![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [‎143r] (290/488)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000208/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3282_0290.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.)’ [‎143r] (290/488)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [143r] (290/488)
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.
107
Telegram f\ No. 53^46, dated 7th August 1917. APPENDIX 107
.^Despatched 11 p m.) (7)^. J\ r ». 53546 )
Prom—The Commander-in-Chief in India, Simla,
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
Continuation my 51371 of 31st July. For week ending August 5th
following are averages :—
Port.
Cla?s of ships.
Number.
Average No. days in port.
Easrah
Storeships
9
19-1
Troopships . .
a
40
.Mule Ship .
*
1
11-0
Hospital Ships
*
4
3-0
Karachi
*
Troop Storeships .
3
4-0
Storeships
,
S
5o
Hospital Ships
1
0 5
Calcutta
Storeships .
I
80
Aden
..
Storeships
#
5
C9
Troopships .
3
1-5 ’
Bombay ,
4.
Troop storeships .
,
4
In port
. 5'U
Loading
, 2-9
Detention
. 2-1
Troopships
.
3
In port
. 6-0
Loading ,
. 1-5
Detention
. 45
Hospital Ships .
#
5
In port
. 8‘6
Repairing
. 0-6
Detention
. 8-0
Storeship
.
1
In port
. 9-5
Loading
. 8-5
Detention
. 1-0
Horse Shin e
*
.
1
In port
. 4-5
Loading
. 2-0
j
Detention
. 2-5
Record copy to Q. M. Gi.
Copy to M. S. C.
Telegram P., No. 53547, dated 7th August 1917. APPENDIX 108
(Despatched 11 p.m.) (Zty. No. 53547)
Erom —The Commander-in-Chief in India, Simla,
To—The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, London.
(Repeated General Officer Commanding, Force “ D, ” and Inspector General of Communica
tions, Basrah.)
Your 39065 (Dy. No. 53361) of 5th instant.
In my No. 48161 of 17th July, which was repeated to Secretary, War
Office, this question, which has been occupying my earnest attention, was
brought to Maude’s notice and has since been the subject of frequent discuss
ion with him.
Reference the point raised in your telegram—
(1) Detention and discrepancy of figures. For the period July 23rd to
30th, the figures of discharge of ships quoted by you average only 2,665 tons,
whereas for the succeeaing 5 days the average is 3,400 tons daily. The average
days detention in port of 21 days quoted from my 50017 was for the week
ending 22nd July, when the amount unloaded per day was considerably less
than on the dates 23rd to 30th. For the dates 23rd to 29th the average deten
tion was only 16, and it is indicated by incoming returns that the detention
will be further lessened in the week commencing 30th July. Maude, not I,
computed the estimate of 10 days in his telegram iof 28th July No. X.-3017
(Dy.No. 51242).
(2) Regarding the despatch of fuel and fodder, Maude’s telegram
No. X.-3013 (Dy. No. 51243) was received on 29th July and up to the present it
has not been possible, unless the stocks were cut dangerously low, to reduce
the entry of fuel and fodder ships further, but restriction has now been ordered.
Fuel and fodder is very bulky, and Ike introduction recently of the small China
coasting steamers, of which the hulk of our cargo fleet is now formed, means
that in one vessel only about 800 tons can he despatched, while in some cases
their facilities for discharging are poor. Despatches of fodder and fuel in
August will be 2,200 tons, and 27 China vessels will be required to carry it.
This means almost one daily, hence, if only five are to be in port at once eithe*
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [143r] (290/488), 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_100137984423.0x00005b> [accessed 24 January 2025]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137984423.0x00005b
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137984423.0x00005b">‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 37. PART I. (From 1st to 15th August 1917.)’ [‎143r] (290/488)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100137984423.0x00005b"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000208/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3282_0290.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000208/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- 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