‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 43. PART I. (From 1st to 14th November 1917.)’ [201r] (406/500)
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.
This demand cancels all previous demands and is based on the assumption
that reinforcements asked for will arrive by end of March. All men whose
contracts expire up to and including end of March have been taken into
account and personnel to replace them have been included in above figures
Credit given for 1 British Officer and 150 followers for 1st Labour Corps and
115 followers for oth Labour Corps now en route from India. Only actual
deficiency to complete my demand of October 10th, 11.-3366 (By. No. 69015)
asked for. 0. C. 5th Labour Corps requests that storekeepers should be sent
ms unit m lieu of clerks.
Working copy to A. G.
Copy to M. S. C., Q. M. G., G. S. (S. D. 1).
Telegram P,, No. X.-6472, dated 11th February 1918, APPENDIX 229
(Despatched 5-20 p.m., received 2 a.m., 12th February 1918.) (2>y. No. 11613)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D/ ; Baghdad,
To—The Chief of the General StaS, Delhi.
(Repeated Basrah.)
tt3/jJ 0Ur ^th February and my X.-5760 of 7th January (By. No.
In February only 1,000 tons of seed grain need be sent and it should be
early marked “ Seed Grain for A. D. Scheme.” Grain for civil population
aad re ^ uce ^ kj 1,000 tons during February to admit of this shipment being
'Working copy to Q. M. G.
c -»py to M. s. c.
171
Memorandum No. A,-2134)-2 ? dated 28th January 1918. APPENDIX 230
(Received in War Section, 12th February 1918.) (Tty, No. 11616)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D, ,; Baghdad,
To—The Chief of the General Staff
• 'P 16 attac ^ e d reports of two exchanged Kut Prisoners of War, regarding
their treatment whilst in the hands of the enemy, are forwarded for information.
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 3).
Copy to M. S. C., A. G., M. S. V., F. & P.
(Enclosure to 1
Ey. No. 11616)
Examination of No. 9725, Pte. Haynes, 1st Battalion Oxfordshire and Buekinehamshim
Light Infantry—an exchanged Prisoner of War who was captured at the fall of § Kut and
released m September 1916, and who had not been previously examined.
He state® that after capture his coat and belt were removed by Arabs
nor did be receive any replacement whilst a prisoner of war. ^ 5
. , ^e was encamped between Baghdad Station and the river, where be fell ill
with dysentery.
There was no crowding, but the men were housed in tattered bell tents full
of holes, which were no protection from the sun. He suffered from starvation
and became very weak.
The American Consul did not visit the camp but sent each man in it a one
lira note.
The Officer in medical charge of the camp was Captain Fritz, B.. A. M. C,
(?). The Arab Guards bullied the prisoners and demanded a percentage* if the
men attempted to buy things from hawkers.
The men in his camp were allowed to post one postcard each, which
reached its destination.
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.)’ [201r] (406/500), 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_100142276888.0x000007> [accessed 29 March 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