The Crimean War 1854-1856 was between the alliance of Britain, France and Turkey against Russia. Britain was involved because it was afraid that Russian influence around the Black Sea would prevent it from complete access to it’s new colony of India. The poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Tennyson was about one incident in this war. This war was also the first one where pictures were photographed. Florence Nightingale started her quest for better sanitation and care for the wounded in this war and  she took the profession of nursing and made it an honorable one. Queen Victoria created the Victorian Cross during this war and this was the first metal that was awarded to the lesser ranks of men as well as officers.

(The Great Courses – Victorian Britain)