Simla (now Shimla) was the summer capital of British India. In 1903

and his wife

(known as Daisy or Daiz) lived in a house called Eric’s Own near Simla. They were visited by her cousin Gertrude Mahony (later Fox), also from County Cork.

Interior photos were uncommon at this time; photo historian

commented “How very interesting to see the hybrid style, including western pictures and heavy furnishings (e.g. the mantelpiece drapes or 'lambrequin') juxtaposed with beautiful carved Indian furniture, the elephants and brass plant pots. It's an absolutely fascinating scene.”

Left: a horse and its keeper
This photograph is the leftmost one of the pictures hanging on the wall of the drawing room shown above.

Below:
Eric's Own balconies

Below, at Eric's Own:
Robert Humphreys and friends, among them Gertrude Mahony (right, sitting) who was known to the Humphreys

Below: people at Eric's Own. Gertrude Mahony centre in both. Is that a camera next to Robert Humphreys, in the right-hand picture?

Postcard written by Gertrude Mahony at Eric’s Own, 23rd July 1903

family as "Cous" for cousin. Her mother Rebecca was the aunt ­of Robert Humphreys' wife Annie née Richey, and Gertrude occupied the position of an honorary aunt to their children. In 1903-4, at the age of 27, she went out to visit the family in India, when Brian (the eldest of the children) was a toddler, and left an extensive description of the journey in letters ("Steaming to Simla India. Letters from a Journey of Gertrude Mahony 1903-1904").