Crimean War Documentaries

[Estnische]

Recently we were discussing Florence Nightingale with a nursing teacher and it led me to these Youtube history episodes. The reproduction of the secondary recording leaves a lot to be desired, but its a good grounding in pre-20th Century warfare and the results of lack of planning.

Pt 1

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Pt 2

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Pt 3

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Interesting tidbit - the Victoria Cross was introduced for acts of valour from the war. The metal for the initial medals was said to have come from the Russian cannons captured from Sevastopol.

[43rdRecceReg]

Brett, The message reads: the Uploader has not made the video available in your Country. Is this some anti-Scottish bias?
In any event,
Florence Nightingale was the pioneer of Nursing in the Crimea, and not the businesswoman, Mary Seacole- though revisionists are bizarrely trying to replace one with the other (through no fault of Mary's, and nor is this a comment on, nor critique of, her life).
Nightingale also was responsible for developing the Pie Chart, believe it or not. (no, not the 'pie and mash' menu for the day ).
If you want to learn the actual facts- and I mean facts- about Mary and Florence, watch this video from eminent historian Lynn MacDonald (She wrote 'The Roses of Picardy', 'The Somme' and other seminal works on WW1).

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[Estnische]

A shame Roy - I think you would enjoy it. Both have their contributions spelt out in the series. Actually both helped in different ways according to the many short comings of the British Army’s incompetency and gross lack of concern for the foot soldier’s life.

[43rdRecceReg]

A shame Roy - I think you would enjoy it. Both have their contributions spelt out in the series. Actually both helped in different ways according to the many short comings of the British Army’s incompetency and gross lack of concern for the foot soldier’s life.

At least one good thing came out of that campaign- The Balaclava (knitted helmet/ski-mask). Troops wore the knitted coverings to keep warm during the campaign, although the 'Balaclava' name for this unique headgear came much later, apparently.

The general indifference of ruling elites- throughout history- to the welfare of soldiers and warriors, has only begun to be addressed in recent decades. Only now, has PTSD come to be recognised as the warrior's curse, requiring serious investigation, and resources. Previously, soldiers had to try to cover up the symptoms- for fear of being labelled with 'LMF', os 'Shellshock'. Doubtless, Sebastopol, Waterloo, and countless other campaigns in history (Crecy, Agincourt etc..) created many casualties: those who somehow managed to leave the battlefield or campaign physically intact, or physically maimed- but in both instances, living with irreparably damaged psyches.
Somehow, Buffy St Marie's sing 'Universal Soldier' (also sung by Donovan) comes to mind. Then there's 'D-Day Dodgers' (sung to the tune of 'Lily Marlene). These both deal with the soldier's role, and those who send him/her to war.
On a slightly cheerier note, my ex-wife's g-g-g-Grandfather (and g-g-g-g-Grandfather to my children) fought in the Peninsula Wars, in Spain, against Napoleon (think: the 'Sharpe' stories, starring Sean Bean). He was so proud of his service, notwithstanding the appalling conditions, and indifference of the then general staff, that he named his children after battles he fought in, thus: Badajoz George Wallace; Pamplona Sarah Wallace; Exebastain Wallace, and so on. She was 'Exe' for short, long before it was used as a suffix for a Windows program/executable. Some people seem to thrive in War, and even miss action afterwards.


A Merry Christmas to you even though it must be odd celebrating Christmas in Summer (?)- and the middle of an evil Pandemic.

[Estnische]

And a belated Merry Christmas to you Roy!

And don't forget those other items clothing-related, the cardigan and the raglan sleeve.

Glad to see to succumbed to the truck disease.