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Papers concerning the Treatment of British Prisoners of War at Kut [10r] (19/62)
The record is made up of 1 file (31 folios). It was created in 24 Sep 1916-15 Nov 1916. 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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Soap and tooth-brushes were quite unobtainable and
a shave was a rare luxury.
Indian N.C.O f s and other ranks were paid at the
rate of 10 annas per month. Only one payment, however, was
made. T£l, which equals 5 majedies, was given to every 20 men.
The rupee in Baghdad is valued at from 10 to 12
annas, and a 4 anna piece is valued at 2 annas.
The American Red Cross Society gave every IT.C.O.
and man, both British and Indian, one lira, while Officers,
British and Indian, received 3 liras each. Members of the
Bengal Volunteer A m -b u i anC e Corps, not receiving any from the
British Government, also refused payment from the Turkish
Government, but this would in any case have amounted to only
10 annas. They, however, accepted the American lira. Bor
this payment the Americans gave gold to the Turks and the
Turks paid out in paper money. One lira now fetches 3
majidies in BAGHDAD. Drench Sisters were able to exchange
some lira in notes for 4 majidies.
In BAGHDAD English Officers were allowed great
freedom and wandered about at will. This was also
occasionally the case with medical personnel, but usually they
were subject to the same rules as Indian soldiers, which
admitted of their going about in 30s and 40s in charge of
a single Arab guard, who was entirely unarmed. A Turk
Officer who accompanied SIKKIM stated that he and other
Officers thought it wrong and weak of KHALIL to release our
Officers after all they had seen, their freedom in conversing
with Jews &c.
The prisoners of war received no letters from
England, but no limit was set to the length of letters they
wrote and they were allowed to write as often as they liked.
All letters had to be written in English. One Officer received
an
About this item
- Content
The papers consist of reports and associated correspondence concerning the treatment of British prisoners of war from the British garrison at Kut [Kut Al-Amarah], following its surrender to Ottoman Turkish forces on 29 April 1916.
The papers include a typescript memorandum (folios 3-28), issued by General Headquarters, IEF D [Indian Expeditionary Force D], Basra, entitled 'Information obtained from sick and wounded officers and men of the Kut Garrison who arrived at Basrah [Basra] on September 9th and 14th, 1916', which contains first hand accounts of the treatment of British and Indian troops by Turkish, Arab, and German captors. The memorandum also provides information about the Turkish army; Turkish dispositions, supplies, and armaments at Baghdad and elsewhere; and relations between the Turks and their allies. The memorandum was forwarded by the Director of Military Intelligence, War Office.
Also included in the file is a printed memorandum (folios 29-31) entitled 'Turkish Treatment of British Prisoners of War.', which provides similar information from a single eyewitness. The memorandum is undated, but is signed in manuscript 'Lt [Lieutenant] McNeal R.F.A. [Royal Field Artillery]'. The memorandum also gives an account of events and conditions at Baghdad.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (31 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 31; 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.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Papers concerning the Treatment of British Prisoners of War at Kut [10r] (19/62), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/775, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100087952278.0x000014> [accessed 23 May 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/775
- Title
- Papers concerning the Treatment of British Prisoners of War at Kut
- Pages
- 1r:31v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence