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

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

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/17/5/3290

Former external reference(s)

Volume 41. PART II.

History of this record

Date(s)

10 Nov 1917-31 Dec 1917 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Aerial bombardmentMilitary administrationMilitary suppliesMilitary logisticsMilitary occupationShippingArmistices

Places

Mesopotamia

People & organisations

Political ResidentGovernment of IndiaChief of the General Staff, IndiaMesopotamia Expeditionary ForceWar Office

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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 41. PART II. (From 16th to 31st December 1917).’, 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_100000000112.0x000210> [accessed 17 July 2024]

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