File 299/1918 Pt 3 'Persia: situation in the South; aeroplanes at Bushire; post-war garrisons in the Persian Gulf; question of withdrawal of British troops; War Minister's visit to the South, 1922' [‎220r] (444/746)

Memorandum No. A.-20-G. S.-5-485, dated Bushire, the 19th April 1922.
Projn—L ieutenant-Colonel H. H. Smith, Commanding Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Ports,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Army Headquarters, Simla.
Continuation this office wire No. A.-20-344 of 27th March 1922. Government
of India. Army Department, No. 11577-2-S. D.-l of 4th March 1922, Appendix
I shows the distribution of the battalion at headquarters and 7 posts.
Regarding the latter, I have the following comments to make :—
Charbar .—Position unsatisfactory. Persian authority is negligible so
that a show of force is necessary to ensure the protection of the
Telegraph station.
Muscat .—Consular escort. Strength, location, etc., call for no comment.
josh ,—No remarks to make at present as I have not had an opportunity of
inspecting this post.
Bandar Abbas .—A consular escort which, for Political reasons, is stronger
than those at other Gulf Ports.
The force is cantoned at Naiband, about two miles distant from the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. ,
in buildings which originally housed the Headquarters and Administrative services
of the force occupying Bandar Abbas during and after the war.
The Camp is scattered over a large area of waste land, guarding it adequately
entails heavier duties than should be necessary.
If the retention of a force of this size is considered necessary as a permanent
measure, I would suggest it be moved to a site adjacent to the Consulate.
The existing buildings at Naiband were erected during the war, they are built
almost entirely of kacha brick and the annual cost of upkeep is excessive.
I am of opinion! that steps should be at once taken to acquire a site near the
Consulate and start building the requisite quarters on it.
Naiband buildings could supply a large part of the material required and
could be abandoned as soon as the new ones are ready for occupation.
The necessity for this post is not very apparent, it is maintained
I understand, purely as a guard on the coal depot. I suggest that
the safeguarding of the dump could be done as efficiently by chowki-
dars engaged by authority maintaining it.
If, however, a military post is considered essential, steps should be taken to
house the men properly. When the post was originally sanctioned, provision w as
made to house it in temporary “ chittai ” shelters. The roof of one of these fell
in on top of some men last year, the remaining shelters seem very insecure and they
have all been vacated. The detachment lives in E. P. tents in conditions of
greater discomfort than they should ordinarily be expected to put up with under
peace conditions.
The climate is excessively hot during the hot weather and if nothing is done
to mitigate existing conditions, the health of the detachment will be very adversely
affected.
Kishm —Is being done away with and calls for no comment.
Bahrain .—Consular escort. The quarters allotted in Consulate compound
have been recently repaired and are commodious and sanitary.
In computing the strengths of the various detachments, I suggest the Officer
Commanding Gulf Ports be allowed to use his own discretion so that complete
tactical formations go to posts. The figures given should merely be a guide.
Actual members at posts are now :—
F B.Os. I. Os. 1.0. Rs.
Bandar-Abbas
Charbar
Jask
Bahrain
Hen jam
Muscat
Kishm
92
52
30
36
19
26
20