'Mesopotamia Commission. Report of the Commission Appointed by Act of Parliament to Enquire into the Operations of War in Mesopotamia, together with a Special Report by Commander J Wedgwood, DSO, MP, and Appendices. London: HMSO, 1917.'

Content

A signed proof, folios 1-100, plus additional material, folios 101-124. The cover bears the signature of Sir Arthur Hirtzel, Assistant Under-Secretary of State. The report has been annotated in blue pencil at various points.

Contents:

• 'Part I. Preface.
• 'Part II. Origin of Mesopotamia [Iraq] Expedition.'
• 'Part III. Advance from Basra to Kurna.'
• 'Part IV. The Advance to Amara [Al-'Amārah] and Kut [Al-Kūt].'
• 'Part V. Correspondence and Telegrams as to Advance on Baghdad.'
• 'Part VI. The Advance from Kut to Ctesiphon.'
• 'Part VII. Operations for Relief of Kut.'
• 'Part VIII. Armament, Equipment, Reinforcements, &c.'
• 'Part IX. Transport.'
• 'Part X. Medical Breakdown.'
• 'Part XI. Causes Contributing to the Errors of Judgement and Shortcomings of Responsible Authorities.'
• 'Part XII. Findings and Conclusions. Recommendations.'
• 'Separate Report by Commander J Wedgwood, DSO, MP.'
• 'Appendix I. Vincent-Bingley Report.'
• 'Appendix II. Memorandum by Sir Beauchamp Duff.'
• 'Appendix III. Colonel Hehir's Account of the Siege of Kut-el-Amara.'

Additional material:

• Folio 101. Manuscript note [by Arthur Hirtzel] on net military expenditure.
• Folios 102-109. Copy of the East India (Army Administration), Further Papers regarding the Administration of the Army in India , 1906.
• Folios 110-115. Manuscript notes, titled 'Suggested redraft & amplification of second half of parag 1' [unknown hand].
• Folio 116. A clipping from the Daily Telegraph , Wednesday 4 July 1917, featuring an article titled 'Mesopotamia. Ex-Viceroy's Statement. The Medical Breakdown.'
• Folios 117-124. An expanded typescript version of Hirtzel's manuscript notes (folio 101).

Extent and format

1 volume (122 folios)

Arrangement

A table of contents can be found at folio 4v.

An index can be found at folios 93-97.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 124; 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 between ff 110-115; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence. The volume comprises a stitched pamphlet, and other stitched and loose-leaf material.

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/PS/20/257

History of this record

Date(s)

1906-1918 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

First World War (1914-1918)Mesopotamian Campaign (1914-1918)

Places

Mesopotamia

People & organisations

Mesopotamia Commission

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'Mesopotamia Commission. Report of the Commission Appointed by Act of Parliament to Enquire into the Operations of War in Mesopotamia, together with a Special Report by Commander J Wedgwood, DSO, MP, and Appendices. London: HMSO, 1917.', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/257, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000912.0x0000b2> [accessed 15 November 2024]

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