'File 4/20 II Recoveries of amounts spent on behalf of R.A.F.'

Content

The file concerns the arrangements for the supply of funds by the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , Bahrain for expenses incurred by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and its personnel in Bahrain (also spelled Bahrein) and the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. .

The correspondence is mainly from 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; staff of Air Headquarters, British Forces in Iraq, Hinaidi; 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. Agent, Sharjah; and the Air Liaison Officer, RAF Bahrain (Wing Commander Aubrey Robert Maxwell Rickards). There is also some correspondence from the Adviser to the Government of 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .

The papers cover: correspondence concerning the consumption of electricity by RAF personnel in Bahrain (e.g. folio 13); monthly bills of expenditure incurred by the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , Bahrain on behalf of RAF personnel, for the period March 1936 - November 1937 inclusive; 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. , Bahrain, and 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. Agent, Sharjah concerning monthly payments to Shaikh Said bin Maktum [Saʻīd bin Maktūm], Ruler of Dubai for hire of a petrol dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. and its guards, and to Shaikh Sultan bin Salim [Sulṭān bin Sālim Āl Qasimī], Ruler of Ras al Khaimah for pay of guards for a petrol barge, April 1936 - December 1937; receipts from RAF personnel for incidental expenses, and covering letters for payments of expenses issued by Air Headquarters, British Forces in Iraq, Hinaidi; 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. , 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. concerning the need to prevent 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. Agent Sharjah from being forced to make advances to RAF officers, July 1936; 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. , Bahrain and the Acting Adviser to the Government of Bahrain concerning payment of rent for Bahrain Aerodrome, August 1936; correspondence concerning payment of expenses in connection with the use by RAF personnel of the Bahrain Rest House (e.g. folio 113); sundry expenses incurred by the RAF in Bahrain (e.g. payment of expenses to the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) in connection with moving a crashed aeroplane, folio 134); and papers relating to the Air Liaison Officer, Bahrain (Wing Commander Aubrey Rickards), including correspondence between Rickards and 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, instructions concerning RAF accounting arrangements at Bahrain (folios 277-279), and correspondence concerning Rickards's death and estate, May - December 1937.

The Arabic language content of the file consists of approximately sixty-five items of correspondence (all with translations into English) 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. , Bahrain, and 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. Agent, Sharjah; and a small number of miscellaneous items.

Extent and format

1 file (356 folios)

Arrangement

The correspondence is arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file, except where enclosures of an earlier date are filed after their relevant covering letter, and terminates with a set of notes between folios 336-357. Circled reference numbers in blue and red crayon, which occur occasionally in the file, refer to entries in the notes.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 358; 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. Three additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 4-33, ff 296-309, and in the notes between ff 337-351; 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

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

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.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/2/1135

Former external reference(s)

English Office files: 4/20 II

History of this record

Date(s)

16 Mar 1936-10 Jan 1938 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Air force personnelExpenditureArmyTravel allowancesCoffeeHospitality

People & organisations

Emir of Ra's al-Khaymah, Āl Qāsimī dynastyNative Agent, Trucial Coast, SharjahRAF Air Liaison Officer, BahrainEmir of Dubai, Āl Maktūm dynastyBritish Forces in Iraq

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'File 4/20 II Recoveries of amounts spent on behalf of R.A.F.', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/1135, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x000306> [accessed 18 April 2024]

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