‘File 28/55 Provision of machine guns for Bahrain police’ [‎55r] (109/260)

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Content

The file comprises copies of correspondence relating to the purchase of machine guns by the Government of Bahrain, through the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , for use in Bahrain. The file’s principal correspondents are: 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. (Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven William Fowle; Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Geoffrey Prior); 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. at Bahrain (Hugh Weightman); officials at Royal Air Force (RAF) Headquarters in Iraq; Government of India officials; the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain (Charles Dalrymple Belgrave).

The file includes:

• correspondence concerning an order for machine guns, initiated by the Ruler of Bahrain, Shaikh Salmān bin Ḥamad Āl Khalīfah’s request through the Adviser to the Government of Bahrain in March 1939, that he would like to purchase twelve Bren guns (f 5), including: discussion amongst British Government officials over the long delays involved in obtaining Bren guns (f 9); Government proposals for Vickers-Berthier (VB) guns as an alternative, and the relative merits and demerits of VB against Bren guns (f 14); the eventual order of VB guns, with equipment lists (ff 38-42), and their despatch to Bahrain from Karachi in September 1939 (f 70); the Government of Bahrain’s order for ammunition for the guns (ff 56-57);
• arrangements for a Havaldar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. instructor to be sent to Bahrain to assist in the training of use of the machine gun (f 45, f 74, ff 80-81), and arrangements for training sessions at Bahrain (ff 82-86);
• correspondence dated September and October 1939 between RAF and Air Ministry officials, concerning the need for a Defence Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (f 65, f 88);
• further correspondence dated from June 1940 onwards, relating to the supply of machine guns and ammunition for the Bahrain Defence Force, and the loan of VB guns by the Government of Bahrain to the Bahrain Defence Force (ff 103-120);
• acknowledgements of receipt dated September and October 1939 respectively, from the Chief Local Representative of the Bahrain Petroleum Company, Milton H Lipp, for sixteen Verey light pistols and ammunition (f 78), and one revolver with ammunition (f 92).

Extent and format

1 file (128 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 125-129) 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 130; 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 present in parallel between ff 3-124 and between ff 125-129; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.

Written in

English in Latin script

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