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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [‎42r] (92/544)

The record is made up of 1 volume (266 folios). It was created in 29 Sep 1917-15 Nov 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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APPENDIX 58
(Dy. No. 74788)
Telegram P., N0.X.-4555, dateJ 3rd November i<;r 7 .
(Despatched 10-50 a.m m received io p M ., 3rd November 1917)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force '> D,”
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
(Repeated C. G. S., Simla, and D. D. S. and T., Base.)
At the end of October the ration strength in Mesopotamia was as
follows :—
116.800— British.
300,500—Indian.
Animals —
33.200— Australian or Colonial horses and Country bred horses with
Bntish Mounted Corps.
11,000—Arabs and other small horses and horses of Silladar Cavalry.
25 > 5 00 ~ Mo unted Infantry ponies ; Mountain Battery Ordnance mules-
Mountain Eatery baggage mules, ist class; Transport mules or
ponies, 1st class.
11,200 Mountain Battery baggage mules, 2nd class; Transport mules
or _ P or ‘ ies > 2n d class ; other horses and ponies employed with
otncers messes; grass cutters’ ponies, Silladar Cavalry.
2.800— Siege train and Artillery bullocks ; camels.
3,300—Draught bullocks.
3.200— Pack bullocks and donkeys.
Working copy to Q.M.G., A.G.
Copy to M.S.C., D.M.S., G.S. (M.O. 1, S.D. 3),
3 ^
APPENDIX 58
Memo. No. C.« 44 ^"^. dated 8th October 1917.
(Received in War Secticn, 3rd November 1917.) (Dy, No. 74^9})
From—The Director of Railways, Baghdad,
To—The Secretary, Indian Munitions Board, Simla.
I should be obliged if you would let me know what progress has been
made^ towards getting material for a bridge suitable for this country, vide my
No. C.-23-2082 of June 18th {No. Dy* 43790), and subsequent correspondence.
I may add that there is at present no project in view for bridging either
river, but in case the necessity were to arise it is considered desirable that we
shall have the necessary plant and material reserved and ready.
I have given you in previous letters all the data that are available.
Working copy to M.B.
Copy to M.S.C., Q.M.G., D.G.M.W., G.S. (M.O. f, M.O. 3).

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 November 1917. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, tables, memoranda, and letters.

The volume concerns:

  • Reinforcements for Force D, including horses, medical officers, railway staff, and machine gunners
  • The appointment of officers in Force D
  • The supply of food, ordnance, clothing, oil, and other items to Force D
  • Scheduling of supply shipments from India to Basrah [Basra]
  • The supply of agricultural equipment for a ‘cultivation scheme’
  • Recruitment of railway workers from Malaysia and Siam [Thailand] for service in Mesopotamia
  • Report from the Royal Flying Corps of machines and pilots available for service in Mesopotamia
  • Plans for the construction of flour mills at Baghdad
  • Construction and improvement of railways in Mesopotamia
  • British aerial bombardment of an aerodrome at Kifri, and Turkish [Ottoman] army camps at Fathah [Al-Fathah]
  • British attacks on Turkish positions near Daur [Ad-Dawr] on 2 November 1917, and at Tekrit on 5 November 1917
  • Intelligence concerning the movement of German and Turkish military units in Mesopotamia, including the arrival of German aviation units
  • Intelligence acquired from captured enemy deserters, including estimates of Turkish troop numbers, plans made by German and Turkish commanders, and supply shortages within the Turkish Army
  • Intelligence reports on formation of a ‘special Intelligence service’ by the Turkish and German militaries, including names and assignments of suspected enemy agents
  • Discussion of the treatment of Russian subjects captured while serving as part of the Turkish Army
  • British Indian citizens found guilty of ‘waging war’ or ‘abetting in the waging of war against His Britannic Majesty’ and sentenced to death or transportation
  • Matters relating to Russia, including: Russian reluctance to send more troops to Mesopotamia; the arrival of a Russian air squadron at Mendali [Mandali]; news of a ‘counter revolution in Petrograd [Saint Petersburg]’ received 9 November 1917
  • Skirmishes between German and Persian [Iranian] troops at Turshiz [Kashmar]
  • Dispatch of British troops from Ahwaz [Ahvaz, Iran] to ‘quell disturbances’ in Shushtar
  • A diary of information dated 20 October 1917, covering climate data and the customs, language, and attitudes of the Kurdish population of Hakkiari [Hakkari, a mountainous region spanning modern Iraq and Turkey].

The volume also contains:

  • Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of: lines of communication; general organisation; unit locations; and names of General Officers and Brigade Commanders (ff 3-4)
  • Distribution of Force D on 14 October 1917 (ff 71-76)
  • Ration strength of Force D on 29 September 1917 (ff 62-69), 13 October 1917 (ff 30-34), and October 20 (ff 153-157)
  • Detailed ration strength of Force D on 6 October 1917 (ff 163-170)
  • Weekly returns of sick and wounded dated 13 October 1917 (ff 18-19), 20 October 1917 (ff 58-59), and 27 October 1917 (ff 145-146)
  • Statement of tonnage received from India during September 1917 (ff 196-198)
  • Distribution of the Turkish Army for the week ending 6 November 1917 (ff 94-96) and 13 November 1917 (ff 244-246)
  • State of supplies in stock and at sea as of 3 November 1917 (ff 107-108), 10 November 1917 (ff 250-251).
Extent and format
1 volume (266 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 268; 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 5-266; 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 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [‎42r] (92/544), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3287, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100140953801.0x00005d> [accessed 6 April 2025]

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