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Acting Sergeant Instructor John Turgill - Notes and Photographs from Mesopotamia

John served with the Army Gymnastic Staff in Mesopotamia 

Acting Sergeant Instructor John Turgill, a dentist by trade, served with the Army Gymnastic Staff attached to the Northamptonshire Regiment in the Mesopotamia campaign during the First World War. This album of photographs and notes shows that during his service, John also travelled to Burma and India.

The Army Gymnastic Staff played an important role in the First World War; training new recruits, keeping soldiers fit and maintaining morale through sports activities and physical and bayonet training. 

This collection of photographs show that John made the most of his downtime, seeing the sites of the ancient kingdom of Babylon and temples in the centre of Baghdad. It also gives an insight into what it was like for active servicemen and local people when the Armistice was announced. 

To read more about John, see his Personal Record on the link below.  

 

John Turgill
  • Description of the photograph of the Lion of Babylon
  • Photograph of the Lion of Babylon, Iraq
  • Description of the photograph of scenes in Baghdad
  • Scenes in Baghdad at the reading of the armistice terms with Turkey
  • Description of the following photographs from Babylon trip
  • Scenes from Babylon trip - Red Cross wagon and camels
  • Photographs of the town of Babel and a street scene on the day of peace with Turkey, November 2nd 1918
  • The lion of basalt, Babylon
  • Photograph of bas reliefs on the excavated walls of the ruins of Babylon
  • Photograph of a buddha statue, taken in a Burmese jail porter camp
  • Burmese followers of the Idol of Buddha
  • Street scene in Baghdad on the declaration of armistice with Turkey, November 2nd 1918
  • Base of the flagstaff - declaration of armistice with Turkey November 2nd 1918
  • HMS Mantis (a large "China gunboat" first deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1916) outside G.H.Q - flags flying on the occasion of Armistice with Germany
  • Scene at the reading of the Armistice terms with Turkey, Baghdad November 2nd 1918
  • "Arab smoking his Hookah outside native café"
  • One of the mosaic gateways to the Temple of Kadhimain
  • One of the gateways to the Temple of Kadhimain
  • Mesopotamia Tramways
  • Temple dome as seen from New Street, Baghdad
  • Tramway at Kadhimain
  • Courtyard in the Temple of Kadhimain
  • Temple of Kadhimain and the surrounding district
  • One of the gateways to the Temple of Kadhimain
  • View of the Temple of Kadhimain
  • One of the gateways to the Temple of Kadhimain - note fine mosaic work on the walls
  • The Temple of Kadhimain - one of the gateways
  • View of the Temple of Kadhimain - "the third richest temple in the world"
  • A holy temple in Nashik, an ancient holy city in western India
  • River in Deolali, Nashtik, India - the site of an important army base
  • Description of the photograph of the Lion of Babylon
  • Photograph of the Lion of Babylon, Iraq
  • Description of the photograph of scenes in Baghdad
  • Scenes in Baghdad at the reading of the armistice terms with Turkey
  • Description of the following photographs from Babylon trip
  • Scenes from Babylon trip - Red Cross wagon and camels
  • Photographs of the town of Babel and a street scene on the day of peace with Turkey, November 2nd 1918
  • The lion of basalt, Babylon
  • Photograph of bas reliefs on the excavated walls of the ruins of Babylon
  • Photograph of a buddha statue, taken in a Burmese jail porter camp
  • Burmese followers of the Idol of Buddha
  • Street scene in Baghdad on the declaration of armistice with Turkey, November 2nd 1918
  • Base of the flagstaff - declaration of armistice with Turkey November 2nd 1918
  • HMS Mantis (a large "China gunboat" first deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1916) outside G.H.Q - flags flying on the occasion of Armistice with Germany
  • Scene at the reading of the Armistice terms with Turkey, Baghdad November 2nd 1918
  • "Arab smoking his Hookah outside native café"
  • One of the mosaic gateways to the Temple of Kadhimain
  • One of the gateways to the Temple of Kadhimain
  • Mesopotamia Tramways
  • Temple dome as seen from New Street, Baghdad
  • Tramway at Kadhimain
  • Courtyard in the Temple of Kadhimain
  • Temple of Kadhimain and the surrounding district
  • One of the gateways to the Temple of Kadhimain
  • View of the Temple of Kadhimain
  • One of the gateways to the Temple of Kadhimain - note fine mosaic work on the walls
  • The Temple of Kadhimain - one of the gateways
  • View of the Temple of Kadhimain - "the third richest temple in the world"
  • A holy temple in Nashik, an ancient holy city in western India
  • River in Deolali, Nashtik, India - the site of an important army base
  • John with Indian soldiers
  • Temple of Kadhimain
  • Temple of Kadhimain
  • The remaining walls of a palace built by the King of Babylon
  • The remaining walls of a palace built by the King of Babylon
  • Sultan of Egypt and bodyguard in Alexandria
  • Sultan of Egypt and bodyguard in Alexandria
  • John Turgill in uniform
  • John Turgill in uniform
  • Army Gymnastic Staff certificate
  • Letter thanking John for his service, from the Inspector of Physical Training
  • Certificated commemorating John being Mentioned in a Despatch for gallant and distinguished services in the Field
  • Photograph of Army Gymnastic Staff
  • Photograph of Army Gymnastic Staff

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