Photos of British operation against Faqir of Ipi in 1936-1937

B. Tundan, a professional photographer from Kabul, is best remembered for his work performed directly alongside the British troops during the Waziristan Campaign of 1936-1939, photographing not only the soldiers and convoys, but capturing recognizable scenes, structures such as forts and bridges, as well as villages along the way. Tundan and his associates, along with occasional photographic rivals, produced several pictures showing the King's Royal Rifle Corps regiment running its paces in 1936, during the Waziristan Revolt. The photographer most often identified himself only by his name 'Tundan' on the photograph, however in one instance herein, he inscribes 'Tundan Razani'. Source

British troops moving from Punjab to NWFP by crossing Khushalgarh bridge to deal with the threat of Faqir of Ipi of Waziristan, 1936. 

The Khushal Garh Bridge on the Indus River connects Kohat district of K.Pakhtunkhwa with Attock district of Punjab. It is a broad gauge bridge and was completed in 1907 as part of the Khushalgarh-Kohat-Thal Railway.

The "column camp at Idak" is a large settlement with innumerable soldiers and their horses, being supplied by motor transport vehicles. This camp appears to have been setup directly beside a natural coal deposit.

Armies of men and horses passing the charming village of Boya, which is partly fortified against the elements with a stone wall to one side. The town is a maze of inter-connected mud walled dwellings, built in two sections with a mound at its center where sits a mud dome, possibly a shrine. On the outskirts there are agricultural fields and a cemetery. Close-up images capture a cavalry convoy of both British and Indian regiments crossing Boya River together, as well as one lorrie. Boya [Boya kalay] is approximately 30 km north of Razmak, southeast of Miran Shan, and east of Bannu.

The column travelling east to Bannu after departing from Idak, are shown in a stellar picturesque photograph on the Shinki Bridge, crossing the Tochi River (a.k.a. Gambila River). The bridge is situated east of Mir Ali on the road connecting Miranshah and Bannu.

Datakhel Fort [Datta Khel] was the nearest post to the Faqir of Ipi's headquarters at Gorwekht.

British camp at Muhammad Khel, roughly 40 km west of Idak, and situated on the Tochi river.

Further north, a photograph shows the expanse of the K.R.R.C. [King's Royal Rifle Corps] camp at Damdil, sometimes seen as Damodil, sprawling the base of a hill, and both sides of the road. Very near to Damdil, another image shows the marching men near Asadkhel [Asad Khel].

A marching regiment crosses Tal [Thal] bridge over the Kurram river; the four men leading the parade carry a large banner. The river's water level being very low and the dust filling the air indicate a dry season. Other scenes in the same region are simply captioned "Tal Valley". [There was is fort at Thal, guarding the strategically vital Kurram valley, which at the outbreak of the 3rd Afghan War in 1919, came under siege but was quickly relieved.]

Photographing the troops who went to Bannu, captures them in the Latamber Pass. Another striking image shows them exiting a mountain tunnel, possibly in this region. [Latambar is an important town in the district of Karak, located 29 kilometres to the east of Bannu.] A camp image is captioned as "K.R.R. Camp at Banda" [King's Royal Rifle], which is Banda Daud Shash, the headquarter of the tehsil by the same name, located in Karak District, immediately north of Latambar. Slightly farther north, in the vast and desolate Lachi Pass [Lachi Kandoa], hundreds of men look like ants marching along in perfect symmetry on a winding road, as the photographer gets a birds-eye view from a hilltop. One captain leads the formation, and a few horses carrying supplies take up the rear. [There is a locality/town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, situated nearby to Hindki Banda in the Kohat District, comprising some 24,000 residents today.]

A large number of troops from one of the aforementioned columns are photographed entering a rest camp at Kohat, which incidentally, is gated. This fascinating image inadvertently also provides a glimpse into civilian life. Men in traditional costume employ horse-drawn carriages and heavily laden mules for conveyance of goods and passengers. Irrigation ditches flank the dirt road, which bears a white mile marker. [Kohat in present-day is the capital of the Kohat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and regarded as a centre of the Bangash tribe of Pashtuns, who have lived in the region since the late 15th century.]