The Charge of the Light Brigade (An Epic Poem from History)

‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ celebrates the self-sacrifice and heroism of 600 soldiers who charged against a 25,000 strong Russian army during the Crimean War.
Further reading: www.history.com/news/the-char...
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Read by John Davies
Written by Alfred Tennyson (1809 - 1892)
Music by Whitesand
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Full Poem:
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
#bravery #war #poem

[@johnbyrne2127]

"A man is never too weak Or too wounded to fight. If the cause is greater Than his own life." - Oenomaus

[@baronwalker2212]

ill never have the courage or the guts to live up to the 600, i would like to think i would, but i know i wouldnt. this is why we should honour them

[@srinivasmokenapalli]

❤

[@louisgovernale598]

John such true words my friend👍

[@armeniaamoroso7300]

Z

[@50shekels]

@@baronwalker2212 then perhaps the biggest honour would be becoming someone who would

[@johnbyrne2127]

"I'm not afraid of an army Of lions led by a sheep, I'm afraid of an army of Sheep led by a lion." - Alexander the Great.

[@klgreload]

Expect this was a army of lions led by a sheep

[@greatlegacyoftanks5511]

That a quote that is remarkable today

[@stianolivier2257]

I was in a very dark place in my life and I came across your channel, specifically Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening by Robert Frost. I can never thank you enough because that poem saved my life and made me realise that I have miles to go before I sleep. Thank you

[@voxna]

I'm glad for you brother for not going that route I salute you for your domant strength

[@hitarthmodi3600]

You've got this brother.

[@thomassmith1823]

Life is our challenge to accept, every failure and victory is a test, your past does not need you, your future does

[@millennium677]

never take that route all you are doing is passing your pain onto the people who love you.

[@bcasey3639]

So glad you found something to cling to. I too have found literature, poetry and music my source of strength when you feel alone and hopeless. Stay strong my friend ❤️

[@Ie_Shima]

There were thirty million English who talked of England's might, There were twenty broken troopers who lacked a bed for the night. They had neither food nor money, they had neither service nor trade; They were only shiftless soldiers, the last of the Light Brigade. They felt that life was fleeting; they knew not that art was long, That though they were dying of famine, they lived in deathless song. They asked for a little money to keep the wolf from the door; And the thirty million English sent twenty pounds and four! They laid their heads together that were scarred and lined and grey; Keen were the Russian sabres, but want was keener than they; And an old Troop-Sergeant muttered, "Let us go to the man who writes The things on Balaclava the kiddies at school recites." They went without bands or colours, a regiment ten-file strong, To look for the Master-singer who had crowned them all in his song; And, waiting his servant's order, by the garden gate they stayed, A desolate little cluster, the last of the Light Brigade. They strove to stand to attention, to straighten the toil-bowed back; They drilled on an empty stomach, the loose-knit files fell slack; With stooping of weary shoulders, in garments tattered and frayed, They shambled into his presence, the last of the Light Brigade. The old Troop-Sergeant was spokesman, and "Beggin' your pardon," he said, "You wrote o' the Light Brigade, sir. Here's all that isn't dead. An' it's all come true what you wrote, sir, regardin' the mouth of hell; For we're all of us nigh to the workhouse, an' we thought we'd call an' tell. "No, thank you, we don't want food, sir; but couldn't you take an' write A sort of 'to be continued' and 'see next page' o' the fight? We think that someone has blundered, an' couldn't you tell 'em how? You wrote we were heroes once, sir. Please, write we are starving now." The poor little army departed, limping and lean and forlorn. And the heart of the Master-singer grew hot with "the scorn of scorn." And he wrote for them wonderful verses that swept the land like flame, Till the fatted souls of the English were scourged with the thing called Shame. They sent a cheque to the felon that sprang from an Irish bog; They healed the spavined cab-horse; they housed the homeless dog; And they sent (you may call me a liar), when felon and beast were paid, A cheque, for enough to live on, to the last of the Light Brigade. O thirty million English that babble of England's might, Behold there are twenty heroes who lack their food to-night; Our children's children are lisping to "honour the charge they made - " And we leave to the streets and the workhouse the charge of the Light Brigade!

[@motivationalvideospeeches]

our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising everytime we fall.

[@synczx3023]

🤞

[@motivationalvideospeeches]

@@synczx3023 🙏

[@lalithdealwis4610]

Nelson Mandela

[@thesunandthesand]

But this time with more power and enthusiasm

[@ethanbrogger7487]

ok well they didn't rise when they fell

[@udichohen]

the repetition here is amazing, in some lines its give you the high intense ryhtem of the battle and its chaotic feeling, and in other lines its make the world stand still in awe.

[@anitadatta1303]

A timeless poem of great sacrifice of a battalion of soldiers , their loyalty to command !

[@Wann-zo7rn2qn4i]

Generals act out of foolishness or selfishness and soldiers die. Perhaps we should ponder more on this stanza : "..though the soldiers knew someone had blundered. Theirs not to make reply, theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die." In the current geopolitical happenings, all the more, we should ponder on this instead of celebrating heroic unnecessary deaths.

[@thomasrivera8626]

@@Wann-zo7rn2qn4i yes... this 100%

[@ash8207]

@@Wann-zo7rn2qn4i Well said! Needlessly dying in war is no cause to celebrate.

[@alexmag342]

@@ash8207 It's celebrating their sense of duty, honour and their bravery, yours is just another indoctrinated take, submissive puppet of the Bankers

[@johnbyrne2127]

"A Gladiator's first Distraction is his last." - Oenomaus.

[@billiondollarsclub8011]

The dear person that's reading this, we don't know each other but I wish you all the best in life❤ don't ever blame yourself, accept things and go forward. Your smile is precious and a key to a happy life...

[@louisgovernale598]

Ty

[@SharpShootur]

Thank you for your encouraging words.😇

[@Fierymedic2015]

You never know how much someone might need this. Thanks

[@GamingN-ns9df]

Thanks ...means so much

[@ontyam]

Funny how you've posted this on this kinda video.

[@johnbyrne2127]

"If you Love your Country Why is it necessary To hate other Countries?" - Arthur Miller.

[@alhankenyatta7687]

That wise words from you brother.

[@bluemoon-pm5hv]

I don't hate anyone, I may dislike the things they do,but not hate🙏✌❤

[@rexnemorensis8154]

If the people of every nation deposed the corrupt, treacherous, and tyrannical - there would be no war.

[@billychops1280]

People aren’t born like that tho, they are made by things (mostly greed) so it’s unfortunately in our nature

[@ryanfreebody6881]

I suppose when that other country decides to step foot into your land and leave deep scars behind. Most Polish I know have the Russians and Germans due to WW2 and everything that came after.

[@johnbyrne2127]

"The War is not meant to be won, it is meant to be Continuous." - George Orwell.

[@spell-bindingdesigns7395]

I disagree…. War should be always ended in peace

[@JohnVonCakes]

So did George Orwell. He wrote it not because it was opinion, but because it is fact. There is too much money to be made in war for those in power to remain at peace.

[@terro3842]

@@JohnVonCakes I admire sentiment, but consider it naive. It is not because there is money to be made. It is because the fundamental nature of a man. Given you assumed position of leadership you would given the circumstances face the choices in which conflict aversion equals betrayal of the people you have sworn to protect.

[@savvageorge]

And looks like there's a good possibility could be more fighting in Crimea.

[@DerSchleier]

@@spell-bindingdesigns7395 Wrong. War is about profit and thus war is perpetuity. You best educate yourself... for war is the ultimate in profit... for the money-lending hobbit.

[@johnbyrne2127]

"All men die, but not all men really live." - William Wallace.

[@cookiemonster749]

I haven’t clicked on a KZbin video so fast in such a long time. One of my all time favourite poems.

[@CandidRose]

The narrator's voice really made this more epic. I remembered our teacher reading it just like this and it gave me goosebumps.

[@TrueHonest8717]

ys

[@umakavita2843]

Beautifully recited. Powerful words. One of my favorite poems from childhood.

[@Fatherland927]

The most heart touching poem. Real, brave men fell that day. Rest in peace lads

[@noellahjeannica6961]

Brought me to tears and sent shivers throughout my body. What a masterpiece.

[@lalithdealwis4610]

I studied this poem as a young boy in 1965. It is a wonderfully stirring poem, especially for a young boy of 13 yrs. I find John Davies' reading of the poem more funereal and not particularly stirring. I do realise that the charge was a result of a misunderstood command and that though the horsemen thought the command suicidal and ridiculous, they went ahead with the charge without questioning it but I always thought the intention of the poet was to celebrate their courage rather than mourn their deaths.

[@blackyme2889]

you guys are helpping me alot ,,, your videos up lift my soul and heart.

[@truenorthaffirmations7049]

The rising ones

[@SkyBlue6365]

I read this poem in school in 1961. Guess how long ago. 60 years!

[@grayclouds9712]

I read this a ton in middle school! I've never been more excited to click on one of your videos!

[@trex5863]

This is so amazing, we were taught this poem the previous year!!

[@p.ksrivastava2349]

Sir, very good to remind me of this noble poem. I read it my earlier classes. My father liked it most.

[@yuzenpro3263]

I’ve been waiting for this one for so long!

[@cherryralte4934]

Miss my school days so much listening to it. Dedicated to all my old mates.

[@ashokmandal2490]

Fantastic Composition by Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson

[@rahulkhandelwal6493]

Great poem.keep your work going

[@tylersmith8045]

Great reading of a classic poem

[@artinpoetsoulnature]

Great poetry 🙏🌿🍃Thanks friend💐🌸🌺🌻🌹🌷🌼💐🌸🌺🌻🌹🌷🌼💐🌸🌺🌻🌹🌷🌼💐🌸🌺🌻🌹🌷🌼💐🌸🌺🌻🌹🌷🌼💐🌸🌺🌻🌹🌷🌼💐🌸🌺🌻🌹🌷🌼💐

[@lornafraserwaterworth559]

A wonderful poem ( never forgotten) I remember learning at school many years ago 🌹🧸♥️

[@XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXXxXxxccx]

As a SGT in the USMC I understand this poem to the letter.

[@anaconda526]

Thank you for your service sir

[@adityasurve8106]

What a masterpiece powerful poetry it is. Very very powerfull and impactful narration. Hats off. 🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@Readinglovepoems]

A very heartfelt and sincere read! Bravo to the reader for his enchanting baritone! In my opinion, the best time on the planet was in the era of dinosaurs and Neanderthals, when a club and stones replaced weapons. Any conflict can be solved without aggression with the help of negotiations of intelligent people. Man was created for happiness on Earth, not for suffering, strife and earthly underworld....

[@actually_a_circle]

I cried, and I'm proud of it

[@socrates7996]

This videos are better than movies i pictured this battle in my mind and it was epic what a last stand they made!

[@institutoshizen]

Before they were soldiers, they were men. It drives me emotions because we cannot find more these days men with value, honour, courage, God and family to fight for. I live a life worthy of the long line of warriors that have come before me and died in sacrifice of what men used to be. Hail Mary and our Lord Jesus Christ bless your family members.

[@leighmartin5293]

Excellently orated. Awe inspired. I was there.

[@ash8207]

Great poem! But it's also sad when you hear the words..."though the soldiers knew someone had blundered. Theirs not to make reply, theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die." Seems like these brave cavalrymen were ordered to die needlessly due to the arrogance & foolishness of their generals, which makes this poem bittersweet.

[@CH-xq6if]

It's an interesting event to research even if you just watch the horrible histories sketch

[@cassandrathomas5248]

And unbelievable true

[@Konstantine_799]

You expressed my thoughts better than i could! It's exactly bittersweet

[@akala-bluesaville9866]

@@CH-xq6ifI love that!🙂Horrible Histories is amazing. Taught me so much. The quirky,cheeky and fun energy. With a slight Pythonesque twist. ✌️

[@iankiplorain4168]

This almost made me cry.

[@christianfreedom-seeker934]

“But alas! They died in vain! 600 brave men did fall, but for the whims of Whitehall” -Anonymous

[@Rinkivani2897]

*Not only imagination, but meaningful work is also necessary for success. It is not enough just to keep looking at the stairs, it is also necessary to climb the stairs.* 🌿🥀🌿🥀🌿🥀🌿🙏

[@narayananthikandy671]

Truly and honestly, Thanks.

[@johnbyrne2127]

"There is no honourable way To kill, no gentle way to destroy. There is nothing good in War. Except it's Ending." - Abraham Lincoln.

[@drakeh8162]

Timeless!

[@johnsheen4403]

Very moving poem.

[@jangofett2336]

We get so close near enough to fight When a Russian gets me in his sights He pulls the trigger and I feel the blow A burst of rounds take my horse below...

[@johnbyrne2127]

"War is the business of Barbarians." - Napoleon Bonaparte.

[@christal2641]

The REAL HEROS of the Crimean War were Florence Nightengale and her Angels of Mercy.

[@HOSSEIN_BADBOY]

This is truly talk to me

[@pauljones3874]

Amazing!

[@hyperprime1612]

You have my respect and honor

[@TopsideCrisis346]

The memory of heroes, passed down to the next generation, begets new heroes.

[@ediefalco3312]

Engli as b lov Ed gif LP e as !?!

[@rinalore]

How brave those Soldiers were. This is the saddest of poems, I've yet read. 🇨🇦 🎶🎸✍🏻💔

[@Fahad-bk9pc]

I remember reading this poem in 11th grade in college. Brings back memories.

[@logicalrasperry9436]

11th grade in college my teacher made us read it and do a quiz about it in 9th grade

[@theskywookie929]

bro this was bringing me to tears at 9:41 am on a monday.

[@ThePyramidone]

The brigade consisted of 670-678 troopers (figures vary) from the 4th and 14th Light Dragoons; 17th Lancers; and the 8th and 9th Hussar regiments. The attack was made on the wrong positions due to a gross miscommunication by the messenger who was killed at the onset of the charge while attempting to redirect the orientation of the attack. According to one account of the attack 469 of 664 cavalrymen fell, and 195 survived the 11-1 counterattack by Russian cavalry.

[@Sriram-ve4ge]

If you want to know more about this military engagement, read Cecilia Woodham Smith's The Reason Why. The charge of the light brigade was an ill advised one by Lord Cardigan after whom the cardigans you wear were named.

[@TrueHonest8717]

thnx, this was in my sylabus

[@motivationalspeech1509]

Life imposes things on you that you can't control, but you still have the choice of how you're going to live through this

[@michaelpettersson4919]

And this is why soldiers are typically expected to repeat their orders back to their commanding officers. Poor communication kills and you need to make sure that orders are correctly understood.

[@warrior-wm8vb]

Powerful

[@JLone55]

Back when Britons were truly Britons. A special sense of duty, honor and loyalty that was unique to them. Rule Brittania!

[@deadangel554]

Star trek ds9 is the reason why I know of this poem and it is awesome.

[@christal2641]

A steel gauntlet?? What would the artwork here have been if the artist had read or heard the poem?

[@JL-fp1oe]

Theirs not to make reply theirs not to reason why theirs but to do and die words so powerful and not many know.

[@impulsemotivation8294]

The more you sweat in peace the less you bleed in war

[@larson0014]

They wernt really ordered to do a frontal attack, The orders were to attack a retreating forward cannon group; the orders were either misinterpreted or misunderstood by the dispatcher.

[@elvitoreo]

And then we had The Trooper, from Iron Maiden. Two masterpieces.

[@whitewachtel405]

Also, Ride to the Guns from Jorn.

[@expresseducator1511]

2X the playback speed to feel the rhythm

[@user-cr9fu8kv9f]

Sound ❤️

[@cassidysantana9400]

Why the knights armoured hand ?

[@TheDb2450]

Listen to the poem, look at the pommel and think about it

[@coopermccann9792]

The picture is kind of weird. Excalibur(esque) instead of the Hussars sabre …. "Flashed all their sabres bare” .. why?

[@johnsanders8023]

that crusades theme def. missed the brief. wtf?

[@TheDb2450]

Their martial act resembles that of knights of old

[@damagedgoods3126]

Wow 💓

[@MrJoker-]

Eloquent words!

[@CCrK611]

Anyone that’s wondering why the 600 didn’t turn tail…I was army combat arms (enlisted) only as a corporal and the amount of guys that turned tail under other leaders but not me gave me a lot of confidence. Asked them why and that always said it was cause I gave more of a shit about them than myself.

[@asogundaniel]

May I find the confidence to boldly face my fears head on... I charge

[@JanLayneCobain]

Where is that picture from? I really need this

[@keeoldman1]

When you live for the moment

[@glynisp8868]

The rhythm is meant to create the feeling of horses galloping. This sounds like old horses carrying a hearse. The voice is wonderful but the slow pace destroys Tennyson’s beautiful meter.

[@bettermanchannel770]

WE become what WE ARE

[@globaltips168]

Nice

[@growyourbusinessworld]

I’m here to check the views, who else? But.... yes, great video you make :)

[@elenamedvedeva3684]

Пример мясного штурма, наглядный. Помню эту историю. Командование за такой приказ нужно было повесить.

[@grandadmiralsteel1989]

I remember in middle school I presented this poem in my public speaking class

[@l.d.p.9365]

I wouldn't hesitate. Death has no teeth for me. Fear is for those who come against me. I am a fearsome adversry.

[@gamingthisera6339]

I remember this in school days

[@slenderninja2427]

Can someone tell me the name of the music?

[@rjistheman]

its really important to also state that they were sent into action because the commander misunderstood the objectives they received. Its not a story about bravery in the face of adversity, but how men were sent to their deaths because of the idiocy of their commanders.

[@imeshapraneedi8824]

''in the vallaey of death''AMAZING

[@ontyam]

They didn't know it was a suicide mission. They were given misinformation. I recently found this out. Turns it from a triumph to a tragedy.

[@GG-zl3et]

They'll have most certainly known it was a suicide mission, but they won't have known the orders were incorrect.

[@ontyam]

@@GG-zl3et why would they know it was a suicide mission? They went up the wrong valley... Their orders didn't match the reality of the assault. Once they realised the mistake they had made they tried to retreat hence 'cannon behind them'.

[@GG-zl3et]

@@ontyam because they knew what they were heading into...

[@ontyam]

@@GG-zl3et I don't understand your point. They didn't know they were charging cannons. THEY WENT UP THE WRONG VALLEY.

[@GG-zl3et]

@@ontyam you seriously think they didn't know where the canons were on a battlefield?

[@israelajala496]

wow! Startling imagery formed in my mind as this was narrated . How many Russians did the 600 go against?

[@truenorthaffirmations7049]

The ageless ones

[@LawrenceGardiner]

Wiki states 'approximately 20 battalions of infantry supported by over 50 artillery pieces.' but the actual number seems to be unknown.

[@tedpoe4385]

approx. 25,000

[@prohor_morozov]

​@@tedpoe4385 Ты глуп. Учи историю.

[@ontyam]

Edit: the light cavalry may have known the commanders had blundered but by law they weren't allowed to act as if their commanders had blundered. Hence why the poet breaks his poem to add 'blundered'. He was criticising the chain of command. Just so people know this charge wasn't a suicide mission nor did they know they were engaging in a frontal assault. I'm British but that's just stupid. Why would they consciously kill 600 men and lose their armour and weapons? They went up the wrong valley due to miscommunication. I'm glad my father told me as the 'cannon behind them' didn't make sense. They tried to retreat after they realised what a f*CK up this was. My father was in the British army infantry for almost 23 years. He knows his stuff and I did some research to confirm it. Sad state of affairs due to commanding officers. I doubt this poem does the 600 justice but it is poetic (obviously), romantic and great nonetheless.

[@pipesandcigarsinfrance5342]

Great poem. One of my favourites, but it's been proven to be more 60

[@dtcdtc8328]

When Tyranny becomes Law Rebellion becomes Duty- Thomas Jefferson

[@ssgpentland8241]

Anyone notice the particulars of the sword? SMIB

[@amarpreetsingh7066]

This poem.....Will find ...you.....one day....my good fellow

[@Inspireuanu]

❣️

[@Angels_surround_me]

❤

[@blueeyesgaming3921]

I know this is not important but. I'm super depressed right now. I want to cry so hard. Someone help me, my soldiers😢

[@SharpShootur]

“War is a continuation of politics by other means.” Carl Von Clausewitz Prussian general and influential military theorist

[@pcollingridge]

I'm not sure the Armoured hand and broadsword pictured have any connection to Wordsworth's poem.... several hundred years too early

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

👍