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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎121v] (247/454)

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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220 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
the 18th Infantry Brigade and the 48th Pioneers were, however
to remain in a camp near Zubair, under the command of
General Fry. On the same date, General Nixon asked India to
expedite the despatch to Mesopotamia of the seven light draught
steamers which had been procured at the request of General
Barrett, as he pointed out that the presence of ample light
draught river craft was essential for operations in the direc
tion of Nasiriya. He also reported that he had sent orders
to the Euphrates flotilla to blockade the main channel of the
Euphrates at Suq ash Shuyukh ; to operate against the Turkish
columns there and at Khamisiya; and to report as to the
feasibility of further operations. With these objects, this
force was being reinforced from Ourna by one company each
from the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
and the 103rd Mahrattas. On the 18th, the British cavalry,
reconnoitring to Nukhaila, got into touch with the Blockade
force and found that the enemy were reported to be between
Khamisiya and Nasiriya, where it was said that they were
being harassed and attacked by Arabs. The inland route
taken^ by the Turks rendered them immune from attack by
the Blockade force, which was now ordered to reconnoitre
the water approaches of the Hammar lake and to Suq ash
Shuyukh. 4
The Mesopotamia Commission Report says: “ The occupa
tion of Qurna .... and the victory at Barjisiya ....
had realised the plan of the British Government in sending
the expedition, save that something still remained to be done
to complete the protection of the supply of oil.” In view,
however, of the decided opinion expressed by Lord Hardinge
and others on the spot, and acquiesced in by the 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. ,
that Basra could not be considered as secure without the
occupation of Nasiriya and Amara, this statement appears
open to question.
The battle of Shaiba had several decisive results. It cleared
the western approaches to Basra of a dangerous menace;
it restored the power of initiative to the British ; and it
dissipated for the time being any chance of effective action
by the Turks. Moreover, it gave General Nixon time and
opportunity to consider the situation and to decide on the
action he would take.
There were several alternatives before him. He could
push on towards Nasiriya and, taking advantage of the Turks’
disorganisation and the enmity now being displayed towards
them by the Arabs, might even be able to occupy Nasiriya,

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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.' [‎121v] (247/454), 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_100048172214.0x000030> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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