Paget was insensitive enough to the situation not to be anything but hurt by the emphasis on 'support' and replied with ironic equal emphasis "Of course my Lord you will have my best support." Still smarting under what he imagined to be a lack of confidence, he faced further embarrassment when the 8th Hussars received atrocious news - their CO Colonel "old woman" Shewell who had been safely away from action tucked up 'sick' suddenly turned up to command their regiment. He promptly put senior NCOs on a charge for smoking - confiscating their swords and carbines (That would teach them, just before going into battle, and it did - one senior rank was killed). Paget debated whether to support his colleague by stubbing out his cigar, but decided against it as the Light Brigade moved off.
As Trumpeter Brittain sounded the bugle calls for 'advance' 'walk' and 'trot' the result was a bit like a big city marathon - the front men moved off briskly but the others marked time. The 11th Hussars had to pull back out of the front line which closed in to a 150 metre frontage, similar to the Battery which they were going to attack. Those who could see the Russian guns estimated that they were over a mile away. If they followed the drill book, as was Cardigan's wont, they would trot at 8 mph for the best part of a mile, then gallop at 12 mph until charging hell for leather from 50 yds on in. But these rules of thumb reckoned without the stimulus of hostile artillery fire. Consult the Plan of the Charge to follow the narrative on the ground.
When it came, it came from the Fedioukine Heights and came with a vengeance. Nolan's high had been nowhere near dissipating. He had taken up a leading position next to his friend Captain Morris, temporarily commanding the 17th Lancers. Shortly after they moved off Nolan turned to his friend "And now Morris for a bit of fun!" "That won't do Nolan!" replied Morris "We've a long way to go and must be steady." But Nolan was in no mood for reason. He spurred ahead until Cardigan noticed him with outrage out of the corner of his eye. At that moment according to Cardigan they were level and 30 yards apart when a shell burst between them. Cardigan was unscathed, but a massive fragment tore a gaping hole in Nolan's chest, causing fatal damage to his instantly exposed vital organs. His instinctive movement to protect the wound drew his hands up and caused his horse to move to the right across the front of the advance. Life ebbed out of him in a ghastly shriek as clenched crablike in the saddle, he was turned back into the 13th where his horse's stablemates were. It was a fun start to the charge.
