![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [‎256r] (520/544)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x00020d/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3287_0520.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.)’ [‎256r] (520/544)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [256r] (520/544)
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.
15
WAR DIARY.
-Date.
Summary of events.
Number.
Appendix.
The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” stated that owing to expansion of Force the Inspector General
ot Communications required more transport, and asked if the establishment of the Gwalior I. S» Transport
Corps could be increased by 150.
77212
284
The Deputy Adjutant General 3rd Echelon stated that it was proposed to base Railway Personnel demands
in future on the actual deficiency plus 10 per cent plus time expired within period covered by demand.
77*37
285
The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” stated regarding Ordnance appointments that ten Officers
w T ere required, and hoped that officers with some experience of Ordnance duties would be sent.
77238
286
The Admiralty intimated that it had been suggested by the
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
that the expert
to Basrah from India of food stuffs should be encouraged and that similar export of piece goods should
be discouraged and requested that enquiries be instituted with a view to the suggestion being
carried out.
77253
00
The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” reported all fronts quiet and that on the 14th instant the
enemy’s camps in the neighbourhood of Fathah were bombed with good effect. He also reported the
despatch on the 13th of a column from Ahwaz for 10 days tour to Shuster and back.
77254
288
The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” stated that the return of Western Survey Party sent to the
Russians had already been asked for by him.
77255
289
The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” stated that owing to his demands not having been met, he
had been obliged to reduce the ration of rice and atta.
77257
29O
i
Statement of discharges per ship in tons on !2th November was received from the Inspector General of Com
munications, Basrah.
77268
2 QI
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.)’ [256r] (520/544), 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_100140953803.0x000079> [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