IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3251

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 16 and 30 April 1916. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include letters, memoranda, telegrams, and intelligence summaries and appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations.

A summary of the contents can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3250. The volume mostly relates to:

• Efforts for the relief of Kut [Al-Kut], negotiations with the Turkish [Ottoman] forces, and the surrender of the British garrison
• Updates from the Tigris and Euphrates lines
• Supplies and equipment for Force D, including ammunition and river craft
• Medical arrangements in Mesopotamia, including the need for more staff, equipment, and stores, and plans for evacuating the sick and wounded. It includes weekly sick returns for 25 March (f 32) and 1 April (ff 146-147)
• Reinforcements for Force D
• Plans for the construction of a railway between Basrah [Basra] and Nasiriyah
• The movements and dispositions of Turkish and German troops
• The operations of Russian forces.

The following tables appear:

• Composition of Force D (ff 38-42)
• The strengths of units in Force D (ff 76-87, ff 174-177)
• Statement showing provision of river craft for Force D (ff 92-96)
• Statement showing the reinforcements that embarked for Basrah (ff 188-199).

The vast majority of material in the volume dates from 16-30 April 1916, but there is also a small amount of material which dates from February, March and 1-15 April 1916.