Nairn Bus to Baghdad

A fascinating book, primarily a biography of Gerald Nairn, but also a lot of detail about his brother and fellow business partner Norman. Born and raised near Blenheim, at the top of the South Island of New Zealand, both young men volunteered for service in World War I, Norman, who was the elder, was in England at the time war broke out and joined the Royal Flying Corps (and later the Royal Army Service Corps), Gerald joined the Canterbury Mounted Rifles.

Both served in different parts of the Middle East, and after the war looked for a way to establish a business, and they set up in Beirut. Private motor vehicles were rare at the time, and public transportation was practically non-existent outside of the military. Those vehicles that were present were seldom maintained - and most owners were unaware of what caused their vehicles to stop working. Initially the brothers bought up broken down or poorly working cars, repaired them and sold them on. Both men were young (Norman 26 and his brother 23), and they worked hard, having to raise capital. Within a year there were few cars available, and the economy was in decline. Their financial backers withdrew.

Left with three cars they were unable to sell, the brothers made the next logical move - they set up a regular motor service between Beirut and Haifa. Until then, only horse drawn gharries travelled this route. And this was the start of their Middle Eastern transport empire. Both men were keen on motor vehicles, and while Gerald was more hands on, Norman was more business oriented, and fulfilled an organisation and logistics role. From this small start the Nairn Transport Company expanded and expanded. Soon they secured the mail service, and with that came goods and equipment, as well as passengers.

As mentioned above, this book is primarily about Gerald - as told to the author after Gerald's retirement, back in Blenheim. It is packed with detail and photographs, stories and anecdotes, but more it provides a full, detailed explanation about the evolution of the company, the risks they took - calculated and otherwise, their ethos for treatment of their employees, and their customers, and their working relationships with Governments, Customs and Immigration services.

The company, originally in sole ownership of the brothers, then partnered with other shareholders, then they bought out the only major competition - the Eastern Transport Company and formed The Nairn Eastern Transport Company, in which they were part owners with other financial backers. This loss of control was against their nature, and they bought back control a few years later when the board voted against their continual upgrading of the services. They of course, returned the name to the Nairn Transport Company.

Throughout the operation of the company their pioneered every development in the industry. From the many vehicle types they trialled and developed to working with Firestone to develop tyres suitable for the heat. As well as technology, they were also innovative in their staff management - they paid their staff well over the going rates, but expected that they work hard and reflect well on the company.

At the outbreak of World War II, it was necessary for vast quantities of troops and equipment to be moved through the desert - British forces were using the Nairn route extensively, to bring troops from India via Persian Gulf ports and transporting them by army lorries across the desert in huge convoys. Norman and Gerald decided this was a job for them.
They went to Cairo and put it to the them:
“You are taking five days to bring a convoy of men and equipment across the desert,” he explained. “We can do it in 24 hours. There is no need for you to man those wasteful staging posts, because out buses and trucks can make the journey with only two brief stops. We've got the staff and the vehicles, and we know where to get more; and we got the organisation. I can guarantee we'll do it more economically and efficiently than the army can.”[P165/166]

And they did - they were given a months trial, and then there was no hesitation. They even engaged Gerald to investigate an overland route from India via the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan then west to Herat. Gerald travelled the route and reported back, but events had moved on, and the route was never used.

In the end it was family, and wishing to spend time with his in Blenheim that made Gerald's decision to leave the company. Norman stayed on, and despite turning down high offers to sell the business, they decided to gift it to the employees. Another example of their dedication to their staff. This didn't work out too well in the long term, as is explained in the book, but nevertheless ended an association with the Middle East of over 30 years in a tough environment, running a highly thought of company in good times and bad. Not bad for a couple of young men from NZ.

Highly enjoyable, and it was a pleasure to learn more about these men. They were a shining example of ethics and business acumen, and should be much more widely known about in this country of mine.

Well written by the author, who organised and themed the chapters from what must have been fascinating conversations with Gerald and his family. Very easy to read, yet detailed and informative.

5 stars.