'Anglo Persian Oil Cos Depot', Abadan, Mesopotamia, 1915

Photograph, World War One, 1915.

Once Turkey sided with Germany in 1914 an expeditionary force of British and Indian troops was despatched to reinforce forces protecting British interests in the region. The force advanced up the Shatt al-Arab Waterway in November 1914 and made its first major landing close to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's refinery at Abadan which was deemed an obvious target for Turkish forces.

The photograph was probably taken from on board the SS Franz Ferdinand on which the 1/5th Hampshire Howitzer Battery (Territorial Force), Royal Field Artillery sailed from Bombay to Basra in 1915.

From an album of 210 photographs compiled by Lieutenant Henry Curtis Gallup during his service with the 5th Hampshire Howitzer Battery (Territorial Force) in Mesopotamia during World War One (1914-1918), 1915-1916.

Gallup was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Territorial Force on 28 August 1914 and served in India and Mesopotamia with 1/5th Hampshire Howitzer Battery. He fought in the Battle of Shaiba in April 1915 and took part in the advance towards Baghdad, including the Battle of Es Sinn and capture of Kut in September. Gallup was subsequently held as a prisoner of war in Turkey after his capture at Kut in April 1916.