!['Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [‎130r] (259/274)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000465.0x0002ee/IOR_L_MIL_5_788_0259.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [‎130r] (259/274)")
'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [130r] (259/274)
The record is made up of 1 file (135 folios). It was created in 3 Dec 1917-24 Jun 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.
^3 5
£P e rQ ^ ions,• SJJ7^JE ^.
7rcm : General Freeland, Baora*
: CM .G.S. Repeated DcG.M-R.
:c
S = 409 b .
Handed in 7 poiiio 23♦ IF.^9.17
Received C a«m, 2 5*12»1917
Ho .F14 Bocember 23rd . Ar* \ , ^ A
/
Kindly refer to my instructions snd tolegram 57429 and
60 5'09 fi' on India.
Was informed on arrival in India Government of India hid
appointed separate civilian commission with myself as chairman to
report on "Organization and administration of the railways and
river transport" in Mesopotamia, although War Office had already
allotted this task to my ndhndicn.
Apparently action of Government of India is primarily bese-d
or misunderstanding, owing to War Office not having advised them
that I was aoocupanlodhjry erpert staff and because War Office mado
no cenjp&nt on words " Commissic n on transportation" in telecram
6Mo9 frem India which implia4-Xnjdi.an commission, of which I was tc
bf chairman, was tc investigate not only personnel situation but
whole transportation. To effect amalgamation between the two —
commissions; ensure on main points at issue most rapid decisions;
avoid duplication and unneceesc'ry-imnis dn and to rive effect
oO War Office in'.'^»nt_uOn tnat porsonnoi and main transportation report
shculd.be separate, I suggested te C.in 0. India at Lelhi that
since X had IVliy qualified military staff with me
1 • Tho Indian commission should proceed to examine the
ree-ourcos of personnel and material in India at once.
2. That there should accompany me to Mesopotamia one member
1 Indian commission who should examine utilization of labour and
material on the spot, end
3. ea many of the Indian commission as necessary should join
me in Mesopotamia and draw report for Indian Government as soon at;
Cl) was complete. Realizing necessity of avoiding duplication and
About this item
- Content
The file, marked secret, contains correspondence and notes regarding rail and river transportation in Mesopotamia [Iraq] during the First World War. The papers cover several matters, including:
- The construction, conversion, maintenance, and expansion of the railways in the region, including regular progress reports from the Director of Railways, Baghdad
- Military operations targeting the Turkish railways in Palestine
- Planning and progress of the Mesopotamia Transport Commission
- Supply of railway materials, rolling stock, and personnel
- Postwar railway policy in India and Mesopotamia
- The question of substituting oil fuel for coal supply in river and rail transport.
Correspondents include: the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Egypt; the Chief of Imperial General Staff; Director of Railways, Baghdad; the War Office; the Commander-in-Chief, Army Headquarters, India; the Major General Sir Henry Francis Edward Freeland, Chairman of the Mesopotamia Transport Commission; the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Mesopotamia; the Chief of the General Staff, India; the Director General of Movements and Railways, War Office; and the Assistant Director of the Inland Water Transport, Mesopotamia.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (135 folios)
- Arrangement
The file is arranged in chronological order, from the rear to the front.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 137; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right 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; these numbers are written in coloured crayon.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [130r] (259/274), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/788, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100098484044.0x00003c> [accessed 8 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100098484044.0x00003c
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_100098484044.0x00003c">'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [‎130r] (259/274)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100098484044.0x00003c"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000465.0x0002ee/IOR_L_MIL_5_788_0259.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_100000000465.0x0002ee/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/788
- Title
- 'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:136v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence