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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [130r] (264/454)
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. .
Transcription
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ADVANCE ON AMARA
235
/
In agreeing with the decision of the Government of India
in refusing General Nixon’s request for an additional cavalry
brigade, as mentioned in the last chapter, Lord Crewe had
wired on the 24th April as follows :—
“ . . . with reference to Nixon’s request for a cavalry
brigade, I concur in your decision, as, apart from impossi
bility of complying, the approach of hot season renders
despatch of more troops, especially British, inadvisable.
Nixon’s demand implies intention on his part of important
offensive movement. I presume he clearly understands
that Government will not sanction at this moment any
advance beyond present theatre of operations. We
must confine ourselves during summer to defence of
Basra vilayet and oil interests in Arabistan. If, after
smashing enemy in Karun direction, it is possible to
advance to Amara with view to establishing an outpost
which will control tribesmen between there and karun
and so contribute to security of pipe-line, I should be
prepared to accept such a proposal provided it is supported
by you, but I deprecate any plan involving undue extension
and possible demands for reinforcements. Strategically
our present position is a sound one, and at present we
cannot afford to take risks by unduly extending it. We
must play a safe game in Mesopotamia.
This telegram was repeated by India next day to General
Nixon. In regard to this and subsequent telegrams, Lord
Crewe told the Mesopotamia Commission that he personally
regarded the proposal to advance to Amara at that time with
no enthusiasm. Although he certainly had in h is mind
in due course the wdiole of the Basra vilayet would e occup
and administered, there appeared to him to be certain draw
backs to doing it then, i.e., the approach of the hot weather
the necessary extension of the line of communication which
would put a further strain on the transport ana medical arrange
ments, and the fact that the War Office could give no help
He also had in his mind that General Nixon appeared to be
inclined towards a too ambitious extension of operatic
and might not realise that India could send him no mo
troops. In justice to General Nixon, it must be said that his
main reason for deprecating any unnecessary delay was to
allow the Turks no time to reinforce or reorganise theif defences^
On the 17th May, General Nixon telegraphed to India a bnet
appreciation of the situation in Mesopotamia Most ot the
Turkish regular troops which had been engaged at Shaiba had
About this item
- 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 View the complete information for this record
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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [130r] (264/454), 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_100048172214.0x000041> [accessed 25 April 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1
- Title
- 'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:3r, 4r:216v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence