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File 2879/1919 Pt 3 ‘MESOPOTAMIA KURDISTAN The AQRAH Incident: Murder of Messrs Bill & Scott’ [94r] (75/170)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
* it-:;
inv
Shortly alter midnight 3/4th Barlow arrived in Mosul
accompanied by Mr. Bill’s Arab servant, and being in a very
exhausted state was not interrogated to any great extent until
this morning.
At this point I would asx you to read Lieut. Barlow's
report on what toox place. Owing to his overwrought condition
too much weight should not be attached to details of his 'State
ment. as a clear idea ofthe conditions and events at A-Kra on the
i
morning 01 3rd instant can only be obtained alter interrogation
of other persons present. Up to the time of writing only one
escaped gendarme has reached Mosul, but several more are
expected to arrive shortly ana from their statements a more
definite confirmation ox events may be arrived at and will be
communicated*
C
The strengths of gendarmes were.-
Aicra. yO.
2ibar. 10.
Barzan IS and one Native Oificer.
Of the yO Axra gendarmes, 50 were Nastorians recently sent
to strengthen dhe garrison*
As far as is imown Youshbashi Jamil the Arab Office! was
still holding out when Bariow left Axra, no further news has
since been received regarding him*
Captain Littleaaie left Brbil for B&rdarash gendarme post
in the 3. W. quarter of the Axra district this afternoon to
carry out a reconnaisance as per orders of the a.0. w . 18th
Division who was passing through Brbil*
Captain Cowan will leave Mosul early tomorrow morning
with a gendarme escort of three men in two Bord cars for
reoonnaisanoe to Jujar, to endeavour to bring in definite
information as to the present situation in Aitra and the fate
of the gendarmes. Oowan will return tomorrow evening and
report*
In
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’ [94r] (75/170), 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_100126901398.0x0000c5> [accessed 23 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