'Stirrup charge by the Scots Greys and Black Watch at St Quentin, 1914'

Bronze equestrian statuette by Countess Feodora Gleichen, RA (1861-1922), 1914.

Early in the First World War, the popular press felt that it needed to create news stories in order to improve public morale. 'The Illustrated London News' ran one story about a real cavalry charge that took place on 28 August 1914, but a week later added to it an illustration of the Scots Greys charging with Highlanders hanging on to their stirrups. This 'stirrup charge' was entirely mythical and looked back to an equally mythical incident at Waterloo (1815). However, the press coverage and public interest inspired Countess Feodora Gleichen to create this bronze sculpture. Copies of the bronze were sold in aid of the Prince of Wales's Fund for he relief of Soldiers' and Sailors' Families.

Purchased with the generous assistance of the Society of Friends of the National Army Museum