Perim_under_British_rule Perim

perim , aden



steamers being coaled @ perim circa 1910



the perim hotel, bar, billiard room , other amenities, @ center of perim s meager social life

in 1856, seeing in french-sponsored suez canal project devious trick promote french power @ britain’s expense, prime minister palmerston agreed occupation of perim 1 of many options counter assumed french political , military ambitions in egypt , red sea. in december 1856, lord elphinstone, governor of bombay, wrote resident of aden on subject of perim, [..] have been directed occupy island, , intention of majesty s government lighthouse should built there. added since island had been taken possession of in name of east india company in 1799, considered part of dependencies of india, , therefore no formalities of kind necessary. resident proceeded organize small landing party peaceful occupation of uninhabited island. actual decision occupy might have been precipitated unfounded report french, said have been surveying area time, had dispatched frigate réunion annex island. declared reason occupation, however, urgent need erect lighthouse @ entrance of notoriously dangerous bab el mandeb , indeed, after bickering location , other factors, 11-meter high lighthouse built , inaugurated on 1 april 1861. important light did not prevent treacherous waters around perim continuing claim many vessels.

perim attached aden, dependency of bombay presidency, british india. next 2 decades, sign of british occupation lighthouse , small detachment aden garrison. otherwise, barren waterless island left few fishermen , somali herders went there. occasional proposals aden coaling company open branch on island did not materialize.

while aden had fine natural harbour, became effective starting in mid-19th century iron , steel ships of greater draught being built. starting in 1860s, many of larger steamers had stay off aden harbour, making process of coaling , taking in provisions both time-consuming , hazardous. deficiency not overcome until dredging , re-dredging projects began in earnest in 1890s.

naval repair facility c. 1900

in 1881, complete outsider, hinton spalding of london, granted permission start coaling station on perim, inner harbour accommodate vessels of draught. backing of number of large ship-owners, launched perim coal company (pcc) , on 29 august 1883 first steamer coaled in perim harbour. marked beginning of struggle between aden , perim red sea coaling business waged 2 ports until mid-1930s.

perim island , lighthouse in 1880s



passengers ashore while ship being refuelled

during 50 years, perim entirely geared coaling: harbour, roads , coolie accommodations laid out purpose , no other interests or activities allowed hinder coaling. perim’s lack of water, no more drawback @ aden: both ports supplied water condensers ships since aden water, delivered out of town, considered brackish purpose. before long pcc able grab lion’s share of salvage business due being near dangerous waters in area.

between 1923 , 1927 more coal being loaded @ perim @ aden. however, perim’s decline came fast due failure grab share of fast-growing oil fuel business cornered aden coal-burning steamers being retired. pcc went bankrupt in 1935 , perim slipped insignificance.

during first world war, turks in arabia sent force threaten aden , british communications along red sea. included assault on perim on june 14 , 15 of 1915 when turks landed on north coast of island. driven off detachment of 23rd sikh pioneers garrisoned on island under command of captain a.g.c. hutchinson. troops on mainland facing island subsequently pushed troops aden supported royal navy , end of year threat island of perim had been removed.