Post
by thinredline » Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:08 am
Embarkation figures put a typical British Battalion at 32 Officers, 45 Sergeants, 15 drummers/buglers and 850 other ranks, total of 942 Officers and men. Those figures are depleted by cholera, dysentry etc before the Alma takes place. Sick at revellie, dead by lunch, and buried by sunset ! (on the same day) So the full strength was not available at the first engagement. Reserves and recruitment at home had to be augmented with raising Foreign Legions (Italian, Swiss and German). Additionally, Britain paid for the services of the Sardinian/Piedmontese (17,000 men) I have casualty figures for the Alma, but not actual roll call figures for the units before the outset of battle. Consider that more men were lost to disease cold and malnutrition than through enemy action !
British Cavalry robbed men and horses from all over to present operational regiments of two squadrons each of about 160 men, eg 4th Dragoon Guards had 20 Officers, 18 Sergeants, 4 Buglers and 275 other ranks, total 317 formed into 2 squadrons. Loss of horses through "staggers" shipwreck, malnutrition and disease in Bulgaria led to shortage of suitable mounts.
At Balaclava, the Light Brigage compised 673 men in 10 squadrons, Heavy Brigade 750 - 800 in 10 squadrons.
Figures for Turks and French, not as much detail here, 30,000 French, 7,000 Turks. These forces increased (especially French) as war progressed.
Trust info is of some use, and refer ISBN:185818015 5 - Crimeas War Basics - Britain, France & Sardinia by Michael Cox & John Lennon.
Thinredline
"There is no retreat from here, men," Campbell told them as he rode down the line, "you must die where you stand."
Ta for the heads up Paul
posted on the wrong topic, I'll try again:
