THE heroics of Basildon historian Tony Jones's great-grandfather will be the subject of a lecture at Purfleet Heritage and Military Centre next week.

Tony will give a talk on the exploits of his great-grandfather, Private William Jones, at the heritage centre, in Centurion Way, Purfleet, on Sunday, January 27.

Pte Jones was one of just over 100 soldiers who defended the mission station at Rorke's Drift, in Natal, South Africa, on January 22 and 23, 1879.

The lecture, which starts at 1.30pm, will explain how Pte Jones came to be one of 11 soldiers to be awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery following the battle.

The soldiers held off an army of 3,000 Zulu warriors, part of a much bigger force which had defeated Lord Chelmsford's army the previous day at another famous battle, at Isandlwana.

The events of Rourke's Drift were immortalised in the 1962 film, Zulu, starring Stanley Baker and Michael Caine.

Richard Smith at Purfleet Heritage and Military Centre, said: "Tony will be dressed in a uniform as worn by the soldiers at that time.

"His talk will be accompanied by a slide show. Some artefacts recovered from ther Rorke's Drift battlefield will also be on display."

Tickets for the lecture are available on the day at the museum's reception priced at £5. They allow access both to the lecture and the museum.

The lecture is in the Proof House building, just across from the museum.

The museum is open daily from 10am until 3pm.

Admission to the museum is usually £3 for adults, £2.50 for students and pensioners and £1.50 for children. Under-fives get in free.

For information, call 01708 523409 or visit www.purfleet-heritage.com