Alma
The Battle of the Alma was a battle in the Crimean War between an allied expeditionary force and Russian forces defending the Crimean Peninsula on 20 September 1854. The allies had made a surprise landing in Crimea on 14 September.
The Honour is borne on the Guidon of the 8th Hussars.
Detail
The 4th (Queen’s Own) Light Dragoons and the 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars were both present at this battle.
The 4th were grouped with the 4th Division in reserve whereas the 8th was with the rest of the Light Brigade on the left flank.
The actual battle was an assault by the infantry over the River Alma and up onto the overlooking hills, throwing back a numerically superior force of Russians.
The cavalry were mere spectators to the conflict.
In October, Balaklava and the Charge of the Light Brigade took place. It was started when 25,000 Russians tried to capture Balaklava, the British Army’s only port, defended by the 93rd, Highlanders, some Turks, and the Light Division.