Photograph of three soldiers of the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot who served in the Crimean War. From left to right are Colour Sergeant William Gardner, Donald McKenzie and George Glen. McKenzie is resting his left foot on a pile of kit strapped together. All three are wearing Scottish military uniform including kilts, sporrans and bearskin hats and all are holding a rifle. This photograph, printed by Jabez Hughes in 1883, is a carbon print pasted over the original photograph (made from glass plate negative RCIN 2084921).

Throughout the war Queen Victoria had taken an active interest in the welfare of the troops and on their return from the Crimea she met a number of the veterans at Buckingham Palace, Chatham Military Hospital and Aldershot Garrison. Following these meetings she commissioned a series of photographs of the veterans from the photographers Joseph Cundall and Robert Howlett.