Battle of Balaclava

Question 1

Who commanded the British Forces at the Battle of Balaclava?

Answer 1

Lord Raglan

Question 2

Who commanded the British cavalry at the Battle of Balaclava?

Answer 2

Lord Lucan

Question 3

Who commanded the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava?

Answer 3

Lord Cardigan

Question 4

Who was the Crimean War between?

Answer 4

British, French and Turkish vs Russians

Question 5

How well was the British base at Balaclava defended? Give detail.

Answer 5

Not very well

Only 2000 infantry, 1500 cavalry and 26 guns

Question 6

Why was Lord Raglan complacent about the possibility of a Russian attack?

Answer 6

He had previously received multiple false alarms

Question 7

How many Russian soldiers attacked the port of Balaclava?

Answer 7

25000 infantry
3500 cavalry
78 guns

Question 8

What happened first in the Battle?

Answer 8

Russian cannon fired on British gun positions

Question 9

What had happened by the time the Russian cavalry were ready to charge?

Answer 9

British cannons had been captured and the root into Balaclava was held by the Russians

Question 10

How many Russian cavalry charged at the 93rd Highlanders?

Answer 10

2000

Question 11

How many soldiers made up the 93rd Highlanders?

Answer 11

550

Question 12

What tactic was used to repel the Russian cavalry charged?

Answer 12

Line formation

Question 13

What did the 93rd Highlanders do to the Russian cavalry?

Answer 13

Forced it to retreat

Question 14

What were the 93rd Highlanders armed with?

Answer 14

Minié rifles

Question 15

Why were the Heavy Brigade sent out?

Answer 15

To reinforce gun positions

Question 16

What did the Charge of the Heavy Brigade achieve?

Answer 16

Defeat 3000 Russian cavalry and end the Russian offensive on Balaclava

Question 17

What was unusual about the Heavy Brigade’s charge?

Answer 17

It was uphill which took the Russians by surprise

Question 18

Why was their confusion over the Light Brigade’s orders?

Answer 18

Lord Ragland and Lord Lucan did not speak to each other so messages had to be conveyed through the messenger, Captain Nolan

Question 19

What were the Light Brigade meant to do?

Answer 19

Prevent the Russians carrying away the captured British guns

Question 20

What did the Light Brigade do instead of directly following the order?

Answer 20

Charge the Russian guns

Question 21

How many men died during the Charge of the Light Brigade?

Answer 21

113 of 673

Question 22

Who saved the remainder of the Light Brigade?

Answer 22

French cavalry reinforcements