‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [187r] (382/544)
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.
183
Presume my I. (d) 140 of October 8th (Dy. No. 68248), is disposed of by
your 76003 of November 8th.
Working copy to G.S. (Censor).
Copy to M.S.C., G.S. (M.O. 1, M.O. 3).
Telegram P., No. X.-4700, dated nth November 1917. APPENDIX 223
(Despatched 10-15, A.M.. received 6 P.M.) (Dy. No. 76746)
From—The G. O. C , Force (l D,” Baghdad,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Simla.
Your 71049 of October 20th.
Mixed Ford Van Companies War Establishment has been posted to-day t
non-technical
Havildar
Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard.
Major and 75 drivers is the number of Asiatics.
Each batch of drivers sent should be arranged to be a multiple of this
number and reinforcements for each nationality should be based on the number
of companies provided.
In view of Secretary, War Office, telegram 44876,, dated 6th November
(Dy. No. 75724), could despatch be accelerated. Otherwise I calculate that
when new companies arrived against a shortage of 740 Asiatics I shall have a
surplus of only 300 British.
Working copy to Q.M.G.
Copy to M.S.C., A.G., G.S. (M.O. 1, S.D. 3).
Telegram P. r No. X.-4709, dated nth November 1917.
(Despatched 4-45 P.M., received 5 A.M., 12th November 1917.)
From—The G. O. C., Force u D/' Baghdad,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Simla’
(Repeated London and Egypt.)
November nth, 4 P.M.
On November 5th after the battle at Tekrit, the 51st and 52nd Turkish
divisions retreated up the Tigris 5° an d 30 miles respectively where we have
now located them. With the exception of ore regiment now holding advanced
position about Shoramiah, whole of 18th Corps is now r at or north of Fathah.
Indications which we have observed for the past fortnight are now getting
stronger of withdrawal on the Suleimaniyeh front as well.
Working copy to G.S. (M.O. i).
Copy to M.S.C., M.S.V., G.S. (M.O. 3).
APPENDIX 224
(Dy. No. 76758)
75801, 75802, 76097, 76331* 76688.
APPENDIX 225 ^
SITUATION IN MESOPOTAMIA AND PERSIA.
iith November 1917.
1. Tigris Front *—As reconnaissance of Tekrit on 3rd November seemed
to confirm information that that place
was held by the 51st and 52nd Turkish
divisions unsupported, General Maude decided to attack. The British force
gained a brilliant victory. After some stiff fighting on the 5th, the Turks
hurriedly retreated during that night and we occupied Tekrit on the morning o£
the 6th.
Our captures include 319 prisoners, 3 aeroplanes, a quantity of ammunition^,
bridging material, etc..
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.)’ [187r] (382/544), 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_100140953802.0x0000b7> [accessed 7 April 2025]
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- 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