NAM.1967-07-19-20

Lett’s No 35 Colonial Rough Diary, 1907. From a collection of 1414 papers of FM William, Lord Birdwood, relating chiefly to his career in the Indian Army, 1882-1930. Birdwood’s diary for 1907 opens in Calcutta, from whence he proceeded on 6 January to Agra to meet the Amir Habibullah of Afghanistan, who was on a state visit. Other notable visitors were the Prime Minister of Nepal on 14 February and the Duke and Duchess of Connaught on 7 March. A major tiger shooting expedition took place between 27 March and 13 April and he also went on two tours of inspection from 16 to 26 April and 3 October to 14 December. The bulk of his year was spent at Simla, where he enjoyed the never ending social life. Kitchener accepted a two year extension to his period of command on 3 April, while Birdwood declined the Inspector-Generalship of Imperial Service Troops in May.