!['Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report' [‎33v] (71/424)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100023193457.0x000001/IOR_L_MIL_17_15_72_1_0071.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report' [‎33v] (71/424)")
'Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report' [33v] (71/424)
The record is made up of 1 volume (208 folios). It was created in 1925. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
60
Gr. 0. 0. It is the work of the staff to translate the G. 0. C.'s ideas and
intentions into orders to the troops.
The position of 6. H. Q. calls for comment. The Corps Commander
occupied the same observation tower as General Townshend all day.
This, normally, would be a very unsatisfactory state of affairs. In this^
particular case. General Townshend's personality was such that the
presence of the Corps Commander made no difference.
The same situation occurred during the approach to and battle of
Ctesiphon. General Nixon, accompanied by General Townshend,
marched with General Hoghton's Brigade. The conduct of this night-
march was entirely the responsibility of the latter. General Nixon fre
quently expressed the opinion to the Brigadier that the wrong direction
was being taken. We have the word of an eyewitness that General
Hoghton became much upset by this interference.
It is impossible to foretell what would have been the result upon the
campaign in Mesopotamia, had General Townshend's combinations
worked out according to plan in the battle of Es-Sinn.
Had General Townshend himself been present with Column A, and
had General Hoghton not gone round the Ataba marsh, it seems very
probable that the main portion, if not the entire Turkish force in Meso
potamia, would have been captured or destroyed. Baghdad might have
been entered without further resistance, if this had been desired. This
course was certainly in General Nixon's mind at the time. Whether it
would have been sound or not is another question.
To sum up :—
The G. 0. C. entrusts the bulk of his force, and that detailed to-
strike the decisive blow, to a subordinate, with no adequate staff to^
assist him.
The subordinate in turn entrusts the bulk of his force, and that intend^
ed to make the decisive attack, to another subordinate, who goes the-
wrong way.
The mobile part of the force, the Cavalry, effect nothing.
About this item
- Content
The volume is Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917. Compiled by officers of the Staff College, Quetta, October-November 1923. Part I - Report (Calcutta: Government of India Press, 1925). The volume is published by the General Staff Army Headquarters, India.
The volume is divided into twenty-five chapters, which cover the whole campaign in detail from December 1914 to April 1917, including the origins of the campaign; the British advance on Baghdad-Ctesiphon; operations at Kut [Al-Kūt]; the capture of Baghdad; and general reflections on the campaign.
The volume includes nineteen photographic illustrations.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (208 folios)
- Arrangement
There is a table of contents on folio 4. The volume also contains a list of illustrations (f 6) and list of maps and sketches that appear in Part II [IOR/L/MIL/17/15/72/2] (f 5). There is an index to the volume between ff 205-208.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at 1 on the front cover and terminates at 210 on the inside back cover. The numbers are written in pencil, are enclosed in a circle, and appear in the top right hand corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. page of each folio. This is the sequence used to determine the order of pages.
Pagination: there is also an original printed pagination sequence numbered 2-361 (ff 8-208).
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report' [33v] (71/424), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/72/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023514019.0x000048> [accessed 4 February 2025]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023514019.0x000048
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023514019.0x000048">'Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report' [‎33v] (71/424)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023514019.0x000048"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100023193457.0x000001/IOR_L_MIL_17_15_72_1_0071.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100023193457.0x000001/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/15/72/1
- Title
- 'Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:209v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence