IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3279

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

The volume mostly relates to:

• Reinforcements and labour requirements of Force D
• Supplies for Force D, including: rivercraft, equipment, animals, land transport, railway construction materials, weapons, rations, ammunition, locomotive engines, and timber
• Staff appointments and shortages
• Lists of sick and wounded soldiers
• Updates from the Tigris line
• Updates from the Euphrates line, especially at Felujah [Al Fallujah, also rendered in text as Falujah and Feluja]
• Turkish [Ottoman] forces: movements; reinforcement in Mesopotamia; and distribution for week ending 19 June (ff 59-60) and week ending 26 June (ff 132-134)
• Russian forces: movements; dispositions; operations at Kizil-Robat [Qizil Rabat], Kasr-i-Shirin [Qasr-e Shirin], and generally around the Dialha [Diyala, river] line
• Progress of railways construction
• Discussions about supporting Russian troops, especially at the Dialha line
• Intelligence from the Caucasus Military Agency
• Movements of German and Turkish military commanders
• Intelligence from General Officer Commanding, Egyptian Expeditionary Force
• Discussions about the need to reinforce Force D in anticipation of decreased Russian support
• Information on the Baghdad Railway project
• Discussions about potential support from numerous tribes in Mesopotamia and Persia [Iran], particularly from the Anizah [‘Anizah] tribe
• Postal system in Mesopotamia.

The volume also contains:

• Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia on 17 June (ff 20-21) and on 24 June (ff 98-100)
• Two diaries of information from 26 May (ff 10-17) and 2 June (ff 117-125) covering: climate and floods; inland water transport; aviation; medical affairs; signals and telegraphs; port administration and river conservancy; Army Chaplains Department; and local produce
• Table showing current strength of troops in the field on 28 April (ff 36-52)
• Distribution of Force D on 27 May (ff 72-76).

A summary and index to the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3278.

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