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'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy' [45r] (89/204)
The record is made up of 1 file (100 folios). It was created in 18 May 1917-21 Dec 1917. 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
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
From:- G.O.C.Mesopotamia#
6/10/17.
2 .p ,m.
To: -
X .4047,
C . in C. India.
repeated War Office.
fS>
Reference ray X.3436 September 1st and y ur 6045.S
September 21st. I again wish to draw your attention to
the fact that the petition is most unaatj^fao-tory' an regards
railway personnel. The position at the end of August wan.
that there was a deficit of 530 in Engineering 382 In
locomotive, 22 in stores and 627 in traffic e Total 1561,
and at end of September the position was that only following
fru(\touu4
percentages of dir (I group) demand for September - October
han arrived. Engineering 64?? locomotive 81?? stores 65^
traffic 39??. There is special shortage in the important
classes of drivers and stationm&sters-. Practically the
v
whole personnel are ona years engagement and a large
number terminate in November and December. I am dependent
great
to very/ extent on the efficient working of the railways
and any limitation of their working will restrict my freedom
of action. By end of year I should have following
Railways working. The Basra Nasiriyah line, the Basra
£)urn.ah Amarah line, Kut-el-ihiiara Baghdad line*, the Baghdad
Baqubah line with extension to Fallujah line, Baghdad
Musaiyib line and the Baghdad Sumarra lino with branch, and
I should be glad to know what steps can be taken to ensure
the efficient working of those lines. The position would
be Improved if the termination of engagements were increased
from one to two years, but the only alternative solution
should that net be possible seems to be the formation of
a railway operating division similar to that in France, as
I consider it very desirable that all the operations in
personnel of the railways in this country should be under
military law and in uniform. )u •
General Freeland on his arrival (see C.I.G.S’ 4244S
cipher of October 3rd) would be able to advise on this
About this item
- Content
The file, marked secret, contains correspondence and notes regarding rail and river transportation for the Mesopotamian campaign during the First World War. The papers cover a number of matters, including:
- Strategic considerations of the use of rail and river communications
- Supply of railway materials, rolling stock, and personnel to Mesopotamia [Iraq] from India, other parts of the British Empire, and allied territories
- Problems with unloading and shipping congestion at Basra
- Progress of railway construction, including weekly reports from the General Officer Commanding or Director of Railways to the War Office, starting from August 1917
- Capacity estimates (for troops, food, ammunition, and materials) and efforts to increase it
- Complaints of shortages of railway stock and personnel in India due to the demand in Mesopotamia
- Preparations for a commission, led by Sir Henry Francis Edward Freeland, to be sent to review rail and river transportation in Mesopotamia
- Questions of flooding and damming of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Correspondents include: the Commander-in-Chief, India; the Chief of the Imperial General Staff; the General Officer Commanding, Mesopotamia; the War Office; the Director of Railways, Mesopotamia; the War Section, Army Department, Government of India; and Major General Sir Henry Francis Edward Freeland.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (100 folios)
- Arrangement
The file is arranged in chronological order, from the rear to the front.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 102; 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel; these numbers are written in coloured crayon and pencil; where they have been written in pencil and circled, they have been crossed through.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/5/787
- Title
- 'Railways - Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communication] Policy'
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:101v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence