The Royal Engineers were often employed as photographers during military campaigns. On 17 May 1854 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, with their two elder daughters, visited Gore House, as the Queen noted in her journal, 'to see the progress of the Students' department of Practical Art. It is in fact an Exhibition of drawing patterns of all kinds, as well as of modelling & photography. Some of the Sappers & Miners are practising photography there, before being sent out to the East.' Among the military material in the Photograph Collection are seven photographs taken in China in 1858 by Corporal Wotherspoon of the Royal Engineers.