Major-General Estcourt and Staff, 1855

Photograph by Roger Fenton (1819-1869), Crimean War, 1855.

Major-General James B Bucknall Estcourt (1802-1855) and Staff including Major Charles Carew de Morel, Captain Thomson, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Blane, Major John Agmondisham Vesey Kirkland and Colonel The Hon William Lyon Pakenham.

Estcourt, who is standing in the middle of the picture, is photographed wearing his sword with its distinctive scabbard; even the broken sword knot is visible. Estcourt served as Adjutant General during the Crimean War (1854-1856), and saw action at the battles of Alma, Balaklava and Inkerman where he was severely wounded. When appointed to act as Adjutant-General to the Army of the East, Estcourt had been a surprise choice having seen no previous active service; indeed, he had expected to go with the Army as Judge-Advocate. Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Sterling doubted his suitability for the appointment: 'The Adjutant-General is a very amiable man, a perfect gentleman and a good Christian, but as innocent of the meaning of discipline as a sucking baby.' Estcourt died of cholera on 24 June 1855.