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 16 and 31 March 1916. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: telegrams, letters, tables, and memoranda containing instructions and reports.The volume mostly relates to:Reinforcements and supplies for Force D, including: weapons; ammunition; river craft; land vehicles; airplanes; animals; clothing; hospitals; chemicals; and tentsStaff movements, salaries, promotions and status (e.g. sick, wounded, discharged, dead)Prisoners of warSituation in Turkey, in particular the anti-German feeling and Russian advancesUpdates from the Tigris line, especially around Kut [Al-Kut] and Hannah [Umm al Hannah] and with particular attention paid to the impact of floodingUpdates from the Euphrates lineOperations by the Russians in the Caucasus regionDetails of Turkish [Ottoman] forces, including: proposals for negotiations; distributions (ff 65-66); changes in command; and movements of troopsSupply of weapons to Bin Sa’ud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān Āl Sa’ūd]Lines of communication and requests for more detailed intelligenceDiscussions about Sharif [Al-Ḥusayn bin ‘Alī al-Hāshimī, Sharīf of Mecca], including: his plans; requests he has made of Great Britain; whether his policies for Arabia and Syria should be adopted in MesopotamiaProposals for the formation of a Base Depot at Basrah [Basra]Articles published in England and in the Gulf.The volume also includes:Distributions of Force D: on 5 March (ff 10-12); 12 March (ff 101-104); 26 March (ff 149-152); as of 29 March (ff 185-191); at 19 March (ff 199-202)Appreciations [reports] by General Charles Townshend (ff 15-16) and General George Gorringe (f 22)Appreciations from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia on 20 March (ff 55-56) and 27 March (ff 147-149)Announcement by the Maharajah [Mahārājā] of Kolhapur in support of soldiers eating horse meat (f 161)‘Statement showing the strength of reinforcements and details for Basrah which embarked at Bombay [Mumbai] and Karachi’ (ff 211-225).The vast majority of material in the volume dates from March 1916, with the exception of quoted excerpts from a newspaper, dated 17 January 1916.A summary of the contents of this volume can be found at the start of IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3248.Physical description: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 227; 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 3-225; these numbers are printed and are located in the bottom centre of the recto side of each folio.Dimensions: 21 x 33cm
Abstract: This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 40 of 1856, dated 27 May 1856. The enclosures are dated 19 April-24 May 1856.The enclosures relate to affairs in Aden, Berbera, Juddah [Jeddah] and Mecca, as reported to the Government of Bombay by Brigadier William Marcus Coghlan, Political Resident in Aden, and Stephen Page, HM Acting Vice-Consul and Officiating Honourable Company’s Agent at Juddah. They specifically cover and include the following:The consent of ‘Sheik’ Shermarki [Ḥājjī Sharmārkī ‘Alī Ṣāliḥ, also spelled Shurmarkey in this item], the deposed Governor of Zailah [Saylac, or Zeila, Somalia] to the terms on which Coghlan states he can reside in Aden, and Shermarki’s arrival at that placeDiscussions between Coghlan, the Government of Bombay and the Government of India regarding the possible terms to be demanded from the Habr Awal [Habr Awwal] tribe for the removal of the British blockade of Berbera, including: the amount of monetary compensation to be paid by the Habr Awal; the probability of the murderer of Lieutenant Stroyan (during an attack on Lieutenant Richard Burton’s Somali Expedition) not being found or brought to justice; the possibility of stationing a vessel of war at Berbera harbour and a government agent during the commercial season; and the demand for the cessation of the export of enslaved persons from Berbera and the coastal vicinityPage’s reports from Juddah, covering: the unsuccessful attack on Mecca by the former Scerriff Abu Montallib [Sharīf ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib bin Ghālib bin Musā‘ad, also spelled Mutallib in this item] and his withdrawal to Tayf [Taif]; Page’s relief at the arrival at Juddah of the HC [Honourable Company’s] ships
Elphinstoneand
Queen; the arrival of the new Scerriff of Mecca, Ebu Aonan [Muḥammad bin ‘Abd al-Mu‘īn bin ‘Awn] on the HC frigate
Feroozfrom Suez; Page’s concern that Abu Montallib may make another attempt on Mecca and then proceed to Juddah on hearing of the arrival at Mecca of his successor; and the abatement of the threat to Juddah.The principal correspondents are Coghlan, Page and the Government of Bombay.Physical description: 1 item (18 folios)
Abstract: This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 49 of 1856, dated 26 June 1856. The enclosures are dated 24 May-12 June 1856.The enclosures comprise:A report by Brigadier William Marcus Coghlan, Political Resident at Aden, to the Government of Bombay, on the shortage of water at Aden and the arrival of a portion of a troop of mounted policeA report by Stephen Page, HM Acting Vice-Consul and Officiating Honourable Company’s Agent at Juddah [Jeddah], to the Government of Bombay, concerning the capture at Tayf [Taif] of the former Scerriff of Mecca, Abu Montallib [Sharīf ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib bin Ghālib bin Musā‘ad], by Ottoman soldiers and the followers of his successor, Ebu Aonan [Muḥammad bin ‘Abd al-Mu‘īn bin ‘Awn], and the intention to convey the captive to Juddah.Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)
Abstract: This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 55 of 1856, dated 29 July 1856. The enclosures are dated 19 June-12 July 1856.The enclosures comprise:Reports by Brigadier William Marcus Coghlan, Political Resident in Aden, to the Government of Bombay, on: the recent dispute between the Sultan of Lahej [Sulṭān ‘Alī I bin Muhsin al-‘Abdalī] and the ‘Chief’ of the Azaiba [a sub-tribe of the ‘Abdalī] over fees for the use of the water wells at Shaik Othman [Shaykh Uthman]; the poor relations between the Abdali and Foudelie [Faḍlī, also spelled Foutheli in this item] tribes; and the Sultan of Lahej’s message to Coghlan that he has concluded a one-year peace with the FoudelieA report by Stephen Page, HM Acting Vice-Consul and Officiating Honourable Company’s Agent at Juddah [Jeddah], to the Government of Bombay, that the former Scerriff of Mecca, Abu Montallib [Sharīf ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib bin Ghālib bin Musā‘ad], left Tayf [Taif] on the 19 June under Turkish [Ottoman] custody, for Cosseir [El Qoseir] en route to Constantinople [Istanbul].Physical description: 1 item (5 folios)