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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME II.' [‎267v] (543/660)

The record is made up of 1 volume (323 folios). It was created in 1924. 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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494 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
APPENDIX XVII.
(1)
Telegram. From the Chief of the Imperial General Staff to the
Commander-in-Chief, India.
26th January 1916.
It).15 p.m.
Please telegraph for the information of the War Committee your views on
the Mesopotamian military situation, and also the following details respecting
Force " D ” :—
1 Are all the units on Indian war establishment ?
2. The approximate present strength by arms of the force, British and
native. „ , . , , j-
3. The approximate present strength of General Aylmer s force, giving
details of the reinforcements en route {a) by road and (b) by river.
4. The state of moral and health of the troops.
5. The approximate dates on which further reinforcements from India
will be sent.
6. The number, by classes, of machine guns.
7. An ammunition statement with respect to gun and small arms
ammunition, bombs and grenades, flares and searchlights.
8. The position as regards supplies of Aylmer’s column.
9. The attitude of the local Arabs.
( 2 )
Telegram.—From the Commander-in-Chief, India, to the
Chief of the Imperial General Staff.
■ 27th January 1916.
10.40 p.m.
With reference to your telegram of 26th January, the following are my
views on the military situation in Mesopotamia :—
The Turkish strength now at and below Baghdad is estimated to be hve
divisions, possibly totalling some 32,000 effectives with about 50 guns.
Another Turkish division may be at Khaniqin. In view of your telegram of
21st January it seems possible that the Turks may by the beginning of March
be able to increase their forces in the Baghdad region to a total of 11 divisions,
or about 80,000 men, with, say, 132 guns, taking 12 guns per division. By
7th February the force under Aylmer, including the garrisons of posts on the
river above Amara, should number 35 battalions, 19 squadrons and 74 guns,
including 8£ battalions and 28 guns now en route up the Tigris. Three more
field batteries from France are now arriving at Basra. If Townshend is relieved,
by the middle of March, when we hope to have placed the three additional
brigades from India in Mesopotamia, Lake should be able to concentrate a
force of 45 000 rifles, 2,500 sabres and 120 guns in his fighting line on the
Tigris. But in the event of Kut falling, then this force will be reduced to
36,000 rifles, 2,500 sabres and 86 guns. Of course, the check to Aylmer on
the 21st January has prejudiced the prospects of relieving Townshend in
time, that is, before 17th February, though I have just heard that Townshend
now states that he can make his food supplies last for some time after that
date.

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Content

The volume is the second volume of an official government publication compiled at the request of the Government of India, and under the direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence, by Brigadier-General Frederick James Moberly. The volume was printed and published at His Majesty's Stationery Office, London.

The contents provide a narrative of the operations of 1914-1918 in Mesopotamia, based mainly on official documents.

The volume is in one part, entitled, 'Part III. The First Campaign for Baghdad', and consists of the following fourteen chapters:

  • The Decision to Advance to Baghdad
  • Commencement of the Advance Towards Baghdad
  • The Battle of Ctesiphon - the First Day's Operations
  • Battle of Ctesiphon (Continued) and the British Retirement to Kut
  • The Decision to Hold Kut and British Policy Consequent on the Failure to Reach Baghdad
  • The Siege of Kut: First Phase (December 1915)
  • Commencement of the Relief Operations
  • The Action of Shaikh Saad
  • The Action of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. and the First Attack on Hanna
  • Operations up to the End of February, 1916
  • The Second Attempt to Relieve Kut; the Attack on the Dujaila Redoubt
  • The Third Attempt to Relieve Kut; the Successful Advance to and First and Second Attacks on Sannaiyat
  • The Last Attempt at Relief; Bait Isa and Sannaiyat
  • The Siege of Kut; the Last Stages

The volume also includes nine maps, entitled:

  • The Middle East
  • Lower Mesopotamia
  • Map 8 - The Tigris from Kut al Amara to Baghdad
  • Map 9 - The Battle of Ctesiphon
  • Map 10 - The affair of Umm at Tubul
  • Map 11 - The defence of Kut al Amara
  • Map 12 - The fort at Kut; with special reference to the Turkish attack on 24th December 1915
  • Map 13 - River Tigris between Ali Gharbi and Shumran
  • Map 14 - The action at Shaikh Saad
  • Map 15 - The action of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
  • Map 16 - The first attack on Hanna; 21st January 1916
  • Map 17 - The attack on the Dujaila Redoubt, 8th March 1916
  • Map 18 - To illustrate Tigris Corps Operation Order No. 26, dated 6th March 1916
  • Map 19 - To illustrate operations between 10th March and end of April 1916
  • Map 20 - The action of Bait Isa on 17th and 18th April 1916, and the attack on Sannaiyat 22nd April 1916
Extent and format
1 volume (323 folios)
Arrangement

The volume contains a list of contents (folios 6-10), a list of maps and illustrations (folio 11), appendices (folios 254-290), an index (folios 291-312), and eleven maps in a pocket attached to the inside back cover (folios 314-324).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 325; 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.

Pagination: the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME II.' [‎267v] (543/660), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/2, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045738550.0x000090> [accessed 30 April 2024]

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