The Residency at Kabul, 1879

Photograph by John Burke, 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), 1879.

The Residency was situated at the Bala Hissar fort in Kabul. In July 1879, having negotiated the Treaty of Gandamak with the new Emir Yakub Khan, whereby the presence of a British Resident was agreed to, Sir Louis Cavagnari arrived in the city. In September, following a mutiny in the Afghan Army, both he and his escort were murdered and the Residency sacked. Major-General Frederick Roberts responded by occupying Kabul and partially destroying the fortress in revenge for the death of Cavagnari.

From an album of 101 photographs by John Burke.