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Papers concerning the Treatment of British Prisoners of War at Kut [12r] (23/62)
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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Deserters.
Health
of
Turkish
Army.
There were 30 Indian Punjabi Mohammedans who were
given the free run of the City. These men were employed in
the aeroplane
factory
An East India Company trading post.
and are still there.
The 119th, 76th, 66th and 67th Indian Regiments were
represented among these men. Also a private servant of 2nd
Lieut. WOOD of the 119th Infantry.
German Officers in BAGHDAD frequently had Indian
Orderlies who were also given free pases.
There were numerous Indian deserters in BAGHDAD, many
of whom wore Arab dress. These deserters, however, are
under supervision and are quartered in the Infantry Bar-racks.
A party of Indian soldiers, 35 in number, were seen
at SAMARRAH alone. They had originally been captured in or
were deserters from Prance, and had been sent to this front
to fight for the Turks, but the latter mistrusted them, and
ordered their return to custody.
31 men of the 20th Punjabis and 17 men belonging to
the Indian Cavalry had been enlisted into the Turkish Army
and were seen in BAGHDAD. They were officered by Germans
and wore German uniforms. They were armed with rifles and
eventually sent to the Persian front.
The physical health of the Turkish Army left much
to be desired. The average number of sick and wounded in
BAGHDAD was from 7,000 to 10,000, and out of 200 German
Officers in BAGHDAD 150 were in Hospital. Many Turkish
Officers came to Hospital looking perfectly fit and there
was reason to believe that they were malingerers. The
sun appeared to affect the Turks very little but many
suffered from diseases of the eyes; even our own Officers
and men v/ere not free from eye-troubles.
The most prevalent diseases were dysentery,
diarrhcea, malaria and relapsing fever. A few cases of
cholera
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 [12r] (23/62), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/775, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100087952278.0x000018> [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