THE BALACLAVA CHARGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE BALACLAVA CHARGE.

ANNIVERSARY; PROCEEDINGS.'

RECOLLECTIONS OF A SURVIVOR.

[IHOM OCR OWN" CORItESPOXDEN'T.]

.London*, October 26. Yesterday ' was the anniversary of- the famous Charge .of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, and there were celebrations in various ;. parts of the country. There are now only a comparatively few survivors of that immortal six hundred at whose courage "all the world wondered," and perhaps the most noteworthy of these is Viscount Tredegar, who, in accordance with his custom, entertained his tenantry on that day. Viscount Tredegar was Captain Godfrey Morgan, of the 17th Lancers, a regiment that earned for itself on the day of the historic charge the title of " Death or Glory ' Boys,". and his' story of the charge will doubtless be read with interest. -. : :>■"'' ■" ;'■

"J Describing the scenes on that memorable day, Viscount Tredegar said that they turned out before dawn on ; that eventful morning, and the British camp soon saw that something out of the ordinary was going to happen. The redoubts on the Allies' left front, which were held by the Turks, were being vigorously shelled by the Russian gunners, and it waV not long before the Turks were in full retreat, leaving the redoubts in the possession of the Muscovites. Describing the forming into line of the Highlanders in front of Balaclava, and the gallant stand they made in face of the oncoming Cossacks, the narrator said: "Our heavy brigade was sent to the assistance of the Highlanders, and after a hand-to-hand fight thrust the Russians back, and compelled them to.turn round in retreat. It was here that Captain Morris, commanding the 17th Lancers, suggested to Lord Cardigan, who was just in front, that 'we ought to follow, up the success and complete the rout.' After oeing told that it was not his business, Captain Morris turned to the 17th and said, 'The 17th shall do it themselves; 17th Lancers, advance!' The order was obeyed, but the regiment, had not -advanced more than IUU yards before Lord. Cardigan galloped up and ordered it back into line. About eleven o'clock an order came from Lord Lucan to prevent the enemy from carrying off the guns from the redoubt which they had captured. Turning to Captain Webb, his fellow-officer in the 17th, Captain Morgan pointed out that the regiment were in range of the Russian guns, and a minute later a shell burst in the air only about a hundred yards in front of them. One next fell and exploded .in front of Captain Nolan's horse. That officer, as the horse turned round, uttered a wild yell as, with arms extended and the reins dropping on the horse's neck, he fell dead. Describing the actual charge. Viscount Tredegar said: "I do not imagine that anybody except those in the front line of the 17th Lancers saw what had happened. When we got about 200 or 300 yards the battery of the Russian Horse Artillery opened tire. I do not recollect hearing a word from any--, body as we gradually broke from a trot to a canter, though the noise of the striking of men and horses by grape and round shot was deafening, while the dust and gravel thrown up by the round shot that fell short were almost blinding, . and irritated my horse so that I could hardly hold him. But as we came nearer I could, see plainly enough, especially when I was about* a hundred yards from the Russian guns. I appeared to be riding straight on to the muzzle of one of the guns, and, I distinctly saw the gunner apply his; fuse. I shut my eyes then, for I thought that settled the question so far as I was concerned. ' ' '■ ■■'■ •

V; "But the shot just missed roe, and struck the man on my right full : in the chest. In another minute I was on the guns, and the leading Russian gunhorse— shot, I suppose, with a pistol by somebody on" my right—fell across my horse, dragging it over with him, and for a moment pinning me in between the gun and himself. A Russian gunner on foot at once covered me with his carbine. He was just within reach of my sword, and I struck him across his neck. The blow did not do him much harm, but it disconcerted his aim. At the same time a mounted gunner struck my horse on-the forehead 'with his sabre. Spurring my horse, he half jumped, half blundered over the fallen horses, and then for a short time bolted with me. 1 only rememoer finding myself alone among the Russians, trying to get out as best 1 could, and this by some chance I did, in spite of their efforts to cut me down. When clear again of the guns I saw two or three of my men making their way back, and, as the fire'from both flanks was still heavy, it was a. matter of running the gauntlet again. I have not sufficient recollection of minor incidents to describe them, as possibly no two men who were in that charge would describe it in the same way. When I was hack pretty nearly where we started from I found that I was the senior officer of those not wounded, and consequently in command, there being only two others, and both junior to me. in the same position— tenant Wombwell and Cornet Cleveland. We remained formed up until the evening, when we returned to our tents not verv far off." '