The history of the Iraq Levies, 1915-1932
This thesis is concerned with the origins and developments of a British-initiated force, known as ~The Iraq Levies~, which was raised during the Mesopotamian campaign of the First World War. This is a subject which had previously received very little rigorous historical study. The Force began with some forty mounted Arab scouts, recruited from Zubair in southern Mesopotamia by the Field Intelligence unit of the Imperial Expeditionary Force (I.E.F. 'D') in July 1915. By May 1922, the Force had expanded to approximately 6,000 officers and men, as against a planned 7,500 at the Cairo Conference. A survey of the performance and military background of several British officers who served with the Levies, was considered worthy of study. Mostly they came from the Indian Army, and thus were experienced in what may be described as ~political soldiering~ - an invaluable qualification for their service in Iraq. It was felt important that the different ethnic backgrounds and political aspirations, as well as religious loyalties represented in the ranks of the Levies required investigation to assist in an understanding of their motivation and service. Without a detailed review of these factors, it would be difficult to
Young, Robert Vernon Joseph
Mesopotamian campaign; First World War
The history of the Iraq Levies, 1915-1932. This thesis is concerned with the origins and developments of a British-initiated force, known as ~The Iraq Levies~, which was raised during the Mesopotamian campaign of the First World War. This is a subject which had previously received very little rigorous historical study. The Force began with some forty mounted Arab scouts, recruited from Zubair in southern Mesopotamia by the Field Intelligence unit of the Imperial Expeditionary Force (I.E.F. 'D') in July 1915. By May 1922, the Force had expanded to approximately 6,000 officers and men, as against a planned 7,500 at the Cairo Conference. A survey of the performance and military background of several British officers who served with the Levies, was considered worthy of study. Mostly they came from the Indian Army, and thus were experienced in what may be described as ~political soldiering~ - an invaluable qualification for their service in Iraq. It was felt important that the different ethnic backgrounds and political aspirations, as well as religious loyalties represented in the ranks of the Levies required investigation to assist in an understanding of their motivation and service. Without a detailed review of these factors, it would be difficult to
history iraq concerned origin_development british initiated force know the iraq raise mesopotamian campaign first_world_war subject previously receive_little rigorous historical_study force begin forty arab recruit southern mesopotamia field intelligence unit imperial force force expand officer men plan cairo conference survey performance military background several british officer serve consider worthy study mostly come indian_army thus experience may describe political invaluable qualification service iraq felt important different ethnic_background political aspiration well religious loyalty represent rank require investigation assist motivation service without detailed_review factor would difficult