[1] He was the son of Captain George Robertson Aikman, and decided to follow his father into military service.

[3] At the age of 30 years, and while a lieutenant in the 4th Bengal Native Infantry, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 1 March 1858 near Amethi, India, for which he was awarded the VC: This Officer, Commanding the 3rd Sikh Cavalry on the advanced Picquet, with one hundred of his men, having obtained information, just as the Force marched on the morning of the 1st of March last, of the proximity, three miles off the high road, of a body of 500 Rebel Infantry, 200 Horse, and 2 Guns, under Moosahib All Ctiuckbdar, attacked and utterly routed them, cutting up more than 100 men, capturing two guns, and driving the survivors into, and over, the Goomtee.

[4]He retired from the army on half pay due to the injury he sustained in the Victoria Cross action.

[5] He was appointed a member of The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms,[6] the Queen's official bodyguard, on 13 May 1865, having been nominated by Lord Thomas Foley.

[11] Their collection also holds a second painting of Aikman; a portrait by Captain George Agnew Goldinham which was created around 1860.