![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [‎73r] (150/442)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000214/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3294_0150.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [‎73r] (150/442)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [73r] (150/442)
The record is made up of 1 volume (217 folios). It was created in 12 Jan 1918-28 Feb 1918. 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.
Baghdad-Eillah extension (standard gauge) Formation complete for 18)
miles.
Fallujah-Dhibban extension (standard gauge) Formation completed and
linking done to mile 10 beyond Eallujah
* 1 figure omitted. leaving only (one ?)* mile to complete.
Working copy to Q. M. G.
Copy to M. S. C., M. B., G. S. (M. O 1, M. O. 3, S. D. 1).
.APPENDIX S90
Telegram P., No. X.-6636, dated 19th February 1918. No. 13627)
(Despatched 7-5 p m., received 5-30 a.m., 20th February 1918.)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force " D, 3i Baghdad,
To —The Chief of the General Staff, Delhi.
Your 12052 of 13th.
Following shows our total requirements of the Force in mu^s 18,444
draft, and 12,285 pack mules for 1st and 2nd Line units and formations
1,620 draft for three columns, 4,774 mules in units charge for 1st Line equip
ment machine and Lewis Machine Gun. Two thousand mules are required
for reserve at the base, making a total of 39,123 mules. Including the mules
despatched on the %t Torilla, ,, the number at present in force is 36,688, leaving
a balance of 2,435 required to replace casualties to date and reserve. The
above figures do not include the Imperial Service Transport Unit which
formed number 4 and 5 mule columns. In addition 700 draught mules
are required to equip all S A. A. sections with A. T. carts. Detailed statement
is being sent by post, now that reinforcement mules are available for issue
to units, it is anticipated that a large percentage of casualties will occur as
a number of aged and worn out mules will be Cast which although unfit for
prolonged work, under service conditions, have hitherto been retained by
Transport Units owing to lack of replacements. Active requirements of mules
will be demanded monthly.
Working copy to Q. M. G.
Copy to M. S. C., A. G., G. S. (S. I). 1, M. O. 1).
APPENDIX 391
Telegram P., No. 52550-Cipher, dated 19th February 1918. (Dy • Ac?. 13739)
(Despatched 2-5 0 p.m., received 10-35 a.m., dated 20th February 1918.)
From—The Director, Military Intelligence, London,
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D, ” Baghdad.
(Repeated India, Egypt and Mudros.j
(A) Austrian Artillery. Received from Geneva Agent dated February
11th.
1. In December 6 batteries of Heavy Guns were sent to Constantinople
from Vienna, with personnel and ammunition.
2. In January 4 Austrian Guns (32-C. M. sic) were sent to the Baghdad
Front, with personnel and ammunition, and also 8 quick-firing guns were
despatched at the same time to Afghanistan via Persia.
(B) Dalian Guns.
In December 150 guns of various calibre and much other booty taken on
the Italian Front should have been sent to Constantinople but owing to diffi
culties in transport only a small portion had arrived.
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 3).
Copy to M S. C , G. S. (M. O, 1).
21
22
i
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 15 and 28 February 1918. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, tables, memoranda, and letters.
An index to the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3293. The volume concerns:
- Military personnel issues, including: recruitment, reinforcements, and promotions
- The supply of food, construction materials, oil, ordnance, and other items to Force D
- Shortages of copper, brass, and iron in India
- River and road traffic in Mesopotamia
- Evacuation of sick and wounded Force D soldiers
- Attitudes of the residents of Basrah [Basra] to British occupation
- Approval of a scheme to dredge Lake Hammar
- British aerial bombardment of enemy camps near Hit
- Arrest of Sulaiman Mirza [Sulaymān Mīrzā A title of honour originally applied to princes, later to military leaders, and later still to secretaries, chieftains, and other ‘gentlemen’. ] by British troops near Khanikin [Khanaqin]
- Movement of Turkish [Ottoman], Austrian, and German military units
- Conversion of Mesopotamian river fleet and railways to use oil instead of coal
- Proposal for Force D to adopt a ‘purely defensive role’ in Mesopotamia and support the British offensive in Palestine
- Construction of telegraph lines and railways in Mesopotamia and Persia [Iran]
- Location and number of prisoners of war captured by the Russian Army
- Matters relating to Dunsterforce, including: departure of officers, soldiers, and motor vehicles from Baghdad to join Dunsterforce; retreat of Dunsterforce to Hamadan due to Bolshevik and Jangali [Jangalī] opposition; and proposals for British military action against the Jangali forces in Gilan
- Proposed occupation of key roads in Persia by British troops
- Negotiations between British representatives and the Persian Government
- Efforts by the British to ‘secure co-operation between Kurds and Armenians’ in Persia
- Reports of ‘disorders and small massacres’ between Muslims and Armenians in the Caucasus, and Armenian concerns about imminent ‘massacres on a large scale’.
The volume also contains:
- Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of: lines of communication; and general organisation (ff 171-176)
- Strength return of Force D on 1 December 1917 (ff 136-142), 8 December 1917 (ff 145-151), 15 December 1917 (ff 206-213), 5 January 1918 (ff 6-8), 12 January 1918 (ff 16-18), 19 January 1918 (ff 48-50), 26 January 1918 (ff 155-156)
- Report of number of pilots, balloon officers, and aircraft available for service in Mesopotamia, 14 February 1918 (f 11), 21 February 1918 (f 97)
- Returns of sick and wounded dated 2 February 1918 (ff 19-20), 9 February 1918 (ff 83-84)
- State of supplies on 9 February 1918 (ff 20-22), 16 February 1918 (ff 76-77, 118-119), 23 February 1918 (ff 195-196)
- Ration strength of Force D, 12 January 1917 (ff 30-36), 19 January 1918 (ff 157-160), 26 January 1918 (ff 36-39), 2 February 1918 (ff 152-154)
- Distribution of the Turkish Army dated 19 February 1918 (ff 66-68), 26 February 1918 (ff 185-187)
- Distribution Report showing number and condition of motor vehicles with Force D, January 1 1918 (ff 108-117).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (217 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 219; 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 3-217; 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 33 cm
- 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 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [73r] (150/442), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3294, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100140957926.0x000097> [accessed 5 April 2025]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3294
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:218v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence