Royal Air Force in Iraq and Sharjah during WWII - vol. 1
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Abstract
This is the first of two photograph albums of Royal Air Force Leading Aircraftman C. J. Sainty, who served in Iraq and the Middle East during World War II. The first 32 photographs are taken during Sainty's period in India and show Bombay and the military camp at Colaba. During the Anglo-Iraq war of 1941, Sainty is transferred to the RAF base at Habbaniya and the photographs show Baghdad and the aircraft base and its residents. A special section entitled "The Fortunes of War. May 1941. R.A.F. v Rebels" is devoted to the Battle of Habbaniya and shows British and Iraqi tanks, guns and fallen aircraft, including a German Messerschmidt Bf 110. A few graphic photos of limbs and cadavers in the desert show the grim human toll of the war. Please note: This material has been digitized in its entirety and contains racist and culturally insensitive remarks).
Biographical / Historical
This pair of photograph albums contains a collection of photographs taken by Royal Air Force Leading Aircraftman C.J. Sainty, who served in Iraq and the Middle East during World War II. The photographs were taken in India, Iraq and Sharjah in 1941–43, including the Battle of Habbaniya (1941).
Arrangement
The collection was processed as it was received.
Scope and Contents
The first 32 photographs in this collection were taken during Sainty's period in India and show Bombay/Mumbai and the military camp at Colaba. During the Anglo-Iraq war of 1941, Sainty was transferred to the RAF base at Habbaniya and the photographs show Baghdad and the aircraft base and its residents. A special section entitled "The Fortunes of War. May 1941. R.A.F. v Rebels" is devoted to the Battle of Habbaniya and shows British and Iraqi tanks, guns and fallen aircraft, including a German Messerschmidt Bf 110. A few graphic photos of limbs and cadavers in the desert show the less glamorous side of the war. The second album shows many pictures of the cities of Baghdad and Basra. The photographs of Ashar, the heart of Basra, show daily life in this ancient city: a boatman, Arabian policemen in long coats, a barber, a craftsman, machine shop workers, a bread maker, a copper beater, long hand crafted river boats and a camel caravan. Photographs of a trip to northern Iraq show daily life in the country and endless vistas of desolate hills. The album concludes with various photographs of camp life at the RAF base in Sharjah.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions at akkasah.org. For access to physical album contact Akkasah Center for Photography, akkasah@nyu.edu +971 2628 5531
Conditions Governing Use
Any rights (including copyright and related rights to publicity and privacy) are maintained by Akkasah Center for Photography, New York University Abu Dhabi. Permission to publish or reproduce materials in this collection must be secured from repository. Please contact Akkasah Center for Photography, akkasah@nyu.edu +971 2628 5531
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Album: Royal Air Force in Iraq and Sharjah during WWII - vol. 1; AD_MC_013 v.1; box number; folder number or item identifier; Akkasah Center for Photography, New York University Abu Dhabi.
Material Specific Details
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Album purchased from Antiquariat Inlibris, Rathausstraße 19, 1010 Wien, Austria, in 2015.
Custodial History
Akkasah, the Center for Photography at NYU Abu Dhabi, acquired the collection in December 2015.