Crealock made sketches throughout his time in the army. Indeed, his scenes of the First Indian War of Independence, Anglo-Chinese war and the Anglo-Zulu war are regarded as valuable, painstaking records of these events. They rarely appear at auction although in May 2006 two pen-and-ink drawings depicting the Indian campaign of Trans-Gogra sold at Bonhams in London for £6600 (with fees).
Crealock had an impressive military career, serving with distinction in Crimea, in the second Opium War in China with the Expeditionary Force and in India with Sir William Mansfield, who led the British Army along with a number of East India Company troops to recaptured Bareilly in a day.
Offered at Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) on April 17 in West Kensington, London, this drawing was knocked down at £9000 to the Low Parks Museum in south Lanarkshire, which secured it with the support of the Army Museums Ogilby Trust for The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Collection.
According to the saleroom, the picture had been bought at a regional auction house by the vendor.
The estimate was £5000-£7000.
