Three Soldiers of the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot

10" x 8" glass plate negative showing of three soldiers of the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot who served in the Crimean War. From right to left are Colour Sergeant William Gardner, Donald McKenzie and George Glen. McKenzie is resting one foot on a pile of kit strapped together. All three are wearing Scottish military uniform including kilts, sporrans and bearskin hats and all are holding a rifle.

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 exist in the Collection (e.g. RCIN 2500216).