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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎62r] (128/454)

The record is made up of 1 volume (223 folios). It was created in 1923. 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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ADVANCED FORCE LEAVES INDIA
103
from Karachi two days later, the force left Bombay, with part
of Force “A” and Force “ B,” on the 16th in four transports
under naval escort. On the 19th, at sea, the convoy met
H.M.S. Ocean, and Force “ D ” parted company, steering
northwards under escort of the Ocean. Next day, the units
of the force were informed that their destination was Bahrein
and on the 21st they arrived at the rendezvous, to find the
R.I.M.S. Dalhousie and the transport containing the mountain
artillery awaiting them. The strength of the force was
just over 5,000 men and 1,200 animals*
The five transports, under escort of the Ocean and Dalhousie,
then proceeded together, arriving at Bahrein on the 23rd.
Here it was found that instructions had been received from
the Admiralty that disembarkation was to be suspended till
further orders.|
In consequence of these orders, the troops remained on
board the transports, and advantage was taken of the delay
to practise them in rowing and in disembarking in ships’ boats,
an experience which proved subsequently very useful to them.
For the first few days there was a total lack of breeze and the
supply of drinking water obtainable on shore was limited.
In consequence, men, and especially animals, suffered severely
from the heat.
On the 28th, a conference was held on board the Headquarters
transport Varela and a plan was issued for a landing at Fao.
The presence of the force at Bahrein was now known at Basra
and Mohammerah, and in accordance with instructions from
the Secretary of State, our representatives there and elsewhere
in touch with Arabs gave the utmost publicity to the news.
At the same time they announced that the British Government
contemplated no aggressive action, but had been obliged to
despatch this force for the eventual protection of British
interests and of their friends, in view of the continued anti-
British military measures taken by the Turks under German
guidance.
At this period General Delamain received further information
regarding the Turkish forces in Mesopotamia. The two regular
divisions of the Xllth (Mosul) Corps had moved westward,
the 37th Division of the XHIth Corps had been reported at
* For details see Appendix II, p. 346.
t The Jask wireless station had lost touch with the force after the 22nd and
consequently the same order—which had come from the Secretary of State—■
did not reach General Delamain from India till the 26th. As soon as the
difficulty of wireless communication was realised, the Admiralty made
arrangements for erection of wireless installations at Bushire and Abadan.

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Content

The volume is the first 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 divided into two parts. The first part, entitled, 'Part I. Before the Outbreak of Hostilities', consists of the following five chapters:

  • General Description of the Country
  • The Turks in Mesopotamia
  • British Pre-War Policy
  • The Army in India and Pre-War Military Policy
  • Inception of the Operations

The second part, entitled, 'Part II. The Campaign in Lower Mesopotamia', consists of the following seven chapters:

  • The Landing in Mesopotamia of Force "D" and the Operations Leading to the Occupation of Basra
  • The Occupation of Basra and the Capture of Qurna
  • Commencement of the Turkish Counter-Offensive
  • Development and Defeat of the Turkish Counter-Offensive
  • Operations in Arabistan and the Capture of Amara
  • Operations on the Euphrates and the Occupation of Nasiriya
  • The battle of Kut and Occupation of Aziziya

The volume also includes nine maps, entitled:

  • The Middle East
  • Lower Mesopotamia
  • Map 1 - To illustrate operations described in Chapter VI
  • Map 2 - To illustrate fighting near Qurna
  • Map 3 - To illustrate fighting round Shaiba
  • Map 4 - To illustrate operations in Persian Arabistan
  • Map 5 - To illustrate operations in the Akaika Channel 27th June to 5th July 1915
  • Map 6 - To illustrate operations near Nasiriya 6th to 24th July 1915
  • Map 7 - To illustrate the Battle of Kut 28th September 1915
Extent and format
1 volume (223 folios)
Arrangement

The volume contains a page of errata (folio 5), a list of contents (folios 6-8), a list of maps and illustrations (folio 9), appendices (folios 185v-192), an index (folios 192v-214v), and eight maps in a pocket attached to the inside back cover (folios 217-224).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 225; 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.

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English in Latin script
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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎62r] (128/454), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048172213.0x000081> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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