This complete album comprises 24 photographs compiled by Robert Ewing Douglas (George Cross), circa 1930.

The album begins with large photographs of the Taj Mahal including the entrance gate and the interiors. These are followed by images of figures from the Northwest Frontier including a Khassidar, Pathan waiting for the “Jairga”, and a large street scene of Kohat City. Then there are four ‘snapshots’ including one recorded as Bacha Saqao (Hababullah Kalakani) arriving for a Jairga shortly before his capture of Kabul and the seizure of the Afghan throne. The final page of the album has two snapshots of massive street demonstrations in Peshawar.

Robert Ewing Douglas was awarded the George Cross (the highest award bestowed by the British government for gallantry not in the presence of an enemy).

DATE AND PLACE OF GEORGE CROSS ACTION: 13/06/1930 Kohat, India.

“On 13th June 1930 in Kohat, India, an aircraft loaded with bombs crashed shortly after take-off, bursting into flames. Douglas was first on the scene and found the gunner lying near the wreckage with his clothes burning. Using an extinguisher, Douglas put out the fire and, after disentangling part of the gun equipment from the injured man, dragged him clear. With the assistance of another airman who had arrived on the scene, and after subduing a renewed burst of fire from the man's clothes, they got him in an ambulance. Then Douglas turned his attention to the pilot in the burning machine; he had approached to within 12 yards of the wreckage when the first of the bombs exploded. Now realising that there was no hope of the pilot still being alive, he started to get clear and was 30 yards away when a second bomb exploded.”

It is probable that all the large photographs were purchased from a professional photographer and assembled by Douglas. The smaller snapshots were probably taken by amateur photographers.

The photographs are mounted on grey paper and inserted in a cloth covered board album.

Album Measurements:
318 x 240 mm.

Number of pages: 22

Number of photos:
17, each 207 x 158mm approx.
7, each 110 x 70mm approx.

Stock No.: M226

Price: £500.00