![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 32. PART II. (From 16th to 31st March 1917.)’ [‎143r] (294/294)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x0001ff/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3273_0294.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.)’ [‎143r] (294/294)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 32. PART II. (From 16th to 31st March 1917.)’ [143r] (294/294)
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.
May. But Army Commander is anxious to get material, out fast as possible
and is asking Secretary, War Office, if Egypt’s demands can be modified
so as to allow you to increase Aprii-May output up to maximum of 70
miles. 35 miles a month is about the most we can take Basrah. Hope you
ivill he able to supply 50-pound turnouts for 50-pound rails otherwise full
supply of 50 to 41 junction fishplates must be sent out. Except as above your
proposed programme is all right. Will write fuller particulars later.
Working copy to M. B;
Copy to M. S. C., Q. M. G., G. S. (M. O. 1).
Telegram R, No. 31862-Cipher, dated 30 th Mar eh 1917. APPENDIX 381
(Despatched 0-30 a.m., received 5-30 p.m., 3 i st March 1917.) (Zty. No. 21186)
Prom The Director of Military Intelligence, London,
To—Force U D/'
* (Repeated India.)
Should be glad to be informed of effect so far experienced of cutting of
Saklawiyeh bund by Turks. Bather a serious view is taken of this by Whitley,
who suggests (breaking?) right bank Euphrates, if accessible at point about
10 kilometres below Bamadi and allowing escape into Habbania depression ;
he thinks by this means mischief could be mitigated, Bailing that the only
course is local protection of sites, which it is intended to occupy, by bunds.
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 3).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (M. O. 1).
Telegram P., No. 31892-Cipher, dated 31st March 1917.. APPENDIX 382
(Despatched 0-55 a.m., received 5-30 p.m.) (l)y. No. 21167)
From—>The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, London,
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force ie D, ,; Basrah.
(RejDeated to the Commander-in-Chief in India, Simla.)
Operations. Movement of Bussians on Mosul, It is possible Don
Cossack Division from western front will not be sent at present. Eollowing
S. G. P. I., Delhi—No. 18 C. G.-S.-1.9-17— 8
two corps will undertake Mosul operations :—
1. 7th Caucasus Corps, under Chernozuboff, consisting of 73 guns, 100
squadrons and 24 battalions.
2. 1st Cavalry Corps under Pavlov consisting of 60 gnns, 80 squadrons
and 20 battalions. With exception of one Cossack Brigade and
one Infantry Begiment, which are on their way, all above are
now with Pavlov.
Bussian main line supply will be transferred to Hamadansinneh-Penjvin-
Suleiman lyeh route, when Pavlov effects junction with you. Pavlov’s juae-
tion with 7th Corps will probably he about Penjvin, 7th Corps will have
three lines of advance.
{a) Hania-Keui Sandjak on Kehil.
{b) The two routes by Ayaat and Kaleshin Pass converging on Bowanduz.
(c) Neri-Buan line on Mosul. Movement is not practicable much
before end of next month.
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 3.).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (M. O. 1).
Telegram P., No. I.A -3125, dated 31st March 1917. APPENDIX 383
(Despatched 12-10 p.m., received 8-30 p.m.) (])y. No, 21206)
From —The General Officer Commanding, Forces in Egypt,
lo—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” Basrah.
(Repeated Director, Military Intelligence, London, and the Commander-in-Chief in India,
Simla.)
On 30th March, Gressman at Mosul asked Kretzschemar with the 6th
Army to send to the Shammars, in some place ending with “ adri ”, officers
w 7 ith presents, .as owing to the length of communications good relations with
the
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
were necessary. The above information is absolutely reliable.
Working copy to G. S. (JVL O. 3).
Copy to M. S. C., 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.)’ [143r] (294/294), 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_100134835015.0x00005b> [accessed 30 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