Thin Red Line - Crimean War - The Battle of Balaclava 1854
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- čas přidán 4. 06. 2024
- The true story of the origins of the British army's Thin Red Line at the Battle of Balaclava in 1854 during the Crimean War.
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The Battle of Balaclava 25th October 1854 broke into 4 phases:
1) The Russian attacks on the redoubts (forts) constructed by the British to protect their supply route from the port of Balaclava to their positions on the heights above the Russian naval base at Sevastopol.
2) The stand of the 93rd Regiment of Foot against the ranks of Russian Cavalry.
Despite this action lasting less than 15 minutes, the unorthodox and courageous decision to stand in two straight lines rather than forming a square drove off the Russian attack and gave rise to the term: "The Thin Red Line."
3) The charge of the Heavy Brigade.
4) The Charge of the Light Brigade - a major blunder where British cavalry were sent down the wrong valley. Instead of attempting to recpature some British guns that were being dragged away they rode against Russian guns instead.
At the end of the morning, despite those 3 courageous actions, the British had effectively lost the battle.
Whilst the Russians had failed in their objective of capturing the port of Balaclava, they had cut the British main supply route and had pulled away 7 British cannon.
Nevertheless, the British army celebrated the Battle of Balaclava as a valiant, courageous engagement and those regiments present were allowed to include Balaclava on their regimental colours (standards).
#thinredline #thebattleofbalaclava1854 #crimeanwar
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Chapters:
0:00 The Crimean War
1:00 Siege of Sevastopol
3:20 Russian counter-attack
4:15 Russians storm redoubts
5:25 Campbell & the 93rd
8:06 The Thin Red Line
11:20 Charge of the Heavy Brigade
13:29 Charge of the Light Brigade
17:04 Battle of Balaclava outcome
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/ thehistorychap
My name is Chris Green ("The History Chap") and I am on a mission to share the amazing history of Britain so that we can appreciate where we have come from and why we are here.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or CZcams animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree and continue to have a passion for the subject I studied.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
I'm a 67 year old American however my Dad was born and raised in the Scottish Highlands. My family there had a couple generations in the Scots Guards and other Highland Regiments. Dad had me memorize the poem Charge of the Light Brigade while I was in 3rd grade. I grew up hearing him describe details of famous Scottish battles through the ages. I should note he was a public speaker in demand here in the U.S. He could make action come alive. When kids my age were listening to Three Dog Night (that's rock and roll) I was listening to bagpipes and Scot military bands. Then I went to the U.S. Marines. Just seemed like the right thing to do. Thanks for your channel and your efforts.
Rob, thank you for your kind words and for sharing your family story. Your dad sounds quite a guy.
Rob as a former Higland soldier the Scots Guards, though a fine regiment, are not a Highland Regiment.
@@neilmorrison7356 I believe that Dad and My Uncle mentioned that. My Uncle lives in North East Scotland and at 91 can still ride a bicycle. He tells me that not too many years ago that the Scots Guards at the time was nearly all made up of British men. The Irony of history.
@@robdavidson4945 there used to be a lot of guardsmen from Yorkshire for some reason.
@@neilmorrison7356 how long did you serve?
I discovered your videos just as I discovered an interest in British military history. As a career officer in the US Army who has worked with British troops, I had always been struck by how similar the two nations' soldiers are in mentality, humor, grit, etc., when deployed. When our troops would intermingle with the Brits, it could be hard to remember they were from two separate countries as they would instantly bond as though they had known each other for years. Watching your videos, I can see that that resoluteness, courage, patriotism and dark dry humor 1) isn't limited to Americans and 2) has a long history in the British forces. Keep up the good work, your history lessons are entertaining as well as informative.
Many thanks for watching and your your comments.
Best wishes from this side of the pond.
Glad to have the US as allies, there's alot of ongoing politics over there.at the moment but, without doubt, we would be at your sides.
Americans are culturally English
Humour 😉
I hate to use this term, but it seems to me that The First Empire (cringe) nations.
(UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) with our shared love for freedom, our common language and history have forged the greatest alliance that has ever existed. Thank God, because if democracy is to survive the coming century, then it's down to us and India to lead its defence. Not for ourselves, but for the future well being of everyone on this planet.
No history of the Crimean conflict would be complete without the revolutionary work in hospital management of Florence Nightingale. Statistics, structure, order, purpose and a duty to help the suffering in the face of an antiquated system. Please do a video of FN. There are many, but each generation needs to hear it afresh.
FN is on my list...and I will include some of the others who went there (& I don't just mean Mary Seacole!)
Florence didn't change hospitals she wrote a book complaining about hospitals. Not really the same thing. Other than that your right.
@@chrismac2234 And resisted all attempts to move the field hospital she worked at away from the fever swamp it was sited on. Fortunately her mother and sister worked tirelessly to gain publicity for the lady with a lamp
FN was a well-meaning failure.
Aye the true mother of nursing.
Dear Chris Green, sadly, I have only discovered your marvellous histories recently. Although I’m 67 years old and fairly well educated, to my shame , (and the education system) I possessed the flimsiest knowledge of our military actions of 19 th century. Your knowledge, pride and enthusiasm has helped to fill these huge gaps in my understanding . Please accept my grateful thanks. Marvellous!! Derek.
Derek, thanks for your kind words. I am glad that you are enjoying.
Thank you Sir for retelling of the Thin Red Line and the Battle of Balaclava. A tough British army, skillful middle and junior officer corp, and blundering senior commanders. Yet at the end of the day victories. Thank you Sir for producing another gem. Bravo!
My pleasure. Glad you liked it.
Excellent presentation Chris! I grew up close to Crimea Street in Belfast and the city has many streets named after Crimean War battles. The soldiers of that era were tough men and they certainly did not shrink from doing their duty.
Nice words.
@@TheHistoryChap Lions lead by donkeys.
you could say that twice Rob
@@francisebbecke2727 In that case, you are right. Subsequent use of that statement is incorrect.
What duty? What British had to do in Crimea?
Just found this channel by looking into 'The Thin Red Line.' These videos should be preserved forever. Really looking forward to viewing these videos, especially Rorkes Drift. About 10 years ago I was fascinated when I heard about some veterans from Pontypool who had searched for the resting place of a survivor of Rorkes Drift. They found him and cleared the overgrown cemetery. I believe they hold an annual service for him.
What a lovely gesture by those veterans. It’s good to hear positive stories in this world.
Fascinating story, superbly told. I am working my way through all your videos and am thoroughly enjoying them all. It’s great to see your channel growing constantly
Thank you for your support and kind words.
So glad you’re making these no nonsense primary/contemporary sourced military history programs. Thank you.
My pleasure, Sean.
czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
Absolutely fantastic! Thank you!
You're very welcome!
Thanks for that. You always bring a sense of excitement to the (sometimes) dry information of historical battles.
Glad you like my stories.
Thanks for watching and commenting too.
“The British soldiers suffered from poor leadership and outdated thinking” could be applied to almost all British military endeavours, yet despite that, the British soldier fights on.
And, in fairness, we are all wise generals after the events too.
So true
I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. Were that the case why did we win so many famous victories?
@@therighthonsirdoug
I might have been overly critical in my original comment and there are, of course, some examples of exceptional leadership in the British military.
However, I would credit the success of the British army more to the common soldier and his bravery and sense of honour.
Furthermore, when you do have the common soldier lead by uncommon leadership, the outcome is the stuff of legend.
The leadership of Campbell and the Highlanders is a perfect example.
Especially when you compare him to Raglan and the Light horsemen.
The soldiers were beyond brave yet were lead to disaster by poor leadership.
@@therighthonsirdoug Try looking at the globe:-)
Thanks once more for presenting a complex passage of military history in a thoroughly entertaining and lucid manner.
My pleasure, Charles.
I'm glad that you enjoyed it.
Inkerman - "the soldiers' battle" definitely deserves an episode to itself. It is worth noting that, while none of the three senior cavalry officers at Balaclava (Lucan, Cardigan and Scarlett) had any battlefield experience, Scarlett was the one who acknowledged his shortcomings and sought to remedy by surrounding himself with highly experienced staff officers, like Eliot, who had experience in the only consistent theatre of war for the British Army since Waterloo - India. This is something that Cardigan, with his well-known dislike of "indian officers" would never have done.
Thanks Chris,
This was a great one . I always wondered about the line from the thin red line to the charge ...I always thought of that line as between civilization and chaos ...the West fights the Russians again in the same region
My English/Scottish ancestors fought in a Highland regiment from the 1720's to the 1830's.,.we weren't in the Crimea but God Bless those who throughout time stood on that 'Thin Red Line '
Nice words, Don.
Chris, you are absolutely right that Scarlett listened to his Indian Officers whereas Cardigan had little regard for them.
I dislike v.much the " heroic imperial depictions of nonsensical campaigns ". The "Thin Red Line " hardly saw the cavalry since they their weaponry was so superior that the Russians never got near ! Bullshit er u are!
@@TheHistoryChap Cardigan was really an unpleasant person, he was a negative example of the absurd pratice of buying an officers ' commission, such a man should'vent never been allowed being in the army.
This is such a brilliant description detailing the battle. A fantastic video 👏🏻
Thank you for watching.
Another marvellous video.
It's a bit like going back to school watching your presentations,certainly educational, for which I'm very grateful.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
With regards to the charge of the Heavy Brigade, it was the formation of the two lines of cavalry that saved the Heavy Brigade. It was the second line hitting the flanks of the encircling Russian cavalry (and the fact the the Russians were halted when the British charged) that compelled the Russians to retreat. Thank god the right commanders, Sir Colin Campbell and Sir James Scarlett, were on the spot and made the bold decisions that saved the day.
Howard, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Thank you. It’s interesting how the concept of a siege has evolved. Great video.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for watching.
Really interesting, thanks very much for making this excellent post.
My pleasure.
czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
Well done Chris! You have a marvelous gift for being able to paint compelling insights into history that stimulates the theatre of the mind. Please keep 'em coming.
Richard, thank you for your kind comments.
sir, you are beyond a doubt one of the best story tellers i have ever heard. please keep up your good work. thank you very much.
Gerard, thank you for those kind words.
You have done more than get Cardigan and a Raglan sewn together.
They searched in the wrong place for Lucan.
thanks mate, for another excellent presentation
Mickey, thanks for watching.
I'm glad that you enjoyed it.
czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
Really enjoyed your video. Looking forward to more.
Thank you very much
I’m really enjoying your videos and, learning some history I didn’t know! Thanks!
Glad you are enjoying.
Thank you for making such an informative and fascinating video. I still remember reading about this in the Iggulden Brothers’ Dangerous Book for Boys and being absolutely fascinated by the image of the stalwart Highlanders standing their ground and by the Light Brigade’s daring charge.
I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching.
Love that book it's a brilliant book
Brilliant, loved every minute. I had to roll a few jobs over before I could sit with my coffee and absorb the full presentation. I was actually very lucky to be at the National Army Museum in Chelsea many years ago where there was a presentation done on the table top, with figurines etc. That was excellent and so was yours, Five Stars from me⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, cheers
Thank you for your kind comment. czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
Well done. As an American I enjoy Military History of all nations very much.
Your commentary was very good and I look forward to watching more.
John, thank you for your kind words. Please do subscribe to my channel so you don't miss my next videos.
Hey Chris, thank you for these History lessons and "Tid Bits". I have always wondered about that phrase "This Red Line" and where it came from - And NOW I know. Thanks for ALL you do.
My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed.
If the Ukrainians have their way, there will be a second Battle of Balaklava and Inkerman. With the equipment that the UK and US and others have going to Ukraine, count on it.
Thanks for that it was a great video and a great history lesson yet again and it would be brilliant if you could do some more on the Crimean War.
I think the battles of Alma and Inkerman are worth telling along with the medical conditions.
Thank you for posting these videos of British military history. I have always been interested in British military history, as well as American military history.
Glad you are enjoying
Very well-researched, this deserves more views.
Thank you very much. Appreciate your support.
Absolutely brilliant video. Thank you!
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
Great video today thanks for what you do and keep them coming if you don't mind
Cameron, it is my absolute pleasure, especially when I know that many people (including yourself) are enjoying them so much.
@@TheHistoryChap thank you 😊
Hello Chris, I have followed your videos since day one, trouble is it's like reading a book you can't put down but hat's OK. Keep going mate, love the videos. Hello from Australia.
Glad you are enjoying over there in Australia. Thanks for your support.
The Battle of New Orleans was fought on January 8, 1815. The only land engagement the US won. Officially After the War was over.
I think I might need to do a video about it. Most Brits have never even heard of it (in fact they don't even know about this particular war!)
Great commentary, well done!
Many thanks.
The background in all of the sayings our parents and grandparents said when I was younger. I’m not British , I’m American but I appreciate these valiant soldiers and their battle history.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Dear Chris thanks keep the good work up
Thanks for your support
Fantastic video. Very informative. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching.
I usually save this word for the USMC but the 93rd, outstanding !
Robert, many thanks for your endorsement.
Please do subscribe to my channel for my next video.
I love this channel. Brilliant stuff
Really pleased that you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
Very well done, brilliantly told and excellent illustrations, what a shame that human beings cannot live in harmony with each other instead of the awful waste of good lives. Thank you for this.
My pleasure.
Your videos are very insightful and informative, and I really enjoy watching them and learning about these battles. It does strike me how some battles, in which soldiers lost their lives, are simply disappearing into oblivion and I hope channels such as yours can help maintain our awareness. Not for this battle of course but for others. My only suggestion would be better graphics, but not wishing to push you down a big CGI direction.
Glad you are enjoying my videos. Thanks for the suggestion too.
Fascinating to learn the lead-up to the (in)famous charge. Thanks!
It's a pleasure, Dennis.
I love tyring to understand the back stories to events.
Thank you, really enjoyed this piece of history.
I'm glad that you did. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thank you for another excellent video on British history.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Great quality informative presentation well done!
Many thanks.
Another one coming on Wednesday.
Brilliant bloody brilliant. Thank you!
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Totally inspiring rendition of a remarkable historical event,thankyou
My pleasure. If you like my work, then please sign up for my free weekly History newsletter at www.thehistorychap.com
Keep at it! I enjoy your videos.
Many thanks.
czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
Great video and presentation.
Thank you. I'm glad that you enjoyed it. czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
Please post longer videos, chilling out in the garden under the sun. Listening to your videos. Heaven
Maybe I need to do podcasts as well.
Loved it !!! I don't know if you know but heaps of streets in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia, are named after this campaign. Even a railway station (Balaclava).
Thanks for sharing.
Awesome narrator. Great show,thanks for your efforts 👍😊
So nice of you, thanks for watching.
That was a good story, thanks History Chap!
My pleasure, I'm glad you enjoyed it. czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
Hooray! 😊
Yep, more, please, Chris.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Awesome as always. Please do cover more on the Crimean campaign
Working on the Battle of Inkerman at the moment.
@@TheHistoryChap you bloody ripper! Are you able to recommend a good text (ie scholarly work) on the origins & causes of the Crimean war?
You are the very best historian of the 21st century. I thank you so very much. Take care.
Thant's very kind of you. Thank you. czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
Thank you for the explaination of the thin red line, always wondered how it came about
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
I do enjoy watching this history channel, please keep up tye good work.
Many thanks.
Next up the Battle of Spion Kop during the Boer War.
Within a few miles we find Churchill, Gandhi, the first Sotuh African PM (Botha) and the Commissioner of the Met. Police during the Jack The Ripper murders!
History man , marvellous , love your work
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
Wonderfully told tale - thank you, sir!
My pleasure. Thank you for watching. czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
Absolutely love your videos sir.
Many thanks. Glad you are enjoying.
loved it, thanks lot
My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it.
Wow I love your vids, thx
Glad you like them!
EXCELLENT! THANK YOU YOUNG MAN!
My pleasure, especially as you call me "young man". I doubt my kids would!!!
Great video
Very kind of you. Thanks.
I do greatly like your style of video. Thank you. Peace be unto you.
Thank you.
Excellent narration. !
Thank you very much.
I appreciate your comment
An excellent video, covering more aspects of the day than we are usually shown, in a "joined-up" way. There are indeed more stories to be told about the Crimea and those who were involved there.
There are two others (apart from Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole). One was Saunier, the French chef at the Reform Club in London who created a field oven for the troops which survived until 1982, certainly. His dietary advice improved the health of the troops. The other was a British civil servant whose name escapes me but who did a great deal to reform the administration of the Army - of which it was in woeful need!
Peter, thanks for your support and your ideas for more talks.
There was also a nurse from north Wales (name escapes me) who crossed swords with FN.
Mary Seacole is one of the biggest leftist myths of the modern era. She may have handed out a few herbal medicines but she was NOT a nurse. She was a businesswoman who set up a restaurant, and it wasn’t for the ordinary soldier but officers who could pay their way.
That was an interesting story and doing the link to The Charge of the Light Brigade was welcome.
I'm glad you liked it, Simon.
Thanks for watching.
Very interesting, well told.
many thanks, Andy.
Very interesting video! Its rare nowadays to have the youtubers actively engaging with commentors. It seems sometimes the algorithm does know what to recommend
If people have taken the time to comment, the least I can do is respond.
Thanks for your support.
czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
I'm learning a lot today. I vaguely knew about The Thin Red Line but I never realised that it was at The Battle of Balaclava.
You've also cleared up a misunderstanding I had about The Charge of the Light Brigade. I thought they were meant to attack an active Russian battery from the flank and erroneously charged the wrong guns. I never realised that it was meant to be a recovery of British guns.
The details you go into and your enthusiasm for your subject are just infectious.
Perry, glad you enjoyed this video.
Thanks for your support.
@@TheHistoryChap Thanks for all your hard work. 👍
Very well presented
Ken, thank you vey much.
Please make sure that you subscribe so you don't miss my next video.
Absolutely Brilliant!!!
Thanks for your kind words.
czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
Excellent thanks please more stories from the Crimean war thanks
Many thanks, Mick.
More to come!
Great video.👍
Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment.
Another superb video. Have you thought of presenting a video on location? With some great history on our doorstep it would be amazing to the area in context!!! Just a thought!
That's a great idea. I have done a short talk at the battlefield at Towton (Wars of the Roses) but I agree that we have so much on our doorstep it would be a shame to ignore it.
The men on all sides were so brave it must frightening
Total respect
Thank you for another great video
My pleasure glad you enjoyed it.
WOW BROTHER, I LIKED THAT ! THANKS MUCH. 👍💪❤🙏
My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it.
Please make sure that you subscribe to my channel.
My great great grandfather was a member of the 93rd Southerland Highlanders and was in the Battle of Balaclava. We've have a copy of The Thin Red Line painting in our living room for the past 50 years to remember him.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your family story
Having seen many of your presentations I must say that you are A. Extremely well balanced in your opinions, B.Very entertaining as a presenter . Shabash Hazoor
Very kind of you, thanks.
Excellent thank you!
My pleasure.
czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
Excellent.
Your channel is awesome
Very kind of you. Please make sure that you subscribe.
a good, clear and interesting/entertaining explanation. Thank you. Could the battle maps be clearer perhaps?
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for the feedback. I will try my best.
I never knew the origin of 'the thin red line' until now. Thanks! I'd always assumed it was much earlier than this.
Hope you found it interesting.
Always very interesting. Thanks you so much.
Any chance of some videos of 18th century British battles? Some of the American revolutionary war battles maybe?
Whatever you decide though, I'll watch. Thanks again.
Will come to those. I specialise in 19th century (after Waterloo) but naturally I think I will branch out either side, so American Revolutionary Wars will definitely get an airing.
Please make sure that you subscribe so you don't miss them.
thank you very much
My pleasure.
No CGI just great story telling and images. Truly Ripping Yarns!
Many thanks.
I am enjoying your videos. My 4th G-Uncle fought with the 43rd Regiment of foot (Monmouthshire) at Toulouse, Neville, and New Orleans, and his nephew, my 3rd G-Grandfather, also joined the same regiment during peacetime, and ended up in Ireland during the Potato Famine at Cashel and Dublin from 1845-51. I would like to see videos talking about the British army in Ireland during that time if at all possible
I do want to cover Ireland at some stage but I really do want to research it so I try to produce a balanced perspective. Please sign up for my newsletter at my website so you don't miss Ireland when I get to it.
www.thehistorychap.com
Well told thank you.
My pleasure. Thank you for watching
Great video. Any chance of doing a video on the British attack on The Great Redan ?
On my list to do later this year. Thanks for giving me a prod.
Well told Sir!
Thank you.
great channel
Thank you very much.
Please make sure that you subscribe so you don’t miss my next videos.
Yes, more please
Working on it in the very near future.
thank you for the factual well presented history, it is a rare find
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
Tx ! Very inspirational !
My pleasure. Thanks for watching. czcams.com/users/TheHistoryChap
That was outstanding, a very enjoyable video. It is worth mentioning though that the double line formation had been in use by the British since the Napoleonic wars and brilliantly put to use by Wellington. I believe that the journalist at Balaclava immortalized the term, but the formation was well known and used extensively by the British before then.
Glad you enjoyed the video and yes, you are correct that it was not a unique position adopted by Colin Campbell