![‘File 28/1 K I Defence of oil field and refinery’ [‎120r] (239/684)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x000036/IOR_R_15_2_661_0239.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘File 28/1 K I Defence of oil field and refinery’ [‎120r] (239/684)")
‘File 28/1 K I Defence of oil field and refinery’ [120r] (239/684)
The record is made up of 1 file (340 folios). It was created in 5 Dec 1939-3 May 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.
p
4 ? o P u ; e , lo :,n^ cl ' by Oil Co .': oany f
1 Ford O-tqii lor:.:y. loaned by Sneikh f
1 saloon px'Ovlded by R.A.F» (local purchase)
1 3-ton leyland iloat , oroTided by^R.A.F.
(this is tlu searchlight lorr^ r sent
recently tu jldirein from which the
searchlight has been removed permanently)•
in addition, authority has been given to the Defence
Officer to purchase one pick-up locally, as soon as
one becomes available.
Tyres on 3-ton Dryland Fl oat : Captain Chadwi ck
reports HKat the tyros on the 3-ton Leyland float are
so unserviceable that the vehicle is dangerous to use
unless driven with extreme caution. He recommends
the provision of new or second-hand tjrres in
replacement. This matter is under consideration at
Headquarters,
(S.E.S.O.)
(o)
r
Addi tiona l Tr an s o o rt r ecju i r e d f or D efence Purposes :
Captain Ch^dv.lck 'reports tliat” owing to the hard usage
received by the four pick-ups loaned by the Oil
Company, during the period before the loan, these
vehicles have to be sent into the Oil Company’s
workshops constantly for maintenance and repairs.
In fact, one of the conditions made by the Oil Company,
with regard to the loan of these vehicles, is that they
should bo sent in for inspection daily , CaptT; n
Chadwick rxcommends that some additional transport is
provided by Air Headquarters and suggests the local
purchase of two Ford or International trucks.
The four pick-ups are used almost
exclusively by the Special Defence Police (strength
150) for the defence of the oilfield and Refinery,
under the orders of tire Defence Officer who commands
these special Defence Police. They are used for
patrol duty (which by night is continuous), for
daily reliefs of uuru and posts, and for supervisory
duties. In addition they are required in emergency
for carrying rtLcrvo, to any threatened point. There
would appear to be no difficulty about sending these
;eim-.nce, daily, providing that
vehicles in for mail:
they are released bp the Oil Company’s workshops
within a short period. Owing to the need for the
strictest economy, the provision of additional transport
-port by the R.a.F. for the defence of the oilfield
at Bahrein is not contemplated at the present time.
The Defence Officer is to review the situation after
a further period of two months, and report, in writing,
to this Headquarters. In the meantime, when the new
Defence Scheme has begun to function Satisfactorily,
it may be possible to approach one or other of the Oil
Company, the Bahrein Government or the sheikh with a
view to the loan of any additional transport required,
Thile H.k.G, is inter sted in the defence of the
oilfield from the point of view of potential oil
reserves and on account of treaty obligations, all the
jother three parties are interested from a financial
point of view. In particular it is suggested that
the Sheikh might be approached at some favourable
opportunity, after this possibility ha. jeen discussed
with the political a p.nt and the British adviser*
(S.E.S.O. , C.A, )
About this item
- Content
The file comprises copies of correspondence, memoranda and reports relating to the military defence of Bahrain’s oil refineries and oil fields during the Second World War. The principal correspondents in the file are: 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. in Bahrain (Hugh Weightman; Major Reginald George Evelin William Alban); the Chief Local Representative of the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) (John S Black; Roger Anthony Kennedy; Milton H Lipp; Ward P Anderson).
The file includes:
- a copy of ‘General Instructions for the Defence Organisation of the Bahrain Petroleum Company’, dated December 1939 (ff 9-52), with sections focusing on: 1) the internal and external areas of the refinery; 2) the personnel camps at Awali and Zellaq; 3) fields and wells; information on inventories of equipment, and specific instructions for patrols and guards;
- correspondence from BAPCO representatives to 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. relating to: the perceived threat to Bahrain and to Company property, and defensive measures to be taken; assessments of the threat of internal sabotage, local uprisings, bombardment from sea or air (ff 68-71); questions of responsibility for and efficacy of defensive measures being taken in Bahrain; questions of the legal aspects (liability, compensation, War Risk Insurance) of damage to Company property from enemy attack, and volunteers who become casualties while defending Company property, including printed copies of the Gazetteer of India War Injuries Ordinance , No. VII of 1941 (ff 235-237) and the War Injuries (Amendment) Ordinance , No. I of 1942 (ff 238-249);
- correspondence exchanged, and the notes and minutes of meetings held between senior Government officials (including 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. , Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Air Vice Marshal at Air Headquarters in Iraq) on the provision of resources for the defence of Bahrain, including discussion of the availability and use of manpower supplied by BAPCO;
- a number of monthly progress reports in 1941 on the Bahrain defence scheme, prepared by the Defence Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (ff 143-144, ff 146-147, ff 162-164, ff 177-179), referring to: defence force recruitment; the volunteer defence force; general morale and attitude of recruits; equipment supplies; anti-aircraft defence measures;
- in 1941, plans for the control of telephone exchanges and lines during emergencies, with lists of telephone links to be maintained during an emergency (ff 182-183);
- plans and proposals for the protection of BAPCO property in the event of enemy action, including: in 1942, BAPCO proposals for the protection of the oil field in case it falls into enemy hands, by the sealing of wells with concrete (ff 270-294); a military report on Passive Air Defence (PAD) at the BAPCO refinery, dated 28 April 1942, focussing chiefly on plans to construct protective sheathing around the refinery tanks (ff 304-323).
- Extent and format
- 1 file (340 folios)
- Arrangement
The file’s contents are arranged in approximate chronological order, from the earliest item at the front to the latest at the end. The file notes at the end of the file (ff 326-341) mirror the chronological arrangement.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the back cover with 342; 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. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 3-341; these numbers are also written in pencil, and are located in the same position as the main sequence.
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘File 28/1 K I Defence of oil field and refinery’ [120r] (239/684), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/661, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025780133.0x000028> [accessed 29 August 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100025780133.0x000028
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_100025780133.0x000028">‘File 28/1 K I Defence of oil field and refinery’ [‎120r] (239/684)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100025780133.0x000028"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000241.0x000036/IOR_R_15_2_661_0239.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_100000000241.0x000036/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/2/661
- Title
- ‘File 28/1 K I Defence of oil field and refinery’
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:6v, 52v:56v, 59r:67v, 72r:87v, 91r:91v, 93r:98v, 100r:115v, 117r:127v, 129r:150v, 152r:153v, 157r:175v, 177r:184v, 187r:187v, 189r:190v, 193r:193v, 195r:200v, 204r:207v, 209r:211v, 213r:217v, 220r:220v, 222r:270v, 272r:276v, 279r:298v, 301r:309v, 311r:341v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence