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The Gallant Six Hundred: A Tragedy of Obsessions
An excellent narrative on the conduct of the battle, the charge of the Light brigade, and the personalities involved. The story is not just about the commanders, but also about the men who took part in the famous charge, and we see them not as drink-sodden, brutalized soldiers, but as intelligent, able, courageous men led by officers who were far from unpopular fools.
302 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1973
About the author
John Harris
66 books21 followersJohn^^Harris
Pseudonyms: Max Hennessy; Mark Hebden
Image is a self caricature from the late 1970s.
From Wikipedia:
John Harris was a British author. He published a series of crime novels featuring the character Inspector Pel, and war books. He wrote with his own name, and also with the pseudonym of Mark Hebden. His 1953 novel The Sea Shall Not Have Them was the basis for a feature film of the same name in 1954. He was the father of Juliet Harris, who published more Inspector Pel books under the name of Juliet Hebden.
Pseudonyms: Max Hennessy; Mark Hebden
Image is a self caricature from the late 1970s.
From Wikipedia:
John Harris was a British author. He published a series of crime novels featuring the character Inspector Pel, and war books. He wrote with his own name, and also with the pseudonym of Mark Hebden. His 1953 novel The Sea Shall Not Have Them was the basis for a feature film of the same name in 1954. He was the father of Juliet Harris, who published more Inspector Pel books under the name of Juliet Hebden.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 4, 2012
A most excellent and enjoyable book! I have read and skimmed a good many books on the Crimean war, specifically the Charge of the Light Brigade, and this ranks among the top. The way the author goes into so many characters, and the part they played in the charge is very interesting, and makes you go hopping to the Index to keep them straight, and his word pictures! They are by far the most enjoyable part of it all. Taking the men and the facts he has presented, he goes into incredible word pictures describing the Charge of the Heavy Brigade, or the Thin Red Line, and then the climax of the book, -the Charge of the Light Brigade (which, by the way, takes up a whopping five chapters). You really feel as if you have begun to know these men and understand their characters, and then to see them in battle, -it is magnificent! (I must add, that I don't think one has a clear picture of the charge until they have read John Harris' chapters on it, if that was the only part of the book they read.)
What makes this book different too from some of the others, it that the author takes a slightly different perspective on the men who led the charge, and the actual charge, specifically Lord Lucan. Though I do not agree with some of his comments (I think at times he was a little too soft on him) he does point out the grave injustice done to Lord Lucan throughout the entire war till he was recalled to England. I recommend reading another book on this subject first (like ‘The Reason Why’ -Cecil Woodham-Smith) simply because of this “fresh” perspective it takes, but it compliments the other books very well.
At the end of the book, after you feel like you have gone through the charge with them, and fought against Russians, back to back with them, the author quotes their response. “And Cardigan turned again to his brigade. “Men’, he said, ‘it was a mad-brained trick... But no fault of mine.’ An undefeated voice answered him. ‘Never mind, my lord, we are ready to go again.’" This quote personifies their attitude throughout the entire campaign. Obviously there were those whose job it was to complain, but on the whole, though horribly led, the men kept up a good humour even to their deaths.
One incident during the charge that proves this very well: ‘Private Melrose, who had given so many Shakespeare recitals to his comrades, had noticed that the day was the anniversary of Agincourt and had just shouted in an ecstasy of excitement and patriotism ‘What man here would ask another man from England?’ when he, too, was smashed under.’
In the end, everyone knows what happened. A charge that hardly lasted 20 minutes and did not succeed anything, of the 673 men who gallantly followed orders, only 195 returned. “The losses for the day were small compared with Wellington’s Peninsula standards, or with the Alma and Inkerman which followed, but they were enough.” One soldier summed it up perfectly, “That any of the Light Brigade returned... Was through the great Providence of God.”
With all the books on subjects like this that I have read, I can hardly remember ever reading of such Valour, Bravery, Courage, Discipline, Strength, Gallantry.
Side note: In case it comes across as a fiction book, -it is most definitely not. Just a well written military historical book.
What makes this book different too from some of the others, it that the author takes a slightly different perspective on the men who led the charge, and the actual charge, specifically Lord Lucan. Though I do not agree with some of his comments (I think at times he was a little too soft on him) he does point out the grave injustice done to Lord Lucan throughout the entire war till he was recalled to England. I recommend reading another book on this subject first (like ‘The Reason Why’ -Cecil Woodham-Smith) simply because of this “fresh” perspective it takes, but it compliments the other books very well.
At the end of the book, after you feel like you have gone through the charge with them, and fought against Russians, back to back with them, the author quotes their response. “And Cardigan turned again to his brigade. “Men’, he said, ‘it was a mad-brained trick... But no fault of mine.’ An undefeated voice answered him. ‘Never mind, my lord, we are ready to go again.’" This quote personifies their attitude throughout the entire campaign. Obviously there were those whose job it was to complain, but on the whole, though horribly led, the men kept up a good humour even to their deaths.
One incident during the charge that proves this very well: ‘Private Melrose, who had given so many Shakespeare recitals to his comrades, had noticed that the day was the anniversary of Agincourt and had just shouted in an ecstasy of excitement and patriotism ‘What man here would ask another man from England?’ when he, too, was smashed under.’
In the end, everyone knows what happened. A charge that hardly lasted 20 minutes and did not succeed anything, of the 673 men who gallantly followed orders, only 195 returned. “The losses for the day were small compared with Wellington’s Peninsula standards, or with the Alma and Inkerman which followed, but they were enough.” One soldier summed it up perfectly, “That any of the Light Brigade returned... Was through the great Providence of God.”
With all the books on subjects like this that I have read, I can hardly remember ever reading of such Valour, Bravery, Courage, Discipline, Strength, Gallantry.
Side note: In case it comes across as a fiction book, -it is most definitely not. Just a well written military historical book.
June 6, 2014
If you wish to skim lightly across the subject of the charge at Balaclava, this is the book for you. It is written in a chatty style with emphasis on the melodramatic aspects of the campaign, the personalities involved and the event itself. Its style would suit a more reasoned tabloid.
With this constant emphasis on the sensational facts of the Crimean Campaign and its precursor in the Balkans, Harris's book is therefore not for someone who is seeking a serious understanding of who, where, why, when and how the tragedy developed and unfolded.
His intention throughout is to exonerate Lucan at the expense of Raglan and Cardigan. This becomes tedious, since his interpretation is transparently selective from his undeniably well researched source material.
Often his prose is confusing and there are contradictions, repetitions and omissions. It is also unfortunate that Harris's use of pronouns when dealing with several people in an event - rather than names - often leads to uncertainty as to who "he" is at any given moment. The map support is minimal, which does not help a reader's understanding.
All in all a passable read, but the sensationalist nature of many chapters; the overly biological details of dismemberment, death and destruction left me in the end feeling like the 11th Hussar shown on the book's cover.
With this constant emphasis on the sensational facts of the Crimean Campaign and its precursor in the Balkans, Harris's book is therefore not for someone who is seeking a serious understanding of who, where, why, when and how the tragedy developed and unfolded.
His intention throughout is to exonerate Lucan at the expense of Raglan and Cardigan. This becomes tedious, since his interpretation is transparently selective from his undeniably well researched source material.
Often his prose is confusing and there are contradictions, repetitions and omissions. It is also unfortunate that Harris's use of pronouns when dealing with several people in an event - rather than names - often leads to uncertainty as to who "he" is at any given moment. The map support is minimal, which does not help a reader's understanding.
All in all a passable read, but the sensationalist nature of many chapters; the overly biological details of dismemberment, death and destruction left me in the end feeling like the 11th Hussar shown on the book's cover.
November 5, 2021
This is a history of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava in the Crimean War in the 1850s. The British were allied with the Turks and the French against the Russians in this war. The Light Brigade’s charge was heroic and brave, but an unmitigated and avoidable disaster. There were 673 members of the British cavalry that made that fateful, unsupported charge against the Russians that day. Only 195 of them returned. And nearly every one of the 195 survivors were wounded. This history is well researched and documented. In short, the disaster is laid upon the Commander in Chief of the British Army in the Crimea, Lord Raglan, whose unclear orders to the cavalry along with the rigid discipline required of all British officers led directly to this unintended charge. The author provides great detail as to how the men who made the charge fared during and after the charge. In reading his description of the battle, it is a miracle that anyone survived. Amazingly, the commander of the Light Brigade, Lord Cardigan, who led from the front and was the first to make contact with the Russians, survived the attack. However, his bravery and luck that day does not make up for his poor leadership skills and his disruptions to the chain of command that contributed greatly to the disaster. In fact, poor leadership in general by the British Aristocracy in the Army along with abysmal logistical support were other major factors that resulted in the waste of so many lives. All in all, an excellent rendering of why this charge occurred, how it was conducted and why it failed can be found in this book.
September 18, 2018
This is a thoroughly researched, well-written account of the campaign, events and personalities leading to one of the most infamous calvary actions in history: the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, during the Crimean War. The author's interest in this much-studied disaster was apparently sparked by a 1937 encounter with a man who had watched the charge as a 12-year drummer boy.
June 20, 2013
Recounting of the Charge of the Light Brigade with some odd slants. Harris's main brief is rescuing the reputation of Lord Lucan. Like Mark Adkin's more recent The Charge he feels Lucan caught between a rock (incompetent commander Lord Raglan) and a hard place (his insubordinate brother-in-law, Lord Cardigan) throughout the Crimean campaign. His analysis is hardly dispassionate, as he tries desperately to prove Lucan NOT to be the arrogant, short-sighted martinet generally accepted by history. Passing blame off to Captain Nolan is a convenient dodge, especially with Nolan not around to defend himself. Calling Lord Raglan an old woman, among other things, and saying that his concern for soldiers' welfare showed a weak character (huh?) seems positively mendacious. I can't get on board with Harris's depiction at all.
November 21, 2012
A tough read for those not inclined toward military history
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews