!['Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [‎33r] (65/204)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000465.0x0002ed/IOR_L_MIL_5_787_0065.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [‎33r] (65/204)")
'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [33r] (65/204)
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.
SECRET,
Operations,
From:- C-ln-C•, India,
To:- G.H.Q,,, Mesopotamia,
Repeated War Office,
16.10.17.
70^75 cipher.
Your X.4152 of October 11th.
'O —-OA r in^ is the situation as regards pormiinont
'■v ay material and rollin^-stac^. All demands for mot re
gauge material and rolling-stock prior to your X.5010
of July 28th have boen met in full. You estimated in
your X.5010 July 2Cth that y«ur additional requirements
w *uld be 150 miles standard gauge material and 50 miles
metro gauge material; jf this 150 miles standard gauge,
61 miles have boen despatched fr#m India, 13 miles are
nov; ready in Karachi, and endeavours are being mad.. t 3
have 21 mjre ready by November 1st, 30 miles by December
1st and 25 by January 1st; in all 150 miles. Towards
this you have allotted shipping for 11 miles in Octibor
and 20 miles in November. Against forecast of 50 miles
metre gauge, definite demand has been received for 40
miles only, which will be shipped during October.
Construction #f underframes and bodies for 150 standard
gauge open wagons is being delayed, owing to the fact
that drawings promised by War Office and Director of
Railways have not arrived. All parts which are being
supplied for these from England will be shipped direct
to Basrah with exception •f 6 complete sots which are
required by builders in India, for their guidance.
C. I.O.S. (1)
D. C.I.G.S.
D . M, 0 .
M. 0,1,
M,0,2.
B.M.I.
D.G.M.R.
M.R.l.
M. R. 2 ,
D.I.W.D.
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
'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [33r] (65/204), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/787, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100098482356.0x000042> [accessed 29 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100098482356.0x000042
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_100098482356.0x000042">'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [‎33r] (65/204)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100098482356.0x000042"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000465.0x0002ed/IOR_L_MIL_5_787_0065.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
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
Copyright: How to use this content
- 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