‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 23 PART II (From 16thto 30thJune 1916)’ [‎120r] (244/274)

r- -
Telegram No. Soo-ig-A., dated 28the June igi6. APPENDIX 420
(Despatched i P.M , received 12 5 a.m., 29th June 1916.) (Diary No. 62278)
From—The G. O. C., Force ,f D”, Basrah.
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Simla.
P ar a graph /.—Owing to my inability up to date to provide for a sufficiency
of Hospital accommodation, my Director of Medical Services is obliged to send
alarge number of cases daily to India, which include men with trifling ailments,
who, if sufficiency of accommodation existed, would be kept here for recovery
and speedy return to firing line.
Paragraph 2. —A considerable number of men therefore are now being
sent to India who, after the seavoyage there and back plus 2 to 3 weeks in
India, should then be thoroughly recovered and fit for the firing line here.
Paragraph J.— In view of the above, I would ask that all invalids, British
and Indian, now being despatched almost daily from here be carefully inspected
on arriving in India with a view to their classification. Such men as are found
to be in the category mentioned in paragraph 2 I would most strongly urge
should be returned here within a reasonable time.
Paragraph 4 .—In making the above recommendation, I desire to
emphasize the really serious difficulties in the’ maintenance of war efficiency,
which arise if specialists such as signallers machine gun men, reliable N. C.
Os., and soldiers, who may have been sent back owing to the causes enumerated
in paragraph 1, are allowed to permanently remain in India. The units suffer
most seriously, the men in the ranks are necessarily to a large extent new to the
unit, and the substitutes, who under present arrangements are eventually sent
in their place from Incia, are rarely if ever equal to the men originally invalid
ed. Consequently an increasing deterioration in battle efficiency is taking place
here.
Working copy to D.M.S., A.G.
Copy to M.S.C , G.S. (M 0 . 1, M.O 2).
Telegram No. 628*7, dated 28th June 1916. APPENDIX 421
(Despatched 12-15 P.M., received 1 A.M., 29th June 1916.) (Diary No, 62285)
From—The Base Commandant, Marseilles.
To—The Commander-in-Chief in India, Simla*
Reference my 628*2 {py. No. 62284) reac ^ as follows :—
Units.
B. 0.
n.ar.d F
1 . 0 .
R. and F
Foil.
Horses.
Guns
and
Limbers.
Antm.
W L.
4 Wh.
M. C.
Cycles.
Headquarters Brigade, including
B. G. Joues,
7
18
I
23
4
13
...
...
...
...
Signal Troops ... ...
1
7
38
I
...
...
...
3
3
V. Battery, R. H. A. ...
5
3'S
...
14
12
6
12
...
...
5
*
2 wheels
17
Brigade Ammunition Column
I
105
2
...
6
10
...
...
2 wheels
11
13 th Hussars... ...
30
58 s
...
...
...
63
2 wheels
39
...
2
16
ugth Field Ambulance ... ...
1
...
...
...
...
...
Total Meerut Cavalry Brigade
45
931
1
55
5
92
6
38
10
5
34
2 wheels
67
Also embarked for India General Base Depot Class A. S. and T. Corps
British Rank and File 2, Followers 6, Medical Department British Rank and File
15, private servants 10.
Jodhpur Lancers. —l. A. Officers 2, Rank and File 7.
loth Lancers and 2gth Lancers .—Indian Rank and File 1 each*
3rd Norse ,—Rank and File 1.