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File 2879/1919 Pt 3 ‘MESOPOTAMIA KURDISTAN The AQRAH Incident: Murder of Messrs Bill & Scott’ [78r] (43/170)
The record is made up of 1 item (86 folios). It was created in 14 Aug 1919-10 Apr 1920. 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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1
Jo oiler iiie headship oi the Zibaris to ^aair Agha,
himseir a Zibari was the only solution which suggest
ed itself* I approached him on the subject, but found
hirii most emphatic that he could only scoept it if
backed by troops, even 11 they were i’iaris*
‘'hide fully recognising the military objections,
i very much regret the withdrawal of our Administration
irom the Zab valley* It means that Paris and his
associates, even at some pecuniary loss have gained
their point ana ejected the Soveimient from thei®
district* I'his, in combination with the projected mth-
arawai from the -^maaia District will inevitably lower
cur prestige in Auraistan arid give weight to the current
rumours, assiduously spread by the lurns, that cur
occupation is purely temporary ana that m a short while
we snail be seen to be withdrawing* I have considerable
hope that tne very large regards sanctioned for the
surrender of those most responsible for the crime will
oe productive of result, but even so uhere is no aoubt
that the next few months will be exceedingly critical*
Jhe signing of peace with furxey and the establishment
of a definite status will go far to settle our troubles,
but that day seems far distant*
meanwhile, one solution would seem to oe
the foma^ion of a striding force of local levies,
accustomed to ohe local physical characteristics and
able to stride quichly ana hard* I hope to submit
proposals for this end shortly* Jhe local proverb
fhat the mind of the Kurd is in his eyes is a very
true one* I am equally sure that any attempt to
administer Kurdistan without a backing of troops
is doomed to failure* We have perforce tried it
and the Kurd has called our bluff and won* Jhe
present situation of Aqra, on the edge of our Admi* -
ni strati on and liable to any pe^ty hostile raid is
About this item
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This item relates to a violent incident during which two individuals, J H Bill, Indian Civil Service, Political Officer, Mosul, and Captain K R Scott, 31st Punjabis, Indian Army, Assistant Political Officer, Aqrah [also spelled Akra and Aqra in this item], were killed ‘near Birza Kapra in Zab Valley north east of Aqrah’ (f 135), allegedly by members of the Zibar [Zebari] tribe. The papers notably cover and include:
- Drafting of the official communiqué regarding the incident, and the general coordination of communications regarding Kurdish affairs to the public in India
- Investigations into: the course of events and the political situation leading up to the deaths; possible Turkish nationalist influences; details of the murders; and locating of the bodies. Included are three reports, dated 4 November and 11 December 1919, to the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad, by staff of the Office of the Political Officer, Mosul (ff 92-98 and 74-79), and a report of the funeral of Bill and Scott held on 20 December 1919 at Mosul (ff 70-71)
- The India Office’s correspondence with: Sir John Horner concerning the latter’s enquiries, on behalf of the relatives of J H Bill, into the circumstances of the deaths; and also with the father of J H Bill
- Details of the military operations and punitive measures undertaken by British forces in the Aqrah area in December 1919
- The connection of the incident with opposition to British negotiations and plans for repatriation of exiled Assyrian Christian refugees to the Amadia [Amadiya] Valley and the vicinity.
The primary correspondents are: the 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. and Secretary of State for India; Civil Commissioner, Baghdad; and Major C F Bill.
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- 1 item (86 folios)
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- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 2879/1919 Pt 3 ‘MESOPOTAMIA KURDISTAN The AQRAH Incident: Murder of Messrs Bill & Scott’ [78r] (43/170), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/833/3, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100126901398.0x0000a5> [accessed 24 July 2026]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/833/3
- Title
- File 2879/1919 Pt 3 ‘MESOPOTAMIA KURDISTAN The AQRAH Incident: Murder of Messrs Bill & Scott’
- Pages
- 57r:57v, 59r:59v, 60v:61v, 63r:79v, 80v:88v, 90r:105v, 107v:110v, 112r:137v, 138v:142v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence