Page 65 - Records of Bahrain (7) (ii)_Neat

Great Britain: military defence of Bahrain 455

Rt:; .v o in BHITIGII RESIDENCY,
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BAHRAIN.
2 7 MAY 1555
CONFIDENTIAL May 22, 1955. .
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I have boon rather concerned about the uisce uml shape
of our military cstablisluncnt in Bahrain and have cot my
Military Advisor to clvo me a summary of all British Forces
at present stationed hero. I enclose this list toecthor witli
an annex showing certain planned increases. A good many of
the latter are already in Bahrain, though still "uncstnblished".
But this is a technicality which is now being put right and
it does not affect the general picture. The increases on
the Army side are caused by
(a) building up, when accommodation is available, of
the two rifle companies to their proper establish­
ment of three platoons,and
(b) the proposed increase of the H.Q.L.F.P.G. eutab-
llfiluncnt to moot certain new planning commitments
and to relieve the First King'e Regiment of
certain administrative duties and to free them for
their security role.
2. In tho general picture you will see that the Naval
establishment is a relatively modest one. This is, of course,
accounted for by the fact that they arc mostly afloat and
self-contained. At the some time I om satisfied tliut they
have kept their administrative staff to a very reasonable
minimum. On the Army side I am rather less happy. Despite
(*f) the fact that operations in Oman have come to an end there
is a constant tendency for H.Q.L.F.P.G. to grow in size. I
suspect that this is partly due to the increased paper work
which is being thrust upon them by Aden and of course wo liavo
constantly Increasing planning responsibilities. You will
aloo see that the Signals element is a large one and this
seems an inevitable commitment. Nevertheless I propose to
keep a pretty close eye on any further increases which may
bo propoood.
3. The largest numbers are the R.A.F. and I have had a
word about this with the station Commander. I have not got a
breakdown of hi6 total otrength but a very large proportion
(3) consists of signals and he claims that there is nothing he
can do to reduce it. The second fuctor is that the station
QiJ) is on a 24 hour basis which means that he lias to run three
shifts and be prepared in theory to deal with aircraft at any
time during the 24 hours. The appallingly run-down and shabby
,.^.buildings on the station also require a disproportionate amount
C.Vof maintenance and I am satisfied that the present station
Commander is in no sense trying to build up a little empire.
It does, however, seem absurd to a layman that with virtually
no aircraft the R.A.F. should require about 450 officers und
men in Bahrain. I believe that an establishment committee is
due to come here to review the situation and I shall try to
make contact with them to sec whether wo can effect some
reduction on this side. Tho effect of the present overcrowding
is that, in lny view, the general efficiency of the station is
very low and I believe that a certain amount of streamlining
would be all to the good.
H. A. Beaumont, Esq., C.M.G., O.B.E., Aim
Arabian Department,
FOREION OFFICE.
CONFIDENTIAL