The Crimean War & The Charge of the Light Brigade: History & Film

Military History Lecture Series (November 11, 2010)

Dr. Robinson Yost, Assistant Professor, History Social Sciences Department

Attack, sir? Attack what? What guns, sir? Lord Lucan

There, my Lord, is your enemy; there are your guns. Captain Nolan

Allow me to point out to you that there is a battery in front, battery on each flank, and the ground is covered with Russian riflemen. Lord Cardigan

I know it. But Lord Raglan will have it. We have no choice but to obey . Lord Lucan

“Russian War” (1853-1856)

Results?

o weaker Russia

o stronger France

o ended Concert of Europe

o 750,000 – 1 million dead

Origins?

o religious

o political

The War?

o technology

o mismanagement

o tactics

Punch (April, 1853)

Brave or Stupid?

George Charles Bingham (1800-1888)Lord Lucan

James Thomas Brudenell (1797-1868)

Lord Cardigan

As to Lord Cardigan, he has as much brains as my boot, and is only equally in want of intellect by his relation Lord “Look-on.” Without mincing words, two bigger fools could not be picked out of the British Army to take command.

Charge of the Light Brigade (Oct. 25, 1854)

The Charge

o why? Raglan’s order:

“Lord Raglan wishes the cavalry to advance rapidly to the front, and try to prevent the enemy carrying away the guns. Troop of horse artillery may accompany. French cavalry is on your left. Immediate.”

o results?

118 killed

134 wounded/57 prisoner

475 horse killed or shot after

only 195 men mounted

1936

1968

Charge of the Light Brigade: Lessons?

The Historical Event:

unclear orders

old tactics versus new technology

diffusion of responsibility

incompetent British officer corps

Tennyson’s version of the charge

The Films Depicting the Event:

1936 version: visually accurate, historically inaccurate

Concocts a fictional “reason why”: Errol Flynn is the hero

Certainty among mid-1930s uncertainties: Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin

1968 version: visually accurate, historically more accurate but misleading

Targeting British social order: Old (bad) versus New (good)

Anti-war, Vietnam parallels: a far-away war, mismanaged & futile

Charge of the Light Brigade: Lessons?

Final Words:

Because these movies are readily available today on DVD, hundreds of people today can watch them today in the comfort of their own homes.