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‘File 28/1 K I Defence of oil field and refinery’ [114r] (227/684)
The record is made up of 1 file (340 folios). It was created in 5 Dec 1939-3 May 1942. It was written in English. The original is part of the 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
EVACUATION OP I^^ilLUd. t } N . £
2 r ‘ • All American famil: es of tne Oil Coy. have now "been
evacuated.
^ . I- L
or ir ■ — &fcw-XL.A
ENROLIIENT of .JiE^IC.EiS A 1 TD XNDI
o I -. a «.0. V. s •
20. The
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
pointed out that there were
difficulties in the enrolment of Americans, of whom only about
20 would "be available, mostly key men* As regards the Indians,
he said very few were of martial races and all except domestic
servants left the Camp at night. It was agreed that, in view
of the present pre-occupations of the D.O., and the necessity
for completing the training of the personnel already enrolled,
the question of enrolling Americans and Indians should be
shelved for the time being. Army H.Q., INDIA, have already
been asked to supply a
havildar
Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard.
instructor for an Indian olatoon
This halvidar is not now required (for the present^.
(Action by 3.P.3.0, to cancel request to INDIA, after discussion
with G.3.0.II "Ops.”).
BAHREIN LOCAL VOLUNTEER DEFENCE FORCE.
29. Constitution. A constitution, based on the Auxiliary
Forces Act, li.DIA, and the HOME GUARD, is being worked out by
the D. 0., assisted by Captain THOMAS, on lines suited to the
speoial conditions pertaining to BAHREIN. The Political
Resident, who had expressed the view that the A.F., INDIA, model
should be adhered to, withdrew his ob;' *ction provided a
comprehensive scheme was worked out.
30. Title.
whether the present
FORCE'’ might not be
VOLUNTEERS”. If it
be informed*
It was for consideration by the D.O.
title of ”BAHREIN LOCAL VOLUNTEER DEFENCE
shortened, e.g. to '’BAHREIN LOCAL DEFENCE
is desired to change the title, A.H. Q. will
31. Equipment. Equipment questions raised will be dealt
with separately by G.o.O.II ”0ps*” direct with Equipment Branch,
32. .Training, There was no time to check the progress
of training, and Captain THOMaS is to report on this matter when
he returns to HABBANIYA.
33. prength. _ The present strength is about 100, and
no further increase is anticipated in the near future.
34 * Training of potential officers and N.C.O.s, Special
training is being given to about a dozen volunteers with the
object of making them into N.C.O.s, who will later produce the
required proportion of officers.
Clothing. So far the clothing question is still
unsettled. i he D.O. is to go ahead v/ith this in accordance
with instructions already issued by Equipment Branch, A.H.Q.,
winter months some warm clothing is required. "
(S.E.3.0, is requested to investigate and infom D.O. of the
action to be taken).
36 • Provision of bicyie for use by Permanent Staff Instructor.
, .. ^ . The D.O. is to go into the question 6f
whether or not a bicycle is needed and, if so,' to apply to
A.H.Q. for sanction to purchase locally.
37. Native Clerk for D.Q,
■by the D.O. lie is likely to be
training.
A native clerk has been engaged
satisfactory after further
Continued/
38.
About this item
- Content
The file comprises copies of correspondence, memoranda and reports relating to the military defence of Bahrain’s oil refineries and oil fields during the Second World War. The principal correspondents in the file are: 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. in Bahrain (Hugh Weightman; Major Reginald George Evelin William Alban); the Chief Local Representative of the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) (John S Black; Roger Anthony Kennedy; Milton H Lipp; Ward P Anderson).
The file includes:
- a copy of ‘General Instructions for the Defence Organisation of the Bahrain Petroleum Company’, dated December 1939 (ff 9-52), with sections focusing on: 1) the internal and external areas of the refinery; 2) the personnel camps at Awali and Zellaq; 3) fields and wells; information on inventories of equipment, and specific instructions for patrols and guards;
- correspondence from BAPCO representatives to 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. relating to: the perceived threat to Bahrain and to Company property, and defensive measures to be taken; assessments of the threat of internal sabotage, local uprisings, bombardment from sea or air (ff 68-71); questions of responsibility for and efficacy of defensive measures being taken in Bahrain; questions of the legal aspects (liability, compensation, War Risk Insurance) of damage to Company property from enemy attack, and volunteers who become casualties while defending Company property, including printed copies of the Gazetteer of India War Injuries Ordinance , No. VII of 1941 (ff 235-237) and the War Injuries (Amendment) Ordinance , No. I of 1942 (ff 238-249);
- correspondence exchanged, and the notes and minutes of meetings held between senior Government officials (including the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Air Vice Marshal at Air Headquarters in Iraq) on the provision of resources for the defence of Bahrain, including discussion of the availability and use of manpower supplied by BAPCO;
- a number of monthly progress reports in 1941 on the Bahrain defence scheme, prepared by the Defence Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (ff 143-144, ff 146-147, ff 162-164, ff 177-179), referring to: defence force recruitment; the volunteer defence force; general morale and attitude of recruits; equipment supplies; anti-aircraft defence measures;
- in 1941, plans for the control of telephone exchanges and lines during emergencies, with lists of telephone links to be maintained during an emergency (ff 182-183);
- plans and proposals for the protection of BAPCO property in the event of enemy action, including: in 1942, BAPCO proposals for the protection of the oil field in case it falls into enemy hands, by the sealing of wells with concrete (ff 270-294); a military report on Passive Air Defence (PAD) at the BAPCO refinery, dated 28 April 1942, focussing chiefly on plans to construct protective sheathing around the refinery tanks (ff 304-323).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (340 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 326-341) 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 back cover with 342; 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. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 3-341; these numbers are also written in pencil, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.
A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘File 28/1 K I Defence of oil field and refinery’ [114r] (227/684), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/661, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025780133.0x00001c> [accessed 21 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/2/661
- Title
- ‘File 28/1 K I Defence of oil field and refinery’
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:6v, 52v:56v, 59r:67v, 72r:87v, 91r:91v, 93r:98v, 100r:115v, 117r:127v, 129r:150v, 152r:153v, 157r:175v, 177r:184v, 187r:187v, 189r:190v, 193r:193v, 195r:200v, 204r:207v, 209r:211v, 213r:217v, 220r:220v, 222r:270v, 272r:276v, 279r:298v, 301r:309v, 311r:341v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence