IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3270

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 1917. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: letters, memoranda, and telegrams containing instructions and reports.

An index to the contents of this volume can be found at folios 3-10 and a summary of the contents can be found at folio 11. The volume mostly concerns:

• Re-organisation and proposed withdrawals of certain units and divisions
• Turkish [Ottoman] forces: movements and status on the Tigris and Euphrates lines; new batteries; information from deserters and prisoners; plans for the Suez Canal; commanders; activities in Persia [Iran]; and distribution for the week ending 13 February (ff 151-160)
• Discussions about the Turkish Mission to Kerbela [Karbala] to bring about a Shia-Sunni reconciliation
• Discussions of logistics for forming two new sections of Machine Gun squadrons from the Cavalry Regiments
• Arrangements and difficulties with the transfer of supplies and troops between Mesopotamia, Egypt, and India
• Demands for additional reinforcements and personnel
• Royal Flying Corps reports
• Operations around the river Hai [Nahr al Gharraf]
• Supplies for Force D, including: ammunition, weapons, rations, and animals
• Discussions about the selection of journalists for a press tour of Mesopotamia
• Matters relating to railways construction
• Matters relating to dredging activities in Mesopotamia
• Intelligence provided by the Caucasus Military Agency
• Duties of the newly created position of Director, Inland Water Transport, and duties of Director, Port Administration and Conservancy
• Death of the Sheikh of Koweit [Shaikh of Kuwait] and appointment of his brother
• Lists of sick and wounded soldiers
• Loan made to the Sheikh of Muhammareh [Shaikh of Khorramshahr] by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company
• Construction and transport of rivercraft
• Estimations of casualties on both sides since the beginning of operations on 13 December 1916
• Details of tonnage [amounts of cargo] transported on railways and rivers
• Staff appointments
• Plans to raise the Bakhtiari [Bakhtiyārī, tribe] levies
• Proposals to build a bridge on the Euphrates near Nasiriyeh [Nasiriyah] (relevant maps can be found at IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3270, f 102 and IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3270, f 103)
• Intelligence from Russian staff in Persia.

The volume also contains:

• Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of: lines of communication units; general organisation; units captured at Kut-al-Amarah [Al-Kut]; and names of General Officers and Brigade Commanders (ff 12-30)
• Diary of information from 27 January (ff 112-119), covering: climate and floods; the history of the Force D Engineer Field Park [military unit in charge of engineering depot] between May and November 1915; aviation; inland water transport; Egyptian Labour Corps; prisoners of war; and photographs
• Detailed ration strength on 14 January (ff 122-124) and 21 January (ff 164-169)
• Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia on 11 February (ff 131-133)
• Distribution of troops on 21 January (ff 142-146).

Whilst the volume contains copies of earlier material dating from December 1916 onwards, the bulk of the material dates from February 1917.