A Royal Horse Artillery gun crew loading, 1844 (c)

Oil on canvas by Henry Martens (fl 1825-65), 1844 (c).

The Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) was raised in 1793 in order to provide mobile fire support for the cavalry. Six-horse teams were normally used to haul the RHA's three, six and nine-pounder guns into action. In this image a gun crew load a field gun while a sergeant major aims the weapon. A mounted officer looks on in the background.