'my first tiger, May 1860'

Pencil sketch by John North Crealock (1836-1895), 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot, 1859. From 'Central India 1859 Vol IX Rajpoota. Himalayas Wanderings in the East', a sketchbook of watercolours, pen and ink and pencil drawings.

Two sketches of a tiger's head. As well as his sketching and diary writing Crealock found time for hunting and fishing while on campaign in India. Often alone and in hostile territory, he would leave camp or ride ahead to locate and shoot game.

Crealock was commissioned into the 95th Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) in 1854. Crealock's regiment was serving at the Cape of Good Hope when the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859) began. It was immediately sent to India where it joined Sir Hugh Rose's Central India field force. The 95th marched 3,000 miles across central India, helping to capture Gwalior, Kotah, Pouree and Rowa. Crealock was Mentioned in Despatches three times and wounded in action. He remained in India until 1869 when he was sent to Ireland as Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant General William Rose Mansfield.