The 25th of October 1854 garnered significant attention, particularly in the Crimean peninsula, due to a variety of events. The highlight of the day, crafted masterfully into verses by Tennyson, was the much-famed disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade. The ironic remark of a French commander, “C’est magnifique mais ce n’est pas la guerre”, further underlined its unforgettable nature.
Elsewhere during the Battle of Balaclava, a brave stint by the Scots against the Russian cavalry became famously known as the “Thin Red Line”, a term coined by William Russell, war correspondent for the London Times, originally from Dublin.
However, not attracting much limelight was the Charge of the Heavy Brigade. Unlike the Light Brigade’s historical downfall, the Heavy Brigade’s attack resulted in victory, although it’s contestable whether it can truly be classified as a ‘charge’. The assault was conducted uphill, making it appear more like a strenuous drag.
Their triumph could’ve been wide scale if the observing Light Brigade had intervened to put down the retreating Russian forces. Unfortunately, they didn’t, and instead hung back in a stark contrast to the heedless courage for which they later became notorious and, for many, fatally notorious.
Tennyson offered his poetic tribute to the Heavy Brigade’s charge as well, although after 28 years, in 1882. His recognition had by that time surpassed his artistic finesse. His work, “The Charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava”, for which he was paid a hefty five guineas per line, sadly, couldn’t replicate the previous success and fell flat in terms of critical acclaim.
Tennyson’s admiration for a leader who races away from his men, a conduct he likens to an Englishman’s, is a clear display of his unfamiliarity with military principles. This peculiar reference to an ‘Englishman’ hardly casts an impressive light on the nation’s military attributes. The press critic did not hesitate from launching a full-blown critique:
Picturing the war-scene as though it were cannon explosions or thunderbolts, or comparing the soldiers’ resolution to a rock amidst tempestuous seas, has been an overused literary device for quite some time, the critic argues. Such tired and clichéd analogy makes an uninteresting reading experience, much like the literature found in street ballads.
While Tennyson romanticises the figure of the heroic Englishman, the Heavy Brigade charge was just as much an Irish affair. The Fourth Dragoon Guards engaged with the Russians using a traditional Gaelic war cry “Faugh-a-Ballagh” which translates to “Clear the way”. Participants in this historically significant event included a horse named Dickie Bird, whose remains are now showcased at Collins Barracks, Dublin.
During the Crimean War, approximately one-third of the British military were Irish. Furthermore, regardless of being English, the main commanders at Balaclava, irrespective of their competence, all had solid ties with Ireland.
This includes the infamous Generals Raglan and Cardigan, who took the blame for the disastrous Light Brigade charge. Louis Nolan also had a role in this event; while he tried to prevent the charge, he tragically perished in it. Lord Lucan, a man known to own huge properties in Mayo and averse to the local populace, is another notable figure.
Cecil Woodham-Smith, a historian, implies that Lord Lucan was disrespectful towards Irish people, even during the famine, when he treated his tenants as a pest to his land. His brutal behaviour in Ireland contributed to the government’s decision of electing him for a command in Crimea, argues another historian.
Russell, who hailed from Tallaght, is broadly recognised as the pioneer of contemporary war journalism. His reportage of the notorious 25-minute attack by the Light Brigade continues to shape our understanding of history. At 11:10 am, he documented the grand charge of the Brigade towards the enemy, their armor glistening in the morning light. As they advanced, the enemy line unleashed a deluge of fire and smoke, causing instantaneous destruction in the ranks of the Brigade and leaving only the dead or dying British soldiers on the battlefield.
Russell’s vivid account wasn’t made public until several weeks later in mid-November. However, its impact was profound, influencing the notable poet Tennyson. The poem Tennyson created in response is considered by some to be a poor piece of literature, evidenced by the many crossed out lines within the manuscript.
Regardless of critics deeming it artistically flawed, the final version of Tennyson’s poem about the Light Brigade has endured the test of time. As pointed out by a character in a Flann O’Brien’s work, it has achieved a sense of “uncertainty”. Even after one hundred and seventy years, it remains one of the most often quoted verses. Many people can recall, at least, a few lines such as: “Theirs not to reason why,/Theirs but to do and die./Into the valley of Death/Rode the six hundred.”