Photograph of soldiers from the 8th Hussars gathered around an open air cooking hut/field kitchen. A man stands at the centre of the group holding a large pan while the man sitting in front of him fills his bowl from it. The other soldiers stand, sit and lie around them. To the right a soldier is chopping wood and a Vivandière stands behind them with her left hand on her hip. Fenton's photographic van is just visible to the left.

The 8th Hussars served in all of the major battles of the Crimean War including the Charge of the Light Brigade. Vivandières, also known as a Cantinières, were women who travelled with the French army as canteen workers.