[Colour-Sergeant John Paul]

10" x 8" glass plate negative of Colour-Sergeant John Paul of the Royal Sappers and Miners [?Royal Artillery] who served in the Crimean War. Three-quarters length portrait in full uniform, facing front and holding rifle between clasped hands, pointing upwards, resting on one of his forearms.  

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. 

The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. Prints from this negative do not seem to exist in the Collection.