FIRST WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM—Captain Alfred Hope Gosse. This interesting Mesopotamian album was compiled while Capt. Gosse ran the British Convalescent Hospital at Mohammerah (Khorramshahr, Khuzestan province, Iran) circa 1916-1918.
The album contains approximately 100 black-and-white photographs ranging from 7.5cm x 3.5cm up to 20.5cm x 14.5cm, with some letters and ten humorous pen-and-ink drawings (53 pages), album size 9 x 7".

Photograph subjects include, amongst others: Leaving England, Huts used as the Officers' Mess for Mediterranean Reinforcements, hospital tent encampments, local views and people, group portraits of soldiers, nice shots of the provisions stores, and several larger, good-quality group portraits of the medical staff soldiers stationed there (with and without pith helmets), the Sheikh of Mohammerah and his family and an individual portrait of Sheikh Chassib.

Letters and ephemera include:

• Base Orders (Basrah, 1916).
• A letter signed from Sheikh Chassib, 8th October 1916 (Crown Prince of Arabistan Ahwaz Government in 1923)
  "My dear Capt. Hope Gosse, As I had the intention of doing myself the pleasure of receiving you and your men as my respected guests, as it was rather somewhat difficult to arrange things quite satisfactorily, I thought of sending you instead 100 cases dates to-day and have also given instruction to bring you a number of sheep, which I trust will reach you in 2 to 3 days time, by acceptance of which you will greatly oblige me ..." (His father, Shaikh Khaz’al bin Jābir bin Mirdāw al-Ka‘bī (1861-1936), the Emir of Mohammerah and chief of the Banu Ka’b tribe was a staunch ally of the British and a strong support during WW1). With a copy of Dr. Gosse's reply.
• Letter from local men about withdrawing labour if they do not receive payment for previous work, and another, asking for huts for the workers versus tents due to the heat
• Telegraph of a message relayed on behalf of the King
• A 1917 New Year's card, hand-illustrated by H.M. Chapman, signed to the interior by fellow members of the N.C.Os and Men of the Detachment, and another, thanking Capt. Gosse for the Christmas festivities
• Demobilisation letter

and more (rear album board missing, spine at fault)

Dr. Hope Gosse (1882 - 1956), born in Wallaroo, South Australia, to Mary and Dr. John Gosse, attended St. Peter's School in Adelaide before relocating to England in 1902 to pursue studies at Cambridge University. Graduating with a B.A. from Gonville and Caius College in 1907, he earned his M.A. in 1910. He completed his medical training at St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, qualifying in 1910.

During the outbreak of war, Dr. Gosse served initially as a Territorial Officer at the 3rd London General Hospital in Wandsworth. In 1916, he volunteered for duty in Mesopotamia, where he served with the 40th British General Hospital in Basra. From October 1916, he commanded the British Convalescent Hospital in Mohammerah.

Upon his return to England in 1919, Dr. Gosse assumed the position of physician to out-patients at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington. He subsequently focused his attention on studying diseases of the heart and lungs, benefiting from a period working alongside Sir James Mackenzie. Later, he was appointed to the honorary staff of the Brompton Hospital for Diseases of the Chest and also served at the Midhurst Sanatorium. His professional practice was based at 119 Harley Street, where he maintained consulting rooms until his retirement.