Captain George Lockwood

George Lockwood emerges as something of an enigma.
He was Aide-de-Camp to Lord Cardigan (who led the charge) and according to Adkin
was in the front group of officers riding with Lord Cardigan at the head of the Charge,
in other accounts he seems to have missed the main action.
One account has Cardigan sending him off to ascertain the readiness of the Infantry.

(The absence of Infantry on the scene and Lucan/Cardigan allowing the cavalry to begin
the charge without infantry back-up is one of the many controversies surrounding the action!).

This account has him returning just after the Light Brigade has set off down the North Valley   [images are clickable]
and enquiring of Lord Lucan, `Where is my Lord Cardigan?`.
Lucan, (who now appears to be realising the appalling disaster unfolding in front of him)
points down the valley and George Lockwood gallops off into oblivion.

Another account suggests that he charged with Lord Cardigan and, returning up the valley
enquired of Lucan, `where is my Lord Cardigan?`.
He then gallops off back down the valley into terrible noise, smoke and confusion never to be seen again.

©Tony Tween 2003
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The publishing of Kinglakes`s history of the Crimean War caused renewed controversy.
This letter written by Fitz Maxse (brother officer to George Lockwood) was published in the Times 28th July 1868.
The fate of Captain Lockwood in the Balaklava Charge.
To the editor of the Times.

Sir,- As a brother Aide-de-Camp of Captain Lockwood in the Balaclava Charge,
I am desirous of correcting in your columns Mr. Kinglake's surmise regarding the circumstances under which he met with his death.

At page 359, vol. 4, of his History of the Invasion of the Crimea, Mr. Kinglake says:-

"At the moment when the Light Cavalry began its advance Captain Lockwood was probably in the performance of some duty which separated him from the other Aides-de-Camp.
Indeed, there is an idea that he rode to the ground where some of our (infantry) battalions were halted, addressed a General whom he there found, and,
announcing that the Light Cavalry were about to engage in an ugly task, urged that it should be supported by infantry. Supposing that he did this and that the Brigade moved forward before he returned to it, he would have been likely to gallop off in all haste down the valley to regain his place near Lord Cardigan."
This supposition is incorrect.

Captain Lockwood started in front of the Light Brigade from the moment of its advance about four horses lengths to my left and some five or six to the right rear of Lord Cardigan.
The loud ringing cheer and gallant bearing of poor Lockwood, as he turned in his saddle about three parts of the way down can never be effaced from my memory,
and is doubtless in the recollection of others. This is the last time I saw him; he was not near me on passing the Russian battery.

I take the opportunity of here stating my impression that Captain Nolan (though I cannot think he realised their position) intended to charge the guns we did charge, and no other.
I have no recollection of his divergence in the manner described by Mr. Kinglake either by deed or gesture until after he was struck; then his horse took the line pointed out by Mr. Kinglake.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

FITZ MAXSE
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   [images are clickable]