Battle of Balaclava,
25th October 1854

The 4th (Queen's Own) Light Dragoons and the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars both fought in this, probably the most famous of all Cavalry actions: The Charge of the Light Brigade.

Lord Raglan, The Commander-in-Chief, wished Lord Lucan, the Cavalry Commander, to prevent the Russians from removing the guns that they had captured on the causeway heights. Owing to inaccurate passage of information and a difference of perspective, Lucan ended up ordering Lord Cardigan to use his Light Brigade to capture and entirely different objective: the Russian guns at the other end of the valley, a mile and a half away.

The Brigade set off in impeccable formation, with the 4th and the 8th as the second line behind the 11th Hussars, 17th Lancers and the 13th Hussars, all the way enduring heavy fire from the guns on both sides of the valley and, when in range, those of their objective. Each line in turn crashed onto and through the position, clashing with the massed ranks of the enemy's cavalry beyond the guns. The 4th under Lord George Paget, remained on the guns and finished off the artillerymen, until a large body of lancers was observed coming down to cut them off so, together with the 11th Hussars, Paget wheeled them about and they managed to brush past the enemy and start the long return journey. The 8th, under Colonel Sherwell, charged through the position into the enemy cavalry beyond before turning in perfect formation and driving off a force of Cossacks that were threatening their flanks.

Of the 118 men of the 4th that started the charge only 39 returned, and of the 104 men of the 8th only 38 came back: in all 409 of the 607 men in the Light Brigade were either killed or missing.

In the course of the battle Private Samuel Parkes' horse was shot and he was making his way back on foot when he came across the Commanding Officer's Trumpet Orderly (Trumpeter Hugh Crawford)The Trumpet Orderly's horse fell and he was dismounted thus losing his sword, as he was about to be attacked by two Cossacks. Parkes stood between Crawford and the Cossacks and fought them off with his own sword, whilst attempting to follow the Light Brigade in retreat At this point they were attacked by six Russians whom Tpr Parkes kept at bay, fighting and defending the Trumpet Orderly, he was deprived of his sword by a shot to his hand. Both Trumpeter Crawford and Trooper Parkes were captured and were not returned until 12 months later during a prisoner of war exchange.

For his actions Trooper Parkes was awarded the Victoria Cross; he was the first Soldier ever to be awarded the Victoria Cross and was presented it by HRH Queen Victoria in Hyde Park on the 26th June 1857. The Victoria Cross awarded to Tpr Parkes is the only one held by the Regiment and can be found in the Blackshaw Museum.

After the war Trumpeter Crawford became the Trumpet Major.

"BALACLAVA" was awarded as a Battle Honour to the 4th and 8th Hussars.

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