Orlando Norie (1832-1901) Battle of the Alma Captain H Cust mortally wounded

This is one of three works by Norie of the Battle of the Alma that we currently have for sale. This battle from the Crimean War was costly to both the allied expeditionary forces (British, French and Egyptians) and also to the Russians. The British took about 2,000 casualties which included Captain Horace William Cust who is depicted in this watercolour. Cust joined the Coldstream Guards on 7th April 1848 and embarked for the Crimean campaign in Feburary 1854. He served as the Aide-de Camp to Major-General Betinck who commanded the Coldstream Guards at the Battle of the Alma on the 20th September 1854. Cust was mortally injured by a Russian canon blast and can be seen lying on the ground in Norie's work. He later died from his wounds and is buried on the bank of the Alma River. Despite the heavy loses the British and allied forces pushed the Russians further back until the eventually fled. The British infantry can be seen marching onwards at the direction of the other officer and soldier attending Captain Cust.
 
Medium: watercolour on paper, signed l.r. 'O. Norie', 30.5 x 45.5 cm, framed. Inscribed on mount 'Battle of the Alma, Sept 20th, 1854. Captain H. Cust, Coldstream Guards, mortally wounded.'
 
Provenance: The Parker Gallery (2 Albermarle Street, London) - bought together with the other two works of the Battle of the Alma in 1952 by the same previous owner.
 
Condition report: some fading and time stains visible as shown in photographs. The frame has a few scuffs and small crack in the bottom right hand-corner.