Having a shave in a hot tub
An astonishing pair of photo albums depicting the life and work of a British army officer in India during the first half of the 20th century has emerged for sale.
The unnamed officer belonged to the Indian Army’s 28th Light Cavalry and there are more than 400 black and white photographs.
The photo albums for sale at Rowley’s of Ely, Cambs.
They show military operations, big game hunting, giant elephant traps, ‘pig sticking’ expeditions, equestrianism training and polo playing.
Pictures from the turn of the 20th century until the 1930s show life in India and on the north-west frontier.
The 28th Light Cavalry was involved in what is still a relatively unknown part of the First World War.
It served on military operations with the Seistan Field Force and the East Persian Cordon, preventing the infiltration of German and Ottoman agents from Persia into Afghanistan.
The agents’ aim was to persuade the Emir of Afghanistan to rise up in a jihad with the tribes in the North-West Frontier Province and invade India.
The Germans believed that if this could be achieved then British troops would have to be removed from the Western Front in France and sent to defend India.
After the First World War and up to 1920 the 28th Light Cavalry continued on active operational service in Russian Turkestan.
Roddy Lloyd from Rowley’s auction house in Ely, Cambridgeshire, said: “The albums are a wonderful record of life in India during the last few decades of the British Raj.
“Interestingly, many of the shots show the British and Indians as equals – playing polo, hunting and relaxing together.
“Before the First World War the 28th Light Cavalry were a typical Indian regiment, taking their turn to serve in the North-West Frontier Province.
“During the First World War they served in Persia and after the war until 1920 they served in Russian Turkestan against the Bolsheviks.
“The albums record active service on the north-west frontier and the time spent in Russian Turkestan although the First World War is not covered – perhaps these photos were in a separate album.
“We see the men enjoying themselves playing polo, ‘pig-sticking’, big game hunting and duck shooting.
“Their wives are often prominent and there are a number of informal shots of people as well as wonderful landscapes whilst holidaying in Kashmir and trekking with ponies and porters in the high foothills of the Himalayas and Karakorams.
“It is a remarkable record of a life that exists no more for the British and there are many collectors who, I am sure, would love to have these albums.
“The photographs are of a good quality and include a variety of shots and include humorous ones as well.
“The albums belonged to an unnamed officer of the 28th Light Cavalry and we have them with an auction estimate of £200-300.”
The sale is on Saturday 7 March.
Competitive ‘pig sticking’ was quite a popular sport. Riders would ‘spear’ pigs from their horses and worked iun teams of four. The team with the most kills was the winner.
This is a ‘picket’ or ‘sangar’ – a defensive structure set up along high ground. These would be occupied by soldiers as a column went by – to rpotect it from attack
A ‘Jirga’ or assembly of the tribal leaders who would make decisions by consensus
The 28th Light Cavalry on patrol
Three men of the 28th Light Infantry
After World War One the 28th Light Infantry joined in operations in Russian Turkestan against the Bolsheviks
After World War One the 28th Light Infantry joined in operations in Russian Turkestan against the Bolsheviks
After World War One the 28th Light Infantry joined in operations in Russian Turkestan against the Bolsheviks
A lake in the Himalayas
Pre WWI – a fort. Possibly Sanna, now in Pakistan
A camel caravan probably on the north west frontier
Horsemanship was everything, professionally and while at leisure for the 28th Light Cavalry. Here playing polo.
A soldier and his boy mahout.
Big game hunting was a popular pasttime
A hunting party
These are likely to be beaters on a tiger shoot. The guns would be on elaphants, waiting…
These guns are on a tiger shoot in the 1920s/30s
Taking the wives out game hunting
Locals with a leopard
Two locals with their prize
A day’s duck hunting with wife
An outing in the motor car. Armed and with staff
Locals with guns
Shots of the Himalayas
A ‘bearer’ or servant
House servants
A bridge!
A man in a treehouse waiting for a leopard or tiger to shoot. Usually a goat or small blullock would be tethered to the tree to attract the beasts.
Hutning on an elephant
An elephant trap. The wild beasts would be coralled through the trap and the gate would afterwards close
An elephant entering a trap
Locals pictured
City Palace at Udaipur
Lake Palace at Udaipur
A hunting party; British and Indians together
Horsemanship was everything, professionally and while at leisure for the 28th Light Cavalry. Here playing polo.
Horsemanship was everything, professionally and while at leisure for the 28th Light Cavalry. Here playing polo.
Training riders
