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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 32. PART II. (From 16th to 31st March 1917.)’ [65r] (134/294)
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
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Telegram P., No. I. A.-8071, dated 23rd March 1917. APPENDIX 295
(Despatched 3-5 p.m., received 1 a.m., 24th March 1917.) (Dy. No. 19599)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Egypt,
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D.”
(Kepeated Commander-in-Chief in India, and Director, Military Intelligence, London.)
1 (44 ?)th regiment shown at Has-el-Ain by absolutely reliable informa
tion dated March 21st. This number was (repeated ?) when queried by
recipients. March 22nd is the date on which it was expected to have started
from there (?*) for Mosul. Orders
gyp s query. received by 31st Cavalry Eegiment to
proceed from Felujah to Samarra, bringing any ammunition and unallotted
troopers at Bimadieh with it.
Working copy to G. S. (M, O. 3).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (M. O. 1).
Telegram P., No. X.-1399, dated 2.3rd March 1917. APPENDIX 296
(Despatched 8-40 p.m,, 23rd March 1917 ; received 8-30 a.m., 24th March (Dy. No. 19644)
1917.)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,”
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
(Repeated Chief of the General Staff, Delhi.)
Your 30586-Cipher-M. E-2 (Dy. No. 15667) of 8th March.
Am pushing on with conversion of Qurnah-Amarah to metre gauge and
hope to complete about April 20th. Until the floods subside completion of
Basrah-Qurnah railway not possible. On February 22nd detailed reports
regarding difficulties of extension beyond Amarah on right bank were posted to
you. But in view of altered situation (transport ?) navigation between Kut-el-
Amarah and Baghdad after flood season will become difficult and impossible
for larger steamers probably, whereas there are no particular difficulties of
navigation between Amarah and Kut-el-Amarah. Instead of railway from
Amarah to Kut-el-Amarah, have decided to lay down line from Kut-el-Amarah
to Baghdad and expect to be in a position to deliver material at Kut and make
a start with plate-laying by end of April. Thereafter I hope to carry on as fast
as material can be supplied from India. Forecast of demand in material and
personnel involved by policy now decided upon is being wired by Director
of Eailways to Eailway Board.
Working copy to Q. M. G„ G. S. (M. 0. 1).
Copy to M. S. C., M. B., G. S. (M. O. 3).
Telegram P., No. I. A.-3073, dated 23rd March 1917. APPENDIX 297
(Despatched 11-30 p.m., 23rd March 1917 ; received 8-30 a.m., 24th March (Dy. No. 19645)
1817.)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Egypt,
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ I),’ , Basrah.
(Repeated to Director of Military Intelligence, London, and Commander-in Chief in India.)
It is suggested by an absolutely reliable source that in getting the whole
force to the left bank on 21st instant, delay was being experienced. Under
pretence of reconnoitring, a cavalry squadron was kept in the Edhaim district
preparatory to the crossing. Urgent demands were made for oil and German
foodstuffs from Deir Zor and Ana. Oil to be sent from Hit to Tekrit. It
is confirmed that at Samarra there is shortage of barley and coal. .
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 3).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (M. O. 1).
Telegram P., No. X.-1402, dated 23rd March 1917. APPENDIX 298
(Despatched 9-55 p.m., received 10-30 a.m., 24th March 1917.) (By. No. 19671)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force “T>,” Basrah,
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
(Repeated Chief of the General Staff, Delhi.)
All the rolling stock of the Baghdad-Samarra line has been taken from
here by the Turks. At the beginning of the war 3 or 4 locomotives belonging
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.)’ [65r] (134/294), 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_100134835014.0x000087> [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