Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

ariel · 21st March 2005, 07:09 PM

The British were always immensely proud of their ability to stay the ground and keep their ranks: this was a survival requirement sine qua non, otherwise the disorganised infantry unit became an easy prey to the attacking cavalry. The most famous example of it was the "Thin Red Line" of the Scotch infantry that withstood the Russian cavalry charge at Balaclava (by the way, on the very same day that the famous Charge of the Light Brigade took place).
Well, Sudanese Mahdists bear the distinction of dispensing with the tradition an breaking "the British Square". Not a mean achievement!

21st March 2005, 07:09 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The British were always immensely proud of their ability to stay the ground and keep their ranks: this was a survival requirement sine qua non, otherwise the disorganised infantry unit became an easy prey to the attacking cavalry. The most famous example of it was the "Thin Red Line" of the Scotch infantry that withstood the Russian cavalry charge at Balaclava (by the way, on the very same day that the famous Charge of the Light Brigade took place). Well, Sudanese Mahdists bear the distinction of dispensing with the tradition an breaking "the British Square". Not a mean achievement!