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'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [546v] (1103/1386)
The record is made up of 1 file (687 folios). It was created in 1915-1918. 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.
18
Xo.^
Extract from a Private Letter from, Lord Ilardivge to the Secretarij of State for
India, dated 17th March 191G.
I welcome tlie mission of Mr. Ridsdale to Mesopotamia and the assistance that the
Red Cross will give in providing comforts and necessaries for the troops. I he more
they can give the better I shall be pleased, and, as time goes on, the facilities for
moving up medical stores and comforts are improving every day.
No. > 8 . ^
Telegram from Secretary of Stale for India to 1 iceroy,
dated 27th March 191G.
Private. My letters of 24th February and 2nd March. Paragraph 4 in each.
Has Commander-in Chief, or any high oflicer in his confidence, yet visited
Bombay? I am profoundly disturbed by reports which reach me indicating absence
of proper organisation at Bombay base of Expeditionary Force “ D.” I doubt whether
stall' there is sullieient, and 1 feel sure that it has not sufficient authority. I gather
from Army List that all staff officers now there are temporary, and have apparently
no staff training.
I address you privately in deference to your request.
I think it necessary that you should insist on full examination. Reports reaching
home raise doubts as to efficiency of preparations and supervision in other respects
than medical.
/ No.
Telegram from Secretary of State for fndia to Yiccmy,
dated 27th March 191G.
Private. Public confidence in Yincent-Bingley enquiry would be much
strengthened by addition of independent specialist. Ridsdale now proceeding as
Red Gross Commissioner on “ Kaisar-i-Hind ” fulfils both conditions. Unless he
would arrive too late to be of any use, I strongly urge his appointment. 1 refrain
from issuing orders, but I attach greatest importance to this recommendation, which
I earnestly commend to your acceptance. Public opinion here is justly stirred by
reports received, and unless enquiry is complete and fearless and thorough!v
independent, it will not satisfy anyone.
No. Gj/. &
Telegram from Viceroy to Secretary of State for India,
dated 2Sth March i916.
Private. Your private telegram of 27th instant. Yincent-Bingley enquiry. I
welcome addition of Ridsdale although Yincent could be trusted to give a fearless
and independent decision. Vincent and Bingley are already in Mesopotamia taking-
evidence, and I do not think it necessary to arrest their proceedings pending
Ridsdale’s arrival unless you desire this done.
No. G/.^
Telegram from Secretary of State for India to Viceroy,
dated 28th March 191G.
Private. Your private telegram of to-day. Please add Ridsdale accordingly, but
do not interrupt enquiry.
No.//
Telegram from Viceroy to Secretary of State for India,
dated ‘69th March DIG.
Private. Your private, telegram of the 27th instant. 1 have not yet received your
private letter of the 2nd March, but I will reply to paragraph 4 of your letter of* the
24th February and affiliated questions contained in above-mentioned private tele "ram.
As an enquiry is being made into the medical situation in Mesopotamia,^it is
unnecessary for me to say anything. It is true Commander-in-Chief has not visited
Bombay since the outbreak of war, and I venture to submit that it has been quite
impossible for him to do so. The situation on the Frontier and elsewhere lias been
About this item
- Content
This file contains working drafts of confidential prints, correspondence and telegrams from the room of Sir Edmund Barrow, Military Secretary in the 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. , collected for the Mesopotamian Commission which was convened to examine the causes of the besieging and surrender of the Indian Expeditionary Force in Kut-el-Amara [Al Kūt].
The papers cover a range of topics and include the following: General Townshend's assessment of the situation after the Battle of Kut-el-Amara; a précis of correspondence relating to the origins and development of the Mesopotamia expedition; and a collection (ff 396-399) of private telegrams between the Secretary of State for India and the Viceroy, prior to the outbreak of war with Turkey.
The file also includes some tables showing the strength of General Townshend's force at Ctesiphon (folio 111) as well as the Indian Expeditionary Force 'D' (In Mesopotamia) Troops of the 6th Poona Division (folio 114).
Correspondents include: General Sir John Nixon; Major-General Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend; the Viceroy of India; officials of the Admiralty; officials of the War Office.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (687 folios)
- Arrangement
The entries are recorded in chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 686; 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. Multiple additional mixed foliation/pagination sequences are present in parallel; these numbers are written in crayon and pencil; where they are written in pencil and circled, they are crossed through.
The file has one foliation anomaly, f 374A.
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- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [546v] (1103/1386), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/768, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100116195933.0x00006a> [accessed 31 January 2025]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/768
- Title
- 'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:5v, 7r:89v, 91r:107v, 109r:130v, 131ar, 131r:134v, 135ar, 135ar, 135r:136v, 137ar, 137r:203v, 204ar, 204r:225r, 225ar, 225v:295v, 296ar, 296r:316v, 317ar, 317r:374v, 374ar:374av, 375r:405v, 406ar, 406r:562r, 562ar, 562v:623v, 624ar, 624r:686v, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence