Golfe

1955 · ref. 188201 — On board HMS Loch Alvie: South Asia and Arabian Gulf 1955-56. Striking visual record of the Gulf at the dawn of the oil boom An attractive photograph album compiled by a Royal Navy rating during service in the Gulf in 1955-56 notable for its early views of Abu Dhabi and other sites in the present-day UAE on the eve of the oil transformation. Drawn to the stark coastline and improvised shore installations he recorded places that within a decade would be reshaped by petroleum infrastructure and urban expansion. Several images relate to Abu Dhabi. A view of Das Island dated 11 April 1956 shows a bare shoreline with oil drums and rudimentary structures in the first phase of development linked to the Umm Shaif field. At Khawr al Bazm 19 April 1956 he photographed the coast from the ship and the firing of a 21-gun salute for the Queen's birthday juxtaposing imperial ceremony with an undeveloped littoral. Four deckle-edged photographs depict Dalma Island - then a remote outpost - including a grave the remains of a wrecked dhow and the stretch of coast where the vessel was driven ashore in bad weather. Today Dalma is recognised as a major archaeological site within Abu Dhabi emirate. Dubai appears in a 22 April 1956 view of water taxis and the souq along Dubai Creek still a modest mercantile settlement. The following day Lord and Lady Mountbatten paused there during their return from Asia and Australasia an event marked by guards of honour and captured in the album. A coastal view of Dibba on the Musandam Peninsula - now divided between Oman and the UAE - records the rugged shoreline before modern development. Although centred on the Gulf the album also includes related regional material - Bahrain including Juffair naval base Qatar's early oil installations at Umm Said and Halul Island and shipboard scenes - placing the UAE images within the wider strategic network of Britain's post-war naval presence east of Suez. The volume concludes with an official photograph of HMS Loch Alvie and a track chart of her cruise under Captain C. J. Matthews sailing from Chatham in July 1955 and returning in July 1956. Landscape folio 270 × 390 mm. 88 mounted silver gelatine photographs the majority personal rather than purchase and 24 of which relate to the Gulf various formats mostly 105 x 80 mm the great majority captioned in white ink leaves additionally decorated with small sketches and various ephemera. Asian black lacquer album silk ties at the spine typical of those available at the Liberty Stores Aden lettered "Souvenir of Aden" on the front cover with a hand-painted map of the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea surrounded by images of a mosque camel dhow and local inhabitants HMS Loch Alvie cap tally pasted to spine edges gilt decorative gold and silver leaf spackled endpapers; black card mounting leaves. Corners a little bumped and worn a couple of cracks to the lacquer to the back cover; some tissue guards a little creased contents otherwise clean sound and complete; very good. unknown