Height overall: 19cm (7.5in)
Silver. Equestrian presentation figure of a trooper of the 1st Huntingdonshire (Duke of Manchester's Own) Light Horse on naturalistic ground, raised on an ebonised stepped base, applied with a plaque engraved: 'Duke of Manchester’s / 1st Lt Horse Vol Regimental Prize for Swordsmanship / Presented by her Grace The Duchess of Manchester / At Huntingdon to Pvt Alexr Henman. B Troop / May 21st 1875.’ The reverse also applied with a silver plaque inscribed with the recipient’s monogram. Maker’s name of George Angell & Co. Hallmarked London 1874. Height of figure 12cm (4.7in).
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The 1st Huntingdonshire (Duke of Manchester's Own) Light Horse Volunteer Corps was raised in Cambridgeshire by William Drogo Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester (1823-1890) in response to the sabre rattling of Napoleon III in 1859. The unit was renamed the 1st Huntingdonshire (Duke of Manchester's Own) Light Horse Volunteer Corps in January 1861. The corps was primarily composed of the land-owning classes and wealthy yeoman farmers who paid an annual subscription and provided their own equipment. As such they were considered a cut above the patriotic commercial class who filled the ranks of the infantry volunteers. Moreover, in 1870 all ranks of the light horse were invited to a ball given by the Duke at his seat Kimbolton Castle in honour of the Prince and Princess of Wales, whereas only the officers of rifle volunteers were included.
The recipient of the present figure, James Alexander Henman, was a farmer at Bromham Grange, Bedford. He assembled with the corps at the Duke’s 13,000 acre Huntingdon estate in May 1875 for drill and inspection by the Inspector of Auxiliary Cavalry, and subsequently won the regimental prize for swordsmanship ‘an Equestrian Statuette, in silver, of a Light Horseman, given by the Duke of Manchester’. A silver cup from same prize giving, that was won by another well-to-do farmer Corporal Edward Rowell of A Troop, is in the National Army Museum collection.