1st Faughs depart for Kasvin

North Gate Kasvin, circa 1918/19

On 10 October 1919, the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers was embarked on a ship heading from Mesopotamia (Iraq). At that time the threat of Bolshevism was spreading and Britain was deploying regiments to police regions where there was mounting unrest. The first stage of the Faugh's journey ended at the head of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf, where they transferred to a river boat and proceeded up the River Tigris. Changing to rail and road for another 400 miles, they eventually came to ancient Kasvin, capital of the Persian Empire under the Safavids from 1548–1598, where they found that their barracks were nothing more than a collection of monotonous mud huts.

This experience was despite assurances given to Parliament in London on 23 July 1919 by Henry Foster, Financial Secretary to the War Office who, in response to being asked:

what arrangements are made for the well-being of the troops stationed at Kasvin, Persia; and whether he is aware that complaints are being made that the food is insufficient, that the postal service is most irregular, and that the general conditions are very bad there?

stated:

No previous complaints have reached the War Office regarding the conditions at Kasvin. It is stated by an officer who passed through there in April that the troops were well hutted and that there was no shortage of food. The climatic conditions are much better than in Mesopotamia. As regards the postal arrangements, I understand that there was previously some delay in the case of mails which were sent viâ Mesopotamia, but arrangements have since been made for a new service from Constantinople. This should have resulted in a greatly improved delivery, and I hope that the troops stationed there will in future get their letters without any undue delay.

Perhaps a more accurate report could have come from an officer who had been accommodated there and visited the troops rather than from one who had merely 'passed through'.