![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [‎237r] (482/544)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x00020d/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3287_0482.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [‎237r] (482/544)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [237r] (482/544)
The record is made up of 1 volume (266 folios). It was created in 29 Sep 1917-15 Nov 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.
Telegram P., No, X.-4725, dated 12th November 1917. APPENDIX 267
(Despatched 4 P.M., received 9-45 A.M., 13th November 1917 ) (Dy. No. 77016)
From—The G. O. C., Force “ D, ,, Baghdad.
To—India-
(Repeated London.^
Your 75936 of November 8th
In the event of a (?) shortage of bacon, I suggest M, and V. or cheese
ration as substitute. Demands will be made by us as required for M. & V.
rations. Please see my wire of 22nd October No. X-4356 {Dy. No. 72033)
with regard to due notice of demands. I repeat for your information my te e-
gram No. X.-4604 of the 5th instant {Dy. No. 755*0), and should also like to
be assured on the point raised in it. Repetition follows between inverted comas
“ Is your position now such that I need have no further anxiety regarding your
ability to satisfy my monthly demands as they occur each month.
Working copy to Q.M.G*
Copy to M.S.C., D.M.S.
Telegram P., No. X.-4'24, dated 12th November 1917. APPENDIX 258
(Dy. No. 77034)
despatched 3-35 P.M., 12th November 1917, received 12 NOON, 13th November 1917).
From—The G. O. C, Force “ D,” Baghdad,
To—The Secretary, War Office, London.
(Repeated Simla and I. G. C, Basrah.)
Railway progress for week ending icth November is as follows :—
Hinuidi Baqubah.~ Metre gaute conversion. Formation completed mile 8
31. Linking completed miles *21, timbe r
•By change of one figure. work on piers of Dialha high level bridge
at Baqubah completed. Girders received at Basrah and now on their way up
Basrah-Qurnah. —Railway.
Section Basrah to Nahr Umar not yet linked owing to the non-arrival of
rails from India during October.
Hinaidi'B aqubah-Surahaban. —Narrow gauges. Length of extension
beyond Shahraban now increased to 7 miles. Embankment completed miles
5^. Linking complete miles 5.
.Extension standard gauge. Formation completed miles 9.
Feluja. —Extension standard gauge. Formation completed miles 24J •
Linking complete to mile 164. Linking progress delayed owing 4 to material no 1 *
coming up river from Basrah fast enough.
Basrah Shipping Discharges. —“ Shuja and “ Isle of Mull ^ respectively
have completed discharge of metre gauge and standard material.
Miscellaneous stores, rolling stock and standard gauge permanent way
materials are now being discharged ex-‘ Chusan’* and “Risaldar.”
Working copy to Q.M.G.
Copy to M.S.C., G.S. (M.O. 1, M.O. 3), M.B., G S. (S.D. 3).
Telegram P., No. 77036, dated 13th November 1917. * APPENDIX 259
(Despatched 4 P.M.) (Dy. No. 77036)
From—The War Section, A. H.Q., Simla,
To—The Inspector General of Communications, Basrah.
(Repeated Director Remounts, Baghdad.)
Your S.-37126, November nth {Dy. No. 76813).
We concur in the retention of 78 mules arriving on board “ Volumnia.”
Record copy to Q.M.G, .i
Copy to M.S.C.
About this item
- Content
The volume contains a chronological list of brief summaries of papers relating to the activities of the Indian Expeditionary Force D (also known as the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force) between 1 and 15 November 1917. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, tables, memoranda, and letters.
The volume concerns:
- Reinforcements for Force D, including horses, medical officers, railway staff, and machine gunners
- The appointment of officers in Force D
- The supply of food, ordnance, clothing, oil, and other items to Force D
- Scheduling of supply shipments from India to Basrah [Basra]
- The supply of agricultural equipment for a ‘cultivation scheme’
- Recruitment of railway workers from Malaysia and Siam [Thailand] for service in Mesopotamia
- Report from the Royal Flying Corps of machines and pilots available for service in Mesopotamia
- Plans for the construction of flour mills at Baghdad
- Construction and improvement of railways in Mesopotamia
- British aerial bombardment of an aerodrome at Kifri, and Turkish [Ottoman] army camps at Fathah [Al-Fathah]
- British attacks on Turkish positions near Daur [Ad-Dawr] on 2 November 1917, and at Tekrit on 5 November 1917
- Intelligence concerning the movement of German and Turkish military units in Mesopotamia, including the arrival of German aviation units
- Intelligence acquired from captured enemy deserters, including estimates of Turkish troop numbers, plans made by German and Turkish commanders, and supply shortages within the Turkish Army
- Intelligence reports on formation of a ‘special Intelligence service’ by the Turkish and German militaries, including names and assignments of suspected enemy agents
- Discussion of the treatment of Russian subjects captured while serving as part of the Turkish Army
- British Indian citizens found guilty of ‘waging war’ or ‘abetting in the waging of war against His Britannic Majesty’ and sentenced to death or transportation
- Matters relating to Russia, including: Russian reluctance to send more troops to Mesopotamia; the arrival of a Russian air squadron at Mendali [Mandali]; news of a ‘counter revolution in Petrograd [Saint Petersburg]’ received 9 November 1917
- Skirmishes between German and Persian [Iranian] troops at Turshiz [Kashmar]
- Dispatch of British troops from Ahwaz [Ahvaz, Iran] to ‘quell disturbances’ in Shushtar
- A diary of information dated 20 October 1917, covering climate data and the customs, language, and attitudes of the Kurdish population of Hakkiari [Hakkari, a mountainous region spanning modern Iraq and Turkey].
The volume also contains:
- Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of: lines of communication; general organisation; unit locations; and names of General Officers and Brigade Commanders (ff 3-4)
- Distribution of Force D on 14 October 1917 (ff 71-76)
- Ration strength of Force D on 29 September 1917 (ff 62-69), 13 October 1917 (ff 30-34), and October 20 (ff 153-157)
- Detailed ration strength of Force D on 6 October 1917 (ff 163-170)
- Weekly returns of sick and wounded dated 13 October 1917 (ff 18-19), 20 October 1917 (ff 58-59), and 27 October 1917 (ff 145-146)
- Statement of tonnage received from India during September 1917 (ff 196-198)
- Distribution of the Turkish Army for the week ending 6 November 1917 (ff 94-96) and 13 November 1917 (ff 244-246)
- State of supplies in stock and at sea as of 3 November 1917 (ff 107-108), 10 November 1917 (ff 250-251).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (266 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 268; 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 also present in parallel between ff 5-266; these numbers are printed and are located in the bottom centre of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Dimensions: 21 x 33cm
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [237r] (482/544), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3287, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100140953803.0x000053> [accessed 29 August 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100140953803.0x000053
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100140953803.0x000053">‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [‎237r] (482/544)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100140953803.0x000053"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x00020d/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3287_0482.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x00020d/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3287
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:3r, 3r:3v, 3v:4r, 4r:4v, 4v:267v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence