IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3306

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 1918. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include letters, memoranda, telegrams, and appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations.

An index to the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3305. The volume concerns:

The situation in Mesopotamia, including:

• The administration of Basrah [Basra], Baghdad, and the other areas occupied by Force D, including plans for various development projects, and concerns about high levels of expenditure
• Reinforcements and new personnel for Force D, including the organisation and grading of new recruits, and the formation of new divisions
• Railway construction in Mesopotamia and Persia [Iran]
• Equipment and supplies for Force D
• The resources and further requirements of the Inland Water Transport
• Discussions about providing munitions to Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān Āl Sa’ūd, also rendered as Bin Saud in the volume]
• The proceedings of a Court of Enquiry reporting on the state of motor vehicles arriving in Mesopotamia, and the shortages and deficiencies in tools and kits (ff 84-88). It includes a ‘statement of particulars of unfitness for use’ (ff 89-107)
• The payment of Dr John Fisk during his work attending on Turkish [Ottoman] prisoners of war. It includes copies and extracts of correspondence, agreements, and despatches from 15 October 1914, 25 August and 9 October 1916, 5 July 1917, and 18 May 1918 (ff 205-207).

The situation in Persia and the Caucasus, including:

• The progress of Dunsterforce and of General Wilfrid Malleson’s mission, including plans for controlling shipping in the Caspian Sea
• The situation in Tabriz
• Intelligence concerning Turkish [Ottoman] and German activities
• The situation of the Trans-Caspian Government, including the evacuation of Tejend [Tejen] and Merv [Mary], Malleson’s efforts to provide troops and material for support, and the organisation of the defence of Krasnovodsk [Türkmenbaşy]
• The situation in Baku
• British operations in Persia, including discussions with the Bakhtiari [Bakhtiyārī] tribe and the Jangalis [Jangalī Movement]
• The movements of Jelu [Assyrians from Jilu] refugees, and discussions regarding making provision for them, and the possibility of organising some as combatants
• The situation of the Armenian population
• The situation at Tiflis [Tbilisi].

The volume also includes:

• Statements of shipping tonnage discharged (ff 36-37, 63, f 112, f 122, f 183, f 203, ff 247-248, ff 269-270, ff 276-277, f 288, f 300, f 318, f 381, f 385, f 417)
• Weekly returns of the sick and wounded for 6 July (f 35), 20 July (ff 267-268), 27 July (ff 273-274), 3 August (ff 302-303), and 10 August (ff 415-416)
• Aviation reports for 15 August (f 39), 22 August (f 264), and 29 August (f 418)
• Strength returns for Force D for 20 July (ff 47-49), 27 July (ff 265-267), and 3 August (ff 363-365)
• Consolidated strength return for Force D for 29 June 1918 (ff 155-176)
• Statements showing the strengths of the contingents with Force D on 6 July (ff 221-233) and 13 July (ff 365-378)
• The distribution of troops for Force D on 27 July 1918 (ff 213-220), 3 August (ff 388-398), and 10 August (ff 398-407)
• The ration strength of Force D on 13 July 1918 (ff 79-84), 20 July (ff 349-354), 27 July (ff 108-111), 3 August (ff 332-336), and 10 August (ff 411-414)
• The distribution of the Turkish Army on 20 August (ff 185-193) and 27 August (ff 319-329)
• Ammunition and gun returns for 26 July (f 49) and 2 August (ff 345-346)
• Wastage return of animals for June (ff 51-54)
• Strength of animals with Force D on 28 July (f 198)
• Statement of animal transport in Tigris and Euphrates front for June (ff 17-22)
• Traffic return for 15 August (f 197)
• Monthly distribution report for motor vehicles with Force D on 1 July (ff 132-153).

The vast majority of material in the volume dates from August 1918, but there is also a small amount of material which dates from June and July 1918.