'Officers of the 51st Regiment on Sultan Tarra, showing different service uniforms worn', 1878

Photograph by John Burke, 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), 1878.

The variety of clothing worn on campaign in Afghanistan is clearly shown in this photograph of British officers. Several where Afghan half-jackets, which were lavishly embroidered, often with silk, and lined with thick wool, an ideal garment for the severe Afghan winters. Others wear their white summer uniforms. As khaki-manufactured uniforms were not always available at this time, these were often coloured khaki with coffee, tea, curry powder and all kinds of dyes.

From an album of 100 photographs by John Burke, 1878 (c).