Page 269 - Begrave Thesis_Neat

Calls went out in Bahrain to go on a strike on 16 August, purposely coinciding

with the London conference and in support of Egypt. It was feared that the Scouts

movement might be mobilised for the event. Nonetheless the Bahraini

Administration decided to postpone any declaration in relation to outlawing private

armies till after the strike was over. By doing so it aimed to avoid further trouble by

the NUC and was practical in wanting to see the NUC Scouts movement on display

with the objective of recognising its leaders. 776

To add further complications to the proposed strike, it would coincide with

the first day of the annual Shi’ite festival of Muharram, mourning the death of

Hussein which was due to take place on 16 and 17 August. Prior to the start of the

festivities it was noticed that the NUC’s Scouts’ team had appeared publically on the

evenings of 14 and 15 August in a meeting organised by the Party at a Shi’ite

mosque. The Scouts numbered around fifty. They had fitted themselves out in

khaki coloured shirts and trousers, together with the Arab head attire, and a badge.

The Scouts were mostly responsible for regulating traffic. 777 On the first day of the

Shi’ite festival, which coincided with the declared strike, the Scouts were seen again

regulating traffic and Gault noted his account of Scouts being drilled by former

Bahraini policemen. It was believed that the NUC’s Scouts had wanted to participate

in overseeing the organisation of the Muharram processions, but this request was

rejected by the Shi’ite procession leaders. 778 No incidents were observed on the day

776 TNA, FO 371/120549, Burrows to FO, 13 August 1956.
777 ‘Bernard Burrows, Residency’s Report for the Month of August 1956’, 1-7 (1-2).
778 TNA, FO 371/120549, Gault to Burrows, 31 August 1956.

© Hamad E. Abdulla 248