WW1 photo's, bought at carboot.

[Lydart]

I haven't got the energy to try and ID the places, but I've been looking again at the pictures  in more detail.  The number of horses !    Would they have all been taken to Mespot by the armies ?   Or obtained when they got there ?   The latter doesn't seem likely for they wouldnt be trained as British army horses were ...

[susan hemmings]

Following on -

If anyone wants the link back to GWF to see what the chaps on there make of the photos - here goes. Fingers crossed it works.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=194282#entry1901965

Susan

[Lydart]

It works !!

[Ruskie]

YES! Positive ID for Photo 49. Muscat! 
(Thanks to Susan's link)

[Ruskie]

YES! Positive ID for Photo 49. Muscat! 
(Thanks to Susan's link)

As I deduced:

I did have a look on google maps at various ports in the area, in an attempt to id one photo in particular taken from the water showing what looks like a port with distinctive mountains (and I think a castle) behind it. The landscape around most of the ports I looked at was perfectly flat. I note that there are some mountainous areas around the Gulf of Oman - maybe somewhere like Muscat or near Ras al Khaimah?

[Ruskie]

Hoping for IDs for some of the men in #50 now. 

[Greensleeves]

Photos #40 and #44 are Shaiba as you can see the lookout post (mentioned in relation to #17 previously) on the horizon.

[Lydart]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Shaiba         gives details of the battle.   The Ottomans were eventually beaten by a bayonet charge which seems to have been a risky but effective final effort by the Dorsets.   

A far cry from modern day fire-power with drones operated from thousands of miles away .......

[Greensleeves]

#81, page 17, is the Arch of Ctesiphon, where the Allies suffered heavy casualties in November 1915, before being defeated by the Turks and having to retreat to Kut.

http://www.1914.org/podcasts/podcast-18-mesopotamia/