A few salutary months in Baghdad 1919 - 1920

Clearly Bush and Blair are unlikely to be persuaded by historical parallels. But those who, like ex-ambassador Greenstock, are naive enough to believe that civil disturbance in Iraq at the present time is the work of a few Saddam loyalists or Islamic terrorists may be interested in a short list of deaths and disasters that marked the first British occupation in Baghdad during 1919 - 20.  I have added a few notes taken from War Office and Colonial and India Office files for use in a revised version of my book The Illicit Adventure. 

1919. November 1, British Political Officer, Mr Bill, shot dead at Mosul. November 30, British Officer, Captain Walker, killed. December 1, Syrian, Rhamadan al-Shalash, sets up provisional Iraqi government at Deir az-Zor to direct hostilities against British. 1920. Jan 28, Turkish raids in northern Iraq, casualties reported. March 20, tribal uprisings reported, Colonel Leachman sent to Dulaim trouble centre. June 3, explosion at Tel Afar, 'signal for uprising'. June 12, British officer killed at Tel Afar. Intelligence report, 'Desperate state of affairs, whole of Iraq seems to be fighting'. June 22, 'Standard Oil Company of America reported to be giving financial support to extremists' (India Office report). June 29, press reports 'Iraq and Irish uprisings almost simultaneous'. July 1, railway torn up at Rumaitha, train manned by Sepoys attacked. 4 July, Rumaitha defended by 114th Mahrattas under siege, 87th Punjabis sent to Hillah, 2nd Battalion Manchesters to follow. July 10, Rumaitha garrison has enough food for one more day. July 11, attack on rail station; staff captured. July 20. Rumaitha relieved, 187 British casualties. July 24, 2nd Battalion Manchesters and Scinde Horse, Sikh Pioneers, 24th Ambulance in night retreat, 200 killed. July 27, train from Diwaniya to Hillah isolated at Guchan station. August 1, insurgents attack Hillah. August 4, rail track on General Coningham's route torn up, trains isolated and looted. August 6, proclamation of Jihad in Iraq, tribes rebel NE of Baghdad. British GHQ orders burning of villages around Jarbuiyah. August 9, all army leave cancelled. August 12, Colonel Leachman sent to Falluja, shot dead at meeting with Shaikh Dhari. August 13, reinforcements ordered from England and India. August 27, trouble spreads to Iran. August 30, Captain Salmon captured and murdered; Kufa garrison besieged. August 31, train carrying Assyrian refugees attacked.

That was just the beginning. Perhaps, 84 years on, it is time for Blair to start reading. It would be asking too much of Bush.

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