Skip to item: of 442
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [‎121r] (246/442)

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.

Apply page layout

2
have always advocated conciliation, but recent events and particularly the
Dansterville Mission may require resort to force, with the result that the
nossibilities of transfer of strength to Egypt from Mesopotamia would be
reduced. If a fair trial should now he given to conciliation there still seems
reason to hope that it may he at any rate so far successful that we may continue
to rely entirely on the moral effect produced on the Persians by the presence
of our troops on the Tigris.
(2) Our Palestine offensive will be dependent for results u P° j T1 the con
tinuance of the Turks to oppose us in force, but if the enemy should prefer to
retire in front of us trusting that the lengthening of our L. of 0. will reduce
our striking strength, then it is not clear to me that any objective short o
Aleppo will ensure that the enemy, in order to attack Baghdad, does not refuse
our attack in Syria.
(3) Our situation in Mesopotamia has a direct re-action on our strength m
India where reserve British battalions add considerably to our number of British
troops and enable us to maintain a proper proportion in this country of British to
Indian soldiers.
Moreover, in the event of serious trouble here requiring immediate
reinforcement, transfer from Mesopotamia to India is always aval a e.
(4) Marshall’s present dispositions so far as known here are :
On the Tigris —
1J Cavalry Brigades.
2 Divisions
4 Batteries 6" howitzers.
On the Euphrates —
One Division.
On the Eialha —
| Cavalry Brigade,
2 Divisions.
4 Batteries 6" howitzers.
In Deserve—
One Division.
One Cavalry Brigade. L i A *
Location unknown of remaining 6-inch howitzers (4 of 30 cwt. and 4 ot
These for pure defence in my opinion could be reduced by one Indian
division and 4 batteries of 6" howitzers.
(51 In short the problem is one of time and space. It would take 53
days to transfer a division complete from Baghdad to Suez and mce ~- and
forty days for the transfer of the infantry of a division, if available, from India
to Baghdad if shipping can be provided. . _ , , ,
On the other hand, the enemy’s intention tomovo against Baghda wi
he clearlv indicated by an extension of his railhead towaids Mosul. Eo a
division ^of 4,000 Eifles to reach Mosul from Aleppo the time allowance with
the present railhead should he 25 days, and, when the railhead reaches Mosul,
14 days Accordingly it is imperative that we should retain the power of rapid
expansion to meet any advance in force and I urge the retention in Mesopo
tamia of the 13th Division as it afiords a nucleus of British troops enabling
the rapid expansion of Force “ D ” by three Indian divisions.
(6) It is necessary to await Marshall’s views, particularly as to the
political effect of my proposed reduction in these areas in the Tigris and
Euphrates valleys which we now occupy and upon which he will so largely
depend for supplies with resultant economy in shipping.
(7) To conclude, even if the transfer of force from Egypt to Mesopotamia
is temporarily permissible, it always means a strain on shipping which at a
later date may not he available, should it he wanted for a retransfer. More
over, as India is the food base for both theatres, you should remember that the
shortest time for a round trip of store ships to Suez is 46 days while for Basrah
it is 30.
Eecord copy to G. S. (M 0. 1). ®
Copy to M, S. C., M S V., A. G., Q, M. G., G, S, (M. O, 3).
24
25

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

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [‎121r] (246/442), 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_100140957927.0x00002f> [accessed 6 January 2025]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100140957927.0x00002f">‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [&lrm;121r] (246/442)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100140957927.0x00002f">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000214/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3294_0246.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000214/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image