Charge of the Light Brigade
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British light cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. Lord Raglan, overall commander of the British forces, had intended to send the Light Brigade to pursue and harry a retreating Russian artillery battery, a task well suited to light cavalry. Due to miscommunication in the chain of command, the Light Brigade was instead sent on a frontal assault against a different artillery battery, one well-prepared with excellent fields of defensive fire.
Media representations
Two war movies were made, both titled The Charge of the Light Brigade. The 1936 version stars Errol Flynn and is very historically inaccurate, turning the motive into a grudge match against an Indian ruler allied with the Russians. The 1968 version, featuring David Hemmings (as Nolan) and Trevor Howard (as Cardigan), is much more factually accurate.
The novel Flashman at the Charge has Harry Flashman participating (much against his will) in the Charge.
The charge is the subject of British heavy metal band Iron Maiden's song "The Trooper" on their Piece of Mind album.
It was also the inspiration for the Pearls Before Swine album Balaklava, which begins with a sample of the 1890 recording of trumpeter Landfrey.
