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By: Clif High
First published in 1854, the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ was about the ‘glorious’ deaths of a British brigade of Light Horse in a famous charge against fixed, mostly ground works, fortifications manned by Russian Regular Calvary, as well as Cossack Mounted in a defense of a captured Russian seaport in the previous version of the Crimean War.
The Light Brigade of Calvary were launched by ambiguous words from the commander of the battle into a confusing melee that did not have the General’s vantage point view, thus, as usual in War, the ambiguity of the orders issued left the commanders in the field attempting to differentiate between targets only specified as ‘enemy guns’.
A sad error that cost the lives of 38% of the force of men of the Light Brigade, as well as 71% of their horses.
‘Lord Raglan wishes the cavalry to advance rapidly to the front, follow the enemy and try to prevent the enemy carrying away the guns. Troop Horse Artillery may accompany. French cavalry is on your left. Immediate.
R. Airey’.
Order which launched the Charge of the Light Brigade, 1854
The British have history in Crimea. They have buried soldiers in a lot of countries including Ukraine. Crimea was to Britain, as Vietnam is to the USA. Lots of blooded history there.
It would be preferable that USA not join the Brits in having cemeteries scattered through the region.
We are riding into the Shadow of this Valley of Death. Anyone noticing?
Perhaps we can dig deep, think as adults, and learn from history. 2023 – 1854 = 169 years. Long enough for this to be playing out? Shall we get wise & put these elitist games aside while we tackle our real problems?
The Charge of the Light Brigade
I
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
II
“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Someone had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
III
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
Rode the six hundred.
IV
Flashed all their sabres bare,
Flashed as they turned in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wondered.
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right through the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reeled from the sabre stroke
Shattered and sundered.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.
V
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell.
They that had fought so well
Came through the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.
VI
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
Rose Rambles... 