Field Marshal William Birdwood’s heavily annotated copy of this guide to the armies of India, filled with his pencilled notes on the individuals and events depicted in the book. Drawing on his unrivalled experience, first in the Bengal Lancers (1880s) then as part of the Viceroy’s bodyguard (1890s) and afterwards commanding the ANZAC Corps at Gallipoli when he became Commander in Chief, India in 1925,
Birdwood’s observations, written in soft pencil, run all through this book. The volume was presented to him by an ‘old comrade’, Arthur Crawford, who Birdwood notes ‘Was with me as a subaltern in the 12th Lancers at Bangalore in 1885’. Birdwood then read and annotated the book comprehensively before presenting it to to ‘my grandson Robin Craig now with my old Regiment.’
Many of the book’s images are annotated by Birdwood, such as Daffadar, Sayyid of Shahpur with the comment: ‘Sowar Nadar Khan - Enlisted by me when I was part of the Viceroy’s Body Guard.’ In a passage on the ‘irregular corps’ Birdwood observes with regret, ‘Now 1920 - alas abolished and to my deep regret... there were difficulties in maintaining it in France, but it could have been altered and improved...’ (p13) Birdwood pays particular attention to the section of the book devoted to the Viceroy’s Bodyguard writing a long comment on ‘Risaldar - Major & Hon. Cat. Muhammad Aslam Khan... Enlisted by me... Was with Lord K in Pretoria - one of the best and most courteous of gentlemen...’ Birdwood also appends memories of his fighting ‘grandfather - Sir Christopher Birdwood.... in the 20’s or 30’s of the last century... His son Gordon B. shot a tiger from the Fort [Aseergurh] Walls’ (p47).
DESCRIPTION: Worn pictorial red cloth with Crawford’s presentation inscription to the front flyleaf, added to by Birdwood and with his typed letter tipped in. Opposite is Birdwood’s own presentation inscription 5 years later to his grandson. The textblock is shaken but complete; several plates are loose.
