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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.' [‎29v] (58/248)

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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56
PART IX.—TRANSPORT.
N
A. Shortage of River Transport. ^
45. In January, 1916, the Government of India sent Sir George Buchanan, a civilian
who had been in charge of the Port of Rangoon, with a view to his becoming Director-
General of the Port of Basra, and reorganising the traffic and facilities of the port. He
did not receive any formal or definite appointment indicating the position he was to hold
or specifying his duty, though a titular designation was given to him, viz., that of
Director-General of Port Administration and River Conservancy. It was, unfortunately,
left to Sir Johh Nixon to arrange with Sir George Buchanan, after his arrival, exactly
what the duties of the position were to be. Differences naturally ensued. Sir George
Buchanan’s powers were so limited by Sir John Nixon, that the former considered his
services were not put to their proper use. After a short stay he returned to India. Mean
time his report on the conditions as he found them on arrival at Basra was communicated
to Simla. In this he makes the following observations
I found it difficult to realise that we had been in occupation of Basra for a year, as the arrangements
for the landing and storing of goods and stores of every description were of the most primitive order, and,
in the absence of roads, the whole area was a huge quagmire. To a new-comer appearances were such that
troops and stores might have been landed, for the first time, the previous week. . . . The military
expedition to Basra is, I believe, unique, inasmuch as in no previous case has such an enormous force been
landed and maintained without an adequately prepared base.
46. About the middle of 1916 Sir George Buchanan returned to Basra, the port and
traffic management was radically reorganised, and Sir George Buchanan was placed in
full control. Since that time and since the War Office took over the charge and responsi
bility of the expedition, energy has been shown in building wharves, increasing
the facilities, and generally making the port more capable of meeting the growing
demands upon it. But these operations mean heavy expenditure and take time.
Much of the material required had to be manufactured in England or the United
States ; consequently it is not surprising that the improvement visible during 1916 was
not more rapid. We find, however, that there has been marked and consistent improve
ment during the period June to December, 1916. We have been supplied with statements
showing the time occupied by vessels bringing supplies for the Expeditionary Force from
the time of their crossing the bar at Fao, inward bound, until they, having completed their v
discharge, passed outwards. It appears that the average number of days in port of each
ship bringing supplies to Basra was—
Month.
Average number of
Days in Port of Vessels
bringing Supplies.
July ...
39
August
23
September
26
October
24
November
20
December
20
47. From the full statement given to us it appears that while the number of ships
bringing supplies increased threefold during the six months, the number of days in port,
as above shown, had considerably diminished. The improvement is manifest and com
mendable. It cannot, however, be considered that 20 days in port is a satisfactory rate
of discharge. With ample lighterage, wharfage and labour, despite the bad climate, it
should be possible to reduce the detention by another 10 days, and every effort should
be made to accomplish this. A reduction of a further 10 days on the number of steamers
now arriving per month with cargo would save the country over £600,000 per annum.
River Hospital Steamers.
48. Early in the Mesopotamia campaign when operations were on a minor scale and not
very far from tidal water, there seems to have been no thought of special river hospital
steamers. The need had not then been felt and was not foreseen. In February, 1915. a
hospital barge, the “ Bengali," was offered by Bengal and accepted, but foundered on the
voyage. Replacement was not asked for. Between February and August, 1915, various V
communications passed between Mesopotamia and India concerning motor launches and

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.

Written in
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.' [‎29v] (58/248), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/257, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036338403.0x00003b> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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