The Crimean war Flashcards
who was Florence nightingale
She was born in 1820 to a wealthy family, she travelled to Germany to train as a nurse and took up a senior nursing position in a London Clinic in 1853.
From the beginning of the Crimean war the times reported that there was poor medical care and the minister of war Sidney Herbert decided to send a team of 38 volunteer nurses lead by Florence Nightingale in October 1854
what problems were faced at Scutari
Nightingale and her team were based in Scutari on the outskirts of the now Istanbul.
The priority of the army was the fighting men available not the sick and wounded.
Lord Raglan had limited medical staff and supplies as he needed transport ships for soldiers and horses, there were examples of medical supplies were taken off, for more troops.
Medical staff was bad as many volunteers were non-medical assistants in hospitals.
At the start of the war, it was thought that wounded men would look after themselves.
Scutari ‘hospital was not suited for medical care as it was an army barracks. E.g., hardly any clean water was available, and toilets were primitive.
what impact did Florence Nightingale have
Doctors and surgeons resented the new nurses.
Nightingale immediately attempted to improve the situation at Scutari she and her team reorganising the kitchen improving food for patients, cleaned wards and strove to provide clean bedlinen.
She arranged a school room and library and sent men with minor wounds to grow vegetables in hospital grounds.
She worked long hours and gained the nickname the “lady with the lamp”.
Dr John Hall (head of medical army) and Dr Menzies tried to get nurses sent back to England but failed.
Nightingale became a celebrity and newspapers carried stories of her heroism her friendship with the times correspondent William Russell gave her access to influential people and the times organised a fund which raised £30,000 to buy medical supplies.
what was the sanitary commission who was it led by and what impact did it have
The sanitary commission
In early 1855 the British government was defeated and a there was a new prime minister Palmerston who supported Nightingale
The new war minister, Panmure ordered a sanitary commission to the Crimea.
John McNeil a doctor and diplomat and solider Colonel Alexander Tulloch began work in March 1855 by the shock of Scutari
A clean up was ordered rubbish was cleared, walls were washed, and dead animals were removed.
Doctors and Nurses didn’t understand what caused infections and disease and nightingale believed it was bad air (miasma)
Sanitary commission demanded change and mortality rates fell in hospitals.
Nightingale welcomed the commission as saving the army and she continued to improve supply of medicine and basic aid such as hot water bottles.
Alex Soyer supplied nourishing soups and stews to make army rations.
what were the advantages and disadvantages of Florence Nightingale
Nightingale argued with nurses especially those who were independent minded like Elizabeth Davis who went to Balaklava against her wishes.
The McNeil-Tulloch report confirmed much of what nightingale claimed about army failings.
Nightingale was perceived in two lights; her supporters cited the improvements that she made in cleanliness, general care and concern for the sick and wounded and her popularity among the soldiers
Critics claimed that during her arrival the death rates rose suggesting her work was less effective than the changes made by the Sanitary Commission.
Nightingales’ impatience caused problems with colleagues and the atmosphere was rancorous as nurses were routinely accuse of theft, drunkenness, and being immoral.
But her efforts in improving nutrition, obtaining essential supplies were major factors in helping conditions.
The hopeless situation meant that the due to difficulties in moving casualties from the battlefield at Sevastopol, by the time they reached Scutari they were beyond help.
what is the legacy of Florence Nightingale
She became the ‘Angel of the Crimea’.
She became a role model Victorian woman.
When she returned from Crimea she argued for a full inquiry and contribution to the royal commission on the health of the army in 1857.
A fund was raised of £45,000 by 1859 and a nurses training school was set up at st Thomas Hospital in London and the first trainees arrived in 1860.
She continued to campaign in her sick bed after being diagnosed with bipolar syndrome and infections contracted through her ward work.
The Florence nightingale foundation 1934 continues to promote her ideals.
Mary Seacole’s influence
taught herbal remedies by he jamican mothers she treated chloera in jamaica and panama in 1840s and 1850s
she applied to war office to help British soldiers but was rejected
instead she borrowed money and went to turkey, her help was rejected by nightingale and she went to balaclava
building a hotel from materials she nursed soldiers
nightingale belittled her efforts stating she was kind to men and made them drunk
however times writer said she was a warm and successful doctor who cures men with extraordinary success
when was Britain involved in Crimean war
1854-56
what were the notable battles during Crimean war
battle of Alma sept 1854
battle of balaclava oct 1854
battle of Inkerman nov 1854
siege of Sebastopol 1854-5
what was impact of battle of Alma
allied force led by Lord Raglan met Russian army defending high grounds south of river Alama
allies outnumbered Russians and had support from naval gunfire
but lack of British and French co-operation, led to attacks happening 1 by 1
one point Raglan ordered infantry to lie down
objective of British was to destroy Russian earth work as Russians had put there artillery there
as British advanced Russians retreated
Raglan wanted to march on and take Sevastopol but French refused
battle highlighted lack of leadership and organisation at times British mistook French soldiers for Russians, officers contradicted orders, soldiers didn’t know depth of water and officers complained that men were not given orders only directions.
British won battle though, equipped with new minie rifles which could fire with greater range and accuracy, 500 metres
what where the three military actions famous in the battle of Balaklava
The thin red line
the charge of the heavy brigade
the charge of the light brigade
what was the thin red line
The Russian army witnessed Turkish troops retreating, so Menshivok sent Russian cavalry forward but they were opposed north of Balaklava by the 93rd foot highlanders deployed by general sir Colin Campbell who at first positioned his men on the reverse slope out of artillery fire but once he recognised the Russian cavalry he moved his men to the hilltop lining the two ranks encouraging the cavalry to charge as they had become accustomed to the British lining up in squares however the 500 highlanders stood ground and the Minie rifles inflicted so much damaged and casualties that after a second failed assault the Russian retreated.
what was the charge of the heavy brigade
General Lord Lucan had moved the British cavalry division to support the highlanders and after witnessing the highlanders standing firm he ordered one of his two brigades to charge, the 800 strong heavy brigade led by general Scarlett charged the Russians uphill, for an unknown reason the Russians stayed still and the British cavalry broke through pushing the Russian to retreat with horse artillery open firing.
what was the charge of the light brigade
Raglan ordered an advance to stop Russian troops removing allied Turkish guns captured earlier on the height and raglan wanted general lord Lucian to stop them. However, raglans orders were vague and the only guns Lucan could see were Russian at the end of the north valley, so Lucan told Cardigan to attack. This costed many lives including Captain Nolen who was killed by a Russian exploding shell, and half of the men had been killed or wounded before they reached the guns, the survivors fought against the guns and were only saved by cover provided by a French cavalry charge. 113 out of 673 died and a further 134 were wounded this summed up the problems in Crimea which was poor planning, and communication, vague leadership and conflicting orders. After the charge Lucan was replace and raglan was blamed both raglan and Lucan blamed one another.
role of Lord Raglan
Lord Raglan contracted Cholera and died on the 28th of June 1855. And his command of the British forces was strongly criticised by contemporise, as he used many of the same methods in the Crimea as wellington had used 40 years ago in the French wars and many saw raglans tactics as traditional rather than him seeking innovation. The dreadful conditions experienced by the troops caused by incompetent commanders was also put under scrutiny ad they mismanaged supplies to siege lines and Balaklava which Raglan being the leader was blamed for perhaps raglans biggest failure was not persuading allies to mount an all-out attack on Sebastopol and siege attacks on lengthened tee was for many months as the allies had the numbers and artillery to do so. However this war influenced subsequent army reform from the likes of Florence nightingales work and the McNeill-Tulloch report.
