'Mosque El Agha, Cairo', 1907 (c)

Postcard, 1907 (c).

The Blue, or Aqsunqur, Mosque in Cairo contains the mausoleum of the Ottoman Amir Ibrahim Agha Mustafazan. It was built in the 14th century and restored by the Ottomans in the 17th century, using blue Iznik tiles.

Personnel serving in Egypt were keen to visit and acquire souvenirs of Egypt's historic landmarks such as the pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. This postcard is among a number collected by Regimental Sergeant Major Arthur George Harrington, King's Royal Rifle Corps.

Arthur Harrington (1869-1915) joined 1st Battalion The Lincoln Regiment on 22 November 1892, but transferred to 3rd Battalion The King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC) to serve with his elder brother on 10 October 1894.

Harrington served in Egypt and India, fought in the Boer War (1899-1902) and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Having transferred to the Territorial Force, Harrington served with the 9th Volunteer Battalion of the KRRC (later re-named 5th Battalion The London Regiment). By 1914 he had reached the rank of regimental sergeant-major. Mobilised in August 1914, after several months training his battalion landed at Le Havre on 17 November and went into the line with 11th Brigade in 4th Division. Harrington was killed at the 2nd Battle of Ypres on 28 April 1915.

From a collection collected by Regimental Sergeant Major Arthur George Harrington, King's Royal Rifle Corps and London Rifle Brigade, 1899-1914.