Lord Cardigan, Charge of the Light Brigade, 25 October 1854

'Charge of the Light Brigade - Lord Cardigan, Balaclava, October 25th 1854'.

Chromolithograph after H Payne, 1884.

James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan in the uniform of his regiment, the 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars, commanding the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaklava, during the Crimean War (1854-1856).

Due to a misinterpretation of orders, the British Light Cavalry Brigade commanded by Cardigan charged the Russian artillery stationed at the end of a long valley at Balaklava, while exposed to Russian fire on both sides. On reaching the Russian guns, they rode through them to charge Russian cavalry beyond. Although Cardigan bravely galloped many yards in front of his men and was the first among the Russian guns, during the subsequent melée he turned back, giving no further orders and left his men among the enemy without direction. After some fighting, the remnants of the force returned along the 'Valley of Death' (as described in Tennyson's poem), under continued fire.