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British Military Campaign to Tibet - sepoys in winter
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British Military Campaign to Tibet - sepoys in winter
Sepoys in winter, waiting to begin a polo match, from a fascinating album which reveals new details on a little-known campaign in which a British military force brushed aside Tibetan defences to capture Lhasa, in 1904. The Tibet Expedition was launched from India and sanctioned by Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, who was concerned over Russian influence and supposed advance toward the border. The expedition eventually gained a number of concessions from Tibet, nominally under Chinese control at the time, but whether the effort was worth the return is certainly up for debate. This album came by direct descent from the family of Captain William Charles Hayman, ADC to the expedition's leader, Colonel Francis Younghusband of the Indian Political Service (Younghusband was accompanied by a strong military escort commanded by Brigadier General James Macdonald). The photographs show various elements of the expedition: military, monasteries, scenery, towns and locals. Date: 1904
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Media ID 32265710
© A Henry Aldridge & Son Ltd. / Mary Evans
Advance Begin Campaign Capture Hayman Journey Lhasa Match Polo Reportage Sepoys Tibet Tibetan Waiting
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This captivating photograph, titled
EDITORS COMMENTS
Sepoys in winter, waiting to begin a polo match," is a captivating glimpse into the British Military Expedition to Tibet in 1904. The album from which this image is taken provides a unique and previously unexplored perspective on this little-known campaign, which saw a British military force successfully brush aside Tibetan defenses to capture Lhasa. At the time, Tibet was nominally under Chinese control, but Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, was deeply concerned over increasing Russian influence and perceived advances toward the border. In response, he authorized the Tibet Expedition, led by Colonel Francis Younghusband of the Indian Political Service. Accompanied by a strong military escort commanded by Brigadier General James Macdonald, Younghusband and his men set out from India to assert British influence in the region. The photographs in this album offer a fascinating insight into the expedition, revealing various elements of the military, monasteries, scenic landscapes, towns, and local people. In this image, we see sepoy soldiers, clad in heavy winter gear, waiting to begin a polo match. The harsh winter conditions are evident in the icy terrain and the thick coats and scarves worn by the soldiers. The success of the Tibet Expedition is a subject of ongoing debate, with some arguing that the effort was worth the return in terms of securing British interests in the region, while others believe that the costs outweighed the benefits. Regardless of one's perspective, this photograph and the album as a whole offer a valuable and intriguing window into a significant moment in British colonial history."
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