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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎117r] (238/454)

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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GENERAL MELLISS’ DISPOSITIONS
211
difficulty ; and here General Melliss established his headquarters
while his infantry dug a few trenches along the ridge.
It now seemed evident to General Melliss that the Turkish
main body was in position near Barjisiya wood and that
Zubair and Old Basra were not being held in any strength.
He thereupon issued orders for the 16th Brigade to prepare to
advance with their left directed on a point to the north of
the Watch Tower, and for two battalions of the 18th Brigade—
Norfolks and 120th Infantry—to move across to the right
rear of the 16th Brigade ; while the third battalion of the
18th Brigade—110th Mahrattas—were to remain echeloned
on the left rear of the 16th Brigade.
While this redistribution was taking place, General Melliss
rode out to the cavalry position to make a personal recon
naissance. He found, however, that owing to the mirage and
the shape of the ground he could make out little of the enemy’s
dispositions. He convinced himself that the Turkish right
lay to the west of the Watch Tower, but he was unable to fix
the position of their left. That the Turks meant to stay and
fight in their position seemed clear.
Heavy masses of Arabs hung round the Turkish flanks.
Although their dispositions were also somewhat obscured by
the mirage, it was clear that their position secured the Turkish
flanks against surprise and would add to the risks of a turning
movement by the small British force round the wide Turkish
front. This decided General Melliss not to attempt such a
turning movement.
On his return to South mound, General Melliss ordered
the left of the advance of the 16th Brigade to be directed
on the Watch Tower and the 110th Mahrattas to pass over to
the right rear of the 18th Brigade. His plan was to engage
what appeared to be the enemy’s right and centre with the
16th Brigade, and to attack the hostile left with the 18th
Brigade, in co-operation with the cavalry brigade, whose
commander was given a free hand to seize any opportunity for
vigorous action which might offer. He thus hoped to strike at
the enemy’s line of retirement to Nukhaila.
Before the advance began, however, General Melliss dis
covered definitely that the enemy’s line covered over three
miles, extending from west of the Watch Tower to the north
end of Barjisiya wood. As this meant that it was more
extended than he had at first supposed, he ordered the two
leading battalions of the 18th Brigade—2nd Norfolk and
120th—up into line with the 16th Brigade.

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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.' [‎117r] (238/454), 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_100048172214.0x000027> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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