Balaclava, Battle of In the Crimean War, an
engagement on 25 Oct 1854 near a town in
Ukraine, 10 km/6 mi SE of Sevastopol. It was
the scene of the ill-timed Charge of the
Light Brigade of British cavalry against the
Russian entrenched artillery. Of the 673
soldiers who took part, there were 272
casualties. Balaclava helmets were knitted
hoods worn here by soldiers in the bitter
weather.