‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1918.)’

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

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

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.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3311

Former external reference(s)

Volume 52. PART I.

History of this record

Date(s)

31 Aug 1918-15 Nov 1918 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

ArmisticesRussian Civil War (1917-1922)BolshevismMilitary intelligenceDemobilizationFood supplyMilitary logistics

Places

CaucasusMesopotamia

People & organisations

Mesopotamia Expeditionary ForceChief of the General Staff, IndiaPolitical Resident, Persian GulfWar OfficeSir Knight Wilfrid Malleson

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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 52. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1918.)’, 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_100000000112.0x000225> [accessed 30 May 2024]

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