The Pocket Hercules

William Morris was in the front rank during the Charge of the Light Brigade. He was one of the first horsemen to reach the Russian guns. This is his story. M.J. Trow's vivid biography of this typical Victorian soldier gives a fascinating insight into the officer class that fought the Crimean War. In recording Morris's experiences during a notorious campaign, the author reveals much about the hidebound character of the British army of that era. The portraits of Morris's fellow officers and commanders - men like Nolan, Raglan and Lucan - are telling, as is the contrast between Morris and his incompetent superior Cardigan. The author meticulously recreates Morris's life and, through him, the lives of a generation of professional British soldiers.