The public back in London were ravenous for news of the various war efforts & non more so than the Crimean conflict as it was practically on their doorstep, if you believed the tabloids. India, Afghanistan, Africa, America (canada mainly) no where in the world was beyond the imperial might of the British Empire. In an effort to do so Britain sent hundreds of thousands of men to fight & for on foreign soil for 'The glory of the Empire'.Īt this time in our history the epitome of a British man was a Gentleman, someone who fought for his Queen & country, fought and If he had to, died. It was an influence based conflict, by which I mean Britain & France were in it as they were major world powers attempting to curtail the influence of Russia over the territories of the Ottoman empire (particularly turkey). To set the scene Britain, along with the French, the Sardinians & Ottomans was at war with Russia in the Crimea. The charge of the light brigade has been immortalised in the psyche of the British populace who studied the Victorian era or who have an interest in British military History. I'm British, have an interest in the Empire's history & know a little about this issue. Hi, so I thought I'd have a crack at answering this for you. Other military conflicts, mostly in India, helped cement Britain's empire in the minds of their citizens and give them a sense of patriotic duty. So, while the charge itself did not singleh andedly make the British realize they have a duty for their nation and their army, it was one step in a series of key steps during the 1840s and 1850s. The charge was seen by a stupid move by misguided generals who sacrificed brave young men for a Pyrrhic victory, and it was the British public's duty to restore Britain's honor. Britain at the time was just getting used to its status as a world power and for the general population, the charge (and the war itself) was a wake up call for them to take responsibility for their army and nation. Last, Tennyson's poem by the same name glorified the charge and the sacrifice done by those men. The charge itself was seen as a symbol of the entire war with all of its death and blunders. While the British weren't too fond of their military, there were matters of honor and international prestige at stake. Second, the war for the Crimea was the first major conflict fought in Europe by the British since Napoleon. This had a massive negative impact on the British population, and created a sense of shame in their generals, seen as detached, aristocratic snobs. Russell was one of the earliest modern war correspondents and sent regular reports to the Times detailing all the major logistical and tactical problems their army had. First, the war was very close and personal for the British thanks, in part, to the work of William Howard Russell. Well, you have the remember a couple of things. The current rotation is:ĭisclaimer: I'm not British, but I did encounter the charge in an essay I wrote about the British public's opinion about its empire in the 19th century. Previous AMAs | Previous Roundtables Featuresįeature posts are posted weekly. May 25th | Panel AMA with /r/AskBibleScholars Please Subscribe to our Google Calendar for Upcoming AMAs and Events To nominate someone else as a Quality Contributor, message the mods. Our flaired users have detailed knowledge of their historical specialty and a proven record of excellent contributions to /r/AskHistorians. Please Read and Understand the Rules Before Contributing. Report Comments That Break Reddiquette or the Subreddit Rules. Serious On-Topic Comments Only: No Jokes, Anecdotes, Clutter, or other Digressions. Provide Primary and Secondary Sources If Asked. Write Original, In-Depth and Comprehensive Answers, Using Good Historical Practices. Questions should be clear and specific in what they ask, and should be able to get detailed answers from historians whose expertise is likely to be in particular times and places. Nothing Less Than 20 Years Old, and Don't Soapbox. Be Nice: No Racism, Bigotry, or Offensive Behavior. Downvote and Report comments that are unhelpful or grossly off-topic.Upvote informative, well sourced answers.New to /r/AskHistorians? Please read our subreddit rules and FAQ before posting! Apply for Flair This Week's Theme is Crime & Punishment.
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