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Phototheca AfghanicaPhototheca Afghanica
Panoramic view of a British military camp, pitched-up at Saiyidabad (half way between Kabul and Ghazni, where the Maidan and Logar Valley roads from Kabul to Ghazni join) in an undulated plain, surrounded on all sides by bare hills. On the right side of the camp a large q’ala or an Afghan fort. It was here that the ‘Screw-Guns’ (see RE 118-124) were engaged for the very first time in a battle.
Place, date
Saiyidabad, Logar, mid to late April 1880
Collection
Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive 1878-1880
Series
RE 116-140, Bryan Maggs Collection
RE 116
Details
Professionally engraved marble slab with the names of the soldiers of the 9th Lancers, killed on 11th and 13th December 1879.
Place, date
Kabul, Sherpur Cemetery, winter 1879/80
Collection
Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive 1878-1880
Series
RE 116-140, Bryan Maggs Collection
RE 117
Details
The 1st 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 axle (on top of the load) and different parts of the gun carriage for the 7 Pounder RML (Rifled Muzzle Loading) gun, fastened on a special pack-saddle and with additional saddle-straps. As the background 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 in the Logar Valley (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 118
Details
The 2nd 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 two iron-rimmed wooden wheels and some other parts for the 7 Pounder RML (Rifled Muzzle Loading) gun, fastened on a special pack-saddle. Every load had an average weight of 200 pounds. The copy of this photograph, kept at the Royal Artillery Museum, shows two officers. Probably to the right, in a white uniform, stands Major T. Graham, commanding the No. 6 Battery, 8th Brigade Royal Artillery, to the left is Captain J.C. Robinson standing.
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 119
Details