Magnificent and extremely early 5 x 8 mounted albumen photo of Churchill by J. Heyman & Co., showing him in uniform as a lieutenant in the 4th Queen's Own Hussars Regiment of the British Army, beautifully signed at the top in ink, "Winston S. Churchill, Lieut. 4th Hussars, Septr. 1898." In fine condition, with trimmed borders.In 1899, the 24-year-old Churchill, a lieutenant in the 4th Queen's Own Hussars, sailed for Egypt, where he was to join the 21st Lancers and report on Herbert Kitchener's military campaign in the Sudan for The Morning Post. After arriving in Cairo, they headed down the Nile to take part in the Battle of Omdurman against the army of Sudanese leader Abdallahi ibn Muhammad on September 2, 1899. Churchill was critical of Kitchener's actions during the decisive British–Egyptian victory, particularly in his unmerciful treatment of enemy wounded and his desecration of Muhammad Ahmad's tomb. Back in England by October, Churchill wrote an account of the campaign, published as The River War in November 1899. A remarkable signed portrait from a foundational period of his youthful military service, just before embarking upon a career in politics.Format: Signed Photo