Abstract: 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 March 1918. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: letters, telegrams, notes, reports, tables, and memoranda.An index to the contents of this volume and a summary of the contents can be found at IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3295. The volume concerns:Appreciations [reports] and intelligence summaries from the Directorate of Military Operations dated 17 March 1918 (ff 43-45), 26 March 1918 (ff 174-176), 31 March 1918 (ff 232-233)Supplies, particularly of pig iron, timber, tinplate, and baconReports from the Royal Flying Corps of machines in service and pilots availableInformation concerning Dunsterforce, including composition levies for the force, and providing wireless stationsPlan for the local harvestMovement of ships and loads transportedThe formation of three independent sunjaks [sanjaks]Formation of a new South Persian Rifles brigadeSpheres of responsibility for branches of the intelligence systemDispatch of the 3rd Division to EgyptJangali arrests of Noel (possibly Edward William Charles Noel); Monsieur Hunin, Belgian Customs Officer at Engali [Bandar-e Anzali]; and the Vice Consul at Kasht [Rasht]The escape of Hunin and another Belgian official from Jangali custodyDispatch of one squadron of British cavalry to HamadanThe murder of Captain W H Marshall, the disturbances at Najaf, and the blockade of the townRequests for asylum by Russian officersReports on the Bakhtiaris [Bakhtiyārī tribe]Proposed despatch of British troops into Persia [Iran]Attack on Khan Baghdadi [Al Baghdadi] and Turkish [Ottoman] retreatFears of a Jangali coup at Kasvin [Qazvin] and Tehran.The following tables appear:Ration strength of Force D on 9 February 1918 (ff 8-15), 23 February 1918 (ff 51-55), 26 January 1918 (ff 106-112), 16 February 1918 (ff 198-205)Strength return and summaries of Force D on 16 February 1918 (ff 15-18), 19 January 1918 (ff 18-31), 26 January 1918 (ff 80-93)Distribution of the Turkish Army on 19 March 1918 (ff 73-75), 26 March 1918 (ff 172-174)State of supplies on 16 March 1918 (ff 100-101, 141-143), 23 March 1918 (ff 215-216, 221-222)Weekly return of the sick and wounded on 9 March 1918 (ff 154-155)Statement of animal transport and vehicles on 1 February 1918 (ff 162-171)Strength of the 3rd Division (ff 206-207).Physical description: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 235; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 3-233; these numbers are printed and are located in the bottom centre of the recto side of each folio.Dimensions: 21 x 33cm
Abstract: 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 April 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 3-18 and a synopsis can be found at folio 19. The volume mostly relates to:Reinforcements and labour requirements of Force DTemporary staff appointments and promotionsSupplies for Force D, including: rations, clothing, vans, ammunition, weapons, fodder, fuel, and animalsTurkish [Ottoman] forces: intelligence; movements of commanders; and distribution for week ending 2 April (ff 58-59) and week ending 9 April (ff 157-158)Prisoners of warLists of sick and wounded soldiersDetails about the Dunsterforce, including: updates; movements; intelligence sharing; communications with Russian commanders; and the financial relationship with Force DUpdates from the Euphrates front, including discussion of how troops along the Euphrates should be organisedDiscussions about a proposed occupation of Ispahan [Isfahan]Discussions about supplying guns to the Ilkhani [I̅l-Khānī] to help him ‘deal with’ the Kuhgilu [Kūh Gīlū] tribe, and wider discussions about the Bakhtiaris [Bakhtiyārī, tribe]Details of tonnage [amounts of cargo] transported on ships and issues with shipping of goodsChanges in organisation and formation of different units, most notably the: Cavalry Division; Supply and Transport Directorate; and Directorate of LabourProposals for work on the agriculture and irrigation systems in Mesopotamia, including resources required and expected expenditureActivity at HamadanReorganisation and withdrawal of personnel to meet demands elsewhereRailway and port traffic reportsUpdates from KermanshahRailways construction progress, as well as materials required and transported for railway constructionOperations in Najaf, including intelligence concerning German troopsComplaints by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf regarding a shortage of political officersFinancial matters relating to Force D and occupied territoriesSharing of intelligence between the Foreign Office, the Government of India, and Force DAviation reportsBrief update from Major-General Henry Freeland, Chairman of the Mesopotamian Transport CommissionDifficulties maintaining a force in Persia [Iran] due to transport limitations.The volume also contains:Distribution of Force D, including details of the lines of communication administration, as well as names of General Officers and Brigade Commanders (ff 20-36)Statement showing strength of the different contingents serving with Force D as of 2 March (ff 65-67), 9 March (ff 207-209), 2 February (ff 231-243), and 9 February (ff 244-256)Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia and Persia on 7 April (ff 117-118) and 15 April (ff 261-262)Distribution of troops on 9 March (ff 123-131) and 16 March (ff 132-141)Note by Empire Cotton Growing Committee on cotton cultivation in Mesopotamia (ff 179-180).Whilst the volume contains copies of earlier material dating from January 1918 onwards, the bulk of the material dates from April 1918.Physical description: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 264; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel between ff 3-262; these numbers are printed and are located in the bottom centre of the recto side of each folio.Dimensions: 21 x 33cm
Abstract: This volume contains correspondence, reports, telegrams and minutes regarding the protection of Shiah Holy Places and Persian subjects by the British Government after the occupation of Mesopotamia during the First World War. Related matters of discussion include the following: the situation in different cities in Mesopotamia; tours undertaken by visiting shaikhs around different towns in Mesopotamia, in order to observe the situation; relations between Russia and Great Britain, Russia and Persia, and Germany and Russia during the war; details relating to the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907; bombardment and disturbances in Najaf during 1918 and their resulting consequences (the riots culminated in the death of Captain William Macandrew Marshall).The correspondence in the volume is internal correspondence between British officials and the Persian Government. The principal correspondents are: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox; Secretary for State for India; Under-Secretary of State for India; Viceroy of India; Foreign Office; Privy Council Office; HM Consul-General to Persia; Civil Commissioner, Baghdad; Indian Expeditionary Force D, Chief Political Officer; Political Resident in Persian Gulf; Political Officer, Najaf; Persian Consul-General, Baghdad and India. Other items of note include a memorandum and report on Baghdad (ff 155-157), a draft of a letter from King George V of Great Britain to the Ulema of Iraq (f 165 and f 170), and reports by Gertrude Bell regarding the situation in the Najaf-Karbala district (ff 166-122).The volume includes a divider, which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the front of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 199; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
Abstract: This volume is a printed account of the official winter tour of 1886-87 in Babylonia, Assyria and Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) undertaken by Colonel William Tweedie, Bengal Staff Corps, Political Resident in Turkish Arabia (Iraq) and His Majesty's Consul-General at Baghdad. The purpose of the tour was to visit the Vice-Consulate of Mosul in Upper Mesopotamia and the Consulate at Bussorah [Basra], as well as Indian subjects residing in Karbala and Najaf, the two centres of Shiah pilgrimage. In addition, the author identifies it as an opportunity to see the inhabitants and features of Turkish Arabia more generally (folio 7). The report was published by the British Residency Baghdad on 24 May 1887, and printed by the Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, India in 1888. This copy was presented by the author to George Curzon (see inscription on folio 2v).The volume contains a table of contents (folio 5), list of maps and illustations (folio 6), and note on Arabic and Persian transliteration and names (folio 6v). The volume includes the following sections: 'Section I.- Marching in Turkish Arabia'; 'Section II.- Transport'; 'Section III.- Equipment'; 'Section IV.- From Tigris to Euphrates'; 'Section V.- Across Al Jazîrah [al-Jazīrah]'; 'Section VI.- Localised Bedouins east of Tigris'; 'Section VII.- Through Al Hawîja [al-Ḥawījah] to Kirkûk'; 'Section VIII.- Kirkûk to Sulimânîa [Sulaymānīyah]'; 'Section IX.- Sulimânîa to Mosul'; 'Section X.- Mosul to Sinjâr Hills', including details about the Yazîdîs [Yazidis]; 'Section XI.- Sinjâr to Der on the Euphrates'; 'Section XII.- Right bank of Euphrates, from Der to Rumâdi [al-Ramādī]'; 'Section XIII.- Southern Shâmîya'; 'Section XIV.- Karbalâ and Najaf'; and 'Section XV.- Baghdad to Bussorah and back, by steamer', including details on Arab coast of the Persian Gulf and Muhamarah.Illustrations include: 'Resident's Camp, Turkish Arabia, 1886' (folio 7v); 'Mule gear equally for draught and pack' (folio 8); 'Arab pâlân [
pālān, pack-saddle]' and 'Persian pâlân' (folio 9); 'Arab Camel-rider: and Saddle' and 'Horseshoe of Arabs, Persians, Turkomans, Afghans, and others' (folio 9v); 'Picqueting chain and peg (forefront)' and 'Arab and Persian paiwand' (folio 10); 'Arab rashma [
rashmah]: including (1) rashma proper, or (iron) nose-band: (2) idhâr [
‘idhār]
,or headstall: and (3) rasn [
rasan] (lit. rope) or rein' (folio 10v); and 'Flying camp: Sinjâr to Karbala (all three tents Baghdad-made)' (folio 24).Maps include: 'Map Accompanying Account by Resident, Turkish Arabia, of his Winter-Tour, 1886-87' (folio 4v); 'Sketch of Map of Route from Hît to Tikrît crossing lower portion of Al-Jazîra' (folio 14v); 'Mosul Pashâlik, 1887' and 'Plan of Mosul Town (After Capt. F. Jones), 1852' (folio 18v); and 'Straightest route (across Syrian desert) for camel riders only, between Baghdad and Mediterranean, as followed by late (Consular) dromedary post' (folio 27).Physical description: Condition: Folio 34 includes annotation (likely by Curzon) and a section of text has been cut out and removed.Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.