[Mohammerah during World War I].

Oblong 4to (235 x 195 mm). 38 ff. (of which 2 ff. blank) with 122 black-and-white photographs (various sizes: 75 x 35 to 205 x 145 mm). With 12 humorous pen-and-ink drawings, some letters and postcards, a few loose photographs and ephemera. Extraordinary photo album and scrapbook relating to the British-run Beit Nama Officer’s Convalescent Hospital at Mohammerah in the Sheikhdom of Arabistan (an autonomous emirate in modern-day Khuzestan province in Iran), headed by Captain Alfred Hope Gosse (1882-1956) during the Great War. Includes rare images of Crown Prince Sheikh Chassib, along with a typed letter to Gosse signed by the prince: "As I had the intention of doing myself the pleasure of receiving you and your men as my respected guests, as it was rather somewhat difficult to arrange things quite satisfactorily, I thought of sending you instead 100 cases dates to-day and have also given instructions to bring you a number of sheep, which I trust will reach you in 2 to 3 days time, by acceptance of which you will greatly oblige me" (Mohammerah, 8 October 1916). Chassib's father, Shaikh Khaz'al bin Jabir (1861-1936), the Emir of Mohammerah and chief of the Banu Ka'b tribe, was a staunch ally of the British and a strong support during World War I. - Other photographs show Gosse leaving England and setting up at Mohammerah, hospital tent encampments and huts used as the Officers' Mess, fine shots of the provisions store, port views and shots of the local population, group portraits of soldiers, and several larger, good-quality group portraits of the medical staff. - The meticulous pen-and-ink cartoons provide a humoristic take on the hospital work, themes including medication, diet, drawing of teeth, the Mesopotamian heat, but also combat: "Optimist: 'I wonder if the Russians have really packed in?' Pessimist: 'O' course they 'ave! They knew we was losing the blinking war!'". - Correspondence and ephemera include a letter from local workers threatening to strike if they do not receive payment, another asking for the workers' tents to be replaced by huts to better withstand the heat, a message relayed on behalf of King George, wishing all wounded soldiers a speedy recovery, a 1917 New Year's card, hand-illustrated by H. M. Chapman, and another, thanking Capt. Gosse for the Christmas festivities, a typed sheet of lyrics to a song entitled "The Mesopotamia Budget", a partly censored letter by a former patient thanking Gosse and his staff for saving his life, Gosse's transfer to Bei Naama officers' hospital, his demobilisation letter, and more. - Rear album board and spine missing. Some photographs slightly faded. A unique photographic record of a lost Sheikhdom.