Gocol was a truck-borne flying column created in early June 1941, to pursue and capture Dr. Fritz Grobba, the German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Iraq. Grobba went on the run after the collapse of the pro-German Rashid Ali government, to flee Iraq and get to Nazi occupied Europe. Two other columns were created in early July, Mercol, commanded by Major E. J. H. Merry, to round up irregular troops under Fawzi al-Qawuqji and Harcol, under Major R. J. Hardy, with the task of securing Kirkuk.
