Unique album with 97 photographs, compiled in Rawalpindi (Islamabad) by British Corporal G.W. Curtis during his service as "no. 2 wireless boy" in Waziristan, Pakistan from at least 1923 to around the time of Pinks War (March to May 1925).
In the 1920s the British and Indians conducted military campaigns against tribesmen in and around Waziristan. At one point a permanent garrison of British troops was maintained in the region, at Razmak. Pinks War was a bombardment campaign carried out by the RAF against the Mahsud tribesmen in South Waziristan in the spring of 1925. Images include pack stations, military transports, wireless equipment, tented military camps, soldiers crossing the River Indus, a ferry crossing in 1923, soldiers posed in deep snow, barracks and other soldiers quarters, aircraft, transport by horse, camel, elephant and cart; as well as soldiers at leisure - riding bicycles, at a beach and at a zoo. One image depicts an airplane crash at Razmak. Only one aircraft was lost during Pinks War, so this may well be a rare photo of it. Some of the places shown include Tauda China, Pakistan; Rawalpindi, Pakistan; Bannu City, Waziristan; and Murree, a hill station in Pakistan. Military stations were positioned at Damdil, Bannu, and Razmak. Many images of local scenes, including people grinding corn and washing clothes, a bazaar, soldiers home, dairy farm, football field, city scenes of Rawalpindi, Murree and Bannu, and more.
Owner's inscription on the front pastedown: "C[or]p[ora]l. G.W. Curtis, no. 2 wireless boy Rawalpindi". With manuscript captions below most photographs describing the scene. 22 of the photographs are somewhat faded, otherwise all in very good condition. Back cover spotted, corners rubbed.