![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [‎183r] (370/442)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000214/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3294_0370.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.)’ [‎183r] (370/442)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART II. (From 15th to 28th February 1918.)’ [183r] (370/442)
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.
O i
February 12th (Dy. No. 12196), might easily develop into a military occupa
tion of parts of Northern Persia. Both on material and moral grounds this
must be regarded as out of the question.
Even a military expedition of small dimensions might subsequently -
lecessitate despatch of large reinforcements which could not be spared from
other theatres. From a moral point of view such a policy (as pointed out
in Government of India’s telegram of February 16th) (Dy. No. 13035) would
inevitably discredit us by appearing to confirm Persia’s worst suspicions of
our bad faith by bringing on us odium of whole Moslem world. As you are
rare [vide telegram of February 9th to the Government of India repeated to
you(Dy. No. 11388)], His Majesty’s Government were prepared to withdraw
their regular troops from Central Persia in return for some quid pro quo
in North-West Persia, designed to serve the interests both of Persia and Great
Britain. Such an object might have been attained by substitution of British
for Russian officers in Persian Cossacks Brigade if that had been found
possible.
Do you consider that any alternative proposal in return for withdrawal
of our troops would have any chance of success ? The main desideratum is to
secure immunity of Persia from inroads by enemy agents or forces from West
which might in the last resort be a threat to Afghanistan. Much importance
has been hitherto attached by His Majesty’s Government to the keeping open
af the Hamadan-Enzeli road with a view to helping the loyal movement in
other trans-Caucasian countries. The substance of reports is not hopeful
tut they increase desirability in the interests of Persia herself of maintaining
cordon on western frontier similar to that now existing on east. It might be
possible to supply a considerable number of armoured cars with 50 officers
Md adequate non-commissioned officers for employment in the Persian service
for these objects if this were acceptable to Tehran and Cabinet. From our
own point of view this would provide reasonable quid pro quo for withdrawal
of regular troops. Repeat to India.
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 1).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (M. 0. 3).
Telegram P., No. 15624>, dated 26th February 1918. APPENDIX 511
(Despatched 11-30 p.m.) [By. No. 15621)
Prom—The Commander-in-Chief in India,
To—The Secretary, "War Office, London.
Continuation my 13542, February 19th. Averages for week ending
February 24th are as follows :—
Port.
Class of ship.
No.
Average number of days in Port.
Bombay • . .
Storeships . . . « .
7
8*7 in port.
5'6 loading.
2'0 repairing,
ri detention
Troop Storeships
6
8‘7 in port.
2 5 loading.
1’3 repairing.
4 9 detention.
Troopships , . *
2
4-5 in port.
2'0 loading.
2’6 detention.
Hospital Ships and Ambulance
Transports.
3
11'6 in port.
ir6 detention,
Aden
Storeships . . . •
5
3-9
Troop Storeships
1
0*5
Calcutta ., .
Storeships ....
2
6-0
Basrah . . •
Storeships ....
13
7'5
Troopships ....
1
10
Troop Storeships . • .
1
4'0
Horse Ships ....
2
40
Hospital Ships and Ambulance
Transport.
3
60
Karachi .
Storeships .....
11
6‘1
Hospital Ships ....
1
0*5
Troop Storeships » .
6
4*2
Record copy to Q. M. G.
Copy to M. S, C., M. B.
397
2?
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.)’ [183r] (370/442), 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_100140957927.0x0000ab> [accessed 28 February 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