A sentry from 1st Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment, Tibet. 1937

Photograph, Tibet, 1937.

The British Mission to the Tibetan capital of Lhasa departed from Gangtok (Sikkim) in late July 1936 and left Tibet just over six months later in February 1937. It was led by Basil Gould, the Political Officer for Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet, and included the 1st Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment, under the command of Major William Colbourne. The aim of the mission was to advise the Regent of Tibet and his Cabinet, to persuade the Panchen Lama to return from China where he had fled, and, if possible, to establish permanent British representation in Lhasa.

One of 125 photographs compiled by Major W A Colbourne, 1st Bn 15th Punjab Regiment.