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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎107r] (218/454)

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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EUPHRATES BLOCKADE FORCE
191
Ruta obstruction. The Turkish action was so suspicious that
the Odin advanced with caution, until a large observation
mine exploding just ahead of her showed clearly that the
Marmariss was only trying to draw the Odin over a minefield.*
A few days later it appeared that the Turks had still further
reduced the force opposite Qurna.
It thus became evidentf that the Turkish right wing, i.e.,
their main force, meant to advance against Shaiba. This
would probably coincide with a demonstration against Quma
and with an attack by the Turkish left wing on Ahwaz.
The operation of the detachment from Kurmat Ali against
the Turkish supply mahailas about Nukhaila on the 3rd March
and subsequent reconnaissances had shown the vulnerability
of this point on the Turkish line of communication, and steps
were at once taken to exploit the advantage. A naval and
military force was organised and despatched from Kurmat Ali
on the 11th March. This became known as the Euphrates
Blockade force. The vessels employed were the two old stern
wheeler river steamers Shushan and Muzaffari, the tug Sumana,
a motor-boat and a barge. Two 4-inch guns of the 104th
Heavy Battery were mounted in the barge, and there was also
a 3-pounder naval gun in the Shushan. The combatant
personnel consisted of six naval ratings under Lieut.-Com.
A. G. Seymour, R.N., forty men of the 104th Heavy Battery,
and fifty of the 2nd Norfolk with a maxim machine gun, the
whole being under command of Major Farmar, R.G.A. On
the 28th this personnel was relieved and, as a result of the
experience already gained, its composition was slightly altered.
The Salimi, in which was mounted an 18-pounder quick-firing
field gun, was added to the flotilla ; a second 3-pounder naval
gun was mounted in the Shushan; a 5-inch gun mounted in a
200-ton barge replaced the 4-inch guns ; gun detachments from
the 63rd Field and the 86th Heavy Batteries took the place of
the men of the 104th Battery; the British infantry detachment
was relieved by a similar detachment of the l/4th Hampshire
Regiment; an Indian infantry (66th Punjabis) detachment
of twenty-five men with a maxim and a detachment of sappers
were added; and Lieutenant-Colonel Molesworth, R.G.A.,
as commander, and Lieutenant Hallett, R.I.M., as Senior
Naval Officer succeeded Major Farmar and Lieutenant-Com
mander Seymour.
* The log of the Marmariss, subsequently captured, confirmed this.
| See Append ix VI, p. 352.

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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.

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 I.' [‎107r] (218/454), 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_100048172214.0x000013> [accessed 14 May 2024]

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