IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3246

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 February 1916. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, letters, and tables containing instructions and reports.

A summary of the contents of this volume can be found at folio 3. The volume mostly relates to:

• Reinforcements and supplies for Force D, including: river craft, food, weapons, animals, and ammunition
• Staff: movements, allowances, casualties, and illnesses
• Information obtained from prisoners of war
• Communication systems (especially telegraph lines) and procedures
• Intelligence on Ottoman and German troops at: Shiraz; Umm-al-Hannah; Shaikh Sa’ad [Shaykh Sa'd]; as well as intended attacks on Bushire [Bushehr] and Basrah [Basra]
• Distributions of the Turkish [Ottoman] Forces on 1 February (f 16) and in Mesopotamia (ff 158-159)
• Operations in the Caucasus and in north-west Persia [Iran]
• Updates on progress at the Tigris line, especially at Kut [Al-Kut]
• Updates on progress at the Euphrates line, especially at Nasiriyah and Butaniyah
• Comments on the status of relations with numerous tribes throughout Mesopotamia, Persia and Arabia
• Decision for War Office to take control of operations in Mesopotamia (ff 121-122).

The volume also includes:

• Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia on: 31 January (ff 20-21); 7 February (ff 91-92); and 14 February (ff 172-174)
• Distributions of Force D: on 6 February (ff 70-72); on 30 January (ff 77-79); and above Qurnah [Al-Qurnah] (ff 80-82 and ff 176-178)
• Composition of Force D (ff 85-88)
• ‘Statement showing the strength of reinforcements for Basrah which embarked at Bombay [Mumbai] and Karachi’ (ff 124-136).