![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 14. PART II. (From 16th to 30th September 1915.)’ [‎48r] (100/276)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x0001db/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3237_0100.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 14. PART II. (From 16th to 30th September 1915.)’ [‎48r] (100/276)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 14. PART II. (From 16th to 30th September 1915.)’ [48r] (100/276)
The record is made up of 1 volume (134 folios). It was created in 14 May 1915-30 Sep 1915. 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.
2 , The improvement in the political situation in Persia seems. to Lave
been maintained. But the British Con-
21691 ' sulate at Isfahan left that place on llth
September and is now en route for Ahwas. This is an unfortunate occurrence
and may tend to complicate the situation. General Nixon has lately taken
great pains to reassure the European staff
21697 ‘ of the oil-fields regarding the situation and
till now the numerous unfounded rumours from Persia have been successfully
discredited. The situation in Arabistan seems to be satisfactory at present.
The despatch of two squadrons to Band-i-
que has had a pacifying effect locally.
The notables at Shushtar have made a ver
bal promise to the Consul at Ahwaz to seize and give up to us any German
agents arriving there, and to maintain neutrality in the event of war with
Persia. Pour leading Bavi Shaikhs made
formal submission to the Shaikh of Mu-
hammareh on the 5th September. The
wireless station at Maidan-i-Naftun is
21585 .
21353 .
21585 .
21852 .
21815 .
21859 .
now ready to commence work.
Sir P. Cox reports the very satisfactory attitude of the Bakhtiari Khan
which, if maintained, should go far to ensure the safety of the oil-fields and
the maintenance of order in Arabistan.
3. At Busbire there has been
21711.
21807.
no further fighting. It is reported that
Wassmuss and some 500 tribesmen are at
Chagadak (12 miles east of Bushire) but
that the tribesmen are not anxious to
attack.
4. It is quite possible that if the 6 th Division gains a decisive success at
Sinn, General Nixon will wire for permission to pursue immediately on the
heels of the enemy into Baghdad.
If they can spare reinforcements—which is doubtful in view of recent
reports of the movement of Turkish troops from the Caucasus and Syria to-
waids Constantinople—it may be estimated that it will take the Turks at
least a month to bring down reinforcements of any strength from Aleppo
against us at Baghdad. To hold Baghdad, General Nixon should be reinforced
by about a Division and a Cavalry Brigade If we can be certain that another
Division will be able to join Eorce “D” within a month of our capture of
Baghdad, it is considered that General Nixon should be authorized to push on
at once, ^he advantages of such a course are obvious. In other words, if
(fneral fsixon ask- for permission to advance immediately on Baghdad, we
should tell the Secretary of State that we recommend sanction being given,
provided that immediate orders are issued for the despatch as early as possible
oi one Division from France to Mesopotamia and that it is considered that this
is in accord with the requirements of Imperial policy and strategy.
NOTE BY D.M.O.
The Sinn position is not yet taken ; but on the map it seems open to a
turning movement, so may fall suddenly.
I agree with M.O. Ts views that everything should be in readiness to
support Force “D,” especially as private advices from the Dardanelles are
pessimistic.
M.O. 1 should have the cable asking for the troops from France drafted in
readiness, taking the line that Force “D” can hold Baghdad for a month with
out reinforcements.
G. M. K.,—21-9-1915
Yes.
p. L ,—21-9-1915.
About this item
- Content
The volume contains a chronological list of brief summaries of papers relating to the activities of the Indian Expeditionary Force D (also known as the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force) between 16 and 30 September 1915. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, letters, memoranda, lists and tables.
The volume mostly relates to:
- Reinforcements and supplies for Force D, including: river craft; aeroplanes; road vehicles; personnel; food; weapons; and ammunition
- Staff appointments and details of injured and sick officers
- Updates on progress at the Tigris line, especially at Sinn, Sannaiyat [As Sina‘yat] and Kut-al Amarah [Al-Kut]
- Proposals to advance on Baghdad after taking Kut-al Amarah
- Distributions of Force D (f 50) and of the Turkish [Ottoman] troops (f 123)
- Russo-Turkish operations at Van
- Discussions of the situation in Persia [Iran], including the impact that the withdrawal of British Consul, Thomas George Grahame, from Isfahan to Ahwaz [Ahvaz] has had on employees of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
- Conversations between Sir Percy Zachariah Cox, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and the Shaikh of Muhammareh [Khorramshahr] with regards to negotiating with leaders of the Bakhtiari [Bakhtīyārī] tribal confederation to protect the oil fields and ‘maintain order’ in Arabistan [Khuzestan]
- The rejection of Turkish forces from Najaf [An-Najaf] by the local population
- Discussions about how to govern holy places between the Basrah [Basra] Vilayet [a province under the Ottoman Empire] and Baghdad in anticipation of them coming under British control, and the extent to which the Persian Government should be consulted on this matter.
The volume also includes:
- Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia on 20 September (ff 47-48) and 27 September 1915 (f 113)
- A ‘Brief report on the possibilities of the Development of Irrigation in the Basrah District’ by Lieutenant P A Stoddard, Indian Army Reserve Officer (Special Irrigation Officer), (ff 64-71), which is accompanied by comments from Cox and Brigadier-General Joseph Cameron Rimington, Royal Engineers
- Copies of correspondence between Edmund George Barrow, Military Secretary, 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. , and Bertram Blakiston Cubitt, Under-Secretary of State for India, on the subject of aviation units for service in India and Mesopotamia, which include tables of personnel and vehicles required (ff 91-96)
- The Quartermaster General’s Embarkation Statement, listing reinforcements and details for Force D which embarked at Bombay [Mumbai] and Karachi (ff 128-134).
The vast majority of material in the volume dates from September 1915, with the exception of a small amount of material which dates from May, June and August 1915.
A summary of the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3236.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (134 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 136; 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 also present in parallel between ff 3-134; these numbers are printed and are located in the bottom centre of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Dimensions: 21 x 33cm
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 14. PART II. (From 16th to 30th September 1915.)’ [48r] (100/276), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3237, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100132734283.0x000065> [accessed 20 July 2026]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3237
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 14. PART II. (From 16th to 30th September 1915.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:136r
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence