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‘File 28/1 K I Defence of oil field and refinery’ [308r] (615/684)
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.
AJ^^K ’A"
1) . The only local materials available In any quantity
arc sand and rock. The latter Is not suitable for
sails of the required height, and in any case the
use of rock would entail using a large quantity of
cement. The rock will be crushed and used as
aggregate.
2) . It is understood that the use of concrete is to be
kept as low as possible, owing to cement shortage;
and that bricks will be used. It is proposed to
erect sheath walls of brickwork built in cement
mortar (1 : 3), on reinforced concrete foundations
(1:2:4).
3) . The possibility of losing certain local materials
which are obtainable in small quantities is being
investigated, 'iflit for tha purposes of estimating
requirements it must be assumed that all necessary
bricks, cement and steel will have to be imported
1) . At the Refinery» i»a. for 90t of tho work, rock exists
close to the ground level. Concrete foundations
2*O'* wide, average depth 2*6*, reinforced with i*
rods are proposed - see attached blueprint.
2) . At Sitra and Sellaq the ground Is soft and it will
be necessary to spread the weight, with a consequent
increase in concrete and reinforcement. Bearing
tests are being carried out by the Company
smii
1) . The first stage will consists of a brickwall, 18"
tiJLck, 10•0" high to each tank. As the foundations
product 1 •6" above ground, this will give protection
to 11 *6'*.
2) . It is rocomended that tho final total height of
wall shall be SO'O*. By limiting the height to
this figure the thickness of wall at base need not
exceed 18". If 30*0" Is over to bo exceeded, a
wall thicker at the base will have to bo constructed
NOW; thereby increasing the time to give this initial
protection by approximately 20$. The tanks vary in
height from 25'0" to 46*0*', but are seldom full; and
it is reasonable to assume that a 30*0* sheath will
to all intents and purposes give complete protection.
. The complete 30*0" shaath will be as follows -
up to
I'd"
2 f 6"
of concrete
1*6*
to 14*0"
18*
brickwork
14’0"
to 25*0"
13*"
do.
25*0"
to 30*0"
9 M
do.
3)
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’ [308r] (615/684), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/661, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025780135.0x000010> [accessed 22 August 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