This 18th century print from a painting by Gainsborough shows Landguard fort on the piece of headland in the foreground. The other side of the estuary appears as a line on the horizon giving an idea of the distance between Harwich and Landguard point. It is hard to imagine that such a short distance should be dangerous, but if the 60 men of the Cameron Highlanders were sailing in a boat such as one of the smaller vessels seen here, it is likely that men wearing tight uniforms, plaids and straps holding pouches and knapsacks would stand little chance if the boat, in full sail, were to capsize in a sudden squall.
