An important historical military photograph album of early *salted paper photographs dated 1858 that was photographed by R. J. Garnett, one of the officers of the 6th Inniskilling Regiment of Dragoons who at that time were stationed in Brighton, England.

The regiment had a distinguished record and had recently returned from the Crimean War, where it had taken part in the charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava.  This action was less well known than the charge of the Light Brigade, but was more successful.

In 1858 the regiment numbered amongst its officers men of wealth and position. Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Cameron Shute.

The regiment was ordered to India later in 1858, toward the end of the Indian Mutiny. Faced with the prospect of years of inactivity in an unhealthy climate,  many of the officers decided to transfer to other regiments or to retire. Various pencilled notations show those who sold out their commissions or who transferred.

Officers of note:

General Sir Charles Cameron Shute. In 1834 Shute entered the army with the rank of cornet in the 13th Light Dragoons and served with distinction with the regiment during operations in 1839 in the Kurnool area of India. In the same year he was promoted to lieutenant In 1840 he transferred to the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons. He served with the 6th Dragoons in the Crimean War, and Shute was promoted to major in June 1854, acting as second in command. He was assistant adjutant general of the cavalry division from November 1854 until its breakup in July 1856. He was mentioned in despatches for his service at Balaclava and was recommended for the award of the Victoria Cross.

Shute also took part in the Battle of Inkerman and the Siege of Sevastopol. He was appointed brevet lieutenant colonel and commanding officer of the 6th Dragoons in April 1855, a post he held until 1860. In 1861 he retired on half pay with the rank of brevet colonel, but in May 1862 returned to the army as commanding officer of the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards He remained the CO of the regiment until 1871 when he was promoted to major general. He was made a Companion of the Bath in 1869. In 1874 Shute was elected as one of Brighton’s two members of parliament.  (Wikipedia)

Lt.-Gen Hon. Charles Wemyss Thesiger was Aide-de-Camp to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in 1858.  He fought in the China War in 1860. H gained the rank of Lieutenant- General in the service of the Curragh Brigade.  He was Inspector of Yeomanry Cavalry between 1878 and 1883. He gained the rank of Colonel in the service of the 14th Hussrs. He was Inspector-General of Cavalry in Ireland between 1885 and 1890. (Wikipedia)

Lt.-Gen Sir Frederick Wellington John Fitzwygram, 4th baronet  became a cavalry officer and served with the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons in the Crimean War. He subsequently commanded the Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot.^[1] In 1873 he inherited the Wigram baronetcy on the death of his elder brother Robert. He was a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons,^[3] and as President from 1875 to 1877 he unified the veterinary profession. He was active in public life and in 1876 he was mayor of Portsmouth.^[4] From 1879 to 1884 he was Inspector-General of Cavalry at Aldershot. Fitzwygram was elected as Member of Parliament for Hampshire South  in 1884. (Wikipedia)

William Moule joined the 15th Foot and became a Colonel in America during the American Civil War, although this has not been confirmed.

Edward Roden Bourke became the Aide-de-Camp and private screatary to the Governor of Ceylon.

John Kirby Mountain can be seen wearing the British Crimea Medal with clasps.

There are two photographs that were not of officers (at that time).

Charles Wooden VC was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for acts of gallantry during the Crimean War. He was 25 years old, and a Sergeant-Major in the 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge’s Own), British Army. On 26 October 1854, in the Crimea, at Balaklava, Sergeant-Major Wooden went out with surgeon James Mouat to the assistance of an officer who was lying seriously wounded in an exposed position, after the retreat of the Light Cavalry. He helped to dress the officer’s wounds under heavy fire from the enemy. He was promoted to Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the 6th Dragoons in October 1860, exchanged to the 5th Lancers in 1865 and then into the 104th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Fusiliers) in 1871. (Wikipedia)

Card who was for 17 years the mess waiter.

* The salt print was the dominant paper-based photographic process for producing positive prints during the period from 1839 through approximately 1860.

The salted paper print was the first type of paper print used in photography, and remained the most popular paper print until the introduction of the albumen print process in the 1850s. The salted paper technique was created by British photographer William Henry Fox Talbot. He called his negative process calotype printing, while the salt print process was used for making positive prints from the Calotype negatives. They both employ a technique of coating sheets of paper with silver salts, but the Calotype process differs slightly in chemicals used in the sensitization procedure, and uses an extra ‘accelerator’ step, immediately prior to exposure of the sensitized paper. (Wikipedia)