I thought you might like to know just how “Irish” I am.

Mar 16 2012, 12:25 pm

On my daddy’s side of the family, the O’Briens, my Irish history can be traced to the early 1800’s.  

This family picture was taken about 1897 probably in Braidwood IL.   My grandpa was Moses O’Brien, the dashing young man on the left holding the toy gun. His mother, Margaret Dunn, (the lady holding the baby) had two brothers in the Charge of the Light Brigade. Corporal Thomas Dunn, and Lieutenant Alexander James Dunn were members of the 11^th Hussars, a unit in the British Army. Lt James Dunn was killed in the battle. Corporal Thomas Dunn lived. 

This cavalry charge occurred during the Battle of Balaclava on October 25, 1854 during the Crimean War. The Charge of The Light Brigade was immortalized by Alfred, Lord Tennyson in his famous poem of the same name.

To read the poem go here https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45319/the-charge-of-the-light-brigade

For more information about the Hussars check here.

http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armycampaigns/europeancampaigns/crimeanwar/crimeanwar.htm