IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3252

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

A summary of the contents of this volume can be found at folios 8-10. The volume mostly relates to:

• Negotiations with Khalil Pasha [Halil (Kut) Pāshā, also rendered in the volume as Khalil Bey or Khalil], following the surrender of Kut [Al-Kut], for the return of the sick and wounded from the Kut Garrison in exchange for Turkish [Ottoman] prisoners
• Details of the return of the sick and wounded from Kut
• Updates from the Tigris and Euphrates lines
• Reinforcements for Force D
• Supplies and equipment for Force D
• The provision of river craft, aircraft, and hospital ships for Force D
• Plans for the construction of the railway from Basrah [Basra] to Nasiriyah
• Intelligence concerning Turkish forces
• The operations of Russian forces.

The volume also includes:

• The distribution of Force D (ff 3-7, f 97, ff 134-137)
• The strengths of units in Force D (ff 71-72, ff 149-151, ff 171-172)
• ‘Memorandum on three months’ work in Mesopotamia’ by Colonel Sir George Buchanan, Director-General of Port Administration and River Conservancy, with enclosures containing copies of memoranda and correspondence (ff 17-57)
• Sick returns for 8 April (f 79) and 15 April (ff 157-158)
• Statement showing provision of river craft for Force D (ff 119-123).

The vast majority of material in the volume dates from May 1916, but there is also a small amount of material which dates from January to April 1916.