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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 41. PART II. (From 16th to 31st December 1917).’ [‎234r] (472/508)

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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475
WAR DIARY.
%
Date.
Summary of events.
Number.
Appendix.
31-12-17
The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, London, reported the decision as to allotment of Staff to General
Dunsterville and gave instructions as to pay and selection.
88872
617
The Embarkation Commandant, Basrah, reported the arrival of Bamora ” with 53rd, 54th, and 55th
Small Arms Ammunition Sections and 39th Combined Eield Ambulance and Details.
88873
618
The General Officer Commanding, Eorce “ D/’ reported no change in the situation on 30th December
88874
619
The Director, Military Intelligence, London, reported that by contact in Palestine certain German units
had been identified.
88879
620
Return showing effective strength of Railway Department was received from Deputy Adjutant General,
3rd Echelon, Basrah.
88893
621
The Director, Military Intelligence, London, reported information received from an individual returned
from Berlin who was told of new German formation, for service in Palestine, of about 3,000 strong.
88906
622
The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, London, reported a number of Russian officers in England
anxious to serve and enquired if Bicharakoff could make use of them and, if so, what numbers and of
what arms.
88907
623
The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, London, requested consideration of the possibility of sending
88912
624
officers from the South Persia Rifles to the Caucasus.
The Deputy, Adjutant-General, 3rd Echelon, Eorce “ D,” asked for list of all officers of Indian Railway
lines then in military employ, with a view to utilizing their technical qualifications if already in
Mesopotamia. *
88917
625
The Deputy Adjutant General, 3rd Echelon, Eorce “ D,” requested that 6 monthly estimates might be
discontinued in case of Works Directorate and Companies, Indian Section Base Park, Inland Water
Transport, Electrical and Machanical and Basrah Light Railway and asked that specified monthly
demands only need be submitted.
8S°55
626
\
The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, London, intimated that from 100 to 150 officers and from 200 to
300 Non-Commissioned officers were required for Dunsterville’s Mission, and that 30 of the former
and 50 of the latter were being despatched from Home, and it was hoped a few others could be found
from East Africa. He asked that Eorce “ D ” should provide as many suitable officers and men as
possible, and gave particulars of the pay and ranks sanctioned.
S8958
627

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).’ [‎234r] (472/508), 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_100139296984.0x000049> [accessed 28 August 2024]

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