![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 55. PART I. (From 1st to 15th February 1919.)’ [‎158r] (324/396)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x00022b/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3317_0324.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.)’ [‎158r] (324/396)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 55. PART I. (From 1st to 15th February 1919.)’ [158r] (324/396)
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.
Working copy to Q. M. G.
Copy to D. G. O., M. B., G. S. (S. D. 3).
APPENDIX 184.
DIARY No. 10988.
Telegram P., No. X.-5341, dated 11th February 1919.
(Despatched 11-45 p. received 1-30 a. m , 12th February 1919.)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D, Baghdad,
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
(Repeated India).
Your 75036 (Dy. No. 10267), February 6th—
1. It is considered that the permanent inclusion of a seciion of howitzers
in mountain battery is a most suitable organisation. This section would be a
self contained and should entail no difficulty, tactical or administrative.
2. In the case of small punitive expedition in the hills, where one mountain
battery would accompany the column, the present section of howitzers with
a comparatively heavy shell, would materially strengthen the force.
3. In a complete howitzer battery accompanied the force in large expedi
tions the sections would generally be split up and, the battery commander
would seldom be able to take tactical command owing to the nature of the
country.
4. Thus during active operations for tactical reasons howitzers should be
with each mountain battery and a permanent organisation on these lines is
advisable for training purposes and to ensure similar methods both in war and
peace.
Working copy to G. S. (S. D. 1).
Copy M. S. C., G. S. (S. D.-3), A. G., Q. M. G., G. S. (M, O.-l’
M. 0.-3J. -
APPENDIX 135.
DIARY No. 10901.
Telegram P., No. X.-5345, dated 11 tb February 1919.
(Despatched 1-8 p. m., received 7-30 a. m., 12th February 1919.)
From—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D, ” Baghdad,
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
(Repeated India.)
For the present I propose retaining the Signal Park in this force, and
recommend that it should subsequently serve on for post war army in this
theatre, under peace conditions.
The Signal Park has been invaluable in maintaining efficiency of supply
and repair of equipment, and though not formerly a peace organisation its
continuance in Mesopotamian will tend to efficiency and economy in workshop
especially as it would carry out highly technical work in connection with
wireless.
Twenty-throe British and thirty-one Indians would be the approximate
establishment. rt
*
Working copy to G. S. (S. D.-4).
Copy to M. S. C., A. G., Q. M. G., D. G., M. W., G. S. (S. D.-l).
APPENDIX 186.
DIARY No. 11016.
Memorandum No. Q-2518—14, dated 13th January 1919.
(Received in War Section, 12th February 1919.)
From -The General Officer Commanding, Force “D/’ Baghdad,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Delhi.
The emergency ration for Indian troops has, it is considered, the following
disadvantages ;— °
1. Difficulty of resoldering the tins when they hare once been opened.
2. Deterioration of the parched gram.
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 55. PART I. (From 1st to 15th February 1919.)’ [158r] (324/396), 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_100143579002.0x00007d> [accessed 19 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100143579002.0x00007d
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_100143579002.0x00007d">‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 55. PART I. (From 1st to 15th February 1919.)’ [‎158r] (324/396)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100143579002.0x00007d"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x00022b/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3317_0324.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
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_100000000112.0x00022b/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
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