Crimean war Flashcards
1
Q
Basic info on Crimean war?
A
- Russia and Bulgaria v Turkey France and Britain
- 1853 - 56
- Russia wanted more power in the Black sea (controlled by Turkey)
- Tsar thought Turkey was the ‘sick man of Europe’ because the Ottoman empire was weakening
- Britain and France didn’t want Russia to powerful in the black sea because it opened them up to the rest of the world
2
Q
Key locations in the Crimea
A
- Sebastopol: In 1854 60,000 British and French troops arrived in the Russian naval base at Sebastopol and lay siege there, when the Russians evacuate the British take the Naval base , winning the war
- Alma: Defeat of the Russian troops at Alma
- Balaclava: Desperate to break the siege, The Russians advance on the British supply base at Balaclava, leading to the battle of Balaclava
3
Q
Timeline
A
1853: Nov - Battle of Sinope ( Russia attack Turkish Naval base)
1854: June - British forces ordered to invade Crimea
Sept - Battle of Alma
- Beginning of siege of Sebastopol
Oct - Battle of balaclava
1855: Jan - March- Terrible Russian winter
Sept - End of the siege in Sebastopol
1856: Mar - treaty of Paris signed Naval bases banned from the black sea
4
Q
Harsh winter
A
- On November 14th- Storm led to loss of many ships including the Prince carrying warm clothing
- The road from the Harbour to the camp was mad impassable when there was heavy rain
- Harbour was small so not many ships could be there at a time
- Even though the ranks suffered, the Officers displayed their luxuries such as Cardigan dining and sleeping on his private yacht
- Administrative incompetence meant that situations were made worse
5
Q
Raglan
A
- Commander in chief of the army
- Had no experience even though he was 65
- He was concerned by the situation but did not do enough to inform the government of the situation
- many of his men complained about him because his manner made it seem he was unconcerned about his mens welfare
6
Q
British Army at the beginning
A
- 26,000 sent at the beginning
- Army had not fought in a European war for 40 years
- Officer titles were brought so they weren’t always most skilled
- there was a decline in recruitment
- services over seas had a high death rate
- investment for the army was £43m in 1815 by 1840’s only £9.5m was invested
7
Q
Fenton
A
- first official war photographer, in hopes of counteracting the anti war propaganda of the times
- He avoided taking photos of the dead or injured instead portraying the war a gorgeous pageant
8
Q
Florence Nightingale
A
- Recieved appointed because of her influence with in high society
- Portrayed by media and legend as being much more than she was, as being head of nursing staff to go to Crimea
- Soldiers liked her and she wrote to families of soldiers who had died
- Twice as Likely to die at her hospital
- many of her colleagues reported that she was an awful nurse
- Only focused on personal cleanliness
- She refused to work with Irish Nuns and rejected Mary Seacole
- Work of the sanitary commission was much more affective going from 42/1000 deaths in March to 2/1000 in June 1855
9
Q
Mary Seacole
A
- From Jamaica, learnt nursing from her mother and helped during various epidemics
- Went to Crimea on her own funds
- Opened the ‘British Hotel’ to provide food and shelter for the wounded
- when she returned to Britain she was bankrupt and supported by the public
- Unlike Nightingale she had no government funding and was on the front lines
10
Q
Civil Service Reforms
A
- 1870 competitive entry was made compulsory everywhere in the civil service, by 73 this extended to the home office. However still dominated by Oxbridge graduates and almost impossible to rise through the ranks
11
Q
Military reform
A
- 1855, investigation into how supplies for the army were organised showed serious problems within the military
- 1856, introduction of the Victoria cross, the highest award for bravery and available to all ranks
12
Q
Cardwell’s army reforms
A
- 1970-71
- reorganised the war office (remained confused)
- Introduced short term enlistment of 6 years and then reserves (recruitment remained a problem)
- Ended the purchase of commissions (however only the wealthy could afford the lifestyle)
- Banned flogging in peace time
13
Q
The McNneill- Tulloch Report
A
- made public how supply was arranged on the civilian side
- did not make public how supplies were dealt by the army
- Both enquiries showed huge negligence but no immediate action was take taken
- This exposed management failure and caused up roar
14
Q
Nursing and Medical reforms
A
- Nightingales way of presenting data made influencing politicians to reform health care was made more effective
- Royal Commission of health of the army (1857) was founded by Nightingale and supported by Victoria, researched the causes of high death rates with in the army
- Nightingale training school set up in 1860 as the first secular nursing school, also founded the army medical school
