Unidentified tomb with heraldic shields. Paddington Cemetery. Lincoln Mews, Brent, Greater London NW6 7SD. The heraldic devices carved on the tomb suggest that it contains an army officer of a unit that during its history fought in both Waterloo and Egypt. [Click on images to enlarge them.]
Left: Below the royal crown appears the word “Waterloo” and a sphinx. Other than the “79” (for regiment? brigade) all the text on the ribbon below is illegible in this photograph. According to numerous online sources, the 79th infantry regiment, the Cameron Highlanders, fought at Waterloo. Right: Again, a crown and sphinx with the words “Prince Albert,” which may refer to Prince Albert's Own Hussars whose insignia includes a sphinx for the Egyptian campaign against Napoleon.
Left: A heavily eroded shield surmounted” by a salamander in flames. Right: Detail. A salamander in flames appears on both the Douglas clan's crest and on the badge of a British twentieth-century commando unit.
Photographs and research by Robert Freidus. Formatting and text by George P. Landow [You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the Victorian Web and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one.]
Last modified 19 September 2012