Skip to item: of 804
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎190r] (384/804)

This item is part of

The record is made up of 1 volume (398 folios). It was created in 1916-1917. 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.

Apply page layout

19
Commanding, Kerman, No. 245,
tem'o«ar 1^16.
Sykes* No. 6t8«C,
13 (thirteen) farsaks from Saidabad by noon on the 11th, having travelled
all night. Here ^ he learned that Hussain Khan had passed in the early
hours in the morning. His horses were exhausted and being without rations
and the levies having failed to Keep with him he was forced to abandon the
^ pursuit and returned to Malikabad which he reached the morning of the 12th.
Lieutenant Gosh, I.M.S , accompanied Eraser throughout this ride. 1 consider
this night ride of Lieutenant Eraser’s over a rough and unknown country,
starting as he did immediately after a march of 8 farsaks into Saidabad and that
at the end of a month’s continuous marching from the coast, a very fine
performance.
The pursuit was now abandoned and the column concentrated at Saidabad.
On receiving this report on the 6th I considered pursuit into Ears by so
small a force would be unduly risky and probably fruitless, especially after
the delay which must elapse before my orders could reach Sirjan. (Mes-
Commanding. Kerm.n, No. 236 . sengers take from 4 to 5 da>s each way
and are most uncertain ) Orders were
therefore sent to Captain Wagstaff to remain at Saidabad, to purchase horses
and train mounted infantry so as to render
Attached (10). his force as mobile as possible and to try
and make something of the levies.
19th Septem her. — Further reports received from Wagstaff.
20th September —Sykes’ No. 618-G, received directing withdrawal from
Sirjan unless strong reasons to the contrary.
I was of the opinion that withdrawal
dated i9th Sep- from Sirjan under the circumstances
would be unwise : the town and district
were still hostile and a withdrawal
would look like an acknowledgment of
defeat and would leave the coast clear for Hussain Khan and the prisoners to
return to Sirjan where, after the withdrawal of our troops, they would pro
bably have been able to collect a strong following, if not raise the whole country
against us. This opinion I set forth in my telegram to General Sykes’ No. 260
of 21st of September.
22nd September. —On the 22nd General Sykes’ telegram No. 665 was
received directing that the reinforcements
Sykes* No. 665, dated 22 ud September 1916 . should be withdrawn and sent to Yezd
Orders were accordingly despatched to Captain Whigstaff to this effect.
These orders were despatched on the 23rd and reached Sirjan on the 27th.
These are the events which lead up to the engagement which took place at
Saidabad on the 28th, and reported in
Commanding, Kermat., No. 317, dated 3rd Oct- my telegram No. 317 of 3rd October,
ober 1916.
3rd October. —The engagement was brought about by a bold attempt
on the part of Hussain Khan and the prisoners to get possession of the town
of Saidahad, no doubt hoping thereby to establish considerable prestige.
A full report of this engagement is set forth in Captain Wagstaff’s report
No. 18 which I attach. Hussain Khan
entered the town of Saidabad with a
small following secretly on the night of 27th-28th September, undoubtedly they
were sure of their reception there. Wagstaff’s force was camped in a garden
outside of the town. On receiving the news of Hussain Khan’s arrival Captain
Wagstaff surrounded the town and commenced an attack at dawn. Our
troops had to attack across the open against the enemy who were holding
the walls and towers of the town. Wagstaff estimated the enemy at 300 rifles.
Our forces were 27 Ca valry, 200 Infantry, and the levies who however took very
little part in the fight. We had also a mountain gun and an ancient brass,
muzzle-loading cannon. From all reports received the Indian troops led by
their British officers showed great gallantry in this attack where the odds
were greatly against them. The engagement lasted all day and by evening
the Infantry had worked up close to the walls of the town and the mountain
gun had been got up to within 250 yards and was fired point blank. The
cavalry on the northern side had actually got a footing in the town itself.

About this item

Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, and memoranda, comprising miscellaneous correspondence on British involvement in Persia in the period 1916-17.

Topics discussed include:

  • the activities of the German Vice-Consul, Bushire, Wilhelm Wassmuss, including reports of an attack on him (folio 312)
  • an account of the escape of German and Austrian prisoners (folio 281)
  • translations of letters from German prisoners transferred from Shiraz to Russia (ff 43-48) including a translation of Dr Zugmeyer's diary
  • discussion of German and Russian activities in Persia
  • tables, statistics and reports on troop numbers and weaponry, deployments, military engagements and casualties
  • British relations with local chiefs and their dealings with the Germans and Russians
  • transcripts of local newspaper articles on various topics including the Russian Revolution (folio 136v)
  • discussion of money required to pay to tribes
  • miscellaneous Army Department memoranda
  • general reports on the political and military situation in Persia including the 'Bakhtiari country' (ff 320-321)

The file is mainly divided into sections on events by weekly date period. Correspondents include: the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Department; HBM Minister, Tehran (Sir Charles Marling); HBM Consul, Bundar Abbas [Bandar Abbas]; HBM Consul, Shiraz; HM Consul-General, Meshed; HM Consul for Kerman and Persian Baluchistan, (David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer); HBM Vice-Consul, Ahwaz (Captain Edward Noel); HM Consul-General, Isfahan; General Officer Commanding, Sistan Field Force; The General Staff, South Persia Rifles, Shiraz; the Inspector-General, South Persia Rifles (Brigadier-General Sir Percy Molesworth Sykes); Chief of the General Staff, Simla; Chief of the Imperial General Staff, London; 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. , Bushire; and the Deputy 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. , Bushire.

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

Extent and format
1 volume (398 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file. The subject 3360 (Persian Correspondence) consists of three volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/612-614. The volumes are divided into three parts, with each part comprising 1 volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 400; 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. 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
Cite this item in your research

File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎190r] (384/804), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/612, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044323282.0x0000b9> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

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_100044323282.0x0000b9">File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [&lrm;190r] (384/804)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100044323282.0x0000b9">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0001fb/IOR_L_PS_10_612_0384.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

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_100000000419.0x0001fb/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image