5:34 : "Captain... er Nolan, I say if you look before you, you see neither enemy nor guns. The usefulness of such an order eludes me." The greatest observation ever made in the history of cinema. :)
@@MikeHawksBig69 Like people have been asking for it nearly as long as the franchise has existed, and I feel like they would love to do it but maybe are shuffling their feet because they're intimidated by the scope that a game like that would require. On the other hand, even from a business perspective it would be a pre-sealed deal. All the Texas Revolution/Civil War/ European Colonialism, and British Empire buffs especially would be drawn to it by the masses. Look at Victoria II and how strong that game is still going. It would literally be their best selling title of all time that could possibly eclipse the combined sales of every title they've published in the last 6 years.
I think it is unavoidable that a TW Victoria will come in the futue. The same with TW Total War 1 (WW1) or TW TW 2 (WW2). In due time I think they will come. It is just that the saga parts won't do this.
@@OntologicalQuandry wasn’t this scene portraying the battle of balaclava with the charge of the light brigade and that it was a Russian victory over the allied forces?
@@QuincyVollstandig The charge was a success. I didn't say the campaign was. But the campaign was a success too... ua-cam.com/video/Pqik0WDMDco/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/ro_HZC5oYqc/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/IVas2Ax5UG0/v-deo.html
@@QuincyVollstandig Balaclava wasn't a Russian victory (though it was a bloody draw) and the Charge of the Lights was a costly Allied victory; the British broke a good number of Russian units and reclaimed many of the guns, but couldn't destroy them.
The Charge of the Light Brigade may have inspired Bluto's words in " Animal House": " ... I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part!"
The entire thing was an accident, and was a misunderstanding of orders. I am not familiar with the movie, but the person that delivered the orders rode back up to them about a minute later, started to say something, and was killed. The intent of the charge was to take back the guns that were lost, and the generals atop the hill could see them being taken away, but the light brigade that was in the valley could not. When told to charge and to take the guns, they assumed that the ones at the end of the valley were the ones being addressed, however they did not know that their guns were being taken on the other side of the hill. The officer who delivered the orders (as mentioned earlier) was presumably coming back with more orders but was killed, so the charge went on. So, with al that said, they were merely following orders, not being stupid for glory.
@@pabloplayz3254 enemy intel was poor and orders were unclear. It was a complete disaster. I’m not sure that there’s a clear consensus to this day on exactly where the blame lies.
The Czar's Cossacks should get an assist, as they trolled the British light cavalry earlier in the campaign, irritating them to the point where they were ripe for a glory ride.
In the 18th and 19th Centuries officers were allowed to buy their commissions in the British Army and no military experience or qualifications were required. As a result incompetent individuals found themselves commanding army units and they often committed blunders that led to heavy losses - the charge of the Light Brigade is one example.
When an officer retired or died honorably, he sold his commission back to the crown. You might ask what the purpose of this was. The more prestigious units sold their commissions above value, while regular units only sold at resale value, so the crown only made a profit on the prestigious ones, and for the most part couldn't make money off selling them. The reason was to ensure loyalty. Someone who betrayed the crown would be out of what he paid for the commission, which was basically 3 years' worth of pay for the relevant rank. Early proposals to reform this were shot down because letting some incompetent but loyal individuals command was deemed worth not needing to provide expensive officer training nor monitor them for loyalty. The Crimean War brought the question of reform back to the table. Ironically, the Charge of the Light Brigade was used as an example of this despite the fact that the aristocratic officers did somewhat reasonably well. The overall commander Lord Raglan had previously given his subordinate George Bingham, 3rd Earl of Lucan, several sensible orders through the day. They were ambiguous in their locations (like "take ground left of redoubts" despite "left" being dependent on the perspective of the viewer) but had been correctly interpreted throughout the day. Then Lord Raglan saw some exposed Russians dragging away captured guns on a hill. Asking cavalry to run down people's exposed backs is something sensible and he gave the order "Cavalry to advance and take advantage of any opportunity to recover the Heights. They will be supported by infantry which have been ordered. Advance on two fronts" but this time the ambiguous orders were misinterpreted because Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan could not see the hill they were supposed to charge, but a different hill with guns pointed at the British. The next order told them to attack immediately, and this snafu happened. So while the selling of commissions was kind of dumb in hindsight, this incident speaks more about the importance of clear communication. The whole thing could've been prevented had the order read: "Lord Raglan wishes the cavalry to advance rapidly to the front. To follow the enemy and prevent the enemy from carrying away the guns from _atop the redoubts on the south side_ of the valley." The cavalry officers hearing their ambiguous orders, not seeing the hill their superior wanted them to take, and being told to attack immediately, which gives no time to send a horseman to ask if that was the right hill, were in a bit of a bind. I don't blame them for charging into the meatgrinder.
Somebody already debunked this, they dont randomly accept commissions. You need to be educated in order to qualify and also pass rhe screening test with Marshal, Brandom F. Actually made a good explanation about it
@@lamenters4242for some reasons youtube historians really love the idea that all the high ranks are dumb causing all the unnecessary problems, lions led by donkeys. from the revolutionary wars to american civil wars to ww1 all the generals are just a bunch of idiots who don't know better how to keep pace with technology.
It's funny how all British cavalry charges seems to go the same way: 1-Amazingly heroic and with insanely high morale, soldiers successfully drive of the enemy 2-Entire cavalry unit proceeds to get absolutely annihilated. Just like in Waterloo (Charge of British the Heavy Cavalry) It then repeats itself in balaclava
Same as the Roman cavalry. They got beat most of the time despite being "elite". Their whole job was just to keep the enemy cavalry off the infantry and let them do their thing.
@@tomaspabon2484 I mean, Romans were not known for good cavalry, they were good on infantry tactics and they did understand that cavalry was important tho the barbaric cavalry (Germanic) had got to beat the Roman cavalry many times that's why Roman cavalry have a bad reputation, tho as many have said, Rome was so good not because of the quality of it's soldiers but because it was so powerful that it had the luxury of being beated and have armies completely destroyed and could replace these vanished armies in a blink of an eye. (ig. battle of teotoburg or even the Carthage campaign)
@@LAGARTOKID yeah im just saying that the brits and rome shared a bit of a military trope. Rome put its effort into infantry while the English had the Royal Navy, both neglected cavalry somewhat
Thw british heavy cavalry or the scot greys did good tho they captured a standard and destroyed a few arty and infantry the only mistake they have made is charging too deep to the enemy line the resulting them getting counter charged by french cabalry and getting gunned down by enemy infantrymen
I disagree with this; it's a mixed bag. British light cavalry proved superior to their opponents in the early stages of the Peninsular War winning notable clashes such as Sahagún. At Emsdorf 40 years previous, one regiment of British light dragoons routed the enemy and captured 16 enemy colours alone. 50 years previous to this the Dragoon Guards led by the Duke of Marlborough spearheaded the defeat of the French at Blenheim. Even in the blunders, the cavalry made an impression such as here at Balaklava and when the Greys attacked D'Erlons Corps at Waterloo. Russian cavalry would not go near British cavalry for the remainder of the Crimean campaign because they thought them mad. The Heavy Cavalry's performance at Balaklava earlier in the day further hammered down this sentiment. British cavalry through the centuries had significant élan and were a force to be reckoned with. It is little wonder that you see elements of them in London with their pristine traditional uniforms guarding the Royals.
4:00 "I just want to make it quite clear how ridiculous it would be for the light brigade to charge over there, that would be absurd and pointless. I cannot stress enough at this moment right before the charge, how horrible that would be. I just wanted to be perfectly clear about that, to anyone watching or listening."
@@mindofaseagull7465 No he's talking to a woman who's there observing. She asks if they'll be charging into the valley to "sweep the Russians out", and he assures her that such a charge would be silly, instead they're going to take those other guns over there. This is before he realized his order had been misunderstood.
This shambles of a war finally led to the end of purchasing of commissions in the army by the upper classes. They were never able to do this in the Royal Navy as you actually had to know what you were doing at sea otherwise the ship would soon founder
No it didn't. It certainly lent grist to the mill which had already been going on for some years before. The ending of purchasing army commissions in the British Army wasn't abolished until 16 years after the Charge. The navy did sell commissions although this was 'technically abolished under Samuel Pepys tenure. However, rich folk bought their offspring midshipman's berths instead, and also paid to buy their offspring seniority so that when they passed for lieutenant they would gain enhanced promotion over their less wealthy contemporaries. Promotion by examination in the navy started in 1702 although there were ways for the wealthy and well connected to cheat the system. However, once the principle had been established procedures were gradually tightened up and the exams made more demanding over time.
@@markturner4219But the point is that the Charge of the Light Brigade - coupled with Lord Raglan's erratic behavior (no matter how brave he was) - got the public discussion moving on the issue of purchasing commissions. IMO, if the Light Brigade had been led by a truly professional military man, the suicidal attack at Balaclava would never have happened. As for Raglan himself, he was an immensely influential British aristocrat acting out the drama of playing hero. That's how he understood his responsibilities as a British military officer. Nothing more. He lacked meaningful military education and training. Even Raglan's superiors regarded him as being unfit in character for his positions in the army. That Raglan had incredible physical courage does little to mitigate his responsibility for what happened to the Light Brigade on this day at Balaclava.
@@markturner4219 Well said"Mark T., I like how u broke it down, was u in military or a teacher? I could have conversations with u for hours(I bet debates with you would make me gay & keep me on my toes on top of learning,shit 3 kills eith one bullet. U should have your own so I can suscibe & follow you. I will be looking for anything from u. Unless you shoot me your info
@M O You seem well read on the subject of this battle, so let me ask you a question. Why didn't Russian general Liprandi move on Balaclava with his entire force of 22,000 (or more) troops? Had Liprandi done so, he would have overrun the thin British lines covering the town. Maybe Liprandi's troops were tied down protecting the Russian flanks and rear, and were not available for a full-frontal assault on Balaclava? Or perhaps Liprandi was psyched out by the resistance of the British, and fooled into thinking that the allies had far more troops defending the harbor than was actually the case?
Also would it have really been within the realm of disrespect to send a second horse back to Lucan for clarification that it was an attack he had ordered?
The orders ended with the word "immediate" 2:08 - If you send a horse back to ask "Are you sure you meant immediate?" and the answer is "Yes", then it isn't "immediate". You aren't required to only obey "wise" orders, you have to obey "legal" orders. Such is the nature of discipline.
I first saw this back in the early 70's when I was really far too young to apprciate satire.I didn't watch it again 'til the 90's and found it hilarious in many parts.The use of mostly upper-class British military stereotypes really makes the movie for me.
@@connormclernon26 about 110 dead, another hundred or so wounded, prob 50-60 missing maybe prisoners. Hundreds of horses out of action to. Amazing any one of the 600 or so even got out alive.
Not arrogant…an over eager upstart…an officer not of the nobility…his only chance of advancement was through martial glory! Nolan would have thrived during the Napoleonic Wars!
En aquel tiempo los mensajeros de órdenes debían ser muy meticulosos al explicar lo que deseaba el superior, tenían que explicar la orden y aclarar lo que no se entendiera. Nolan ( QEPD) era un loquito arrogante y el resultado fue que confundió a todos.
The real Captain Nolan was more interesting that this character. He was of English parents, but his family lived in Austria, so he began as an officer in the Austrian army. Later he managed a transfer to the British Army. He also had written two books about the theory of cavalry warfare. His original service for Austria and the books were probably more the reason he was disliked than what the movie shows.
It just shows the importance of making your orders clear for the man on the receiving end. Down in the valley the cavalry could not see the Russians dragging off the guns from British redubts they had taken only the guns that they charged. Lucan and Cardigan should have asked for clarification though it didn't help matters that they weren't on speaking terms!
No one commented on the he wonderful film. Produced during the anti Vietnam era it proceeds to present the ineptness of their leaders fighting a useless war when common soldiers were the poorest uneducated exploited people by upper society that held disdain for their own recruits.
4 роки тому+4
It’s a pity that the charge of the Heavy Brigade was cut from the film.But then,they had them in blue tunics and it would have spoiled things.
Sometimes no matter what the circumstances you try to reason with ones superior of your rank and you do your best to get the point across yet they cannot see it No matter how hard One tries it is useless They are in charge and you are not People in charge make the worst mistakes People in charge will do everything possible to stay in power
I now understand this is a satire and back-handed swipe at the British establishment. I saw a documentary on the director. He was very anti-establishment.
As a man who will be working in a company soon, I find impatience to be a fatal error in communication, meaning that you should think before communicating anything.
Always amazed me how with some of the best soldiers in the world, they were so often led by the inept, vain and simply unqualified. Even with this impediment, Britain managed to take control of 1/4 of the world. If they had had talented commanders all along, the entire world might have been speaking English.....pity that so many brave men died for so few leaders...
Let me make this case. They were led by [ for the lack of a better wording ] Political Correctness. As a true Englishman is it not better to be led by someone with a title no matter how unqualified than a good military leader.
Also built concentration camps in South Africa in boar war. Gave blankets infected with small pox to American Indians in the seven years war [ called French and Indian war in America ] Speaking of America kill hundreds of American's after battle of Brooklyn heights and thousands died in prison ships Speaking of Ireland and potato famine would not let relief ships land. To say nothing about Oliver Cromwell causing death of over 505 op Irish population. So how do you like my facts
@@irishjw Boer War, not Boar War... also, the smallpox thing is a myth, no one even understood germs yet my friend. Germ theory did not exist yet... You're right in Cromwell though.
10:43 If there’s one thing the Russo Ukrainian war has taught me, it’s that when the Russkies want to make a gun go “Boom”, they yell “огонь”!, and not OhGnja! Like this chap did.
A very well done film great acting for sure. In reality Lucan was an idiot. The order clearly states 'carrying away the guns.' Well there are no friendly guns at the bottom of the North valley or any valley. The only friendly guns that could be carted off in this moment has to be the navel guns on the causeway heights. my latest Podcast explains this. All the cast were great in the film
I believe that we Americans have our own blunders - and far more costly - in the Civil War. The "Crater" at St. Petersburg in 1864 comes immediately to mind. But there are so many.
What winning a war ?, you do know we won right ?. Also in same battle the heavy brigade destroyed the Russian cav, also the British infantry stopped dead with a thin red line another cav attack.
timothy phillips What major war did Britain win without allies? Certainly not the Crimean War, nor any of the Napoleonic Wars, Seven Years War, etc.. As a matter of historical record, once England lost any territorial foothold or claim in France, their stated long term strategy in Europe was to gather an alliance to oppose whichever nation was the most powerful on the continent, be it Spain, France, Germany, and most recently Russia. Don’t count any of the conflicts with the “fuzzy wuzzies” as you called them.
This whole mess could’ve been saved if Lord Lucan just get some men to act as scout and report back. This lack of field command flexibility and initiative is more damaging than unclear orders.
The movie does not seem to portray it well, but there was a miscommunication of orders, and at that time it was more of a disgrace to not follow orders than to die.
There are a lot of misconceptions, indeed myths, about the British officer class. This film should be renamed Charge of the Class War, as it is a left wing rooted film, which likes to depict the British officers as idiots, and in many cinematic cases, cowardly ones too. The fact is, no braver officers ever led men into battle than the British officer class. The purchase system is always given as an example of an endemic inequality but all historical facts must be viewed in the context of their time. The fact was, if you were serious about a life in uniform, you had to prove it. If Britain was going to trust its men to you, they wanted to know you were serious and the purchase system proved that, as there were no rebates in those days and this was a statement of commitment, an investment in the nation. Besides, the ordinary soldier wanted leading by these men of title, not Fred Smith, the cobbler from Salford. Too many people look at 17th 18th and 19th century systems, traditions and problems through 21st century eyes and it doesn't work. When those wealthy families purchased a commission for their son, what exactly did they get for their money? Well they certainly didn't buy themselves a generalship, they purchased themselves a Lieutenancy, which was as good as a death sentence you could have at the time. Your job was to stand at the front of your men and be the first to be killed. The British army has wiped out hordes of Barons, Earls, Marquises and every other title on the battlefield, leading from the front. What always amazes me, is why? If I were living the comfortable life of these people back then, why would I spend a small fortune, give up a very comfortable, privileged life, full of the best food, drink and women to go and lead a bunch of men into a blizzard of fire? I personally would stay at home in that safe comfortable bed with the naked women and hump myself to death instead.
Sir john fortescue the great historian of the british army i think came close to the truth when describing Lord Raglan. "He summed up in himself the essence of all true aristocracy, self reverence, self control, loyal mastership, and loyal service." To lead you must be willing to serve.
@@vincemeszaros9010 Lord Raglan is wrongfully made out to be a complete idiot in this film. He was certainly no Wellington, whom he learned his trade from and before he did anything he would ask himself, what would Wellington have done? He lost an arm serving in Wellington's army as a very brave officer who led from the front. Cardigan and Lucan were painfully arrogant officers but nobody could deny their courage. Cardigan paid for his own regiment to serve his country and here he is, a rich and privileged man, at the very front of an entire light division, leading his men in somebody else's mistake to what should have been certain death and he didn't flinch a muscle. I take my hat off to him I can tell you. Blunders are made in war and Nolan was as responsible for it as anybody. He was a light cavalry fanatic, who wrote a book on cavalry tactics in which he actually put a case for cavalry charging canon, so give that some thought.
yes lets not critisize the WWI champane drinking pompus arrogant uper class that sat back 10 miles and phoned 'CHARGE' against machine guns,they should have been charged with murder,there is no misconception or myth about that
I'd hardly call this film "left-wing rooted." Let's just say it sought to dramatize for profit the error of the charge and scooped up some of the energy from the anti-Vietnam War sentiment of the time.
So as I can understnand it... Lucan and Cardigan took orders from a Crazy Captain lol? Am I reading this right? But Ragland higher up insisted on some kind of 'attack?' while the big poobah said it's merely an advance into the 'pretty valley'? What's going on? I want answers immediately!
The Ruskies had captured some Ottoman guns and started carting them off like they stole it. Pompous ass English army commander Raglan who was positioned on a hill on the other side of the valley sipping some good 'ol English leaf juice saw this and ordered the Light brigade to stop the Rus from doing a runner with the Turkish guns. Written instructions were handed to Captain Crazy who carried them to Cardigan and Lucan but due to the lie of the land, the only guns in view of the Lights were the main Russian gun battery. Another account claimed that Crazy gave the orders verbally instead of handing the written version over. Whatever the case the Light Brigade carried out their orders to attack the guns, and the only guns in view were those nasty dug-in and well-defended Russian ones. It's speculated that Captain Crazy must have realized the error and is noted to have broken ranks and ran in front of the brigade yelling something about the stove being left on back in camp but a Russian shell messed up his lunch before he could get someone to go back and turn the stove off.
Really, i can't belive theres no bodie in the comentaris how coment, thad movie is the same history of the trooper song of iron maiden Your take my life But i taker yours You fire your mosquet but i runder you So what are wainting for the next attack, you better stand theresn't torning back
«Cest magnifique, mas cest ne pas la guerre!» So much resentment against the officer cast. Do people ever recall that Marlborough and Wellington where also aristocrats? Of course not, it doesn't further the narrative that we are better off with working class/grammar school oiks running the country instead of with people born to their tasks.
Prob true, but those two read up on the latest tactics and were proper students of war. Many of the elite like some shown in the video were not. Raglan had not been in a battle since the napoleonic wars. Just to old and not up on what was going in in a modern war.
Lets be honest, nolan probably had no fault in this whatsoever in reality. The leadership was fully to blame and they decided to throw the blame on someone who was conveniently too dead to say otherwise. So now we have this movie where nolan is portrayed so weirdly😄
0:30 "The Cavalry will advance on the French- eh the Russians.."
Love John Gielgud in this one.
Hello
This really happened. The General in command, Lord Raglan, had been at Waterloo, as Wellington's aide and had lost an arm.
Raglan had the unsettling habit of referring to the "French" when talking about the Russians
@@neilpemberton5523 this was common among many British officers,France having been the enemy since William the Conqueror….
5:34 : "Captain... er Nolan, I say if you look before you, you see neither enemy nor guns. The usefulness of such an order eludes me." The greatest observation ever made in the history of cinema. :)
The lack of a "Total War: Victoria" in this universe is an emptiness words fail
Blackdragon52k because they would rather make total war: Troy. Bunch of clowns.
@@MikeHawksBig69 Like people have been asking for it nearly as long as the franchise has existed, and I feel like they would love to do it but maybe are shuffling their feet because they're intimidated by the scope that a game like that would require. On the other hand, even from a business perspective it would be a pre-sealed deal.
All the Texas Revolution/Civil War/ European Colonialism, and British Empire buffs especially would be drawn to it by the masses. Look at Victoria II and how strong that game is still going. It would literally be their best selling title of all time that could possibly eclipse the combined sales of every title they've published in the last 6 years.
Blackdragon52k I just want to play as Prussia hahha or the Union
I think it is unavoidable that a TW Victoria will come in the futue.
The same with TW Total War 1 (WW1) or TW TW 2 (WW2).
In due time I think they will come.
It is just that the saga parts won't do this.
just play Victoria 2 instead
The British: This is the most insanely valorous and brave charge in our military history...
The Russians: Are these guys drunk?
You have to remember that the charge was ill-judged and poorly communicated. However, it was a success. A costly success.
@@OntologicalQuandry wasn’t this scene portraying the battle of balaclava with the charge of the light brigade and that it was a Russian victory over the allied forces?
@@QuincyVollstandig The charge was a success. I didn't say the campaign was.
But the campaign was a success too...
ua-cam.com/video/Pqik0WDMDco/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/ro_HZC5oYqc/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/IVas2Ax5UG0/v-deo.html
@@QuincyVollstandig Balaclava wasn't a Russian victory (though it was a bloody draw) and the Charge of the Lights was a costly Allied victory; the British broke a good number of Russian units and reclaimed many of the guns, but couldn't destroy them.
MacTavish is Lil lavish.
“Not into that valley containing half the Russian Army”
Ah yes, foreshadowing.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Russian_Army
A senile commander in chief, incompetent general officers, and an over eager staff officer gave us an iconic moment in history!
That is no way to talk about Joe Biden and their armed forces chief of staff !!
Nobody cares. Develop a personality that isn't politics. Everyone around you is exhausted@@bluedragontoybash2463
@@bluedragontoybash2463 Touche!
TRUTH . But obedience to the point of death , those in charge will carry out suicidal orders .
@@bluedragontoybash2463 How are things going in Kursk, bot?
Let's do something incredibly brave, futile and stupid, it'll be glorious!
The Charge of the Light Brigade may have inspired Bluto's words in " Animal House": " ... I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part!"
The entire thing was an accident, and was a misunderstanding of orders. I am not familiar with the movie, but the person that delivered the orders rode back up to them about a minute later, started to say something, and was killed. The intent of the charge was to take back the guns that were lost, and the generals atop the hill could see them being taken away, but the light brigade that was in the valley could not. When told to charge and to take the guns, they assumed that the ones at the end of the valley were the ones being addressed, however they did not know that their guns were being taken on the other side of the hill. The officer who delivered the orders (as mentioned earlier) was presumably coming back with more orders but was killed, so the charge went on.
So, with al that said, they were merely following orders, not being stupid for glory.
They were following orders
@@pabloplayz3254 enemy intel was poor and orders were unclear. It was a complete disaster. I’m not sure that there’s a clear consensus to this day on exactly where the blame lies.
And it was. They made a film about it.
The Czar's Cossacks should get an assist, as they trolled the British light cavalry earlier in the campaign, irritating them to the point where they were ripe for a glory ride.
“C’est magnifique, mais ce n’est pas la guerre. C’est de la folie.”
It is magnificent, but it is not war. It is madness.
The French officer said this.
absolutely right !
"C'est de la folie"
......beats Monty Python .
@@pabloplayz3254 Pierre Bosquet. French General, made Marshal of France on his return.
@Facepalm Full O' Napalm unfortunate, as it’s the most important line to mention. The Russians assumed that they had been drinking heavily.
I like how the Russian commander is incredulous and almost sympathetic at the slaughter he knows he's about to inflict.
In the 18th and 19th Centuries officers were allowed to buy their commissions in the British Army and no military experience or qualifications were required. As a result incompetent individuals found themselves commanding army units and they often committed blunders that led to heavy losses - the charge of the Light Brigade is one example.
It was either inexperienced men or men who were experienced but their experience was with a different time with different weapons.
When an officer retired or died honorably, he sold his commission back to the crown. You might ask what the purpose of this was. The more prestigious units sold their commissions above value, while regular units only sold at resale value, so the crown only made a profit on the prestigious ones, and for the most part couldn't make money off selling them. The reason was to ensure loyalty. Someone who betrayed the crown would be out of what he paid for the commission, which was basically 3 years' worth of pay for the relevant rank. Early proposals to reform this were shot down because letting some incompetent but loyal individuals command was deemed worth not needing to provide expensive officer training nor monitor them for loyalty. The Crimean War brought the question of reform back to the table.
Ironically, the Charge of the Light Brigade was used as an example of this despite the fact that the aristocratic officers did somewhat reasonably well. The overall commander Lord Raglan had previously given his subordinate George Bingham, 3rd Earl of Lucan, several sensible orders through the day. They were ambiguous in their locations (like "take ground left of redoubts" despite "left" being dependent on the perspective of the viewer) but had been correctly interpreted throughout the day. Then Lord Raglan saw some exposed Russians dragging away captured guns on a hill. Asking cavalry to run down people's exposed backs is something sensible and he gave the order "Cavalry to advance and take advantage of any opportunity to recover the Heights. They will be supported by infantry which have been ordered. Advance on two fronts" but this time the ambiguous orders were misinterpreted because Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan could not see the hill they were supposed to charge, but a different hill with guns pointed at the British. The next order told them to attack immediately, and this snafu happened.
So while the selling of commissions was kind of dumb in hindsight, this incident speaks more about the importance of clear communication. The whole thing could've been prevented had the order read: "Lord Raglan wishes the cavalry to advance rapidly to the front. To follow the enemy and prevent the enemy from carrying away the guns from _atop the redoubts on the south side_ of the valley." The cavalry officers hearing their ambiguous orders, not seeing the hill their superior wanted them to take, and being told to attack immediately, which gives no time to send a horseman to ask if that was the right hill, were in a bit of a bind. I don't blame them for charging into the meatgrinder.
Somebody already debunked this, they dont randomly accept commissions. You need to be educated in order to qualify and also pass rhe screening test with Marshal, Brandom F. Actually made a good explanation about it
Yes, Lord Raglan fought in the Napoleonic Wars he was far too old!
@@lamenters4242for some reasons youtube historians really love the idea that all the high ranks are dumb causing all the unnecessary problems, lions led by donkeys. from the revolutionary wars to american civil wars to ww1 all the generals are just a bunch of idiots who don't know better how to keep pace with technology.
It's funny how all British cavalry charges seems to go the same way:
1-Amazingly heroic and with insanely high morale, soldiers successfully drive of the enemy
2-Entire cavalry unit proceeds to get absolutely annihilated.
Just like in Waterloo (Charge of British the Heavy Cavalry)
It then repeats itself in balaclava
Same as the Roman cavalry. They got beat most of the time despite being "elite". Their whole job was just to keep the enemy cavalry off the infantry and let them do their thing.
@@tomaspabon2484 I mean, Romans were not known for good cavalry, they were good on infantry tactics and they did understand that cavalry was important tho the barbaric cavalry (Germanic) had got to beat the Roman cavalry many times that's why Roman cavalry have a bad reputation, tho as many have said, Rome was so good not because of the quality of it's soldiers but because it was so powerful that it had the luxury of being beated and have armies completely destroyed and could replace these vanished armies in a blink of an eye. (ig. battle of teotoburg or even the Carthage campaign)
@@LAGARTOKID yeah im just saying that the brits and rome shared a bit of a military trope. Rome put its effort into infantry while the English had the Royal Navy, both neglected cavalry somewhat
Thw british heavy cavalry or the scot greys did good tho they captured a standard and destroyed a few arty and infantry the only mistake they have made is charging too deep to the enemy line the resulting them getting counter charged by french cabalry and getting gunned down by enemy infantrymen
I disagree with this; it's a mixed bag.
British light cavalry proved superior to their opponents in the early stages of the Peninsular War winning notable clashes such as Sahagún. At Emsdorf 40 years previous, one regiment of British light dragoons routed the enemy and captured 16 enemy colours alone. 50 years previous to this the Dragoon Guards led by the Duke of Marlborough spearheaded the defeat of the French at Blenheim. Even in the blunders, the cavalry made an impression such as here at Balaklava and when the Greys attacked D'Erlons Corps at Waterloo. Russian cavalry would not go near British cavalry for the remainder of the Crimean campaign because they thought them mad. The Heavy Cavalry's performance at Balaklava earlier in the day further hammered down this sentiment.
British cavalry through the centuries had significant élan and were a force to be reckoned with. It is little wonder that you see elements of them in London with their pristine traditional uniforms guarding the Royals.
Spettacolare ed eroica la carica della brigata leggera e passata meitevolmente alla storia.
Every great British victory is preceded by a great British diaster!
Islandwana, Anglo Zulu war
The defence of Singapore ww2
Operation market garden, just to name a few.
@@charlescrowell4981 Siege of kut and Nablus
@@chrisholland7367 the defence of singapore was catastrophic weak leadership.
Brexit?
@@themanftheworld8439 ...it was a British Maginot line .
Such a sense of style - cavalry uniforms were chic magnets back in the day - and a soldiers death none finer - creating history
I served in a Scottish regt in the 90s our uniforms still as resplendant
4:00 "I just want to make it quite clear how ridiculous it would be for the light brigade to charge over there, that would be absurd and pointless. I cannot stress enough at this moment right before the charge, how horrible that would be. I just wanted to be perfectly clear about that, to anyone watching or listening."
He’s talking to his superior saying how he thinks it will be bad
@@mindofaseagull7465 No he's talking to a woman who's there observing. She asks if they'll be charging into the valley to "sweep the Russians out", and he assures her that such a charge would be silly, instead they're going to take those other guns over there. This is before he realized his order had been misunderstood.
Even the Russians cant believe that stupid move.
Captain Nolan went Leeroy Jenkins on that.
But he didn’t have chicken at the end.
This shambles of a war finally led to the end of purchasing of commissions in the army by the upper classes. They were never able to do this in the Royal Navy as you actually had to know what you were doing at sea otherwise the ship would soon founder
No it didn't. It certainly lent grist to the mill which had already been going on for some years before. The ending of purchasing army commissions in the British Army wasn't abolished until 16 years after the Charge.
The navy did sell commissions although this was 'technically abolished under Samuel Pepys tenure. However, rich folk bought their offspring midshipman's berths instead, and also paid to buy their offspring seniority so that when they passed for lieutenant they would gain enhanced promotion over their less wealthy contemporaries.
Promotion by examination in the navy started in 1702 although there were ways for the wealthy and well connected to cheat the system. However, once the principle had been established procedures were gradually tightened up and the exams made more demanding over time.
Mark Turner - The historical equivalents of Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman.
@@markturner4219But the point is that the Charge of the Light Brigade - coupled with Lord Raglan's erratic behavior (no matter how brave he was) - got the public discussion moving on the issue of purchasing commissions. IMO, if the Light Brigade had been led by a truly professional military man, the suicidal attack at Balaclava would never have happened.
As for Raglan himself, he was an immensely influential British aristocrat acting out the drama of playing hero. That's how he understood his responsibilities as a British military officer. Nothing more. He lacked meaningful military education and training. Even Raglan's superiors regarded him as being unfit in character for his positions in the army.
That Raglan had incredible physical courage does little to mitigate his responsibility for what happened to the Light Brigade on this day at Balaclava.
@@markturner4219 Well said"Mark T., I like how u broke it down, was u in military or a teacher?
I could have conversations with u for hours(I bet debates with you would make me gay & keep me on my toes on top of learning,shit 3 kills eith one bullet. U should have your own so I can suscibe & follow you. I will be looking for anything from u. Unless you shoot me your info
@M O You seem well read on the subject of this battle, so let me ask you a question. Why didn't Russian general Liprandi move on Balaclava with his entire force of 22,000 (or more) troops? Had Liprandi done so, he would have overrun the thin British lines covering the town. Maybe Liprandi's troops were tied down protecting the Russian flanks and rear, and were not available for a full-frontal assault on Balaclava? Or perhaps Liprandi was psyched out by the resistance of the British, and fooled into thinking that the allies had far more troops defending the harbor than was actually the case?
Also would it have really been within the realm of disrespect to send a second horse back to Lucan for clarification that it was an attack he had ordered?
The orders ended with the word "immediate" 2:08 - If you send a horse back to ask "Are you sure you meant immediate?" and the answer is "Yes", then it isn't "immediate". You aren't required to only obey "wise" orders, you have to obey "legal" orders. Such is the nature of discipline.
I first saw this back in the early 70's when I was really far too young to apprciate satire.I didn't watch it again 'til the 90's and found it hilarious in many parts.The use of mostly upper-class British military stereotypes really makes the movie for me.
the messenger pointed down the wrong vally simple mistake , but all sed and done what a fine show
And got hundreds killed for it
@@connormclernon26 about 110 dead, another hundred or so wounded, prob 50-60 missing maybe prisoners. Hundreds of horses out of action to.
Amazing any one of the 600 or so even got out alive.
This is the best part of the movie.
Poor Nolan , brave soul even if a little arrogant
Not arrogant…an over eager upstart…an officer not of the nobility…his only chance of advancement was through martial glory! Nolan would have thrived during the Napoleonic Wars!
@@kgizzle92 captain Nolan would not have lasted long either
@@zulfhashimmi2040 Sudden mistake I guess.
Aaahhh yes the one where captain nolan fell, screaming. I hate this scene when I first saw it as a teen and now I as an adult, I find it hilarious.
thats sad but its still a marvelous movie...we'll not see its like again
The film in this moment dosnt really make clear why he suddenly changed his mind about the charge.
But what was he trying to say ?
@@liammeech3702He realized that they were about to go the wrong way and tried to salvage the situation to no avail.
Captain Nolan’s sudden realization that he just made a terrible mistake.
Twas Lord Lucan in the kitchen with the lead pipe
Got this movie on DVD some years ago very good! David Hemmings Sir John Gielgud Harry Andrews Trevor Howard all brilliant!🙂💂💂💂🐎🐎🐎⚔️⚔️⚔️🗻🇬🇧🇫🇷🇷🇺
En aquel tiempo los mensajeros de órdenes debían ser muy meticulosos al explicar lo que deseaba el superior, tenían que explicar la orden y aclarar lo que no se entendiera. Nolan ( QEPD) era un loquito arrogante y el resultado fue que confundió a todos.
Old men in silly hats sending the youth to certain death. A story for the ages.
Realistic recoil of the guns!
Captain Nolan was over ambitious and eager to prove him self in battle. Paying the ultimate price.
The real Captain Nolan was more interesting that this character. He was of English parents, but his family lived in Austria, so he began as an officer in the Austrian army. Later he managed a transfer to the British Army. He also had written two books about the theory of cavalry warfare. His original service for Austria and the books were probably more the reason he was disliked than what the movie shows.
@@tgcnow Also I think he was a Canadian by birth
Some famous saying was circulating
Amongst troops nothing is more disastrous as an officer with a map!
This was a great film with a superb cast.
I mourn the passing of the movie, and acting industry... R.I.P.
Mourn the death of horses in this film instead
@@nick-vv1lz thats sad but its still a marvelous movie...we'll not see its like again.
Many horses died while filming in the 1936 version...not too sure about this one though.
In WWI a german officer - of the British Army, said - never saw so many lions led by so many lambs.
german oficer of british army?
Actually it was lions led by donkeys.
@@64MDW lions?
@@peteredwards338 I think- idiots led by donkeys
It just shows the importance of making your orders clear for the man on the receiving end. Down in the valley the cavalry could not see the Russians dragging off the guns from British redubts they had taken only the guns that they charged. Lucan and Cardigan should have asked for clarification though it didn't help matters that they weren't on speaking terms!
Russians:Men this guys are drinking much vodka than we are im telling you that
Sir Trevor : "Clever people like ME, who talk loudly in restaurants feel that...." (Pompous Posh git)
The captain of the russian battery on crimean peninsula is a polish ?
And the moral of this story is, Look before you point.
Gute Darstellung von blücherskompane Wellington und die englische Armee fromgermany
No one commented on the he wonderful film. Produced during the anti Vietnam era it proceeds to present the ineptness of their leaders fighting a useless war when common soldiers were the poorest uneducated exploited people by upper society that held disdain for their own recruits.
It’s a pity that the charge of the Heavy Brigade was cut from the film.But then,they had them in blue tunics and it would have spoiled things.
Angel Mcfadden
And they didn’t show the charge of the Medium Brigade either. Of course it was just...medium.
Is it bad that I think this is the funniest movie ever made? Fucking 2 flags gets me every time.
Their overly confident demeanor right before the charge is most certainly laughable, considering we know what’s to come.
Nolan era un histérico.
England should never have officers who know too well what they are doing lol
Smacks of murder.
Britain not England
It's murder
@@ianbauer4703 what does he mean by that? I dont get it
Sometimes no matter what the circumstances you try to reason with ones superior of your rank and you do your best to get the point across yet they cannot see it
No matter how hard One tries it is useless
They are in charge and you are not
People in charge make the worst mistakes
People in charge will do everything possible to stay in power
I now understand this is a satire and back-handed swipe at the British establishment. I saw a documentary on the director. He was very anti-establishment.
Joe Biden on Russia ; " some table linen is very pretty"
Poor folks being used for posh boys' games...ain't changed
@Cameface H Oscar Wilde...eat your heart out. What an unpleasant little thing you appear to be. Officer class are we?
As a man who will be working in a company soon, I find impatience to be a fatal error in communication, meaning that you should think before communicating anything.
This is so accurate.
Always amazed me how with some of the best soldiers in the world, they were so often led by the inept, vain and simply unqualified. Even with this impediment, Britain managed to take control of 1/4 of the world. If they had had talented commanders all along, the entire world might have been speaking English.....pity that so many brave men died for so few leaders...
Let me make this case. They were led by [ for the lack of a better wording ] Political Correctness. As a true Englishman is it not better to be led by someone with a title no matter how unqualified than a good military leader.
Britain has produced a multitude of great Generals and officers of all ranks and if you take the time to read history, you will discover that fact.
Also built concentration camps in South Africa in boar war. Gave blankets infected with small pox to American Indians in the seven years war [ called French and Indian war in America ] Speaking of America kill hundreds of American's after battle of Brooklyn heights and thousands died in prison ships Speaking of Ireland and potato famine would not let relief ships land. To say nothing about Oliver Cromwell causing death of over 505 op Irish population. So how do you like my facts
@@irishjw And when their orders were bad, they usually hanged a few conscripts to teach them a lesson.
@@irishjw Boer War, not Boar War... also, the smallpox thing is a myth, no one even understood germs yet my friend. Germ theory did not exist yet... You're right in Cromwell though.
10:43 If there’s one thing the Russo Ukrainian war has taught me, it’s that when the Russkies want to make a gun go “Boom”, they yell “огонь”!, and not OhGnja! Like this chap did.
A very well done film great acting for sure. In reality Lucan was an idiot. The order clearly states 'carrying away the guns.'
Well there are no friendly guns at the bottom of the North valley or any valley. The only friendly guns that could be carted off in this moment has to be the navel guns on the causeway heights. my latest Podcast explains this. All the cast were great in the film
yet another fine example of the british art of war
I believe that we Americans have our own blunders - and far more costly - in the Civil War. The "Crater" at St. Petersburg in 1864 comes immediately to mind. But there are so many.
From an American who's armed forces have never won a major war on their own.
What winning a war ?, you do know we won right ?. Also in same battle the heavy brigade destroyed the Russian cav, also the British infantry stopped dead with a thin red line another cav attack.
“American art of war”. Sitting in their arses in two World Wars.
timothy phillips What major war did Britain win without allies? Certainly not the Crimean War, nor any of the Napoleonic Wars, Seven Years War, etc.. As a matter of historical record, once England lost any territorial foothold or claim in France, their stated long term strategy in Europe was to gather an alliance to oppose whichever nation was the most powerful on the continent, be it Spain, France, Germany, and most recently Russia. Don’t count any of the conflicts with the “fuzzy wuzzies” as you called them.
hmm, they were ordered to and so they did.......
Good morning sir!
I think they should be ok & do wat the boss says , I'll be there x
This whole mess could’ve been saved if Lord Lucan just get some men to act as scout and report back. This lack of field command flexibility and initiative is more damaging than unclear orders.
All the fault of one Captain Louis Nolan - who actually got his commission in the Austrian Army and later managed to transfer to the British Army.
Served with the 15th Light Dragoons in India. The suggestion is that he thought himself superior because he saw fighting there.
Can't see a general officer sitting there taking being talked to like that by a subordinate. His ass would be in a sling.
@@spikespa5208 wrong...its historical
Where's Raglans one handed binoculars?
Smack's of Murder. Or a gang of crow's.
Crows cawing, flies buzzing, these are not good omens for the Light Brigade.
Charging the wrong redoubt without support , thats soldiering?
That's what happens when you let an Austrian Army Officer transfer into the British Army.
The movie does not seem to portray it well, but there was a miscommunication of orders, and at that time it was more of a disgrace to not follow orders than to die.
The charge of the Heavy Brigade was a total success, but nobody wrote any stirring poems about that fact for some reason.
Everyone seems……. hysterical.
Cool out Hemmings!
Let them Russians work for you, Baay-Baay!
Yep, and also they tried to capture Petersburg...
What they had here was failure to communicate.
Me playing Total War
There are a lot of misconceptions, indeed myths, about the British officer class. This film should be renamed Charge of the Class War, as it is a left wing rooted film, which likes to depict the British officers as idiots, and in many cinematic cases, cowardly ones too. The fact is, no braver officers ever led men into battle than the British officer class. The purchase system is always given as an example of an endemic inequality but all historical facts must be viewed in the context of their time. The fact was, if you were serious about a life in uniform, you had to prove it. If Britain was going to trust its men to you, they wanted to know you were serious and the purchase system proved that, as there were no rebates in those days and this was a statement of commitment, an investment in the nation. Besides, the ordinary soldier wanted leading by these men of title, not Fred Smith, the cobbler from Salford. Too many people look at 17th 18th and 19th century systems, traditions and problems through 21st century eyes and it doesn't work. When those wealthy families purchased a commission for their son, what exactly did they get for their money? Well they certainly didn't buy themselves a generalship, they purchased themselves a Lieutenancy, which was as good as a death sentence you could have at the time. Your job was to stand at the front of your men and be the first to be killed. The British army has wiped out hordes of Barons, Earls, Marquises and every other title on the battlefield, leading from the front. What always amazes me, is why? If I were living the comfortable life of these people back then, why would I spend a small fortune, give up a very comfortable, privileged life, full of the best food, drink and women to go and lead a bunch of men into a blizzard of fire? I personally would stay at home in that safe comfortable bed with the naked women and hump myself to death instead.
Sir john fortescue the great historian of the british army i think came close to the truth when describing Lord Raglan. "He summed up in himself the essence of all true aristocracy, self reverence, self control, loyal mastership, and loyal service."
To lead you must be willing to serve.
@@vincemeszaros9010 Lord Raglan is wrongfully made out to be a complete idiot in this film. He was certainly no Wellington, whom he learned his trade from and before he did anything he would ask himself, what would Wellington have done? He lost an arm serving in Wellington's army as a very brave officer who led from the front. Cardigan and Lucan were painfully arrogant officers but nobody could deny their courage. Cardigan paid for his own regiment to serve his country and here he is, a rich and privileged man, at the very front of an entire light division, leading his men in somebody else's mistake to what should have been certain death and he didn't flinch a muscle. I take my hat off to him I can tell you. Blunders are made in war and Nolan was as responsible for it as anybody. He was a light cavalry fanatic, who wrote a book on cavalry tactics in which he actually put a case for cavalry charging canon, so give that some thought.
yes lets not critisize the WWI champane drinking pompus arrogant uper class that sat back 10 miles and phoned 'CHARGE' against machine guns,they should have been charged with murder,there is no misconception or myth about that
I'd hardly call this film "left-wing rooted." Let's just say it sought to dramatize for profit the error of the charge and scooped up some of the energy from the anti-Vietnam War sentiment of the time.
@@steveaustin4600 We lost 26 Generals in WW1.
Hello, can i use this scene to a video about French Foreign Legion during Crimea?
I wish it was an advance instead of a charge than the Light Brigade would have lasted a bit longer
So as I can understnand it... Lucan and Cardigan took orders from a Crazy Captain lol? Am I reading this right? But Ragland higher up insisted on some kind of 'attack?' while the big poobah said it's merely an advance into the 'pretty valley'? What's going on? I want answers immediately!
The Ruskies had captured some Ottoman guns and started carting them off like they stole it. Pompous ass English army commander Raglan who was positioned on a hill on the other side of the valley sipping some good 'ol English leaf juice saw this and ordered the Light brigade to stop the Rus from doing a runner with the Turkish guns. Written instructions were handed to Captain Crazy who carried them to Cardigan and Lucan but due to the lie of the land, the only guns in view of the Lights were the main Russian gun battery. Another account claimed that Crazy gave the orders verbally instead of handing the written version over. Whatever the case the Light Brigade carried out their orders to attack the guns, and the only guns in view were those nasty dug-in and well-defended Russian ones. It's speculated that Captain Crazy must have realized the error and is noted to have broken ranks and ran in front of the brigade yelling something about the stove being left on back in camp but a Russian shell messed up his lunch before he could get someone to go back and turn the stove off.
thats sad but its still a marvelous movie...we'll not see its like again
@@killer3000ad lmfao
Was that old general, the one who thought for a moment that he was fighting Napoléon, related to Trump?
He’s just old man. He was Wellingtons aide de camp back in the Napoleonic Wars.
His great great granddad
Nah, bumbling, ready for his dirtbath Biden more likely! LOL
More like Biden
Sabers against guns...is clearly suicide
When charging at a full gallop it's difficult to reload.
Why did the Elbonians blow the horsemen up?
Trevor Howard plays such a great pompous stuffed shirt british ass. Great actor.
9:55 What was that officer trying to say ?
I didn't know Joe Biden was giving orders at this battle?
the odds are like none before. whats all the extra men for?
Nepotism at its finest
9:55 wtf even happened here? And what was with that death...
That's pretty much how he did actually die, he let of a blood curdling yell with his arms extended, that was what was witnessed
Lions led by Donkeys.
That was a painfully long and underwhelming segment
10:00 What was that all about
They can't see a different between advance and charge?not like they were fighting dor anything. This war had no impact on anything.
So this was all Nolan's fault? I don't get it.
Yes and no.
Yes. Actually Nolan pointed to the wrong position to charge.
And London, and their Sidekicks in Washington, are making another Go at it in 2023.
10:00 wtf kind of death squeal is that?
brave heart
Really, i can't belive theres no bodie in the comentaris how coment, thad movie is the same history of the trooper song of iron maiden
Your take my life
But i taker yours
You fire your mosquet but i runder you
So what are wainting for the next attack, you better stand theresn't torning back
THIS MAKES ME SICK
«Cest magnifique, mas cest ne pas la guerre!»
So much resentment against the officer cast. Do people ever recall that Marlborough and Wellington where also aristocrats? Of course not, it doesn't further the narrative that we are better off with working class/grammar school oiks running the country instead of with people born to their tasks.
Prob true, but those two read up on the latest tactics and were proper students of war. Many of the elite like some shown in the video were not. Raglan had not been in a battle since the napoleonic wars. Just to old and not up on what was going in in a modern war.
de Venour WW1 general’s of all types were the worse butchers in history.. Idiots all..
C'est magnifique mais ce n'est pas la guerre !
lord rag nar land
In any condition, in any situation Brits crying about Russians.
Lets be honest, nolan probably had no fault in this whatsoever in reality. The leadership was fully to blame and they decided to throw the blame on someone who was conveniently too dead to say otherwise. So now we have this movie where nolan is portrayed so weirdly😄
Ah i say it seems Lord Joseph The Duke of Biden commanded this battle
😳. I live in America right now 😳you're scaring me
This movie is funnier than shit! Definition of pure elitist bullshit. Trevor Howard rocks...also great in Mutiny on the Bounty.