![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 32. PART II. (From 16th to 31st March 1917.)’ [‎36r] (76/294)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x0001ff/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3273_0076.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 32. PART II. (From 16th to 31st March 1917.)’ [‎36r] (76/294)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 32. PART II. (From 16th to 31st March 1917.)’ [36r] (76/294)
The record is made up of 1 volume (143 folios). It was created in 15 Jan 1917-31 Mar 1917. 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.
m
Qurnah — Nasiriyeh —Supplies, etc., 72 tons, mail bags 6,370 equal 179
t0nB ’(ffv<es total grand up the river down the river troops 6,809, pnsonera of
war 1,980, camp followers 1,325, animals 92, tons weight 16,274, tons weight
miles 3,745,654. Mileage not accurate owing to military operations. &ea-
going vessels cleared 14, arrived 13, in port 10, tons weight dischMgedl8,911,
tons weight not discharged yet storeships 6,66 d, colliers 5,283 tons, ,
total 11,948. Last week arrivals and departures did not include towing
ballast. All steamers will be included in future.
Working copy to Eailway Board.
Copy to M. S- C., Q. M. G., G. S. (M. O. 1, b. D. 8).
Telegram No. 3m5-Cipher, dated 19th March 1917. APPENDIX 251
(Despatched 8-30 p.m., received 1-30 p.m., 20th March 1917.) * ‘ (%• ^0. 18691)
From—The Director, Military Intelligence, London,
To—'The Caucasus Military
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
.
(Kepeated Rowlandson, Basrah and India.)
Information dated March 17th, which is absolutely reliable, shows that
6th Army and 18th Army Corps were informed from Constantinople that
£30,000 in 6 cases for the (Irak ?) Army has been despatched to Kirkuk on
March 13th.
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 3).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (M. 0.1).
Word Code telegram No. 18711, dated *20th March 1917. APPENDIX 252
(Despatched 8-30 p.m.) . No, 18711)
From—The Chief of the General Staff,
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D/' Basrah.
You may remember that last year you agreed with Chief that there
were too many troops and followers in Basrah, and as it would appear that
3rd Echelon will be much overcrowded in hot weather you may care to con«
sider if part of it could not go to Shaiba. Would such a change necessitate
extra staff and medical personnel from India, and if so, to what extent ?
Record copy to A. G.
Copy to M. S. C., Q. M. G., D. M. S.
Telegram No. 81244-Cipher, dated 19th March 1917. APPENDIX 253
(Despatched 8-25 p.m., received 5-30 p.m., 20th March 1917.) (Dy No. 18720)
From—The Director of Military Intelligence, London,
To —The Caucasus Military
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
,
(Repeated Egypt, India and Basrah.)
On March 12th the following was received from Maurice :—
Begins. (1) 2 Germans and 1 Syrian, representing themselves to be British
subjects sent to say England foregoes all (groups apparently omitted), are in
Syria with Entente passports.
(2) Jemal refuses to spare for other fronts any troops.
(3) Stores and munitions have been withdrawn to Jerusalem from
Bir Saba. . x *
(4) To replace Turkish troops sent to Mesopotamia, 4 tram loads ox
troops were despatched on 4th March from Berlin to Constantinople. Ends.
0
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 3).
Copy to M. S. 0 , G. S. (M. O. 1).
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 March 1917. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, tables, and memoranda containing instructions and reports.
The volume mostly relates to:
- Reinforcements and labour requirements of Force D
- Supplies for Force D, including: river craft, weapons, ammunition, rations, trains, and railway construction materials
- Lists of sick and wounded soldiers
- Prisoners of war
- Updates from the Tigris line, especially at Baghdad, Samarrah [Samarra], and Bakuba [Baqubah, also rendered in text as Bakubah]
- Updates from the Khanikin [Khanaqin] front, especially at Khanikin, Shahroban [Al Miqdadiyah], and the area around the Dialah [Diyala, also rendered in text as Dialha] river
- Updates from the Euphrates line, especially at Samawah [As Samawah] and Fallujah [Al Fallujah, also rendered in text as Felujah]
- Updates from the Russo-Turkish fronts in the Caucasus region and in Persia [Iran]
- Turkish [Ottoman] forces: movements; intelligence from deserters; reported difficulties with supplies and communication; details of commanders; re-organisation of troops; and distributions on week ending 20 March (ff 39-40) and week ending 27 March (f 120)
- Discussions about co-operating with Russian forces on certain operations
- Discussions about Force D’s priority being the consolidation of their position in Baghdad, including: planned communications with the population; approaches to taking over from the Turkish administration; and the completion of railway connections to the city
- Possibility of advancing along Euphrates to Samawah
- Intelligence provided by the Caucasus Military Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
- Intelligence about German troops
- Reports of the Royal Flying Corps
- Progress of railways construction
- Situation in Persia, particularly discussions around the decision to return the Bushire [Bushehr] force to the command of the Commander-in-Chief in India.
The volume also contains:
- Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia on 18 March (ff 21-24) and on 25 March (ff 76-77)
- Two diaries of information from 3 March (ff 83-99) and 10 March (ff 100-111), covering: climate and floods; prisoners of war; inland water transport; the Army Ordnance Corps (Basrah [Basra]); aviation; sanitary reports; tribal confederations of the Tigris; customs duties in Iraq; photographs; and railways in Mesopotamia.
A summary and index to the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3272.
Whilst the volume contains copies of earlier material dating from 15 January 1917 onwards, the bulk of the material dates from March 1917.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (143 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 145; 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 3-143; 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 32. PART II. (From 16th to 31st March 1917.)’ [36r] (76/294), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3273, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100134835014.0x00004d> [accessed 17 January 2025]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3273
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 32. PART II. (From 16th to 31st March 1917.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:144v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence