Lot Essay
Titles and captions of the Second Opium War photographs include 'Inside of Taku Fort, said to have been done by one Armstrong Shell', 'Wooden Gun', 'Inside Walls, Pekin', 'Walls, Pekin', 'Taku Forts'.
The Taku Forts were the major defence approaching Peking and North China and were thought to be impregnable. The Forts were attacked by a combined Anglo-French force on August 21st, 1860, the first battery comprising twelve 12-pounder guns. The Armstrong shell was designed by Sir William Armstrong, co-founder of the firm of Armstrong Whitworth. Accompanying the army was Felice Beato who made a series of sometimes shocking images of the destruction. Six Victoria Crosses were won including that by the youngest recipient, hospital apprentice Andrew Fitzgibbon who was 15 years old.
The group portrait of the Bombay 5th Light Infantry, N.I. (Native Infantry) includes Lt. Ramsay, Ensign J. M. Hartigan, Capt. Des Voeux, Major Stanley, Lt. Brown and surgeon Langley. The officers were listed in the Indiam Army register as having been in China in 1860. This portrait was possibly taken after the war. In 1892 the 5th Bombay Native Light Infantry was granted the battle honour 'China 1860-62'.
The Taku Forts were the major defence approaching Peking and North China and were thought to be impregnable. The Forts were attacked by a combined Anglo-French force on August 21st, 1860, the first battery comprising twelve 12-pounder guns. The Armstrong shell was designed by Sir William Armstrong, co-founder of the firm of Armstrong Whitworth. Accompanying the army was Felice Beato who made a series of sometimes shocking images of the destruction. Six Victoria Crosses were won including that by the youngest recipient, hospital apprentice Andrew Fitzgibbon who was 15 years old.
The group portrait of the Bombay 5th Light Infantry, N.I. (Native Infantry) includes Lt. Ramsay, Ensign J. M. Hartigan, Capt. Des Voeux, Major Stanley, Lt. Brown and surgeon Langley. The officers were listed in the Indiam Army register as having been in China in 1860. This portrait was possibly taken after the war. In 1892 the 5th Bombay Native Light Infantry was granted the battle honour 'China 1860-62'.