IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3234

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 July 1915. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, letters, tables and memoranda containing instructions and reports.

A summary of the contents of this volume can be found at folio 11. The volume’s contents mostly relate to:

• Military reinforcements and supplies required by Force D, including: personnel; weapons; ammunition; river craft and aircraft, with particular attention paid to the supply and deployment of aeroplanes
• Staff appointments and promotions
• Distributions of Force D throughout July (ff 55-58; f 175; and f 274)
• Distribution of the Turkish [Ottoman] Army (ff 320-322)
• Status and progress of the Euphrates line, commanded by General George Frederick Gorringe, including the capture of Nasiriyah on 24 July
• Status and progress of the Tigris line, especially around Filaifilah [Fulayfilah], Ali-al-Gharbi [‘Ali al Gharbi] and Kumait [Kumayt]
• Concerns about the impact of the climate on soldiers’ health and the high volume of sick soldiers
• Intelligence on Russo-Turkish operations in the Caucasus region
• Proposals to seize Bushire [Bushehr] due to dissatisfaction with the Persian [Iranian] Government
• Discussions about the best way to protect the Anglo-Persian Oil Company’s pipeline
• Discussions about the loyalties and activities of tribes in southern Mesopotamia and northern Persia, including the question of providing subsidies for the Bavi [Bāvī] tribe
• Proposals to occupy Kut-al-Amarah [Al-Kut, also rendered in text as Kut al ‘Amarah and Kut-al-‘Amarah].

The volume also includes:

• Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia on: 5 July (ff 62-63); 12 July (ff 115-116); 19 July (f 183); 26 July (ff 271-272)
• A letter from the General Officer Commanding Force D to the Chief of the General Staff, dated 10 July 1915, which includes a ‘Memorandum on future special requirements’ by Major-General George Vere Kemball (ff 198-201).

A summary of contents for the previous volumes can be found at folios 3-10.

The volume contains a small number of copies of telegrams from June 1915.