‘File 16/53 Enquires Re: Calculation of Local Time’

Content

Correspondence exchanged between the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in Bahrain and various governmental, commercial and military institutions in Bahrain, aimed at gathering a consensus on the standardisation of time in Bahrain, and the establishment of a set local time in relation to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Organisations consulted include: the Government of Bahrain (represented by the Adviser to Government, Charles Dalrymple Belgrave); the Victoria Memorial Hospital; Gray, Mackenzie and Company; Eastern Bank Limited; British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC); the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO); Cable and Wireless Limited; Petroleum Concessions Limited; California-Arabian Standard Oil Company; and British naval and army representatives.

Correspondence dated 1940 consists of replies from organisations responding to an enquiry made by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. regarding the time, relative to GMT, that they used (ff 2-8). Correspondence dated 1941 relates to the Political Agent’s invitation of views from institutions over the introduction of daylight saving hours in Bahrain, the subsequent proposal to adopt a local time zone of 3 hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT, and its implementation from 1 August 1941 (ff 9-42). Correspondence dated 1943 relates to proposals put forward by the Bahrain branch of BOAC, for Bahrain Local Time to be advanced to 4 hours, or 4 hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT, and the subsequent adoption of 4 hours (ff 43-53).

Extent and format

1 file (66 folios)

Arrangement

The file’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest item at the front to the latest at the end. The file notes at the end of the file (ff 61-67) mirror the chronological arrangement.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 68; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-57; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/2/1564

Former external reference(s)

English Office: File 16/53

History of this record

Date(s)

23 Nov 1940-1 Mar 1948 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Daylight savingTime zonesTime

People & organisations

Victoria Memorial Hospital, BahrainPetroleum Concessions LimitedGray, Mackenzie and Company Limited, shipping agentsBritish Overseas Airways CorporationBahrain Petroleum CompanyAdviser to the Government of Bahrain

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Cite this record in your research

‘File 16/53 Enquires Re: Calculation of Local Time’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/1564, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000282.0x00012b> [accessed 10 January 2025]

Link to this record

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