Page 315 - Begrave Thesis_Neat
P. 315
no matter how much we differed with him and the policies he
instituted or the methods he followed, he was clean hand and honest
during all the time he worked. He did not exploit his wide authority
during that long period to himself or to his own personal gains. 942
Belgrave’s home in Manama no longer exists as it was demolished and
fenced. The road that carried his name was changed to Sheikh Isa Al-Kabir (the
Great) Road. Today there are no artifacts related to Belgrave in Bahrain’s museums
with the exception of him appearing in the background of various photographs
featuring local dignitaries. A question arises as to why there is virtually no mention
of Belgrave’s work or presence in Bahrain. The answer to that is found in Belgrave’s
publications, in particular his Personal Column and in his diary. The content
featured in his work that contained local gossip, personal attacks on various local
and British figures, mockery, and history of the humble and at times controversial
beginnings of various known local families resulted in him burning all bridges
amongst the locals. Hence, there is virtually no artifacts left of him.
Al-Bakir, after a short stay in Britain traveled to Lebanon where he arrived
on 22 July 1961. 943 Lebanon turned to be his final home as he lived there until his
death on 8 July 1971. His body was buried in Qatar. Al-Alaiwat after his release
from St Helena lived in Syria and Iraq. He died on 14 January 1969 and was buried
in the city of Najaf in Iraq. 944 As for the two frontline members Ibn Musa and E
Fakhroo who were imprisoned in Bahrain, they were less fortunate than the first
three, as the two were freed on 8 August 1964. Ibn Musa died approximately forty
942 ‘Wafat Al-Sir Charles Belgrave’ [The Death of Sir Charles Belgrave], Al-Adwha’a, 6 March 1969, 3.
943 Al-Bakir, From Bahrain to Exile, 457.
944 ‘Aham Al-Shakhsiyat alti Asrat “Al-Hay’eh’ [Contemporary Personalities that Witnessed the
Committee], Abwab Al-Wasat, 13 October 2004, 13.
© Hamad E. Abdulla 294