Charge of the Light Brigade should be remembered

IN recent months we have quite properly remembered with thanks and pride certain exploits of our armed services, most recently the Battle of Britain.

The 25th October is the 166th anniversary of one of the most heroic and criminally stupid incidents in the annals of our history.

On that morning in the Crimea a force of some 5,000 Russians stormed the guns on either side of the valley at Balaclava. These were heavy naval guns and were manned by Turkish forces who sadly ran away.

The Russians then attempted to remove the guns to their own lines and were observed doing so by Lord Raglan from his command position. It being not only a military disaster but also a great dishonour to have your guns pinched by the enemy, he gave the order that the cavalry should intercept and prevent this loss.

Much tangled and disputed history exists to explain what happened but the outcome is not in doubt; the Light Brigade charged down the valley with canon and rifle fire on both flanks and serious guns in front of them.

The first line of the formed cavalry had at its centre two squadrons of the 17th/21st Lancers. To the left was a squadron commanded by Capt Morris whose memorial is erected near Hatherleigh and whose home was at Fishleigh. The right-hand squadron was commanded by Captain White who was responsible for maintaining the position of the entire formation in relation to Lord Cardigan who led the charge.

Morris was unhorsed from within the melee, fought off attacks by some four or five Cossacks, was rescued and captured by a Russian officer, escaped in the cloud of gun smoke, was seriously wounded by a sabre which fractured his skull, pierced by a lance in the temple, and then struiggled clear, caught a loose horse and clung on until almost reaching the British lines where he fell unconscious. The doctor and sergeant who ran to his assistance, treating him under fire and getting him back to safety both received the VC.

Morris did eventually recover but died in India, on service, from dysentery.

Captain White’s charger was killed and fell on top of the officer, breaking his leg very severely and trapping him. He was subsequently rescued by a trooper who got him back to the British lines from where he transferred to Scutari and the care of Florence Nightingale.

He returned to England and fully recovered and completed a distinguished military career which ended as a General.

At the commencement the Charge the Light Brigade numbered 637, at the end only 195 still had their horses, and 245 were dead or wounded., and 362 horses perished.

However, the large concentration of Russian cavalry in rear of the guns were largely put to flight. The whole episode reflected of course on the incompetence of the most senior officers or, at best, their inability to pass orders which could not be misinterpreted, but perhaps more importantly it reflected on the outstanding bravery and discipline of the British soldiery and their fighting skill. They should be more celebrated than they are. Seven VCs were awarded for this action.

It would be appropriate if some note of pride and admiration for a few of our ancestors were to appear in your edition to mark October 25th.