| This small unmounted "snapshot" photograph depicts an elderly if somewhat ragged looking gentleman and is an otherwise unremarkable image from sometime around the turn of the 20th Century. What makes it stand out is the period fountain pen inscription on the reverse identifying the sitter as "one of the 600". The full inscription in only partial legible with the first word looking like an abbreviated version of "Lancer". The rest of the brief ink inscription reads: "Lancer(?) Dobinson one of the 600". This seem to indicate that Dobinson was one of the 600 who made the famous charge at Balaclava during the Crimean War. Information kindly provided by Mr. Michael Hargreave Mawson author of Eyewitness to the Crimea reveals that there was no one with the name of Dobinson appears in the rolls of those who served with the Light Brigade during the Crimean War. Perhaps Mr. Dobinson did see active service during the war or was a member of the 17th Lancers at another time and place but his story - like all good fish tales - grew with the telling as the years passed until at least to those who knew him he did indeed become one of the immortal 600. Unmounted Photograph Unknown Photographer c. 1900 |
