!['Despatch by Lieutenant-General R. Wapshare, C.B., C.S.I. on the Organization and Working of the East Persian Line of Communications. From 1st April 1918 to 15th January 1919' [‎5v] (15/138)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000239.0x000148/IOR_L_MIL_17_15_34_0015.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "'Despatch by Lieutenant-General R. Wapshare, C.B., C.S.I. on the Organization and Working of the East Persian Line of Communications. From 1st April 1918 to 15th January 1919' [‎5v] (15/138)")
'Despatch by Lieutenant-General R. Wapshare, C.B., C.S.I. on the Organization and Working of the East Persian Line of Communications. From 1st April 1918 to 15th January 1919' [5v] (15/138)
The record is made up of 1 file (65 folios). It was created in 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.
4
These proved of the greatest value in keeping up British credit in Persia, although
the British Consul at Meshed, at first, rather viewed with alarm the importation
of
rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
into his sphere of influence.
On the 27th November 10 more
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
were sent to me as a reserve to be trans
mitted to Persia only under the direct orders from Army Headquarters. This
sum was subsequently found not required and removed from my care.
By the beginning of December a complete understanding had been arrived at
between the Government of India and the Imperial Bank of Persia at Tehran, who
instructed its branches to meet the demands for military requirements made on
it by the Inspector General of Communications and General Malleson.
The financial difficulties have therefore been satisfactorily solved.
Chapter VIII of General Dickson’s report, Appendix 5, gives full details of the
financial problem and the difficulties he has had to contend with regarding cash
payments.
7. Administration. —The Line of Communications was divided into two parts,
viz., the :ail line of Communication from Nushki to railhead, directly adminis
tered by me, and the road Line of Communications from railhead to Meshed and
Askabad under an Inspector General of Communications, who organised and
administered this portion of the Line of Communications under my orders.
8. Eastern Persian Cordon Administration. —Previous to my assuming com
mand, the Eastern Persian Cordon had been' administered by a General Officer
Commanding who was responsible both for the operations and administration to
His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief in India, indenting on the 4th (Quetta)
Division for all supplies required, which were delivered at railhead.
At the time of the reorganisation of the Eastern Persian Cordon the troops
and transport under the General Officer Commanding the Cordon were
British officers
, •
44
British other ranks
# 9
CO
Indian troops and followers
« •
3,256
Horses
* •
• #
500
Ponies
, •
36
Mules
• •
• #
140
Donkeys ..
, •
, #
100
Government camels
% 0
1,878
Hired camels
• •
666
Levy rid’ng camels
• •
.. .. 85
The Administrative staff and services for the Eastern Persian Cordon consisted
of—
1 Staff Captain.
1 A. D. S. and T. {en route from India).
1 D. A. D. S, and T.
1 D. A. D. S. and T. (for local purchase en route up Line of Communications).
1 D. A. D. M. S.
1 A. D. P. and T.
The supply was organised on a system of local purchase, and transport was
locally hired, supplemented in each case by supplies and transport despatched
from India.
9. Line of Communications Administration. —On reorganisation instructions
were received to prepare for a force in East Persia consisting of one division with a
brigade of artillery and one brigade of cavalry at or beyond Meshed, and for the
troops being increased to one brigade of cavalry and one brigade of infantry beyond
railhead on the Line of Communications.
About this item
- Content
The file consists of a despatch from Lieutenant-General Richard Wapshare, General Officer Commanding, 4th (Quetta) Division to the Chief of General Staff, Army Headquarters, Delhi, dated 8 March 1919, concerning the organization and working of the East Persian line of communications, covering the period from 1 April 1918 to 15 January 1919.
It includes topics such as topography; the East Persian Cordon Field Force; administration; troop movements; railway defence troops; work on the railway; financial problems; road and rail lines of communications; supply areas; transport; trade; the capacity of the railway; supplies; medical and veterinary arrangements; and ordnance services.
Appendices 1 and 2 consist of maps and sketches not reproduced in this file.
Appendix 3 – Report on the working of the Nushki Extension Railway from 1st April 1918 to 15th January 1919 , by Colonel Frederick Warner Allum, Engineer-in-Chief, Nushki Extension Railway, dated 6 February 1919.
Appendix 4 – Note on the Field Work of the Nushki Extension (Railway) Reconnaissance, June 1918 to January 1919 , by Major Lewis Egerton Hopkins, Engineer-in-Chief, N. E. Reconnaissance, dated 6 February 1919. Covering the object and length of the survey; wells, tanks and water supply; transport; illness; list of officers and subordinates, etc., who served in Persia; and caravan routes.
Appendix 5 – Report on the working of the line of communications East Persia from September 1918 to January 15th 1919 , by Brigadier-General William Edmund Ritchie Dickson, Inspector General of Communications, East Persia, dated 5 February 1919. It is broken down into the following topics: general; supply and transport; medical; ordnance; veterinary; works; surveys; finance; ecclesiastical; and posts and telegraphs.
It also includes a series of seventeen annexures with various tables covering: administrative standing orders; the transport situation and forecast of transport requirements; instructions for moving stores along the line of communications; the chain of supply and transport responsibility; transport units; distribution of supply units; supplies carried on lines of communication; medical requirements; clothing and ordnance stores; progress of building works; and finances.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (65 folios)
- Arrangement
This file consists of a single document.
A contents page for Appendix 5 is included on folio 18.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 67; 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. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'Despatch by Lieutenant-General R. Wapshare, C.B., C.S.I. on the Organization and Working of the East Persian Line of Communications. From 1st April 1918 to 15th January 1919' [5v] (15/138), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/34, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030858181.0x000010> [accessed 21 July 2026]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/15/34
- Title
- 'Despatch by Lieutenant-General R. Wapshare, C.B., C.S.I. on the Organization and Working of the East Persian Line of Communications. From 1st April 1918 to 15th January 1919'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:66v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence