![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [‎92r] (192/544)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x00020d/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3287_0192.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.)’ [‎92r] (192/544)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [92r] (192/544)
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.
(please see telegram to War Section from D, S. and T. Baghdad No. P. S. 260,
October 22nd (Dy. No. 71739). Are you now in a position to satisfy my monthly
demands each month as they occur, so that on this point I need have no further
anxiety? Your assumption is correct that demand for October shipment of arti
cles specifically mentioned represented quantities required to bring stocks up to
60 days, subject to reservation as to capacity of port of Basrah above mentioned;
but in framing monthly demands, it is always assumed that you will have met
demands for the previous month in full. With regard to the carriage of large
reserves, I have made no increase in my demands with the exception of that
made at your request, e. instead of 60 days supplies to demand 75.
Atta —There was a shortage of goo tons in the October shipment of this
article.
Rice —It will probably be 14th November before the ship from Egypt will
arrive at Basrah. Pending her arrival there will be a shortage of 940 tons on
the October demand. (Please also see my X.4487, October 31st (Dy. No. 74051).
Preserved Meat—In October the quantity sent fell short of my demands by
60 tons.
Bacon —In view of the strikes in Australia I can ’.nderstand the difficulty ex
perienced, but would suggest that when you anticipate a failure to meet any of
my demands, you should give me early notice.
Your forecast as to remedying the position as regards stocks of atta and
grain is noted.
Please see my X.-435f : , October 22nd (Dy. No. 72053) regarding inability
to comply with demands made at short notice. Reference my X.-4535, November
2nd (Dy. No. 74456-) please reply to suggestion made in the last sentence. I
made this suggestion in order that the s r tuation might be made clear on two
essential points namely.
(a) reserve in country for whole force.
(£) portion of tl is reserve at Baghdad and in forward magazines stated
in days for advanced troops.
Latter was to be included in former.
Working copy to Q.M.G.
Copy to M.S.C., D.M.S.
Word Code Telegram No. H.-4642, dated 4th November 1917. APPENDIX 112
(Despatched 9-20 P.M., 5th November 1917, received 3-30 P.M., 6th
November 1917.) (By. No. 75529)
From—The D. A. G., 3rd Echelon, Basrah,
To—The War Section, Army Headquarters, Simla.
(Repeated G. H. Q., reference his telegram A.-3240, November 2nd (N, R. W. S )
Following are medical requirements for civil work.
British Officers ... •••
I.S.M.D. ... ... ••• IO -
If British Officers not forthcoming 10 I.S.M.D. and 10 compounders-
This demand cancels G.H.Q. 2040-1 and my R.- 44 ° 4 i (September 7th (Dy. No-
61055) and all previous medical demands for civil.
Working copy to D.M.S.
Copy to M.S.C.
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.)’ [92r] (192/544), 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_100140953801.0x0000c1> [accessed 26 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