The Holkham Yeomanry Cavalry, c.1798.

[Marvin]

Hi, I've been researching the Holkham Yeomanry Cavalry, a troop of around 100 volunteer horsemen raised by the rich Norfolk landowner Thomas Coke (future Earl of Leicester) in 1798. This was a response to the urgent threat posed by Napoleonic France. I discovered the troop's standard in Holkham Hall last year;



My research informed me that the Holkham Yeomanry were likely to have worn a uniform similar to the 10th Light Dragoons, Coke having petitioned the Prince of Wales (the 10th's colonel) to wear their colours. I've used Strelets British Light Cavalry in Egypt set for the figures which should have been quite close to the uniform used by the Holkham Yeomanry.

The local newspaper, The Mercury, reported in detail on this troop receiving its standard from the hands of Mrs Coke outside the majestic Holkham Hall and I intend to bring this scene to life at some point with some more figures that I'm working on. In the meantime, here are the finished Holkham troop of Yeomanry cavalry. After 200 years, a vision of what they might have looked like!

If yer interested - more information can be found on my blog posts:
https://suburbanmilitarism.wordpress.com/2019/07/10/the-holkham-yeomanry-cavalry-nap-cavalry-regiment-34/
https://suburbanmilitarism.wordpress.com/2018/07/31/horsemen-of-holkham-hall-day-trip-15/









Below is the troop's 2nd in Command, Captain Edmund Rolfe:



Another officer - Lt. George Hogg:



















Cheers!

Marvin

[Mr. Andrea]

the way you transform Strelet's figures into masterpiece is astonishing

[C M Dodson]

A most unusual subject, well researched and what you have done with those Stretlets is brillliant.

Best wishes,

Chris

[Graeme]

The shabraques matching the colours, excellent!

Who knew that set looked this good? Men and horses are all looking magnificent. Very well done.

I had a quick look in at the blog, I like the idea of the cavalry blacks going to the seaside on thier hols.

P.S. Just went back and watched the vid, awesome! looks like a fair crowd turns out to watch them, I would too.

[Bill Slavin]

Beautifully done! I like the coat of ams you managed tor represent on the shabraques. Amazing.
And I would agree, you make us all look at this set with fresh eyes.

[Marvin]

Many thanks everyone for the kind comments!

I had a quick look in at the blog, I like the idea of the cavalry blacks going to the seaside on thier hols.

P.S. Just went back and watched the vid, awesome! looks like a fair crowd turns out to watch them, I would too.

I was on that beach just last year, having missed the cavalry camp by about a week, apparently! My equestrian wife was equally disappointed to have missed them.

I've received some figures through the post just today to work on my scene with these figures at Holkham Hall which I hope to share too at some point.

[Bluefalchion]

Great work on those Strelets-R guys. I was hoping to see your rendition of the standard itself, but I guess we'll just have to wait until the diorama is revealed.

[MABO]

Well done Marvin, another masterpiece from you!

[Marvin]

Further on from painting these Napoleonic volunteer troops, I have now also painted some figures received from KAMAR in Germany. With these civilians, I've created a scene in October 1798 where the Holkham Yeomanry Standard was presented to the regiment from the hands of Mrs Coke, lady of the majestic Holkham Hall. These scene was reported on at the time in the local newspaper;-

“At twelve o’clock the troops were drawn up on the South lawn, within a short distance of the house, when with some ceremony, the standard was given into the hands of Captain Edmund Rolfe [by Mrs. Coke]. After the ceremony, the troops were entertained by their commanding officer, Major Coke, in Holkham House.”







Introducing Major Commandant of the Holkham Yeomanry, Mr Coke, and his wife Mrs Jane Coke, standing in front of their stately home:



Also presenting their eldest daughter, Lady Jane Howard:



And Lady Jane's husband, Viscount Andover:



Finally, a few images of men of the Holkham Yeomanry Cavalry riding in the grounds of the Holkham Hall estate:









More on this eccentric diversion into history can be found on my blog here:
https://suburbanmilitarism.wordpress.com/2019/07/28/presentation-of-the-yeomanry-standard-holkham-hall-october-1798/

[Bill Slavin]

I love the last image! A man out standing in his field. Wonderful work, Marvin.

[Bluefalchion]

You have evoked the period and then some. If there are any forum members who lived a past life in Norfolk at the end of the 18th century, they may look at your photos and experience an eerie sense of deja vu.

[Kekso]

I'm jealous

[MABO]

Me, too. What an epic story with figures.

[Graeme]

Very nice conclusion to this project. Splendid work on the standard and the civilians and the background is perfect. I also like the evocative 'Lord of all he surveys' shot at the end.

Great piece of story telling!

[Peter]

Excellent work Marvin! And the presentation is TOP!

[Susofrick]

Very nice! First thought that the old man was an Airfix civilian.