Help ID this military CDV.

[David McGreevy]

I recently purchased this CDV, the identification said only  "British".

The back is blank. Can anyone help me figure out this scene?

Thanks, David

[Bob Bennett]

It’s later than the Crimean War, at which time the Corporal of Foot Guards would have been wearing a ‘Coatee’ with tails. Coatees were replaced with a double breasted tunic in 1855, and that was replaced the following year by a single breasted version of the same garment, as seen here. Allow for the time taken to issue his medals and we’re looking at around 1860.

[Ashleigh]

The length of the coats would definitely suggest Crimean War/ Indian Mutiny. I'd guess this was taken probably in the early 1860s. Great photograph!

[Bob Bennett]

The General is writing a dispatch, or orders using his correspondence box, which is open in front of him, and each of the ADCs wears a ‘pouch belt’ slung diagonally across their bodies, which secured a black leather pouch in the centre of the back in which was secured a note book and writing implements, with which they would take messages, or copy orders.

[Bob Bennett]

Glad to help, it is a fine CDV, and the study of uniform is my hobby after a long career in the Army myself. I omitted to mention the Mameluke hilted sword that was also indicative of General Rank (having been emulated from Napoleon’s favour of them). The scene is either, within the then British Army HQ, at ‘Horse Guards’ (in Whitehall, central London), or less likely, at the HQ of the Brigade of Guards.

[David McGreevy]

Thanks so much, Bob!

[Bob Bennett]

The scene shows a seated British officer of General Rank, as evinced by his double breasted frock coat with velvet collar and cuffs. He is attended by his two aides de camp (ADC) in front and behind is his orderly (servant), a Corporal of Grenadier Guards. We know from this latter aspect that he is almost certainly formerly of the Grenadier Guards himself. The orderly has a Crimean War medal plus one other , and the General himself wears a row of miniature medals that also includes a Crimean War medal. The two ADCs also wear frock coats (a popular form of undress), but they are not from the Guards. I would date the photo as probably around 1860.