There are eighteen short minutes in the history of Great Britain that will live as long as the war drum is sounded and the shrill trumpet calls to arms. These historical moments are recorded in the annals of time on October 25th, in the year 1854, at the hour of ten o'clock, on the blood-stained field of Balaklava, where England strewed for over a mile the life-blood of heroes. Over four hundred soldiers gave up their lives to the everlasting glory and honor of England's military discipline, and all within this short space of time. Think of them, wonder at them, honor them, all you who love the heroic and brave, for it was only eighteen minutes from the moment Lord Cardigan gave the command, "Forward the Light Brigade," and the brilliant band of England's best blood made their never-to-be-forgotten charge, and then this torn, bloody, battle-stained, broken and shattered regiment, the pride of England's army, came back from the valley of death. All that was left of the six hundred, only one hundred and ninety-nine answered the roll call.
—Moving Picture World synopsis