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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.' [‎71v] (142/248)

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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140
out. The medical personnel was insufficient to cope with
the numbers on board, and the supply of surgical and
medical stores and appliances was on occasions deficient.
The cooking galleys were so few that food could not be
prepared for all the patients, and the staff to prepare
and distribute this food was too small to meet require
ments. There was little or no crockery or cutlery, and
a very small supply of cooking utensils. The number of
sweepers and of bed-pans was often not sufficient for the
comfort of the patients. The sufferings of many of those
who travelled by these steamers were in consequence
acute, and though the available staff was untiring in its
efforts to cope with the difficulties of the situation, we
cannot but come to the conclusion that in many cases
the lack of proper accommodation and of adequate
treatment retarded and prejudiced the chances of recovery.
It ought, however, to be stated here that the sufferings
of those who travelled on many of these steamers were
often mitigated by the resource and foresight of the
medical officers in charge. Further, when the number
of patients was small and the medical and subordinate
establishment proportionately large, the hardships of the
patients were much reduced.
50. In some cases, notably on the Euphrates, the sick
and wounded have frequently been evacuated in convoys
of sailing boats, in which all the disadvantages experienced
on river steamers are accentuated. The various boats
in the convoy must from time to time separate, and it is
impossible for the medical officer in charge to look after
the patients in the different boats properly. Moreover,
a voyage by country boat, for a long distance, must, if
the wind is unfavourable, be a very slow matter. We were,
in fact, so much impressed by the necessity for improving
the methods for evacuating the sick and wounded from
Nasariyeh, that we addressed the local military authorities
on the subject, and have been informed that in future a
hospital steamer will visit Nasariyeh from time to time
for this purpose. This is the more necessary in view of
the increased Force which is now stationed there.
51. We shall have to deal -with this point further in
discussing particular phases of the campaign, but generally
it may be said that this lack of river hospital steamers
properly equipped with medical personnel, stores and
appliances, has been a frequent source of discomfort and
suffering, which was accentuated in November, 1915,
when the number of casualties increased, and in January,
1916, when the number of wounded was very large and
the weather conditions were singularly unfavourable,
In March, 1916, conditions improved immensely, because,
regular units of medical personnel and equipment were
detailed for service on these steamers. Even when we
left Mesopotamia, the arrangements were, however, in
many respects far from satisfactory. It is true that a
regular staff of medical officers and subordinates is now
assigned to each steamer with a proper supply of medical
accessories and comforts, and that such arrangements as
are possible are improvised for the accommodation of
patients. But the steamers cannot be delayed, and it is
not possible to fit them up properly before they begin
their return journey down river loaded with sick. They
are not weather-proof, and patients get wet through when
it rains. Cots are not provided, save usually for a few
officers, and not always for them, and many of the other
defects to which reference has already been made have not
been removed or remedied.
52. We are informed by the Director of Royal Indian
Marine that in January, 1916, he was directed to fit out
hospital river steamers and barges to accommodate 2,000
patients. To give effect to this demand, he proposed to
equip 8 stemwheel steamers and 16 barges, the intention
being that each steamer should tow two of the barges.
Of these 8 steamers, three only have hitherto arrived,
namely—
The “ Sikkim,” v/ith accommodation for 144 patients
The “ Coromandel,” with accommodation for 104
patients ;
The “Ardhlui,”* with accommodation for 50 patients ;
and of the 16 barges four only, with accommodation for
224 patients, have so far been supplied. We were, how
ever, informed that it has been suggested that the comple
ment of barges should be made up by utilising 11 barges
already sent to Basra, and that the necessary fittings for
the equipment of these vessels have been provided.
53. Of these steamers, the “ Sikkim ” is satisfactory
though not very weather-proof; but it has been found
that she cannot tow two barges up and down tke Tigris
with safety. The “ Coromandel ” is in many ways
unsuitable. We were informed that on her first trip the
engines frequently broke down, that she does not steer
well, and that she is not built strongly enough for work
on the rivers of Mesopotamia. From what we saw of
her after this trip (and she had never been used again
up to the date on which we left Basra), we think there is
much force in this last criticism, unless she had been
navigated in some unskilful manner. On inquiry from
the Director, Royal Indian Marine, we were told that she
could tow two barges at a rate of 4.5 miles per hour in
still water. As the Tigris has a current of 4 miles and more
in many places, it follows that this steamer is of very
little use for towing up stream. The “ Ardhlui ” had
not been used when we left Basra, but the medical authori
ties there have criticised her as unsuitable for the number
of patients she was intended to carry, and also for other
reasons. As to the barges, it is perhaps fortunate that the
full complement has not been sent, as the evidence before
us indicated that the four which have already been des
patched are not in any way suitable for work in Mesopo
tamia. In the first place, they are composite barges of
wood and iron, and though the Director maintains that
barges of this kind are structurally as strong as iron
barges, the fact remains that officers with local experience
state that this is not so. It has been found also that these
barges cannot be navigated with safety in certain reaches
of the Tigris. They are, moreover, extremely hot and
none of them are fitted with electric fans, which are a
necessity for any hospital craft during the hot weather.
Finally, they are not weather-proof. The number of
barges and lighters available for work in Mesopotamia is
insufficient to meet military requirements, and doubtless
for this reason the 11 barges which the Director suggested
should be fitted out as hospital barges, have not been so
equipped. The result is that the only regular hospital
river steamer which was at the time of our departure used
for evacuating sick and wounded to Basra, nearly 18
months after the commencement of the war, was the
“ Sikkim,” which can accommodate 144 patients, and that
for the large majority of patients, ordinary river steamers
and barges, which take troops and supplies up stream,
were still employed.
54. In a telegram from the Army Commander to the
Chief of the General Staff, dated April 24th, 1916, it was
stated that, in addition to the steamers already men
tioned, the “ Ailee ” was being fitted out to carry 50
patients, and that it was intended that three of the Nile
paddle steamers should be used to tow hospital barges
from the front, down the Tigris to Amara. It was
anticipated that in this way 350 patients could be evacu
ated at one time to hospitals at that place. While we
appreciate the desire of the local authorities to make the
best of the material available, we doubt if these arrange
ments will prove entirely satisfactory. The Director,
Medical Services, Mesopotamia, in a note to which this
telegram is annexed, states that these barges are not
suitable for use in the hot weather, and they certainly are
not fitted with any electric plant, which we consider to be
an absolute necessity for properly equipped river hospital
steamers. The Nile steamers are also not fitted with this
machinery. The intention, throughout, has been that
hospital steamers should be fitted with electric machinery,
and that this plant should provide the current necessary
for electric fans on the barges, and much of the advantage
of having properly equipped hospital barges will be lost
if they are not provided with electric fans.
55. We find considerable difficulty in ascertaining the
responsibility for the failure to provide hospital river
steamers for the expeditionary force. We are not clear
as to what the ultimate intentions of Government were in
regard to this campaign. If it was contemplated that the
expeditionary force should operate at a distance from
Basra, up the rivers of Mesopotamia, we think that those
responsible for the equipment of the expedition should
have sent hospital river steamers either with, or immedi
ately after, the force. Even if the advance from Basra
was a later development, we consider that ‘the necessity
for this class of transport might have been realised earlier
* After structural alterations.

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.' [‎71v] (142/248), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/257, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036338403.0x00008f> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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