Thin Red lIne, The

Previous accounts of the Battle of Balaclava have, almost without exception, concentrated on the drama and tragic irony of the Charge of the Light Brigade; that strange mixture of gallantry and muddle and useless sacrifice is indeed irresistible. But as John Selby makes clear the Charge was only a vivid firework display on the fringe of the main action. It was the Highland Brigade and in particular the 93rd Highlanders, the "Thin Red Line" of the title, under the inspiring leadership of Sir Colin Campbell, who really saved the day.