‘File 7/10 Mishaps to R.A.F. aircraft’ [‎59r] (119/200)

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D.0.No #442-6/3 (B) ^| £ • British Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. ,
Sharjah*
Dated the 9th Uay 1943*
Dear ll±si£ Conaan^ier, \ ^
I had accasion, more than a month ago, to speak to your
predecessor about the possibility of a Bedouin traveller blundering
into your cunp by night and being shot by a sentry, and I attempted
to make clear to him the very sertious consequences of such an event.
I told hii^ it w*s highly desirable that the portion of the camp facing
t>e desert, from which side unsuspecting wayfarers might be expected
to come, should be fenced off. He said that he had not sufficient wire,
but I gave it as my opinion that a line of kerosene tins topped by
even a single stranu of wire would be sufficient and I understood" him
to sqy that he wouldtake the necessary action* ^
2o Bedouin frequently travel by night ana this time of year
and some of them come from long distances to visit Sharjah and Dubai
so that, although I have warned all the Shaikhs and have asked them
to pass on the warning, it is probable that many of theft Bedouin of the
hinterland are unaware of the danger of entering camp limits bv nieht
and of the procedure to adopt when challanged.
3* It would be difficult to exaggerate the seriousness of
the consequences which would arise if tribal blood were shed by any
one in our employ. Tribes^men would probably retaliate by trying to
kill a member of the R. a -F . and the position of crews of aircraft
making forced landings in the interior would be unpleasant, political
repercussions might be more serious still.
I bave noticed a certain number of armed British sentries
on your camp lately and this vaster increases the urgency and import an
-ce of the question. British personnel cannot be expected to know
Arabic or to distinguish a Bedouin Shaikh frou a local thief and I
must ask you to take ad^uate steps as soon as possiole to obviate the
danger of such an incident occuring.
Yours Sincerely.
Sd/ Ll.P.O'C Tandy•
Wing C□i^andar Ho uherai^ D. F -C • f •,
Commanding uxficer,
R.A.F. Station,
SHARJAH .
Copy forwarded with compliments to
the political A^ent, Bahrain®