NAM.2017-09-7-18-178

Photograph of two officers at an inspection of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, Chelsea Barracks, 1912. Some barrack buildings can be seen behind them, as well as another officer, probably a General, in a cocked hat with feathers. The two officers are wearing full dress with scarlet tunics, bearskin caps, medals and with their swords hanging from their sword belts. They are named as (from left to right): Col Robert Scott-Kerr and Trotter (it is unclear which brother, either Maj Edward Henry Trotter or Maj Gerald Frederic Trotter). The image was possibly taken by Christina Broom (1862-1939) who is credited as being the UK’s first female press photographer. She taught herself photography and set up a stall in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, selling postcards of photographs that she had taken from 1903 until 1930, operating under the professional name of Mrs Albert Broom. She was appointed official photographer to the Household Division from 1904 to 1939 and had a darkroom in the Chelsea Barracks. From an album of 212 photographs (including archives) compiled by or presented to Lt Col Wadham Heathcote Diggle, 1910-1912 (c). It includes many portraits, group portraits and other images, many taken at the Guards Depot in Caterham and Pirbright, plus images of parades, sports, dogs and horses.