This website presents our knowledge and research on this important aspect of the Royal Collection. As of April 2026 it will not be regularly updated and new research on this topic will sit within the main website.

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Record of historical events

Victoria and Albert collected photographs that documented the political and military events that defined a period of global expansion

THOMAS RICHARD WILLIAMS (1825-71)

Royal Navy Officers who served in the Crimean War

1883 copy after June 1855 original

Carbon print | 13.4 x 10.5 cm (image) | RCIN 2500153

Photograph of three men from the Royal Navy who served in the Crimean War. From left to right: Charles Brooks, John Starling and Edward Pengelly. They are gathered around a ship's anchor and a flagpole and all are wearing naval uniform including the Crimean Medal. There is a building and a pile of large metal chains behind. This photograph, printed by Jabez Hughes in 1883, is a carbon print pasted over the original photograph.

These naval officers were awarded the Crimean Medal by Queen Victoria on 18th May 1855 and were later photographed by T R Williams in Portsmouth.

  • Creator(s)

    Thomas Richard Williams (1825-71) (photographer)

    Jabez Hughes (1819-84) (printer)

    Subject(s)

    Charles Brooks (fl.1855)
    Britannia (HMS) (VII)(gunship;laid dn 1814;launched Plymouth 1820;training ship 1859;broken 1869)
    John Starling, Boatswain (fl.1855)
    Sampson (HMS)
    Edward Pengelly, Leading Seaman (fl.1855)
    Sanspareil (HMS)
    Royal Navy
    Royal Navy

  • 13.4 x 10.5 cm (image)

    29.5 x 23.1 cm (page dimensions)

  • 3 men of the Royal Navy who received the Crimean Medal from Queen Victoria, 18 May 1855 [in Crimean Portraits, 1854 - 1856]

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria

  • Subject(s)
    • Arts, Recreation, Entertainment & Sport
      • Plastic arts
        • Numismatics
          • Medals
            • Campaign medals
              • Crimea Medal (1854-56)
      • Architecture
        • Buildings
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Industries, Crafts and Trades
        • Clothing
          • Costume
            • Uniforms
              • Naval Uniforms
              • Military uniforms
    • Places
      • Europe
        • Great Britain
          • England
            • Hampshire [England]
              • Portsmouth [Hampshire]
                • Portsmouth Dockyards [Portsmouth]
    • Social sciences
      • Military affairs
        • Wars, Campaigns & Battles
          • Wars
            • Wars of the nineteenth century
              • Crimean War (1853-1856)
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
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