IOR/L/PS/12/3957

The file concerns the case of Norman Forbes Boyle, an employee of the Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO) in Bahrain, who, it was alleged, had breached Persian Gulf Defence Regulation No. 2 of 1942 by leaving his employment without permission, and returning to his home in Northern Ireland. The question of prosecuting Boyle was considered by the British Government, who were keen to uphold the force of the Defence Regulation with other oil companies, and the company were keen on a prosecution to deter other employees from leaving their employment in a similar manner.

The papers include: correspondence from the India Office, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, the Home Office, and BAPCO; copies of various relevant regulations (folios 80-113); correspondence concerning the validity of Persian Gulf Defence Regulation No. 2 of 1942; minutes of a discussion about Boyle's case at the India Office, November 1943 (folio 68); moves to secure the re-employment of Boyle by BAPCO, November 1943 - January 1944; doubts over whether a successful prosecution could be achieved (e.g. folio 27); BAPCO's refusal to re-employ Boyle (folio 25); and agreement on the part of the Attorney-General, Northern Ireland, and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, that it was not in the public interest to institute proceedings if the company did not want Boyle back, February 1944.

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.