Description
Object description
British officer served with Iraq Levies in Iraq, 1920-1922
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as officer with Iraq Levies in Iraq, 1920-1922: background to enlistment in army and service with cavalry and Royal Flying Corps, 1915-1918; posting as signals officer to Headquarters, Iraq Levies in Baghdad, 1920; commanding officers and composition of Iraq Levies; rivalry between Sir Theodore Fraser and Inspector-General Brigadier-General Sadleir-Jackson; opinion of camp commandant; story of how Austin was court martialled over disobeying orders over transport of treasure to Kirkuk; demotion to lieutenant and posting to desert; further court martial at Sir Theodore Fraser's instigation over flogging of Arab officer; his defence during court martial.
REEL 2 Continues: how Austin was acquitted during court martial; further court martials of Inspector-General Brigadier-General Sadleir-Jackson and Deputy Inspector-General Fox; Arab protection of popular officer; activities of Arab mutineer; threats of mutiny after punishment for selling arms; story of Arab's reaction to punishment for selling overcoat; story of Arab woman who supplied intelligence about Kurds; situation in Iraq; opinion of quality of Assyrian troops; Arab dishonesty during pay parades and kit inspections; opinion of Kurds; story of presence of Arab sex workers in camp.
REEL 3 Continues: amusing story of Arab officer's literal interpretation of orders; story of how Arab women accompanied troops; background to posting to Iraq; recruitment policy; necessity to separate Arabs and Assyrians; location of signal stations; assessment of Iraqi and British signallers and reasons why Iraqis not trained on wireless; effectiveness of policy of air control; position of Royal Iraqi Army; how Iraq Levies were recruited from Royal Iraqi Army; story of how officer countered indiscipline; rare floggings; daily routine in Baghdad and in country.
REEL 4 Continues: recreational activities of troops; impressions of Arab civilians; evening work as Aide-de-Camp (ADC); leaving Iraq, 1922; attitude towards service in Iraq; effects on career of court martial. Aspects of service with Somaliland Camel Corps and King's African Rifles in East Africa: quality of food in Somaliland Camel Corps and his problems as temporary quarter-master; visit of inspector who discovered dangerous ammunition stores; service with King's African Rifles in Tanganyika; story of punishments given to troops' wives who misbehaved.