Artillery attached to the Light Brigade

[kaiser]

when the cavalry division left the uk an artillery brigade was attached to them, just a few things i'd liked cleared up:

1. was the artillery attached to the cavalry brigade as a whole or did the Heavy and Light brigade have there own artillery Bty for support.
2. if they had there own support were was the Light Brigades when they made the charge.
3. is it listed which Bty served with the Light Brigade and would they have served with them throughout the whole campaign

TIA Andrew

[10thHussar]

i cant remember exactly but i am sure it was B or C troop Royal horse artillary that supported the Light brigade?

I need to look through my sources to check for sure.

Anyone else?

Lee

[kaiser]

Thanks Lee would you know what Brigade they would have been in

[usartillery]

It was "I Troop" Royal Horse Artillery that was initially attached to the Cavalry Division . . . under the command of Captain George Maude (until wounded in the battle of Balaklava). Command subsequently devolved upon 2nd Captain John Shakespear for the battle of Inkerman, then 2nd Cpt [Brevet Major] Gaspar Tupper beginning in Jan 1855. When the Cavalry Divison totally reorganised (around July-Aug 1855), the attached RHA consisted of: A Troop (under Cpt [Brev Maj] Charles Henry, C Troop (under Captain Henry Thomas) and I Troop (under Cpt [Brev Maj] John Brandling, and Ball Cartridge Brigade (under 2nd Cpt William Saunders).[Source: Into Battle: British Orders of Battle for the Crimean War by Ron McGuigan; highly recommended and currently out of print].

[colenso]

Captain Shakespear RA account, his letter was published in the Times on 3 April 1855:

Sir,— Having been repeatedly asked to lay before the public what I know relative to the attack made by the Light Cavalry at Balaklava, and what was done, or not done, by the Horse Artillery, I have been induced to make the following statement:— It is well known that on Major Maude falling seriously wounded early in the day I, who had been with him in four previous actions and affairs, succeeded to the command of his troop. Passing over all previous occurrences of that day, I had brought my guns up at a gallop on the left flank of the Heavy Cavalry, while reforming after their charge. The Light Cavalry, having passed along my rear, were on my left flank. It must now be remembered that the whole cavalry brigade were in the plain on the Balaklava side of the heights on which were the redoubts. My troop would be about 600 yards from the crest of those heights. Considering all immediate action over, if not, indeed, the whole thing for the day, I rode over the heights to reconnoitre. I there met Lieutenant-Colonel M’Mahon, the Quartermaster-General of Cavalry. We were alone, and with our telescopes were examining the Russian Artillery in the bush on the opposite heights across the second plain. The distance would be about 1,500 yards. I had counted 10 guns; there were other guns further on to the left of these. There was cavalry, infantry, and artillery in the plain, nearly a mile away. I knew that the Russians held Nos. 1, 2, and 3 redoubts, which, it must be remembered, faced the bush I have before mentioned. Captain Charteris rode up to us; he was accompanied, I think, by Captain Methuen, of the screw steamship Colombo. The former said, ‘You will see something now; the Light Cavalry are going to attack down the plain.’ I exclaimed, ‘You will all be destroyed. I will go and bring up the troop and try and give assistance.’ I galloped back; I could not see Lord Lucan; but, Major-General Scarlett being close at hand, I said, ‘Will you allow me to go to the support of the Light Cavalry?’ His answer was, ‘Certainly.’ I moved off at a smart trot, seeing the rear regiments of the Light Cavalry just slip out of sight over the heights. My horses were tired and reduced in numbers, several having been killed in the early part of the day; so I soon came to a walk. The Scots Grays had moved before me, and had halted in line just at the foot of the heights. I passed through their squadron at intervals. At this time Major Walker, Lord Lucan’s aide-de-camp, rode up to me, and, in a conversation I had with him afterwards, he said, ‘with an order for me to advance.’ I perfectly remember his being with me, but have no recollection of this order. Had he brought me directions to do otherwise than I was doing, I should probably have paid more attention. Major Walker, in speaking to me on the subject afterwards said, ‘My life was probably saved by being sent back for you.’ I passed on over the heights with the troop; a heavy fire was immediately opened on me, happily without effect, from the artillery in the bush on the opposite heights; to this I could not reply, the range being too great for my light guns. I at once ‘wheeled to the right,’ and endeavoured to pass along the Balaklava side of the heights immediately below their crest, screened from the enemy’s fire, and so come over, if possible, on the right rear of our Light Cavalry, but a cut down into the Woronzoff road, past which I could not get my guns, prevented me. I wheeled about and followed the Heavy Cavalry, which had now come up, down into the plain in support of the Light Cavalry.

The fire at this time from the Russian front and flanks was tremendous. I halted for a moment in the rear of the Heavy Cavalry, but, not being able to make my guns of any use, seeing the disaster and knowing from previous observation that descending further into the plain was taking the troop to certain destruction and giving the guns intrusted to my care into the hands of the enemy, I retired at a walk to the crest of the heights on my own responsibility, fearing a second Chilianwallah, and was almost immediately followed by the Heavy Cavalry, who were, indeed, close on to my guns when I reached the crest.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
J D SHAKESPEAR, Captain RA

[Darrell]

Here is a 4 Clasp Crimea Medal to a Gunner in the RHA that served in "I" Troop

Stumbled across this thread from another member (thanks Rick ).

I'll post a couple of pictures of the medal.

[tao1245]

Is it possible to trace information on individual soldiers in the Artillery? My great great grandfather, born in County Down, lived in St. Catharines, ON, where he was a captain of artillery in the local militia, and who served in the Crimean War. His name: Thomas Oswald.

[L. Braden]

See "From Coruna to Sevastopol," by Col. F. A. Whinyates (Royal Horse Artillery), viewable at Google Books, for first-hand info re the Artillery and Light Brigade.

[usartillery]

In re tracing an individual who served in the artillery in the Crimea, some of the regimental museums may have copies of records, but most records, I believe, are now housed in the National Archives at Kew.

I copied some records of the Royal Artillery on a visit to Kew, but as my visit was only brief, I found them hard to decipher and I was unable to discern how complete the records were. I would recommend posting a query to Kevin Asplin at the Asplin Military History Resources website at http://www.britishmedals.us/kevin/intro.html. He could probably give you a good general assessment off the top of his head, and conducts research at very reasonable rates (he provides excellent photographs of records at Kew, which is much cheaper than hard copies). I have used his assistance in writing two books and in preparing to write a third on the Cavalry in the Crimea.

[mkarnold]

My great-grandfather James Butler (1832-1911) was b. Clonmel, Co.Tipperary. He was impressed into the British Army c. 1850 and sent to India around the Khyber Pass. He was then sent to the Crimea and was present at the Charge of the Light Brigade as an artilleryman on the cliffs. I do not know his regiment.

Was Royal Horse Artillery, Co. I, the only artillery regiment at the Charge?

James deserted in India c. 1857 and sailed to America.
Are there lists of deserters from India?

I am visiting The National Archives in Kew for only a day next month, and would like to know how to access his records. I live in Texas, so the opportunity is lmited. Thank you for any assistance. Mary Butler Arnold