26.7cm (10.5in) x 12cm (4.75in) 12.8cm (5in)
English oak, with slatted pitched roof, the hinged front door inset with a watercolour of Trooper of The Blues signed lower left F. O’Beirne under glass, the door opening to reveal three drawers each with flush brass ring pulls, the sprung lock complete with two keys,
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Our sentry wears Dismounted Guard Order with the Egypt Medal and Khedive’s Star marking him out as a veteran of the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882 and or the subsequent Sudan Campaigns of 1883-89. As such his term of service probably pre-dates the Dismount Parade introduced in 1894 after Queen Victoria found the entire guard drinking and gambling while on duty and as a punishment, ordered that they had to be inspected every day at 4pm by an officer for the next 100 years. Although the 100 years expired in 1994 'The Four 'O' Clock Parade' aka the 'Punishment Parade’, which takes place daily on the courtyard in front of Horse Guards when the mounted sentries who have been guarding the official entrance to Buckingham Palace are relieved by dismounted sentries, continues as a tradition.