I've been visiting my grandparents over the weekend, and managed to find some of my great-grandfather's photos from when he was stationed in Basra and Mosul during the First World War.
I thought I'd share some of the most interesting ones.
I thought I'd share some of the most interesting ones.
My great-grandfather was an animal expert. He used to take care of the horses and bullocks still used to lug weaponry and supplies around.
He was stationed at the Somme but was transferred away to an Indian bullock regiment before the summer offensive, probably saving his life.
He was stationed at the Somme but was transferred away to an Indian bullock regiment before the summer offensive, probably saving his life.
He was based in Mosul even after the war, and stayed into the early 1920s.
While there, he took photos of how the city looked in the early twentieth century.
While there, he took photos of how the city looked in the early twentieth century.
He also liked to capture small details, like storks roosting on the tops of walls.
He captured some amazing scenes of village life in Mesopotamia, the area that would later become Iraq.
He also had an eye for the local sense of humour, picking out this shop calling itself "The Harrods of Mosul".
He visited other sights such as Najaf and what looks like the Jilani Shrine and its cemetery in Baghdad.
He captured scenes of everyday life on the streets of Baghdad...
... and even one photo of the city from the air.
He was also interested in the country's ancient history. This shows the tomb of Jonah, Nebi Yunus in Mosul, which sits on the ancient site of Nineveh.
He also visited the ancient ruins of Babylon and photographed the remains of its famous Ishtar Gate.
I got a strange feeling seeing this photo, since I've stood in this spot more than once, without knowing I was walking in his footsteps.
I got a strange feeling seeing this photo, since I've stood in this spot more than once, without knowing I was walking in his footsteps.
Anyway, That's all for now. I hope you enjoyed seeing some of these photos.
Last year I got to read some of his letters from his time in Mesopotamia. I did a short thread here on what I found:
