Alarms and Excursions in Arabia

THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF BERTRAM THOMAS - who rose from an Assistant Political Officer in early 20th Century Iraq, to Minister for the Sultan of Muscat and Oman 5 years later.

Bertram Thomas was not only the first non Arab to cross the Rub Al Khali Desert, but also a key person in Iraq's early 20th-century development. He was a British political officer for 5 years in southern Iraq and, often as a lone British representative, helped secure the region for Britain.

In Oman he rose to be the effective deputy for the Sultan, acting as administrator and judge. In Musandam his action helped maintain the exclave within the sultanate.