Can anyone help elucidate the context of this photograph please. It shows British naval personnel outside a fort displaying star and crescent. But which campaign and country? Size of image 7 by 10 inches. Also, why the circular shading? Due to lens arefact perhaps? Any help appreciated.
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The symbols applied to the building are Ottoman - the star above a crescent, although the building itself is not particularly Ottoman... if that is any help.
And, yes, it is lens fall off causing the circular shadowing. The photographer was using a lens designed for a smaller camera.
Interesting that you have the Star of David too, so it might be Palestine. The print looks about 1880-1890s.
Could be Kuwait. The Brits had it as a protectorate in 1899. But they were involved in Egypt, Turkey, etc. for much of the end of the 19th-century. Not sure these are British regulars though. Could be East India Company men. I'll let that be determined by the military experts here on the site.
Sorry, here's image.
s-l1600.jpg
Sean, you need to post up the image. :-)