I’m 15 years old and doing my GCSE’s. I am also a great fan of the ‘Sharpe’ books and have just finished reading ‘Sharpe’s Waterloo’. I am currently writing an essay comparing two war poems; The Charge of the Light Brigade by Lord Tennyson and Drummer Hodge by Thomas Hardy. I have reached a disagreement with my teacher regarding the use of the Light Brigade. I am under the impression that it was formed of rich young men who could afford horses and were forced to war for family honour. I also believe that their main function was to pursue routed enemmy units. For this reason I believe the poem to be correctly glorifying the charge due to the fact that it was out of character for the unit. Could you tell me whether or not my view is correct and provide me with any other information? Thank you for your time and keep writing! Sean O’Brien