![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1918.)’ [‎63r] (134/558)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000225/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3311_0134.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1918.)’ [‎63r] (134/558)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1918.)’ [63r] (134/558)
The record is made up of 1 volume (273 folios). It was created in 31 Aug 1918-15 Nov 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.
In reply General Officer Commandiner, Force “ D,” considers 1,500 rifles to
88370 be the minimum garrison required for
the effective occupation of Baku. If the
Krasnovodsk garrison can be spared, a force approximating to the above could
be despatched at once from Krasnovpdsk, Besht and Enzeli.
If the Krasnovodsk garrison cannot be spared it would take a fortnight to
move another battalion from Kasvian.
6. Persia. —In reply to H. M. Government’s statement as regards our
policy towards Persia, H. M. Minister at
Teheran considers it essential to meet the
as regards handing over the S. P. B. in
88088.
wishes of the Persian Government
Pars to the Persian Government.
88061.
agree-
87876.
87872.
The Indian Government is in
ment with the proposal.
West Persia. —No operations or imovements of our troops have been
reported.
Bushire. —The column moving from Shiraz on Firuzabad defeated Saulat’s
advanced troops on 23rd October. On
24th October the enemy’s main position
was captured and Ehtesham’s force re
lieved. Our casualties were Indian other ranks 3 killed, 13 wounded. The
enemy’s casualties are estimated at 220.
Daliki was occupied unopposed on 30th
88379, October.
Muhammad Ali Khan (Kashguli), an opponent of Saulat and Nasr-i~
Diwan of Kazarun, died at Shiraz about
the end of October.
South Persia. —On 19th October a small party of Arabs made a unsuccess"
ful attempt to raid a convoy about 30
87697 miles S. W. of Kirman. . 1
havildar
Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard.
of
the escort was wounded.
- *
Turkistan and Meshed.—A. report dated 30th October states that the
Bolsheviks have retired to Merv destroy-
87877 - mg the railway behind them.
General Malleson calculates that the railway track to Merv Front will be
completely restored in two weeks’ time,
88079. and the bridge will be thoroughly repaired
in four or five weeks.
Acute friction has broken out between the Turcomans and the Askabad
Government. There is general anarchy
87877 - in the southern portion of the Yamut
country.
In referring to the reported intention of Bicharakov to move his troops to
88353 Trans-Caspia, General Malleson is of
opinion that there is a very real daxger of
these troops being used against the Turkomans rather than against the Bol
sheviks. As we should be identified in Mahomedan eyes, with any such
action, we would incur great odium in all Moslem circles, with possibly mis
chievous results politically.
He considers that the small British Force already contempleted will suffice
to clear up Turkistan provided the Orenburg route is kept closed to the Bol
sheviks, with the result of greatly enhanced prestige for us throughout Central
Asia. General Malleson thinks it is to prevent this that Bicharakov is
anxious to come to Trans-Caspia and states that he has information to the
effect that Bicharakov and Minorski have drawn up a scheme for the establish
ment of a so-called Caspian-Caucasus State.
As regards the Persian occupation of Bussian Sarakhs, the Indian Govern-
88085 ment has pointed out to their Consul-
General at Meshed, the undesirability of
such action, which can hardly fail to provoke counter-aggression and may
possibly have a bad effect in Afghanistan.
8. Conclusion. —The conditions of the Armistice with Turkey remove the
Turco German menace eastwards towards India ; and retention of our forces
in Trans-Caspia and East Persia is now dependent on H. M. Government’s
policy vis-a-vis the Bolsheviks.
G. H. B.
The 4th November 1918.
N. C, B.
The 5th November 1918.
Since the above was written we have heard from Malleson that Merv and
Khushk have been occupied and that the Bolshevies have retired towards the
Oxus. It is not known to what exrent our British force there is co-operatinig,
but Malleson has been informed that until H. M. Government policy is indi
cated to us, British forces should not be employed east of Tejand.
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 1918. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, tables, memoranda, and letters.
An index to the contents of this volume can be found at folios 1-12. The volume concerns:
- Supply of food, construction materials, ordnance, and other items to Force D
- Personnel requirements of Force D
- Equipment of reinforcements for Force D
- Railway construction in Mesopotamia
- Establishment of banks and other financial facilities in Mesopotamia
- British attack on Turkish [Ottoman] positions at Fatha [Al Fathah] on 24 October 1918, and surrender of Turkish forces on 30 October 1918
- British occupation of Gayyara [Qayyarah]
- Railway and river traffic in Mesopotamia
- British occupation of the city of Mosul
- Negotiation of Turkish withdrawal from the vilayet of Mosul
- The Armistice of Mudros
- Agricultural experiments in Mesopotamia
- Prisoner of war captures, exchanges, and repatriations
- Preparations for the demobilisation of Force D, including: the transfer of troops and materiel to the Western Front; transfer of control of transport, communications, and other infrastructure in Mesopotamia to civilian authorities; and disposal of animals used by Force D
- British relations with the Government of Askabad [Ashgabat, Turkmenistan]
- British and French support for White Russian forces
- Capture of Petrovsk [Makhachkala] by Turkish forces and the withdrawal of General Lazar Bicharakov’s White Russian forces from Petrovsk to Enzeli [Bandar-e Anzali]
- Negotiation of Turkish withdrawal from Baku
- Preparations for British occupation of Baku
- Intelligence concerning German political and military activities in the Caucasus, including: German support for an independent Georgia; and the withdrawal of German troops from the Caucasus to Ukraine
- British naval policy in the Caspian Sea
- Appeal from Sheikh Mahmud [Shaikh Maḥmūd Barzanjī] for British support for an independent Kurdistan
- Arrangements for the creation and distribution of propaganda in territory occupied by British forces.
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 13-34, 228-236)
- Strength return of Force D on 31 August 1918 (ff 68-81), 14 September 1918 (ff 249-262) 28 September 1918 (ff 42-44), 5 October 1918 (ff 237-238), 12 October 1918 (ff 239-240)
- Ammunition return of Force D on 18 October 1918 (f 220), 22 October 1918 (ff 44-45)
- State of supplies on 27 October 1918 (ff 82-83), 31 October 1918 (ff 127-128), 7 November 1918 (ff 205-206)
- Report of aircraft available for service in Mesopotamia, 31 October 1918 (f 84), 7 November 1918 (ff 173-174)
- Weekly return of sick and wounded dated 5 October 1918 (ff 137-139)
- Ration strength of Force D on 21 September 1918 (ff 213-219), 28 September 1918 (ff 243-249), 5 October 1918 (ff 148-152)
- Statement showing War Establishment for farms in Mesopotamia, dated 9 November 1918 (ff 200-202)
- Statement of Animal Transport in Tigris and Euphrates fronts, 29 September 1918 (ff 264-269).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (273 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 273; 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 52. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1918.)’ [63r] (134/558), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3311, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100188336028.0x00000a> [accessed 22 January 2025]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3311
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1918.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:273v, 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