Place Name
Originally an extension of North Road. James Thomas Brudenell (October 16, 1797 – March 28, 1868) the 7th Earl of Cardigan was, at the time that this road was named, the war hero who led the Charge of the Light Brigade, during the Crimean War. A “vain, arrogant snob” Cardigan used the vast wealth he had inherited to secure seniority in the British Army under the purchase system, which allowed the rich to buy promotions and move through the ranks. Under this system, Cardigan went from cornet to lieutenant-colonel in just six-and-a-half years, normally it would take 20. He soon lost his first command after persecuting a fellow officer. Connections ensured he got a second chance. However, as Saul David points out in Victoria’s Wars he continued in much the same vein as before: “His overbearing manner caused constant friction with the officers of his new regiment, the 11th Hussars. One feud ended in a duel in which Cardigan wounded his opponent and was later tried by his peers for intent to murder. He was acquitted on a technicality but scandal continued to dog his career: two courts martial, two court appearances for adultery, blackballed by the leading military club, debates in parliament about his conduct.” But Saul does find some redemption in his character, he was conscious of the welfare of his men who in turn respected and admired him. He was also extremely lucky, surviving unscathed through a hail of bullets, cannon fire and sabre attack during the Light Brigade’s fatal mission to capture Russian Army guns during the Crimea campaign. Confused orders saw the calvary attack a well-defended position nearly a mile down a valley, rather than harry a smaller force nearby. Cardigan knew the order was foolhardy but led his men into the attack. Out of 676 mounted men, only 195 returned on horse, 107 were killed, 187 wounded, and 50 missing. Almost 400 horses were killed as a result of the action. These horrific figures led many to later question Cardigan’s role in the action, and his decision not to disobey the orders. So while he returned home a hero as time passed his war record became increasingly challenged and doubted. After leaving the Army, Cardigan retired to his country estate at Deene, passing his time with horse-racing, hunting and shooting.
