Collection: HOLLOWELL PENNY

Two colour prints, taken by Penny Hollowell, showing the Hollowell family (Nigel, Clare and Helen) outside their house in Qatar, wearing the respirators issued to them by the British Embassy in Doha shortly before the Gulf War 1991.

Two colour prints, one on Kodak paper, the other Konica paper.

Four respirators were issued by the British Embassy in Doha, Qatar, to the Hollowell family on 8th January 1991. To ensure successful use if required, each respirator was fitted to the intended recipient at the Embassy. Between 7th and 14th January 1991, the British Embassy in Doha issued respirators to all British nationals who were still resident in Qatar, and hadn't followed advice to evacuate before the deadline given to Saddam Hussein to leave Kuwait. It was presumed that at the outbreak of hostilities Iraqi forces may use chemical or gas armed Scud missiles to target regional countries supportive of the international coalition. The family moved to Doha in September 1990, shortly after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Nigel Hollowell was employed as a contractor by A.K.C. a company owned by the Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar. His wife Penny was sponsored becoming a teacher at the Doha English Speaking School, which their Children Clare and Helen attended. With the build up of tension and the advice from the British Government to evacuate all non-esential personnel, Penny, Clare and Helen decided to leave their home at the 11th hour, taking the last flight out of the country on 16th February 1991. They retuned to Qatar around six weeks later.