![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART II. (From 16th to 31st August 1917).’ [‎158r] (320/546)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000209/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3283_0320.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART II. (From 16th to 31st August 1917).’ [‎158r] (320/546)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART II. (From 16th to 31st August 1917).’ [158r] (320/546)
The record is made up of 1 volume (260 folios). It was created in 22 Mar 1917-31 Aug 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. S.-12732, dated 26th August 1917.
(Keceived in "War Section, 26th August 1917.)
From—The Viceroy (Army Department),
To—The Secretary of State for India.
Arrangements are being made by the General Officer Commanding, Force
<{ D,” to form a new 17th Indian Division in Mesopotamia in view of the
strategical situation. He is making available from troops in Mesopotamia
and outside Divisional Organization the following units as a nucleus for
this Division:—
3 Field Companies, Sappers and Miners.
1 Combined Field Ambulance.
1 Pioneer Eattalion.
8 Indian Battalions.
He proposes to add to these the units specified below, already promised by
India, which are either already en route or are shortly proceeding to Meso
potamia :—
Nos. 34, 35 and 36 Combined Field Ambulances.
17th Divisional Signal Company.
95th Infantry.
2. The General Ofiicer Commanding, Force “D,” has asked for the
following to be sent from India to complete this Division:—
3 4-gun 4*5 ,/ Howitzer Batteries,
2 18 pr. Brigades each of 3 6-gun batteries,
3 British Infantry Battalions,
3 Brigade Machine Gun Companies,
3 S. A. A. Sections,
1 Veterinary Section,
1 Sanitary Section,
1 Horsed Cable Section,
1 Motor Airline Section,
together with first line transport and tentage.
APPENDIX 460
(Dy. No. 58031)
3. The formation of this Division has been approved by the Chief of the
Imperial General Staff who will provide the following from England without
horses:—
1 Horsed Cable Section.
1 Motor Airline Section.
3 4-gun 4 5 ,/ Howitzer batteries.
4. With regard to the provision of the three British battalions. Of the
12 Territorial Force battalions to be sent to Egypt in accordance with our
No. ltS943, dated the 30th November 1916 (JDy. No. 95235), five have already
been despatched. A sixth, the 2-4th Dorsets, left Bombay on the 15th
August, while the 2-4th Somersets and l-4th Wilts sail about the middle of
September. The Chief of the Imperial General Staff has concurred in three
of the remainder, which will be the l-6th Hants, and 2-6th Devons and 2-7th
Hants being diverted to Mesopotamia for the 17th Division. These last named
units will arrive at Basrah about the middle of September. On the embodiment
early in October of the General Service unit Indian Defence Force in the Secun
derabad Division, the remaining battalion, viz., the 2-4th Devons, will proceed
to Egypt.
5. The following units therefore remain to be provided from India and
will be taken from those under formation for the two new Divisions, vide our
telegram No. 6726, dated 9th May {By. No. 30420) :
No. 1 Sanitary Section.
No. 7 Mobile Veterinary Section.
3 S. A. A. Sections.
No. 2 Field Veterinary Sections.
Nos. 256, 257 and 258 Machine Gun Companies.
Two Artillery Brigades each of two six gun 18-pr. batteries are being
made available by us in addition. These wull be taken from batteries now-
allotted to Internal Security duties, and their place will he filled partly by a
re-adjustment of batteries in Internal Security and partly by employment
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 August 1917. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: letters, telegrams, notes, reports, tables, and memoranda.
An index to the contents of this volume and a summary of the contents can be found at IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3282. The volume concerns:
- Appreciations [reports] and intelligence summaries from the Directorate of Military Operations dated 19 August 1917 (ff 53-55), 26 August 1917 (ff 162-164)
- One diary of information dated 28 July 1917 (ff 84-86) covering climate, floods, and the Christians of Mesopotamia
- Reinforcements for Force D
- Movements of Turkish [Ottoman], Russian, and German troops and German officials, including General Erich von Falkenhayn
- Reports from the Royal Flying Corps of machines in service and pilots available
- Provision and movements of river craft
- Progress of railway constructions and future railway policy, including Turkish [Ottoman] railway construction
- The composition of the committee of enquiry into port congestion at Basrah [Basra]
- A scheme to stimulate cultivation by clearing the canals of the Euphrates area and providing advances of seed and cash
- Investigation of postal arrangements
- A fodder production scheme using local labourers
- A discussion of whether the French Consul at Basrah, Monsieur Roux, should be permitted to use a cipher and locked bag, and proceed beyond Basrah
- Trade between Basrah and Baghdad
- The appointment of Sir Percy Cox as Civil Commissioner, Mesopotamia
- A proposal to terminate the agreement between HM Government and the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association employing Edmund Candler as Official Eyewitness
- A new Indian General Hospital
- The appointment of R G Garrow as recognised irrigation expert for Mesopotamia.
- Proposed co-operation with the Russians.
The following tables appear:
- Distribution of troops 29 July 1917 Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force (ff 8-12)
- Weekly return sick and wounded w/e 28 July 1917 (ff 23-24), 4 August 1917 (f 72)
- Ration strength of MEF 14 July 1917 (ff 26-29), 21 July 1917 (ff 102-105), 4 August (ff 136-138), 28 July 1917 (ff 181-184), 11 August (ff 199-201)
- State of supplies 18 August 1917 (ff 69-71 and 88-89), 25 August (ff 188-190 and 210-211)
- Distribution of the Turkish Army 21 August 1917 (ff 75-77), 28 August 1917 (ff 194-195)
- Strength return for IEF D 30 June 1917 (ff 118-135)
- Monthly distribution report of motor vehicles 1 July 1917 (ff 202-207).
The file also contains a ‘Report on the conservancy of the Shatt-el-Arab [Shatt al-Arab] River from the Port of Basra to the Persian Gulf’ by Brigadier-General George Buchanan, Director of Port Administration and Conservancy, dated 22 March 1917, including nine maps of the Shatt-el-Arab River, the port of Basra, Mohammerah [Khorramshahr] bar, and the channel from Fao [Al-Faw] down the river.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (260 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 262; 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. Multiple additional mixed foliation/pagination sequences are also present in parallel; these numbers are printed.
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 37. PART II. (From 16th to 31st August 1917).’ [158r] (320/546), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3283, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100137829833.0x000079> [accessed 17 July 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3283
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART II. (From 16th to 31st August 1917).’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:219v, 221v:234v, 244r:261v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence