'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.' [‎91r] (181/248)

175
flour and atta. We, however, were able to draw 20
one-pound loaves of white bread daily for issue to the hos
pitals for special cases after its general issue had ceased,
and this continued throughout the siege. At the beginning
of February [ got a large supply of dhall from the Supply
Stores for hospitals.
102. February 5th, 1916. “ The number of eggs supplied
to hospital has been reduced to 20. This appears to me
to be ridiculously few considering that every mess and
many troops in trenches arc able to get them. To speak
to A.D.S. re this ; if it is a*question of paying more, then
it must be paid for the sick’s food.
103. On March 16th, I secured for the hospitals, 600 lbs.
preserved fresh fruit; 350 lbs. cornflour, 45 lbs. arrowroot.
Further list of articles secured for hospitals on March
23rd, 1916:—
Cocoa
Lime-juice
Pickles
Rice
Tamarind...
Cornflour ...
Essence mutton ...
Calves foot jelly ...
Extract of beef ...
Pearl barley
Beef dripping
Benger’s food
Sugar
Vinegar ...
Dhall
Dry limes...
Arrowroot...
Horlick’s M. milk
Pineapple
Beer
Preserved fruit
Essence of chicken
Fish, tins
33 lbs.
18 gallons.
22 sm. botts.
35 maunds.
40 lbs.
258 „
£ »
2 „
„
7 „
11 „
1 „
19 „
28 gallons.
198 lbs.
66 „
25 „
6 „
337 tins
15 bottles
275 lbs.
1£ „
260 „
104. Early in February several acres of land around the
town were converted into kitchen gardens and such rapidly
growing vegetables as radishes, onions, cress, and a few
varieties of spinach were sown. There was at first great
difficulty in watering them which was overcome.
From March 31st 100 lbs. vegetables were_ supplied to
hospitals daily from the gardens. They had previously
been producing only 50 lbs. a day.
105 “ March 2nd, 1916. Secured all the stores suitable
for hospitals for issue to sick from the miscellaneous
collection in E. Section S. and T. In consultation with
A. D.S. allotted these to the British Officers Hospital,
B. G.H., the lime juice to I.G.H. and I.S H.”
“ April 11th, 1916. 60 lbs. dates dropped by aeroplane,
made over to hospitals.”
“ April 2nd, 1916. 4|- lbs. of saccharin dropped by
aeroplane. It was insufficient for whole garrison, so
half given to hospitals, remainder to staffs’ and officers’
messes.”
106. January 6th. “ The supply of eggs is running down,
also chickens. No potatoes nor onions now being issued.”
“ January 4th, 1916. Visited officers’ hospital. Asked
all officers if they were getting all they wanted as regards
food, and they answered in the affirmative ; also if they
had any complaints to make and they said, ‘ No.’ ”
“ January 5th. Saw and spoke to all patients of the
B.G.N.; they all said food was quite satisfactory.”
107. On February 7th I entered in my diary : “ The
Indian troops in medical units are now being much better
fed than those of the rest of force. They are practically
getting all their rations (including rice and dhall) with
only a shortage of 8 oz atta, and tea. Told officers com
manding medical units that they can buy tea in the bazar
for their Indian troops and followers.”
108. On March 6th I “directed officers commanding
medical units to buy whatever food in bazars that they
consider will improve the dietary of their patients.”
109. We were, throughout the siege, able to obtain a
limited supply of fresh milk, cream, eggs, chickens and
fish, but only with considerable difficulty as the Arab
vendors were consuming them or selling them surrep
titiously.
110. The quantity of fresh milk varied, the average
being about 120 pints per diem ; at times for a week on
end we got from 200 to 300 pints a day; it was nearly
always of poor quality. Cream, about 8 lbs. a day
was most useful. At the end of March several milch
(C 48—176)
buffaloes and cows were wounded and the supply of fresh
milk ran low, and this at a time^when the stock of tinned
milk was nearly exhausted. I insisted that the animals
be not sent out to graze, but have the grass cut for them
and that the husk of barley be given them. 1 told the
A.D.S. on March 28th, 1916, that it was imperative that
everything possible be done to maintain the supply of
fresh milk. Until the last fortnight we were able to get
on an average about 80 eggs daily. For a time, we were
drawing 150-200 eggs a day. Fish was given to
the British officers and selected cases amongst the British
sick ; it was very costly as the catches by Arabs had to be
made in the presence of the enemy’s snipers.
111. “February 24th, 1916 Diary. The supply of
eggs to medical units has again been falling off. The
quality of the milk has also undergone deterioration and
lately has been adulterated with flour. Yesterday I
found that the last half inch in a bucket consisted of a
semi-glutinous mass. Represented these matters to the
L.P.O. who stated that the eggs were being brought in
at a later time—too late to be issued.” I hey were then
drawn at a later hour daily. “ Re milk, he arraigned
three contractors (suppliers) before the Military Governor,
and had them punished.”
“ February 26th, 1916. Saw L.P.O. re milk and eggs.
The milk was short but of better quality.” On February
27th, 1916, the supply of milk had “ improved in both
quantity and quality.”
112. At the end of March obtained 25 lbs. tea from
Supply Stores ; issued to British General Hospital.
On April 2nd “ got for hospitals two maunds of gur and
7| maunds of dates.”
“ April 7th, 1916. Obtained for hospitals 50 lbs. tea
from the Supply Service.”
113. After April 7th no further extras could be obtained
from the Supply Stores for the hospitals. We had then to
rely on about 140 pints of milk and about 40 eggs daily,
as the only medical comforts available.
114. The most that can be said of the medical comfort*
is that they would have been ample for a two months’
supply. Strict economy had to be commenced as early
as January 21st, and continued until they were exhausted
—about the middle of April, winch means that a good
proportion of the sick and wounded who w'ould normally
have got them did not.
Clothing and Bedding.
115. The clothing and bedding that had been supplied
to the troops supplemented by one blanket was suitable
and sufficient. The third blanket had been provided and
issued to some of the troops before the siege began.
Unfortunately many of the men lost part of their clothing
and blankets which were abandoned at Aziziyeh. All
available blankets in the Supply Stores were issued to
the garrison, which ensured that all men had tw r o
blankets, a certain proportion had three. We had a
certain number of extra blankets on hand in the medical
units, which, with the bedding patients brought
in v r ere sufficient to keep them warm.
Most of the troops had only one suit of clothes, so that
it was difficult to arrange about washing them. Cotton
suits were made for a large number to allow of this being
done. .
Rations of Garrison During the Defence.
116. As previously stated the 6th Division arrived in
Kut after Ctesiphon in a worn out and exhausted con
dition. For over a fortnight the troops had got their
rations irregularly, and had few opportunities of preparing
hot meals. Under the circumstances it was not considered
advisable to commence a reduction of their rations at
3 e except in potatoes.
L17 The main difficulty was to determine the length of
ie the siege would last. The following abstracts from
. diaries indicate the estimated quantities of food in
ck and the progress 1 ve reductions made in the rations.
1 December 11th, 1915. Had a long conversation with
[) S., regarding rations available during our defence,
mi his tables it appears that we have full rations of
lowing for the period stated .
Flour (bread, Br.)
Atta (Ind. tps. & foils.)
Rice ,, »
Dhall „ » ••••”
Curry stuffs, dc. (are pm ca half rations
of this already)
Fresh meat...
70 days
70 days
70 days
70 day*
1 month
1 month
Z 2