| Crimean War! Indian Mutiny! Abyssinia! Fenian Raids! Ashanti War! Afghan War! Zulu War! North-West Frontier! Boer War! Boxer Rebellion! |
| Antique Images of Her Majesty's Armed Forces Brought to You Through Great Peril From the Far Corners of the British Empire |
Listen to the 16 July, 1902 recording of Soldiers of the Queen as performed by
The Kilties Band of Belleville, Ontario, Canada. The Kilties were formed by
members of Canada's 48th Highlanders. The recording is courtesy of The
Virtual Gramophone of Canada.
The Kilties Band of Belleville, Ontario, Canada. The Kilties were formed by
members of Canada's 48th Highlanders. The recording is courtesy of The
Virtual Gramophone of Canada.
Lt. John Rouse Merriot
Chard, R.E. who was
commanding at Rorke's
Drift, January 22-23, 1879.
While several muster rolls
for Rorke's Drift exist, and
exhibit some variations,
this one in Chard's own
hand is can be considered
as authoritative as any.
Chard, R.E. who was
commanding at Rorke's
Drift, January 22-23, 1879.
While several muster rolls
for Rorke's Drift exist, and
exhibit some variations,
this one in Chard's own
hand is can be considered
as authoritative as any.
| Questions & Comments can be Directed to the Museum Curator at: |
Taken from the April 1935 issue of
The Journal of the South Wales
Borderers, this image is an exact
facsimile of the muster roll that was
drawn up by hand for Col. Glyn,
24th Foot on 3 February, 1879 by
The Journal of the South Wales
Borderers, this image is an exact
facsimile of the muster roll that was
drawn up by hand for Col. Glyn,
24th Foot on 3 February, 1879 by
Billy Fish: "He wants to know if you are gods." Peachy Carnehan: "Not gods - Englishmen. The next best thing."
from John Huston's film of the Rudyard Kipling story The Man Who Would Be King.
from John Huston's film of the Rudyard Kipling story The Man Who Would Be King.
This site was conceived as a general survey of Victorian-era military photographs - basically putting a face on history - and as such it has been
necessary to limit its scope. You will not find extensive accounts of Victoria's wars or campaigns, regimental histories, or biographies of noted
personalities. These topics are best left to other excellent sites that specialize in those areas of study. Links to many of them are include on this
site's links page.
As the ongoing research into many of this museum's photographs reveals new finds the information that comes to light will be added - especially
when it deals with an otherwise forgotten officer, anonymous ranker or NCO. Additionally I have decided to include images of selected autographs
and other artifacts that relate to specific photographs in the collection and enhance the overall presentation.
Also please note that the original photographs in the museum's main galleries are not for sale. Please feel free to contact me regarding their
reproduction in publications and other uses. I am more than willing to answer any questions you might have regarding them.
necessary to limit its scope. You will not find extensive accounts of Victoria's wars or campaigns, regimental histories, or biographies of noted
personalities. These topics are best left to other excellent sites that specialize in those areas of study. Links to many of them are include on this
site's links page.
As the ongoing research into many of this museum's photographs reveals new finds the information that comes to light will be added - especially
when it deals with an otherwise forgotten officer, anonymous ranker or NCO. Additionally I have decided to include images of selected autographs
and other artifacts that relate to specific photographs in the collection and enhance the overall presentation.
Also please note that the original photographs in the museum's main galleries are not for sale. Please feel free to contact me regarding their
reproduction in publications and other uses. I am more than willing to answer any questions you might have regarding them.
| Search this Site |
| Unless otherwise noted all content © 2009 soldiersofthequeen.com. All other © are the property of their respective holders. |
| * Denotes New Items Recently Added (from February 2009) to Category. |
| A Night at the Opera - Fat Ladies & Norse Gods (a category completely unrelated to the rest of this web site) |
| Please note. I have had to remove the active link to the above email address due to the overwhelming volume of spam that the Soldiers of the Queen email account has been receiving. The address is still correct but will have to be entered by hand for each email sent. I thank you for your understanding in this matter. |
| Unidentified Mounted Infantryman - 58th Regiment of Foot. Carte de Visite Natal, South Africa c. 1880 |
| Private James Osborne - 58th Regiment of Foot - 2nd Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment. c. 1882 |
Above left is a carte de visite photograph from the
soldiersofthequeen.com collection showing an unidentified
mounted infantry private of the 58th Regiment of Foot taken in
Natal, South Africa shortly after the end of the Anglo-Zulu War
of 1879. On the right is a photograph c. 1882 of Private James
Osborne VC of the 58th Foot / 2nd Battalion, The
Northamptonshire Regiment.
When closely compared both these photos appear to depict the
same individual. If this is the case then the carte de visite would
be a relatively rare image of an other rank taken prior to being
invested with the Victoria Cross.
James Osborne was born on 13 April, 1857. He served with the
58th Regiment of Foot as a mounted infantryman during the
Anglo-Zulu war of 1879 and remained in South Africa after the
end of that conflict.
He saw additional action during the Transvaal War of 1880-81
soldiersofthequeen.com collection showing an unidentified
mounted infantry private of the 58th Regiment of Foot taken in
Natal, South Africa shortly after the end of the Anglo-Zulu War
of 1879. On the right is a photograph c. 1882 of Private James
Osborne VC of the 58th Foot / 2nd Battalion, The
Northamptonshire Regiment.
When closely compared both these photos appear to depict the
same individual. If this is the case then the carte de visite would
be a relatively rare image of an other rank taken prior to being
invested with the Victoria Cross.
James Osborne was born on 13 April, 1857. He served with the
58th Regiment of Foot as a mounted infantryman during the
Anglo-Zulu war of 1879 and remained in South Africa after the
end of that conflict.
He saw additional action during the Transvaal War of 1880-81
| Sergeant Thomas Connelly DCM Royal Irish Regiment c. 1903 |
Signed "Yours Truly", this photograph
of 5689 Sergeant Thomas Connelly of
the Royal Irish Regiment shows him
sometime after the end of the
Anglo-Boer War. He wears his Queen's
South Africa Medal with six clasps and
the King's South Africa Medal with its
usual two. He also wears his
Distinguished Conduct Medal which he
was awarded in 1901.
of 5689 Sergeant Thomas Connelly of
the Royal Irish Regiment shows him
sometime after the end of the
Anglo-Boer War. He wears his Queen's
South Africa Medal with six clasps and
the King's South Africa Medal with its
usual two. He also wears his
Distinguished Conduct Medal which he
was awarded in 1901.
Connelly received a Mention in Despatches for the his actions from
General Roberts in the September 10, 1901 edition of The London Gazette.
This was upgraded to the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the September
27, 1901 issue of the Gazette.
Connelly was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Mounted Infantry at the
time of his actions for which he was awarded the DCM but I have been
unable to uncover mush else about this soldier.
An extensive search of the records at the National Archives at Kew have
turned up nothing. No service records from either the Boer War or World
War One time period records where found under the spelling of Connelly
or Connolly (it appears both ways in the Gazette).
Also the very common nature of his name has precluded finding him or his
family though normal genealogical methods.
At this point I have also been unable to find a citation mentioning the
action that resulted in him being presented the DCM. Unlike awards of the
Victoria Cross, the London Gazette does not cite the actions relating to the
award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. I am currently looking for Boer
War-era regimental histories of the Royal Irish Regiment with the hope
that some information regarding Connelly may be uncovered there.
General Roberts in the September 10, 1901 edition of The London Gazette.
This was upgraded to the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the September
27, 1901 issue of the Gazette.
Connelly was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Mounted Infantry at the
time of his actions for which he was awarded the DCM but I have been
unable to uncover mush else about this soldier.
An extensive search of the records at the National Archives at Kew have
turned up nothing. No service records from either the Boer War or World
War One time period records where found under the spelling of Connelly
or Connolly (it appears both ways in the Gazette).
Also the very common nature of his name has precluded finding him or his
family though normal genealogical methods.
At this point I have also been unable to find a citation mentioning the
action that resulted in him being presented the DCM. Unlike awards of the
Victoria Cross, the London Gazette does not cite the actions relating to the
award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. I am currently looking for Boer
War-era regimental histories of the Royal Irish Regiment with the hope
that some information regarding Connelly may be uncovered there.
| Family Trees - The Small World of Military Families (coming soon) |
| Lieutenant Charles Gordon Creyk 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot 2nd Battalion, West India Reg. Carte de Viste Dover, England 1876 |
This recently acquired CDV photograph shows Charles Gordon
Creyk and he was identified as being a member of the 2nd West
India Regiment. As usual I began to do some preliminary
research prior to posting the image here and I soon found out
that Creyk and been a member of the 2nd Battalion, 24th
Regiment of Foot prior to transferring to the 2/West India. Never
having heard of a Lt. Creyk serving with the 24th during the
Anglo-Zulu War I began to look a bit further through my sources
and found the following:
Born about 1856 in Banffshire, Scotland the son of Alexander and
Sarah Creyk.
Creyk and he was identified as being a member of the 2nd West
India Regiment. As usual I began to do some preliminary
research prior to posting the image here and I soon found out
that Creyk and been a member of the 2nd Battalion, 24th
Regiment of Foot prior to transferring to the 2/West India. Never
having heard of a Lt. Creyk serving with the 24th during the
Anglo-Zulu War I began to look a bit further through my sources
and found the following:
Born about 1856 in Banffshire, Scotland the son of Alexander and
Sarah Creyk.
| Sub-Lieutenant, Unattached – 13 June, 1874 Lieutenant, 2/24th Foot – 13 June, 1875 Exchanges to 2/West India Regt – 24 November, 1877 Resigns - 14 June, 1882 |
Creyk seems to have left the 2/24th just prior to the battalion
shipping out from England at the beginning of the 9th Cape
Frontier War. What I found interesting was the fact that the
officer of the 2/West India that he exchanged with was Frederick
Godwin-Austin who as a member of Charlie Pope’s “G” company
would be killed at Isandlwana a bit more than a year later on 22
January, 1879 during the opening stages of the Anglo-Zulu War.
I am guessing at this point since I do not have Creyk’s service
papers in hand yet, that Creyk may have been in Pope’s company
prior to the exchange with Godwin-Austin.
When I looked at the 1877 Army List and saw Creyk’s name
shipping out from England at the beginning of the 9th Cape
Frontier War. What I found interesting was the fact that the
officer of the 2/West India that he exchanged with was Frederick
Godwin-Austin who as a member of Charlie Pope’s “G” company
would be killed at Isandlwana a bit more than a year later on 22
January, 1879 during the opening stages of the Anglo-Zulu War.
I am guessing at this point since I do not have Creyk’s service
papers in hand yet, that Creyk may have been in Pope’s company
prior to the exchange with Godwin-Austin.
When I looked at the 1877 Army List and saw Creyk’s name
| Ongoing research is being conducted on images throughout this website with new information being uncovered and identifications being made on a regular basis. In other cases valuable information has been provided by visitors to this online museum. In all such cases their contributions are always noted. |
| 2nd Lt. Hylbert John Birkbeck 1st Battalion West India Regiment & Border Scouts 1899 |
| Frederic William Piggin South Nottinghamshire Hussars c. 1900 |
| Jelinger Symons ex. Royal Marine Light Infantry c. 1900's |
| Horace P. K. Skipton Indian Police Service 1889 |
| Captain George Henry Holbeche Couchman DSO 2nd Battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry Cabinet Photograph Belgaum, India c. 1887 |
This photograph is a somewhat
unusual case in that the sitter is
unidentified but research has been able
to put a name to the face. Based upon
the apparent rank (captain) of this
soldier, his regiment (The Somerset
Light Infantry), the location of the
photograph (Belgaum, India) and the
fact that he is wearing the India
General Service Medal as well as the
Distinguished Service Order, I have
narrowed down the possibilities to one
man - Captain (and future general)
George Henry Holbeche Couchman of
the Somerset Light Infantry.
unusual case in that the sitter is
unidentified but research has been able
to put a name to the face. Based upon
the apparent rank (captain) of this
soldier, his regiment (The Somerset
Light Infantry), the location of the
photograph (Belgaum, India) and the
fact that he is wearing the India
General Service Medal as well as the
Distinguished Service Order, I have
narrowed down the possibilities to one
man - Captain (and future general)
George Henry Holbeche Couchman of
the Somerset Light Infantry.