Key Information

Photographer

Evan Yorke Nepean

Collection

Frederick Spencer Chapman

Date of Photo

September 7th 1936

Region

Lhasa > Trapshi

Accession number

1998.131.507

Image Dimensions

61 x 92

Gun being fired by the army during the military review held at Trapshi in September 1936 for Brigadier Neame. Spectators can be seen lining the parade ground in the background

Further Information

Photographic Process

Negative film nitrate

Date Acquired

Donated 1994

Donated by

Mrs Faith Spencer Chapman

Expedition

British Diplomatic Mission to Lhasa 1936-37

Photo also owned by

Frederick Spencer Chapman

Previous Catologue Number

YN.35

Previous Pitt Rivers Museum Number

SC.T.2.507

This Image also appears in another collection

2001.35.396.41.3 2001.35.222.1

Other Information

In Negative - 'YN 35' has been scratched into the negative in the bottom left hand corner [MS 30/03/2006]

Other Information - Setting

Other Information - Setting: This photograph seems to have been taken on September 7th 1936 when a review of Tibetan troops was held for Brigadier Neame, who had travelled to Lhasa as part of the British mission in order to give military advice to the Tibetan government. The photograph was taken by Evan Nepean, whose arrival in Lhasa had been delayed due to technical problems with the wireless equipment. He arrived in Lhasa the day prior to this event [MS 30/03/2006]

Other Information - Entry for Mission Diary September 7th 1936: "After lunch the only two Lewis guns in Lhasa were fired, giving a very poor display of both elementary training and of marksmanship at targets at 200 yards. After this a section of mountain guns (10 Pdr. B. L. of 1902 manufacture) were brought up on their mules and came into action. Their movements and drill, although not smart were sufficiently effective, and in shooting with common shell and direct laying from the gun they showed considerable skill in marksmanship. As this was the first time they had ever fired live shell it is evident that they have received useful instruction from Yutok Depon, who did some artillery training in India, but who confessed he had forgotten how to do indirect fire. They have however little idea of tactical movements or tactical use of artillery" ['Lhasa Mission, 1936: Diary of Events', Part V p. 5, written by Neame] [MS 30/03/2006]

For Citation use:
The Tibet Album. "Military review at Trapshi" 05 Dec. 2006. The Pitt Rivers Museum. <http://tibet.prm.ox.ac.uk/photo_1998.131.507.html>.

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Military review at Trapshi