University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH034637th Dogras Northwest
Frontier Colonial India photograph albumcirca
1896-189998 photographic prints in one
album (1 box) ; sizes varyCollection materials are in
English.Photographs of
landscapes, cities, forts, soldiers, animals, and locals in the northwest
frontier of colonial India, which later became Pakistan and northwest
India.During the first Afghan war (1839-1842), the
British overextended themselves and were forced to pull back. After that, they
focused less on expansion and more on defense. In 1857, members of the Bengal
army that controlled northern India mutinied. Many people died, and the British
suffered a severe blow. The British crown took control of the army, which had
been under the authority of the East-India Company. Despite their lack of
success during the first Afghan war and their focus on defense, the British
once again headed for Kabul. The second Afghan war did not go well for the
British, and once again they failed to gain more than temporary control of
Kabul.
In 1887, the British strengthened the Bengal army by adding a regiment
of Hindus from the Rajput hill states. This new regiment was called the 37th
Dogras. The homogeneous composition of the group was a result of the British
belief that segregation would help prevent another widespread mutiny. In the
remaining years of the 19th century, the 37th Dogras participated in
expeditions in several parts of the northwest frontier. The Tochi Valley was
one of the areas in the frontier that caused problems for the British. It was
one of the main routes to Afghanistan, and after the Waziristan Expedition in
1894, the valley's main posts, including Idak, Miran Shah, and Datta Khel, were
garrisoned by British troops. The British continued to fight in the valley
until 1901, when Viceroy Lord Curzon removed the British troops and replaced
them with tribal militia. By 1924, the British were once again at war with
Afghanistan.
The photographs in this album depict landscapes, cities, forts,
soldiers, animals, and locals in the northwest frontier of colonial India,
which later became Pakistan and northwest India. They were taken between 1896
and 1899, and for the most part were arranged in the album in chronological
order. Many of the pictures show members of the British-allied 37th Dogras
regiment as well as scenes of the rugged Tochi Valley, where the 37th Dogras
helped fight for control of the Afghan border. They also show the Simla hill
station, where the British went to escape the heat and danger; several sites in
the Indus valley, including Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan; the famed Khyber Pass;
and the city of Chamba, known for its temples and a grass concourse called the
Chawgan. It is probable that the album's original owner was a British officer
in the 37th Dogras who was stationed in the northwest frontier of colonial
India during the late 19th century and created the album to document his
travels.
It is possible that the owner of the album was Captain John Maudsley
Maxwell, father of John Lawrence Maxwell (pictured in the album as a child) and
an officer stationed with the 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment in
northwest India in the 1890s, or another soldier well-acquainted with this
family. The 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent regiment served alongside the 37th
Dogras regiment at Malakand Pass in 1897-1898.
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Request at UW
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication.
Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for
details.
Purchased by UW Libraries South Asia Center, June
18, 1991.
Processed by Scott Forland, 2002 and Jill M.
Dalager, 2003.
India. Army. Dogra Regiment--PhotographsGreat Britain. Army--Colonial forces--India--PhotographsSoldiers--India--PhotographsAfghan Wars--PhotographsMilitary personnel--Pakistan--PhotographsMilitary personnel--India--PhotographsVisual Materials Collections (University of Washington)InternationalMilitaryPhotographsPakistan--History--19th century--PhotographsIndia--History--British occupation, 1765-1947--PhotographsTochi Valley (Pakistan)--History, Military--PhotographsSimla (India)--History--19th century--PhotographsChamba (India)--History--19th century--PhotographsNorth-West Frontier Province (Pakistan)--History, Military--PhotographsPhotograph albums
11aTwo Indian soldiers beside a
road 11bLandscape with evergreens 22Fort and a ferry1896 33Bridge over a river 44aSimla landscapeDecember 1896 44bPeople on a street in SimlaDecember 1896 55a-bLandscape with evergreens 66Viceregal Lodge in Simla1897 77Viceregal Lodge in Simla 88a-bBuildings in Simla1897 99Monument surrounded by
evergreens 1010aPack mules on the pass in Datta Khel,
Tochi1898 1010bFive Indian soldiers near Miran Shah,
Tochi1898 1111aFive Indian soldiers next to a
road 1111bIndian soldiers sitting on a rock
wall 1212aTwo lines of Indian soldiers at the guard
fort in Datta Khel, Tochi1898 1212bTen members of the 37th Dogras on mules in
Idak, Tochi1898 1313aLines of Indian soldiers 1313bMilitary marching band with bagpipes and
drums 1414a"Afsault at Arms" in Miran Shah,
Tochi1898 1414bBayonet exercises "Afsault at Arms" with
Brigadier General Dyce 1515Military camp, possibly at Datta
Khel 1616Officers and their orderlies from the
37th Dogras in Idak, Tochi1898 1717Officers from the 37th Dogras 1818aLandscape of Datta Khel,
Tochi1898 1818bLandscape of Miran Shah,
Tochi1898 1919a-bLandscape 2020a-bYoung boy holding a flower with the
caption "John Lawrence Maxwell"1898 2121aMarried couple 2121bMan sitting on the ground with the
caption "The Great Lord Budh"1899 2121cKher Fort in Munro1899 2222Large group of soldiers with the caption
"Major R. Boothby's Battery" 2323Landi Kotal on the Khyber
Pass 2424aPeople with ox carts 2424bPeople on a city street 2424cThree men standing by a wall 2424dLandscape with a river 2424ePeople and animals on a boat 2424f-hThree views of the same city 2525Soldiers and battery elephants in
Multan1898 2626aSail boat on the Indus River in Dera
Ghazi Khan1899 2626bBuilding surrounded by palms with the
caption "D.G.K. 1899"1899 2727Palms, people, cows, and a water-operated
machine 2828Woman posed with book and fur with the
caption "LAAS 1899 D.G.K." 2929Eight men in uniform 3030aMen and a tent with the caption "My
troopers Tent" 3030bThree men on a hillside 3030cMen on horses with the caption "Horses
returning from water"3030dAnimal in brush3030eMan standing beside a wall 3131Men riding on eleven battery elephants in
Multancirca 1899 3232a-hViews of Chamba and nearby
landscape3232iWoman, a man, and an animal with the
caption "Chamba Lady" 3333a-fBuildings, probably in Chamba 3333gPeople in a rural area3333hMan outside of a tent3333iMen outside of a tent with clothes drying
on a rock 3434a-eCity scenes3535a-dTown scenes 3535ePeople, pillars, and hanging
cages 3636Oval photo of men running across a field
with onlookers 3737a-eBuildings and bridge in
Chamba 3737fLarge grass area in Chamba called the
Chowgan 38 38a-bTwo girls in costume 3939aGirl in queen of hearts
costume 3939bGirl in Scottish costume 4040Girl in Scottish costume