![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 14. PART II. (From 16th to 30th September 1915.)’ [‎120r] (244/276)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x0001db/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3237_0244.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.)’ [‎120r] (244/276)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 14. PART II. (From 16th to 30th September 1915.)’ [120r] (244/276)
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.
Telegram P., No. 129-1, dated 29th September 1915.
(Despatched 12-30 a.m , received 1 p.m.)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force “D” Basrah,
To—The Chief of the General Staff,
On September 28th the operations of the 6th Division on the Tigris were
entirely successful. A long position had been selected by the enemy astride of
the river on both banks 7 miles East of Kut-al-Amarah, extending to 6 miles
from the left bank. On September 27th after a demonstration two Brigades
under General Delamain crossed over to the left bank and gained touch with
the left flank of the enemy after a night march. The place of attack was well
conceived and after a gallant attack the northern extremity of the enemy’s
position was carried at 10 a.m. After a stubborn defence the remainder of this
portion of the position was carried at 2 p.m. The enemy were w T ell entrenched
and protected with barbed wire and were pinned to their ground all day by
another brigade ; by the evening the attacking force advanced to the west of
the position.
When darkness fell the troops bivouacked in their position and on the 29th
operations will be continued.
The outer flank was protected by armoured motor cars and Cavalry and
they were all day in action against Turkish Cavalry. The Turks fought with
great obstinacy and had to be turned out trench by trench. Their trenches
were full of dead, and their losses in dead were very severe. A large amount
of ammunition, many rifles, some guns and several hundred prisoners were
captured. We lost under 500 casualties as far as is at present known.
The above is repeated to I. G. C., Secretary of State amd 12th Division and
addressed C.G.S., Simla.
APPENDIX 422
(%. No. 22820)
Working copy to G. S (M. 0.1).
Copy to M. S. C., M. S. V., G. S. (M. 0 2, M. 0,3),
i
Telegram No. 30R—I7F-0., dated 29th September 1915. APPENDIX 423
(Despatched 9 a.m., received 1-40 p.m.) (Dj/. No. 228‘</l)
From—The General Officer Commanling, Force “ D,” B.israh,
To—The Chief of the General Staff.
Clear the line .—Enemy position in advance of Kut-al- 2 \marak captured
with many prisoners and guns. Enemy in full flight towards Baghdad. Our
force pushing in pursuit. Details follow. Addressed C. G. S., repeated
Secretary of State and Foreign.
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 1).
Copy to M. S. C., M S. V., G. S (M. 0. 2, NT. O 3).
Telegram P., No. 308-172-0., dated 29th September 19]5. APPENDIX 424
(Despatched 9-20 a.m., received 3-20 p.m., 29th September 1915.) {Dy. No, 22886)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force u D,” Basrah, Radio,
To—The Chief of the General Staff.
Clear the fee. — The following addressed to C. G. S., Simla, has been repeat
ed to Eoreign, Secretary of State, I. G. C., and 12th Division.
My telegram of September 29th, No. 129-195-1 {Dy. No S.-22820) is
continued as follows :—General Delamain, when preparing to attack the rear
of the enemy’s position, on the night of September 28th, discovered that large
reinforcements of Turks w^ere marching parallel to him. He attacked this
force, and after heavy fighting which continued till dark, routed them and
took four guns. His casualties were 1,200.
Early this morning it was ascertained that the enemy’s position was
unoccupied Have ascertained by aeroplance reconnaissance that Turks are
fleeing towards Baghdad, both by road and river. Our cavalry entering Kut
and the enemy are being pursued by river column.
22.a
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.)’ [120r] (244/276), 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_100132734284.0x00002d> [accessed 23 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