Overall: 59cm (23.2in) x 51.5cm (20.2in)
Pastel on paper. Full length portrait of Lieutenant Thomas Armstrong, in full dress uniform, comprising light dragoon pattern tunic with supplementary silver aiguillettes, crimson and gold girdle and voluminous deep red trousers or ‘cossacks’; standing by a tent in a landscape.,
The reverse applied with a label inscribed ‘My Grandfather. / Lieut. Thomas Armstrong (afterwards Captain XVI Lancers) / later promoted to his majority in the 46th Regiment. / Wounded Siege of Bhurtpore, India 8th December 1825. / Born 1797. / Died August 28th 1861. / aged 64. / …’ ‘C.M.C. Armstrong / Oct. 1951.’ Sheet: 46 x 39cm. Contained in original giltwood and glazed frame.
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The 16th Light Dragoons were the only British cavalry regiment to serve throughout the Peninsula War, during the Hundred Days and at Waterloo. As such they were well aware of the effectiveness of Napoleon’s lancers. In February 1816 embarked for Ireland and were re-designated a lancer regiment. In 1821 they moved to Sheffield; whilst serving there the Regiment came into direct conflict with the monarch King George IV. Since adopting the title of a 'Queen's Regiment' the 16th Lancers had always been fiercely loyal to the King's consort. George IV had a particularly bad relationship with his consort, Queen Caroline. The 16th regularly and publicly toasted the Queen to demonstrate their loyalty to her. It was said that when the King heard this he was furious and had the Regiment posted to India in June 1822, where they remained for twenty-four years.
The first active service the 16th Lancers saw in India was in 1825; the Rajah of Bhurtpore had come into conflict with the East India Company and it was decided that an expedition, including the 16th, would be sent to capture the fortress city of Bhurtpore. In the early hours of the 10th December, having completed the night march to Bhurtpore, the 16th encountered and charged a body of Jat horsemen outside the Fortress City, killing 50 of the enemy and capturing 100 mounts. Thomas Armstrong (1797-1861), then a lieutenant in the regiment, was slightly wounded in the encounter which proved to be the first time that the British army had bloodied their lances in battle. Bhurtpore was eventually stormed and captured on the 18 January 1826. For their actions, the 16th (The Queen's) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons (Lancers) were awarded the Battle Honour 'Bhurtpore'
A further watercolour of Major Thomas Armstrong, 16th (or Queen's) Light Dragoons (Lancers), 1840 (c) is included in the catalogue of the National army Museum - ‘Watercolour over pencil, signed lower left, by T A Jones, 1840 (c).' NAM 1995-04-32. Armstrong lived latterly atLived 3 Charles St, St James’s, London, and was laid to rest at Newton Purcell, Oxfordshire.