4. The last survivor of the war was a tortoise: named Timothy, it was a ship’s mascot on HMS Queen which took part in the bombardment of Sevastopol. Timothy died in 2004 aged about 165.
5. Actually, Timothy the Tortoise was a girl.
6. Balaclava helmets, raglan sleeves and cardigans all take their names from a Crimean War battle.
7. That was the battle of Balaclava, where British troops wore knitted headgear later known as balaclavas to keep heads, faces and ears warm.
8. British forces in Crimea were commanded by Lord Raglan, who took to wearing ‘raglan sleeves’ after losing an arm at the Battle of Waterloo.
9. The leader of the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava was the 7th Earl of Cardigan, whose men kept warm in garments later called cardigans.
10. James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, died on the 14th anniversary of Britain entering the war, March 28, 1868, after falling from a horse.
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