IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3283

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

An index to the contents of this volume and a summary of the contents can be found at IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3282. The volume concerns:

• Appreciations [reports] and intelligence summaries from the Directorate of Military Operations dated 19 August 1917 (ff 53-55), 26 August 1917 (ff 162-164)
• One diary of information dated 28 July 1917 (ff 84-86) covering climate, floods, and the Christians of Mesopotamia
• Reinforcements for Force D
• Movements of Turkish [Ottoman], Russian, and German troops and German officials, including General Erich von Falkenhayn
• Reports from the Royal Flying Corps of machines in service and pilots available
• Provision and movements of river craft
• Progress of railway constructions and future railway policy, including Turkish [Ottoman] railway construction
• The composition of the committee of enquiry into port congestion at Basrah [Basra]
• A scheme to stimulate cultivation by clearing the canals of the Euphrates area and providing advances of seed and cash
• Investigation of postal arrangements
• A fodder production scheme using local labourers
• A discussion of whether the French Consul at Basrah, Monsieur Roux, should be permitted to use a cipher and locked bag, and proceed beyond Basrah
• Trade between Basrah and Baghdad
• The appointment of Sir Percy Cox as Civil Commissioner, Mesopotamia
• A proposal to terminate the agreement between HM Government and the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association employing Edmund Candler as Official Eyewitness
• A new Indian General Hospital
• The appointment of R G Garrow as recognised irrigation expert for Mesopotamia.
• Proposed co-operation with the Russians.

The following tables appear:

• Distribution of troops 29 July 1917 Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force (ff 8-12)
• Weekly return sick and wounded w/e 28 July 1917 (ff 23-24), 4 August 1917 (f 72)
• Ration strength of MEF 14 July 1917 (ff 26-29), 21 July 1917 (ff 102-105), 4 August (ff 136-138), 28 July 1917 (ff 181-184), 11 August (ff 199-201)
• State of supplies 18 August 1917 (ff 69-71 and 88-89), 25 August (ff 188-190 and 210-211)
• Distribution of the Turkish Army 21 August 1917 (ff 75-77), 28 August 1917 (ff 194-195)
• Strength return for IEF D 30 June 1917 (ff 118-135)
• Monthly distribution report of motor vehicles 1 July 1917 (ff 202-207).

The file also contains a ‘Report on the conservancy of the Shatt-el-Arab [Shatt al-Arab] River from the Port of Basra to the Persian Gulf’ by Brigadier-General George Buchanan, Director of Port Administration and Conservancy, dated 22 March 1917, including nine maps of the Shatt-el-Arab River, the port of Basra, Mohammerah [Khorramshahr] bar, and the channel from Fao [Al-Faw] down the river.