IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3317

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

An index to the contents of this volume can be found at folios 1-9. The volume concerns:

• Military personnel issues, including: equipment; the transfer and retirement of officers; nominations for Staff College; granting of leave; and demobilisation of troops
• Supply of food, construction materials, and other items to Force D
• Reductions of planned supply shipments to Force D
• Proposal for a new kind of emergency ration for Indian troops
• Preparation for demobilisation of Force D, including: disposal of animals used by Force D; withdrawal orders for specific units; and disposal of surplus ammunition
• Provision of ships to carry troops from Mesopotamia to the United Kingdom
• Proposed expansion of the jurisdiction of the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf
• Proposed changes to the Army Chaplains’ Department
• Employment of ‘Imported’ labourers in Mesopotamia and the growth of ‘Considerable local prejudice’ against these workers
• The post-war occupation and government of Mesopotamia
• British assessments of Mesopotamian public opinion
• Construction of railways in Mesopotamia
• Vaccination of animals shipped to Mesopotamia
• Arrest of thirteen Turkish [Ottoman] ‘ringleaders in recent political intrigue’ by British forces in Baghdad
• Turkish military presence at Joziret Ibn Omar [Cizre]
• British use of petroleum wells at Zakhd [Zakho]
• British arming of ‘Turcomans’ to fight the Bolsheviks on behalf of the Transcaspian Government
• Intelligence suggesting the presence of the former Ottoman leader Enver Pasha [Enver Pāshā] in the Caucasus
• British military actions in Persia [Iran] including: occupation of key roads; maintenance of roads; and discussion of a ‘most virulent form of malaria’ affecting British troops in North Persia.

The volume also contains:

• Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of lines of communication, general organisation, and corrections (ff 63-73)
• State of supplies on 27 January 1919 (f 25), 31 January 1919 (ff 162-163), 7 February 1919 (f 168)
• Distribution Report showing number and condition of motor vehicles with Force D, 1 December 1918 (ff 27-42)
• Ration strength of Force D on 21 December 1918 (ff 124-130), 28 December 1918 (ff 130-136), 4 January 1919 (ff 182-187), 11 January 1919 (ff 75-78), 18 January 1918 (ff 149-152)
• Strength return of Force D on 23 November 1918 (ff 79-90)
• Weekly return of sick and wounded dated 4 January 1919 (ff 99-100), 11 January (ff 188-189)
• Ammunition return of Force D on 2 January 1918 (ff 110-111)
• Programme for February despatch of British troops from Mesopotamia and India (f 112).