![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [‎152r] (308/488)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000208/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3282_0308.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.)’ [‎152r] (308/488)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [152r] (308/488)
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.
ejected to be able to assign to them this organization was adequate and they
received the welcome addition of four fighting _ battalions offered ^ In d«>
three of which have already reached Mesopotamia. But later developmen
as above must result in the necessity for increased activity by this -force
possibly on three lines, namely, Euphrates, Tigris and Dialha, and with the
obiect of making adequate provision for command and handling I must
of necessity review my plans and slightly recast my (organization.). .
our part increased mobility will be essential and we must be prepared r
enemy movement down the Euphrates, even although so far there is- no
definite information of such intention m any strength In view ot the
magnitude of calls elsewhere I have all along reahzed the unterabfiity of
asking for additional troops. It seems to me, however, that the time ^as come
whenowing to the distance at which we are situated here from England and
India Tt would be wrong to delay further. Also I would submit that the most
economical and best way of bringing about the improvement^ advocate would
be bv forming another division. Apart from cavalry division this would B
me two coups and two divisions, these latter being available to act as general
“Lrve or to reinforce either corps to hold Dialba or Euphrates line as require^
I have already towards this new division, eight, battalions andonei
battalion as available, whilst India has promised another battalion Phis
means that with the addition of three battalions which should be (Bntis .)
oneslnfantry would be complete. I have three sapper and miner companies
which can be made available here whilst within the next few weeks India is
sending one signal company. Three combined ““^“^^^uld
promised by India Which with the one already available will suffice. Would
require the* following additional units :-3 brigade machine gun companies ono
horsed cable and one motor airline section, 2 brigades each of 3 six a un 18
pdr. batteries and 2 four gun 4-5 inch batteries, 3 ^ ar “" t am “ U d nl fi ““
sections one veterinary section and one sanitary section,
line transport should be brought by new units but " e J 53 ' 1 , P^Tf/camble
second line transport for existing and new units.. Should be Pl eas ^ lf .® a I ,ab d
divisional commander with experience in this war couid be provi.
concerning divisional staff and other staffs some of which already exist would
communicate later. I should like in conclusion to make it clear that as
regards the immediate future I am quite satisfied with my positicn and that
in view of possible developments, I am merely looking well ahead.
«
Working copy to G. S. (M. 0. 1).
Copy to M. S. C., M. S. V.
Telegram P., No. B -123, dated 3rd August 1917.
(Despatched 12-5 f.m., 4th August 1917; received 5 a.m., 5th August
19I 7.) ^ ,
From—The Assistant Adjutant General, 3rd Echelon, Basrah,
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
(Repeated Chief of the General Staff, Simla.)
APPENDIX 120
(Zty. No. 53598)
Army Troops —
Other arms, active
Infantry, active .
1st Corps—
Corps Troops—
Other arms, active
Cavalry, active .
Inactives .
3rd Division —
Other arms, active
Infantry, active .
Inactives <
—
British
officers.
Indian 1
officers.
British
other
ranks.
Indian
other
ranks.
Machine
guns.
217
19
2,088
1.213
50
• * *
21
30
1,829
8
Total
238
49
2,088
3,042
58
35
10
489
642
r* r *’
10
14
• ••
555
> • • • •
3
110
69
123
42
2,220
2,965
48
. . . . •
r ,
212
196
2,709
11,812
124
3
160
73
1
116
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.)’ [152r] (308/488), 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_100137984423.0x00006d> [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