Chick sentry at Horse Guards

Today I went into London for a workshop. I had some time to spare on the way home, so I decided to take the scenic route to Waterloo via Horse Guards, where soldiers of the Household Cavalry were on guard. This is a portrait of the Chick Sentry.

Called the Chick Sentry, because in times past the guard here reputedly warned off-duty soldiers down in the basement who were cock fighting about when senior officers were passing. The alternative story was that when one guard was caught sleeping, the commanding officer asked him what he was doing, and he is said to have replied that he was keeping an eye on the Quartermaster Sergeant's chickens which roamed the area.