NAM.1972-07-6-15-1

Night Scene - winter - in the Trenches before Sebastopol taken on the spot by Capt H J Wilkinson 9th Regt February, 1855. Watercolour, signed lower right ‘H.J.W.’, by Capt (later Col) Henry John Wilkinson (1829-1911), 1st Bn 9th (The East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot, 1855. Associated with the Crimean War (1854-1856). Following the public outcry at the condition of the troops in the Crimea during the winter of 1854, the Government had sent out fresh supplies of warm clothing. On 23 Jan 1855, Lord Raglan reported to Henry Pelham Pelham-Clinton, Fifth Duke of Newcastle (1811-64) and Secretary of State for War the ‘Great progress … in disembarking and issuing to the troops vast quantities of warm clothing of all descriptions; and I believe I may assert that every man in this army has received a second blanket, a jersey frock, flannel drawers and socks, and some kind of winter coat in addition to the ordinary greatcoat’. However, as this watercolour shows, although their living conditions were improving by February 1855, the soldiers huddled against the elements in the trenches before Sevastopol remained far from comfortable.

Sevastopol, Siege of, 1854-55 (Crimean War 1854-1856)