Third Anglo-Afghan War and other Indian Army interest: the papers of Lieutenant-Colonel William

Third Anglo-Afghan War and other Indian Army interest: the papers of Lieutenant-Colonel William Donald Francis O.B.E., 57th Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force) (later 4th Battalion (Wilde's) 13th Frontier Force Rifles), a remarkable archive of photographs, journals and other ephemera, including: this officer's personal account of this participation in the Anglo-Afghan War of 1919, as a Lieutenant in the 57th Rifles, wherein he describes his journey to the frontier on the eve of war, his impressions of local culture, rapid marches in response to the escalation of tensions, the 57th encirclement in the area between Thall [sic] and Peiwar Kotal, a dangerous reconnaissance of that fort, various incidents of combat, and much other detail; a collection of fine photographs of the North-West Frontier region, many of large format; a transcription of Francis' First World War journal; a typed copy of an account of combat in the African Theatre of the Second World War, by Colonel C.E. Morris of (Wilde's Rifles), in which an encounter with Erwin Rommel, and a mass breakout from captivity is described; various of Francis' commissioning documents and his OBE warrant; and much other fascinating material. [qty]

Lieutenant-Colonel William Donald Francis, O.B.E.: Served with the British Army in the First World War in France and Macedonia. Commissioned into the Indian Army in 1919, he saw action in Afghanistan, 1919; Waziristan, 1919-20 & 1922-24; and on the North West Frontier of India, 1930-31. M.B.E. (Military), 13th March 1925. O.B.E. (Civil), 13th June 1946. 57th Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force), later 4th Battalion (Wilde's) 13th Frontier Force Rifles, Commandant of the Kurram Militia in 1946