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Phototheca AfghanicaPhototheca Afghanica
The 3rd of a series of 6 photographs intended to demonstrate the loading of a complete ‘Screw-Gun’ on six mules, showing an Anglo-Indian soldier guiding the mule. This one is loaded with the carriage for the 7 Pounder RML (Rifled Muzzle Loading) gun, fastened on a special pack-saddle and with additional saddle-straps. This picture is missing in the collection of Bryan Maggs. By chance we discovered that there is a set of later copies of the ‘Screw-Gun’ series kept by the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich and – by courtesy of the Royal Artillery Historical Trust – we got the permission to include it in the catalogue of the BS&M photographs.
Place, date
Kabul, Sherpur Cantonment, early May 1880
Collection
Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive 1878-1880
Series
RE 116-140, Bryan Maggs Collection
RE 120
Details
The 4th of a series of 7 photographs intended to demonstrate the loading of a complete ‘Screw-Gun’ on six mules, showing an Anglo-Indian soldier (Havildar Major Roor Singh) guiding the mule. This one is loaded with the breech, the shorter back part of the barrel of the 7 Pounder RML (Rifled Muzzle Loading) gun, fastened on a special pack-saddle with additional saddle-straps. The RAM copy of this photograph shows at the left edge Lieut. H.A. Inglis.
Place, date
Kabul, Sherpur Cantonment, early May 1880
Collection
Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive 1878-1880
Series
RE 116-140, Bryan Maggs Collection
RE 121
Details
The 5th of a series of 6 photographs intended to demonstrate the loading of a complete ‘Screw-Gun’ on six mules, showing an Anglo-Indian soldier guiding the mule. This one is loaded with the chase, the longer front-part of the barrel of the 7 Pounder RML (Rifled Muzzle Loading) gun, fastened on a special pack saddle with additional saddle-straps. As the decorative elements on top of the column behind the mule shows, this series of photographs was taken in the Sherpur cantonment. The mountain artillery unit was stationed just beside the 7th BS&M on the western bastion of Sherpur. This is maybe one of the reasons for the existence of this set of BS&M photographs. Other reasons may have been that the ‘Screw-Gun’ was a brand-new invention, and the 6/8 R.A. was the first unit to be equipped with it. Just a few days before these photographs were taken the battery was engaged for the very first time at Saiyidabad (RE 116).
Place, date
Kabul, Sherpur Cantonment, early May 1880
Collection
Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive 1878-1880
Series
RE 116-140, Bryan Maggs Collection
RE 122
Details
The 6th of a series of 6 photographs intended to demonstrate the loading of a complete ‘Screw-Gun’ on six mules, showing an Anglo-Indian soldier guiding the mule. This one is loaded with ammunition-boxes for the 7 Pounder RML (Rifled Muzzle Loading) gun, fastened on a special pack-saddle. Every load had an average weight of 200 pounds.
Place, date
Kabul, Sherpur Cantonment, early May 1880
Collection
Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive 1878-1880
Series
RE 116-140, Bryan Maggs Collection
RE 123
Details