Almost all of us in our youth memorized this poem:
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!
Well, turns out that his great-great-grandchildren are...you ready for this?
Yes, Jewish!
His daughter Eleanor's grandson, Hallam, married Margo. And Margo was a German Jewish refugee.
Now, Hallam was a homosexual but Margo didn't mind. She didn't mind and lo and behold!, they had together two offspring, Jonathan and Rosalind.
Unfortunately, two weeks ago, Hallam, 85 years old, took to his bed, it would seem, someone who perhaps did mind and left a knife in him.
Perhaps these might be fitting last words, from In Memoriam AHH, XXXVIII:
No joy the blowing season gives,
The herald melodies of spring,
But in the songs I love to sing
A doubtful gleam of solace lives.
If any care for what is here
Survive in spirits render'd free,
Then are these songs I sing of thee
Not all ungrateful to thine ear.
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