'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.'

Content

The volume is the first volume of an official government publication compiled at the request of the Government of India, and under the direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence, by Brigadier-General Frederick James Moberly. The volume was printed and published at His Majesty's Stationery Office, London.

The contents provide a narrative of the operations of 1914-1918 in Mesopotamia, based mainly on official documents.

The volume is divided into two parts. The first part, entitled, 'Part I. Before the Outbreak of Hostilities', consists of the following five chapters:

• General Description of the Country
• The Turks in Mesopotamia
• British Pre-War Policy
• The Army in India and Pre-War Military Policy
• Inception of the Operations

The second part, entitled, 'Part II. The Campaign in Lower Mesopotamia', consists of the following seven chapters:

• The Landing in Mesopotamia of Force "D" and the Operations Leading to the Occupation of Basra
• The Occupation of Basra and the Capture of Qurna
• Commencement of the Turkish Counter-Offensive
• Development and Defeat of the Turkish Counter-Offensive
• Operations in Arabistan and the Capture of Amara
• Operations on the Euphrates and the Occupation of Nasiriya
• The battle of Kut and Occupation of Aziziya

The volume also includes nine maps, entitled:

• The Middle East
• Lower Mesopotamia
• Map 1 - To illustrate operations described in Chapter VI
• Map 2 - To illustrate fighting near Qurna
• Map 3 - To illustrate fighting round Shaiba
• Map 4 - To illustrate operations in Persian Arabistan
• Map 5 - To illustrate operations in the Akaika Channel 27th June to 5th July 1915
• Map 6 - To illustrate operations near Nasiriya 6th to 24th July 1915
• Map 7 - To illustrate the Battle of Kut 28th September 1915

Extent and format

1 volume (223 folios)

It is grouped into

'THE MIDDLE EAST'

1 image

Ref: IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, f 3v

'LOWER MESOPOTAMIA'

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, f 217

'MAP No.1. to illustrate operations described in Chapter VI.'

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, f 218

'MAP No. 2. to illustrate fighting near Qurna.'

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, f 219

'MAP No. 3 To illustrate fighting near Shaiba.'

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, f 220

'MAP No. 4 to illustrate operations in Persian Arabistan.'

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, f 221

'MAP No. 5 to illustrate operations in the Akaika Channel 27th. June to 5th. July 1915'

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, f 222

'MAP No. 6 to illustrate operations near Nasiriya 6th. to 24th. July 1915'

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, f 223

'MAP No. 7 To illustrate the Battle of Kut 28th. September 1915'

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, f 224

Arrangement

The volume contains a page of errata (folio 5), a list of contents (folios 6-8), a list of maps and illustrations (folio 9), appendices (folios 185v-192), an index (folios 192v-214v), and eight maps in a pocket attached to the inside back cover (folios 217-224).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 225; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

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.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1

Former external reference(s)

H 66

History of this record

Date(s)

1923 (CE, Gregorian)

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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025551844.0x000001> [accessed 31 March 2025]

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