What battle was fought in the thin red line?

Answer 1

It is from the battle of Guadacanal in WWII if you are referring to the Hollywood films of 1964 & 1998. However the original expression derives from a battle in the crimean war in the 19th century. It was first coined from an expression used by William Russell the Times correspondent during the Crimean war. He used the expression " thin red streak tipped with a line of steel" which was popularised into "the thin red line". He was referring to the 93rd (Sutherland Highland) Regiment withstanding the charge of the Russian cavalry at Balaclava defending the British camp. The tactics of the time for the British Army had the infantry stand four deep to present a rolling volley by line. To receive a cavalry charge they would form into a square to protect themselves as the cavalry charge would easily break a line of infantry. Colonel Colin Campbell was so contemptuous of the Russian Cavalry he deployed his men into only two lines not four to cover more ground and present more firepower per volley and did not form a square. The 93rd fired three volleys causing large casualties to the charging Russian hussars and cossacks and they withdrew. The Regiment had to be restrained from following them "93rd, damn all that eagerness!". The expressions about the thin red line was later adapted to cover the British Army defending the Empire and it has also been kept alive in the media - The thin red line are 1964 & 1998 Hollywood films based on James Jones's book about WWII at Guadalcanal.