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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 41. PART II. (From 16th to 31st December 1917).’ [‎22r] (48/508)

The record is made up of 1 volume (250 folios). It was created in 10 Nov 1917-31 Dec 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. .

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263
Telegram P., No. X.-5358, dated 16th December 1917. APPENDIX 337
(Despatched 11-40 a.m., received 4-30 a.m., 17th December 1917.) [T)y. No. 85518)
Erom—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” Baghdad,
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
(Repeated India, Inspector General of Communications and Director, Inland Water Transport,
Basrah.)
Continuation my X.-5201 (Dy. No. 83555), dated December 8th. Addi
tional 1,000 tons timber, making 4,000 tons timber for works required in
January, should be added for this Department please.
Working copy to Q. M. G.
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (S D. 3).
Word Code telegram No. O. S.-665:2, dated 16th December 1917. APPENDIX 338
(Despatched 1-35 p.m., received 2 a.m., 17th December 1917.) (Dy. No. 85527)
From—The Director of Ordnance Services, Force “ D,” Baghdad,
To—The War Section, Army Headquarters.
Your 84747 of 14th December.
Not possible to make any reductions in demands for tentage and further
demands for general service 160 lb. tent(s ?) may be expected as it has been
represented that labourers are overcrowded under present scale. Also 1,400
of these tents being taken out of country. Scale of Indian tents European
privates just fixed include issues to all the troops and followers. It is hoped
that provision made will cover this and I hope to send definite statement in a
few days. It is very unlikely that any reduction will be possible.
Working copy to D. G. O.
Copy to M. S. C.
Telegram P., No. 45103-Cipher, dated 16th December 1917. APPENDIX 339
(Despatched 7 am., received 11-30 a.m., 17th December 1917.) (Dy. No. 85564)
From—The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, London,
To—The Commander-in-Chief in India, Delhi.
Your 84098 of 14th (See “i?” War Diary for December 1917). I am
most grateful for your ready assistance; your proposals for accelerating despatch
to Egypt of Indian battalions are most helpful. Detailed proposals as to the
method of using battalions sent to Egypt will be sent you shortly. I am
prepared to let the strength of Indian Battalions in Mesopotamia fall temporarily
to 1,070. When do you anticipate being able to raise them again to 1,200 ?
Working copy to Genl. Hudson.
Copy to M. S. C.
Telegram P., No. 85569, dated 17th December 1917. APPENDI X340
(Despatched 12 noon) {Ly.No. 85569)
From—The Chief of the General Staff, Delhi,
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D/‘ Baghdad.
Clear line .—Beference Secretary, War Office, No. 47991-Cipher S. D. 2,
dated December 14th (Dy. No. 85223).
Please reply War Office direct repeating here.
Inform me of units detailed if presumption confirmed.
Becord copy to Genl. O’Donnell.
Copy to M. S C,

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 16 and 31 December 1917. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: letters, telegrams, notes, reports, tables, and memoranda.

An index to the contents of this volume and a summary of the contents can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3289. The volume concerns:

  • Appreciations [reports] and intelligence summaries from the Directorate of Military Operations dated 16 December 1917 (ff 9-10), 23 December 1917 (ff 127-129), 30 December 1917 (ff 249-250)
  • Supplies, particularly of timber, tents, and preserved meats
  • The difficulties of dispatching petrol and oils in drums
  • A shortage of tin affecting food supplies
  • The armistice signed by Germany, Austria, Russia, Turkey and Bulgaria on 17 December 1917
  • Movements of Turkish [Ottoman] and German troops
  • British aerial bombardment of aerodromes at Humr [Al Humr], Tuz Kurmatli [Tuz Khurmati]
  • Commentary on shipping and port works recommended by the Cherry and Thompson Commission and A Monteath
  • Financial powers available to civil administrators in occupied territories and arrangements for receipts
  • The occupation of Samawa [As Samawah], Hillah [Al Hillah] and Kifl [Al Kifl]
  • The proposed Irrigation Directorate
  • The selection of men to be allotted to Major-General Lionel Dunsterville
  • Reinforcements for Force D, including supplies of medical officers, camels, and personnel for the Inland Water Transport Department, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, and the Railway Department
  • Reports from the Royal Flying Corps of machines in service and pilots available
  • Russian officers from England who were anxious to serve in Mesopotamia.

The following tables appear:

  • Distribution of Force D on 18 November 1917 (ff 16-21), 25 November (ff 144-155)
  • Ration strength of Force D on 24 November 1917 (ff 36-38, 187-191), 1 December (ff 133-136), 17 November (ff 136-140), 8 December (ff 212-214)
  • Distribution of the Turkish Army on 18 December 1917 (ff 48-49), 25 December 1917 (ff 167-169)
  • State of supplies on 15 December (ff 56-57, 76-77), 22 December (ff 177-178, 201-202)
  • Weekly return of the sick and wounded on 1 December (f 72)
  • Strength return for Force D on 10 November (ff 115-117)
  • Effective strength of the Railway Department (ff 237-241).
Extent and format
1 volume (250 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

Physical characteristics

The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 252; 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 3-250; 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
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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 41. PART II. (From 16th to 31st December 1917).’ [‎22r] (48/508), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3290, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100139296982.0x000031> [accessed 30 October 2024]

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