![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [‎138r] (280/488)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000208/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3282_0280.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [‎138r] (280/488)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [138r] (280/488)
The record is made up of 1 volume (242 folios). It was created in 2 Jun 1917-15 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.
Word Code telegram No. T.-32, dated 6th August 1917. APPENDIX 100
(Despatched 12-45 p.m., received 11 p.m., 6th August 1917.) (Ity. No. 53427)
From—The Director of Railways, Baghdad,
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
(Repeated Commander-in-Chief in India, Simla.)
In continuation of my telegram No. 32 {Dy. No. 52894), 3rd August. In
the country in addition to these mentioned—
2S bogie metre ambulance carriages (?).
12 more ambulance metre gauge Cocaotes (coaches ?) expected during
September,
Working copy to Q. M. G.
Copy to M. S. C., M. B.
Telegram P., No. 53451, dated 7th August 1917. APPENDIX 101
(Despatched 2-30 p.m.) (Dy. No. 53451)
From—The Commander-in-Chief in India, Simla,
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
(Repeated General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” Baghdad, and Inspector General of Com
munications, Basrah.)
Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force is continually increasing in size
consequently the rapid unloading and the economic handling and the quick
turn round of tonnage at Basrah is an ever-growing problem, I therefore, on
26th July, proposed to General Maude [P.-SIG not in Diary'] that, for the
purpose of examining the existing congestion at the port of Basrah and suggest
ing measures for the more rapid unloading of vessels, he should assemble a
small committee at Basrah. Opportunity will be taken of the visit to Basrah
of Mr. Alexander Monteath, vide War Office No. 376 ft 9-Cipher-S. R. I. A.
{Dy. No. 47338) dated 13th July, to ask him to serve on the committee, the
other members being Colonel Thomson, now employed at Army Headquarters
on shipping work, and Major Cherry, the Manager of the Alexandra Dock*
Bombay. Colonel Thomson is a shipowner and during the war has had
experience of embarkation work at Indian ports and at Basrah,
Record copy to Q. M. G.
Copy to M. S. C.,G. S. (S. D. 3).
Telegram P., No. 856-S., dated 6th August 1917. APPENDIX 102
(Received in War Section, 7th August 1917.) {Dy. No. 53496)
From—His Excellency the Viceroy (Foreignand Political Department), Simla,
To—His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, London.
Bombay Government repeat that they allowed Roux to sail for Basrah
August 2nd , as steamer w T as leaving and urged diplomatic complications would
ensue if French official were interfered with.
We are instructing Bombay Government to detain Edde should he not
have left with Roux.
This is with reference to my telegram {Dy. No. 53297) August 5th.
Record copy to G. S. (M. O. 1).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (M. O. 3).
Telegram P., No. 857-S., dated 6th August 1917. APPENDIX 103
(Despatched ?) {Dy, No. 53498)
(Received in War Section, 7th August 1917.)
From—The Secretary to the Government of India (Foreign and Political Depart
ment), Simla,
To—The Secretary to the
Government of Bombay
From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions.
, Political Department, Poona.
Did Roux’s dragoman Edde also sail Basrah ? If not, please detain him
pending further orders.
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 1 and 15 August 1917. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, memoranda, letters, and tables.
An index to the contents of this volume can be found at folios 3-15 and a summary of the contents can be found at folio 16. The volume concerns:
- The supply of food, animals, construction materials, weapons, and other items to Force D
- River and railway traffic in Mesopotamia
- Railway construction in Mesopotamia
- Arrivals to and departures from the port of Basra
- Problems with the unloading of ships at Basra
- Proposal for the transfer of men from the Disciplinary Labour Corps into a free Labour Corps
- Discussion of British strategy in Mesopotamia, including current policy of securing control of the Baghdad Vilayet, and inability to take offensive action without Russian support
- Recruitment of Arab prisoners of war in India ‘to serve the Sheriff [Sharīf] of Mecca’
- Intelligence concerning movements of Turkish [Ottoman], German, and Austrian units
- Intelligence concerning German construction of a railway ‘towards Mosul’
- Discussion of the creation of a French Consulate at Baghdad
- Financial administration of Force D and the territory occupied by the British in Mesopotamia
- Proposal for forming a new division of Force D
- Intelligence concerning Russian movements in the Caucasus and mutiny within the Russian army
- Intelligence concerning Kurdish movements and attacks on Russian troops
- Shortage of medical officers.
The volume also contains:
- Distribution and composition of Force D including details of lines of communication, commanding officers, and units captured at Kut-al-Amarah [Al-Kut] (ff 3-36)
- Distribution of Force D including details of lines of communication, 15 July 1917 (ff 123-127), 22 July 1917 (ff 216-220)
- Distribution of the Turkish Army, 7 August 1917 (ff 147-148), 14 August 1917 (ff 226-227)
- Detailed statement of ration strength of Force D on 30 June 1917 (ff 39-42), 7 July 1917 (ff 175-178)
- Ammunition held and used by Force D, 29 July 1917 (ff 42-43), 4 August 1917 (ff 123-124)
- Strength return of Force D dated 2 June 1917 (ff 45-61)
- Ration strength of Force D on 14 July 1917 (ff 67-69), 21 July 1917 (ff 152-154), 28 July 1917 (ff 234-236)
- Report of number of pilots and aircraft available for service in Mesopotamia, 2 August 1917 (ff 81-82), 9 August 1917 (f 179)
- Two diaries of information from 7 July 1917 (ff 90-107) and 21 July 1917 (ff 193-194) covering: climate and floods; local produce; Inland Water Transport; medical affairs; military government; the Directorate of Works; the YMCA in Baghdad; and the crash of a German plane
- Weekly return of sick and wounded for the week ending 14 July 1917 (f 114) and 21 July 1917 (ff 187-188).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (242 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 242; 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 3-240; 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 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [138r] (280/488), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3282, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100137984423.0x000051> [accessed 3 February 2025]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3282
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:241v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence