key inderviduals of the crimean war

Lord Raglan

 

 Raglan was a former war-hero having been wounded and had to have his arm amputated at Waterloo. At the outbreak of war it was Raglan who was chosen to command the troops. Lord Raglan and his staff were at the time blamed by the press and the government for the hardships and sufferings of the British soldiers in the terrible Crimean winter before the Siege of Sevastopol, owing to shortages of food and clothing. During this unhealthy winter, the British contingent had 23,000 men unfit for duty due to ill health and only 9,000 fit for duty. It was after the Crimean that it was suggested that Chief neglect rested with the home authorities, and the appalling logistical support from England certainly exacerbated an already poor situation. The war affected Raglan massively as it tarnished his reputation and he died late on in the war as a result of dysentery after another failed battle. Lord Raglan was very important to the Crimean war and more so important in the charge of the light brigade where he gave bad orders and caused the death of 110 british soldiers.

 

Lord Aberdeen

 

 Lord Aberdeen was the british prime minister during the Crimean war. Aberdeen had little impact on the war but was largely criticised for appointing Raglan as he shown to be an incompetent leader. Aberdeen fell victim to criticism from William Russell a war correspondent and the critical editorial skills of John Delane he stepped down as prime minister after the war.

 

Florence Nightingale

 

 Florence nightingale was an aristocratic nurse. She went to the Crimean after reading William Russell's reports on the conditions there, she went and had the aim to improve sanitation and ventilation in the hospitals there. She had a huge impact on the war as she significantly reduced the number of deaths. The war affected Nightingale well as when she returned home she set up the school of nursing and really that marked the start of nurse healthcare. Nightingale was very important to the war as she significantly reduced the number of deaths and she kicked off nurses-very important.

 

Mary Seacole

 

 Mary Seacole was a Jamaican nurse. She went to the Crimean funded off donations from others. When she was there she set up a hotel to get soldiers away from the awful conditions of the Russian winter and general barracks. She also put herself in huge danger as she treated the wounded on the front line. She had a big impact on the war as she improved conditions for the soldiers, this would have undoubtedly boosted morale and improved the health of resting soldiers. In general she was important to the war but it is debatable as to whether she is as important as Florence Nightingale and the impact she had.

 

William Russell

 

 William Russell was the first ever war correspondent. He reported for the daily mail and for the editor John Delane. He was well known for reporting the graphic truths about the war conditions. His reports sparked Florence Nightingale to come out to the Crimean and for the poem Charge of the light brigade to be written. Russell's impact on the war is unquestionable as he kick started war corresponding which is still done today. Overall Russell was very important as it was down to him that the charge of the light brigade was even written and Florence Nightingale came out to the Crimean, both of these had huge impacts and for Russell to have caused these shows how important he was.

 

Roger Fenton

 

 Roger Fenton was a wartime photographer. He was hired by a commercial company Thomas Agnew & sons to go out to the Crimean and take a gallery of photos that glorified the war and the british empire. Fenton's camera had to be carried by a carriage and horse and could only take still pictures not of moving objects. He took pictures of the awful conditions and indirect pictures of the dreadful things soldiers would encounter later on, an example of this is his famous 'into the valleys of the shadow of death' photo. Fenton's impact on the war wasn't massive but he certainly shown to the people back in Britain that this wasn't the glorified war they were getting told it was.

 

John Delane

 John Delane was the editor of The times newspaper. He worked with William Russell. His newspapers shown the reports from Russell and this meant that the times was showing articles slating the war and telling the public what was really going on with the awful conditions and poor leadership. Delane's critical editing took no sympathy with Lord Raglan and persistently put pressure on him and the aristocratic leadership. Delane's impact on the war was big as he used Russells reports to make a mockery of the aristocratic leaders and the conditions there. It could be said with the pressure of Delane's reports it played a part in the Haldane reforms which abolished the commissariat and aristocratic leaders being able to gain roles in the military via payment. So overall Delane was very important.