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File 364/1913 'Persia: situation in Fars (attack on 39th Central India Horse)' [‎30r] (64/522)

The record is made up of 1 volume (259 folios). It was created in 1912-1913. 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. .

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Enclosis'
A'o. 4
? r fr >? /-■
1 ,
' " 0 *^rv,
^3 JAN » d 13
Put away with.
Dated 5th January 1913.
From—The Hon’ble Lieutenant Colonel Sir P. Z. Cox, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., British Consul General
Bushire,
r ^° H-Grant, Esq., C.I.E., Deputy Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign
Department, Simla.
In continuation of my letter dated December 29th, I enclose a copy of a letter from
Major Kettlewell to^ Major Hewlett, which the latter has communicated unofficially to me,
enclosing a copy of his official report of what happened when Captain Eckford was killed.
Dated 18th December 1912.
From—M ajor Kettlewell, Shiraz,
To—M ajor Hew'lett, Bushire.
I enclose a copy of my official report of what happened when Eckford was killed. Will
you please send it and this letter on to Daunt, 'when you have read them.
It is cruel to think that the only material damage was done by that one unfortunate
shot. Eckford was quite unconscious from the first and the Doctor tells me that hit as he was
through the heart death must have been nearly instantaneous.
Had it not been for having to look after him I am sure we should have given our assail
ants w r ho numbered at least 400 (not all armed) a severe lesson and recovered our mules.
As it was I had to get my party back to Khan-i-Zinian and expected to have to fight my
way back, as the Persian Officer of Gendarmes who turned up at the bridge three hours after
the show started, then told me that the Khan-i-Zinian people were in it. He contradicted this
in the evening.
The statements in Reuters are absolutely false and we have wired to the Minister to con
tradict them. The truth is that 6 Gendarmes with Tufangchis from Zinian came out long
after most of the show was over. The Gendarmes unfortunately for them came across some
of the mounted men who attacked us. Four Gendarmes were wounded and stripped of their
arms and ammunition and the rest fled.
These wounded Gendarmes say they saw 7 badly wounded men carried off 4 by the enemy
and 2 wounded horses were caught so they djdnT get off free.
I brought EckfonPs body in here and he was buried on Friday, the whole regiment and
every European in Shiraz being present.
No time for more.
Report by Major Kettlewell on the movements of a survey party of the 39th Central India
Horse marching from Khan-i-Zinian to Rashit-i-Arjan on 11th December.
(The party consisted of Major Kettlewell, Captain Eckford, Jemadar Soraiyan Singh,
12 men including 1 surveyor of A squadron, 12 men of B squadron, 2 officers orderlies, 17
followers and 17 baggage mules.)
I started from Khan-i-Zinian at 7 a.m. half an hour after a party of about 150 Persian
Sarbazes (infantry), who were marching down the road.
I told off the 12 men of A squadron to act as baggage guard and to remain with the
mules, and used the men of B squadron as an advanced-guard and for scouting purposes.
Moving from the Caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). down to the Kara Agach River I had scouts out
on the low hills to the right of the road. These scouts had orders to rejoin the party at the
bridge. This they did.
Until near the river I was accompanied by the Persian Officer of Gendarmerie with
2 sowars from Khan-i-Zinian. These then galloped on ahead to visit their post at the tower-
on the crest of the Sineh Safid Pass.
Almost immediately after the Gendarmes had left me I sent Jemadar Soraiyan Singh
and 2 sowars, with orders to trot on to Dasht-i-Arjan in order to arrive there before
the Sarbazes, and secure accommodation for my men, about which I knew there would be
some difficulty.
I then crossed the river, sending 2 scouts on to a small isolated hill (about 300 feet
high), about 700 yards south-west of the bridge.
I then halted on the far bank for ten to fifteen minutes to close up my party before
entering the strip of thorn and tamarisk jungle, through which the road passes for about Ij
miles.
I started on again at about 8 a.m. sending a scout to ride along the ridge (about 200 feet
above the road), which rises some 400 yards beyond the isolated hill mentioned above. I sent
forward 2 scouts to get up on to the next hill beyond this ridge and 2 scouts to ride ahead on
the road. The two scouts who had been on the first hill then rejoined me, and my advanced
party then consisted of Captain Eckford, myself, our 4 orderlies and 5 men of B squadron.
At 8-20 a.m. this advanced party had got about 200 yards clear of the strip of jungle and the
^ 8 FEB 1913

About this item

Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, notes, and reports relating to an attack by Bakhtiari tribesmen on a party of the 39th Central India Horse regiment and the killing of a British officer. The discussion in the volume relates to the implications for the British relationship with the Persian Government and options for restoring British prestige including use of military force.

Included in the volume (folios 12-16) is a copy of the 'Report of an attack on a party of the 39th Central India Horse on the 11th December 1912. Resulting in the death of Captain A. B. Eckford' (Delhi, Superintendent Government Printing, Delhi, 1913).

Principal correspondents include: 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. , Percy Zachariah Cox; the Viceroy; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Edward Grey; the Under Secretary of State, Foreign Office; HM Minister to Tehran, Sir George Head Barclay, Commanding Officer, 39th King George's Own Central India Horse.

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (259 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 259; 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.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 364/1913 'Persia: situation in Fars (attack on 39th Central India Horse)' [‎30r] (64/522), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/336, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100035280627.0x000041> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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