Tony Neville
Command Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2005
- Messages
- 2,026
Rick
Hell riders is a good book!!
Tony
Hell riders is a good book!!
Tony
I think K&C should get out of this whole Crimean business and start production on a Simpsons line. Brad, start up a new poll for people to pick their favorite characters. Who is going to vote for a limited edition Smithers figure?
I think K&C should get out of this whole Crimean business and start production on a Simpsons line. Brad, start up a new poll for people to pick their favorite characters. Who is going to vote for a limited edition Smithers figure?
Since this is by far my favorite K&C range, I'll chime in here.
While the poll has some interesting options, I was surprised that many of the key units of the charge are not mentioned here. While I collect all of the Crimean sets and will buy all future sets, none of these options interested me. The Charge of the Light Brigade has tremendous potential for thought provoking vignettes and dioramas that will make great conversation pieces.
The heroic charge that we all know of holds only part of this potential. Lesser know acts of courage that surpassed even the courage of the initial charge happened after the Brigade broke through the guns when chaos and confusion was at its peak. Surrounded by insurmountable odds of fresh Russian and Cossack Cavalry and infantry, British small unit leaders prevailed through acts of tremendous courage and leadership. Officers and NCOs in small segregated groups collected and formed small groups of survivors from the scattered regiments and kept the remnants of the Light Brigade from total annihilation. Russian and Cossak Cavalry who had closed in for the final kill were taken aback by the courage and caught off-guard when these small groups charged through the formed Russia ranks and made their way back to the British lines.
If you get a chance, read 'Hell Riders: The True Story of the Charge of the Light Brigade' by Terry Brighton. It is holds the most vivid collection of several survivors personal accounts of what happened during and after the charge.
The idea of Capt Nolan is an interesting concept. Capt Nolan was the first casualty of the charge and was killed when the Brigade was still advancing at a steady trot and had not progressed into the charge. A figure of him at this phase would be out of place with the current sets of Lancers who are at a full charge. A thought provoking vignette would be Capt Nolan and Lord Lucan at the point where Nolan delivered the vague written order and sealed the fate of the Light Brigade when Lord Lucan asked ‘What guns.’ Nolan insolently flung out his arm in a gesture more of rage than of indication. 'There, my Lord!' 'There is your enemy! There are your guns!'
Absent from the poll are the Chasseurs d'Afrique, French troopers, mounted on Algerian horses who charged the batteries and infantry battalions on the Fedioukine Hills silencing those guns and ensuring that the remnants of the returning Light Brigade would endure fire from only one flank.
Also absent from the list are the other four regiments that made the charge including the other regiment at the front of the charge, the 13th Light Dragoons. Lieutenant Percy Smith, of the 13th, was the only officer in his regiment who rode through the charge and came back on his original horse.
Other units and figures absent from the poll:
The 4th Light Dragoons and 11th Hussars retreating before a vastly superior force of Russian lancers. Survivors of the 4th Light Dragoons and 11th Hussars quickly formed under Lord George Paget, their horses worn out and many men wounded. Nevertheless,they wheeled about on exhausted horses and charged the body of Russian Lancers who barred their retreat.
Russian Cossack Cavalry who attempted to take Lord Cardigan captive and who were part of the Russian Cavalry closing in for the kill of remnants of the Light Brigade.
Major de Salis of the 8th Hussars retreating on foot, leading his horse with a wounded trooper in the saddle.
Riderless horses.
Wounded and dead horses and men of the Light Brigade who were strewn all over the valley and around the “Guns.”
I’m not trying to throw this out as a wish list just some thoughts from reading several accounts of the charge.
Semper Fi!
Rick
Is that because you don't like being called Missus Heid in public mate,honestly no ones judging you...its your life choice!!
Rob
Interesting about this poll is that there is no clear leader!!! so i guess i will have to get it all done!!!
Tony
Interesting about this poll is that there is no clear leader!!! so i guess i will have to get it all done!!!
Tony
Harry my dear boy do you mean 'dead fellows'?
Tony
no no your not...............gulp your not coming to Durham.
Clunk click clang click swoosh thats the alarms and locks on............hide behind the sofa i dont think he has seen us!!![]()
That's not, "Hide Behind The Sofa" that I'm going to be sleeping on, is it Tony..??
Yes, your deepest, darkest foreboding's may be about to come true after my next rotation in the dump I'm presently located.
I'm planning on visiting my Parents and the rest of the family in Aberdeen in a couple of months from now. I can't expect my Mum & Dad to put up with the Black Sheep, Ne'er-Do-Well and Completely Worthless Prodigal Son for too long, so I'm considering taking the train down to Old Durham Town so's you can introduce me to those quaint old English pubs I've heard so much about...Kof, Kof...
You'll be glad to know that if it happens, then compensation, and consolation, will be obtained from the amount of cash I'll be spending on the TRL and a few other odds and ends.
Cheers
H