Military History |
Rif War
John Arnall - Missing in the Rif
Posted 21 Nov 2008
Ann Procter wrote in about a distant relative who died during the Rif Wars ...
My great great uncle John Arnall was a Rif supporter living for many years in Tangiers with his wife, and closely associated with Abd el Krim. He accompanied a Riffian delegation from Morocco to London on two occasions, trying unsuccessfully to drum up British support as he felt they were being unfairly treated by the Spanish and French.
To cut a long story short, family rumour has it that he met his death in March 1924 at the hands of the Spanish, and his body lies in an unmarked grave in Tangiers.
My daughter and I have spent a long time searching archives at the National Archive Centre at Kew, London. There are copious notes on letters between John Arnall and several foreign office departments, but that is all - we can find nothing at all about his death. He served a 3 month prison sentence for making anti-French statements in 1916, stood for Parliament in the General Election of 1918 and was quite a thorn in the side to many people!
There are no personal details or pictures about him anywhere - have you a clue where we can look next, as it all seems to have been hushed up from the British point-of-view - he has just been airbrushed away poor chap!
I couldn't help, but if you know something about John Arnall then please get in contact.
Jamil Sherif wrote in to say ...
I have come across records in the India Office Library in London which refer to John Arnall's Riff work, and which state that he died on April 12th, 1924 in Tangier.