The Military Collection recently acquired two original albumen photographs with sepia toning, of British officers of the Royal Engineers (R.E.) in the Bala Hissar, Kabul, in June 1880. The men are seated in front of the entrance to the building with carved woodwork and ‘European’ windows, opening towards the outside. The men have been identified by Paul Bucherer-Dietschi of the Afghanistan Institut and Archive, and Brigadier Bill Woodburn as follows:
First row, sitting on folding chairs, from left to right: Lieut. J.C.L Campbell, Comd. No. 2 Coy Bengal ; Lieut. C. Maxwell, Adjutant; Lieut. A.H. Randolph, No. 3 Coy Bengal S&M; Major G.S. Hills, C.R.E. 2nd Division; Capt. M.C. Brackenbury, Field Engineer; Major W. North, Comd. Bengal S&M; Lieut. George Kenneth Scott-Moncrieff, Field Engineer.
Second row, standing, from left to right: Capt. H. Dove, Comd. No. 3 Coy Bengal S&M; Lieut. G.H.B. Gordon, No. 2 Coy Bengal S&M; Capt. C.H.M. Kensington, Field Engineer; Lieut. A.H. Kenny, Field Engineer; Lieut. G.H. Sim, Field Engineer; Lieut. H. Whistler Smith, Superintendent of Army Signalling.
The second photograph is almost a frontal view of the northern (courtyard) facade of the main building in the R.E. Quarters in the lower Bala Hissar. In the upper background the step like walls leading to the upper Bala Hissar are seen. Looking out of the open windows are the same officers as pre
sent on the previous photograph.
Such group photographs, especially the former, were typical of the second half the 19th century when the British Army was stationed or fighting in far-flung corners of the world. Officers such as these were drawn from the upper classes in England, were well-educated often attaining university degrees, and they considered the paramountcy of the British Empire is all important. Any question of the legitimacy of Britain’s role in the world was unimaginable to them. Their duty was to the Queen Empress, Victoria.
They wear typical campaign uniforms of the Second Afghan War, 1878-1880 with Sam Browne belts and knee-high boots. Three pith helmets can be seen. A pet dogs sits in front of the group while a heliograph can be seen on the right. Some sport beards or mustaches, while others are clean shaven.