![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 55. PART I. (From 1st to 15th February 1919.)’ [‎15r] (38/396)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x00022b/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3317_0038.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 55. PART I. (From 1st to 15th February 1919.)’ [‎15r] (38/396)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 55. PART I. (From 1st to 15th February 1919.)’ [15r] (38/396)
The record is made up of 1 volume (194 folios). It was created in 23 Nov 1918-15 Feb 1919. 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.
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Assyrian refugees and future of Kurdistan :— “ It is difficult to speak of feel
ings of people in this district as successive waves of advancing and returning
Turks and Russians have reduced it to such a state of desolation that few people
who are left are lifeless and apathetic. There is however a feeling of profound
relief that we have assumed responsibility for country’s future. Rowanduz
is a heap of ruins. About 00 of the 2,000 houses are still standing. Owing to
absence of plough cattle and lack of seed grain coming harvest will be less than
10 per cent, of previous years.
The country to north as far as Diza (is) practically deserted.
Nbri has ceased to exist and formerly flourishing village of Rayat consists,
of 3 houses.”
Working copy (advanced copy for information) to G. S. (M. O. 3).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S., (M. O. 1 ).
APPENDIX 10.
DIAKY No. 8480.
Telegram P., No. 74701-Cipher A. G. 1, dated 30th January 1919.
(Despatched 11-55 p.m., received 3-45 p.m., 1st January 1919.)
From-—The Secretary, "War Office, London,
f l. The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D/’ Baghdad.
2. Constantinople.
3. Egypt.
4. Italy.
(Repeated to Commander-in-Chief in India, Delhi.)
1. In the near future the force under your command will be reduced to
an establishment considerably lower than its present strength. This has been
indicated already in War Office General Staff Memorandum No. 01-185—533,
Table I, forwarded under R. M. 23438—2 (M. O. 1 ), despatched by post on
28th December 1918 (N. Y. R.), an amended edition of which is being issued.
2 . So that yon may be in a position to consider the measures necessary
for this purpose and to enable you to take possible preparatory action, you are
informed that the reorganisation necessitated by this reduction and by demo
bilisation of individuals will be carried out on the following principles :—
The early withdrawal, for the purposes of embarkation of cadres
(see Demobilisation Regulations, paragraph 731) of regular units which are
required for the post-war army, priority being given to those for service in
garrisons overseas (see below).
Secondly. —T. E. and new Army units will comprise the British formations
of the Army of occupation.
Thirdly .—The personnel composing these T. F. and New Army units will
consists only of personnel on “ duration of the war ” engagements, retained
under Army Order 14 of January 1919.” Copies of this order are being
despatahed to yon to-morrow.
3. The cadres of regular units on rosters for—
(a) Foreign Service,
(b) Home Service,
will he withdrawn in due course in accordance with paragraphs 731 and 11 LI,
Demobilization Regulations. The dates and the order of despatch to the
United Kingdom of these cadres will be forwarded to you later.
4. A telegram will be sent at an early date giving lists of units of all
arms concerned specified in paragraphs 3 {a) and 3(#).
Working copy to G. S. (M. O. 3).
Copy to M. S. C., G. S. (M. 0. 1, S. D. 1 , S. D. 3), A. G.
APPENDIX 11.
DIARY No. 846.
Word Code telegram No. M. S.-516, dated 31st January 1919.
(Despatched 11-50 a.m., received 6-15 p.m., 1st February 1919.)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” Baghdad,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Delhi.
My telegram, 29th January, M. S. 469 (Diary No. 7640). Brigadier General
M. E. Willoughby, Indian Army, not recommended for appointment to
Brigadier-General, General Staff.
Recommendation was submitted in error. Please cancel.
Working copy to M. S. C.
Copy to G. S. (M. T. 2).
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 1 and 15 February 1919. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, memoranda, and tables.
An index to the contents of this volume can be found at folios 1-9. The volume concerns:
- Military personnel issues, including: equipment; the transfer and retirement of officers; nominations for Staff College; granting of leave; and demobilisation of troops
- Supply of food, construction materials, and other items to Force D
- Reductions of planned supply shipments to Force D
- Proposal for a new kind of emergency ration for Indian troops
- Preparation for demobilisation of Force D, including: disposal of animals used by Force D; withdrawal orders for specific units; and disposal of surplus ammunition
- Provision of ships to carry troops from Mesopotamia to the United Kingdom
- Proposed expansion of the jurisdiction of the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
- Proposed changes to the Army Chaplains’ Department
- Employment of ‘Imported’ labourers in Mesopotamia and the growth of ‘Considerable local prejudice’ against these workers
- The post-war occupation and government of Mesopotamia
- British assessments of Mesopotamian public opinion
- Construction of railways in Mesopotamia
- Vaccination of animals shipped to Mesopotamia
- Arrest of thirteen Turkish [Ottoman] ‘ringleaders in recent political intrigue’ by British forces in Baghdad
- Turkish military presence at Joziret Ibn Omar [Cizre]
- British use of petroleum wells at Zakhd [Zakho]
- British arming of ‘Turcomans’ to fight the Bolsheviks on behalf of the Transcaspian Government
- Intelligence suggesting the presence of the former Ottoman leader Enver Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Enver Pāshā] in the Caucasus
- British military actions in Persia [Iran] including: occupation of key roads; maintenance of roads; and discussion of a ‘most virulent form of malaria’ affecting British troops in North Persia.
The volume also contains:
- Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of lines of communication, general organisation, and corrections (ff 63-73)
- State of supplies on 27 January 1919 (f 25), 31 January 1919 (ff 162-163), 7 February 1919 (f 168)
- Distribution Report showing number and condition of motor vehicles with Force D, 1 December 1918 (ff 27-42)
- Ration strength of Force D on 21 December 1918 (ff 124-130), 28 December 1918 (ff 130-136), 4 January 1919 (ff 182-187), 11 January 1919 (ff 75-78), 18 January 1918 (ff 149-152)
- Strength return of Force D on 23 November 1918 (ff 79-90)
- Weekly return of sick and wounded dated 4 January 1919 (ff 99-100), 11 January (ff 188-189)
- Ammunition return of Force D on 2 January 1918 (ff 110-111)
- Programme for February despatch of British troops from Mesopotamia and India (f 112).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (194 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 (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 192; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
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 55. PART I. (From 1st to 15th February 1919.)’ [15r] (38/396), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3317, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100143579001.0x000027> [accessed 7 August 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3317
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 55. PART I. (From 1st to 15th February 1919.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:192v, ii-r:ii-v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence