IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3274

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

• Reinforcements and labour requirements of Force D
• Supplies for Force D, including: land transport, railway construction materials, rations, animals, river craft, weapons, and ammunition
• Arrangements for staff leave
• Lists of sick and wounded soldiers
• Updates from the Tigris line, especially at Samarra and Deltawa [Khalis]
• Updates from the Khanikin [Khanaqin] front, especially at Kasr-i-Shirin [Qasr-e Shirin, also rendered in text as Qasr-i-Shirin], Kizil Robat [Qizil Rabat], and Kifri
• Updates from the Euphrates line
• Updates from the Russo-Turkish fronts in the Caucasus region and in Persia [Iran]
• Turkish [Ottoman] forces: locations; movements; weapons; information from deserters; details of commanders; and distributions for week ending 3 April (f 59) and week ending 10 April (ff 146-147)
• Russian operations at Mosul and Kasr-i-Shirin
• Discussions about co-operating with Russian forces on certain operations and across the Tigris and Euphrates lines
• Occupation of Deli Abbas [Al Mansuriyah]
• Discussions about the administration of Baghdad, including the availability of food and forage and information on the population’s attitudes towards the British
• Progress of railways construction
• Intelligence from the Caucasus Military Agency and from the General Officer Commanding, Egypt
• Discussions about the future administration and political control of Mesopotamia and Arabia, including comments from the Committee of the War Cabinet [also known as the Mesopotamian Administration Committee] and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf
• Discussions about Force D’s requirements and the benefits of continued reinforcement of Force D’s position with regards to the protection of India
• Visit to Mesopotamia of press representatives from India and potential sensitivities around this
• Information and reports from the Director, Inland Water Transport
• Use of telephone and telegraph lines.

The volume also contains:

• Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of: lines of communication; general organisation; units captured at Kut-al-Amarah [Al-Kut]; and names of General Officers and Brigade Commanders (ff 12-31)
• Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia on 1 April (ff 39-41), on 8 April (ff 117-119), and 15 April (ff 222-224)
• Table showing current strength of troops in the field on 3 February (ff 88-102)
• ‘Report on lines of communication, Sheikh Saad [Shaykh Sa‘d] to Basrah [Basra]’ by the Medical Advisory Committee (comprising members of the Royal Army Medical Corps), dated 16 December 1916, which reports generally on sanitation matters in the area noted in the title (ff 186-210).

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