![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [‎265r] (538/544)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x00020d/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3287_0538.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.)’ [‎265r] (538/544)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [265r] (538/544)
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.
Can find bhisties and sweepers locally. Pack horses 54, riding horses
196, draught horses 6, S. and T. mules 56 plus spares. Water carts 2, motor
cycles 12, A. T. carts 28, Field kitchen 1.
Reference my X.-4452 (Dy. No. 73541), dated 29th October. Equipment
as requested therein.
Working copy to G.S. (S.D. 3).
Copy to M.S.C., A.G., Q.M.G., D.G.O., G.S. (M.O. i).
Word Code telegram No 77363, dated 15th November 1917. APPENDIX 302
Despatched 11-30 p.m.) (Dy. No. 77363)
From—The Chief of the General Staff,
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” Baghdad.
Your O.-704 (Dy. No. 76224) of 8th November.
Propose to reduce breadth of pontoons to 10 feet to facilitate railway
transport of steel sheets in India. Spans will then be 25 feet instead of 30
Number of pontoons 140 instead of 110 with two bulkheads instead of ons
Sheets can be supplied. Please wire if you agree to above modification.
Estimate of time required will be given soon as possible after receipt of your
reply.
Record copy to D.G.M. W.
Copy to M.S.C , D.G.O., M.B., Q.M.G., G.S. (S.D. 3).
API ENDIX 303
Telegram No. ^5688-Cipher, dated 14th November 1917.
(Despatched 1-45 p.m., received 7-30 p.m., 15th November 1917. (Dy. No. 77364)
From—The Director, Military Intelligence, London,
To—The General Officer Commanding, Force** D/' Baghdad.
(Repeated India.)
Following from R. M. A. Dand | November 12th, No. T. L. 481
Mosul Area Intelligence. Reported by Gracey on November J2th that
during the last 2 years Germans have put great effort into the cultiveation of this
area, all ground tilled and sown over is considered German property. Much
effort has been put into the crop for 1918 but everything dep nds on the
rainfall as there is little irrigation. This year’s crop is lower than normal the
present selling price of 28 pounds of wheat in Mosul being 1 Turkish lira gold
(not paper).
Working copy to G.S. (M.O. 3).
Copy to M.S.C., G.S. (M.O. 1).
Word Code telegram No. 1678-A.-112, dated 14th November 1917. APPENDIX 304
(Despatched 9-30 A.M., received 7-15 P.M, 15th November 1917.) (Dy. No. 77369)
From—The Inspector General of Communicatiors, Force *‘ D, M Basrah,
To—The War Section, Army Headquarters.
Discharged in tons of 20 cwt. on 13th November.
Colliers-*
** Hopsang*' I.. ••• ••• *••• 47 ^
« Kiukian ” arrived P.M., 13th November.
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
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‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 40. PART I. (From 1st to 15th November 1917.)’ [265r] (538/544), 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_100140953803.0x00008b> [accessed 27 August 2026]
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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