'Mesopotamia Commission. Report of the Commission Appointed by Act of Parliament to Enquire into the Operations of War in Mesopotamia, together with a Special Report by Commander J Wedgwood, DSO, MP, and Appendices. London: HMSO, 1917.' [‎5v] (10/248)

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PART I.—PREFACE.
A. Procedure:
“ ( 2 ) The strategical situation in Mesopotamia during the above period and the
tactical obligations arising therefrom will be borne in mind throughout your proceed-
ings.
“ ( 3 ) You will distinguish clearly between the following phases :—
“ (i) From the battlefields to the line of communication.
“ (ii) Down the line of communication to Basra.
“ (iii) At Basra.
(iv) From Basra overseas.
“ ( 4 ) In each phase, the forecast of the preparations considered necessary, the
preparations actually made, and the equipment, vehicles, stores and personnel actually
available at the localities, and on the vessel, during the operations, will be investigated.
“ ( 5 ) The amount of river transport allotted for the medical services will be ex
amined with regard to the total amount available, and the paramount military require-
ments for transportation of troops, supplies and ammunition.
“ ( 6 ) You will ascertain and record the relative order of arrival of the combatant
and medical units coming with reinforcements from overseas, in order to fix the re
sponsibility for any deficiencies in personnel, equipment, and stores which could be
attributed to the order of embarkation for Mesopotamia.
“ ( 7 ) Having reviewed the foregoing considerations your opinion is required
on the following points :—
“ (i) As to whether the wounded and sick underwent any avoidable suffering
and hardships during any of the phases defined in paragraph 3 above. If so,
you will state the phase and will ascertain and assign the responsibility, showing
whether individuals or the system were to blame. .
“ (ii) As to whether any avoidable shortage in the personnel, equipment,
vehicles and stores occurred during any of the four phases defined in paragraph (3)
above. If so, you will state the phase, the shortage, and the reasons for it,
ascertaining and assigning the responsibility as in (i).
“ (iii) As to whether any shortages which may have existed have now been
made good.”
11 . The report of the Yincent-Bingley Commission was concluded and sent to the
Government of India at Simla on June 29th, 1916, but was not published. The Com
missioners obtained a vast amount of documentary and oral evidence in Mesopotamia
and from the wounded in hospitals at Bombay, and in India. The evidence, which is
comprised in two volumes containing nearly 900 pages, has been forwarded to us. We
have examined its contents, and we have also taken a large amount of independent evi
dence upon the subjects referred to this Commission. The report of the Vincent-Bingley
Commission is a very able and comprehensive document, and we have no hesitation in
adopting its main conclusions. The report is enclosed in the present volume, and
attached to it is a Minute of Sir Beauchamp Duff, Commander-in-Chief in India, comment
ing upon its proceedings.
12 . The work which these Commissioners so ably performed has greatly lightened our
task. Their review of the military operations and of supply and medical shortcomings
is thorough and detailed, and the information was obtained on the scene of operations.
Therefore we have thought it inadvisable to traverse the same ground in much detail
in our report, as it can be supplemented by a perusal of the Yincent-Bingley Report, and
the published despatches of Sir Percy Lake, describing the military operations up to the
end of August, 1916.
B. Physical and Climatic Peculiarities of Mesopotamia.
13. On the very threshold of our report, we desire to focus attention on the physical
and climatic peculiarities of that tract of country known as Mesopotamia. The area
generally so called includes not only the territory enclosed between the Tigris and the
Euphrates, but the country surrounding those rivers. The sole access from the sea to this
country is through a channel known as the Shatt-el-Arab, and the town of Basra is
situated on this channel about 70 miles* from the sea. The banks of the channel are
indented by numerous muddy creeks, which require to be bridged over for purposes of
land communication. Vessels drawing not more than 19 feet can make their way up to
* The mileages given are approximate, and unless otherwise stated are by river. They have been kindly
verified by the Intelligence Division of the Admiralty. A map of Mesopotamia will be found in Appendix I.,
Annexure II. in this Volume.