![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 32. PART II. (From 16th to 31st March 1917.)’ [‎66r] (136/294)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x0001ff/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3273_0136.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.)’ [‎66r] (136/294)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 32. PART II. (From 16th to 31st March 1917.)’ [66r] (136/294)
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.
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to this line were intercepted in transit and Egypt has them. Please make
arrangements for their transfer here and ask if Egypt could let us have
about 30 trucks. We have already found a fair quantity of spare parts and
though these locomotives are very heavy we could manage to erect them all
right. In addition to the stock from Egypt, Director of Railways is finding
out from India what they could do in the way of conversion of 5^ feet or metre
gauge stock.
Working copy to M. B.
Copy to M. S. C., Q. M, G., G. S. (M. O. 1, M. 0. 8),
Word Code telegram No. 26446-M. R.-3-5181, dated 23rd March 1917. APPENDIX 299
(Despatched 4-5 p.m,, 23rd March 1917; received 11-45 a.m., 24th March (Dy. A 0 . 19691)
1917.)
From—The Secretary, War Office, London,
To—The Commander-in-Chief in India.
Your 17411 of March 14th and your J.-8726 (Dy. No. 18726 P) of March
20th.
Number of crafts that have been despatched lately and now going
forwarded from India very gratifying and reflects credit on all concerned but
it is of utmost importance that number of barges in Mesopotamia should be
increased with least possible delay. Therefore do all possible to expedite
construction and reconstruction of such craft, and if you have not yet placed
orders for remaining 21 do so as early as possible.
Working copy to M. B.
Copy to M. S. 0., A. D. (Marine), Q. M. G„ G. S. (M. 0, 1).
Telegram P., No. I. A.-3074, dated 23rd March 1917. APPENDIX SO©
(Despatched 11-40 p.m., 23rd March 1917 ; received 9-30 a.m., 24th [Du No 19699)
March 1917.) W ' * '
From—The General Officer Commanding, Egypt,
To—-The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D, ,, Basrah.
(Repeated Director, Military Intelligence, London, Commander-in-Chief, India.)
From information absolutely reliable source states
On the evening of 22nd instant (?) Samarra reported to (?) Kasr-i-
Sbirin.
“1. The fighting forces of the (group missing) 2nd Division have
crossed on the steamer “Baghdad.” The various portions of the Army
Corps are continuing to cross.
“ 2. One Begiment of the 51st Division with one battery is on the
right bank at the Beled post and on the ship (? Mustansar). A squadron
of cavalry on left bank is on Ludhain river and at 10 a.m. vanguard of 52nd
Division is on the way from Kadisia and main force from environs of
Samaria. The division will (? Edhaim) to-morrow.
“ 3. A regiment 52nd Division instructed to remain on this bank
with the artillery. With this situation in view, it will not support (?) the
order transfer of the other (?) regiment to left bank. As Menzil
(? transmission) are still at Samarra I consider it (? dangerous) to leave
less than 2 regiments on right bank. As its food and ammunition are
dependent on Samarra it is doubtful whether supply of left bank could be
insured as far as Edhaim river. The Hit-Samarrah road has been opened—the
first caravan has already come (? with) 950 unallotted troops.
“ 4. Not only will supply depdts be closed down if Samarrah is lost,
but also troops which have crossed to left bank will have to go back in
the (? Salah) I. A. direction (amendment) of the order is left to Your
Highness,”
Note .—All queries and brackets, except the word “ sup port 5 * in
paragraph 3 are as received in the original telegram.
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 3).
Copy to M. S. C, G. S, (M. O.l).
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.)’ [66r] (136/294), 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_100134835014.0x000089> [accessed 1 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