Gunners Put up a Good Show

Charging horses and blazing guns at the Woolwich Garrison tattoo, leading to a toy soldier massacre.

Blending military efficiency with a sprinkle of razzle-dazzle showmanship, the tattoo display is a popular tradition for local residents in army towns like Woolwich, former home of the Royal Arsenal. With so many visual feasts on show, it was also a popular subject for the newsreel cameras, capturing everything from charging horses to the tumbling toy soldiers skit seen here.

Digitisation supported by the London Topographical Society.