IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3291

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 January 1918. 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 3-14 and a synopsis can be found at folio 15. The volume mostly relates to:

• Reinforcements and labour requirements of Force D
• Staff recruitments, appointments, and defined responsibilities of certain positions
• Supplies for Force D, including: rations, weapons, ammunition, blankets, animals, and vans
• Lists of sick and wounded soldiers
• Information about prisoners of war
• Turkish [Ottoman] forces: information about deserters; information supplied by deserters; and distributions for week ending 1 January (f 35), weekend ending 8 January (ff 129-131), and week ending 15 January (ff 224-225)
• Details of tonnage [amounts of cargo] transported on ships
• Petrol supply at Abadan
• Railway and port traffic reports
• Information regarding the Russian-Turkish [Ottoman] armistice
• Affairs in Persia [Iran], including: status of Russian troops at Kermanshah; British goal of preventing Turkish and German legations reaching Teheran [Tehran]; desire of Anglo-Persian Oil Company to acquire land on Abadan island; and discussions regarding the proposed despatch of British detachment into north-western Persia
• Status and remit of the Transportation Commission to Mesopotamia, headed by General Henry Francis Edward Freeland, and its relationship to the War Office Mission
• Railways construction progress, as well as materials required and transported for railway construction
• German forces: status in Palestine; intelligence on reconnaissance airplanes; and information about commanders
• Proposals regarding work on surveys and hydraulic systems in Mesopotamia
• Demand for personnel across multiple departments
• Discussions about sharing intelligence and personnel with the Dunsterville Mission
• Proposed propaganda approach for the Caucasus region
• Difficulties with the transportation of supplies
• Status of Russian troops in the Caucasus region
• Status of British and Russian forces near the Dialha [Diyala, river]
• Shortages of tin metal.

The volume also contains:

• Distribution of Force D, including details of: Tigris and Euphrates defences and Lines of Communication units; and names of General Officers and Brigade Commanders (ff 16-29)
• Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia and Persia on 6 January (ff 102-103) and 13 January (ff 187-188)
• Distribution of troops on 9 December 1917 (ff 149-154)
• Statement showing strength of the different contingents serving with Force D as of 10 November 1917 (ff 205-217).

Whilst the volume contains copies of earlier material dating from November 1917 onwards, the bulk of the material dates from January 1918.