Government Gallery

Indian Smoothbore.656 in musket, Pattern 1858

Indian Smoothbore.656 in musket, Pattern 1858, lock dated 1856.Converted from a Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket in India 1858 (c), this exceptionally rare item was part of an original issue of 10, 000 weapons sold by the British Government to the East Indian Company in 1856. These weapons were a contributory cause of the Indian Mutiny because of the belief that animal fat had been incorporated in the grease for the cartridges. After the Mutiny, most Indian troops were issued with smooth-bore muskets which at the same time were to look similar to Enfield rifles. In this case the original rifling was bored out and a locally-made ramrod fitted. Also, a simple fixed backsight replaced the graduated rear sight of the Enfield.Now in poor condition, it is identified by the faint stamp on the butt of the EIC lion rampant regardment and holding the crown. In addition the initials WD (War Department) over the broad arrow combined with I (India) and the date 1856 are present. The weapon was subsequently bored smooth and re-sighted to conform with the pattern 1858-1859.656in muskets for Native Infantry. Date: 1858

© The National Army Museum / Mary Evans Picture Library

IRA bombing of the Houses of Parliament, Westminster

The fire started after the IRA planted an explosive device in Westminster Hall, Houses of Parliament, 17 June 1974. The 20 lb explosive device caused extensive damage and ignited a gas main that caused additional fire damage to the historic building. Although there were no fatalities, a number of people received minor injuries caused by the blast. The picture shows the building in the later stages of the fire, with smoke coming from the annexe roof, and water hoses stretched across the road

© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library

The Last Stand of the Communards; Paris Commune, 1871

Illustration showing the last stand of the Paris Communards at their barricades, against the onslaught of the National Guard, Paris, 1871. At the end of the Franco-Prussian war, Parisian socialists set up the Commune and refused to surrender Paris to the rightwing French government. This led to bitter fighting on the streets of the city and large-scale executions of Communards

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans