Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.
What happened to the survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade?
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Link to my video about the Charge of the Light Brigade itself:
Link to the recording of Trumpeter Martin Landfried:
What happened to the survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade?
On October 25th, 1854, during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War, 670 cavalrymen charged into the Valley of Death. Alfred Lord Tennyson immortalized their courage with his famous poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” declaring “Honour the Light Brigade, Noble Six Hundred!” But what actually happened to the men who survived that fateful day?
The answer is a tale of two fates. While some survivors found success and prosperity, others ended their days in workhouses and paupers’ graves—a shocking reality that would eventually spark national outrage.
Among the success stories were men like William Pennington, who became a leading Shakespearean actor and manager of Sadler’s Wells Theatre, and John Kilvert, who prospered as a pawnbroker and served as mayor of Wednesbury. Lieutenant Alexander Dunn, the only officer awarded the Victoria Cross for the charge, became the first Canadian to command a British regiment. Others like William Pearson and James Mustard built thriving businesses, while John Parkinson rose to sergeant in the Birmingham police.
But the darker truth was equally compelling. By 1890, at least six survivors were living in workhouses, struggling in poverty despite their heroism. Even Samuel Parkes, awarded the Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria herself for saving a comrade during the charge, died destitute in 1864 and was buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave at Brompton Cemetery.
When Rudyard Kipling discovered how Britain’s heroes had been abandoned, he wrote a scathing poem that shamed the nation: “O thirty million English that babble of England’s might, Behold there are twenty heroes who lack their food to-night.” His words sparked Parliamentary debate and inspired the 80-year-old Tennyson to take action.
This video follows the 73-year journey of the Light Brigade survivors—from the Crimean War battlefield to Britain’s backstreets, through the creation of relief funds, to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 where trumpeter William Perkins sounded the charge once more, and finally to the death of the last survivor, Edwin Hughes, in 1927.
It’s a story that asks an uncomfortable question: what does it truly mean to honour our veterans?
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:52 Charge of the Light Brigade
2:15 Alexander Dunn VC
3:52 Veterans Making Good
5:43 William Henry Pennington
6:20 Convict Ships
7:09 Veterans on Hard Times
7:31 Samuel Parkes VC
9:57 Veterans in Workhouses
10:25 Kipling’s Outrage
12:03 Light Brigade Relief Fund
13:13 Trumpeter Martin Landfried
14:34 Veterans Meet Queen Victoria
15:38 The Roberts Fund
17:14 Last of the Light Brigade
18:52 Learning From History?
#britishhistory #militaryhistory #19thcentury #crimeanwar #victorianera
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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: “Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!”
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham and am a member of the Royal Historical Society.
I am also a member of the Victorian Military Society, the Anglo Zulu War Society and the Military Historical Society.
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The History Chap is a trading name of Chris Green Communication Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales (Co No: 05025587)
There were thirty million English who talked of England's might,
There were twenty broken troopers who lacked a bed for the night.
They had neither food nor money, they had neither service nor trade;
They were only shiftless soldiers, the last of the Light Brigade.
They felt that life was fleeting; they knew not that art was long, That though they were dying of famine, they lived in deathless song. They asked for a little money to keep the wolf from the door; And the thirty million English sent twenty pounds and four!
They laid their heads together that were scarred and lined and grey; Keen were the Russian sabres, but want was keener than they; And an old Troop-Sergeant muttered, "Let us go to the man who writes The things on Balaclava the kiddies at school recites."
They went without bands or colours, a regiment ten-file strong, To look for the Master-singer who had crowned them all in his song; And, waiting his servant's order, by the garden gate they stayed, A desolate little cluster, the last of the Light Brigade.
They strove to stand to attention, to straighten the toil-bowed back; They drilled on an empty stomach, the loose-knit files fell slack; With stooping of weary shoulders, in garments tattered and frayed, They shambled into his presence, the last of the Light Brigade.
The old Troop-Sergeant was spokesman, and "Beggin' your pardon," he said, "You wrote o' the Light Brigade, sir. Here's all that isn't dead. An' it's all come true what you wrote, sir, regardin' the mouth of hell; For we're all of us nigh to the workhouse, an' we thought we'd call an' tell.
No, thank you, we don't want food, sir; but couldn't you take an' write A sort of 'to be continued' and 'see next page' o' the fight? We think that someone has blundered, an' couldn't you tell 'em how? You wrote we were heroes once, sir. Please, write we are starving now."
The poor little army departed, limping and lean and forlorn. And the heart of the Master-singer grew hot with "the scorn of scorn." And he wrote for them wonderful verses that swept the land like flame, Till the fatted souls of the English were scourged with the thing called Shame.
They sent a cheque to the felon that sprang from an Irish bog; They healed the spavined cab-horse; they housed the homeless dog; And they sent (you may call me a liar), when felon and beast were paid, A cheque, for enough to live on, to the last of the Light Brigade.
O thirty million English that babble of England's might, Behold there are twenty heroes who lack their food to-night; Our children's children are lisping to "honour the charge they made–" And we leave to the streets and the workhouse the charge of the Light Brigade!
Great content! Thank you
It's the old "O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away"; But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins," when the band begins to play". Kipling. But it still stands true.
What happened to the idiots who ordered the change?
Great video Chris, you certainly put a shift in researching all this historical stuff. Well done and looking forward to the next instalment.
Those who stand at the front in battles for their country should be rewarded for that selfless act.
A REALLY great poem describing how soldiers were treated in the 1800s in England is Rudyard Kipling's TOMMY. TOMMY is well worth reading.
I may add that there is a memorial plaque at the Church/Cathedral of Bath for the last suiviving member of the light Brigade died 1927….I was under the impression that he is buried there.
Hello Chris, I really enjoyed the video about The Charge of the Light Brigade and was pleased when you mentioned John Kilvert, the last but one survivor of the charge as I am from Wednesbury myself. As a fanatic of the Victoria Cross, I recently saw a painting of Derek Seagrim VC in a red tunic, he really looks like you in it, have a look and see what you think, keep up the great work mate, Lee.
A Great-great-grandfather of mine, formerly of the 98th Regt. of Foot, was a Pensioner-guard on the Adelaide, the last convict ship to Western Australia, receiving a grant of land and raising a family there. This is the first time I have ever heard anyone else mention the Pensioner Guards !