The Afghan War, Attogk to Jellalabad, Gandamak and Surkhab

PART OF:
The Kodak Museum Collection
Made:
circa 1878 in Afghanistan
maker:
John Burke

Album entitled 'The Afghan War, Attogk to Jellalabad, Gandamak and Surkhab', by John Burke.

A photograph entitled 'His Highness Shere Ali Khan, Amir of Afghanistan', taken by John Burke, c. 1878.

A pioneer of photography in India, John Burke began working in Peshwar, Northern India, as an assistant to the commercial photographer William Baker. Baker took up photography on retiring from the British Army in 1861 and Burke himself had worked as an apothecary in the Royal Artillery. When Baker stopped working in 1873 Burke carried on, recording the evolution of the Indian Raj in the late nineteenth century. Burke accompanied the British army on its advance into Afghanistan during the Second Afghan War of 1878-1879.

The photograph was published in the album 'The Afghan War, Attogk to Jellalabad, Gandamak and Surkhab'. John Burke recorded the evolution of British India in the late 19th Century, and accompanied the British Indian army on its advance into Afghanistan during the Second Afghan War of 1878-1879.

Details

Category:
Photographs
Collection:
Kodak Collection
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040
Materials:
paper
type:
album
credit:
The Kodak Collection at The National Media Museum, Bradford

Parts

Mr Burke Posing the Ameer

Mr Burke Posing the Ameer

An engraving entitled 'Mr Burke Posing the Ameer', from the drawing by Frederic Villiers, published in 'The Graphic' in July 1879. The sketch shows John Burke taking a photograph of the Afghan Amir Yaqub Khan (d. 1914) at the signing of the treaty of Gandamak. The Amir poses in front of a large camera, wearing a white, European-style military uniform. The original text in 'The Graphic' reads: 'Mr....

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/1
type:
engraving
Fixing' the Negative

Fixing' the Negative

An engraving entitled ''Fixing' the Negative', from the drawing by Frederic Villiers, published in 'The Graphic' in July 1879. The sketch shows the fixing of a glass plate photographic negative of the Afghan Amir Yaqub Khan (d.1914) at the signing of the Treaty of Gandamak. The original text in 'The Graphic' reads 'Mr. J. Burke the photographic artist... was permitted by the Ameer of Cabul to take...

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/2
type:
engraving
His Highness Shere Ali Khan, Amir of Afghanistan

His Highness Shere Ali Khan, Amir of Afghanistan

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/3
type:
photograph
Amir Shere Ali, Prince of Abdulah Jan, and Sirdars

Amir Shere Ali, Prince of Abdulah Jan, and Sirdars

A photograph entitled 'Amir Shere Ali, Prince of Abdulah Jan, and Sirdars', taken by John Burke, c. 1878. Shere Ali sits in the middle with his arm around a young boy dressed in a military uniform, perhaps the Amir's son or grandson. The Amir is surrounded by his Sirdars, a title for high ranking military officials. Below the photograph is a reproduction of a document signed by European prisoners ...

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/4
type:
photograph
Afridi Picket near to Jumrood

Afridi Picket near to Jumrood

A photograph entitled 'Afridi Picket near to Jumrood', taken by John Burke in 1878. Afridi was the name for a powerful independent tribe living on the Indian border around the Khyber Pass in Peshwar. These soldiers are posing in front of a sangar, a small stone fortification common in Afghanistan and Northern India.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/5
type:
photograph
Khyber Side of Sarkai Hill

Khyber Side of Sarkai Hill

A photograph entitled 'Khyber Side of Sarkai Hill', taken by John Burke in 1878. The photograph shows a group of the Queen's Own Guides on the side of a hill. These scouts have entered Afghanistan in advance of the main column of soldiers to check for ambushes. The full title of the photograph is 'Khyber Side of Sarkai Hill. Officers of the (QO) Guides Reconnoitering'.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/6
type:
photograph
Sons of Nowroz Khan With Attendants

Sons of Nowroz Khan With Attendants

A photograph entitled 'Sons of Nowroz Khan With Attendants', taken by John Burke, c. 1878. The photograph shows a group of young Afghans, sons of a tribal ruler.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/7
type:
photograph
Shergai Heights

Shergai Heights

A photograph entitled 'Shergai Heights', taken by John Burke, in November 1878. The photograph shows the British Indian Army Third Brigade on the Shahgai ridge before the attack on Ali Masjid.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/8
type:
photograph
Ali Musjid, Interior of Fort Looking Towards Kuta

Ali Musjid, Interior of Fort Looking Towards Kuta

A photograph entitled 'Ali Musjid, Interior of Fort Looking Towards Kuta', taken by John Burke in 1878. The photograph shows the Afghani fort of Ali Musjid, or Masjid, after its capture by the British on 22 November 1878 during the Second Afghan War.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/9
type:
photograph
Officers of the 51st Regt on Sultan Tara…

Officers of the 51st Regt on Sultan Tara…

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/10
type:
photograph
Ali Musjid and Surroundings from Rotass…

Ali Musjid and Surroundings from Rotass…

A photograph entitled 'Ali Musjid and Surroundings from Rotass, Looking Down on Fort Showing Ascent With River', taken by John Burke in 1878. The photograph shows the fort of Ali Musjid, or Masjid, the fort controlled the Afghan side of the Khyber Pass.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/11
type:
photograph
Shadi Bagiar Entrance to Khyber Pass

Shadi Bagiar Entrance to Khyber Pass

A photograph entitled 'Shadi Bagiar Entrance to Khyber Pass', taken by John Burke, c. 1878. The photograph shows a camel train at the entrance to the Khyber pass at Shadi Bagiar.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/12
type:
photograph
Kutchi (Gypsy) Village Near Dacca

Kutchi (Gypsy) Village Near Dacca

A photograph entitled 'Kutchi (Gypsy) Village near Dacca', taken by John Burke. The photograph shows the small village near Dacca, or Dakka. A group of locals, described in the title as gypsies, sit in the foreground on the left, with two Indian soldiers standing guard on the right.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/13
type:
photograph
Dakka Fort, Western End, Looking Towards Khurd Khyber

Dakka Fort, Western End, Looking Towards Khurd Khyber

A photograph entitled 'Dakka Fort, Western End, Looking Towards Khurd Khyber', taken by John Burke, c. 1878. Dakka sits at the Afghani end of the Khyber Pass.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/14
type:
photograph
Halt of Prisoners from Bassaule

Halt of Prisoners from Bassaule

A photograph entitled 'Halt of Prisoners from Bassaule', taken by John Burke, c. 1878. The photograph shows soldiers of the 45th Rattray's Sikh Regiment guarding Afghan prisoners.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/15
type:
photograph
Khyber Chiefs and Khans with Captain Tucker, Political Officer

Khyber Chiefs and Khans with Captain Tucker, Political Officer

A photograph entitled 'Khyber Chiefs and Khans with Captain Tucker, Political Officer', taken by John Burke, c. 1878. The photograph shows a group of Afghan chieftains sitting beneath the walls of a fort, in the centre of the group sits a British political officer, Captain Tucker.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/16
type:
photograph
Lieut General Sir S J Browne and Staff

Lieut General Sir S J Browne and Staff

A photograph entitled 'Lieut General Sir S J Browne and Staff', taken by John Burke in May 1879. The photograph shows Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel James Browne (1824-1901) with his staff at his headquarters in Gandamak, Afghanistan.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/17
type:
photograph
Jellallabad Main Street

Jellallabad Main Street

A photograph entitled 'Jellallabad Main Street', taken by John Burke, c. 1878. The photograph shows the main street in Jalalabad (Jellallabad), Afghanistan.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/18
type:
photograph
Jellallabad, the Bastion…

Jellallabad, the Bastion…

A photograph entitled 'Jellallabad, the Bastion Where General Elphinstone and Others Were Buried During The Siege in 1841-1842', taken by John Burke, c. 1878. The photograph shows the tower containing the bodies of General Elphinstone and other British soldiers killed during the retreat of the Kabul garrison to Jalalabad (or Jellallabad) during the First Afghan War in January 1842.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/19
type:
photograph
Jellallabad, the Amir's Garden Sidewalk

Jellallabad, the Amir's Garden Sidewalk

A photograph entitled 'Jellallabad, the Amir's Garden Sidewalk', taken by John Burke in 1879. The photograph shows two soldiers standing on a path in the Amir's Garden in Jalalabad, Afghanistan

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/20
type:
photograph
Major Cavagnari

Major Cavagnari

A photograph entitled 'Major Cavagnari', taken by John Burke in 1879. The photograph shows Major Sir Pierre Louis Napoleon Cavagnari (1841-1879) during discussions at Gandamak with local Afghans.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/21
type:
photograph
Jellallabad - Scenes in Camp

Jellallabad - Scenes in Camp

A photograph entitled 'Jellallabad - Scenes in Camp', taken by John Burke in 1879. The photograph shows a group of Afghan soldiers in the British camp at Jalalabad (or Jellallabad), Afghanistan.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/22
type:
photograph
Jellallabad - Scenes in Camp

Jellallabad - Scenes in Camp

A photograph entitled 'Jellallabad - Scenes in Camp', taken by John Burke in 1879. The photograph shows the British camp at Jalalabad in Afghanistan.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/23
type:
photograph
The Amir Yakub Khan

The Amir Yakub Khan

A photograph entitled 'The Amir Yakub Khan', taken by John Burke in 1879. The photograph shows a British cavalry escort at an historic meeting in the rugged plains of Afghanistan. As the escort look on, the Amir Yaqub Khan (d. 1914) can be seen in the road on the left meeting with Major Sir Pierre Louis Napoleon Cavagnari (1841-1879).

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/24
type:
photograph
Mr Jenkyns, Major Cavagnari CIS, Amir Yakub Khan…

Mr Jenkyns, Major Cavagnari CIS, Amir Yakub Khan…

A photograph entitled 'Mr Jenkyns, Major Cavagnari CIS, Amir Yakub Khan, Habeebula Mustafii, General Daod Shah in Conference', taken by John Burke in 1879. The photograph shows the Afghan Amir Yaqub Khan (d. 1914) and the British diplomat Major Sir Pierre Louis Napoleon Cavagnari (1841-1879) in conference at Gandamak, Afghanistan.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/25
type:
photograph
The Amir's Highlanders

The Amir's Highlanders

A photograph entitled 'The Amir's Highlanders', taken by John Burke in 1879. The photograph shows Afghan soldiers dressed in kilts. The Afghans were so impressed with the ferocity and fighting skills of the British Highland regiments that Afghan troops were dressed in kilts in imitation.

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1990-5036/6040/26
type:
photograph