Abstract: This file contains material relating to the South Persia Rifles, southern Persia [Iran], the Bakhtiari [Bakhtiyari] Tribe and the oil fields developed by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC). It includes:A table showing the disposition of troops in southern Persia in December 1917The capture of an incriminating letter addressed to Mukhbir Us Sulteneh [Mahdi Quli Khan Hidayat Mukhbir al-Saltanah]The outbreak of clashes between the nomadic tribes of southern Persia and the South Persia RiflesThe call by Soulat [Isma’il Khan Sawlat al-Dawlah Qashqa’i], Ilkhani of the Kashgai [Qashqa'i] Tribe, for a jehad [jihad] against foreign forces in Persia [The Ilkhani being the Paramount Chief of the tribe]The loss of the post at Khaneh Zinian [Khan-i Zaniyan] to the Kashgais led by SoulatThe logistics required for extending the right flank of the Allied forces in Mesopotamia [Iraq] to the Caspian SeaThe reinforcement of the forces under Sir Percy Molesworth Sykes via Bandar Abbas and Bushire [Bushehr]The placement of Sykes under the command of General Charles Monro, Commander-in-Chief, IndiaThe departure of the German agent Wilhelm Wassmuss towards Khaneh ZinianThe general expression of ‘nationalist resentment’ at the presence of British forces in Central PersiaThe offer of the Persian Admiral, Mirza Ahmad Khan Tangistani Daryabegi, to collaborate against SoulatThe declaration by Habib Allah Khan Qavam al-Mulk Shirazi of his support for the Governor of Fars, Abd al-Husayn Mirza Farmanfarma, and his readiness to defend Shiraz against SoulatThe clashes between the Kalantar of Kazerun, Nasir Divan Kazeruni, and British forces outside ShirazAn offer of assistance from the Kalantar of the Kashkuli Tribe, Muhammad ‘Ali Khan KashkuliThe lack of co-operation between the British Minister at Tehran, Charles Marling, and Sir Percy SykesThe placement of all British troops in southern Persia under the command of an officer with the rank of Brigadier-GeneralA joint letter from the khans of Borasjun [Borazjan], Tangistan and Chakutah [Chahkootah] to the Political Resident at Bushire to enquire about the objectives of the recently-arrived British regimentsThe possibility of installing Mirza Hasan Khan Vusugh (Vusugh al-Dawlah) as Prime Minister, following the Italian victory at the Second Battle of Piave River, and the suspension of German operations against FranceThe recommendation of Brigadier-General George Younghusband to surround oilfields with ‘barbed wire fence with electric light standards and ring of sentries like prisoners of war camp’The willingness of the Ilkhani of the Bakhtiyari to ‘maintain order’ in the oilfields of southern PersiaThe siege of Indian Army troops at Abadeh by the Kashgai and the desertion of all South Persia RiflesThe mobilisation of Mirza Kuchak Khan's Jangali Movement to seize control of RashtA quarrel between the German agent, Wassmuss and the Ilkhani of the Kashgai, SoulatThe defection of the Kashgai chiefs ‘Ali Khan Qashqa’i Salar-i Hishmat and Ahmad Khan Qashqa’i Sardar-i IhtishamThe order from Khusraw Khan Bakhtiyari Sardar-i Zafar to Yusuf Khan Bakhtiyari Amir Mujahid to relieve the siege of Abadeh, and prevent Murtaza Quli Khan Samsam from joining the KashgaisThe pursuit by Sardar-i Ihtisham, Muhammad ‘Ali Khan Kashkuli, and Qavam al-Mulk Shirazi of Soulat and his band of followers and the retreat of Nasir Divan Kazeruni to KazerunA request from Soulat to Ayoz Kika [Haj Iyaz Khan Shakiri Qashqa’i] for reinforcementsThe arrest of Baha Us Sultan [Baha’ al-Sultan Shirazi], a leading democrat [i.e. of the Hizb-i Democrat-i Fars]The deployment of Sultan Kazem Khan [Sultan Kazim Khan Shamlu’s] Darrahshuri tribal forces to AbadehThe preference of Vusugh al-Dawlah for Swedish officers to lead the national police in PersiaA rumour about the presence of the German agent Oskar von Niedermeyer in Bakhtiyari CountryThe encirclement, by Soulat, of Sardar-i Ihtisham and the South Persia Rifles at FiruzabadThe relief of Sardar-i Ihtisham and the South Persia Rifles by Colonel Ernest Frederick OrtonThe death of Muhammad ‘Ali Khan Kashkuli at Shiraz on 20 October 1918The handover of the South Persia Rifles by Sir Percy Sykes to Colonel Orton and the former's arrival at DelhiThe refusal by Wassmuss to surrender to British forces, and his rejection of an offer of repatriationThe readiness of the Persian Government to co-operate in the arrest and deportation of WassmussA proposal by Colonel Orton of the South Persia Rifles for the organisation of a national Persian Army.Physical description: The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 405; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-389.
Abstract: The volume contains a chronological list of brief summaries of papers relating to the activities of the Indian Expeditionary Force D (also known as the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force) between 16 and 30 September 1915. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, letters, memoranda, lists and tables.The volume mostly relates to:Reinforcements and supplies for Force D, including: river craft; aeroplanes; road vehicles; personnel; food; weapons; and ammunitionStaff appointments and details of injured and sick officersUpdates on progress at the Tigris line, especially at Sinn, Sannaiyat [As Sina‘yat] and Kut-al Amarah [Al-Kut]Proposals to advance on Baghdad after taking Kut-al AmarahDistributions of Force D (f 50) and of the Turkish [Ottoman] troops (f 123)Russo-Turkish operations at VanDiscussions of the situation in Persia [Iran], including the impact that the withdrawal of British Consul, Thomas George Grahame, from Isfahan to Ahwaz [Ahvaz] has had on employees of the Anglo-Persian Oil CompanyConversations between Sir Percy Zachariah Cox, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and the Shaikh of Muhammareh [Khorramshahr] with regards to negotiating with leaders of the Bakhtiari [Bakhtīyārī] tribal confederation to protect the oil fields and ‘maintain order’ in Arabistan [Khuzestan]The rejection of Turkish forces from Najaf [An-Najaf] by the local populationDiscussions about how to govern holy places between the Basrah [Basra] Vilayet [a province under the Ottoman Empire] and Baghdad in anticipation of them coming under British control, and the extent to which the Persian Government should be consulted on this matter.The volume also includes:Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia on 20 September (ff 47-48) and 27 September 1915 (f 113)A ‘Brief report on the possibilities of the Development of Irrigation in the Basrah District’ by Lieutenant P A Stoddard, Indian Army Reserve Officer (Special Irrigation Officer), (ff 64-71), which is accompanied by comments from Cox and Brigadier-General Joseph Cameron Rimington, Royal EngineersCopies of correspondence between Edmund George Barrow, Military Secretary, India Office, and Bertram Blakiston Cubitt, Under-Secretary of State for India, on the subject of aviation units for service in India and Mesopotamia, which include tables of personnel and vehicles required (ff 91-96)The Quartermaster General’s Embarkation Statement, listing reinforcements and details for Force D which embarked at Bombay [Mumbai] and Karachi (ff 128-134).The vast majority of material in the volume dates from September 1915, with the exception of a small amount of material which dates from May, June and August 1915.A summary of the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3236.Physical description: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 136; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 3-134; these numbers are printed and are located in the bottom centre of the recto side of each folio.Dimensions: 21 x 33cm
Abstract: The volume contains a chronological list of brief summaries of papers relating to the activities of the Indian Expeditionary Force D (also known as the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force) between 1 and 31 March 1915. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include letters, tables, and telegrams containing reports and orders.A summary of the contents of this volume can be found at folio 6, and the volume concerns:Intelligence summaries and appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military OperationsThe distribution and effective strength of Force DThe gathering and transport of reinforcements for Force DRequests for supplies and equipmentBritish efforts to gain the support of local Arab and Bakhtiari [Bakhtiyārī] rulersThe blockade of the EuphratesThe reorganisation of Force D as an Army Corps under the command of General Sir John Eccles NixonPossible terms of peace with Turkey [Ottoman Empire]The distribution of the Turkish ArmySuspicions regarding German activity, and particularly that of Wilhelm Wassmuss, in south Persia [Iran].Summaries of the contents of previous volumes can be found at folios 3 to 5.The volume contains a small number of copies of telegrams and letters from February 1915.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 236; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 7-234; these numbers are printed and are located in the bottom centre of the recto side of each folio.Dimensions: 21x33cm
Abstract: The item contains correspondence and other papers regarding the protection of oilfields in Arabistan, Persia [the southern part of Khuzestan Province, Iran] run by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC). Topics discussed include:The withdrawal of a British military unit from Ahwaz [Ahvaz] following the end of the First World WarThe reliance for protection of the oilfields on continued friendly relations with the Sheikh [Shaikh] of Mohammerah [Khorramshahr] and the Bakhtiari [Bakhtiyari] people, and considerations that these relations could be adversely influenced by the Soviet Union or by any attempt by the Government of Persia to assert more direct control over the areaPotential creation of a ‘volunteer defence force’ made up of APOC employees, and discussions over how the Government of Persia would react to such a forcePossible availability of British troops in Iraq for protection of the oilfields in an emergency, and discussion of the technicalities of requesting and providing such assistance.The primary correspondents are: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Persia; the Foreign Office; the India Office; the Colonial Office; the Air Ministry; the Committee of Imperial Defence; the Government of India; Air Headquarters, Iraq; the British Consul, Ahwaz; the British Consul, Baghdad; and APOC Ltd.Physical description: 1 item (161 folios)
Abstract: The volume consists of letters, telegrams, memoranda and printed reports relating to the provision of loans to the Bakhtiari [Bakhtiyārī] khans in Persia [Iran].The correspondence discusses:British relations with the BakhtiarisBritish military movements in PersiaThe political situation in Persia including the prospects of a government being formed in TehranAdvance of monies to the Bakhtiari khans for the purchase of property at Barbarud [Dehnow]Correspondence between the Foreign Office and India Office about appropriate contributions to the paymentsRepayment of a loan made to Sirdar Zaffar Ilkhani [Sirdār Ẓafar Ilkhānī ] of the Bakhtiaris in 1918.Correspondents include the following: HM Ambassador to Iran, the Secretary to the Government of India’s Foreign and Political Department, and officials from the India Office and Foreign Office.The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, 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.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 115; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.