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File 2879/1919 Pt 3 ‘MESOPOTAMIA KURDISTAN The AQRAH Incident: Murder of Messrs Bill & Scott’ [97r] (81/170)
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.
The Umbashl got clear ana naae his way haoit to Akcb keeping off
the main roaa.
He thinjcs the other two gendarmes (Kuras) went over to the
assailants who he things were oi the Sibar tribe.
Immediately on hearing this news I tried to wire Mosul but
was tola by the operator that although the line was O.K. there
was no operator at the Mosul end to receive the message.
1 reit orders to get through as soon as possible ana at the
same time I sent in a written message by two sowari gendarmes.
I then haa ail guards ana picquets (which had already been posted)
doubled. I also ordered lor dawn on the iJrd that the two hills
facing the Kishla to the Eorth on each side of the gorge leading
from *<ibar should be pic queued*
i3aeh piaquet consisuea oi four gendarmes. Shese were
inuenaed as looic outs uo prevent a surprise attack*
i ciia not anticipate attack as the attacking party were only
reported to be one hunoreo. strong ana being oi the ^ibar tribe
I aid not think it was a general rising*
At aoout y p*m. the telegraph Muair reported that the line
was cut.
1 gave oraers to the linesman to go ouc ana inspect the wire
v
senamg him with an escort of two gendarmes*
I am not certain if this oraer was ever carried out.
I stood fast all night. (I was staying in the Gardens which
are the summer quarters of the A.^*0.)*
About lb minutes after the picquets haa been posted we heara
six rifle shots* I ordered ^everyone to go to the kishla (G?wo
Indian servants ana the two Indian clerks.)
On reaching the Eds hi a I strengthened each picquet by eight
men ana an Arab Oxiioer, asking them to report on the strength
I
of the Euras.
I also sent a picquet of eight men upto the hill at the back
ox the Eishla to safeguard the place from the rear.
After posting these picquets I louna I coula only muster
about 30 gendarmes.
About this item
- Content
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’ [97r] (81/170), 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_100126901399.0x000003> [accessed 25 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