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George Housman Thomas (1824-68)

The farewell to the Scots Fusilier Guards at Buckingham Palace drawn 1854

Pencil, watercolour and bodycolour | 32.5 x 47.5 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 916781

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A watercolour showing the Scots Fusilier Guards in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace cheering and waving their bearskins, watched by the Royal Family on the balcony.

In anticipation of war with Russia, in early 1854 thousands of British troops received orders to embark for the Black Sea. Queen Victoria recorded in her journal that the 1st Battalion of Scots Fusilier Guards arrived at Buckingham Palace on the morning of 28 February 1854, where they presented arms and 'gave three hearty cheers, which went to my heart... May God protect these fine men, may they be preserved & be victorious!'. This was the first occasion on which Victoria and Albert stood before the public on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.