My Aunt Alma is from Via Reggio.

Dear David,

I fully agree with you. Most of my knowledge of the Crimean war actually stems from the book "CRIMEA" by Trevor Royle - quite good reading and gives good feel of the time. The non-combat victims, in particular the French in the second winter, after all the dramatic fighting!!, must have been appalling.

The Crimean war has so many aspects. It was a war fought by generals with linear Napoleonic tactics in mind. However, the new rifles, French, English and Cossack sharphooters became increasingly important in changing traditional battle schemes. In the beginning - beautiful Napoleonic style uniforms (Hugh has mentioned the English cavalry, I add the Chasseus d'Afrique), in the end pure convenience clothing. The trenches!, Todtleben's moving trenches. The first war photo stories. Influence of public opinion on battle tactics and war strategy. Nervous politicians and kings at the other end of telegraph lines.
Then the whole affair is very interesting in today's geopolitical context - OK no politics on the forum.
Finally, a fully futile affair. No decisive outcome - just some slight alterations in influence.
In medieval times they used to joust - same outcome with much reduced casualties.
Many good reasons to make dios and play around.
Hey Streltsi, give us more of this good stuff.

There are a number of reasons why the war has quite the place in the national conscience that is does in Britain, and while there was a bit of Victorian jingoism, I don't believe it was/is a major factor.

Firstly, any jingoism there was, will be that common factor in British wars - making a mess of the first half and then pulling it together once the chips are down, a reasonable excuse for a bit of celebration.

Secondly there is the whole 'Lady and the Lamp' thing going on with Florence Nightingale (and increasingly - the black 'Florence' - Mary Seacole), which was about the birth of modern military medicine, care of the common soldiery etc...

Third, the 'Charge'

And a lesser forth, in some peoples eyes; British Cavalry uniforms reached their zenith around this time.

To which you can add the fact that like the ACW, it was a war with a lot of new technology to be met and dealt with, giving it great interest from a historians point of view.

Also, among a certain generation the film of the 'Charge', complete with it's incongruities and 'Hippy' sentiments, went some way toward re-invigorating that memory, not to mention the Flashman follow-on!!!!

Hows it going Hugh Dude. I watched the Charge of the Light Brigade on British TV recently and it got me inspired! Those dudes sure kicked ass! Great film, great uniforms and great battles

Dear Hank

Florence Nightingale was named after Florence the place of her birth and Florence became very popular as a British girl's name after the Crimean War.
Alma was already a Hebrew and Italian girl's name not very popular in Britain but after the Crimean war more so.
The name Florence had a resurgence with the BBC children's TV "Magic Roundabout" in the 60s/70s as Florence was one of the characters. A UK woman now in her 30s called Florence rather than being named after Florence Nightingale is more likely to be named as a tribute to that little animated figure called Florence .

David

professori ,may i add thatI think you find the River Alma in Crimea,the battle fame ,was named by the earlier occupying Genoese(see many fortresses etc ) after a Contessa called ..Alma.

Dear Hugh

Fifth- the news was fresh thanks to the telegraph. William Russell's dispatches are well known and these arrived pretty soon after the event. The effect they had is again well documented. The British public became involved with immediacy of this otherwise distant war.

One of the Strelets Heavy Brigade figures could easily double as William Russell if you minus the sword.

David