The Charge of the Light Brigade?

b'stardoh

Upto and including the time of Lord Cardigan, the Charge of the Light Brigade etc., it was possible for any 'gentleman' to 'buy' a commission in the British Army.

The British Army was massively reorganised in the 1860s [think about then] and no one could then buy a commission but instead had to pass exams at Sandhurst and so forth.

The Earl Cardigan - photograph
http://www.lordcardigan.com.au/images/lord-cardigan.jpg

Curzon
http://www.armynavyairforce.co.uk/images/1%20229.jpg

Charge of the Light Brigade info
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.historyhome.co.uk/forpol/crimea/pictures/balacl.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.historyhome.co.uk/forpol/crimea/chargemap.htm&usg=__2NT4aqwLabAw258nVxvuEjIlmqs=&h=451&w=720&sz=81&hl=en&start=43&tbnid=3Zrk-1iEDvtuHM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsite%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bcharge%2Bof%2Bthe%2Blight%2Bbrigade%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D40

At this next link you'll find Trumpeteer Landfrey - a survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade - he made a recording of his bugle call in c1890 exactly as he had done it at the charge back in 1854. I have not played the audio - hope it works.

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/indigohjones/fentonlightbrigade.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thingsyoumightlike.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/trumpeter-landfrey-sounds-the-charge-of-the-light-brigade/&usg=__EvGf9-x0LiM7fcAVs2i3KanaZFc=&h=337&w=450&sz=74&hl=en&start=56&tbnid=Xk5R0pclRVDc6M:&tbnh=95&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsite%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bcharge%2Bof%2Bthe%2Blight%2Bbrigade%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D40

Not sure who this is - but he's one of the men who took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade - not sure if the photo was taken before or after.
http://www.old-picture.com/crimean-war/000/pictures/pocketpistol-Balaclava-equipped-for.jpg

At the link below you'll find a load more photos from the Crimea
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.old-picture.com/crimean-war/000/pictures/pocketpistol-Balaclava-equipped-for.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php%3Ft%3D125097&usg=__f3zaSkky5cMm9AwcR5HfRSGsLy0=&h=574&w=577&sz=47&hl=en&start=6&tbnid=azOGNjlouU5sIM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbalaclava%2Bphotographs%2B1854%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Florence Nightingales base at Skutari
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.florence-nightingale-avenging-angel.co.uk/Coldstreams.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.florence-nightingale-avenging-angel.co.uk/scutari.htm&usg=__4bBRtO8JroZRjYvv5rDq-CXSxnY=&h=856&w=1752&sz=160&hl=en&start=16&tbnid=MNaSJ7EMKGY6mM:&tbnh=73&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbalaclava%2Bphotographs%2B1854%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

British troops [very posed] looks like near Istanbul
http://www.florence-nightingale-avenging-angel.co.uk/Coldstreams.jpg

The women in the picture are probably soldier's wives.

Seeing squaddies laying on the ground reminds me of an old saying when I was in the army [1957-1965] "Never stand up when you can sit down and never sit down when you can lie down". Oh yeah, and not forgetting a smoke too.

The last survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade known as Balaclava Ned - a Welsh bloke, died in Blackpool in 1927 - blimey.
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/guides/halloffame/historical/images/balaclava_ned_200x135.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/guides/halloffame/historical/edwin_hughes.shtml&usg=__9gTlocvYGXYC5TxLM0bJ5Q3s-II=&h=135&w=200&sz=15&hl=en&start=47&tbnid=YuKpvGizOpiYdM:&tbnh=70&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbalaclava%2Bphotographs%2B1854%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D40

I can see I've got a hell of a lot more digging to do. This history is getting really interesting.

Locke II

lots of people bought their commission back then.

Mike S

The Charge of the Light Brigade. Gads brings back memories. Well at any rate yes I did know and no I don't find it incredible. I didn't know the amount but it seems about right, the higher the bought commission the higher the cost. And I believe during the period buying a commission in the Brit Army was a commonplace event. A lot of the high muckety mucks bought them for their second sons. Well anywho that's my input. Good luck to you.

Guy

Yep......It is when the class system ruled & money opened lots of doors..........which funnily enough still happens today.

Edit:- Nice links B'stardoh...

Rosina

In those days all officers in the Army and Navy purchased their commissions and also their promotions.
Amazingly we still won wars! Some of our greatest generals and admirals would have been commissioned by purchase.
Obviously there were disasters, there are always bad leaders, just look at the first world war!

PETER R

Riaz

No. I didn't know that.

princeofwinos

No kidding. BTW I was a kernul myself in the Marine Core.

DoubleL

Most, if not all, high ranking officers in the British Army bought their commissions back then. That's how they moved up. The navy had a similar system but would promote on merit also. They eventually did away with the system.

Chances68

Yep. The British Army filled its officer ranks by selling commissions to noble men for a long, long time. It was true in the time of the Seven Years War, right through the Crimean, but I believe was phased out sometime aorund the turn of the 20th century.

RayHere

In America you could buy your way out of the military as late as the early 20 century

wild-man of Borneo

How?
Look in the real world.
Decode this lyrics " Reality"
Living examples from the twilight zone in different time zone .
How they all crumble into dust in different time zone in time.
Luke 21.30-36
Luke 9.25,55-56,60
Revelation 16.15
Matt 5.9-14
Leviticus 26.6-9
Matt 22.17-21,32
What do you think?

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