NAM.2002-06-96-1

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Jocelyn Straton, 77th (The East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot, 1855 (c). Oil on canvas, attributed to Alfred Frank de Prades (1825-1885), 1855 (c). Commissioned an ensign in the 77th (The East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot on 10 January 1828, Straton served with the Regiment throughout his career. During the Crimean War, Straton fought at the Battle of the Alma and was mentioned in dispatches for ‘distinguished service in the field’ at the Battle of Inkerman, in consequence of which he was promoted brevet lieutenant-colonel on 9 Mar 1855. On 21 Apr 1855, following the death of Colonel Egerton in the assault on the Russian rifle pits, Straton succeeded to the command of the Regiment, although he did not take over until his return from sick leave on 5 July. He is shown in this portrait wearing the badge of the Companion of the Order of the Bath and the Crimea War Medal with clasps, with a view of Sevastopol in the distance. Colonel Straton died of cholera on 16 June 1858, soon after his Regiment’s arrival in India to combat the mutiny in the Bengal Army.

Alma, Battle of the, 1854 (Crimean War 1854-1856), Inkerman, Battle of, 1854 (Crimean War 1854-1856), Sevastopol, Siege of, 1854-55 (Crimean War 1854-1856)