![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 22. PART II. (From 16th to 31st May 1916).’ [‎101r] (206/246)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x0001eb/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3253_0206.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 22. PART II. (From 16th to 31st May 1916).’ [‎101r] (206/246)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 22. PART II. (From 16th to 31st May 1916).’ [101r] (206/246)
The record is made up of 1 volume (119 folios). It was created in 16 May 1916-30 May 1916. 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.
Much improvement in landing places and extemporising of wharfage has
taken place, and work is still in progress.
No interference by units or Departments is permitted.
Question of man in charge of river transport is under consideration.
Present man is understaffed and requires assistants with administrative ability.
Additional officers due and will ease matters if suitable. No joint naval and
military control. Indian Marine responsible for river transport.
Eoyal Naval Air Service and Royal Plying Corps now combined. Tugs
issued in future to the air services.
Telegram No. 14988-Cipher.
(Received 2nd April 1916.)
From—The Secretary, War Office, London,
To— General GIllman.
No objection to alternative interpretations for names of places, etc., in
Mesopotamia in Cipher book. This is only a temporary measure and your book
must not be marked up. * These alternative interpretations are only to be used
to War Office.
Reply.
Telegram No. W. G-4,
(Despatched 3rd April 1916.)
Instructions noted.
Due Tigris Corps headquarters this evening and will stay there until after
present operations.
Telegram No. W. G.-5, dated 24th April 1916.
From— General Giilman,
To—The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, London.
Personal and Secret. The Tigris Corps has lost heavily in the recent
fighting and is now in my opinion lacking in numbers and dash necessary for
success should another attack be made by us as proposed in Army Commander’s
telegram of 22nd April.
The enemy is fighting with great determination and counter-attacked with
vigour after the recent attacks by our 3rd and 7th Divisions.
I consider that any further attempt to relieve Kut-al-Amarah with our
present forces is unlikely to be successful and may cause a more serious situa
tion to develop.
Telegram No. W. G.>6, dated 27th April 1916.
From—General Gillman,
To—The Chief of the Imperial General Staff. London.
Reference your 15736-M. 0.-964 of 25th April.
I have the following remarks to make.
The Tigris Corps is strong enough to hold its present line, and to threaten
the communications of any Turkish force moving down the Hai against Nasi-
riyah but if the Turkish Army receives appreciable reinforcements these with
the troops now investing Kut could move either against Nasiriyah or round
our left flank south of the Um-el-Brahm while this Corps is contained by the
force now opposite to it.
Besides affecting Russia and prestige any retirement would also affect the
Beni Lam Arabs who would partly or altogether combine against us according
to extent of our retirement and their action might disturb Persia.
If the Turkish force is reinforced we should he in a better position at
Shaikh Sa’ad as regards our left flank. South of Shaikh Sa’ad the only advan
tage is that of supply.
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 31 May 1916. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: letters, telegrams, notes, tables, and memoranda.
A summary of the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3252. The volume concerns:
- Appreciations [reports] and intelligence summaries from the Directorate of Military Operations
- Considerations of supplies needed, including food and clothing for winter 1916
- Reports of future arrivals of German and Austrian troops
- The movement of Turkish [Ottoman] troops
- Requests for aeroplanes, pilots, and anti-aircraft guns
- Movements of Russian troops under General Baratoff [Nikolai Nikolaevich Baratov], including the occupation of Kasr-i-Shirin [Qasr-e Shirin] and action at Hamrala
- The construction of railways, including the Qurneh-Amarah [al-Qurnah to al-Kut] Railway
- The provision of river craft
- Awards and medals given to British and Russian soldiers
- Outbreaks of cholera and distribution of a cholera vaccine
- Complaints of shortcomings in accounting leading to delays in soldiers being paid.
The following tables appear:
- The distribution of Turkish forces in Mesopotamia on folio 54
- The strength of Force D on 23 April 1916 on folios 29-30 and on 15 May 1916 on folios 57-59
- Changes in the distribution of the troops in Force D from the list of 14 May 1916 on folios 93-94.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (119 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 121; 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 3-119; 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 22. PART II. (From 16th to 31st May 1916).’ [101r] (206/246), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3253, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100133719748.0x000007> [accessed 15 July 2026]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3253
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 22. PART II. (From 16th to 31st May 1916).’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i , 2r:120v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence