The Crimean War was a disastrous one for Great Britain because after many years of peace, the British army was not well-prepared for the challenge of the siege of Sebastopol on the Crimean Peninsula. The most famous incident from that conflict was the "Charge of the Light Brigage" at the Battle of Balaclava. Due to badly worded instructions, a commander led over 600 cavalry straight into a valley that was surrounded on both sides by Russians. The charge became a symbol both of the heroism of British soldiers and the incompetence of their commanding officers. It was immortalized in Alfred Tennyson's famous poem.
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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 Some one had blundered: Their's not to make reply, Their's not to reason why, Their's 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 sabers 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 saber-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. Honor the charge they made! Honor the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred. —Lord Alfred Tennyson |