‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 23 PART II (From 16thto 30thJune 1916)’

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 30 June 1916. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, letters, tables, and memoranda containing instructions and reports.

The volume mostly relates to:

• Reinforcements and supplies for Force D, including: weapons; airplanes; ammunition; clothing; river and sea craft; equipment; animals; and hospital services
• Staff: appointments; recruitment; changes in command; salaries; illnesses; and leave
• Re-organisation of some staff structures
• Processes for sending packages and gifts to troops
• Prisoners of war
• Updates from the Tigris line, especially at Kut [Al-Kut, also rendered as Kut-al-Amarah in text] and Sannaiyat [As Sina‘yat]
• Updates from the Euphrates line, especially at Badar and Nasiriyah
• Activities and movements of Ibn Rashid, Shaikh of Shammar Arabs [Saʿūd bin ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Āl Rashīd, Emir of Ha‘il]
• Intelligence about the Turkish [Ottoman] Army: commanders; plans towards Kermanshah [also rendered in text as Kirmanshah]; possible attacks on Nasiriyah and Serdesht; distributions on the Caucasus and Persian [Iranian] fronts; status in Syria and on the Tigris line
• Communications with the French Army
• ‘Friendly Kurds’ between Amadia [Amadiya] and Neri
• Arrests of high-level German army officials in Persia
• Functions of the Arab Bureau
• Construction of railways
• Proposals for a modified inspection centre at Fao [Al-Faw] to prevent enemy ships entering the Shatt-al-Arab
• Violence at Karbala [also rendered in text as Kerbella], including copy of a letter describing the events written by inhabitants of Karbala and addressed to the Persian Government and leaders of the Kashgai [Qashqāy] and Bakhtiari [Bakhtiyārī] (ff 85-86).

The volume also includes:

• Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia on 19 June (ff 39-41) and 26 June (ff 100-101)
• Distribution of Force D for week commencing 25 June 1916 (ff 90-94).

A summary of the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3254.

Extent and format

1 volume (133 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 135; 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 3-133; 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

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/17/5/3255

Former external reference(s)

Volume 23 PART II

History of this record

Date(s)

21 May 1916-30 Jun 1916 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

RailwaysMilitary logisticsMilitary suppliesMilitary intelligence

Places

MesopotamiaPersiaKarbala

People & organisations

Mesopotamia Expeditionary ForceChief of the General StaffWar Office, Director of Military IntelligenceCommander-in-ChiefSecretary of State for IndiaViceroy and Governor-General of India in Council

Share this record

• Share on twitter
• Share on facebook

Cite this record in your research

‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 23 PART II (From 16thto 30thJune 1916)’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3255, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x0001ed> [accessed 4 October 2024]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x0001ed

IIIF details

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_100000000112.0x0001ed/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Copyright: How to use this content