Other members of the Arab Bureau included George Stewart Symes, Philip Graves, Gertrude Bell, Aubrey Herbert, and T. E. Lawrence.

The book was censored by a mark indicating confidential information for General Headquarters from Bell bring composed of dispatches from the secretive Arab Bulletin.

On 1 April 1941, pro-German Rashid Ali and a group of supporters staged a coup d'état to depose the government of the pro-British Regent of the Kingdom of Iraq, Prince Abdul Illah.

Cornwallis, being highly regarded, was sent to Iraq on the understanding that he would be able to hold a more forceful line with the new Iraqi government than had hitherto been the case.

[10] Following the landing of the troops on 18 April, Rashid Ali requested that they be moved quickly through the country and that no more should arrive until the previous force had left.

[15] On 30 April, when Ali was informed that ships containing even more British forces had arrived, he refused permission for these troops to disembark.

Rashid Ali also began organizing for an armed demonstration at RAF Habbaniya[12] while anticipating German assistance would be forthcoming in the guise of aircraft and airborne troops.

Cornwallis signaled the Foreign Office that he regarded the Iraqi actions as an act of war which required an immediate air response.

He also informed them that he intended to demand the withdrawal of the Iraqi forces and permission to launch air strikes to restore control.

[16] On 1 May, the Cornwallis received a response giving him full authority to take any steps needed to ensure the withdrawal of the Iraqi armed forces.

[16] On 2 May, after several days of warnings and counter-warnings, Smart launched pre-emptive air strikes on the Iraqi forces positioned on the escarpment.

After the arrival of elements of Habforce, the British ground forces from Habbaniya pressed on to Fallujah and, after its fall, they advanced towards Baghdad.

After two days the Mayor of Baghdad and police loyal to the Iraqi monarchy quelled the violence by imposing a curfew and shot violators on sight.