Trumpeter George Gritten and Trumpeter William Lang 

10" x 8" glass plate negative showing Trumpeter George Gritten of the 11th Battalion Royal Artillery and Trumpeter William Lang of the 12th Battalion Royal Artillery. They are with an ammunition carriage at Woolwich army barracks. Gritten is standing just in front of the carriage with one of his arms resting on a drum. Lang is sitting on top of the carriage holding a trumpet in one of his hands and a mace topped with an eagle in the other. Both are wearing military uniform and the Crimean Medal. There is an open space behind them, with the barracks just visible to one side.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert met Trumpeters Gritten and Lang during a visit to Woolwich to welcome the Royal Artillery on their return from the Crimean War. After their visit they commissioned a series of portraits of the men from the photographers Joseph Cundall and Robert Howlett. A note which accompanies a print from this negative reads 'The man, Trumpeter Gritten, arrived in Britain with an immense beard, which doubtless attracted her Majesty's attentions - unfortunately before the photographers arrived at Woolwich, he had cut off this ornament because it was so red'. Trumpeter Lang was only thirteen years old at the start of the Crimean War, yet despite his youth was praised for his bravery during the campaign.

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 2500185).