Harry Fecitt

If you are interested in the British period in India then track down this private museum and go back in time.

Visitor details: http://www.visitlanc...ia-museum-p7152

Egyptian Sketches. A set of 10 extra-large cards issued in Navy Cut Cigarettes by John Player & Sons. 1915.

Expect to pay from three pounds sterling upwards per card, when you see them.

Cigarette and trade cards often provide interesting, and in this case also amusing, social commentaries.

The text on the rear of this card reads:

As the ordinary tourist has but little opportunity of seeing the real work done by the British soldier in occupation, the general idea is taken from his evening manoeuvres at the various hotel dances, where he appears spick and span in full uniform, looking in the "pink", and right up in the firing line where the fun is thickest. Being generally long and thin he occupies but little space when standing up, but when posed in a sitting or lounging attitude one begins not only to realise his real occupation of the ballroom, but his complete monopoly. The lounge of Shepheard's Hotel is a favourite nest for the long legged type. He gets himself snugly ensconced alongside a pretty girl, with a comfortable background of oriental cushions, pushes his legs well out, and remains right in the picture for the rest of the evening, in everybody's way except the lady's.

These are from Wills set of 66 cards titled Transvaal Series. 1901 & 1902.

You should find them priced at between 2 and 10 pounds sterling per card. The price variation depends upon differences in the printing styles of the three issues of the set.

Here four cards join together to make a map. This is a good example of the educational value of cigarette cards to the less-affluent members of the public who did not buy newspapers.

A set of 50 British Medals & Ribbons by Taddy & Company. 1912.

15 pounds sterling or more per card when you can find them in VG condition on the market.

This kind of item will never appeal to the modern electronically minded and switched-on generation that craves new and shiny things, but for those of us left who appreciate non-computerised craftsmanship these 100-year old cards are beautiful to look at.

Victoria Cross Heroes a set of 48 cards by Ogdens Ltd, 1901.

This card depicts Trooper Herbert S. Henderson VC, Bulawayo Field Force, Rhodesia, 30th March 1896.

'For unselfish devotion to a wounded comrade whom he brought in after two days and a night of great peril.'

Cost: 15 pounds sterling or more per card in VG condition.

All these images have been scanned through the protective plastic sheet, and so clarity and colour have suffered, but the artwork remains to be admired.

One of my favourite sets.

Indian Regiments, a set of 50 cards, inserted in W.D. & H.O. Wills Ltd Scissor cigarettes. 1912.

Scissor cigarettes were sold in India and the military personnel there were big customers.

Expect to pay up to ten pounds sterling for a Very Good or Excellent card (if you can find one in that condition).

This card shows a Jemadar (Native Lieutenant) of the 74th Punjabis.

Skinner's Horse Guard of Honour (November 1936) Delhi, showing uniforms of 1st Skinner's Horse (front rank) and 3rd Skinner's Horse (rear rank) on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the regimental church by Colonel James Skinner CB.

Sword of Robert Skinner on which recruits used to swear on enlistment, presented to the Regiment by Colonel James Skinner.

After being handed to a British officer at Partition it was later found in the store at the National Army Museum in London by Lt Col CRD Gray who arranged for its return to the Regiment in India.

Shabash Colonel Gray!

From page 206.

There is no other mention to Kurram in the book.

From page 205 of Brigadier General C.A.L. Graham's excellent book The History of the Indian Mountain Artillery

3rd Afghan War it is.

Alex

Many thanks for posting these outstanding images.

Two companies of the Border Regiment (which I was fortunate enough to serve in before it disappeared) were deployed on the international force in Crete in 1897, so I will pass the images on to the regimental museum in Carlisle.

Harry

Peter

Thank you.

My investigative instincts point me towards the Hejaz Campaign, where selected Indian Muslim troops served.

(I intend to delve into this campaign in a new page that Chris is developing on his site: http://www.kaiserscross.com/40020.html )

Harry