Post by Kev on Sept 24, 2004 7:39:25 GMT -5
LIVERPOOL cavalrymen, who rode in the Charge of the Light Brigade, are to be remembered on its 150th anniversary.
Eight city soldiers took part in the ill-fated charge during the Crimean War.
Three were killed when they rode into the 'Valley of Death' immortalised in a Tennyson poem and in Hollywood film starring Errol Flynn.
Now descendants of the Liverpool cavalrymen and others interested in the city's connection with the Light Brigade are invited to a commemoration on October 31 at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.
Terry Brighton, from the Queen ' s Royal Lancers Museum in Grantham, said: "A number of Liverpool men are known to have ridden into the Valley of Death.
"Some didn't return - John Barry, James Larkin and Robert Layzell were killed by Russian cannon-fire.
"William Sewell was badly wounded in the head and taken to Florence Nightingale's hospital, where he had a metal plate fixed to replace the lost section of his skull.
" This must have been effective because he survived until 1910, when he was living in Rose Lane, Mossley Hill.
"James Glanister struck a Russian on the helmet with his sword and the blade snapped off. A musket ball then shattered his lower jaw, but he was led back to British lines.
"He recovered and in later life lived in Apple Terrace, Edge Hill. A notice of his death appeared in the Liverpool ECHO on March 27, 1901."
Other local men to return home included Andrew Nelson, who used his experience with horses by becoming a cab driver, Edward Hindley, who came home to Granby Street, Princes Park, and John Mortimer who lived in Court Union Street.
Mr Brighton said: "All who survived were welcomed back as heroes and a Light Brigade medal and good story of the Charge were worth a free quart of ale in any hostelry!"
Anyone descended from these calvalrymen who would like to take part should write to Mr Brighton at the Queen's Royal Lancers Museum, Lancer House, Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham NG31 7TJ or e-mail terrybrighton@btopenworld. com
Day of slaughter
THE Charge of the Light Brigade took place on October 25, 1854, during the Battle of Balaclava on Russia's Crimean Peninsula.
The Light Brigade of British Cavalry made up of the 4th and 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancer and 8th and 11th Hussars, was commanded by Major General the Earl of Cardigan.
He was ordered by army commander Lord Raglan to rapidly advance and prevent the enemy carrying away the guns on a certain hill.
But the order was misinterpreted and, instead, Cardigan led 673 cavalrymen up a steep-sided valley lined with Russian guns and infantry battalions.
In the ensuing slaughter, the Brigade lost 118 men and 362 horses. Another 127 men were wounded.
Two films have been made, one in 1936 starring Errol Flynn and David Niven, and one in 1968 featuring John Gielgud and Trevor Howard.
And Iron Maiden chose the Charge as the subject of their song The Trooper.
Source- Liverpool Echo
Eight city soldiers took part in the ill-fated charge during the Crimean War.
Three were killed when they rode into the 'Valley of Death' immortalised in a Tennyson poem and in Hollywood film starring Errol Flynn.
Now descendants of the Liverpool cavalrymen and others interested in the city's connection with the Light Brigade are invited to a commemoration on October 31 at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.
Terry Brighton, from the Queen ' s Royal Lancers Museum in Grantham, said: "A number of Liverpool men are known to have ridden into the Valley of Death.
"Some didn't return - John Barry, James Larkin and Robert Layzell were killed by Russian cannon-fire.
"William Sewell was badly wounded in the head and taken to Florence Nightingale's hospital, where he had a metal plate fixed to replace the lost section of his skull.
" This must have been effective because he survived until 1910, when he was living in Rose Lane, Mossley Hill.
"James Glanister struck a Russian on the helmet with his sword and the blade snapped off. A musket ball then shattered his lower jaw, but he was led back to British lines.
"He recovered and in later life lived in Apple Terrace, Edge Hill. A notice of his death appeared in the Liverpool ECHO on March 27, 1901."
Other local men to return home included Andrew Nelson, who used his experience with horses by becoming a cab driver, Edward Hindley, who came home to Granby Street, Princes Park, and John Mortimer who lived in Court Union Street.
Mr Brighton said: "All who survived were welcomed back as heroes and a Light Brigade medal and good story of the Charge were worth a free quart of ale in any hostelry!"
Anyone descended from these calvalrymen who would like to take part should write to Mr Brighton at the Queen's Royal Lancers Museum, Lancer House, Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham NG31 7TJ or e-mail terrybrighton@btopenworld. com
Day of slaughter
THE Charge of the Light Brigade took place on October 25, 1854, during the Battle of Balaclava on Russia's Crimean Peninsula.
The Light Brigade of British Cavalry made up of the 4th and 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancer and 8th and 11th Hussars, was commanded by Major General the Earl of Cardigan.
He was ordered by army commander Lord Raglan to rapidly advance and prevent the enemy carrying away the guns on a certain hill.
But the order was misinterpreted and, instead, Cardigan led 673 cavalrymen up a steep-sided valley lined with Russian guns and infantry battalions.
In the ensuing slaughter, the Brigade lost 118 men and 362 horses. Another 127 men were wounded.
Two films have been made, one in 1936 starring Errol Flynn and David Niven, and one in 1968 featuring John Gielgud and Trevor Howard.
And Iron Maiden chose the Charge as the subject of their song The Trooper.
Source- Liverpool Echo
