'Royal Horse Guards', Chobham Camp, 1853

Coloured lithograph by Vincent Brooks after Henry Alken, from the series, 'Reminiscences of the Camp', published by Messrs Preston, 31 Burlington Arcade, London, 1853.

Royal Horse Guards in tented encampment, 1853. The scene was reproduced by the artist with different units depicted.

From 14 June to 25 August 10,000 men, 1,500 horses and 24 guns mustered on Chobham Common in Surrey for drill, field operations and parades, under the command of Lieutenant-General (later Field Marshal) John Colborne, First Baron Seaton. Known as the 'Great Camp', Chobham was the scene of the first large-scale manoeuvres in Britain since the Napoleonic Wars. The object of the encampment was to improve the efficiency and discipline of the British Army, which had not seen active service in Europe in nearly 40 years. These preparations proved invaluable in the Crimean War of 1854-1856.

In 1853 the Royal Horse Guards were in the middle of a long period of home service that lasted from 1816 until 1882 when part of the regiment deployed to Egypt. During this era they regularly undertook royal escort duties in London and Windsor, and helped maintain public order in the south east.