'Spinwam Fort - Tochi Scouts Besieged a few days later.', North Waziristan, 1937

Photograph, India, North West Frontier, 1937.

Photograph taken during a 'visit to Spinwam and Shewa with the G.O.C. 1st Division'.

The Tochi Scouts was part of the Frontier Corps which consisted of a number of scout units stationed in the tribal territories. The scout forts were built of sun-dried mud blocks, rectangular in shape with towers placed so as to provide a clear line of fire along the lengths of the fort walls. On the inside, about five feet from the top of the walls was a platform about 10 feet wide. This ran around the perimeter of the fort and formed the roof of the living quarters below.

In late 1936 there was growing agitation against British rule in Waziristan, led by the Waziri leader Ghazi Mirzali Khan Wazir, 'the Fakir of Ipi'. In response the British launched a military operation into the Khaisora Valley, hoping that a show of strength alone would suffice to reduce unrest. However, the two main columns of troops met stiff resistance and their supply lines were disrupted, forcing them to retire. The operation's failure triggered a wider insurrection and the ensuing guerrilla war drew in more British and Indian forces. Over 30,000 troops, together with aircraft and armoured cars, were deployed to the region. Violence subsided in late 1937 and after brief flare-ups in 1938 and 1939 the North West Frontier was relatively quiet until India became independent in 1947.

From an album of 347 photographs compiled by Captain (later Major) Wynne Howes-Roberts, 1st Battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles, India and UK, 1936-1937.