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File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎366r] (736/804)

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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. .

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£-3^7
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34
No. 286-C., dated Busbire, the 31st July (received 8th August) 1916 (Confidential).
From Majorca. P. Trevor, C.I.E., 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To— The y°™£ n m ®“ retilr r to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
With reference to telegram No. 401-0., dated July 23rd, from Brigadier.
General Sir P. M. Sykes, K.C.I.E., reporting the attack on Major Lorimer, I
hare the honour to forward herewith, for the information of the Government
deSoflhe 0 ^ eleSram,dated3 ° thJuly ’ fr ° m ^ lorimer §^8
^ 2. The attack ^seeras to have been a very determined one, and as Maior
Lorimer says, there is little doubt that the whole caravan would have been
captured if it had not been straggling so much. As it was the amount of
property looted was not very great. Major Lorimer appears to have had a
narrow escape, and it is fortunate that he and the rest of the advanced party
were able to get through the Tang without injury.
It is satisfactory to note that the affair was an ordinary caravan robberv !
and not an attempt to shoot or capture British Consul due to anti-British
teelmg or the instigation of enemy agents.
A copy of this letter and the enclosure is being sent to Sir P. Cox.
Enclosure,
Telegram, dated the 30th (received 31st) July 1916.
From —Major D. L. R. Lorimer, Kerman,
To— Major A. P. Trevor, C.I.E., 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Bushire. 9
On tlm afternoon of 14th July I left Daulatabad for camp beyond
Tangi Guluianjir, I was supposed to have guard of 15 Buchaqchis but only
8 had turned up and of these though warned six did not start out with
caravan; on reaching above-mentioned Tang after short halt at Burj, one mile
to the east of it, I was ahead with one Buchaqchi, one police sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. , second
clerk and Buchaqchi Abdari mule perhaps J mile behind were Abdul Alim
and one police sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. and possibly there was one or two Buchaqchis close
behind. Caravan must have been three miles in the rear when self and
advance party had proceeded some distance into Tang which is very narrow
and has smooth gravelly bottom. We were challenged by men on hill sides
above us on either hand, we paused and I saw two men crouching on my rio'ht
rear, I thought them 50 yards off. Almost at once two or three shots were
fired at us and these were followed by a fusillade, place was a death trap and
only chance was to get out of it, if possible, by speed, I was unarmed and
there was no chance of using weapons, Buchaqchis and myself put our horses
to gallop and proceeded onwards through Tang (which continued, I should
think, for couple of 100 yards) under a hail of bullets at close range from
both sides of Tang. which were apparently lined with men, shooting at us
practically ceased when clear of Tang and we continued some J mile un
pursued. Best of party had apparently not followed us and it subsequently
appeared that they had immediately thrown themselves off their horses and
been captured by robbers who were Baharlu. Buchaqchis horse now gave out
and it was found that it had been shot through belly and another in haunch.
At this point police sowar’s horse galloped up with gear complete including
rifle in bucket. Mounted Buchaqchi on it and vetoing his proposal to
gallop on to Lehsard decided to try and return to Burj on eastern side of
Tang by detour through hills. Attack occurred shortly after 6 p.m., and we
safely reached Burj at 1 a.m., having had to abandon horses at 8 p.m., owing
to precipitous ground. I brought in rifle myself and horses were recovered
next day. After reconnoitering Burj we found it in the hands of our people,
none of whom was hurt or missing, caravan also intact. Pending and after
our escape from Tang and capture of clerk, police sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. and Buchaqchi
Abdari events on south side of Tang were as follows-

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
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File 3360/1916 Pt 1 'Persian correspondence (1916-17)' [‎366r] (736/804), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/612, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044323284.0x000089> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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