Courage Under Fire: The Battle of Rorke's Drift
Location
The Grove Performing Arts Centre
About
Oswestry School is excited to announce the launch of a new academic lecture series named after former pupil Frederick Burnaby, a nineteenth century military hero and renowned adventurer, and the first man to cross the English Channel by hot air balloon.
The Burnaby Lecture will take place annually at Oswestry School with guest speakers invited to deliver a lecture on a topic related to military history or adventure and exploration.
The inaugural Burnaby Lecture will be delivered by celebrated South African historian and master storyteller Rob Caskie, whose talk ‘Courage Under Fire: The Battle of Rorke’s Drift’ will take place on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at 7.15pm in The Grove Performing Arts Centre at Oswestry School.
Made famous by the film Zulu starring Michael Caine, the Battle of Rorke’s Drift on 22nd January 1879 led to the award of 11 Victoria Crosses following the epic 10 hour battle. Rob’s immersive retelling of the story will provide a fascinating and visceral account of this extraordinary moment in British military history, one that exemplifies the triumph of the human spirit and courage under fire.
Rob Caskie is a master storyteller renowned for his captivating narratives that transport audiences into different times and places. With a deep passion for history and human behaviour, Rob weaves tales that are meticulously researched, passionately told, and designed to captivate listeners. Born and raised in South Africa, Rob has always been fascinated by the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things when faced with challenges. This fascination led him to delve into the annals of history, exploring events and figures that demonstrate the resilience, leadership, and unity of the human spirit.
The October event will be one of the very first public events in the newly-opened Grove Performing Arts Centre, scheduled for curtains up in September 2026. The £2 million facility has been fully funded through philanthropic donations and community fundraising, with the vision to open a flagship facility for the benefit not only of the school but of the wider community of Oswestry and Shropshire.
The Burnaby Lecture will take place annually at Oswestry School with guest speakers invited to deliver a lecture on a topic related to military history or adventure and exploration.
The inaugural Burnaby Lecture will be delivered by celebrated South African historian and master storyteller Rob Caskie, whose talk ‘Courage Under Fire: The Battle of Rorke’s Drift’ will take place on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at 7.15pm in The Grove Performing Arts Centre at Oswestry School.
Made famous by the film Zulu starring Michael Caine, the Battle of Rorke’s Drift on 22nd January 1879 led to the award of 11 Victoria Crosses following the epic 10 hour battle. Rob’s immersive retelling of the story will provide a fascinating and visceral account of this extraordinary moment in British military history, one that exemplifies the triumph of the human spirit and courage under fire.
Rob Caskie is a master storyteller renowned for his captivating narratives that transport audiences into different times and places. With a deep passion for history and human behaviour, Rob weaves tales that are meticulously researched, passionately told, and designed to captivate listeners. Born and raised in South Africa, Rob has always been fascinated by the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things when faced with challenges. This fascination led him to delve into the annals of history, exploring events and figures that demonstrate the resilience, leadership, and unity of the human spirit.
The October event will be one of the very first public events in the newly-opened Grove Performing Arts Centre, scheduled for curtains up in September 2026. The £2 million facility has been fully funded through philanthropic donations and community fundraising, with the vision to open a flagship facility for the benefit not only of the school but of the wider community of Oswestry and Shropshire.
