Captain John Grant Malcolmson VC, 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry, 1860 (c)

Oil on canvas by Louis William Desanges, 1860 (c).

Holding his helmet in his right hand, Malcolmson (1835-1902) wears his Victoria Cross (VC), won at the Battle of Koosh-ab during the Persian War of 1856-57, as well as the Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-58 and the India General Service Medal 1854-95.

Desanges painted numerous battle scenes of actions where the VC was won, many of which were exhibited at the Crystal Palace, and later in the Victoria Cross Gallery, Wantage. His painting of the action at Koosh-ab, was bought by Charles Combe, who charged alongside Malcolmson. Desanges also had a lucrative sideline in life-sized portraits of the VC winners, as here.