IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3294

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 15 and 28 February 1918. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, tables, memoranda, and letters.

An index to the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3293. The volume concerns:

• Military personnel issues, including: recruitment, reinforcements, and promotions
• The supply of food, construction materials, oil, ordnance, and other items to Force D
• Shortages of copper, brass, and iron in India
• River and road traffic in Mesopotamia
• Evacuation of sick and wounded Force D soldiers
• Attitudes of the residents of Basrah [Basra] to British occupation
• Approval of a scheme to dredge Lake Hammar
• British aerial bombardment of enemy camps near Hit
• Arrest of Sulaiman Mirza [Sulaymān Mīrzā] by British troops near Khanikin [Khanaqin]
• Movement of Turkish [Ottoman], Austrian, and German military units
• Conversion of Mesopotamian river fleet and railways to use oil instead of coal
• Proposal for Force D to adopt a ‘purely defensive role’ in Mesopotamia and support the British offensive in Palestine
• Construction of telegraph lines and railways in Mesopotamia and Persia [Iran]
• Location and number of prisoners of war captured by the Russian Army
• Matters relating to Dunsterforce, including: departure of officers, soldiers, and motor vehicles from Baghdad to join Dunsterforce; retreat of Dunsterforce to Hamadan due to Bolshevik and Jangali [Jangalī] opposition; and proposals for British military action against the Jangali forces in Gilan
• Proposed occupation of key roads in Persia by British troops
• Negotiations between British representatives and the Persian Government
• Efforts by the British to ‘secure co-operation between Kurds and Armenians’ in Persia
• Reports of ‘disorders and small massacres’ between Muslims and Armenians in the Caucasus, and Armenian concerns about imminent ‘massacres on a large scale’.

The volume also contains:

• Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of: lines of communication; and general organisation (ff 171-176)
• Strength return of Force D on 1 December 1917 (ff 136-142), 8 December 1917 (ff 145-151), 15 December 1917 (ff 206-213), 5 January 1918 (ff 6-8), 12 January 1918 (ff 16-18), 19 January 1918 (ff 48-50), 26 January 1918 (ff 155-156)
• Report of number of pilots, balloon officers, and aircraft available for service in Mesopotamia, 14 February 1918 (f 11), 21 February 1918 (f 97)
• Returns of sick and wounded dated 2 February 1918 (ff 19-20), 9 February 1918 (ff 83-84)
• State of supplies on 9 February 1918 (ff 20-22), 16 February 1918 (ff 76-77, 118-119), 23 February 1918 (ff 195-196)
• Ration strength of Force D, 12 January 1917 (ff 30-36), 19 January 1918 (ff 157-160), 26 January 1918 (ff 36-39), 2 February 1918 (ff 152-154)
• Distribution of the Turkish Army dated 19 February 1918 (ff 66-68), 26 February 1918 (ff 185-187)
• Distribution Report showing number and condition of motor vehicles with Force D, January 1 1918 (ff 108-117).