Mercol

Mercol was a flying column created by the British Army shortly after the Anglo-Iraqi War had ended.

Creation and composition[]

Mercol was a truck-borne flying column created in early June 1941 to round up irregular troops under Fawzi al-Qawuqji. In addition to Mercol, two other columns were created in early July. Gocol, commanded by Major , with the task of capturing Dr. Fritz Grobba, the German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Iraq and , under Major , with the task of securing Kirkuk.^[1] Mercol was named after its commander, Major . The column comprised A Squadron of the Household Cavalry Regiment, two Royal Air Force Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars and two antique 18-pounder field guns from the Habbaniya arsenal. Merry and his command carried enough fuel, rations and water for one week.^[2]

Notes[]

^ Lyman 2006, pp. 86–88.
^ Lyman 2006, pp. 87–88.

References[]

Lyman, Robert (2006). Iraq 1941: The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Fallujah and Baghdad. Campaign. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 1-84176-991-6.
Wavell, Archibald (1946). Despatch on Operations in Iraq, East Syria and Iran from 10th April, 1941 to 12th January, 1942. London: War Office. in "No. 37685". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 August 1946. pp. 4093–4102.