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Department building close to the Muharraq causeway was set on fire. In Manama
Al-Khaleej newspaper’s premises were destroyed and attacks were also reported at
the Roman Catholic Church and School, 840 a shameful act quite against Bahrain’s
long tradition of openness and tolerance of religious minorities.
As fires raged in Manama a request to the Residency came at 12.30 pm from
Belgrave on behalf of the Ruler asking for British troops to help in restoring law and
order. The British were asked to take control of the outskirts of Manama while
Bahraini police attempted to control the souq. Another operation was launched to
re-open the Muharraq causeway. 841 British military reinforcements first landed in
Bahrain after 1.15 pm and their first task was patrolling Manama. Patrols were
deployed from Manama all the way to Awali Road to the south of the main island. As
the British units were taking up their positions a curfew was imposed at 2.30 pm,
about which the Administration used its radio service, loud speakers, and
distributed leaflets to inform the general public. RAF operated helicopters dropped
some of the leaflets. News in English was broadcasted for the first time on Bahrain
Radio at 9.00 am, 1.00 pm, 4.00 pm, and 7.30 pm.
On 4 November a circular was issued by the NUC calling for a boycott of all
British and French goods, not to assist in the process of loading or unloading tankers
owned by Britain or France, to refuse to supply fuel to planes operated by Britain or
France, and not supply food to British army personnel. 842 In Burrows’ memoir he
840 TNA, FO 371/120549, Gault’s Bahrain Monthly Intelligence Summary: November 1956, 5
December 1956.
841 TNA, FO 1016/478, Burrows to FO, 4 November 1956.
842 TNA, FO 371/120549, Gault’s Bahrain Monthly Intelligence Summary: November 1956, 5
December 1956.
© Hamad E. Abdulla 267
