Previous 2/204'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [‎19v] (38/204)
39/204 Next'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [‎20v] (40/204)
View all items
'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [‎20r] (39/204)
Previous 2/204'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [‎19v] (38/204)
39/204 Next'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [‎20v] (40/204)
Skip to item: of 204
See full record
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [‎20r] (39/204)

This item is part of
'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy'
204 images
Ref: IOR/L/MIL/5/787

The record is made up of 1 file (100 folios). It was created in 18 May 1917-21 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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

ID"
o </ £
SECRET.
Despatched 5.20.p.m.
Received 11. a.m. 6/11/17.'
From:- G.H.Q.Mesopotamia.
To: -
H-'h ^vCJUa ““
h**AjL*
f? l w**Aka ■ —
War Office.
repeated India and Basrah.
X460C 5th November.
Progress report for week ending November 3rd.
B asra Qurna h Railway. No linking done material not yet
availabl_e_>——H inaidi Bacjubah metre gauge conversion.
Formation completed miles 13. Linking completed miles
10J. Diahla Baqubah High level bridge 7 trestles erected.
Advice received that girders for this bridge left India on
October 29th. ^Hinaidi Baqubah Shahroban narrov/ gauge. Extension
beyond Shahroban. Survey completed. Formation completed
miles 3. Linking completed mile 1. Total length of 'xtension
will be ?62 miles. Baghdad Falluiah extension. Embankment

About this item

Content

The file, marked secret, contains correspondence and notes regarding rail and river transportation for the Mesopotamian campaign during the First World War. The papers cover a number of matters, including:

  • Strategic considerations of the use of rail and river communications
  • Supply of railway materials, rolling stock, and personnel to Mesopotamia [Iraq] from India, other parts of the British Empire, and allied territories
  • Problems with unloading and shipping congestion at Basra
  • Progress of railway construction, including weekly reports from the General Officer Commanding or Director of Railways to the War Office, starting from August 1917
  • Capacity estimates (for troops, food, ammunition, and materials) and efforts to increase it
  • Complaints of shortages of railway stock and personnel in India due to the demand in Mesopotamia
  • Preparations for a commission, led by Sir Henry Francis Edward Freeland, to be sent to review rail and river transportation in Mesopotamia
  • Questions of flooding and damming of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Correspondents include: the Commander-in-Chief, India; the Chief of the Imperial General Staff; the General Officer Commanding, Mesopotamia; the War Office; the Director of Railways, Mesopotamia; the War Section, Army Department, Government of India; and Major General Sir Henry Francis Edward Freeland.

Extent and format
1 file (100 folios)
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 102; 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 and pencil; where they have been written in pencil and circled, they have been crossed through.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [‎20r] (39/204), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/787, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100098482356.0x000028> [accessed 21 June 2026]

Link to this item

https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100098482356.0x000028

Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image. 

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100098482356.0x000028">'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [&lrm;20r] (39/204)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100098482356.0x000028">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000465.0x0002ed/IOR_L_MIL_5_787_0039.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
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_100000000465.0x0002ed/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image
Reference
IOR/L/MIL/5/787
Title
'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy'
Pages
front, front-i, 2r:101v, back-i, back
Author
East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
Usage terms
Open Government Licence