![File 5655/1918 Pt 2 'Mesopotamia: Refugee Camp at Baqubah (1920 – papers)' [‎190r] (387/946)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00029c/IOR_L_PS_10_774_0387.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "File 5655/1918 Pt 2 'Mesopotamia: Refugee Camp at Baqubah (1920 – papers)' [‎190r] (387/946)")
File 5655/1918 Pt 2 'Mesopotamia: Refugee Camp at Baqubah (1920 – papers)' [190r] (387/946)
The record is made up of 1 volume (464 folios). It was created in 27 Dec 1919-30 Dec 1920. It was written in English and French. 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.
wmBBaes&B&m
-leers, the British, as an official force.”
The company commanded by Daniel, and Israel is up Mosul way still, for
they ?/ere not asked if they m uld go to Urmi. Israel is in Abu Seif,
Daniel in Sherghat. Anton of Jilu (Native officer, interpreter,) has
been put in prison. David asked Mr Gibson why, and was told, ’’orders
from Mosul. The colonel.” It Is believed to be, because he advocated
lot going up without British officers. Those of the nation that have
gone up to M&ndan are much divided and confused in mind whether to go
to Urmi or no.
David d*Mar Shimun (’’Sirdar of the Batallion” brother of Surma Khanim)
to Suma, Khaziran 21 (July 3rd, ) 1920. Baqubah.
I am back here, being sent back by the Colonel when half way to Mosul,
he said, ’’come back with me to Baqubah.” I think he feared lest I
should dissuade the people from going to Urmi.
The batallion was asked if they would go to Urmi; they said, ’’not
without our British officers.” Pour companies are now here. They ha
have been disarmed and segregated, and Anton confined. I asked why,
and was only told ’’orders from Mosul.” Daniel and Israelis company ae
are still in Abu Seif and Sherghat. lam extremely sorry for the bus-
-iness, for the intention of the force is loyal, but they say ’’you
have taken us as soldiers. We do not want to go out of the batallion,
and why have you blacked, and broken our name because we do not want to
go outside the British frontier line. And if we are not your sold-
—lers, why condemn us for a military offence?”
Mar Yosin, (Metropolitan Bishop,) to Surma Khanim.
Baqubah. Khaziran 16. (June 29th.) 1920.
The Colonel called Dabid and me to Head-quarters, and told Da id,
”your batallion will be disarmed for disobedience to orders. We told
them to go to a camp near Akra, and they would not go”.
He replied, ’’The orders were, to go to Urmi, without any British off-
-icers, and that was what we refused to do. Up to this, all the Brit-
—ish officers ad only a good account to give of us.” . .
He then told us that we were all to be sent to Kand&n camp to join tn<
rest of the Millet, adding ’’you must make the people understand that
Mandan is in British territory.” I said, ”We are glad enough to go
to Mosul, but we want to be sure that we are not going to be put over
the British border line.” A petition to that effect was sent in to
th colonel. . . . „
He then came to our quarters, and summoned me (Mar Yosip, ; -neian tne
brother of the late patriarch, and Malik Ismail before him.
He asked us ’’who gave this petition?” I answered, ”our whole people
here in Baqubah”. He said, ’’Why do you lie? Mandan camp is under
About this item
- Content
This volume contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, telegrams and minutes. It mainly covers conversations between British and French officials regarding the Christian (mostly Assyrian and Armenian) refugees in the refugee camp at Baqubah [also written Ba’qubah, Ba’quba and Baquba] in Mesopotamia [approximately corresponding to present-day Iraq], and their possible repatriation.
Related matters of discussion include the following: the health of the refugees; background; labour capacity; expenses and payments of the refugee camp; administration of the camp and its economic challenges; transportation for repatriation. Included in the correspondence are letters from Surma Khanin D’Mar Shimun describing the situation of the camp and asking for changes to the camp, and for the return of the Assyrians and Armenians. In addition, there are some inquiries received by British officials from Christian Assyrians. Also mentioned are the following: the ‘Christian Army of Revenge’, French propaganda among the Assyrians, Assyrio-Chaldean [Assyro-Chaldeans] refugees in Russia, and the American Mission.
In addition, the volume includes the following:
- Details of the numbers of Armenian refugees in the camp at Baqubah on 7 December 1919 (f 462)
- Memoranda on the Armenian refugees present in the camp 1919 (ff 436-459)
- Notes on the Assyrian refugees in the camp, dated July 1920 (ff 199-210)
- List of the number of Armenians in the camp (ff 104-105)
- A memorandum on the Assyrian and Armenian refugees in Mesopotamia (ff 95-97)
- A map showing a ‘Proposed Nestorian Enclave’ (f 466).
The principal correspondents are: Civil Commissioner, Baghdad; British High Commission, Constantinople [Istanbul]; British Embassy in Washington; British Consulate, Tabriz; War Office; Lord Curzon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, British Delegation, Paris; officials at the refugee camp at Baqubah; French Embassy, London; Board of Foreign Mission of the Presbyterian Church in the United States; the Mar Shimun family.
The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (464 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The subject 5655 (Mesopotamia) consists of 3 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/773-775. The volumes are divided into 4 parts, with part 1 comprising the first volume, part 2 comprising the second volume, and parts 3-4 comprising the third volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 468; 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 foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 197-462; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
File 5655/1918 Pt 2 'Mesopotamia: Refugee Camp at Baqubah (1920 – papers)' [190r] (387/946), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/774, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100184391541.0x000050> [accessed 8 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100184391541.0x000050
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_100184391541.0x000050">File 5655/1918 Pt 2 'Mesopotamia: Refugee Camp at Baqubah (1920 – papers)' [‎190r] (387/946)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100184391541.0x000050"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00029c/IOR_L_PS_10_774_0387.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_100000000419.0x00029c/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/774
- Title
- File 5655/1918 Pt 2 'Mesopotamia: Refugee Camp at Baqubah (1920 – papers)'
- Pages
- 189r:191v
- Author
- Khnanisho, Mār Yōsip
- Copyright
- ©Mar Shimun Memorial Foundation (marshimun.com)
- Usage terms
- Creative Commons Non-Commercial Licence
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/774
- Title
- File 5655/1918 Pt 2 'Mesopotamia: Refugee Camp at Baqubah (1920 – papers)'
- Pages
- 190r:190v
- Author
- Mar Shimun, Rab Khaila Dawed
- Copyright
- ©Mar Shimun Memorial Foundation (marshimun.com)
- Usage terms
- Creative Commons Non-Commercial Licence