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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 41. PART II. (From 16th to 31st December 1917).’ [‎39r] (82/508)

The record is made up of 1 volume (250 folios). It was created in 10 Nov 1917-31 Dec 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. .

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Clear telegram No. B. C. S.-5, dated 18th December 1917. APPENDIX 365
(Despatched 3-25 p.m. ) {Dy. No. 85910)
From—The Quartermaster General in India,
To—General Freeland, c/o Embarkation Commandant, Bombay.
Clear the line.
Your 0635 of 16th {By. No. 85627) appears to misunderstand proposal.
You haYe 2 sets of duties to carry out, (1) to report to C. I. G. S. on questions
prescribed in his orders, (2) to act as chairman of Indian Commission and in
conjunction with your colleagues on that commission to report to the Govern
ment of India on questions prescribed in thei? orders, see paragraph 7 of C. I.
G. S.’s instructions dated 18th October 1917, and his telegram No. 47961 of
14th December {By. No. 85201). As regards (1) there is no obstacle to your
proceeding with the rest of your military staff to Baghdad forthwith. As
regards (2; it is essential that later the whole Commission should meet you at
such time and place in Mesopotamia as you may appoint to complete your
joint investigation and report. As members of the Commission were selected
for their full knowledge of the Indian situation nothing will be gained by
detaining them here. It would accelerate matters therefore if they left at
once for Basrah. Bearing in mind the above instructions it is not clear what
your objection is to the purely verbal amendments proposed by Army
Secretary in Government of India letter of instructions. They are intended
merely to define more closely the position of the commission in its corporate
capacity as distinct from your personal mission. Unless therefore you have
further points to raise the amendments will he made. Acknowledge,
Record copy to Q. M. G.
Copy to M. S. C. 5 A. G., G. S. (S. D. 3).
Word Code telegram No. R.-3111, dated 17th December 1917. APPENDIX 366
(Despatched 3-5 p m., received 11-30 a.m., 18th December 1917.) {By. No. 85913)
From—The Deputy Adjutant General, 3rd Echelon, Force “ D/' Basrah,
To—The War Section, Army Headquarters.
Requirements are as follows for I, W. T.
Skilled labour—
Rivetters .......... 131
Blacksmiths mates ........ 24
Plumbers 13
Wiremen .......... 9
Machinemen ......... 69
Wood caulkers ......... 57
Acetylene welders ........ 3
Sign writers ......... 6
Armature winders ........ 5
Oil engine drivers ....... . 37
Electric installation repairer ..... .1
Pile drivers . . . . . . . . . 23
Drivers ^ 2
Chinese interpreters ........ 6
Total . 366
Unskilled labour —
Coolie A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. tindals Non-European boatswain or head of a group of labourers. or mates ....... 49
Skilled khalassis ....... 201
Fitter khalassis ...... ... 18
Professional ratcatchers ....... 10
Total . 278

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 December 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 the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3289. The volume concerns:

  • Appreciations [reports] and intelligence summaries from the Directorate of Military Operations dated 16 December 1917 (ff 9-10), 23 December 1917 (ff 127-129), 30 December 1917 (ff 249-250)
  • Supplies, particularly of timber, tents, and preserved meats
  • The difficulties of dispatching petrol and oils in drums
  • A shortage of tin affecting food supplies
  • The armistice signed by Germany, Austria, Russia, Turkey and Bulgaria on 17 December 1917
  • Movements of Turkish [Ottoman] and German troops
  • British aerial bombardment of aerodromes at Humr [Al Humr], Tuz Kurmatli [Tuz Khurmati]
  • Commentary on shipping and port works recommended by the Cherry and Thompson Commission and A Monteath
  • Financial powers available to civil administrators in occupied territories and arrangements for receipts
  • The occupation of Samawa [As Samawah], Hillah [Al Hillah] and Kifl [Al Kifl]
  • The proposed Irrigation Directorate
  • The selection of men to be allotted to Major-General Lionel Dunsterville
  • Reinforcements for Force D, including supplies of medical officers, camels, and personnel for the Inland Water Transport Department, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, and the Railway Department
  • Reports from the Royal Flying Corps of machines in service and pilots available
  • Russian officers from England who were anxious to serve in Mesopotamia.

The following tables appear:

  • Distribution of Force D on 18 November 1917 (ff 16-21), 25 November (ff 144-155)
  • Ration strength of Force D on 24 November 1917 (ff 36-38, 187-191), 1 December (ff 133-136), 17 November (ff 136-140), 8 December (ff 212-214)
  • Distribution of the Turkish Army on 18 December 1917 (ff 48-49), 25 December 1917 (ff 167-169)
  • State of supplies on 15 December (ff 56-57, 76-77), 22 December (ff 177-178, 201-202)
  • Weekly return of the sick and wounded on 1 December (f 72)
  • Strength return for Force D on 10 November (ff 115-117)
  • Effective strength of the Railway Department (ff 237-241).
Extent and format
1 volume (250 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 252; 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 3-250; 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
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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 41. PART II. (From 16th to 31st December 1917).’ [‎39r] (82/508), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3290, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100139296982.0x000053> [accessed 28 August 2024]

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