IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3284

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 30 September 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 2 September 1917 (ff 59-61); 9 September (ff 159-161); 16 September (ff 253-254); 23 September (ff 339-341); 30 September (ff 494-496)
• Two diaries of information dated 18 August (ff 181-182) and 15 August (ff 219-220) covering climate and floods
• Reinforcements for Force D, including supplies of medical officers, horses, mules, Chinese artisans, and remounts
• Movements of Turkish [Ottoman] and Russian troops
• Reports from the Royal Flying Corps of machines in service and pilots available
• Staff appointments for Force D, particularly in command of heavy artillery
• Railway construction and management
• Surrender of a Turkish detachment at Diwaniyah [Ad Diwaniyah]
• The administration of Mesopotamia
• Views on a combined British and Russian offensive
• A proposed local cultivation scheme
• The removal of certain vessels from the list of hospital ships
• Trade between India and Baghdad
• The possibility of finding a new ‘Eyewitness’ reporter to replace Edmund Candler
• A proposed re-organisation of the Directorate of Port Administration and Conservancy
• A discussion of timing shipping from India to avoid congestion
• The search for a suitable officer to act as irrigation adviser for Sir Percy Cox
• Changes in the staffing of the Turkish army
• The unsuitability of the Chinese artisans and their return to India
• The provision of Ford vans in place of mules
• Information concerning General Erich von Falkenhayn’s army.

The following tables appear:

• Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of: lines of communication; general organisation; and names of General Officers and Brigade Commanders (ff 19-30)
• Enemy material captured from 1 April to 30 June 1917 (ff 43-48)
• Weekly return of the sick and wounded dated 11 August 1917 (ff 68-69), 18 August (ff 77-78), 25 August (ff 132-133), 8 September (ff 412-413), 1 September (ff 418-419)
• Ration strength of Force D on 4 August 1917 (ff 81-87), 18 August (ff 116-120), 25 August (ff 211-215, 437-443), 11 August (ff 234-241), 1 September (ff 288-291, 459-465), 18 September (ff 376-383), 8 September (ff 419-423)
• State of supplies on 1 September 1917 (ff 87-89, 109-110), 8 September (ff 186-189), 15 September (ff 270-272), 22 September (ff 362-365), 2 September (ff 409-410)
• Distribution of the Turkish army on 4 September 1917 (ff 94-96), 11 September (ff 191-194, 202-204), 18 September (ff 278-281), 25 September (ff 367-370)
• Distribution of Force D on 19 August 1917 (ff 101-108)
• Monthly distribution report of motor vehicles 1 August 1917 (ff 399-405)
• Strength return for Force D 28 July 1917 (ff 466-485).