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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [264r] (536/544)
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.
Word Code telegram No. A.-3434, dated 14th November 1917. APPENDIX 29 D
(Despatched 10-15 p.m., received 11 a.m., 15th November 1917.) (Dy. No. 7;32s)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force ‘'D," Baghdad,
To—India.
(Repeated Secretary, War Office, London.)
In three instances lately when sanctioning certain projects which are
civil and military advantage I have made proposals for allocating the cost
between civil and military funds. In each case the Civil Commissioner has
concurred and put the proposal before the Foreign Department for sanction of
the civil expenditure involved. In reply the Foreign Department has instructed
the Civil Commissioner that the expense is to be borne entirely by Military
Funds and the latier has communicated the decision to me. In these three cases
an additional charge of 127,000
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
has been placed on Military Funds over
and above the amount anticipated by the joint recommendations put forward
by the Civil Commissioner and myself. As this seems to be a matter as to
which you should be cognizant I am informing you a:cordingly and I would
submit for consideration that decisions reached on similar subjects should in
future be communicated to me by you.
Working copy to F.A.
Copy to M.S.C., F. & P., A.G.
Telegram No. H.-I7IO-2II, dated 14th November 1917. APX 3 NDIX 303
^Received in War “Section, 15th November 1917.) (Dy. No. 77333)
From—The Secretary, Indian Munitions Board, Simla,
To—The D. of L. Resources Department, Baghdad.
(Repeated I. G. C. for information).
My telegram No, 1696-211 of 10th instant (Dy. No. 76970). Your proposal
hat merchants should be allowed to ship wool on own account to United King*
dom agreed to provided that usual agencies be employed who are understood to
be Gray Mackenzie Strick Scott and Lynch Brothers.
Record copy to M.B,
Copy to D.M.O.
Telegram P., No. X.-4741, dated 13th November 1917. APPEND 1 X 301
(Despatched 1-25 p.m., received 8 A.m., 14th November 1917.) (Dy. No 77311)
From— The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” Baghdad,
To—The Chief of the General Staff.
(Repeated London.)
Reference Secretary, War Office, 45247-Cipher S, D.-26 (Dy. No. 76744)
of 10th. The requirements contained in my X.-4452 (Dy. No. 73541), dated
October 29th, were based on previous correspondence especially on the fact
that as far as possible unit was to be all British, vide Secretary, War Office, tele
gram No. 42175-Cipher S. D.-2 (Dy. No. 67026), dated October 3rd. Please
see telegram No. 44003-Cipher A. G.-9 (Dy. No. 75685), dated October 20th,
from Secretary, War Office, London. If possible would prefer British Batmen
and pack horse leaders. The number of A. T. carts and drivers which are
allowed in War Establishment proposed in telegram under reply is not clear
neither is the reference to donkeys.
Following are my requirements :—British Personnel all ranks 200 less 17,
vide my telegram X.-4254 See Dy. No. 70769), dated 17th October.
Indian—31 drivers for water carts, Field kitchen and A. T. carts, one
private for water carts, total 32.
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.)’ [264r] (536/544), 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_100140953803.0x000089> [accessed 29 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