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'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.' [‎24r] (47/248)

The record is made up of 1 volume (122 folios). It was created in 1906-1918. 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. .

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PART IX.—TRANSPORT.
45
A. Shortage of River Transport.
Before a force could be despatched against Nasiriyeh the vessels which transported the troops to Amara
had to be brought back down the river.
At the present time, before the 6th Division can be fully concentrated at Amara in readiness for a
further advance or to meet a forward movement of the Turks, the steamers with the Nasiriyeh expedition
will have to be withdrawn.
Military exigencies have permitted no pause in our operations and the consequence has been that all
the steamers have been used incessantly. Indeed, these vessels have only been sent for overhaul when they
actually break down ; but, in spite of these exertions, it has been impossible to prevent operations being
prolonged into a season which on account of low water and heat adds difficulties which greater celerity might
have avoided. »
Such are the conditions to-day and there can be no doubt that river transport will continue to be the ^
governing factor in any future operations.
From the nature of the country and the distribution of the population and political centres any
operations against the Turks have to be made along rivers, and the ease and success with which operations
can be carried out must naturally depend on the number of suitable steamers, tugs and barges available.
Now up to the present time we have never managed to transport more than 5 battalions with field and
heavy guns (but without animals), at any one time
In short, more powerful light-draught river steamers and plenty of them, and not only ships, but
personnel and material for their maintenance, are regarded by the General Staff of this Force as our principal
need.
It is also thought necessary to add the warning that if steps are not taken in good time to meet these
requirements we are running grave risks of a breakdown at possibly a serious moment.
At the present time we cannot make the most effective use of the troops available owing to want of
ships, and in any crisis insufficiency of river transport would limit the scope of reinforcements, while a
breakdown of shipping might have still more serious consequences.”
It was thus pointed out that the most effective use of the troops available could not
be made owing to want of river transport, and that in any crisis aid by reinforcements
would be limited, while a breakdown of steamers might have still more serious con
sequences. With the memorandum came a pressing request for the building in England
of
6 paddle steamers of the “ Medjidieh ” class.
3 stern-wheelers of lighter draught.
8 tugs of the “ Sumana” class.
43 barges of specifications given.
9. The purport of these requirements was telegraphed to London on August 4th,
1915. Delay took place, and it was not until a mail despatch from the Government of
India, dated August 20 th, was received in London on September 9th, that active steps
were taken to place the orders. Even after this date there was further delay—only in
part unavoidable—and eventually orders for the six paddle steamers, three stern-wheel
steamers and eight tugs were placed on November 3rd, 1915, orders for the
barges being placed a few days later. The first of these tugs reached Abadan in April,
1916, the first paddlers and stern-wheelers in June, 1916, and the 43 barges arrived at
different dates between April, 1916, and the end of the year. All except the six paddle
steamers were shipped either in sections or in the form of plates, and had to be erected
after arrival in Mesopotamia, so that a considerable period elapsed after their arrival
before they were available for use. Some were not ready in January, 1917.
10 . Finding that the order from England meant at least 12 months’ delay, and in
view of the supreme importance of meantime obtaining more river transport without
delay, General Nixon telegraphed to India on October 9th, 1915, as follows :—
Please procure quickly some powerful light-draught tuga or stern-wheelers in India, which will serve present
needs and thereby greatly strengthen military operations, which are very seriously impeded. This is a very
urgent need.
and again on October 13th, 1915 :—
If anything of suitable draught and approximating to other requirements can be sent here soon they will
serve as useful stopgaps till new craft arrives. Please, therefore, do whatever is possible to meet our urgent
difficulties meanwhile.
In response to these pressing messages, the Indian Government eventually secured in
India a large number of steamers and barges which did not, however, arrive till January to
April, 1916 Subsequent orders followed during 1916 for the supply of many more river
craft from England, but we do not think it in the public interest to give details as to
these. ' ’
It will be sufficient to state generally that upwards of 700 river craft of all kinds
have been sent or are on order, and that the margin over estimated requirements now
provided for should safeguard the future. The foregoing summary of the demands for

About this item

Content

A signed proof, folios 1-100, plus additional material, folios 101-124. The cover bears the signature of Sir Arthur Hirtzel, Assistant Under-Secretary of State. The report has been annotated in blue pencil at various points.

Contents:

  • 'Part I. Preface.
  • 'Part II. Origin of Mesopotamia [Iraq] Expedition.'
  • 'Part III. Advance from Basra to Kurna.'
  • 'Part IV. The Advance to Amara [Al-'Amārah] and Kut [Al-Kūt].'
  • 'Part V. Correspondence and Telegrams as to Advance on Baghdad.'
  • 'Part VI. The Advance from Kut to Ctesiphon.'
  • 'Part VII. Operations for Relief of Kut.'
  • 'Part VIII. Armament, Equipment, Reinforcements, &c.'
  • 'Part IX. Transport.'
  • 'Part X. Medical Breakdown.'
  • 'Part XI. Causes Contributing to the Errors of Judgement and Shortcomings of Responsible Authorities.'
  • 'Part XII. Findings and Conclusions. Recommendations.'
  • 'Separate Report by Commander J Wedgwood, DSO, MP.'
  • 'Appendix I. Vincent-Bingley Report.'
  • 'Appendix II. Memorandum by Sir Beauchamp Duff.'
  • 'Appendix III. Colonel Hehir's Account of the Siege of Kut-el-Amara.'

Additional material:

  • Folio 101. Manuscript note [by Arthur Hirtzel] on net military expenditure.
  • Folios 102-109. Copy of the East India (Army Administration), Further Papers regarding the Administration of the Army in India , 1906.
  • Folios 110-115. Manuscript notes, titled 'Suggested redraft & amplification of second half of parag 1' [unknown hand].
  • Folio 116. A clipping from the Daily Telegraph , Wednesday 4 July 1917, featuring an article titled 'Mesopotamia. Ex-Viceroy's Statement. The Medical Breakdown.'
  • Folios 117-124. An expanded typescript version of Hirtzel's manuscript notes (folio 101).
Extent and format
1 volume (122 folios)
Arrangement

A table of contents can be found at folio 4v.

An index can be found at folios 93-97.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 124; 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 between ff 110-115; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence. The volume comprises a stitched pamphlet, and other stitched and loose-leaf material.

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English in Latin script
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'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.' [‎24r] (47/248), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/257, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036338403.0x000030> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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