MECA Accessions
New Accessions and New Catalogues
The Middle East Centre Archive is an active collecting Archive. We receive many new collections or additions to existing collections every year. This page is devoted to advertising newly catalogued and available material.
Our annual accession list is sent to the National Register of Archives every January and can be viewed from our entry on the Archon Directory and on The National Archives Discovery Database
Please also see our Collecting Policy for further information on what we collect.
Sir Owen Corrie Collection (PDF file) New catalogue – 9 Jul 2024
Digital and printed copy of papers and photographs relating to Owen Corrie’s life and service in Palestine 1917-1936, including his First World War service in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force and his service as a judge in the military and then the civil administration. The papers mainly consist of correspondence between Owen Corrie and his father, Josiah Corrie, but also include papers relating to Ivy Corrie and social events – such as invitations, as well as tickets and passes, newspaper clippings, a pamphlet for the annual meeting of the St George’s Cathedral Jerusalem, a card advertising the Palestine Girl Guides Association annual meeting and papers relating to the appointment of new judges and Owen Corrie’s appointment as Chief Justice of Fiji in 1936. 1 box, digital copy 11.6 GB (868 tiff files). Handlist.
Thomas Wigan Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 9 May 2024
Six letters written by Thomas Wigan to his family during the siege of Kufa in Mesopotamia (Iraq) in 1920. The letters describe fighting during the siege including shelling, as well as documenting dwindling supplies, especially of tobacco and cigarettes, as well as food. The letters describe the difficulties of isolation, rumours and a lack news of the military situation, as well as airdrops of supplies. The last two letters include an account of the relief of the siege, as well as Thomas Wigan’s views on the political and military situation in Iraq. 1 file. Handlist.
Annaseria Newspaper Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 15 Nov 2023
Digital copies (pdf files) and a printed copy of the London based political independent Arabic newspaper Annaseria covering 1982-1984. 85 items. Handlist.
Aity Campbell Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 24 Oct 2023
Photograph album with images of Palestine, Transjordan, Venice and Switzerland 1927-1930s and family history notes consisting of biographical details about Aity Campbell, a family tree and some memories of Aity written by her great-nephews in 2018. The photograph album includes a wedding photograph of Aity and James Campbell, views of Venice, camping in the desert, visiting Bedouins, official events including a parade and inspection of soldiers and policeman, two photographs (images 113 and 114) of the High Commissioner Herbert Plumer, views of the Swiss mountains, visits to the seaside and sailing and the minaret of the white mosque of Ramle, also known as Ramla tower (images 263 and 264). 1 box, 1 file. Handlist.
Anwar Nusseibeh Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 14 Jul 2023
TS memoir ‘Pattern of Disaster. Personal Notes on the Fall of Palestine’ written by Anwar Nusseibeh and mainly covering events in 1947-1948; copies of obituaries of Anwar Nusseibeh in 1986 and a printed image of Anwar Nusseibeh taken from a website in 2005. 1 file. Handlist.
Peter Clark Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 17 May 2023
French map of Tunisia in 1904 and a collection of 80 postcards with images of Lebanon, Palestine and Syria c1900s-1930s. The postcards include general views of towns, historic buildings and archaeological and religious sites. Most of the postcards are of Aleppo, Deir El Zor, Jerusalem and Palmyra. Correspondence from Wilfred Thesiger to Peter Clark 1988-1995, mainly about an exhibition of Wilfred Thesiger’s photographs arranged by Peter Clark, but also about mutual friends and the book Karari by Ismat Hasan Zulfo, which Peter Clark had translated into English. 1 box. Handlist.
Palestine Police Service Records Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 27 Apr 2023
Palestine Police service record cards for British and Palestinian policeman 1930s-1948, as well some service records of Palestinians who were employed in the prison service 1920-1948, as for example, messengers, typists, clerks, engineers, teachers and translators. The majority of the records (63 boxes) are for British Palestine policemen and a smaller set of the records (12 boxes) are for Palestinian Palestine policemen and there is 1 box of records for Palestinians who were employed in the prison service. The Palestine Police service record cards have a standard format and include information such as force number (service number), full name, father’s name, nationality, date and place of birth, previous occupation or trade, marital status, information on next of kin, the date of enlistment and appointment, a photograph and signature of the holder, education, appointments and promotions, divisions at which the holder served with dates of transfers, leave register, medical history, family register (such as date of marriage), commendations and rewards, punishments and particulars of discharge. Not all of the service record cards have photographs and the quantity of information filled out in the cards varies. 76 boxes. Handlist. Please note that access to the Palestine Police Service Records Collection is subject to the provisions of data protection legislation. Please ask the archivist for further details.
Richard Edenborough Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 22 Mar 2023
TS memoir ‘Wandering for Winthrop’ by Richard Edenborough giving an account of his business trip to the Middle East, 8 Nov – 20 Dec 1954, as part of his work for Winthrop Products, a subsidiary of the American firm Sterling Drug Inc. The memoir consists extracts from letters to his family, illustrated by postcards and photographs and describes his journey and experiences visiting Athens, Damascus, Cairo, Beirut, Tehran, Baghdad, Aden, Karachi, Asmara, Khartoum and London. 1 box. Handlist.
Tom Bremridge Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 17 Mar 2023
Printed memoir ‘Gunner Officer Defects to the Infantry. Tom Bremridge – Desert Regiment, Sultan’s Armed Forces, Sultanate of Oman 1971-1972’ illustrated with photographs. The memoir provides a brief introduction to ‘Oman and the War 1968-1975’ and provides an account of Tom Bremridge’s service, as an infantry officer in the Sultan’s Armed Forces in the Desert Regiment in Akoot, Mughsayl and Sarfait. 1 file. Handlist.
Danny Morrison Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 3 Mar 2023
Papers mainly relating to Danny Morrison’s service in the Palestine Police (1931-1940) but also including a few items relating to his service in the Nyasaland Police (1940-1961), as well as one photograph of Danny Morrison in his Palestine Police uniform. The papers include a letter of recommendation for his application to join the Palestine Police, his Palestine Police contract and re-engagement declaration, as well as correspondence, including an obituary, from Palestine Police veterans remembering Danny Morrison’s life and career and biographical information written by Mary Abela. 1 file. Handlist.
David Coppin Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 20 Jul 2022
Papers and photographs relating to David Coppin’s life and service in the Middle East including 35mm colour slides of Bahrain in 1964, photographs from his service in Oman in the Sultan’s Armed Forces 1964-1966 and the Soldier’s magazine from 1964; papers and photographs relating to his service in the Dubai Defence Force 1973-1974, photographs and an article about a journey in Yemen in 1980; papers and photographs from his time in Oman in 1985-1986 whilst working as an Administration Manager on the Sultan Qaboos University Construction Project (including aerial images of the new University under construction); a collection of maps of Oman, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates 1961-1984 and some printed literature consisting of a booklet on Dhofar 1974 and an exhibition catalogue for ‘Weapons of the Islamic World: Swords and Armour’ 1991. 4 boxes, 2 folders. Handlist. Photographic collection.
Fred Clark Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 11 Apr 2022
Photograph album of the funeral of Fred Clark, Palestine Policeman, labelled ‘To Mr and Mrs Clark in memory of a valued friend from Police Headquarters 12.6.1939, Jerusalem’. The album contains 2 photographs of Fred Clark and 27 photographs showing the funeral procession, the service at the graveside, a rifle salute, the laying of wreaths and the completed grave with a headstone. 1 box. Handlist
Roger Partridge Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 18 Mar 2022
Photographs and papers mainly relating to Roger Partridge’s national service in the Royal Air Force Levies in Iraq 1946-1947 including 3 photograph albums, loose prints, a Christmas card, a St Andrew’s Church service card, training materials consisting of a booklet ‘Notes on Map Reading’ and a printed booklet ‘Arabic Self-Taught (Syrian)’ as well as travel guides for Ur, Babylon, Nineveh and the Coptic Church of El-Moallak at Old Cairo. 2 boxes. Handlist.
Jean Reid Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 24 Feb 2021
Correspondence and photographs from three serving Palestine Policemen (Ron Bridgett, Bill Cameron and Joe Wildman) to Jean Reid. Bill Cameron was Jean Reid’s cousin and he introduced Ron Bridgett and Joe Wildman to Jean Reid. The letters give some descriptions of daily life and work in the Palestine Police, as well as the deteriorating security situation in 1947-1948. 1 box. Handlist. Photographic collection.
George Antonius Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 1 Jul 2019
Reports and letters when Senior Associate in the Middle East of the Institute of Current World Affairs, on Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and Iraq 1930-1939, including notes on the case of Taha Hussein, 1932, and on Saiyid Jamal ad-Din al-Afghani and Shaikh Muhammad ‘Abduh. Papers relating to the London Palestine Round Table Conference in 1939 including pre-conference meetings in Cairo and Beirut, a directory listing the conference participants, Arab delegation statements, minutes of Arab Delegation meetings, papers relating to the Committee on Pledges examining the McMahon-Hussein correspondence and policy committee papers. 5 boxes. Handlist.
Libyan Newspapers 1969 Coup (PDF File) New catalogue 20 Sept 2018
Three English language Libyan newspapers recording the events of the 1969 coup in Libya consisting of the Daily News 6 Sept 1969, Daily News 7 Sept 1969 and The Libyan Mail Special Edition 7 Sept 1969. 3 items. Handlist.
Minna Barren Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 14 Aug 2018
Diary detailing a month’s holiday in Egypt from 23 Dec 1951 to 27 Jan 1952. The first half of the diary mainly consists of descriptions of the various historical sites Barren visited during her stay in Egypt. These include the Hatshepsut Obelisk (pg 2), the Tombs of the Nobles (pg 8) and the Museum of Cairo (pg 16). Also included is an account of a market in the Egyptian countryside (pg 6 and 7). The second half of the diary mainly relates to Cairo and includes various introductions and meetings. These include dinners with Minna Barren’s cousin Noel Thomas. Other activities are mentioned, including a camel ride (pg 17), a visit to an exhibition on Indian paintings (pg 19), a night at an Italian Opera, La Boheme (pg 20) and a donkey ride to the Serapeum of Saqqara (pg 24-25). 1 file. Handlist.
Noel Thomas Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 14 Aug 2018
Papers mainly relating to the ‘Black Saturday’ riots in Cairo in Jan 1952 and their aftermath, including a personal account of the riots and medical reports, which detail the extent of Noel Thomas’s injuries. There is also a history of the 1st Cairo English School Scout Troop during World War II, as well as a history of the English School of Heliopolis Cairo, 1916-1956, accompanied by two annual school magazines. There is a small collection of photographs consisting mainly of images of Noel Thomas. 1 box, 1 file. Handlist. Photographic collection.
Robert Ball Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 13 Jun 2018
Papers and photographs mainly relating to Robert Ball’s service in the Palestine Police and later Bermuda Police, including his Palestine Police employment contract, passport, Christmas dinner menu, portraiture photographs, a photo album of purchased photos of Palestine with one photograph of Lebanon, view-master reels of Palestine, his Palestine Police service record and certificate of discharge. The papers also include his Bermuda Police service employment contract, police reunion photographs and Overseas Pensioners’ Association papers. 2 boxes. Handlist.
Neville Baker Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 16 Mar 2018
OMAN ARCHIVE: Oral history video interview of Wing Commander Neville Baker in conversation with Fiona Warton for the project ‘Reflections on the Oman Insurgency 1965-1975 and its renaissance.’ The interview covers Neville Baker’s service in the Sultan of Oman’s Air Force 1970-1978, especially his time as Squadron Leader of 3 Squadron and the introduction of helicopters into the Sultan’s Armed Forces. The interview is 1 hour 51 minutes 54 seconds in length. 3 digital VOB files. Handlist.
Dick Holdsworth Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 15 Mar 2018
Papers relating to Dick (Leslie) Holdsworth’s service in the Palestine Police 1940-1945 consisting of his certificate of appointment to the Palestine Police, a certificate noting his appointment as a ‘Private in the military force constituted under Section 51 of the Police Ordinance’, certificate of discharge and leave and last pay certificate. Also includes Holdsworth’s National Registration Identity Card 1945 and two membership cards for the Palestine Police Old Comrades Association 1971-1996 and one Palestine Police Old Comrades Benevolent Association booklet listing donations 1982-1995. 1 file. Handlist.
Peter Barrington Collection (PDF File) New catalogue 9 Mar 2018
Photograph album with some loose prints and one negative from Peter Barrington’s army service during the Second World War including photographs of Southampton docks, Malta, Palestine including Jerusalem and Haifa and Egypt including Fayid, Port Said and Germany including Düsseldorf, c1945-1948. 1 box. Handlist.
Joshua Parlby Collection(PDF File) New catalogue 22 Aug 2017
Digital copy of papers and photographs relating to Joshua Parlby’s life and career, especially his time in Iraq 1917-1935 with an emphasis on his last year in Iraq; including personal documents relating to Joshua Parlby and his spouse, letters of thanks to Joshua Parlby for his work, correspondence with a colleague and papers relating to the accolades Joshua Parlby received throughout his career, such as the Order of the British Empire, Order of Al-Rafidain and Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire, as well as a Mention in Dispatches. The collection also includes an original framed silver souvenir photograph given to Joshua Parlby on his departure from Iraq. 1 box and 83 digital items.
William Stewart Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 3 Aug 2017
Papers and audio-visual material relating to William Stewart’s service in the Palestine Police including a policeman’s notebook, a 1947 Christmas dinner menu and his 1949 certificate of discharge. The majority of documents relate to Stewart’s membership and involvement with the Palestine Police Old Comrades Association, and material relating to reminiscing about his time in Palestine. These include a constitution pamphlet, certificates of membership and details of dinners in 1998 and 2005. Material relating to reminiscing about his service in Palestine include a list of some colleagues compiled in 1991 and two VHS cassettes of a Palestine Police recruitment film and the BBC documentary ‘ A Dream so Fair: The Palestine Police.’ 2 boxes. Handlist.
Andrew Ensor Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 9 Mar 2017
Documents relating to Andrew F. Ensor’s career in the oil industry in the 1940s-1970s, including correspondence, memoranda and internal company reports. Also includes a paper he wrote in 1979 about his dealings with OPEC leaders in the 1960s and early 1970s. 7 boxes. Handlist.
Daniel Sweeney Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 27 Jan 2017
OMAN ARCHIVE: Papers relating to Daniel Sweeney’s military service in Oman consisting of a memoir written covering his time the Baluch Training Centre and Southern Oman Brigade Training Centre 1975-1982, a digital copy of a cine film of the 1977 recruit passout parade with accompanying notes, a vaccination certificate, an employment contract and digital copies of photographs taken during his service in Oman c1975-1982. 1 file. Handlist. Photographic collection.
Vivian Williams Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 10 Nov 2016
Fifteen issues of the Ring Road Rag, a newsletter/magazine produced by members of the British expat community in North Yemen, between June 1984 and December 1985. Contents include local sports and arts news, international and diplomatic developments, descriptions of walks in the area, descriptions of journeys made, cookery suggestions and advertisements. The collection also includes eight drawings made by Vivian Williams during his time in Yemen, 1983-1984. 1 box. Handlist.
Peter Giles Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 25 Oct 2016
Papers, leaflets, photographs and artefacts collected during Peter Giles’ time in the Transjordanian Frontier Force and the Palestine Police Force, mainly relating to his work as a police officer, including large numbers of Police and Legal Forms, both used and unused, and a number of Jewish and Arab propaganda leaflets and notices. There are also a small number of memoranda regarding the withdrawal of the British Administration and the future of its employees; two sections of editions of the Palestine Post, and an internal News Bulletin with updates on the situation in Palestine and various materials from Peter Giles’ social and personal life, including prayer books, race programmes and telegrams. 1 box. Handlist.
Laurence Hubbard Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 30 Sept 2016
Correspondence relating to Reverend Hubbard’s Missionary work in Damascus and Aleppo, Syria 1993-1996 and in Aqaba, Jordon 1996-2000; including Reverend Hubbard’s appointment letter and his background notes on Damascus, monthly link letters for supporters at home and letters from friends and supporters during and after Reverend Hubbard’s overseas missionary work. Also includes photograph albums and slides documenting his missionary work for the Church, including images of the surrounding landscapes, architecture and life in Syria and Jordon, as well as a ‘History of Aqaba’ by Hubbard and slides from the Church Mission Society ‘Palestine – paying the price’ giving a presentation on conditions of the Palestinians in the 1990s. 3 boxes. Handlist.
Robert Large Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 30 Sept 2016
Letter giving Robert Large’s reminiscences of his service in Palestine and Transjordan c1947-1948 in the Transjordan Frontier Force. 29 May 2004. 1 item. Handlist.
Graham Williamson Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 29 Sept 2016
TS memoir ‘Reflections on Oman’ giving an account of the setting up of vocational technical training centres in Oman and also commenting on the impact of the Iranian revolution on Shiites in the Omani Government, as well as increased state enforcement of Islamic law and social separation between Omanis and expatriates. The memoir also comments on living conditions including the climate and issues with water and electricity. Photocopy of a printed article ‘The Labour Situation in Oman’ written by Graham Williamson but credited to H.E. Khalfan Nasser Al-Waheiby, Minister of Social Affairs and Labour and published in Al-Markazi in November 1977. 1 file. Handlist.
Valerie Nelson Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 27 Sept 2016
Papers and photographs relating to the life and work of Valerie Robinson (née Nelson) as a personal assistant in the office Political Residency Bahrain 1968-1972 and The British Embassy, Muscat 1977-1982 consisting of two photograph/scrapbook volumes; an account of ‘Life at the Political Residency Persian Gulf 1968-1972 and The British Embassy, Muscat 1977-1982 by Valerie Robinson (née Nelson)’ written in 2014 and fifty 35mm colour slides from her service in the Political Residency Persian Gulf 1968-1972. 3 volumes, 50 slides. Handlist. Photographic Collection.
Christopher Linaker Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 3 Mar 2016
35mm colour slides and digital images relating to Christopher Linaker’s army service in Oman from 1970-1971. Images document life on the military base, tribal disputes, the handing over of command, fighting, village and vaccination patrols and military operations. The collection also includes of images from the Salalah Palace during and after the coup. 113 items. Handlist.
Robert Melville Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 16 Mar 2015
Papers relating to Col. Robert Melville’s role as Staff Liaison Officer for the Arab Legion from 1949-1956. The papers, consisting of reports, correspondence, scrapbooks and notes, thoroughly document the Arab Legion’s development while under the command of Lt.-Gen Glubb. The papers consist of information on Arab Legion reorganisation, expansion and finances; also included is material on political and military incidents in Jordan and concerns witnessed by Glubb. There are files containing material on the Arab Legion and the media, scrapbooks and loose press cuttings relating to the Arab Legion and Glubb’s dismissal and personal correspondence between Melville and Glubb containing information on domestic affairs. An oral history interview with Col. Melville in 2013 is available to listen to and consists of information on his military career. 13 boxes. Handlist.
Chalky White Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 12 Jan 2015
Two printed pamphlets relating to Chalky White’s service in the Palestine Police consisting of the Criminal Code Ordinance Consolidated Edition (as in Force on 1st March 1945) published by P. Kadi, Jerusalem and the Report of the Anglo-American Committee of Enquiry regarding the problems of European Jewry and Palestine, Lausanne, 20th April 1946 Miscellaneous No 8 (1946) His Majesty’s Stationery Office Cmd. 6808. 1 File. Handlist.
Harry Wade Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 27 Nov 2014
Biographical account and photo album relating to Harry Wade’s Royal Air Force service in Iraq and India between 1928 and 1934. The photo album includes photos of landscapes, aircrafts, and military life, taken, ordered and labelled by Harry Wade. It also includes photographs with an anthropological interest such as ‘Iraqi types’ and ‘Kurdish and Indian types’. 1 file, 1 box. Handlist. Photographic Collection.
Donald Brodie Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 31 Oct 2014
Two photograph albums containing photographs relating to Donald Brodie’s service in the Palestine Police between 1937 and 1942. The first largely contains personal photos and includes scenes of police officers and soldiers at work and rest, accommodation, posts and checkpoints, police and military vehicles, landscapes, places of interest and daily life. Also includes images documenting attacks carried out by Irgun, such as the bombing of the Jerusalem General Post Office on 12 June 1939. The second photograph album mostly contains propaganda photographs relating to the Arab Revolt in 1936-1939, presumably collected by Donald Brodie. There is also a small collection of prints containing copies of photographs found in the first album and a single newspaper clipping from 1939 containing a pictorial history of Palestine. 1 box. Handlist. Photographic Collection.
Sir Richard Beaumont Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 31 Oct 2014
Papers mainly relating to Sir Richard Beaumont’s service in the Foreign Office, in particular his service as Consul in Jerusalem in 1948 and his role in the Buraimi Oasis dispute with Saudi-Arabia in Jan-Oct 1960. Includes a handwritten chronology of events in Palestine and Jerusalem in the period Feb-Dec 1948, with personal diary notes, and photocopies of documents held by The National Archives, perhaps compiled for research purposes. There is also a small amount of material relating to Lebanon and Syria during World War II, as well as a collection of newspaper clippings, 1979-1995, reporting on events in the Middle East. 1 box. Handlist.
Monica Wilson Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 29 Jul 2014
Papers relating to Monica Wilson’s work in Palestine as a radio broadcaster, journalist and civil servant, consisting of letters to her parents, 1943-1948 which include accounts of the bombing of the Palestine Post and the King David Hotel as well as the siege of Jerusalem; a statement from Monica Wilson regarding her letters from Palestine (c.2010); an overview of Monica Wilson’s letters by Roger Hardy, 2013; 14 transcripts of letters written by Monica Wilson, transcribed by Roger Hardy 2013. 2 boxes. Handlist.
Trevor Kirby Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 24 Jul 2014
Papers relating to Trevor Kirby’s service in the Palestine Police, consisting of a scrapbook with newspaper cuttings from his time in Palestine 1944-1948; an Arabic Language Textbook produced by the Palestine Police Force; four travel guidebooks covering Jerusalem, Syria, Lebanon, Transjordania; a printed Palestine Police Old Comrades’ Association leaflet covering the history of the Palestine Police Force; a printed speech made by H.M. George VI thanking the Palestine Police; remembrance items including a roll of honour and latter printed editions, correspondence regarding the roll of honour and a remembrance cross; Palestine Police Old Comrades’ Association Newsletters from 1950-2012, produced Quarterly (tri-annually from 2007), giving information on association news, regional meetings, annual dinners, obituaries, and purchasable association clothing. 7 boxes. Handlist.
Sheilagh Bailey Collection (PDF File) New Catalogue 29 May 2014
Interview and photographic material relating to Sheilagh Bailey’s work in Oman in the Palace Office from 1972-1984 and later visits to Oman. In the interview Sheilagh Bailey discusses her slides and photograph albums and their context. There are two boxes of 35mm slides relating to Sheilagh Bailey’s work in Oman in 1972, and four photograph albums covering 1972-1980s, as well as later return visits to Oman and Switzerland in 1998-1999. 3 boxes. Handlist. Photographic collection.
British Palestine Police Association Collection (PDF file) New Catalogue 29 Apr 2014
The British Palestine Police Association Newsletter Number 1, Spring 2014 which includes the minutes of the inaugural meeting, the constitution of the new association, as well as news of future association events, a short history of the Palestine Police Force, an article on the Transjordan Frontier Force and news of former Palestine Policemen including obituaries. 1 item. Handlist.
