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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 58. (From 1st to 31st May 1919.)’ [‎77r] (158/298)

The record is made up of 1 volume (145 folios). It was created in 29 Mar 1919-31 May 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. .

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on such bad terms with Sheikh Taha that he will, 1 fear, be of no use to m
unless he is prepared to restrict his activities to Kurdish areas west of longi
tude 42. 0
Long residence in Constantinople is not a good training for active work
in Kurdistan and it may be best to keep him in Constantinople and use him
there. The Badr Khan family might be of immediate use on the spot. I
suggest the brothers should be sent from Constantinople to meet Major Noel
at Aleppo where they may be joined by Suraya from Egypt and, if our
relations ^ with Erance and progress of Peace negotiations so permit, proceed
with Major Noel on a mission to western Kurdistan.
I recommend that the third course proposed in Constantinople telegram
of May 1 st should be adopted by us and that we give full assurances re
amnesty and freedom from Armenian domination in areas predominatingly
Kurdish so far as His Majesty’s Government are concerned, without however
committing ourselves to acceptance of a mandatory for Kurdish areas beyond
the Mosul Vilayat till we see how affairs are moving.
To give effect to this policy it is necessary that as far as possible Kurdish
question should be dealt with from a single centre and I therefore recommend
that I be authorised to deal with matter, through Major Noel, on behalf of
His Majesty’s Government in all areas east of Euphrates, keeping Egyptian
Eorce and Constantinople fully informed.
I shall make it my business to prevent this policy from drawing Hi 8
Majesty’s Government, into any military commitments beyond our present
sphere and would make all concerned fully to understand that mission in
question was not intended to commit His Majesty’s Government to anything
more than the maintenance of order in this area in co-operation with the
Turkish authorities on the spot pending Peace Conference results.
Working copy (advance copy for information) to Gr. S. (M. 0. 1).
7 €opy to Collection.
APPENDIX 69
(By. No. 36687)
Telegram P., No. G. S.-1097-Cipher, dated 14th May 1919.
(Despatched 2-50 f.m., received 10-30 a.m., 15th May 1919.)
From—H. Q., R. A. F., Middle East, Cairo,
To—The G. O. C., R. A. F., India, Simla.
Air Ministry wires as follows. Begins. C. L. 23, B. I. A., dated May 9th.
No. 6 Squadron of R. E. 8 machines have been ordered to be transferred
from Erance to Mesopotamia at once. The requirements of Shiraz and
Bushire must be met from this squadron by direct communication between
H. Q,., R. A. E., Middle East and C.-in-C. in lodia. Bnds.
Wire present situation in latter theatre and request C.-in-C. in India to
notify early what his requirements are.
Working copy to Pv. A. F.
Copy to Collection A. G., Q. M. G., G. S.

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 31 May 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 3-8. The volume concerns:

  • Military personnel issues, including the granting of leave, demobilisation of troops, and transfer of units from Mesopotamia to India
  • Supply of animals to Force D
  • Dispatch of water tanks from Mesopotamia to India
  • A report on the performance of Kachin recruits in the 85th Burma Rifles (ff 32-33)
  • Dispatch of units from Force D to respond to ‘disturbances’ in India and on the North-West Frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan.
  • Spread of the ‘Ikhwan movement’ in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kowait [Kuwait], and Mesopotamia
  • Intelligence concerning public opinion in Mesopotamia, including: opposition to the British occupation; the preference of ‘leading men’ for direct British administration; and hostility towards the involvement of Sheikh Faisul [Shaikh Fayṣal bin Al-Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] in the post-war Government
  • The number of troops required to occupy Mesopotamia
  • Railway construction in Mesopotamia
  • Reports of ‘serious disorders’ at Sulaimaniyah [Sulaymaniyah] and a ‘serious rising’ in southern Kurdistan led by Sheikh Mahmud [Shaikh Maḥmūd Barzanjī]
  • Matters relating to the administration of Mesopotamia, including: arrangements for the financial management of British administration; conditions of employment for Army officers hired to work in the civil administration; and the creation of administrative provinces, including an ‘Arab province of Mosul’ and a ‘fringe of autonomous Kurdish States … with British political advisers’
  • Maintenance of waterways in Mesopotamia
  • Discussion of the creation of a daily train service between Baghdad and Basrah [Basra] carrying mail and passengers.

The volume also contains:

  • Weekly return of sick and wounded dated 29 March 1919 (ff 10-11), 5 April 1919 (ff 64-65), 12 April 1919 (ff 108-109), 19 April 1919 (ff 112-114), 26 April 1919 (ff 129-130)
  • Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of lines of communication and general organisation, 19 April 1919 (ff 24-38), 1 May 1919 (ff 78-89)
  • State of supplies on 30 April 1919 (ff 66-67)
  • Strength return of Force D on 12 April 1919 (f 120).
Extent and format
1 volume (145 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 147; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right hand 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 present in parallel between ff 3-145; 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
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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 58. (From 1st to 31st May 1919.)’ [‎77r] (158/298), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3322, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100143730068.0x00009f> [accessed 24 February 2025]

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