The True Story Behind The Charge Of The Light Brigade | Crimean War | Timeline

The true story of the suicidal mission of British forces to overrun the Imperial Russian fortifications with a courageous but foolhardy mass charge.
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[@jasonbooth4960]

My great grandmothers uncle was one of the twenty who survived the charge,sgt major James nunnerley. Born in Warrington

[@pinchevulpes]

How to live up to such a legacy?! Respect

[@japhfo]

Some 460 survived the charge, though many were wounded.

[@danecranberry6025]

Back when the History Channel actually did history, I heard a historian say,"In war, the first casualty is always the truth."

[@lydiamclaughlin7100]

Love this quote, also sad but its true.

[@mr.dalerobinson]

Historians understand the nuance of ‘the truth’ before fake news was a thing. It’s always a matter of perspective and context, but people want simple, emotional narratives

[@francoisdebellefroid2268]

The exact quote is (and I find it beautifully written): "Truth, it has been said, is the first casualty of war." It is from Philip Snowden in his 1916 book "Truth and the War"

[@Pincer88]

A sad truth in itself, which also will be a casualty, be it of war or of beligerent propaganda.

[@curtisthomas2670]

Spanish American War, Vietnam War, Grenada lnvasion, Panama lnvasion, Desert Storm, lraq War, started with lies.

[@evilpandakillabzonattkoccu4879]

@6:09 ....The quote from General Bosquet mentioned (for those of us who don't speak French, I looked it up) is as followes: "C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre: c'est de la folie" .... which means, in English: "It is magnificent, but it is not war: it is madness".

[@RW4X4X3006]

While vacationing in Simeiz Crimea, I knew the valley of death was only a few miles off. When I had the chance to quietly break away, I had a taxi take me out to the battlefield so I could wander a bit. Once I got my bearings straight and with a quick survey of the terrain, it all came together with a kick in the gut.

[@CaptRich-bi3gp]

Damn, I could only imagine. Hearing this from someone of this modern age makes it all the much more real; for me at least.

[@4thamendment237]

Wow. There is nothing like having the chance to see and walk the ground for the enormity of what happened there to hit you and give you a whole new appreciation of exactly what the various participants faced, or HAD to face. Walking Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg changes your entire understanding of that event, especially if you imagine the wholesale hellfire the Confederates faced, whole groups of them being shredded as they walked. Like Balaclava, it's one of the longest miles on earth...

[@RW4X4X3006]

@@4thamendment237 The locals around Balaclava are very knowledgeable and helpful. You'll get more authentic detailed information from a taxi driver or farmer, than any lecture in a university.

[@Oscuros]

@@RW4X4X3006 Cool story, bro, especially about how some Taxi driver knows more than a university professor. You really sold it coming out with that piece of deluded claptrap.

[@RW4X4X3006]

@@Oscuros Go visit yourself. The cab driver probably was a history professor.

[@vladimirpia148]

I took his hand and shook it heartedly and the tears came into my eyes

[@BiggestCorvid]

For real. That's the most humanizing thing I've heard from the series so far.

[@gazpal]

One of my great uncles - Captain Augustus Webb - was with a the 17th Lancers during the Charge of the Light Brigade. One of his legs was shattered by cannon ball, but he remained in his saddle til rescued by two sergeants, each of the two were subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for my uncle's rescue. He survived the battle, but died at Scutari hospital after the amputation of what remained of his shattered leg and doubtless infection that followed.

[@arthriticgrandpa2875]

Scutari was the hospital that Florence nightingale was working at I think.

[@gazpal]

@@arthriticgrandpa2875 She arrived at Scutari with a team of volunteer nurses and helped improve patient care and hospital hygiene to a point where survival rates soared. Admission to Scutari was no longer necessarily a death sentence for the wounded & injured entering it's doors. Sadly, my grt uncle was a patient there before her arrival.

[@jamesclark2630]

@@gazpal Thanks for the history.

[@jamesbutler8187]

Wow that’s when men were tough. I’m not saying they’re not tough now but running into cannonball.

[@rich11a15]

@@jamesbutler8187 Oh cripes! That smarts! 😄

[@katiejensen7762]

Thank you timeline for giving us such high quality documentaries in these trying times. 🥰

[@terrygrossmann2295]

Well said Katie Jensen. I have learned much from watching Timeline.

[@vinayakbiradar1424]

Watch my videos 🙄

[@castelodeossos3947]

Have read that Lord Cardigan had the cavalry absurdly advance in parade formation, and that was why the Frenchman said it was 'pas la guerre'. When Captain Nolan tried to approach Lord Cardigan, (presumably to tell him he was going in the wrong direction), Lord Cardigan complained that he was going ahead of his superior officer. Captain Nolan turned back and then fell with a high shriek, because a piece of shrapnel had lodged itself somewhere in his throat. Lord Cardigan charged ahead, later telling that he had aimed at the space between the two Russian guns, the cannonballs of which flew so close that at one point he thought one had taken his leg off. Thus, he was in fact conspicuously alone ahead of the field, and then slipped in between the two cannons. What then happened, I don't remember, except that he returned without offering help to a single one of the wounded cavalrymen he passed: a point mentioned at the later trial, to which he responded that his duty had been to lead the brigade down to the guns, and having done that (in a most spectacular manner), he had done his duty. Eventually, he joined the other officers, complaining that Captain Nolan had shrieked like a woman. The officer he spoke to said merely something like, 'There is Captain Nolan, Sir, dead.' Apparently an arrogant albeit courageous gentleman.

[@stratoleft]

@@leeetchells609 As long as the innocent horse, and horses, that don't have anything to do with this, or these scumbags, weren't injured. That's ALL that matters. You friggin' scumbags.

[@xCAUTIONZOMBIESx]

The story I heard was since captain Nolan dislike Lucan he refused to elaborate the order since Lucan refused the original orders having little information. Which is where we get Noland line “there my lord the guns were everywhere” Except Nolan had additional verbal orders with answers. The light brigade proceeded in the wrong direction attacking the wrong guns which Nolan them tried To get attention of Lucan and his officers to tell them the correct orders but as we know artillery killed Nolan.

[@japhfo]

Cavalry in battle was only effective when charging in formation, so as to deliver the shock effect when reaching the enemy en masse. The error, as all involved knew, was attacking an artillery battery from the front. At Balaklava, this was compounded by Russian positions firing on the cavalry in enfilade from _both_ flanks. Undoubtedly, Lucan was incompetent but there was a catalogue of error and miscommunication from Raglan via Nolan to Lucan, even Cardigan- who in truth was only obeying orders. Lucan and Cardigan were not on speaking terms, and Nolan was insolent, otherwise together they might have established the meaning and purpose of Raglan's vaguely worded order and proceeded accordingly.

[@christopherwebb3517]

The Iron Maiden documentary on this subject clocked in at under 5 minutes, and what it lacked in details, it more than made up for in rocking out.

[@brandonk8948]

Great movie with Errol Flynn and David Niven's film debut. Childhood favorite.

[@simonkevnorris]

I think I prefer the later version with David Hemmings who played Nolan.

[@babiryeethel8582]

A good indepth picture of the whole bloody debacle, good to hear views from both sides. Good that it's not only the charge of the light brigade because no point hearing about one battle without the context of the whole campaign. I'll watch this documentary again.

[@jamesangus8504]

Excellent program! How could anyone give it a dislike??

[@castelodeossos3947]

Probably Woke, because s/he stupidly thinks a documentary describing a historical battle means one approves of war. That's what they do.

[@Baskerville22]

Lord Raglan served in the Peninsula War (1807-14) and the Hundred Days, Waterloo campaign. He and Lord Cardigan both gave their names to items of clothing: Raglan for the 'Raglan sleeve" and Cardigan for the woollen, front-buttoned jacket he designed for his cavalrymen

[@sajt6619]

maybe they ought to have been fashion designers instead of commanders :P

[@stevesculptor1]

Never heard of a Balaclava as a vest, it was always hood over the head with an opening for eyes.

[@japhfo]

@@stevesculptor1 Cardigan

[@Mercmad]

Come 1865 the British were setting up to engage in a War in New Zealand .General Cameron didn't have any troops, certainly not enough to fight the Maori so he called for Volunteers in Australia. two of my GGGgrandfathers answered the call, they were both Prussians and had a lot experience in battle. One of my other ancestors was long time settler in NZ who joined up as a Sargent . Cameron then proceeded to engage the Maori in war fare, against some my other ancestors...

[@theeddorian]

The "Light Brigade" was properly the 13th Light Dragoons; light cavalry as opposed to heavy cavalry. The brigade had some years before been stationed in India. The brigade had a high degree of loss in its horses and by the time of the charge was reportedly mounted largely on Turkish "ponies." The bugler, Harry Powell, was grazed in the coat collar by a bullet and his horse, a mare from Ireland named Butcher, was wounded as well. The horse was later treated more or less as a mascot by the 13th and later retired to Windsor. When she died Victoria had inkwells made of her hooves, one of which was given to Powell. Another interesting thing is that the Russians also had a "Florence Nightingale" who is commorated in a church window on the north side of Sebastopol harbor in the Russian cemetery or the soldiers that served in the Crimean War.

[@jacquesstrapp3219]

The Light brigade consisted of the 4th and 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancers, and the 8th and 11th Hussars. The 13th Light Dragoons were a regiment which is a subunit of a brigade. A brigade is composed of 2 or more regiments. Despite the fact that your comment that "the Light Brigade was properly the 13th Light Dragoons" is inaccurate, it was an interesting comment never the less.

[@theeddorian]

@@jacquesstrapp3219 My great X 3 Grandfather was Harry Powell, the Bugler. In his memoir he attributes his survival to Butcher the mare. The bugler had to be mounted as well as the officer in order to keep pace and understand orders for signals to be sounded. Evidently it was customary to mount the bugler on a "grey." Butcher was a bay IIRC, correctly, but evidently it was concluded he needed a good horse more than one the right color. One inkwell in still in the family. Interestingly I saw another on the Antique Road Show years ago. There could only have been four. If you get the chance, both Sebastopol and Balaclava are worth visiting. The Panorama in Sebastopol is remarkable, and there is a pillar with a bust of Tolstoy mounted on the top, which looks slightly gruesome.

[@webleypug]

theeddorian - I hate to rain on your parade, but it was Billy Britten, a 12 year veteran of the 17th Lancers, who blew the bugle to begin the charge. He was mortally wounded that day. Cardigan was quite attached to his bugler & paid out of his own pocket to provide for his comforts until he died about 3 weeks later. Harry Powell was a member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society, so he obviously partook in the charge himself. He is listed as "Private" in the 1877 list of the Society and "Trumpeter" in the 1879 list. Your comment about the Turkish ponies is curious. Do you have a reference for it? There were indeed quite a few horses lost in transport ships during the voyage to Crimea, but that was 6 months before the battle. Getting remounts was a top priority with the brigade, but they'd been adequately replaced by the time of the charge. Local ponies had been examined, but were considered inadequate as cavalry horses due to their small size.

[@strikeeagle6871]

@HJ bangerter what absolute folly ! They could see the enemy holding the high ground with batteries of cannon and infantry ! This romanticizing of a slaughter is typical of the Napoleonic War period of the 19th century !

[@garethjames1300]

A brave horse made into ink wells I wonder what Harry really thought about that! So sad and lacking respect

[@AbrahamLincoln4]

*"Half a league, Half a league, Half a league onward, All in the Valley of Death. Rode the Six Hundred"*

[@chrisnewport7826]

Hi diddle, diddle, right up the middle.

[@philais]

Fake news even back then....

[@unclepatrick2]

I had to memorize that poem in sixth grade. I still remember my class mate , who said the poem as "Happily Happily Happily Onward".

[@fessorjespersen5437]

@@chrisnewport7826 well played 🤣🤣

[@rajkobjelica4905]

The 600 hundred didn't get far.

[@Englishkin]

Tennyson didn't glorify the "blunder". He did, rightfully, however, extol the valour of the Light Brigade for executing such a "blunder" dutifully as it was "theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die,,, the noble Six Hundred".

[@lindainglis8506]

Yes, irony abounds in Tennyson’s “Charge of the Light Brigade.”

[@khairbinjumaa5545]

Yes I concur. I picked up as much too.

[@jackmcnally9237]

Englishkant! Dey woz dooin' wot dogs do ,fowo win' deyr Mowsters ! Kant was at least an educated philosopher and you remain a little englander ignoramus!

[@emsnewssupkis6453]

The 'six hundred' was a reference to ancient Spartan soldiers fighting the Persian king at that famous pass thousands of years ago.

[@JoseCruz-rj9cp]

@@emsnewssupkis6453 wasn't 300 Spartans at the pass of Themophly (mis-spelt on both counts ?!)...

[@guerradejuguetesalujuanima1588]

Great documental. Thanks for uploading!

[@Wayzor_]

Shaking the hand of the man you cut an arm off of. Crazy.

[@ProperLogicalDebate]

To me, this is quite understandable.

[@tjkenney3802]

War is war its just business

[@cambuurleeuwarden]

@Danny Erlandson 't was but a scratch

[@KempSimon]

@@ProperLogicalDebate - I hope that the English soldier said "Sorry"! But that's war - kill, or be killed. Your choice!

[@scubes8987]

Is there going to be another video covering the rest of the war? This is very interesting and well done.

[@zorkwhouse8125]

Somewhere here on YT is a 3 part extended documentary on the war in its entirety. Its very good if you can locate it.

[@stewartw.9151]

How strange to consider it such a privilege to walk amongst the stones of Stonehenge. In the 1960s I recall as a boy with my parents wandering at will there, unrestricted, nobody there to stop you or even ask for money!

[@jeanbrown8295]

I can remember doing that too

[@vincentjohnson3763]

Yes me too with my parents in maybe the late fifties and I did it again in 1976 just wondered around at your leisure great memories

[@castelodeossos3947]

Did it some time in the 1970s. Not a food van in sight, no lavatories, nothing except the land and the stones.

[@SECRETORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR]

There just of bunch of rocks that's what I think about them anyway nothing special about them.And they charge you for the experience and you can't even get close to it anymore..

[@MasterofRakelinge]

So many parallels to be drawn with WW1, which occured 60 years later. In those 60 years, nothing was learned from the harshness of trench warfare, the uselessness of cavalry in the age of modern gunpowder and the importance of logistics and medical treatments. Good to see there was at least some tolerance between the armies to recover dead and wounded, because apart from the famous "Christmas truces" in WW1, such solidarty was rare.

[@KathrynsWorldWildfireTracking]

And 101 years later - No lessons learned that pandemic viruses are more deadly than war.

[@shirleymental4189]

@@KathrynsWorldWildfireTracking Dopey mare.

[@japhfo]

Although in many campaigns prior to the Great War many troops on picket line would observe unofficial truces, exchanging provisions and news, and there were often truces to recover wounded and bury dead before the fighting resumed.

[@camilla_k97]

And during short armistices Russian and allied men spoke French to each other, because French was the international language at that time. In Russia it was extremely popular. All Russian officers and some educated Russian soldiers could speak a certain level of French. So many officers were from absolutely French speaking families (I know this so good, because my mother was born in Russia).

[@sergiolares4285]

This is very interesting. Thanks for sharing

[@SATFD07]

Love timeline you rule!

[@nancybingham7298]

good coverage - thanks

[@brewskibrew986]

I miss when history channel has shows like this.

[@robertmorris2388]

Carry over in my youth, 1960s my mum from England’s London would knit us “ balaclava”, a knit cap that covers head, ears, chin, forehead, cheeks and all the head and neck except eyes and nose. Little did I know it had to do with this battle. The women at home would knit socks, gloves and balaclavas for the combatants.

[@aify5883]

I love the English language how we connect things to names of places and such, it's beautiful.

[@54000biker]

The charge was made by the Light Brigade of the British cavalry, which consisted of the 4th and 13th Light Dragoons, the 17th Lancers, and the 8th and 11th Hussars, under the command of Major General James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan. At full strength the brigade would have numbered 2500 men, and as the light cavalry had not been engaged in action with the enemy up to that point in the war then disease was what killed most of the troopers, leaving only 630 effectives. The charge pretty much finished them off.

[@buddyspaniel8285]

I have not checked the records but I suspect that even when they left England the units were well below full strength. Recruitment was notoriously difficult in this period as the army was a career of last resort. Also regiments left depot squadrons at home to train replacements to be sent to the field force. The difference between 2,500 and 630 is almost certainly a combination of many factors and sickness is only one of them. It may well be that if I look through my numerous books on the subject someone may have already produced work on the strengths of the regiments at various points. The biggest problem for the brigade after the charge was the loss of horses.

[@Tunapie]

I love that poem. Used to recite it back in Elementary school

[@sergeirudenko4044]

And "The Last of the Light Brigade" by Rudyard Kipling - too!

[@MoltenUprisingMK]

The charge so epic a poem and multiple films were made in memory of it.

[@Truly1Tom]

I have always believed it was one of the most simultaneously brave and insane things I ever heard of! Personally I would have gone "over the hill" before I would have voluntarily rode into the middle of a shooting gallery like this "Valley of Death."

[@buddyspaniel8285]

In reality of course they could not see all the enemy forces before they charged and the men did not know where the officers were leading them. It is only with hindsight that we know the charge was doomed to failure.

[@cliffordljacksonjr8020]

not if u had been born then.it was a different time in warfare.

[@catguy00]

Another case of Donkeys leading Lions.

[@justinchetham-strode5234]

It's amazing the British ever acquired an empire, when you look at the levels of utter incompetence of the military leaders: commissions were all bought, and promotion to the highest levels were political appointments. The 1968 film 'The Charge of the Light Brigade, directed by Tony Richardson (and featuring his wife, Vanessa Redgrave, her brother Corin, and Tony and Vanessa's young daughter Joely), is excellent, and sends up the politics, and the ludicrous mismanagement of the campaign.

[@stewartw.9151]

Riles and field guns against spears means you win a lot! Even if you are a nincompoop.

[@safeysmith6720]

The Crimean War was especially bad for British incompetence. But there certainly was a lot of British competence as well throughout it’s history, and it was THAT which helped the empire to expand. There are many examples.

[@miketaylor5212]

there is also the fact that it was an anti war movie.

[@disillusionedanglophile7680]

Some of the British Empire was acquired by arms, a lot of it acquired by happenstance, muddled thinking, and some sheer good luck. A lot of it was acquired by bankers and lawyers at Versailles. Most of the empire was left riven by rival factions of muslims/hindus, muslims/jews, turks/cypriots/greeks, Irish/Irish, tamil tigers etc etc.

[@NoNo-qj3ef]

Actually the reason why the British empire was so huge was because of its navy, their naval examinations helped foster out the incompetent and made really competent officers, Nelson was one of them who would eventually lead the fleet against the French in Trafalgar as an admiral

[@Luna.3.3.3]

I love it when I learn something. I didn't know this poem was about the Crimean war. ~Thanks Timeline!

[@grantsmythe8625]

I could be wrong but I think this war was the first one ever photographed.

[@Luna.3.3.3]

@@grantsmythe8625 I think you're correct. There's a doc on that too! Also brought to us by the wonderful Timeline channel kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqPCi4mliJiAqKs

[@hektor6766]

@@grantsmythe8625 Mexican-American War (1846-1848) was the first photographed.

[@grantsmythe8625]

@@hektor6766 Both Ribert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant were in that war and met. Grant remembered the meeting but Lee did not. Grant was of low rank at the time.

[@natedorney7032]

"We are unable to withstand such victories"... That reminds me of a quote from a british officer following the battle of bunker hill during the American Revolution: "another such dearly bought victory would've been the end of us".

[@cambs0181]

American: See's historical documentary. Realises he has no knowledge or education on the subject matter. Notices America isn't mentioned. Goes to his default setting and brings up his nations war of independence.

[@emojiking8580]

My great great Grandfathers brother, was there , never came home to Ireland 🇮🇪

[@strikeeagle6871]

Such brave men deserve better leaders !

[@lkvideos7181]

May God rest his Soul in Peace.

[@fiachramaccana280]

@@strikeeagle6871 they deserved their own country. To avoid a repeat. Which they got.

[@nickmiller76]

My great great grandfather was in it, as a sergeant in the 4th Light Dragoons. He came back, fortunately, otherwise I wouldn't be here!

[@martini3524]

@@lkvideos7181 Yes. So sad. Ní fhaca se Éire arís. He never saw Ireland again.

[@guitarguru.3572]

Tennyson’s poem is fantastic, but “The Trooper” by Iron Maiden is my favorite artistic homage to The Charge of the Light Brigade.

[@scoots8519]

My uncle in Scotland probably read "The Charge of the Light Brigade" right before he ran at the German machine guns in the trenches in World War 1. What a waste, he was so young, never had children, never really had a life. His death was meaningless.

[@culloden23]

What regiment was he in?

[@edcarson3113]

Don’t waste it.

[@lornebridge]

No, it wasn't meaningless. I appreciate your Uncle's sacrifice. God bless him and may he rest in peace.

[@williamwoods8022]

@@lornebridge It was meaningless - all wars are part of the agenda of these Mafias being exposed in this video here who own and control most of this planet to take over the countries that they didnt own and control and Russia and a few other countries are standing in the way of their total control and this is what our dumb order following military have always fought for even WW2 where Germany had escaped from this scam system and our people were conned into taking them out and back under this scam system - everything that we have been told has been lies and propaganda to cover all of this up kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2nUp2ywqdCKlbc

[@buddyspaniel8285]

My sympathies on the loss of your uncle. Many men joined the army voluntarily in the early war years because they believed in what they were fighting for. His death was not meaningless and his sacrifice was part of the the fighting that took place until 1945 to break the back of Prussian militarism which sort to dominate the world. Thankfully my own grandfather and parents survived their service in the two world wars it took to do this.

[@jimmymchugh8305]

One of those who made the charge is buried in East Finchley, the grave is not in a good state but it is marked accordingly. He received the Victoria Cross retrospectively which had been instituted in 1856.

[@pattyrooney1323]

Thank you

[@iainfoxell8543]

If I remember rightly Charles Gordon's brother formed the supply/logistics corp after this bloody fiasco. To effectively supply the army.

[@ivanivanov1782]

The horse, he sweats with fear, we break to run The mighty roar of the Russian guns And as we race towards the human wall The screams of pain as my comrades fall

[@drvmmudalagirigowdagowda3726]

Probably the UK is the root cause of these wars to enlarge their Colonial Expansion

[@RW4X4X3006]

@@drvmmudalagirigowdagowda3726 Because the UK was the only empire on this rock.

[@brenovsky]

Iron Maiden fan I see...

[@3vimages471]

Wow, I knew this story in detail accept I never knew the French cavalry charged the Russian hill batterys` to aid the Light Brigade`s retreat. Allez Les Bleu ... I will remember that.

[@JimmyS.25]

Strange how Britain and France still don't really see themselves as natural allies , after 3 wars they fought side by side.

[@gangleweed]

@@JimmyS.25 Expediency, when the need is greatest you side with those that you don't like but need.

[@hardyakka6200]

When I was going to school I was fed a lot about how Florence Nightingale saved lives. i found out many years later that the military hospital did as well if not better in their hospitals. When the royal commission found this out and published it Florence took to her bed and never rose again.

[@disillusionedanglophile7680]

Read more history and don't listen to the fake news media. Government always covers up their mistakes. Nevertheless, one has to respect a nurse who volunteers to go into a combat zone

[@strikeeagle6871]

I still say they should have strapped these politicians on horses and forced them to charge into certain death and forced other politicians to watch before it was their turn ! Wars would stop immediately !

[@flouisbailey]

It would be a start, wouldn’t it.

[@yugatrasclart4439]

I mean, the Napoleonic Wars...

[@christophermartin8366]

That was often done in ancient times. Yet still nothing was accomplished

[@idleonlooker1078]

Yes!! It should be LAW that politicians serve on the front line, by leading their troops into battle, for every war that erupts due to their involvement.

[@Riceball01]

Except that the Charge of the Light Brigade had nothing to do with politicians, outside of starting the war, and everything to do with confusion of the LIght Brigade over their orders.

[@brianperry]

I remember reading how the government of the time covered up the disaster at Isandlwana by concentrating on the latter battle at Rorke's Drift...(handing out Victoria Crosses) An action fought by undoubtable brave men commanded by lesser officers, the former by an aristocratic general of no military prowess causing the slaughter of an entire army. Such was the way of war when the aristocracy could buy their way or family connection to advancement in the military....still happening now at the very highest level....

[@michaelroos7944]

And probably will continue to happen until their aren't any ranks or money to buy rank with

[@james6901]

A new world order,,,,l shall be long gone when mankind realise how small they are.

[@PMMagro]

The UK still has house of parlament with inherreted seats in it. Also no formal written full constitution. It is truly amazing. Fortunealty, also for others, you did not always have clown for PM as today...

[@taniaburton7559]

At this very moment . . .

[@simonkevnorris]

@Brian Perry It wasn't a slaughter of an entire arm. Chelmsford split his forces into three columns. He may have even split one of those columns when he advanced to find the Zulu army. It was part of an army that was destroyed. It was still a bad thing to do as no one knew where the Zulu army was.

[@annehersey9895]

As to Winter and the Russians, they are quite aware of what an ally their weather is. Since at least Napolean, it has been referred to as General Winter due to its importance. They also embrace the spring and fall Rasputitsa-the torrents of rain that stop their enemies dead in their tracks!

[@nickbanney3960]

And yet they failed to plan for the mud during the beginning of the Ukrainian war, learning nothing of their own history

[@annehersey9895]

@@nickbanney3960 and nary a Zhukov, Rokkosovsky nor Chuikov to save the day!

[@chrisbaxter3597]

Not sure why when the Navvies were mentioned Irish music ensued - Navigators were British

[@morzh1978]

Wow! Just like Napoleon's adventure. Most of the men lost due to elements, lack of supplies and resulting diseases. What a mess!

[@jasonmiller5369]

I find it amazing the casualties weren't higher or that any of them even made it back to their lines as a matter of fact

[@jamesricker3997]

Many wonded didn't survive long enough to reach the hospital

[@satoryvivseeker]

Thanks

[@dhss333]

Censored here: the 500 navvies were Irish. The Irish largely alone built the British railway, road & canal network, were central in post WW2 reconstruction of cities , likewise in the tunelling & later extension of the London Tube system.

[@LordOfLight]

Wouldn't be Irish yourself by any chance?

[@Skint488]

I enjoyed watching this.

[@christopherwebb3517]

Alaska is America's 49th state thanks to the outcome of the Crimean War. Russia sold Alaska to the US soon after the end of this war, partly to raise much needed funds, and partly to keep Alaska out of British hands.

[@ce207]

Alaska was sold cause Alexander the II liberated the peasants who earlier were just slaves and then the government had to pay huge compensations to land lords, that's was the main reason) КРЫМ НАШ!

[@johnwright291]

I have often thought of how strange it would be if russia hadn't sold Alaska. I lived and worked in southeast Alaska.

[@cambs0181]

One day I will get through one of these documentaries, without an American having to mention his nation in the comments section. Brought on by some insecure fear that if they are not mentioned in the video, everybody will all forget about them and how awesome they are.

[@ironrazma25]

Great seriey

[@polar-jake786]

LEARNING TIIIIIMEEEEE!!!!!

[@pierredecine1936]

Those who refuse to learn from History - are doomed to repeat it ...

[@atomsmasher9411]

...and we never learn

[@pierredecine1936]

@@atomsmasher9411 Robert E Lee said: it's a good thing war is so horrible - or we would grow to like it too much - already happened, i think centuries ago ...

[@LordOfLight]

History repeats itself.

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

Iron Maiden's song "The Trooper" is a great tune about this battle.

[@englishalan222]

I have been to Balaclava, walked down the valley where the Light Brigade charged. It was before Russia annexed the Crimea. It is beautiful there, and the view point has a map of the battlefield. Behind is the panorama painting of the battle in a round building. Next to this are tanks, artillery and other stuff from World War Two as there was much fighting in the region in 1942 during the German and Romanian siege of Sevastopol.

[@tobylangdale95]

Aristocratic management; precisely what we here in the U.S. are suffering from in 2020. The new American aristocracy, We the working class should have outright revolution by the end of 2021.

[@BackBruck]

I love the drawings. All the men seem to have the same moustaches, but their personalities come out in the drawings 🙃

[@dr.barrycohn5461]

And we bid thanks to famed actor, Errol Flynn who led the charge into the valley of death...with sword drawn in full regalia...at least in the movies.

[@41hijinx22]

He also played General Custer in the movies!

[@lightningdriver81]

That was a pretty cool movie, for the day. Cries out for a modern remake.

[@Mercmad]

And a bit of a stick man, hence the expression, "in like Flynn. "

[@iainmitchell8951]

@@41hijinx22 that didn't work out well either

[@Luke7304]

​@@lightningdriver81 There was a remake in 1968, directed by Tony Richardson.

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

I get chills listening to that bugle call imagine it the light brigade thundering towards those guns .....and glory

[@puma51921]

There never seems to be a shortage of incompetent generals.

[@SECRETORDEROFTHEKNIGHTSTEMPLAR]

Absolutely and they all got away with there incompetence any lower class commander would have faced the firing squad..SMH

[@robertbrawley5048]

The music is loud enough but the narration is muffled

[@maryprantephd6736]

William Howard Russell went on to become a correspondent during the American Civil War.

[@shteebo]

It's a real-life Shakespearean drama; a grand suicidal charge due to a misunderstanding. (The hospital sounds worse than the charge.)

[@salinagrrrl69]

I will not give my real name but my ancient ancestor WAS a rider with the Lancers & survived....barely. It is said he claimed surviving sickness was a bigger challenge.

[@nozecone]

Disease could be an enormous factor in pre-anti-biotic wars.

[@flouisbailey]

As in PTSD aka shell or shelling shock to be more accurate. These poor guys likely in all wars for all time.

[@SpectatorAlius]

@@nozecone And it was! Yet even before antibiotics were discovered, World War I was the *first* war in a good long time in which battlefield deaths were greater than disease deaths. I am not sure whether that was because of improved hospital care (they already knew about keeping wounds and medical equipment sterile) or because there were just so many more battlefield deaths from 'improved' weaponry. Antibiotics were not discovered until the ending days of World War II. Even then they had great difficulty making enough of it.

[@wildandbarefoot]

Yes. Paget had a rough time in the Curzon club after a bad oyster

[@danstrickland8908]

@@SpectatorAlius in WW1 more men died from wound infection than died of their wounds. The majority of deaths in the Great War were through disease and famine. Conditions were atrocious - disease was rampant in the trenches, food was poor quality and scarce, whilst everything was so dirty and ridden with bacteria that even a minor cut on a soldier’s finger could rapidly become infected and kill him.

[@kstreet7438]

I only knew of this from assassins creed syndicate.

[@1worldgaming18]

@Finnian MacCool ppl don't need to know unless its been on a media of some sort what if they start thinking for thenselves and have appenions that are bund in reality and solidarity uff that dosent sell stuff they don't need

[@alanaadams7440]

Good ole Flo she improved care for everyone God bless her

[@rupakgbikas4477]

There's plenty of civil war era photographs among locals near the University of Mississippi mostly with subjects scowling at the camera, in many photographs of the civil war era. A battle fought 10 years earlier was also extensively photographed (Western allies of Turkish Empire): the Crimean war. The Crimean war was was fought on one side by allies of Turkey, who fought against Imperial Russia on the other side. The actual objective was to prevent Imperial Russia from having a newly liberated Orthodox nation (Bulgaria), and also from having Constantinople as capital city of Bulgaria, and thereby preventing Imperial Russia from becoming too powerful in the area. It was a war designed to prevent Imperial Russia's former stated objective of liberating Istanbul (Formerly Constantinople) from Turkish empire ("Imperial Russia" means they had a king or queen as head of state). Modern Russian officials say Istanbul is very much a part of Turkish empire. Just before the Crimean war, few officials had made public statements from Russia saying that they would like Orthodox Bulgaria to have Constantinople as capital. Constantinople was to be liberated from Turkey and be made the capital of soon-to-be-liberated Orthodox Bulgaria. Imperial Russian troops were headed for the Danube river and Bulgaria (then under Turkish rule) and Istanbul (Constantinople) only months (or years) before. The Imperial Russian troops in colorful uniforms had recently crossed the Danube river and were headed towards Bulgaria in order to liberate orthodox Bulgaria and Islamic Constantinople by 1850. The Romanovs found out from their diplomats sitting in western embassies that the western powers were not too happy at Imperial Russian troops crossing the Danube river and marching towards Constantinople (then under Turkish empire). Western powers were upset at having Constantinople as future capital of soon-to-be liberated Bulgaria. So, the king of the Romanov dynasty and royalty ordered their generals to withdraw from the area of the Danube river and not to head towards Istanbul. Western powers knew that Bulgarians were Orthodox, and that the government there will be perpetually indebted to Saint Petersburg (meaning Imperial Russian Government). if Russian generals gifted Istanbul to Bulgaria in 1851 and if the Czar made Constantinople the capital of Orthodox Bulgaria, then western powers will never hear the end of it from Bulgars and Magyars of the area. If Constantinople becomes part of Bulgaria, with help from Imperial Russia, the the western powers will be left high and dry in the Balkans, the reasoning went in western capital of that era from 1850 to about 1855. Before the fall of the walled city of Constantinople in 1453 AD, the local Catholic based churches of Constantinople co--existed with the Orthodox churches of Constantinople.

[@rookjo5408]

This is quite simply stated, extraordinarily detailed, and it helped me to pass my history EOC. I appreciate your knowledge.

[@davidgo8874]

21:06 aren't those drawings from a French doctor during and after Waterloo?

[@jamesmorgan4426]

That guy at 15.22 is a fine looking fellow !

[@karenbreeding8597]

I've got to admit this is a great piece. I applaud the notation of the self sacrificing nurses but was quite disappointed at not hearing anything of Mary Seacote...come on, guys.

[@davis7099]

This is a documentary about the Crimean campaign The nurses sent by the War office were an innovation at the time and are given some air time here. Why do you think Seacole a sutler, a business woman, deserves a special mention within the scope of this documentary?

[@karenbreeding8597]

@@davis7099 Only because, business or not, she went inspired to do SOMETHING. She did a great deal of it with limited resources and not in the comparatively large facilities of Nightingale - who was awesome by the way- but she was inspired and went a helluva long way to do SOMETHING. That IS history also. Those who give $5.00 to UNICEF do something albeit different from Bill Gates. They don't, however, get up and go thousands of miles and toil in the filth of a battlefield without going home until i's over. She does not merit the accolade of Nightingale but because she did what she did she deserves ,at least, an honorable mention.

[@nickmiller76]

Seacole's just a fashionable obsession among the wokesters. Not remotely relevant to the content of this piece.

[@leodesalis5915]

Someone who set up a cafe and hotel for officers to reside in posh chairs and smoke cigars while she gets rich off them and the men in the trenches are freezing to death and dying in their masses doesn't deserve much fame and regard, the kindest thing that women ever did was sell hot pies to foot soldiers, to which she made a massive profit.

[@bravo0105]

Insane.

[@henrysevern]

Very good documentary, I didn’t realise some of the Aristocratic military leaders were so incompetent and disorganised. They had any leadership skills and no idea of how to conduct a war.

[@LordOfLight]

Raglan fought at Waterloo and certainly had leadership skills and plenty idea how to conduct a war. By the time of the Crimean War however he was 66 years old and, frankly too old.

[@MegaWunna]

One intresting fact is that Sweden almost joined this war to take back finland but it didn't happen due to the Minister of Finance telling it out be to costly to declare war.

[@garyproffitt5941]

Remember the stones, sticks and the weapons of war with famous Light Brigade.

[@cmourat1]

Such a terrible waste of brave men (and horses too). One of the greatest blunders in military history. That's what happens : 1) When you are unable to write down in a piece of paper a simple order in simple and specific words 2) When you hate your brother in law so much you can barely speak to him, even in the battlefield

[@Orphen42O]

Ironically miscommunication also played a part in Custer's Last Stand. What happened to the men taken prisoner?

[@japhfo]

The Charge of the Light brigade is dealt with briefly and conventionally in the first 11 minutes.

[@Trebor74]

The order that launched the charge is on view at the national army museum Chelsea

[@fredlandry6170]

I saw Stonehenge when I was 9 years old, my dad took a picture of me by it.

[@murrayscott9546]

Very cool. Can't get near it now, or so I've heard. Been to Avebury Henge ( which was bigger but never reconstructed ) and some other Bronze/Iron Age constructions in England/Scotland - each had their special magic. Clava Cairns, Silbury Hill, West Kennet Long Barrow : stones do talk.

[@keithrose6931]

Remember running around and trying to climb the stones with my cousins .

[@armstronggermany2995]

Magnificent and unfortunately it was war. As so often, we were on the wrong side and so many young dead.. and for what ?

[@jesuisravi]

apropos maggots: maggots are creepy, crawly, and slimy. But that slime is a remarkable healing balm, used by battlefield surgeons for centuries to close wounds. Now, researchers say they've figured out how the fly larvae work their magic: Maggots are efficient consumers of dead tissue. So, maggots the wounded man's friends.

[@TheBarrwen]

It’s all about pure greed. At our expense

[@cambs0181]

Our expense. You must be pushing near on 200 years old.

[@thedevilneveraskstwice7027]

Anyway, no one here paid some respect to father of this type of documentary - Ken Burns. Thanks ya'll.

[@thestevezx7]

Thanks for posting this wanted to see the size & sound of this horn, looks a bit deep to fit my triumph tiger 1200 XCA might hit my mudguard, what would you say the dimensions are of the horn... Ruff guess?

[@andrewmorke]

Isn't this the presenter from Battlefields? Smashing.

[@syncmaster915n]

I read the story of the Charge of the Light Brigade many times. The photo at 0:47 all too clear illustrates the local terrain of this particular battle. The Light Brigade didn't see the Ottoman guns being towed away on the heights to their right and a small number of Russian guns to their left. They only saw the Russian main battery in front of them about a mile or so away. They were told (mistakenly) to charge down those guns. Okay then!

[@roykliffen9674]

25th of October 1854 The Light Brigade charged into a much stronger opponent and were soundly defeated 25th of October 1944 Three Fletcher-class Destroyers and four Destroyer-escorts charged a IJN task force consisting of 4 battle ships including the super-battle ship "Yamato", 4 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers and 13 destroyers and won what came to be known as the Battle off Samar.

[@mackattack8627]

The Black Angel Of Crimea Nurse Mary Seacole & Her British Hotel Was The #1 Key To The Soldiers Recovery She Was On The Front Line Daily Saving Lives Florence Nightingale Only Went To The Front Line Twice As A Nurse Serving British Soldiers During The Crimean War That's Why The Queen & British Soldiers Celebrated Her With A 4 Day Parade & Royal Retirement Package As An Honor To Mary Seacole Discipline Help Kindness Cleanness & Natural Medicinal Cure's 💪✊✌️

[@frankrosati6403]

1 in 6? Isn’t that typical level of casualties for that period? How many casualties did they inflict on the Russian artillery man?

[@u.b.5366]

Casualty =/= dead. So having 1/6 of 600 dead has probably another 2/6 wounded. So 1/6 dead probably amounts of half the cavalry as casualties.

[@miketaylor5212]

@@u.b.5366 the narrator said 1 in 6 which meant they lost 100 out of 600 troops.

[@u.b.5366]

@@miketaylor5212 He said 1/6 >dead

[@rohankurian5641]

The day you realise that our school....taught us well!!! 💫❤👊

[@JohnPutnamalwayslearning]

Good production with old pictures, drawings, illustrations and narrations. Watched mostly for the charge of the light Brigade and enjoyed the bonus of Lady nightingale. For me a connection to Netflex is not a good choice.

[@SNAPLINKSLLC]

Thought this was a Duel links video for a sec

[@ErmakBrovar]

Russians captured Turkish redoubts, but the guns they withdrew from these redoubts were British.

[@LWJCarroll]

My 2nd Great Grandfather of the 18th Royal Irish appears to have served in the Crimea, owing to his medal British Crimea Sebastopol and Turkish Crimea which along with another 1-2 medals ( NZ Land Wars) were sold at an auction in Auckland NZ a few years ago…but no mention of this regiment here. So I guess this and other regiments were there?…. Laurie. New Zealand.

[@Hogprint25]

Odd there is no mention of the conflict between Lord’s Raglan and Cardigan? They were in-laws and detested each other. I was always under the impression part of the miscommunication was due to their mistrust of each other?

[@Luke7304]

I thought it was Lucan and Cardigan who were the mutually despised brothers-in-law?

[@Hogprint25]

@@Luke7304 You are correct. I misspoke, it was Lucan and Cardigan that were the brothers in law. The order from Lord Raglan was given to Captain Nolan who relayed it to Lord Lucan.

[@shaminoranger8588]

This is why we despise our leaders.

[@glenncunningham6397]

Iron Maiden told this story pretty well.