Wednesday 27 October 2010

Hell Riders

Nothing to do with motorbikes, but this is my favourite ever book. It's the story of the British cavalry, the Light Brigade, a military blunder, during the Crimean War, brought about by the fact the two generals in charge hated each other and wouldn't talk to one and other. More than anything it's a tale of unquestioning bravery.
As Tennyson wrote:

Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
  Rode the six hundred

Above all that though, it's just a great read. It doesn't try to be clever, it tells an amazing story, giving real quotes from the cavalrymen of the time (as reported in The Times). And the Light Brigade, the 17th/21st Lancers, are the ones who have the 'Or Glory' badges. G

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

s'funny old world eh, I had a mate in the 17th/21st Lancers when I was down in the Falklands, Nigel believe it or not Ponsnby Smyth, helluva nice guy, ever so posh but a real geezer, when all the other squaddies where in combats he was in brown woolen trousers, brogues and bright yellow jumper and knitted tie, drove tanks
capn simo