Mercol

{{Short description|British Army flying column}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}} {{EngvarB|date=November 2017}} '''Mercol''' was a flying column created by the British Army shortly after the Anglo-Iraqi War had ended.

==Creation and composition== ''Mercol'' was a truck-borne flying column created in early June 1941 to round up irregular troops under Fawzi al-Qawuqji. Named after its commander, Major E. J. H. Merry, the column comprised A Squadron of the Household Cavalry Regiment, two Royal Air Force Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars and two antique 18-pounder field guns from the Habbaniya arsenal. Merry and his command carried enough fuel, rations and water for one week.{{sfn|Lyman|2006|pp=87–88}}

In addition to Mercol, two other columns were created in early July; Gocol, commanded by Major R. E. S. Gooch, with the task of capturing Dr. Fritz Grobba, the German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Iraq and Harcol, under Major R. J. Hardy, with the task of securing Kirkuk.{{sfn|Lyman|2006|pp=86–88}}

==See also== {{Div col}} * Iraqforce * Habforce * Kingcol * Gocol * Harcol * 4th Cavalry Brigade * Flying Column {{Div col end}}

== Notes == {{reflist|20em}}

==References== {{refbegin}} * {{cite book |first=Robert |last=Lyman |series=Campaign |title=Iraq 1941: The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Fallujah and Baghdad |publisher=Osprey |location=Oxford |year=2006 | isbn=1-84176-991-6 }} * {{cite book| first=Archibald| last=Wavell| year=1946| author-link=Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell| title=Despatch on Operations in Iraq, East Syria and Iran from 10th April, 1941 to 12th January, 1942| publisher= War Office| location= London}} in {{London Gazette| issue=37685 |date=13 August 1946 |supp=y|pages=4093–4102}} {{refend}}

==External links== * {{cite web|url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/LondonGazette/37685.pdf |title=Despatch on Operations in Iraq, East Syria, and Iran From 10th April, 1941 to 12th January 1942.|work=Supplement to the London Gazette, Number 37685|date=13 August 1946|access-date=26 September 2009}}

{{World War II}} Category:Ad hoc units and formations of the British Army in World War II Category:1941 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:1941 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Category:Military units and formations established in 1941 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1941 Category:Military history of Iraq Category:Iraq–United Kingdom relations Category:Anglo-Iraqi War