Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [512v] (1029/1062)
The record is made up of 1 volume (527 folios). It was created in 6 Jan 1929-15 Jan 1938. It was written in English and French. 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.
28
1 have the honour to report that Bin Saud divides his armed forces into the
following classes :—
(aj Regulars.
(b) Akhwan.
(c) Aarab.
2 Taking (a). These, so called “ Regulars ”, are nothing more or less
SmJ • CJ \ / ' - • -| ill
* 9? J T’/MTCllloT* TY1 n*n T H ITT -rA.inxr «
no
than his “ Fidawi ” troops. They receive regular monthly pay, but wear
special uniform. Most of them are of the “ hathar ’’ (town dweller) class as
“ Badia ”
opposed to the “ Badia ” (people of the desert). This does not mean to say
they are townsmen necessarily, for you will always find men from different
tribes employed as Fidawis. A good example of the type recruited, are the
Shaikh of Kuwait Fidawi forces stationed at Jahara. Perhaps the best English
name that coulct be given them, would be “ Paid Mercenaries
They are for the most part chosen for their reliability, and carry out the
direct orders of Bin Sand’s Amirs, etc., whereas under category {b), ( c ) the
individual fighter carries out his Shaikh’s orders first. The garrisons of the
Kuts ” or forts which dominate Hail, Hoffuf, Mubawaz and Qatif for instance
consist of these so called “ Regular ” troops. Messages to tribal leaders other
towns and the guarding of prisoners and collecting of Zikat (aims), etc., is
entrusted to these persons. They go under the name of “ Siriyah ” (singular)
and “ Saraya ” (plural). The Akhwan effect to dispise them and call them
“ Hadharis
3. The Akhwan (b) on the other hand were brought into being by Bin Sand
to fight his battles and win them in the name of Religion. As BadOuins they
would never have been reliable, as Akhwan and inflamed by “ the Din” they
become well right invincible. Thev.may be linkened to Cromwell’s “ Iron sides ”
or the German “ Storm Troops ”,
For the rest these fanatics are too well-known to need further description.
Suffice to say, when they attack, they have a regular drill which consists of dis
mounting from their camels and horses, and advancing shoulder to shoulder
infantry fashion, and in several lines. Their boast is that they never run nor
are tempted to sheer out of the fight as ordinary Bedouins do when on horseback.
If an “ Akhu ” (Comrade-brother) is slain his - place is immediately taken by
another. There is no pause in the forward progress, or so their drill has it.
Their motto is “ move swiftly and secretly to your objective, when there, attack
on foot ”.
A regular reserve is always maintained in rear to reinforce where necessary.
Such manoeuvres as dawn attacks, night attacks, flank and rear attacks etc etc
are regularly understood and practiced.
A The Akhwan look upon themselves as the elect of God and the creme de la
creme of Bin Sand’s troops. For this reason the rank and file feel confident of
ultimate success m their rebellion against Bin Saud. Theirs may be likened to
a mutiny of Bin Sand s Pretorian guard rather than a rebellion.
The Akhwan despise (a) the Sarraya and (b) the Aarab.
4. Tim Aarab are the ordinary Ba’dia or Bedouin allies of Bin Saud,.
and a certain amount, of them usually accompany the Akhwaii on a Ghazzu. For
instance when al-Duwish made his recent march across 130 miles of waterless
nlimho ail f ? . luc k ^ le an d Sahool at Gaiyeh, he was accompanied by a
t i 1 ,, • |r l rUj11 ^ ara | ) ; These were used as scouts patrols, etc., and when
• f , a , ac was launched, skirmished ahead’. The Akhwan were the heavy
infantry and mam-stay of the attack. They also formed the Reserve.
that not ever y Mutairi or Ajmi is an Akhwan : only
those of them who feel that way, join the ranks of the elect.
(33)
No rl'V.™ of E "^ BIriISH Aopnr, Jedoaii,.to the Foreign Office, London,
BusmuF ( “ ED 22 nd) September 1929. (Repeated Koweit,
Sassrass *” ■» *-». •»«*. «-■ »
About this item
- Content
This volume compiles printed copies of letters, telegrams, memoranda and newspaper extracts relating to Britain's involvement across the Arabian Peninsula during the period 1929-1938. Whilst the correspondence encompasses all matters concerning British interests in the region, much of it relates to Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] and the Kingdom of the Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia). Matters discussed in the correspondence include the following:
- Reports of unrest in the Hejaz.
- Relations between Imam Yeha Hamid-Ud-Din [Yaḥyá Muḥammad Ḥamīd al-Dīn, Imam of Yemen] and Ibn Saud.
- Reports of raids and arms trafficking on the Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan -Nejd frontier.
- Reports of the proceedings of British naval ships in the Red Sea.
- Details of the Akhwan [Ikhwan] revolt against Ibn Saud, including the movements of one of the revolt's leaders, Faisal Dawish [Fayṣal bin Sulṭān al-Dawīsh], and his surrender to the British in Kuwait.
- Relations between Kuwait and Nejd.
- Relations between Iraq and Nejd, including a proposed meeting between Ibn Saud and King Faisal [Fayṣal] of Iraq, and reports of a treaty of alliance between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
- Objections from the Hejaz Government to Royal Air Force aircraft flying over Nejd territory.
- The purchase of arms by the Hejaz Government from Poland.
- Ibn Saud's annexation of Asir.
- The death of King Hussein [Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī].
- Harry St John Bridger Philby's conversion to Islam, his mapping of Rub-al-Khali, and his reported spreading of Saudi propaganda in the Aden Protectorate.
- The currency exchange crisis in the Hejaz-Nejd and the financial situation in the kingdom generally.
- Reports on a survey of the water and mineral content of the Hejaz coastal area.
- Relations between Soviet Russia and Saudi Arabia.
- The emigration of Jews from Yemen to Palestine, via Aden.
- British fears that Italy might harbour ambitions to annex Yemen.
- Saudi oil concessions.
- Italian-Saudi relations.
Prominent correspondents include the following: the British Agent (later His Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires) at Jeddah; His Majesty's Minister at Jeddah; the High Commissioner for Egypt; the High Commissioner for Iraq; the High Commissioner for Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan ; 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. , Kuwait; 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. (later Chief Commissioner, and later still, Governor), Aden; 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. ; His Majesty's Ambassador to Iraq; His Majesty's Ambassador to Italy; the Secretary of State for the Colonies; the Minister (and Acting Minister) for Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of the Hejaz and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia); Ibn Saud; King Feisal of Iraq; the Prime Minister of Iraq; various officials of the Colonial Office, the Foreign Office, the Air Ministry, and the Admiralty.
The French material in the volume consists of several items of correspondence and a copy of a treaty between France and Yemen, which was signed in April 1936.
The volume includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (527 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The items of correspondence are divided (roughly) into various sections. Each extract or item of correspondence within these sections has its own number, which is enclosed in brackets. These numbers proceed in ascending (and approximate chronological) order from left to right; however, the sections themselves proceed in reverse, from the rear to the front of the volume, in distinct groups (e.g. for 1929 numbers 1-23, which are located at folios 517-526, are followed by numbers 24-49 at folios 509-516, which are then followed by numbers 50-89 at folios 494-508, and so on).
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 529; 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.
Pagination: each section of correspondence within the volume (as described in the arrangement field) has its own pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [512v] (1029/1062), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2071, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100061765168.0x00001e> [accessed 6 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100061765168.0x00001e
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_100061765168.0x00001e">Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎512v] (1029/1062)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100061765168.0x00001e"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000261/IOR_L_PS_12_2071_1029.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_100000000555.0x000261/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/2071
- Title
- Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:5v, 6v, 8v:10r, 11r:14r, 15r:20r, 21r:21v, 22v, 24v:26v, 27v:30r, 32r:41v, 43r:46v, 48r:48v, 49v:52v, 53v, 55v:58r, 59r:60r, 61r:70r, 71v:77v, 78v:79r, 80v:81v, 82v:93v, 95r:101v, 102v:104v, 106r:108r, 109v:110v, 111v:113v, 115r:120v, 122r:123r, 124r:126v, 127v, 128v:130v, 132r, 133v:137r, 139r:154r, 155r, 156r:157v, 159r:166r, 167r, 168r:171r, 172r:174r, 175r:175v, 176v:177v, 180v:181r, 182v, 183v:184v, 187v:188r, 191r:198r, 199r:199v, 200v:201r, 202r, 203r:203v, 206r:207r, 210r:211v, 213r:220r, 223v:224v, 226r:226v, 228r, 230v:234v, 236r, 237r:252r, 253v:257v, 259r:260v, 262r:262v, 264r:268v, 269v:276r, 277v:278v, 279v:281r, 282v:285r, 287r:288r, 289r:292v, 295r:296v, 297v:307r, 308r, 309r:316v, 318r:320v, 322r, 324r:325r, 327r, 329r:331r, 332r:335r, 336r:337v, 338v:345r, 347r:348r, 350v, 353v:358v, 360r:363r, 364v:365v, 366v:371r, 372v:375r, 376v, 377v:379v, 383r:383v, 384v:385r, 387v:389r, 390r:391v, 395v:400v, 401v:412v, 414v:420r, 422r:433v, 435v:437v, 440r:447v, 449r:449v, 451v:459r, 460r:463v, 465r:468v, 469v:471r, 474r:477r, 480r:485r, 486v:492v, 494r:507r, 508v:511r, 512r:513v, 514v, 516r:518v, 520r:522r, 523r:528v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence
![Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎512v] (1029/1062) Coll 6/8(1) 'Printed Series: 1929 to 1938.' [‎512v] (1029/1062)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000555.0x000261/IOR_L_PS_12_2071_1029.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg)