Photograph of Afghan soldiers dressed in the style of Scottish Highland regiments. Certain regiments under Emir Mohammad Yaqub Khan imitated the distinctive dress of the Highland regiments out of respect for their military skill. The soldiers are gathered in a group, some sitting on the rocky ground and others standing. They are wearing checked kilts and helmets. Their guns are arranged upright against each other among the soldiers. There is a camp and a row of trees behind them. The photographer John Burke travelled with the Peshawar Valley Field Force during the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-80), one of a series of conflicts between Britain and Russia over control of Afghanistan. His images from the war capture landscapes, key strategic sites and people involved in the conflict.
From the collection of King Edward VII when Prince of Wales
