Soldiers awarded the Crimean Medal by Queen Victoria

5" x 6" glass plate negative showing a group of six soldiers who served in the Crimean War. From right to left: Sergeant John Breese of the 11th Hussars, Sergeant William Owen of the Grenadier Guards, Bombadier Henry Lidsdell of the Royal Artillery, Corporal Charles Motton of the Scots Fusilier Guards, Private Andrew Robins of the Royal Artillery and Corporal Frederick Bridges of the Coldstream Guards. They are wearing the dress uniform of their regiment and the Crimean Medal. Sergeant Breese and Private Robins are both missing an arm. There are two windows of Buckingham Palace behind them. 

These soldiers were awarded the Crimean Medal by Queen Victoria on 18th May 1855. Throughout the war she had taken an active interest in the welfare of the troops and on their return to Britain she met a number of veterans at Buckingham Palace and at the military hospital at Chatham.

The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. Prints from this negative exist in the Collection (e.g. RCIN 2500168).