Lord Wavell, the Viceroy of India, chatting to British and native officers of the Khyber Rifles, 1945 (c)

Photograph, India, North West Frontier (1937-1945), 1945 (c).

The Khyber Rifles were one of several paramilitary police units recruited from the tribesmen of the North West Frontier. They served as auxiliaries to the regular Indian Army. Recruited from Afridi Pathan tribesmen, the Rifles were commanded by British officers on secondment from regular Indian regiments.

When Pakistan won its independence in 1947 the Rifles became part of the new country's Frontier Corps and continued to police the unruly tribal districts.

From an album of 317 photographs relating to the Indian Army service of Capt, later Brig, John R Booth, 4th Bn 14th Punjab Regiment, 1936 to 1947.