![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [‎54r] (116/544)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x00020d/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3287_0116.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [‎54r] (116/544)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [54r] (116/544)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
a development which would be favourable to British interests,
6 . Russian Co-operation,
The Chief of the Imperial General Staff has wired to General Maude that the
Russians apparently do not consider themselves able to carry out the Chief of
the Imperial General Staff’s proposal to send good troops under a fresh
commander to replace Baratoff’s force, that the proposal to send 2 Cossack
Divisions from the Caucasus to act under General Maude is apparently abandoned
and that the Russians now cling to their original proposal to send some of
Baratoff’s troops to act directly under General Maude’s orders.
The Chief of the Imperial General Staff asks for General Maude’s opinion)
but proposes, subject to the concurrence of General Officer Commanding Force
‘ D”, to inform Russian General Headquarters that we do not now consider it
suitable to place Russians under General Maude, though endeavours will be
made to help them with food supplies as far as possible. The reasons for this
policy of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff are.—
(?) The important thing is to get any possible assistance from the
Russians in closing routes into Persia against small enemy
bands.
(if) Baratoff is jealous of handing over troops to the British Commander,
and this may encourage him to make active defence of roads into
Persia.
(in) It is questionable whether a Russian detachment under General
Officer Commanding Force “D” would not be more an embarrasa-
ment than an aid.
(iv) The forthcoming increase of Force “D” by 2 Divisions renders its
reinforcement by Russians less desirable then formerly.
(n) We should have to ration the Russian detachment entirely, which
might lead to the withdrawal of some of Baratoffi's best troops away
from their chief duty of guarding roads into Persia.
General Conclusions. There has been no material change in the situation
either in Mesopotamia or Persia during the week.
The British offensive on the Palestine front has begun and Falkenhayn’s
attention will probably be directed to this front for some time to come.
The Chief of the Imperial General Staff’s view that the chief duty of
Baratoff’s force should be the closing against the enemy, of routes into Persa,
agrees with that expressed by His Excellency the Ccmmander-in-Chief in
August last.
(Itd/ F. E. G. T.,—5-11-17.
Available information still points to Falkenhayn’s intention being to strike
first in Syria, and the operations there, if successful, may confirm him in this
Meanwhile, delay in advancing in Mesopotamia brings the rainy season nearer
and with it the opening to our forces of lines of operation, at present closed to
them by lack of water.
The expected move of German parties from Herat appears to have taken
place : it is not clear to what extent or whether it is being done, in sympathy
with German movements on the western frontier of Persia—it is more likely to be
due to improving weather conditions and outstaying Afghan welcome at Herat.
(ltd) A. S.,—6-1 i-i;.
Falkenhayn’s use of his central reserve from Aleppo is limited by the
apparent failure in the development of his communications E. and S. E.of Aleppo
by rail and river, while Syrian railways are already overworked. In Persia
indications are at present Javourable, but unrest in Russian Turkestan requires
watching..
(ltd.) G. M, K.,—7-11-17.
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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 View the complete information for this record
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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [54r] (116/544), 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_100140953801.0x000075> [accessed 27 August 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3287
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:3r, 3r:3v, 3v:4r, 4r:4v, 4v:267v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence