A set of six original photo albums and a collection of loose photographs documenting Group Captain Thomas W.G. Eady’s career in the Royal Air Force (RAF), capturing his service across Egypt, Iraq, and Aden (present-day Yemen), and other locations, during the interwar period. The albums include over 700 mounted photographs, most with handwritten captions. It is visual archive of RAF activities and daily life in British military outposts across the Middle East between 1928 and 1937, photographed, developed, and printed by the Captain himself. 

RAF Training in Egypt, 1928

Documenting Eady’s early years as a trainee pilot at Aboukir (Abu Qir), Egypt. Includes training exercises, aircraft, airfields, and portraits of fellow cadets. The first page is a group portrait of “B” Flight at the end of term (15th Course). Photographs are mounted on dark brown cardboard with spider-net paper protection. Most pages inscribed. Great vintage condition.

RAF Training in Egypt, 1928

Additional material from Eady’s training period. Small-scale photographs, including aircraft, training grounds, and informal moments with fellow trainees. Mounted on dark brown cardboard, pages mostly inscribed. Cover shows signs of heavy aging. Good vintage condition overall.

RAF in Iraq, 1930–1931

Images from Eady’s assignment with No. 84 Squadron in Iraq. Aerial photographs of Basrah, Ashar, and Nasriyah, alongside portraits and military operations. Mounted on brown cardboard with spider-net protection sheets. Most pages inscribed. The album is approximately 60% filled. Great vintage condition.

RAF in Aden and Iraq, 1936–1937

Covers Eady’s later assignments with No. 203 Squadron in Aden and service in Basrah. Captures include military bases, native landscapes, portraits, and daily life. Photographs are mounted on black cardboard with spider-net paper; beige woven fabric cover. Most pages inscribed. Great vintage condition.

RAF in Aden, Basrah, and Egypt, 1936–1937

A broad overview of Eady’s service across multiple locations. Training scenes, portraits, aircraft, naval vessels, and glimpses of local life. Final pages include a photograph of Captain Eady himself, seated on a swing with his friend Darby. Mounted on black cardboard, pages mostly inscribed. Great vintage condition.

RAF in Iraq, 1937

Portraits of locals, military offices, aerial and marine captures, and informal moments with fellow officers. Captions are often written in an ironic tone. Mounted on black cardboard; pages mostly inscribed. Great vintage condition.

The set also includes a group of loose photographs of varying sizes, all related to the same time period and subjects, some are duplicates from the albums. 

Group Captain Thomas W.G. Eady was a distinguished officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the early to mid-20th century. He commenced his pilot training in Aboukir (Abu Qir), Egypt, in 1928. By 1930, Eady was assigned to No. 84 Squadron, a unit known for its operations in the Middle East. Demonstrating versatility, he later transitioned to seaplane operations and served with No. 201 Squadron. In 1936, Eady was posted to No. 203 Squadron in Aden, Yemen, and by 1937, he was stationed in Basra, Iraq. Throughout his service, Eady compiled an extensive photographic archive, capturing over seven hundred images that document RAF activities and local scenes in the Middle East during this era.