Grade 8 Reading Lesson 21 Poetry – The Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson to memorialize a suicidal charge by light cavalry over open terrain by British forces in the Battle of Balaclava (Ukraine) in the Crimean War (1854-56). 247 men of the 637 in the charge were killed or wounded. Britain entered the war, which was fought by Russia against Turkey, Britain and France, because Russia sought to control the Dardanelles. Russian control of the Dardanelles threatened British sea routes.
Read this poem to see horrible face of war.
