‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 41. PART II. (From 16th to 31st December 1917).’ [‎222r] (448/508)

Memorandum No. A.-2001-6, dated 8tb December 1918,
APPENDIX 603
{Dy. No. 8S707)
From—The General Officer Coimnending-in-Chief, Mesopotamian Expeditionary
Force,
To—The Secretary, M ar Office, London, S. W.
(Copy to Chief of tbe General Staff, India, for information.)
With reference to War Office letter Xo. 20-Labour-80* (A. G.-12), dated
•Cop, attached. 17th August and No. 191-3-697 (A. G.-l),
dated 11th October 1917.
1. As the subjects contained in these letters are closely allied, I propose
to deal with them in the follow ing report so that you may be made aware of
system existing in this country and what has already been done in these
respects.
2. During the year 1915-16 owing to limited Hospital accommodation
and the unhealhiness of the country, it w r as necessary to evacuate sick and
injured British ranks freely, with the result that but few Permanent Base
men remained. On the other hand, owing to the extended Lines of Communi
cation, it was necessary to employ British other ranks on various duties, and
these had to be drawn to a large extent from combatants of category “ A.”
The wastefulness of this procedure was recognized, therefore early in 1917
the following scheme was evolved :—
India was approached as to whether it could provide this force with
Permanent Base men from British Garrison Battalions serving in that country
and on its signifying its ability to do so the War establishments of all
Administrative units at the Base and on the Lines of Communication were
revised, and wherever it was possible that the duties of these Administrative
units could be performed by Permanent Base men it was provided for in their
War Establishments.
3. Prom the beginning of 1917 to the present time we have received 2,215
Permanent Base men from the Garrison Battalions in India for duties at the
Base and on the Lines of Communication.
Owing to improved conditions the evacuation of sick and injured British
ranks from Mesopotamia is now lower, with the result that a gradual flow of
Permanent Base men has become available from the Forces in the country.
The nett gain has been that since January 1917, over 1,200 category A ”
men have been returned to their units from employment on the Lines of
Communication and at the Base; and in all about 3,000 Permanent Base men
have been detailed for duties which would otherwise have been performed by
category “ A ” men.
4- The system of control of these Permanent Base men is not quite ou the
same lines as those indicated in your letter No. 20 Labour-80 (A. G.-12^ and
is briefly as follows :—
O) Permanent Base men are classified at certain centres by specially
detailed Medical Officers; Advanced Base, Kut, Amarah and Basrah.
{b) Nominal rolls of men classified Permanent Base are rendered weekly
to the 3rd Fichelon.
(o) These men, on becoming Permanent Base, are transferred on paper
to units not in this country, as under—
Infantry. —2nd Garrison Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers.
(Men of Scotch Regiments to 2nd Garrison Battalion Gordon
Highlanders).
Hoyal Artillery. —74th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery.
Cavalry.—'1th. Hussars. (This regiment has recently arrived in this
country).
Royal Engineer and Army Service Corps are not transferred.
(d) At the Base, men classified as Permanent Base are drafted to No. 3
British Base Depot, and men supplied by India for Permanent Base duties
also join this Depot on arrival.
{e) Those classified Permanent Base at Advanced Base, Kut and Amarah,
are despatched as Permanent Base men to the Base, as directed by the Deputy
Adjutant General, 3rd Eshelon.