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Private Thomas Collins of Pelcomb, Camrose in the county of Pembrokeshire was one of 140 soldiers at the mission station Rorke's Drift.

The defence of Rorke's Drift took place on 22 January 1879, when the 24th regiment of Foot, which later became the South Wales Borderers, held off an army of about 4,500 Zulu warriors at a border post in South Africa.

The losses of the British garrison were reported as 17 dead and 10 wounded, with the Zulus losing 450 men.

The life of Private Thomas Collins, believed to be the only Pembrokeshire soldier to take part in the famous battle, has been 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.

Mr Harris said: "There is no doubt about it, they would have been absolutely scared stiff, without a shadow of a doubt every one of those men were heroes because to survive what they did was unbelievable."

Private Collins was born on the 13th February 1861, Pelcomb, Camrose, near Haverfordwest to father Thomas Collins and mother Dorothy Lewis. Research shows that his great grandparents were William Collins and Martha Smith of Roch, Pembrokeshire.

"I knew for a considerable time one of the men was a Camrose man and details were confirmed by the regimental museum in Brecon," he said.

"He was a labourer and enlisted on May 22 1877. He was slightly over 5ft 6inches tall and had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair."

Victoria Cross The defenders of Rorke's Drift were awarded seven Victoria Crosses The defenders of Rorke's Drift were awarded 11 Victoria Crosses - with seven to a single regiment, although Private Collins was not among those honoured.

Private Collins was finally invalided out of the army on June 16, 1891 - suffering from severe rheumatism.

"The chances are Private Thomas Collins probably died in poverty," said Mr Harris.

"Leaving an army job means you're unfit for duties and means you're unfit to work in civvie street as well."

Due to the hard work Mr Harris has contributed, a stone and plaque has been erected in memory of Private Collins at Pelcomb,Haverfordwest.

Another involved in the campaign to erect the stone and tablet was chair of Pembrokeshire County Council Mr Clive Collins.