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

CUNDALL & HOWLETT

Three Soldiers of the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot 

1883 copy after 1856 original

Carbon print | 18.7 x 23.4 cm (image) | RCIN 2500210

Photograph of three soldiers of the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot who served in the Crimean War. Standing from left to right are Sergeant John Geary, Thomas Onslow and Lance Corporal Patrick Carthay. All are wearing the uniform of their regiment with a rucksack and have a rifle with a bayonet attached tucked under their right arm. This photograph, printed by Jabez Hughes in 1883, is a carbon print pasted over the original photograph.

Throughout the war Queen Victoria had taken an active interest in the welfare of the troops and on their return from the Crimea she met a number of the veterans at Buckingham Palace, Chatham Military Hospital and Aldershot Garrison. Following these meetings she commissioned a series of photographs of the veterans from the photographers Joseph Cundall and Robert Howlett. 

  • Creator(s)

    Cundall & Howlett (photographer)

    Subject(s)

    Sergeant John Geary (active 1856)
    Thomas Onslow (fl.1856)
    Lance Corporal Patrick Carthay (active 1856)
    Army-GB-Infantry-95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot (1826-1881) (m w 45th of Foot, m w 29th)

  • 18.7 x 23.4 cm (image)

    29.5 x 23.1 cm (page dimensions)

  • Sergeant John Geary, Thomas Onslow and Lance Corporal Partrick Carthay, 95th Regiment, c. 1856 [in Crimean Portraits 1854 - 1856]

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria

  • Subject(s)
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Industries, Crafts and Trades
        • Clothing
          • Costume
            • Uniforms
              • Military uniforms
      • Engineering & Technology
        • Military engineering
          • Arms (weapons)
            • Firearms
              • Rifles
    • Arts, Recreation, Entertainment & Sport
      • Plastic arts
        • Numismatics
          • Medals
            • Campaign medals
              • Crimea Medal (1854-56)
    • 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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