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Jim McDougall · 30th September 2022, 09:20 PM

The fateful charge into the 'Valley of Death' resulted from an unfortunate misinterpretation of a written order from the commanding officer of the British cavalry which was carried to the ranking officer of the cavalry. There was considerable distance between them over notable terrain and the order was carried by a young officer who was anxious to begin the action.

The order had intended for the cavalry to advance and to keep the Russian enemy from carrying away captured British guns from redoubts to the right.
Not having the scope of vision that Lord Raglan had overseeing the entire valley Lord Lucan could not see what was meant, visually. When he asked the young aide 'what guns' , he frantically motioned ahead to the North Valley. While this seemed ludicrous to Lucan, as there were heavily armed positions on all sides there, he ordered the advance ...it was the order.

Though Tennyson's poem suggests the entire body of the force (600) were all lost. and while numbers seem varied, one of the largest losses were the horses, almost 475 killed. The men lost were 118 killed, 127 wounded, about 60 captured.
Despite the terrible carnage, many of the survivors were prepared to 'go again' however only 195 still had mounts, and they were told they had done enough for that day.

The order carried would have been held in a pouch which was slung from the same straps as held the saber scabbard, called a sabretache. This type of pouch would likely have held the fateful order carried by Lt. Nolan, the aide who was attached to the force despite being from another unit, 15th hussars.

The front line of the charge was the 17th Lancers, whose emblem was the skull and crossbones, motto "Death or Glory". The sabretache attached is of the type worn by them at this time and can be seen in some paintings of the charge (though the skull device not always discernible).

The 13th light Dragoons and 11th Hussars were also first line,
the second line were 4th Light Dragoons and 8th Hussars.

The Fenton photo is of survivors , 13th Light dragoons

Another photo of a light dragoon.

the sabers carried by the light brigade, the M1829 and the M1853 (of which only nominal numbers had been issued.

30th September 2022, 09:20 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,738	The Charge The fateful charge into the 'Valley of Death' resulted from an unfortunate misinterpretation of a written order from the commanding officer of the British cavalry which was carried to the ranking officer of the cavalry. There was considerable distance between them over notable terrain and the order was carried by a young officer who was anxious to begin the action. The order had intended for the cavalry to advance and to keep the Russian enemy from carrying away captured British guns from redoubts to the right. Not having the scope of vision that Lord Raglan had overseeing the entire valley Lord Lucan could not see what was meant, visually. When he asked the young aide 'what guns' , he frantically motioned ahead to the North Valley. While this seemed ludicrous to Lucan, as there were heavily armed positions on all sides there, he ordered the advance ...it was the order. Though Tennyson's poem suggests the entire body of the force (600) were all lost. and while numbers seem varied, one of the largest losses were the horses, almost 475 killed. The men lost were 118 killed, 127 wounded, about 60 captured. Despite the terrible carnage, many of the survivors were prepared to 'go again' however only 195 still had mounts, and they were told they had done enough for that day. The order carried would have been held in a pouch which was slung from the same straps as held the saber scabbard, called a sabretache. This type of pouch would likely have held the fateful order carried by Lt. Nolan, the aide who was attached to the force despite being from another unit, 15th hussars. The front line of the charge was the 17th Lancers, whose emblem was the skull and crossbones, motto "Death or Glory". The sabretache attached is of the type worn by them at this time and can be seen in some paintings of the charge (though the skull device not always discernible). The 13th light Dragoons and 11th Hussars were also first line, the second line were 4th Light Dragoons and 8th Hussars. The Fenton photo is of survivors , 13th Light dragoons Another photo of a light dragoon. the sabers carried by the light brigade, the M1829 and the M1853 (of which only nominal numbers had been issued. Attached Images