Brigade Will Advance! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Theirs but to do and die

Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote two poems about the Battle of Balaclava. The poem about the 'Charge of the Light Brigade' became in its way as famous as the charge itself. On the other hand, the Charge of the Heavy Brigade and the poem written about it have been almost completely forgotten.

Answer: 5

The Light Brigade was formed by five regiments of light cavalry. Two regiments of Light Dragoons (4th and 13th), two Hussar regiments (8th and 11th) and one Lancer regiment (17th). At the beginning of the charge a total of 658 regimental horsemen were assembled, although a total of 664 men charged.

Answer: Terrier

Jemmy was wounded in the neck during the charge but survived. He was given a special collar which had clasps denoting the actions at which he was present - Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sevastopol. Jemmy lived for another five years. Campaigning during the Indian Mutiny gained him a fifth clasp. He died in 1858 while trying to swim the River Chanbal.

Answer: Artillery

The artillery were an elite, with the best training and recruits. The best personnel were then assigned to the gun detachments. The problem for them was that after each shot smoke obscured the target and their guns needed to be re-aligned. Another problem facing the artillery during the charge was the speed of the Light Brigade, as it moved through the valley.

Answer: Brother-in-Law

Cardigan had been infuriated when Lucan was made a Lieutenant-Colonel at 26, whilst he was still a Captain at 29. Lucan married Cardigan's youngest sister after returning from service with the Russians during the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829. When Cardigan separated from his wife in 1842 the enmity intensified.

Answer: April Fools' Day 1854

In February 1854 Lucan was given command of the Cavalry Division. This comprised the Heavy Brigade and Light Brigade. His experiences in the area of operations may have counted towards his appointment. On April Fools' Day 1854, Cardigan was given command of the Light Brigade, serving under Lucan - a decision that was to cause much grief to many.

Answer: 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars

Cardigan was given command of the 11th Light Dragoons (later Hussars), after his father paid £40,000 (!) to gain his son a second chance in the army. Cardigan had been dismissed for his tyrannical rule of the 15th Hussars. He left London in June 1836, but did not reach his regiment (stationed in India), until October 1837. During this time he heard of his father's death and that he had become the 7th Earl of Cardigan.

Answer: 17th Lancers

Lucan purchased the 17th Lancers' Lieutenant-Colonelcy for £25,000 in 1826, over the head of an experienced Peninsular War and Waterloo veteran. He poured in his own money to smarten the regiment up, as did Cardigan with the 11th Hussars. The 17th Lancers soon acquired the nickname 'Bingham's Dandies'. Lucan was born George Charles Bingham in 1800.

He became the 3rd Earl of Lucan in 1839. (The purchase of commissions in the British Army was only abolished in 1870 by the then Liberal government).

Answer: 2

The 17th Lancers and 13th Light Dragoons led the Light Brigade with Cardigan in front of them. The 11th Hussars had been in this line but were ordered back by Lucan. Cardigan regarded this as a slight since Lucan's old regiment the 17th Lancers would seemingly gain the glory.

In truth Lucan was hoping to strengthen the supporting line, knowing the casualties would be heaviest at the front.

Answer: 15th Hussars

Nolan was instantly recognisable in the distinctive uniform of the 15th Hussars. He was the only member of the regiment in the Crimea. The 15th Hussars wore a blue, heavily gold-braided pelisse, a dark blue jacket, blue overalls with a broad gold stripe and red shako. Nolan always wore the red and gold officer's forage cap.

He was Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier-General Richard Airey, Raglan's Quartermaster-General.

Answer: Lord Raglan

Lord Fitzroy Somerset was chief Aide-de-Camp to the Duke of Wellington, and lost an arm during the Battle of Waterloo. He followed the Duke of Wellington through all of his appointments until the Iron Duke's death. In 1852 he became the 1st Lord Raglan. Unfortunately he was more of a diplomat than a soldier and had many shortcomings as Commander-in-Chief.

Answer: True

Lieutenant Henry Maxse was Cardigan's permanent Aide-de-Camp. He was a member of the 21st Foot (later the Royal Scots Fusiliers), and was the only infantry officer to ride with the Brigade. He was wounded shortly before reaching the battery at the end of the valley.

Answer: 18th May 1927

At the outbreak of World War I only fourteen survivors were still alive, two of them officers. The last members of the Light Brigade died on the following dates: 18th April 1915 - Lieutenant Edward Philips (8th Hussars); 4th February 1916 - Private James Mustard (17th Lancers); 4th September 1920 - Private James Olley (4th Light Dragoons), and Private Edwin Hughes (13th Light Dragoons) died on 18th May 1927.

Answer: 5

Like the Light Brigade five regiments formed the Heavy Brigade, although by this time their only real difference lay in the colour of their uniforms. The regiments were the 4th and 5th Dragoon Guards, 1st (Royal) Dragoons, 2nd Dragoons (Greys) and the 6th Dragoons (Inniskilling).

The Brigade moved up to support the Light Brigade under Lucan but were ordered back by him after coming under fire.

Answer: False

Set a seemingly impossible task the Light Brigade, carried the suicidal order. The finest light cavalry in the world took seven and a half minutes to reach the Russian guns at the end of the North valley. They then pushed back a numerically superior cavalry force.

When the Russians realized how small the opposition they regained their courage. Many in the Brigade wondered why they had not been supported, and knew that with support more would have been gained. The Charge of the Light Brigade will live on as the epitome of the gallantry and glory of cavalry.