A futile British light cavalry action against well-armed and well-prepared Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War, resulting in massive losses to the British.
Charge of the Light Brigade
Fact of the Day
Sir Charles Isham introduced garden gnomes to England in 1847 hoping to attract real gnomes to his garden.
Quote of the Day
"A man must needs close his eyes and clench his teeth, wry-mouthed and shuddering, and filtering the stuff rather than drinking.
"
~ Peter of Blois, 12th century, on English wine
On This Day
52 BCE The Siege of Alesia formally came to an end when Vercingetorix, leader of the Gaulish forces, surrendered to Julius Caesar.
1283 Dafydd ap Gruffydd, the last independent ruler of Wales, was hanged, drawn and quartered on the orders of Edward I.
1691 The Treaty of Limerick was signed, ending the Williamite War in Ireland between the Jacobites and the supporters of William of Orange.
1932 Iraq gained independence from Britain, after 17 years of British rule.
1935 Italian forces invaded Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia) without a formal declaration of war.
1981 The second Irish hunger strike at Maze Prison in Northern Ireland was called off. 10 republican prisoners died in the showdown with Margaret Thatcher.