IOR/R/15/2/748

The volume comprises applications made by individuals in Bahrain (chiefly employees of the Bahrain Petroleum Company, BAPCO) to undertake military service in time of war, and correspondence between the Political Agent at Bahrain (Hugh Weightman) and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Geoffrey Prior) over official policy towards volunteers for military duty. Besides the Political Agent at Bahrain and the Political Resident, the other principal correspondent in the volume is the Chief Local Representative for BAPCO (John S Black; Roger Anthony Kennedy).

The volume includes:

• letters from or letters concerning numerous individuals, most of whom are BAPCO employees, and are either applying for military service or offering their services (including medical and engineering expertise) to the British Government. Many letters contain résumés, medical certificates and employment references. The letters are dated either from September 1939 (on the event of the declaration of war in Europe) or from June 1940 (the commencement of hostilities in Europe);
• correspondence between a range of Government officials, military officials and BAPCO representatives, concerning: the release and departure of individuals from employment in Bahrain; enquiries after their suitability, and copies of testimonials and medical certificates; details of the military commission of individuals; the granting of exit permits by the Political Agent to individuals to leave Bahrain for military service (as well as for other reasons, such as relocation on the grounds of ill-health, transfer of office, leave);
• correspondence, papers and official notices relating to Government policy on British subjects wishing to volunteer for military service, in Britain and in India (ff 72-74, ff 151-155, ff 164-170, ff 295-298, ff 320-324);
• correspondence between the Political Agent and Political Resident, dated June 1940, concerning: the deteriorating situation in Europe; the possible application in Bahrain of the British Compulsory Service Act; the attitude of British BAPCO workers in Bahrain; the prospects of a manpower shortage at the BAPCO refinery should British subjects volunteer for military service; plans for the replacement of BAPCO’s British employees with men from the United States; the reluctance of most men requesting leave for military service to carry out their service in India (ff 94-110, ff 118-120).