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The battle of Rorke's Drift took place on the 22nd/23 January in the year 1879 during which the 24th regiment of foot fought and resisted a force of at least 4,500 Zulu warriors leaving 17 British dead and 10 wounded, along with 450 dead Zulu warriors.
One of those brave soldiers was Private Thomas Collins of Pelcomb, Camrose in the county of Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Private Collins 25B/1396, B Company 2nd battalion is believed to be the youngest soldier to defend the mission station at Rorke's Drift and the only Pembrokeshire representative.
The life of Private Thomas Collins was researched by George Harris from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire with the help of Andrew Thomas of Thornton, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, a relative to Private Thomas Collins, also Kristine Wheatley, a descendant of Caleb Wood, another of the defenders of Rorke's Drift 1879.
Research revealed that Private Collins was born on the 13th February 1861, Pelcomb, Camrose, near the county town of Haverfordwest. Private Collins father was shown to be Thomas Collins of Roch, Pembrokeshire and his mother was Dorothy Lewis of Camrose. Further research revealed his great grandparents were William Collins and Martha Smith of Roch, Pembrokeshire.
A campaign to erect a memorial stone and tablet at Pelcomb was met with success in 2006 due to the efforts and hard work of George Harris and Pembrokeshire County Council chairman Mr Clive Collins.