Shorncliffe Camp, 1858, Officers of the 72nd Highlanders about to depart for Bombay

Edward James Upton, 72nd Highlanders: Departing for India, 1858. A pen and ink sketch on paper, 10¾ x 7¾ ins with arched top, signed, dated and inscribed by the artist EU, 72nd, 1858, Shorncliffe and now mounted on a piece of stout  card 13 x 10 ins. The documentary drawing shows contemporary thoughts on the great event of the year. Two officers of the 72nd are sitting, smoking pipes and playing with their dogs as they wait for transport from Shorncliffe Camp, near Folkestone in Kent. One of trunks is labelled Captain Norman, 72nd Highlanders, BOMBAY and to the left two young ladies and a gentleman are looking towards the sea. Beneath is the supposed quote from one of them, “What shall we do Georgie when these dear delightful creatures are all gone to shoot those horrid Sepoys?”

Edward James Upton was commissioned into the 72nd Highlanders on 1st December 1854 and served with them during the Central India Campaign. Following his Indian Mutiny service he transferred to the 26th Foot, the Cameronians. Captain Charles Norman was three years his senior. jun16/1

Provenance: Originally from two albums of Upton’s drawings and watercolours which we acquired about 25 years ago. This was recently bought back from our original purchaser.