Post War Photo Album Officer 1st Royal Ulster Rifles / Army Air Corps

A fascinating photo album mainly black and white but also a few colour photos of the Royal Ulster Rifles in Cyprus, Germany (BOAR) and Aden in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Many photos named. The album belonged to a Captain John Smeaton-Stuart, 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles (RUR) and Army Air Corps (AAC). He was awarded the General Service Medal 1918-62, one bar, Cyprus (2/Lt.J.Smeaton-Stuart. R.U.R.) and a Campaign Service Medal (1962), two bars, Borneo, Radfan (Capt.J.Smeaton-Stuart. R.U.R.). His medals, together with those of his father, an infamous member of the Mosley Black Shirts, were sold at auction in the UK in 2016 (location unknown).

Please note the photos are in good condition overall, some with cellotape marks, one page cut out otherwise complete and an interesting record of this famous Irish regiment in post war policing and garrison duties. There are circa 150 photos in total.

The album is packed with photos, some the usual Cook's tourist photos, but many of military life and include photos of of troops on exercise on the sports field and a newspaper cutting with a fine photo of this officer on horseback taking part in cross country events in Cyprus. He qualified as a helicopter pilot and later photos in the album relate this this including a fine large format photo of a Bell Sioux army which he flew in Borneo campaign.

His father, John (Jack) Smeaton-Stewart served as a Corporal in the King Edwards Horse (KEH) 1912-14 (regimental number No 80). Was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in Jan 1915 later Lieutenant. Born in the Straits Settlement, Singapore circa 1894 and educated at Raffles School and later attended Eastbourne College, England in 1910-11. He wrote “Safari for Gold” which was published in Jan 1942 (most probably whilst interned in Latchmere House during WW2) which was about his life and travels in Kenya where he settled post WW1. A prominent member of the British Union of Fascists. His name also appears in the book on 'Fascism in Britain' from Oswald Mosley's "Blackshirts to the National Front”.

Main source: www.kingscolonials.com

Please note, on account of the size and weight I am unwilling to post this outside of the UK.

Code: 64292