'Railways and L. of C. [Lines of Communication] Policy Mesopotamia, Vol IV'

Content

The file, marked secret, contains correspondence, notes, and maps regarding rail transportation in Mesopotamia [Iraq] and the surrounding region after the First World War. The papers cover several matters, including:

• The construction, conversion, maintenance, and expansion of the railways in the region, including regular progress reports from the Director of Railways, Baghdad
• Planning, reconnaissance, and surveying for a proposed direct Baghdad-Haifa ('Trans-Arabian') line
• Costs and expenditure
• Transition from military to civil administration.

Correspondents include: the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Mesopotamia; the Director of Railways, Baghdad; the War Office; the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Egypt; and the Civil Commissioner, Baghdad.

The file contains two maps, both showing railway lines in the region (folios 132-133). The file also includes a newspaper cutting of an article on the Baghdad-Basra railway, from The Pioneer Mail , dated 5 December 1919 (folio 92).

Extent and format

1 file (132 folios)

It is grouped into

'Index Plan Shewing Mesopotamian Railways'

2 images

Ref: IOR/L/MIL/5/790, f 132

'Index Plan Shewing Mesopotamian Railways'

4 images

Ref: IOR/L/MIL/5/790, f 133

Arrangement

The file is arranged in chronological order, from the rear to the front.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 134; 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 present in parallel; these numbers are written in coloured crayon.

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/5/790

History of this record

Date(s)

4 Oct 1919-9 Dec 1920 (CE, Gregorian)

People & organisations

General Officer Commanding, EgyptCivil Commissioner

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Cite this record in your research

'Railways and L. of C. [Lines of Communication] Policy Mesopotamia, Vol IV', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/790, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000465.0x0002f0> [accessed 26 January 2025]

Link to this record

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000465.0x0002f0

IIIF details

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