Below is some information on the battle of Balaclava. Were your ancestors part of the charge of the light brigade, the charge of the heavy brigade or part of the thin red line. It also includes the regiments involved in battle of Balaclava with some suggested websites that may be of interest in researching your ancestors or genealogy in general.

Theatres of War, Army Regiments, Naval Detachments, RAF

Description: The battle of Balaclava was fought between Russia and an alliance of Britain, France, the Ottoman Empire in 1854. Although a strategic defeat for the British army, the events of the battle are considered icons of courage and achievement. The battle started with a line of Sutherland Highlanders (the 93rd), known as the thin red line, holding off a Russian cavalry charge. What followed next has gone down in history as the charge of the light brigade. The cavalry units, thanks to a mix-up in communications, attacked Russian placements head-on at huge cost of life. The events have been immortalised in Tennyson's poem.

Infantry regiments involved:

• 93rd Highlanders

Cavalry regiments involved:

• 4th Dragoon Guards
• 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons
• 5th Dragoon Guards
• 1st Royal Dragoons
• Royal Scots Greys
• 4th Light Dragoons
• 8th Hussars
• 11th Hussars
• 13th Light Dragoons
• 17th Lancers

Websites:

British Battles: Balaclava.

Reading Materials:

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