![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 32. PART II. (From 16th to 31st March 1917.)’ [‎43r] (90/294)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x0001ff/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3273_0090.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.)’ [‎43r] (90/294)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 32. PART II. (From 16th to 31st March 1917.)’ [43r] (90/294)
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.
Telegram P. ; No. X.-i3£9. dated 20th March 1917. APPENDIX 260
(Despatched 7-50 p.m«, received 2 a.m. ,21st March 1917.) (Ify. No. 18742)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force <c D,” Basrah,
To—The Chief of the General Staff.
(Repeated Chief of the Imperial General Staff, London.)
Clear line.
Some prisoners were captured, besides many rifles and 1 launch, in our
occupation of Fallujah yesterday. Bridge, which has been partially burnt, is
repairable. Two gun boats, towing coracles filled with Turks and Turkish
Cavalry, were engaged by our cavalry pushing on towards Saklawie. Consi
derable losses were inflicted on the enemy. We occupied Saklawie to-day.
Aeroplane this morning reported strong enemy column retiring along right bank
of the Euphrates towards Eamadie 30 miles west of Fallujah. At present we
have a column 8,000 strong concentrated 1 march north-east of Baqubah to
wards Khanikin, ready to co-operate with Russians. Could Baratoff be informed
“Clear line” by London and asked to press forward vigorously giving
nm daily information .as to his progress ? About Baghdad and the
vicinity the supply situation is most promising, especially as regards forage,
fuel, fruit, vegetables and live stock. Ice plants, soda water plants and
flour mills are also available and are being inspected.
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 1).
Copy to M. S. C„ M, S. V., Q. M, G,, G. S. (M. 0, 3).
Word Code telegram No. 26210-M. R, B.4971, dated 20th March 1917. APPENDIX 261
(Despatched 4-10 p.m., 20th March 1917 : received 8-30 a.m., 21st [Dv. No 18806)
March 1917.) V ^ ' V
From—The Director, Inland Waterways and Docks, London,
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force <f D,” and Inspector General of
Communications, Basrah.
(Repeated to Commander-in-Chief in India.)
Taking into consideration increased mileage what is present situation as
regards officers, European rank and file and natives ? Do you want help from
this end ?
Working copy to Railway Board.
Copy to Q. M. G.
Word Code telegram No. 18843, dated 21st March 1917. APPENDIX 262
(Despatched 4 p.m.) (ity. 18843)
From—The Commander-in-Chief in India,
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
(Repeated Director, Supply and Transport, Force “ D,” and Deputy Director, Supplv and
Transport, Basrah.)
Following from Colonel Ward for Director, Supply and Transport. Begins,
L.-13. Supply situation morning 16th March as follows. All in days unless
otherwise stated.
On sea British rations—ftou? 22, biscuits 7, bacon 84. Combined British
and Indian rations —vegetables 4, fuel 18, lime-juice 6,954 gallons. Indian
rations —atta and rice 13, dhall 3, ghee 10, gur 8, condiments 2. Animal
rations—grain 11, fodder 6.
In stock, Bombay, British rations —flour 6, biscuits 24, preserved meat
62, bacon 8, butter 90, sugar 114, jam 124, cheese 17. Combined British and
Indian rations —milk 136, tea 28, vegetables 3, fuel 4, lime-juice 66,779
gallons. Indian rations —atta and rice 10, dhall 40, ghee 9, gur 81, condi
ments 37, Combined men and animals rations —salt 16= Animals—gram 4
fodder 34,
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.)’ [43r] (90/294), 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_100134835014.0x00005b> [accessed 1 January 2025]
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- 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