starter activity

This painting of the 93rd Highlanders facing a Russian cavalry charge was painted 17 years after the event and so can tell us nothing useful or reliable, how far do you agree?

How was the battle How was the battle of Balaclava, the of Balaclava, the

charge of the Light charge of the Light Brigade & the Brigade & the Russian winter Russian winter

campaign campaign reported ?reported ?To investigate the accuracy of evidence To investigate the accuracy of evidence

concerning key events of the war.concerning key events of the war.To determine how the reporting of To determine how the reporting of

these events affected public opinion in these events affected public opinion in BritainBritain

Your TaskYour Task Read through pages 11 – 13 about the Read through pages 11 – 13 about the

Battle of Balaclava & charge of the Light Battle of Balaclava & charge of the Light Brigade.Brigade.

Read the account by William Russell in Read the account by William Russell in Source L Source L of the charge of the Light of the charge of the Light Brigade:Brigade:

How accurate is Russell’s account likely How accurate is Russell’s account likely to be considering he watched the charge to be considering he watched the charge from a hill overlooking the valley in from a hill overlooking the valley in which the charge occurred?which the charge occurred?

What was Russell’s attitude to the What was Russell’s attitude to the charge? How do you know this?charge? How do you know this?

Why do you think the Times published Why do you think the Times published Russell’s Russell’s dispatchdispatch??

Film Clip “charge of the Light Brigade”.

Your TaskYour Task How far does William Pearson’s account How far does William Pearson’s account

((Source MSource M) support what Russell reported ) support what Russell reported about the charge? about the charge?

Do you consider Do you consider Source K or LSource K or L to be the more to be the more reliable account?reliable account?

Why would Pearson’s family have sent his Why would Pearson’s family have sent his letter to the local newspaper?letter to the local newspaper?

Your TaskYour Task Read Read Source NSource N on page 15. on page 15. What message do you think What message do you think

Tennyson was trying to get Tennyson was trying to get across?across?

How far is his message How far is his message different to that of Russell’s different to that of Russell’s account in account in Source JSource J??

Can you suggest reasons Can you suggest reasons for the difference in views?for the difference in views?

Your TaskYour Task Read about the Russian Winter of Read about the Russian Winter of

1855 on pages 15 & 16.1855 on pages 15 & 16. How far do How far do Sources P and QSources P and Q support support

what Clive Ponting is saying about what Clive Ponting is saying about the effects of the Russian Winter in the effects of the Russian Winter in Source OSource O??

SupportsSupports

P confirms Ponting s claims about P confirms Ponting s claims about food, clothing and accommodation food, clothing and accommodation “Tents frozen stiff as boards”, “Cold “Tents frozen stiff as boards”, “Cold pork for breakfast”, “Blankets frozen pork for breakfast”, “Blankets frozen on us”. on us”. Also supports claims that Also supports claims that British resistance would fade if British resistance would fade if Russians were able to attack.Russians were able to attack.

Q offers details on the deaths of British Q offers details on the deaths of British soldiers as hinted at in O sayingsoldiers as hinted at in O saying “Many “Many of these men were all but dead”.of these men were all but dead”.

OpposesOpposes Pontings claims of Pontings claims of lack of foresight and gross lack of foresight and gross

incompetenceincompetence by the army leadership cannot by the army leadership cannot be validated by either P or Q. However be validated by either P or Q. However Godman (source P, is an officer and would not Godman (source P, is an officer and would not necessarily have full awareness of the reasons necessarily have full awareness of the reasons for logistical failures that Ponting as a for logistical failures that Ponting as a historian does).historian does).

Russell’s emphasis on the horrible conditions Russell’s emphasis on the horrible conditions seem to suggest a far harsher picture than O seem to suggest a far harsher picture than O paints of conditions. However it seems clear paints of conditions. However it seems clear that Russell is focusing on this aspect and that Russell is focusing on this aspect and sensationalises the effects of the wintersensationalises the effects of the winter for the for the purpose of readers back in Britain. purpose of readers back in Britain.

Your TaskYour Task

Look at key examples of William Look at key examples of William Russell’s reporting of the Crimean Russell’s reporting of the Crimean War in War in sources F, G, I, L,Q and Rsources F, G, I, L,Q and R and re-read his biography.and re-read his biography.

Would you consider him to be a Would you consider him to be a biased reporter?biased reporter?

Discuss this with others and record Discuss this with others and record your points.your points.

How useful is Fenton’s How useful is Fenton’s photography?photography?

How useful is this photograph to a historian studying the conditions British soldiers faced in the Crimean War?

HomeworkHomework

How far do Sources X and Y How far do Sources X and Y challenge Source W about the challenge Source W about the effective supplying of the army?effective supplying of the army?

Use the sources on p21 & 22 to Use the sources on p21 & 22 to write a detailed exam style answer write a detailed exam style answer to this question.to this question.

Don’t forget to read the Don’t forget to read the Exam TipsExam Tips box to get ideas on constructing an box to get ideas on constructing an effective answer.effective answer.

PlenaryPlenary

What should the role of a war What should the role of a war correspondent be?correspondent be?

““To report factually and without To report factually and without emotion”emotion”

Discuss this view with others in the Discuss this view with others in the group and come up with points for group and come up with points for both sides of the argument.both sides of the argument.