WE POST WORLDWIDE
Please enquire for postage to your country

Ctesiphon Books

SAPPERS IN
THE PERSIAN GULF

By:
COLONEL W. H. ADCOCK
 

BOMBAY:     First Edition  1952

Publisher/Year: BOMBAY:  Thacker & Co., First Edition  1952. Binding: Original Cloth Hardcover, 22x15cm. Pages: 175 Illustrations: 32 photo illustrations, end-paper maps. жжж    Please see book CONDITION at end    жжж

SCARCE

ORIGINAL 1952 FIRST EDITION

FASCINATING ACCOUNT of

THE ARMY ENGINEERS in

THE PERSIAN GULF

IRAN & IRAQ

With
Many Photograph Illustrations
from around 80 Years Ago
 

From Preface ...

IT was not until the spring of 1941 that World War II had brought into its orbit that part of the world familiarly known to its predecessor as Mespot. Following the earlier pattern the troops despatched for service therein were for the most part provided from the Indian Establishment.

Starting with two Infantry Brigade Groups the force allotted for the defence of that theatre was gradually built up and became the Tenth Army, consisting originally of some two divisions ; the projects for its lines of communications and base installations were however on a scale to allow for its expansion on receipt of reinforcements : this entailed an extensive administrative programme both in planning and execution.

Originally plans for defence envisaged an attack on Iraq from the direction of Anatolia following the line of the Baghdad railway—the subject of considerable political tension dating back to the years prior to 1914. The occupation of Persia by British-Imperial and Russian forces in the autumn of 1941 in effect more than doubled the work necessary for development as the communications and port facilities in that country were in a more backward state than in Iraq.

The German drive towards Caucasia in the summer of 1942 led to the separation of the theatre from the command of G.H.Q. Middle East, to which it had hitherto belonged and to the setting up of a separate Persia-Iraq Command. The possibility of operations taking place in north-west Persia caused the speeding up of all work on the base and communications radiating from the Persian Gulf ports. Those who worked so hard to get things ready to time never saw the results of their efforts put to the test of sustaining active operations, due to the German failure before Stalingrad; their accomplishments, however, were not wasted : it was due to the initial spade-work of the British-Indian Engineers and labour units that the United States Army, when it took over the Persian Line of Communication in the spring of 1943, was able to put into effect its task of delivering millions of tons in " Aid to Russia."

The works of construction required by a Base under modern conditions would, if carried out in peace time, be undertaken by a number of civil engineering firms. In war the task falls on the Service Engineers, assisted by such civil labour as is obtainable. Materials are in short supply and a great deal of improvisation has to be resorted to.

This book, by Colonel Adcock, deals with the work of the Army Engineers in Persia and Iraq from the electrical and mechanical angle. One is impressed by the scope and variety of the tasks on which this particular branch was engaged, while on the technical side a most useful record for further study is provided.
Taking into consideration the climatic conditions together with the difficulties and frustrations encountered, I am sure that readers will agree that the accomplishments of the " E. & M." Branch of the British-Indian Engineers during the period under review establishes a fine record.

Field Marshal, the Lord Wilson of Libya
KINGSTON BLOUNT, OXON
1952
 

  

---

Contents ...

Chapters

Foreword BY FIELD-MARSHAL LORD WILSON OF LIBYA

Introduction

1. INDIA

2. EARLY DAYS IN IRAQ

3. G. H. Q. AND OTHER MEMORIES

4. WATER

5. ELECTRICITY

6. AIR-CONDITIONING

7. REFRIGERATION

8. OIL DRUM MAKING PLANT

9. OIL AND OIL PIPELINE

10. THE LANDS IN WHICH WE SERVED

Notable Dates During the War

Glossary of Military Terms and Abbreviations

Index

 

---

Illustrations ...
 

1. FIELD-MARSHAL THE LORD WILSON OF LIBYA

2. SOMME LINES, LAHORE 1940

3. PUNJAB CLUB, LAHORE 1940

4. AUTHOR IN OLD TURKISH FORT. SHU'AIBA 1941

5. BRIGADIER C. G. MARTIN

6. BULL-DOZER BOGGED IN MAKINA

7. FIRST RE-INFORCEMENT OFFICERS

8. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BHANDARI

9. BRIGADIER R. E. ASERAPPA

10. INDIAN TROOPS TAKE OVER ABADAN OIL REFINERY

11. MISS VIC WHITEMAN

12. E. & M. WEDDING AT ASHER DLAGRAMATIC LAYOUT OF SLIU'AIBA FLLTRATION PLANT

13. FIRST MILITARY POWER HOUSE IN IRAQ

14. R.A.F. POWER HOUSE, SHU'AIBA

15. GENERAL VIEW OF WATER FILTRATION PLANT SHU'AIBA

16. WATER FILTRATION PLANT, SHU'AIBA

17. TYPICAL DESERT OUT-DOOR SUB-STATION

18. CENTRAL POWER HOUSE, SHU'AIBA

19. 2,000-TON COLD STORE, BASRAH

20. GENERAL K. M. CARIAPPA

21. MAJOR-GENERAL SIR G. B. O. TAYLOR

22. BRIGADIER W. H. YORK

23. AUTHOR AT 'C MESS, SUMMER 1942

24. CAPTAIN J. G. HERRIOT

25. A.D.W. E. & M. STAFF, G.H.Q., PAIC, 1943

26. PAN BREAKER FOLLOWED BY GRADER

27. STRINGING 6-INCH PIPE

28. E-IN-C BRANCH, G.H.Q., PAIC, 1943

29. BRIGADIER J. W. HINCHCLIFFE

30. MAJOR J. G. BELL

31. CAPTAIN J. M. MORRIS

32. WITH THE MASONS AT BASRAH, 1944
     

---

Condition ...

Cover slightly soiled with sun-faded spine, otherwise book in very good condition. Very Scarce Work.