![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART I. (From 1st to 14th November 1917.)’ [‎34r] (72/500)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000213/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3293_0072.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART I. (From 1st to 14th November 1917.)’ [‎34r] (72/500)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART I. (From 1st to 14th November 1917.)’ [34r] (72/500)
The record is made up of 1 volume (246 folios). It was created in 4 Jan 1918-14 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.
Word Code telegram No. R.-3519, dated 30th January 1918. APPENDIX 1
(Despatched 1-35 p.m. ; 31st January 1918 ; received 10 p.m.. 31st (I?v. Wo 8340)
January 1918.) * ~ ‘ }
From—The Deputy Adjutant General, 3rd Echelon, Basrah,
To—The War Section, Army Headquarters, Delhi.
Railways state Army Commander has sanctioned increased war establish
ment, Railway Department and 88 engineer officers now authorized. Only 60
at present effective plus nine on demand in India, that is Manley, Napper and
Doran, and six others plus fifteen on demand troops in Mesopotamia giving
total 74.
Railways request remaining fourteen should be despatched early in
addition to outstanding demands. All should be young energetic European
engineers with a knowledge of Hindustani and at least 2 years’ Indian experi
ence on railways or roads, buildings or irrigation branch of P. W. D. If it is
impossible to provide all engineer officers already asked for with this force,
it may be necessary to place further demands on you.
Working copy to A. G.
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (S. D. 2).
Telegram P., No. X.-6237, dated 1st February 19H. APPENDIX 2
(Despatched 1-25 p.m., received 11-30 p.m., 1st February 1918.) (Dy. No. 8343)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” Baghdad,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Delhi.
. It is rendered necessary by canal concentration now in hand to establish
main lines of levels up Euphrates and Tigris plus secondary lines leading from
these. I therefore request that a levelling and traversing party may be
sent from India at an early date. I recommend Captain Hunter who is now
4
here shall be in charge of party and be replaced by a topographical officer
from India. His party should consist of as many sections up to maximum
four as can be furnished. There should be included in each section 2 B. Os.,
2 computers, two recorders, 34 khallasis and proportion of followers. It is
^Change one figure. necessary for each section to have 2 Zeiss*
levels size 2. Officer in charge of party
will require 1 computer and 11 khallasis. Party should leave Bombav earlv
February if possible. ^
Working copy to A. G.
Copy to M, S. C., Q. M. G., D. G.
2, S. D. 1).
M. W., G. S. (M. 0. 1, M. O. 3, M. T.
Telegram P., No. X.-6243, dated 31st January 1918. APPENDIX 3
(Despatched 7-45 p.m., received 1-30 a.m., 1st February 1918.) (Zty. No. 8348)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” Baghdad,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Delhi.
(Repeated London and Egypt.)
Vriorily. The following successful minor operations have been carried
out during the month.
Firstly. On fourth and fifth punitive actions, with assistance of river
^ a ^ en against offending tribes of A1 Abbas near Samawah and
Albu Jassim near Bani Said on Euphrates.
Secondly.-—O r tenth destroyed fort of troublesome Sheikh Obed Dahesh
seven miles north Musaivib.
t/
Thirdly. Villages of Shirwan Sakhal and Kelar north of Khanikin
raided and bombed on 20th. m
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: Tables, telegrams, memoranda, and letters.
An index to the contents of this volume can be found at folios 3-17. The volume concerns:
- Military personnel issues, including: recruitment, training, and promotions
- The supply of food, ordnance, oil, construction materials, and other items to Force D
- British ‘punitive actions’ against the ‘offending tribes’ of Al Abbas near Samawah [As Samawah] and Albu Jassim [Al Bu Jasim] near Bani Said [Bani Sa‘id]
- British raiding and aerial bombardment of villages in Mesopotamia, including Shirwan Sakhal [Shakal] and Kelar [Kalar]
- River traffic in Mesopotamia
- Preparations for a meeting between Lieutenant-Generals Jan Smuts, Edmund Allenby, and William Marshall in Egypt, to discuss the ongoing war against Turkey [Ottoman Empire]
- Matters relating to Dunsterforce, including: the selection of officers and NCOs to join Dunsterforce; the dispatch of an Armoured Car Unit; and the movements of Major-General Lionel Dunsterville
- Railway construction in Mesopotamia
- Arrest of Sullaiman Mirza [Sulaymān Mīrzā A title of honour originally applied to princes, later to military leaders, and later still to secretaries, chieftains, and other ‘gentlemen’. ] and Isa Mirza [‘Īsá 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]
- Intelligence concerning the activities of the Turkish [Ottoman] and German militaries
- A report on the military readiness of the 49th Bengal Infantry
- Unreliability of Bolshevik-influenced Russian troops in Persia [Iran]
- German propaganda campaigns in Persia
- A proposal for British officers to take command of the Persian Cossack Brigade
- Matters relating to the Caucasus, including: British attempts to create a local military force; British influence on the relationship between Armenians and ‘Tartars’ in the region; and problems caused by the ‘decidedly Bolshevik’ Russian fleet in the Caspian Sea
- Civil war in Russia.
The volume also contains:
- Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of: lines of communication; general organisation; and names of General Officers and Brigade Commanders (ff 18-30)
- Distribution of the Turkish Army dated 12 February 1918 (ff 208-211)
- Report of number of pilots, balloon officers, and aircraft available for service in Mesopotamia, 31 January 1918 (f 39), 7 February 1917 (f 141)
- State of supplies on 26 January 1918 (ff 43-44), 2 February 1918 (f 120, f 142-143), 9 February 1918 (ff 232-233)
- Strength statements of Force D, 24 November 1917 (ff 48-61), 29 December 1917 (ff 107-108)
- Ration strength of Force D, 31 January 1918 (ff 72-73), 12 January 1918 (ff 84-86), 29 December 1917 (ff 87-90), 19 January (ff 177-180), 5 January 1918 (ff 195-198)
- Supply requests for Force D, dated February 1918 (ff 62-63), March 1918 (f 149)
- Returns of sick and wounded dated 2 February 1918 (f 72), 19 January 1918 (ff 76-77), 26 January 1918 (ff 159-160)
- Proposed War Establishment for an Indian Infantry Battalion (ff 173-177)
- Distribution Report showing number and condition of motor vehicles with Force D, 1 December 1917 (ff 218-231).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (246 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 248; 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 3-246; 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 43. PART I. (From 1st to 14th November 1917.)’ [34r] (72/500), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3293, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100142276886.0x000049> [accessed 6 April 2025]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3293
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART I. (From 1st to 14th November 1917.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:247v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence