Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
II
“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Someone had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
British officers during the Crimean war purchased their commissions; the practice wasn't terminated until 1871. When people joke about the white pasty English with bad teeth & skin, they are referring to the commoners. The gallant officers with beautiful uniforms were/are all from the upper classes - they were the only ones able to purchase their commissions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchase_of_commissions_in_the_British_Army
'Downton Abbey' really captures the class differences quite well. The squirrely, subservient servants, and the dignified, restrained upper class. Anyone from the lower classes with any 'nads left GB long ago for the US, Australia, et al if they had a chance. Those who remained were/are wimps. It's why they are getting rolled by the Muzzies, and will be Islamic sex slaves within a couple of generations.