Skip to main content
Capture of Damascus (Photograph Album Belonging to James McBey)
Capture of Damascus (Photograph Album Belonging to James McBey)
Capture of Damascus (Photograph Album Belonging to James McBey)

Capture of Damascus (Photograph Album Belonging to James McBey)

Owner (Newburgh, Scotland, 1883 - 1959)
Date1918
Object NamePhotograph
Mediumphotograph
ClassificationsMcBey
Dimensions7.8 x 10.4cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1983 by Mrs Marguerite McBey.
Copyright© Aberdeen City Council (McBey Collection)
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG000686.278
About MeSepia photograph taken during James McBey's service as Official War Artist, which he begun on 26 May 1917. The photograph is kept within a hardback photograph album, with faux leather overlay, along with a series of other related images.

The photograph depicts troops travelling through a desert in the Middle East and, based on similar photographs in the album, may be related to the capture of Damascus on 1 October 1918. This was when the Desert Mounted Corps and Prince Feisal's Sherifal Hejaz Army encircled the city, after a mounted pursuit along the two main roads to Damascus.

This object is part of an archive that belonged to Marguerite McBey. As a result of her generosity, Aberdeen Art Gallery holds the largest archive of James McBey's work, including prints, drawings, sketchbooks, oil paintings and memorabilia such as this photograph.