‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 54. Part I. (From 1st to 15th January 1919.)’ [‎198v] (401/464)

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 January 1919. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, memoranda, tables, and letters, containing instructions and reports.

An index to the contents of this volume can be found at folios 3-21. The volume mostly relates to:

• Personnel strengths across multiple departments and units
• Matters relating to demobilisation, including: release of officers; repatriation of troops; administrative procedures; abolition of units and bureaucratic procedures; arrangements for interim personnel; comments on demobilisation orders; potential relaxation of censorship; and the sale of surplus animals, vehicles and materials
• Arrangements for the civil administration of Mesopotamia, including transfer of departments and personnel from military to civil control
• Matters relating to oil fields
• Procedure for recommending British officers of the Indian Army for the Staff College
• Proposals to increase the Agricultural Directorate
• Details regarding road and railways construction in Mesopotamia and Persia [Iran]
• Details of traffic and tonnage [amounts of cargo] transported on railways and ships
• Status of rations and supplies
• Matters relating to Persia, especially financial issues and levies
• Reports from Baku and Krasnovodsk [Turkmenbasy], especially regarding updates on the Georgians, Armenians and Azerbaijan
• Minor discussions about events and policy in the Caspian and Caucasus regions, as well as southern Kurdistan
• Arrangements for the post-war garrison in Mesopotamia, particularly the ratios of British and Indian troops
• Lists of sick and wounded soldiers
• Intelligence regarding German commanders and political officers
• Matters relating to staff, including: creation of posts; leave; and numbers required
• Repatriation of non-Turkish [non-Ottoman] prisoners of war and of Assyrians and Armenians
• Matters relating to the exchange and transport of personnel and supplies between Mesopotamia, India, Egypt, and Persia
• Minor details of a Court of Enquiry held at Kasvin [Qazvin] into the mismanagement of government funds
• Intelligence regarding Turkish demobilisation
• Port Directorate requirements.

The volume also contains:

• Detailed statements of ration strength of Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force on 9 November 1918 (ff 52-59) and 23 November 1918 (ff 77-84)
• Statement of Animal Transport [types of animals and the vehicles they convey] for Force D for October 1918 (ff 60-65)
• Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia, Persia, and Turkestan [historic region in Central Asia] on 6 January (ff 90-91) and on 13 January (ff 184-185)
• Statements showing strength of the different contingents serving with Force D as of 2 November 1918 (ff 96-108) and 23 November 1918 (ff 131-133)
• Distribution of Force D on 7 December 1918 (ff 109-120), including corrections for the distribution as of 7 December and 14 December 1918
• Statement showing strength of British and Indian Personnel in Force D on 7 December 1918 (f 197)
• Field return for Force D showing number of personnel, animals, weapons, and transport vehicles on 2 November 1918 (ff 206-228).

Whilst the volume contains copies of earlier material dating from September 1918 onwards, the bulk of the material dates from January 1919.

Extent and format

1 volume (228 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 230; 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 3-228; 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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