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Coll 30/192(1) ‘Persian Gulf. Defence BAHRAIN.’ [123r] (245/327)
The record is made up of 1 file (162 folios). It was created in 29 Jul 1938-30 Sep 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.
-3-
Landing Ground "T TTT A’:GAO, island and opposite the flying boat
alighting area. Mso by the mi -.die of 1939 the Oil Company
hope to be able to produce 85 Octane Fuel which can be
treated so as to be suitable for modern aircraft in
emergency although not qui-te to H.A.F. specification
(for 910.230). For defence and internal security purposes
it would be advisable for cill Aviation petrol to be trans
ferred «n arrival at BAIRSIN to tne stores at MUHARRAQ
landing ground and opposite the Flying Boat alighting area.
9• The BARRS I N P etr oleum Compa ny.
This is divided into the following main areas
( a ) The oil v/ells ar ea in open aesert Id miles from MAN AMAH.
There are approximately oO wells capable of production. In
this area are also live Tank Battery Stations» These purpose
is to get rid of free gas before the crude oil reaches the
Refinery. The whole of this area can be patrtlled esaly by
car patrols.
O)
F hg. Refi-h-rv A^ea . An area of approximately 1000 yards
square. Situated about 2 miles inland from SITRA island
near the Fast coast of BV-^RFpr island. In the Refinery
300 British and American, 300 Indians and 1800 natives' are
employed. The whole is in open desert and surrounded by
barbed wire and has a circular road for car ^atrols all
round. Is easy to defend from outside attack.
Loading lines {i.e. Tines) to ea^ry the defined oil lead
f^om the ^e^ine 10 -/ through a terminal station on BI^RA
island to a loading wha^f 3, miles out to sea. These pip^s
a^e easy to destroy but also easy to repair and an amole ^
supply of snare ^i^es is held.
( c ) The Personnel Oamn area at A 7 A11. Situated 5 miles inland
from the Refinery and directly between it and the oil wells
area. It is in open desert 12 miles South of MARAKAH from
wnich a good road runs. It is easy to defend.
The whole oil fields area is covered by a network of all
weather oiled roads so communication is easy and it is suitable for*
car patrols.
The vital points are tne oil wells, the Refinery ana tne
Tank Battery Stations. The chief danger is sabotage particularly
in the Refinery and the most difficult problem to cope with is
attempts at sabotage from persons employed in the Refinery.
Ample spare parts aro ^irT fmost of the plant.
■^Vr further details and recommended guards and passive
defence measures, See Appendix ’'O'.
10. Forces available for Befence .
( a ) The BAHRFIB Police. Consists of 300 Native Police armed
with British Service Rifles. (The strength is in process
of being increased to 350). Thev include a Camel Section
of 18 and a similar pony section. They come directlv under
the control and Command of the British Adviser, ^hev appear
an efficient force and are sported as entirelv loyal and
trustworthy. Thev ^i^e an annual rifle course’, fuller
details see Appendix "B"
("fr) TT atoo^s . These are armed guards who perform duties similar
to chowkidars in P TT )IA. ^hev are -eliable but receive no
training although many have served in the Police.
( c ) British and American Personn el. There are 280 British and
80 American personnel in t he oil fields area. If organised
into a local Defence Force they would be invaluable in
emergency. The Oil Company are willing to permit this but
/cannot
• • •
About this item
- Content
The file contains papers, mostly correspondence, relating to the defence of Bahrain (also spelled Bahrein in the file), including the supply of guns to the Government of Bahrain, and anti-aircraft defences.
The main correspondents are as follows: the 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. ; 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 Acting 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. (Hugh Weightman); 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); the War Office; the Air Headquarters, British Forces in Iraq; the Government of India External Affairs Department; the Air Ministry; and the Petroleum Department.
The file also includes: a Committee of Imperial Defence Overseas Defence Sub-Committee minute entitled ‘Persian Gulf. Defence Schemes for the Arab Side’, dated 14 June 1939; a paper entitled ‘Appreciation of the Situation Regarding the Defence of Bahrein Against Tribal Attacks and Sabotage’, by Major R G Price, Air Headquarters, British Forces in Iraq, for the Air Officer Commanding in Iraq, dated January 1939; and a paper entitled ‘Progress Report – Bahrein Defence Strengths of the Forces Available’, by H P Chadwick, Defence Officer, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , dated 9 April 1941.
The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (162 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 163; 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. 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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Coll 30/192(1) ‘Persian Gulf. Defence BAHRAIN.’ [123r] (245/327), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3930, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100069906844.0x000030> [accessed 26 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/3930
- Title
- Coll 30/192(1) ‘Persian Gulf. Defence BAHRAIN.’
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:27v, 28v:133v, 135r:148v, 150r:158v, 160r:163v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence