David Rattray was a self-taught and internationally renowned expert on the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879, who was sadly murdered in 2007. David ran the Fugitives' Drift Lodge with his wife Nicky, near Rorke's Drift, located in Kwa Zulu Natal. Learning directly from the descendants of Zulu warriors who fought in the war, David dedicated his life to educating visitors to his lodge on the war and taking them to battlefield sites.
The David Rattray Memorial Trust (UK), in association with the Daily Telegraph, AXA PPP Healthcare, and the Lygon Group, is holding the second of an annual competition for 18 to 24 year olds, to honour David's educational work and to encourage the art of storytelling, of which David was an exceptional proponent.
The winner of the competition will enjoy a two-night stay at Fugitives' Drift, visit selected battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu wars, and receive £2,000. There are also two runners-up prizes of £1,000. In addition, the winning essay will be read by Maggie Phillips, one of the senior executives at the Ed Victor Ltd agency, providing exposure of the winner's skills to the publishing world.
Entrants are asked to write an essay of between 1,000 and 1,400 words; this should be a work of fiction entitled 'Reconciliation'. Entrants need to submit their work, in Word format, to rattray@lme.com, or post five A4 copies to the David Rattray Memorial Competition, 56 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 2DX, to be received by Monday, 1 June 2009. Further information is available at http://www.davidrattrayfoundation.org/.