IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3315

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 1919. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, memoranda, tables, and letters, containing instructions and reports.

An index to the contents of this volume can be found at folios 3-21. The volume mostly relates to:

• Personnel strengths across multiple departments and units
• Matters relating to demobilisation, including: release of officers; repatriation of troops; administrative procedures; abolition of units and bureaucratic procedures; arrangements for interim personnel; comments on demobilisation orders; potential relaxation of censorship; and the sale of surplus animals, vehicles and materials
• Arrangements for the civil administration of Mesopotamia, including transfer of departments and personnel from military to civil control
• Matters relating to oil fields
• Procedure for recommending British officers of the Indian Army for the Staff College
• Proposals to increase the Agricultural Directorate
• Details regarding road and railways construction in Mesopotamia and Persia [Iran]
• Details of traffic and tonnage [amounts of cargo] transported on railways and ships
• Status of rations and supplies
• Matters relating to Persia, especially financial issues and levies
• Reports from Baku and Krasnovodsk [Turkmenbasy], especially regarding updates on the Georgians, Armenians and Azerbaijan
• Minor discussions about events and policy in the Caspian and Caucasus regions, as well as southern Kurdistan
• Arrangements for the post-war garrison in Mesopotamia, particularly the ratios of British and Indian troops
• Lists of sick and wounded soldiers
• Intelligence regarding German commanders and political officers
• Matters relating to staff, including: creation of posts; leave; and numbers required
• Repatriation of non-Turkish [non-Ottoman] prisoners of war and of Assyrians and Armenians
• Matters relating to the exchange and transport of personnel and supplies between Mesopotamia, India, Egypt, and Persia
• Minor details of a Court of Enquiry held at Kasvin [Qazvin] into the mismanagement of government funds
• Intelligence regarding Turkish demobilisation
• Port Directorate requirements.

The volume also contains:

• Detailed statements of ration strength of Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force on 9 November 1918 (ff 52-59) and 23 November 1918 (ff 77-84)
• Statement of Animal Transport [types of animals and the vehicles they convey] for Force D for October 1918 (ff 60-65)
• Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia, Persia, and Turkestan [historic region in Central Asia] on 6 January (ff 90-91) and on 13 January (ff 184-185)
• Statements showing strength of the different contingents serving with Force D as of 2 November 1918 (ff 96-108) and 23 November 1918 (ff 131-133)
• Distribution of Force D on 7 December 1918 (ff 109-120), including corrections for the distribution as of 7 December and 14 December 1918
• Statement showing strength of British and Indian Personnel in Force D on 7 December 1918 (f 197)
• Field return for Force D showing number of personnel, animals, weapons, and transport vehicles on 2 November 1918 (ff 206-228).

Whilst the volume contains copies of earlier material dating from September 1918 onwards, the bulk of the material dates from January 1919.