![‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 58. (From 1st to 31st May 1919.)’ [‎131r] (266/298)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000230/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3322_0266.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 58. (From 1st to 31st May 1919.)’ [‎131r] (266/298)")
‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 58. (From 1st to 31st May 1919.)’ [131r] (266/298)
The record is made up of 1 volume (145 folios). It was created in 29 Mar 1919-31 May 1919. 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.
lint not vet ronfined InnaiiTr xt P ortea am °ng British Officers and men,
but not yet connned Locally outbreak was wholly unexpected as Sheikh
.. bo, H j^r" l 2 3 0 nZ;iirK b vi:;, s i
Telegram dated May 23rd from Consul, Tabris, reports grarity of (pro)
Kurdisb agita ion and reports attack on Simko fronf whom I have recently
received cordial letters and whose close friend Sayid Taha is now our guest
in Baghdad. Telegram of same date from Senna shows Shaikh Mahmud has
relied mainly on support from Persian Kurdistan whence some 1,500 men
have come to his help.
^ so dppc&rs clear that his action of direct outcome of movements for
independence ot Kurds including Persian Kurds, which, as already reported,
has lor some time past been growing in popularity. General Officer
Commanding m Chief has already despatched mixed columns to Chem Chem.
All to hold mam pass and strong force has left Tigris for Kirkuk.
General Officer Commanding in Chief and I are considering the possi
bility .of occupying Sulaimaniyah as a source of the present trouble on the
following grounds:—
1. It is certain that unless we at once suppress Shaikh Mahmud powerful
tribes in this area, who are now standing aloof will be drawn into movement
which is purely anarchistic. Meanwhile two most powerful groups, viz.,
Pishdr, west of Sulaimaniyah, and Jaf, east of Sulaimaniyah, have offered
fullest co-operation with us in suppressing him.
2. It may be taken as certain that unless suppressed promptly movement
will find an echo in Persia and in Mosul and may make military positions
in those areas serious. It will also have effect in Mesopotamia.
3. Probably failure to suppress it will encourage similar anarchistic
movement in north-west Persia and north Kurdistan ro great detriment
of important allied interests there.
tfO C. G, S.
4. Occupation of Sulaimaniyah is only means of suppressing movement.
This step would be popular locally where our administration was rapidly
gaining popularity with all except Mahmud and his entourage 'whose last
effort this is.
5. It is shown by numerous communications received that at present
movement by no means commands general support and can be suppressed by
military action.
6. It will be borne in mind that Sulaimaniyah district occupies peculiar
position vis a vis Baghdad and Mosul Vilayats and PersianKurdistan which
makes its (grs und) of more importance than any other partof Kurdistan.
This is with reference to my telegram, May 12th (Diary No. 35815) and
General Officer Commanding, Force “ D ” Baghdad’s telegram to-day (Diary
No. 41798).
Working copy (Advance copy for information to) G. S. (M. O. 1).
Copy to Collection.
APPENDIX 115
(Diary No. 42624)
Word Code telegram No A.-tlOl, dated 24th May 1919.
(Despatched 8-40 a.m., 26th May 1919, received 9-30 p.m., 27th May 1919.)
From—.The General Officer Commanding, Force “ D,” Baghdad,
To—The Chief of the General Staff, Simla.
With reference to 37931-Q. M. G.-17, dated 17th May (Diary No. 37931)•
Transfer of Park in hand probale total number British Officers 2, Other
Ranks 15, Indian Other Ranks 30. Estimated Store and Workshop fittings
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 31 May 1919. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, memoranda, and tables.
An index to the contents of this volume can be found at folios 3-8. The volume concerns:
- Military personnel issues, including the granting of leave, demobilisation of troops, and transfer of units from Mesopotamia to India
- Supply of animals to Force D
- Dispatch of water tanks from Mesopotamia to India
- A report on the performance of Kachin recruits in the 85th Burma Rifles (ff 32-33)
- Dispatch of units from Force D to respond to ‘disturbances’ in India and on the North-West Frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan.
- Spread of the ‘Ikhwan movement’ in Bahrein [Bahrain], Kowait [Kuwait], and Mesopotamia
- Intelligence concerning public opinion in Mesopotamia, including: opposition to the British occupation; the preference of ‘leading men’ for direct British administration; and hostility towards the involvement of Sheikh Faisul [Shaikh Fayṣal bin Al-Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī] in the post-war Government
- The number of troops required to occupy Mesopotamia
- Railway construction in Mesopotamia
- Reports of ‘serious disorders’ at Sulaimaniyah [Sulaymaniyah] and a ‘serious rising’ in southern Kurdistan led by Sheikh Mahmud [Shaikh Maḥmūd Barzanjī]
- Matters relating to the administration of Mesopotamia, including: arrangements for the financial management of British administration; conditions of employment for Army officers hired to work in the civil administration; and the creation of administrative provinces, including an ‘Arab province of Mosul’ and a ‘fringe of autonomous Kurdish States … with British political advisers’
- Maintenance of waterways in Mesopotamia
- Discussion of the creation of a daily train service between Baghdad and Basrah [Basra] carrying mail and passengers.
The volume also contains:
- Weekly return of sick and wounded dated 29 March 1919 (ff 10-11), 5 April 1919 (ff 64-65), 12 April 1919 (ff 108-109), 19 April 1919 (ff 112-114), 26 April 1919 (ff 129-130)
- Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of lines of communication and general organisation, 19 April 1919 (ff 24-38), 1 May 1919 (ff 78-89)
- State of supplies on 30 April 1919 (ff 66-67)
- Strength return of Force D on 12 April 1919 (f 120).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (145 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 147; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right hand 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 between ff 3-145; 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 58. (From 1st to 31st May 1919.)’ [131r] (266/298), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3322, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100143730069.0x000043> [accessed 13 August 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100143730069.0x000043
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_100143730069.0x000043">‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 58. (From 1st to 31st May 1919.)’ [‎131r] (266/298)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100143730069.0x000043"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000112.0x000230/IOR_L_MIL_17_5_3322_0266.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_100000000112.0x000230/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3322
- Title
- ‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 58. (From 1st to 31st May 1919.)’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:146v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence