulu warriors. Bromhead was portrayed by Michael Caine in the film Zulu, which depicted the battle.

Gonville Bromhead was born onAugust 1845 in Versailles, France. He was the youngest child born to Major Sir Edmund de Gonville Bromhead, 3rd Baronet and his wife Judith. He came from a notable military family his greatgrandfather, Boardman Bromhead, fought under Major General James Wolfe at Quebec his grandfather, Sir Gonville Bromhead, was a lieutenant general who fought in the American Revolutionary War his father was a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo and his three older brothers were officers in the British Army.

Source: Wikipedia