Today is the anniversary of the Charge of the Light Brigade, which took place on 25th October 1854 during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. It was a disastrous frontal assault by British light cavalry against Russian cannon, which became a symbol of both bravery and military incompetence, so says the history books.
It was Captain Louis Nolan who received the order to charge and after receiving the order, Nolan rode towards Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan and pointed vaguely toward the Russian guns, stating “There, my lord, is your enemy, there are your guns.” He rode ahead of the first line, and while it’s debated whether he was correcting an error or simply urging the brigade on, he shouted the command “Charge for the guns” as he rode past Lord Cardigan.
Into the Valley of Death charged the Light Brigade, their sabres and lances initially useless against the Russian heavy artillery which left some 110 British cavalrymen killed and 160 wounded, 40 percent of the brigade
Some may see this a futile gesture but I see it as typical British bravery in the face of overpowering opposition. I am slightly biased in that my birth name before I was adopted was Michael Nolan and although I have no idea if I am related to the unfortunate Captain Nolan who shouted the order to charge, I would like to point out that in these modern times where everyone believes they are entitled to compensation or reparations for events that happened years and years ago, don’t come chasing me, I wasn’t responsible and I’m not paying up for something that wasn’t my fault.
On the other hand, as my Nolan ancestors came from Ferns, County Wexford in Ireland, if there’s any chance of reparations for the Irish potato famine, I’m open to negotiations.
