![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [‎112r] (228/488)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000208/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3282_0228.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [‎112r] (228/488)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [112r] (228/488)
The record is made up of 1 volume (242 folios). It was created in 2 Jun 1917-15 Aug 1917. 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.
76
WAR DIARY.
Date.
Summary of events.
Number.
5-8-17
The Secretary, War Office, London, stated that Porce “ D ” was amply supplied with river craft and
as the removal of river hospital ships except, such as ply in the fighting area, might be used by the
lurks as a pretext for firing on hospital ships, the proposal was not concurred in.
The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” was asked to despatch serviceable Turkish rifles to
Egypt as soon as possible, and to state how many of the remainder were suitable for issue to Arabs.
The Director, Supply and Transport, Force <£ D,” stated that if fodder situation was to be improved a con
tinuous flow must be maintained.
The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” stated that in reference to report by Agent 3rd August,
“ 1,600 men ” appeared more probable than “ 16 stations.”
The weekly return of sick and wounded for week ending 14th July was received from the Director of
Medical Services, Force te D,” Baghdad.
The General Officer Commanding, Force ct D,” was informed that Egypt required 20,000 Turkish rifles
for arming Syrian Arabs, and was asked if he could supply them.
His Majesty’s Secretary of State for India stated that enemy land and buildings in Mesopotamia should
not be sold without previous reference to His Majesty’s Government.
His Excellency the Viceroy was asked if he had any evidence connecting Khuddam-i-Kaaba with the
Turanian movement, and also for his views regarding the publication of information showing the
hostility of the Turanians towards Islam.
The statement of discharges per ship in tons on 3rd August was received from the Inspector General
of Communications, Basrah.
M. O. l Appreciation. Though the advantages of the offensive were not forgotten, it would seem that
without effective Bussian co-operation we should be simply playing into the hands of the Turks
by an advance up the Tigris, therefore a strategical defensive seemed to be our correct policy.
A. force of the size mentioned by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff moving within striking
distance of Baghdad seemed most improbable, but though belated the attack will come, and
information pointed oHts being directed in part down the Euphrates, a fact which emphasizes the
advantages of our position. Falkenhayn was reported to have announced his intentions of being in
Baghdad by the end of September, and it was hoped he would endeavour to carry out his intentions.
52989
52990
52994
52998
53072
53095
53109
53110
53120
Appendix.
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
About this item
- Content
The volume contains a chronological list of brief summaries of papers relating to the activities of the Indian Expeditionary Force D (also known as the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force) between 1 and 15 August 1917. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, memoranda, letters, and tables.
An index to the contents of this volume can be found at folios 3-15 and a summary of the contents can be found at folio 16. The volume concerns:
- The supply of food, animals, construction materials, weapons, and other items to Force D
- River and railway traffic in Mesopotamia
- Railway construction in Mesopotamia
- Arrivals to and departures from the port of Basra
- Problems with the unloading of ships at Basra
- Proposal for the transfer of men from the Disciplinary Labour Corps into a free Labour Corps
- Discussion of British strategy in Mesopotamia, including current policy of securing control of the Baghdad Vilayet, and inability to take offensive action without Russian support
- Recruitment of Arab prisoners of war in India ‘to serve the Sheriff [Sharīf] of Mecca’
- Intelligence concerning movements of Turkish [Ottoman], German, and Austrian units
- Intelligence concerning German construction of a railway ‘towards Mosul’
- Discussion of the creation of a French Consulate at Baghdad
- Financial administration of Force D and the territory occupied by the British in Mesopotamia
- Proposal for forming a new division of Force D
- Intelligence concerning Russian movements in the Caucasus and mutiny within the Russian army
- Intelligence concerning Kurdish movements and attacks on Russian troops
- Shortage of medical officers.
The volume also contains:
- Distribution and composition of Force D including details of lines of communication, commanding officers, and units captured at Kut-al-Amarah [Al-Kut] (ff 3-36)
- Distribution of Force D including details of lines of communication, 15 July 1917 (ff 123-127), 22 July 1917 (ff 216-220)
- Distribution of the Turkish Army, 7 August 1917 (ff 147-148), 14 August 1917 (ff 226-227)
- Detailed statement of ration strength of Force D on 30 June 1917 (ff 39-42), 7 July 1917 (ff 175-178)
- Ammunition held and used by Force D, 29 July 1917 (ff 42-43), 4 August 1917 (ff 123-124)
- Strength return of Force D dated 2 June 1917 (ff 45-61)
- Ration strength of Force D on 14 July 1917 (ff 67-69), 21 July 1917 (ff 152-154), 28 July 1917 (ff 234-236)
- Report of number of pilots and aircraft available for service in Mesopotamia, 2 August 1917 (ff 81-82), 9 August 1917 (f 179)
- Two diaries of information from 7 July 1917 (ff 90-107) and 21 July 1917 (ff 193-194) covering: climate and floods; local produce; Inland Water Transport; medical affairs; military government; the Directorate of Works; the YMCA in Baghdad; and the crash of a German plane
- Weekly return of sick and wounded for the week ending 14 July 1917 (f 114) and 21 July 1917 (ff 187-188).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (242 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 242; 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. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 3-240; these numbers are printed and are located in the bottom centre of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Dimensions: 21 x 33cm
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [112r] (228/488), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3282, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100137984423.0x00001d> [accessed 3 February 2025]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3282
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:241v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence