A tube worker accused of ‘celebrating colonialism’ by singer Lily Allen after he used the station notice board to write about an infamous British battle in Africa has defended his actions, describing it as ‘an important day in military history’.
The board at Dollis Hill Underground station in Brent, west London, had an ‘on this day in history message’ about the 1879 battle between 150 British and colonial troops and some 4,000 Zulu warriors.
But controversial pop star Lily sparked another storm after sharing the video of the worker wiping off the message about the battle of Rorke’s Drift – which divided opinions online.
A tube worker accused of ‘celebrating colonialism’ by singer Lily Allen after a controversial notice board post defended his actions, describing the Rourke’s Drift as ‘an important day in military history’
The unnamed TfL employee who wrote the message told the Telegraph: ‘It was only fact, it was just what had happened.’
Explaining that many people had taken pictures of it throughout the day without complaining, he said one person took issue with the message and in line with TfL procedures, he immediately wiped it off.
‘I’ve got quite an interest in military history and the battle of Rorke’s Drift is quite an important day in British military history so I put it up there,’ continued the history buff.
Adding: ‘Everyone uses the underground system and it’s quite easy to offend anybody really so if someone’s got their own opinion on it, it wasn’t my intention to put it up there promoting anything apart from commemorating 150 brave men who stood against 4,000.’
Portrayed in the 1964 film starring Michael Caine, the defence of Rorke’s Drift led to the awarding of 11 Victoria Crosses.
The movie saw Baker play Lieutenant John Chard, while Caine played his right-hand man, Lieutenant Goville Bromhead.
The board referenced the Battle of Rorke’s Drift in 1879, which saw a small garrison of British and colonial troops wage a bloody fight with some 4,000 Zulu warriors
The message on the TfL board read: ‘On this day in history: On the 22-23 of January 1879 in Natal South Africa, a small British garrison named Rorke’s Drift was attack [sic] by 4,000 Zulu warriors.
‘The garrison was successfully defended by just over 150 British and colonial troops. Following the battle, eleven men were awarded the Victoria Cross.’
The 32-year-old millionaire singer shared a video of a member of staff wiping the sign off the board, alongside the caption: ‘too right.’
In the background of the video a woman’s voice can be heard saying: ‘That [the notice board] is supposed to be for uplifting comments, not for celebrating colonialism, so I’m glad you’re wiping it off.’
The tube worker’s words come after a decorated veteran who led British troops in Afghanistan labelled Allen an ‘ill informed virtue-signaller’.
Her tweet condemning the notice board post prompted a furious backlash from retired Colonel Richard Kemp who hit back: ‘Maybe she should head to South Africa & tear down the Rorke’s Drift Museum.’
Colonel Richard Kemp, a former senior Army officer who served in Northern Ireland, Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan, hit back saying he had ‘no idea’ who Allen was but it was ‘right to remember the heroic actions of soldiers in history’.
Twitter user Russell Turner responded to Allen: ‘Get over yourself……that wasn’t celebrating anything just relaying factual history.
‘Also that serves as a great metaphor….you would like to see history erased and never discussed, educate…don’t deny. [sic]
Colonel Richard Kemp who hit back: ‘Maybe she should head to South Africa & tear down the Rorke’s Drift Museum’ – adding he had ‘no idea’ who Lily Allen was
Colonel Richard Kemp is a former senior Army officer who served in Northern Ireland, Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan
What happened at Rorke’s Drift? How 150 British soldiers held off 4,000 Zulu warriors in 1879 battle
On January 11, 1879, a British force commanded by Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford invaded Zululand.
From 22 to 23 January, on the bank of the Buffalo River in Natal Province, South Africa a 140-strong British garrison successfully defended the Rorke’s Drift mission station.
The British garrison was commanded by Lieutenant John Chard, Royal Engineers and Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead of the 24 Foot.
The Zulus were commanded by Prince Dabulamanzi kaMapande.
Lt Chard was the commanding officer and organised the epic defence which saw them defy all odds to see off the 4,000 fierce Zulu warriors.
Rorke’s Drift inspired the 1964 Hollywood blockbuster starring Stanley Baker and Michael Caine
For 12 hours the British repelled the spear-carrying tribesmen with accurate shooting and brutal hand-to-hand combat.
The Zulus, known for their bravery and ferocity, were eventually forced to retreat with 350 of their number killed compared to 17 British.
The defensive British force was rewarded by Queen Victoria’s government with no fewer than 11 Victoria Crosses.
The battle was part of the wider Anglo-Zulu war took place during 1879.
The conflict began because the Zulu kingdom presented an obstacle to British imperial ambitions in southern Africa.
The British invasion of Zululand began on January 11, 1879, with the British seeking an eventual federation in Africa.
Source: British Battles.com
TfL later apologised for what it called a ‘clearly ill-judged’ tweet, adding: ‘We are speaking with our staff to remind them of what is and isn’t acceptable.’
Often keen to wade into social media debates on controversial topics, the singer recently sparked anger after suggesting the victims of grooming gangs would have been ‘raped or abused by somebody else at some point’.
Allen’s comments came after a follower quizzed her about grooming gangs made up of British South-Asian Muslim men, asking if the victims would have been raped ‘if the attackers had not been allowed into the UK’.
She replied: ‘Actually, there’s a strong possibility they would have been raped and abused by somebody else at some point.
‘That’s kind of the issue.’
Just hours later, on January 9, she then waded into a sexist row when she said women on TV deserve higher wages than men because their ‘shelf life’ is shorter and more like that of a footballer.
She tweeted: ‘Women working on screen sadly have a shelf life not dissimilar to that of a premiership footballers (happy to be proven wrong) till that changes, their pay should reflect that.
‘They should get more than their male counterparts, or men should get less than them, rather.’
Others said the TfL message was merely a remembrance of history and Allen needed to ‘get over herself’
Last week she issued an apology for spreading fake news about cabinet ministers enjoying a lavish lunch during the Monarch Airlines collapse.
Allen tweeted a picture of former chancellor George Osborne dining alongside transport secretary Chris Grayling, at the exclusive Ivy restaurant in central London.
She wrote: ‘#tbt to when I saw Chris Grayling and Osborne having lunch at the Ivy on the day Monarch went under. #Carrillion #ladddida.’
However, Mr Grayling was not in London that day and was in fact visiting Monarch customers at Manchester Airport.
And just last month she said she could not move back into her flat in West London because her Italian tenants were claiming ‘diplomatic immunity’ – which her tenant disputed.