IOR/L/PS/12/3932

The file consists of two folders of papers, mostly correspondence, relating to the defence of Bahrain: folder A ‘Bahrein Defence Scheme. Employment of British officer & N.C.O. Instructor. Appt. of Captain A. C. Byard. “ ” Major H.T. Hewitt.’ [‘Bahrein Defence Scheme. Employment of British officer & N.C.O. Instructor. Appointment of Captain A. C. Byard. Appointment of Major H.T. Hewitt.’]; and folder B ‘Bahrein Defence Force. Recruitment from personnel of Bahrein Petroleum Company’.

Folder A contains papers concerning: the proposed employment, primarily at Bahrein [Bahrain], of an Indian Army adjutant and a non-commissioned officer Instructor under the Persian Gulf defence schemes; the decision to appoint Captain A C Byard to the Persian Gulf Defence Force with the rank of Major, in preference to an officer from India, with effect from 13 June 1940; the appointment of Sergeant C E Carley of the The Lincolnshire Regiment as a non-commissioned officer Instructor to the Persian Gulf Defence Force; and the replacement of Byard by Major H T Hewitt of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, with effect from April 1941.

Folder B ‘Bahrein Defence Force. Recruitment from personnel of Bahrein Petroleum Company’ contains papers mostly relating to arrangements for the protection of the Bahrein Petroleum Company’s properties in Bahrein from sabotage.

The main correspondents are as follows: the India Office; the Political Agent, Bahrain; the Government of India External Affairs Department; the Government of India Defence Department; the Air Ministry; the Air Officer Commanding, British Forces in Iraq; and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.