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'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [‎62r] (123/274)

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The record is made up of 1 file (135 folios). It was created in 3 Dec 1917-24 Jun 1918. 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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COPY OF TELEGRAM
Prom ^neral Baghdad, to Secretary Far Office.
Repeated C.G.S. India, I.G.C. Inwater.
Q/3882, 20th Feb.# Your telegram 15th February 64641/MR3/406•
Chief General Staff, Simla in his 68711, October 10th 1917 aaked
that qu estion of_substituting oil fuel for coal supply in river
fleet and railway should be gone into as soon as possible in order
to relieve difficulty of coal supply in India, effect a large
saving in freight and unloading at Basra, and suro financial
saving estimated about 8/o« On November 3rd Chief General
Staff Delhi was informed that gradual conversion into oil fuel
of existing fleet, with exception of certain unsuitable vessels,
would be commenced about middle of January, by which time ships arr
iving from England would have been fitted up, and Inwater Basra
was therefore instructed to indent ©n India for necessary fittings*
Rough estimate gives dates of completion of conversion as one
year for river fleet, and eight months for railways♦ Sohome
prepared by I#YI.T. agreed to by railways includes provision of
tanks at all points necessary for fuel supply to railways and
to Inwater vessels# Also provision of pipe-line from Abadan to
Basra for bunicering purposes, thus obviating necessity send
barges Abadan where facilities loading not of the best, and
thus saving voyage of 64 miles# The above scheme has my
approval.
Addressed Secretary, ’7ar Office, repeated C.G.S. India,
I.G.C. Basra.
G.O.C. BAGHDAD
Circulated per M.R.3, to:
D. G, M • R *
M.O.X, Copies to:
M.R.l.
M. R • 2 «
M.O.X.
D.C.I.G.S
D.H.O.
M.0,2.
M.0.2«a.
D.S.D. Q.M.G.
D.D.S.D. D.S.T.
S ,D.2. Q.M.G.6.
S.D.2.a. 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.
S.D.2.B.
Major Day.
Lt .Col. Francis

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Content

The file, marked secret, contains correspondence and notes regarding rail and river transportation in Mesopotamia [Iraq] during the First World War. The papers cover several matters, including:

  • The construction, conversion, maintenance, and expansion of the railways in the region, including regular progress reports from the Director of Railways, Baghdad
  • Military operations targeting the Turkish railways in Palestine
  • Planning and progress of the Mesopotamia Transport Commission
  • Supply of railway materials, rolling stock, and personnel
  • Postwar railway policy in India and Mesopotamia
  • The question of substituting oil fuel for coal supply in river and rail transport.

Correspondents include: the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Egypt; the Chief of Imperial General Staff; Director of Railways, Baghdad; the War Office; the Commander-in-Chief, Army Headquarters, India; the Major General Sir Henry Francis Edward Freeland, Chairman of the Mesopotamia Transport Commission; the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Mesopotamia; the Chief of the General Staff, India; the Director General of Movements and Railways, War Office; and the Assistant Director of the Inland Water Transport, Mesopotamia.

Extent and format
1 file (135 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 137; 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.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Railways Mesopotamia and L of C [Lines of Communications] Policy, Vol. II' [‎62r] (123/274), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/5/788, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100098484043.0x00007c> [accessed 14 June 2026]

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