IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3275

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

The volume mostly relates to:

• Supplies for Force D, including: weapons, ammunition, road transport, and rations
• Plans for moving reinforcements between Mesopotamia, Egypt, and France
• Construction and transportation of rivercraft from India to Mesopotamia
• Proposals to store ammunition locally rather than in India
• Details of tonnage [amounts of cargo] transported on railways and rivers
• Matters relating to railways construction
• Turkish [Ottoman] troops: movements; status at various lines in Mesopotamia; weapon supplies; plans to retire to Mosul; and extracts of distribution for week ending 17 April (ff 30-31) and week ending 24 April (ff 96-97)
• Discussions about Force D providing food and grain to the Russian forces under General Pavloff [Pavlov]
• Cordial attitude of the Mujtahids of Kerbela [Karbala] and Nejef [An-Najaf] towards touring British political officers
• Issues relating to staffing
• Intelligence from the Caucasus Military Agency
• Intelligence from the General Officer Commanding, Egypt, especially in relation to the Turkish 18th Army Corps
• Updates from the Tigris line, especially around Samarra [Samarra’] and Istabulat [Istablat], including a resumé of operations on the Tigris since the arrival of the Russians
• Status of the Russian force at Kasr-i-Shirin [Qasr-e Shirin]
• Alleged misconduct of the 3rd Brahmans and subsequent military court proceedings
• Details of the present telegraph system
• Communications with the Russian force in Persia [Iran]
• Information on ships in various Indian ports and at Basrah [Basra]
• Updates on action at Hit
• Transport required to evacuate sick and wounded soldiers
• Discussions about the Press representatives' tour of Mesopotamia and where they should be permitted to visit
• Royal Flying Corps reports
• Discussions about consolidating British influence in the Baghdad Vilayet [province under the Ottoman Empire]
• Impact of Russian inactivity and unavailability on British operations
• Government of India's response to the War Cabinet's decision regarding future administration and control of Mesopotamia and Arabia.

The volume also contains:

• Distribution of troops on 24 March (ff 20-25)
• 'Detailed statement of ration strength' of Force D on 25 March (ff 58-61) and on 1 April (ff 121-123)
• Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia and Persia on 22 April (ff 74-75) and on 29 April (ff 131-133)
• Field return for Force D showing number of personnel, animals, weapons, and transport vehicles (ff 139-153).

A summary and index to the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3274.