Colour Sergeant William McGregor, Scots Fusilier Guards, 1850s — OnThisDay & Facts

Colour Sergeant William McGregor, Scots Fusilier Guards, 1850s pic.twitter.com/Lz53edIR5P

— OnThisDay & Facts (@NotableHistory) November 27, 2014

Florence Nightingale Sent to Treat War Wounded (1854)

Though Nightingale’s parents opposed their daughter’s pursuit of a career in nursing, she persevered and is now considered the founder of modern nursing. During the Crimean War, she traveled to Turkey to treat the British wounded, earning the nickname “The Lady with the Lamp” for her devotion to the troops’ care. Upon her return, she wrote Notes on Nursing, the first nursing textbook, and founded the Nightingale Training School. In 1907, she became the first woman to receive what award? More… Discuss

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This Day in the Yesteryear: THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (1854)

The Charge of the Light Brigade (1854)

The Charge of the Light Brigade, immortalized in Alfred, Lord Tennyson‘s poem of the same name, was an ill-advised British cavalry assault on Russian forces during the Crimean War. As a result of miscommunication, British soldiers advanced on heavily armed Russian troops who thought their attackers must be drunk. Though hundreds of British soldiers were killed or injured in this battle, their commander, the Earl of Cardigan, not only survived but did what immediately after the battle? More… Discuss

 

This Day in the Yesteryear: RENOWNED SURGEON JAMES BARRY DIES, REVEALING LIFELONG SECRET (1865)

Renowned Surgeon James Barry Dies, Revealing Lifelong Secret (1865)

During the 19th century, Barry was a top British military surgeon who worked to improve conditions during the Crimean War. Known for a fiery temper, Barry famously argued with Florence Nightingale and fought in at least one duel. After Barry’s death, a maid claimed that in the course of preparing the corpse for burial she had learned that Barry was actually a woman, but the British Army sealed all records on Barry for 100 years. What was revealed when the records were accessed in the 1950s? More… Discuss