‘File 28/57 I Volunteers for national service’ [320r] (644/694)
The record is made up of 1 volume (337 folios). It was created in 31 Aug 1939-23 Oct 1940. 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.
N 0 T I C I
©
Political
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
,
Bahrain, the 27th July 1940.
IgjHMll lI Britons living
for_.s_ervice in the. Armed Forces—™"~
•ed
v* +^+ S esty 1 s Government have now decided that
subject to the conditions set out below, British subilcts
Ai V ^5®T? 0Versea v W ^ 0 ^ es ^- re volunteer for service in the
Armed Forces should be given.encouragement. At the same
time His Majesty’s Government desire to impress on all
concerned the importance of maintaining at their utmost
S 1 B fv tls 5 comaier, cial and financial concerns
abroad and they therefore state that volunteers who occu
rs .Positions in British concerns may not be accepted.
His Majesty’s Government further state that in view of
+!? e + : ^P ortan ? e Ba * ira i' n - oil they are concerned to ensure
that there shall be no diminution or interruption of the
output of petroleum products from these Islands. His
Majesty’s Government hold that employees of the Bahrain
Petroleum Company are engaged in work of national value
and they reaffirm that men in key positions serve their
country best by staying in their present jobs; consequently
the above qualification prohibiting acceptance of volunteers
in key positions will apply equally to them. In view of
the above it devolves on 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.
, Bahrain, to
exercise the responsibility of deciding, in consultation
with the responsible heads of companies or firms in Bahrain,
whether or not any volunteer is occupying a key position
(which may be defined as a post requiring special knowledge
or qualifications for which a substitute cannot readily be
found).
3. His Majesty’s Government have pointed out that ip.
so far as any British subjects who wish to join the Armed
Forces can be spared it is preferable that instead of
making the long and difficult journey to the United King
dom they should join the Forces in India. The Government
of India have stated that they would welcome offers of
service® and desire information about the qualifications
and ages of any volunteers who can be spared. They further
add that men are particularly required for the Corps of
Engineers and as Ordnance Mechanical Engineers, the^age
limit for the latter being from 25 to 50. In addition
they would welcome men between the ages of 19 and 35 who
would be suitable for Commissions in the Indian Army pro
vided they are passed medically fit for general service
in any theatre of operations.
4. It is recognised that there may be some volunteers
to whom the prospect of service in India is distasteful
and in such cases 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.
has instructions to
telegraph their applications to the United Kingdom, though
it /-
About this item
- Content
The volume comprises applications made by individuals in Bahrain (chiefly employees of the Bahrain Petroleum Company, BAPCO) to undertake military service in time of war, and correspondence between 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) and 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 Charles Geoffrey Prior) over official policy towards volunteers for military duty. Besides 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 and 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. , the other principal correspondent in the volume is the Chief Local Representative for BAPCO (John S Black; Roger Anthony Kennedy).
The volume includes:
- letters from or letters concerning numerous individuals, most of whom are BAPCO employees, and are either applying for military service or offering their services (including medical and engineering expertise) to the British Government. Many letters contain résumés, medical certificates and employment references. The letters are dated either from September 1939 (on the event of the declaration of war in Europe) or from June 1940 (the commencement of hostilities in Europe);
- correspondence between a range of Government officials, military officials and BAPCO representatives, concerning: the release and departure of individuals from employment in Bahrain; enquiries after their suitability, and copies of testimonials and medical certificates; details of the military commission of individuals; the granting of exit permits 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. to individuals to leave Bahrain for military service (as well as for other reasons, such as relocation on the grounds of ill-health, transfer of office, leave);
- correspondence, papers and official notices relating to Government policy on British subjects wishing to volunteer for military service, in Britain and in India (ff 72-74, ff 151-155, ff 164-170, ff 295-298, ff 320-324);
- correspondence between 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. and 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. , dated June 1940, concerning: the deteriorating situation in Europe; the possible application in Bahrain of the British Compulsory Service Act; the attitude of British BAPCO workers in Bahrain; the prospects of a manpower shortage at the BAPCO refinery should British subjects volunteer for military service; plans for the replacement of BAPCO’s British employees with men from the United States; the reluctance of most men requesting leave for military service to carry out their service in India (ff 94-110, ff 118-120).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (337 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume’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 volume (ff 325-339) mirror the chronological arrangement. A list of volunteers follows the file notes (ff 340-341).
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 345; 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 mixed foliation/pagination sequence is also present in parallel between ff 5-341; 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 View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘File 28/57 I Volunteers for national service’ [320r] (644/694), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/748, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100029111149.0x00002d> [accessed 4 April 2025]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100029111149.0x00002d
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100029111149.0x00002d">‘File 28/57 I Volunteers for national service’ [‎320r] (644/694)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100029111149.0x00002d"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x00009d/IOR_R_15_2_748_0644.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x00009d/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/2/748
- Title
- ‘File 28/57 I Volunteers for national service’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:4v, 11r:12v, 14r:16v, 22r:22v, 24r:25v, 27r:28v, 30r:40v, 42r:54v, 56r:59v, 63r:64v, 66r:74v, 76r:80v, 82r:82v, 84r:85v, 88r:90v, 93r:110v, 112r:112v, 114r:114v, 118r:120v, 122r:124v, 131r:135v, 137r:139v, 141r:172v, 183r:185v, 187r:187v, 189r:189v, 191r:193v, 195r:198v, 202r:202v, 205r:207v, 211r:218v, 220r:220v, 228r:228v, 233r:243v, 246r:248v, 253r:255v, 263r:264v, 266r:268v, 270r:273v, 276r:276v, 280r:281v, 288r:288v, 291r:300v, 302r:303v, 308r:309v, 311r:314v, 316r:344v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence