"Editor's Note"; The following account was one of a number of first-hand accounts published in The Royal Magazine in the first decade of the twentieth century, under the title, 'Survivor's Tales of Great Events'. These accounts were the results of interviews conducted by Walter Wood, and the subjects were all survivors of famous incidents; a number were civilians, and their stories typically included escapes from ship-wrecks, fires or mine disasters, but the majority were military.

Most were illustrated with typically stirring scenes executed by Stanley Wood, who was then at the height of his popularity as a military artist. As late as 1900 there were still many veterans the early wars of Queen Victoria's reign alive, and 'Survivor's Tales of Great Events' included reminiscences of the Sikh Wars, Indian Mutiny, and Crimea. Survivors of later events were, of course, still plentiful, and a number of accounts from the Zulu and Afghan Wars were also included; arguably the most famous was Alfred Henry Hook's account of Rorke's Drift, which has been quoted many times in recent histories.

The second of our occasional reprints from this series which was published in the 'Royal Magazine' earlier this century. This account is one of a number to feature personal stories of the Charge of the Light Brigade; it appeared in 1905. The editing, illustration and maps are as for the original.

Mr. H. Herbert, the narrator of this story of the charge of the Light Brigade, was born at Bristol nearly seventy-two years ago. He enlisted in the 4th Light Dragoons, now the 4h Hussars, and at the age of twenty-one rode in the immortal charge. He left the Service at the end of the Crimean War with the rank of sergeant - a sufficient testimony to his abilities and zeal.

He began business as a builder, and for twenty years was successful. Then misfortune overtook him and he accepted a post as night-watchman, which he kept until he was compelled to resign it through rheumatism. For ten years he was chairman of the Balaklava Relief Committee, an admirable institution, the head of which is now Mr. T. H. Roberts. It has been the means of rescuing many survivors from the workhouse, and is able to keep body and soul together for them in their ending years. The oldest survivor is seventy-nine years old. Seventeen were on the stage of the Alhambra at a benefit performance on the fiftieth anniversary of the charge. The curtain rose to the strains of 'The Boys of the Old Brigade,' and fell to the sad and significant bugle-sounding of the 'Last Post.'

Charge of the Light Brigade

Here, in brief, is the story of the Battle of Balaklava, of which the mistaken but glorious Charge of the Light Brigade is the most famous incident.

It was October the 25th, 1854. Sebastopol was beseiged by the allied armies of England, France and Turkey, whose base was the sea port of Balaklava. Thirty thousand Russians were posted in the vicinity, and their attempts to relieve Sebastopol by driving the British from Balaklava led to the battle.

The enemy advanced, captured some guns in British redoubts, and attempted to remove them. They were temporarily disorganised by the gallant charge of Sir James Scarlett with the Heavy Brigade. But the guns being still in peril, Lord Lucan, commanding the Light Brigade, received orders to follow the enemy and prevent him carrying out his design.

Charge of Light Brigade Large Map (slow: 104K)
Charge of Light Brigade Jumbo Map (very slow: 215K)

The Light Brigade then swept into the 'Valley of Death', where in a few moments nearly half of them were lost

"The object of the Russians," Mr. Herbert told me, " was to capture Balaklava Harbour, and so bring about the loss of our base. But the harbour was strongly fortified on the heights surrounding it; and in addition a frigate was moored broadside on at the top of the harhour, so that she was able to sweep the surrounding country with her guns.

We thought we were to attack the Russians on October 22nd or 23rd, 1854, but we did not do so until the 25th, the day of the charge. Of course our staff must have observed a movement amongst the Russians, whom they could see through their glasses; but to us, with the naked eye, they were in visible. We had been continually standing to our horses, and were doing so during the greater part of the 24th, returning to our camp late at night. It was the custom on active service in those days to turn out and stand to our horses for two hours before daybreak, and on the 25th we turned out about four o'clock. The weather was cold and miserable, and we had slept on the ground under our tents fully dressed and armed. We had nothing to eat or drink before turning out.

The Light Brigade was formed up not far from where the charge afterwards took place. It consisted of the 4th Light Dragoons, 8th Hussars, 11th Hussars and 13th Light Dragoons all of which are now Hussar regiments and the 17th Lancers.

Our pickets suddenly gave alarm that the Russians were attacking, and we advanced across the plain to the three British redoubts which were the object of the Russian attack. The redoubts were manned by a few British artillery men and Turks. The Russians abruptly loomed up out of the dull grey of the morning and immediately shells and cannon-balls were falling amongst us, and screaming over our heads.

As I sat on my horse I took particular notice of the Russian Lines as they advanced to attack us; and I have often thought that they resembled the keys of a piano under the fingers of a clever player. Some of the keys seem to fall out and reappear rapidly; and so it was with the Russian ranks as our artillerymen played upon them-only the keys which disappeared did not come up again. A great many of the Russians fell, dead or wounded, as they advanced.

Very soon we found that the Russians had carried the redoubts, for the guns-our own guns-were turned upon us. As soon as the redoubts were taken, we saw the Turks rushing out of them and tearing pell-mell down the eminences and across the plain towards us. I remember how freely our men cursed them, and how little the Turks seemed to care whether they were cursed or blessed. As they flew past they shouted to us, Bono, bono, Johnny!'), meaning 'Good, good' - they called all Englishmen in the Crimea Johnny, but our men shouted back, 'No Bono!' and swore fearfully.

The I Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery had already dashed up and gone past us in magnifient style, and had opened fire on the Russians. Shortly afterwards I saw Captain Maude, commanding the battery carried away to the rear, with either an arm or a leg - I think it was a leg-shattered.

As soon as our commanders found that the Russians had got our range from the redoubts we retired back upon our own camp, which was towards Balaklava. There was a large plain extending from these redoubts, so that we had a good level surface to ride on.

We retired, the shot and shell playing on us continuously. The Russians at the same time advanced their cavalrymasses of them and some of them remarkably handsome regiments, too. Amongst them were hussars dressed in light blue.

While we were retiring across the plain, the Russians following, the Heavy Brigade under Sir James Yorke Scarlett, prepared to charge. The Heavy Brigade consisted of the Scots Greys, the Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, the Royal Dragoons, and the 4th and 5th Dragoon Guards. At first the Russian cavalry were galloping down the hill, but the sud den appearance of the ' Heavies ' stopped them, and they came on at a walk. Sir James instantly swept on, dashed into them, and with his 600 men scattered 3000 Russians.

The Heavy Brigade advanced splendidly, and made a grand charge. They went right through the enemy, and at the same time the guns were supporting them with a smart and telling fire. We were a little bit too much to the left to see the charge itself fully; but we could hear the din of the fight.

If the Light Brigade had dashed on the Russians right flank and followed up the terrific charge of the ' Heavies' there is no doubt, I think, that we could have annihilated the Russians on the spot. it was a grand opportunity for the Light Brigade; but it was Lost.

After this there was a lull in the fight, and we thought the battle was over. We were ordered to take ground to the left, and reached some rising ground at the top of the valley where we halted.

We next proceeded to dismount, and stood to our horses for some time. A few men were able to take a snack of something to eat, but only those who had saved part of the last rations issued on the previous day, for on J that morning we had turned out in a violent hurry, and there was no time to do little odds and ends of work that had been over looked.

For instance, the straps under my trousers were still unbuttoned, because in the hurry of mounting I had had no time to secure them. The riding and galloping about had mad me very uncomfortable.There were no jackboots in those days - soldiers are very differently provided for in these times, I can assure you - and my trousers had wriggled up my legs.

I said to a comrade of mine, a young fellow from Birmingham, named Fletcher: 'Tom, will you button up my straps for me? '

He willingly obliged, and was just finishing the job when Captain Nolan galloped up to Lord Lucan.

What passed between Captain Nolan and Lord Lucan I cannot pretend to know, because I was not close enough to hear any thing; but at any rate Lord Cardigan shouted: ' Stand to your horses, men! Prepare to mount! Mount! '.

The trumpeters of the different regiments sounded these orders, and we sprang into our saddles.

The order was then given: 'The Light Brigade will advance!'.

We knew one thing - we knew what was expected of us, for two or three days before the charge Lord Lucan had addressed us, saying: 'Keep your horses well in hand, men, and obey your officers; but when you get in amongst the Russians skiver them well!'

As he spoke he gave us with his own sword an illustration of what he meant which was pointing and cutting with the weapon.

Lord Lucan had previously served in the Russian army. He was a regular fireeater. Lord Cardigan and he were a wellmatched pair in that respect. We knew that we were going into some thing pretty desperate; but we did not realise what was in store for us. Not a soul suspected that.

Advance Began

The advance began. We had not got more than two or three hundred yards when the Russians bellowed fire from three batteries of guns, with ten guns in a battery. There were ten on our left, ten on our right at a distance of about a mile, and ten at the bottom of the valley, with their muzzles pointing directly at us. All these batteries were field guns, and very much superior to ours.

Section 2: More Charge of the Light Brigade

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