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13. 'Mesopotamia: Questions in regard to recaptured Rivercraft'
- Description:
- Abstract: This is a note prepared by the Political Department of the India Office concerning on what terms authorities in Mesopotamia should return to their original British owners a number of rivercraft that were captured in the first instance by the Turks and subsequently recaptured by the British forces in the course of operations in Mesopotamia. These include rivercraft owned by Messrs Lynch Brothers (including moto-boat Mosca, steam-launch Asp, tug Sumana,, steam-launch Ishtar, and steamer Khalifah) and Messrs Strick, Scott and Company (including steamer Sebeh) which appear in tables giving their reported approximate value and remarks about their capture and recapture.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation for this sequence commences at folio 58, and terminates at folio 60, as it is part of a larger physical volume; 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 folios 7-153; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled, and can be found in the same position as the main sequence.
14. 'Statement [on the expedition to Mesopotamia] by Political Secretary, India Office'
- Description:
- Abstract: This printed memorandum, marked 'Secret' is a statement by Sir Frederic Arthur Hirtzel, Political Secretary, India Office, dated 30 August 1916, concerning the British campaign against Turkey in Mesopotamia [Iraq] in the context of the First World War, in particular British intentions to advance on Baghdad. The memorandum is divided into three sections titled as follows: 'The Political Reasons for the Expedition', 'The Importance of Bagdad [Baghdad]', and 'The Advance on Baghdad'. References are made in the text to correspondence between Sir Charles Murray Marling, British Minister at Tehran, and the Foreign Office in 1915.Physical description: 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.
15. 'Who's Who in Mesopotamia, General Staff, India (Serial No. 10)'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume is Who's Who in Mesopotamia, General Staff, India. The volume is marked confidential and was printed in Delhi by Superintendent Government Printing in 1916.The volume the is an abbreviated edition and consists of an alphabetical list of the 'more important persons' occurring in the files of the Intelligence Branch of the Indian Expeditionary Force 'D' between December 1914 and August 1916. It was compiled and issued by the Intelligence Branch itself. The list is mostly individuals, but includes some families.Physical description: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 138; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
16. 'Who's Who in Mesopotamia, General Staff, India (Serial No. 372)'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume is Who's Who in Mesopotamia, General Staff, India. The volume is marked confidential, is given the catalogue number A-131, and was printed in Simla by the Government Central Branch Press in 1915.The volume consists of an alphabetical list of subjects compiled by the Intelligence Branch of the Indian Expeditionary Force "D". Each entry includes information relevant to it taken from the Branch's files. The list includes individuals, groups of people (such as tribes or battalions), towns and villages, geographical features (such as rivers, mountainous areas, oil fields), ships, and sites of interest (such as religious shrines).At the back of the volume is a glossary of terms compiled by Major Charles Cecil Rowe Murphy of the 30th Punjabis (folios 214-218).Physical description: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 220; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
17. 'Reports from Lieutenant-General Sir P. H. N. Lake, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., Commanding I.E.F. "D", on Operations against Arab Tribesmen on the Euphrates Line, January and February 1916'
- Description:
- Abstract: This report, printed by the General Staff, India (Simla: Government Central Press, 1916), consists of a letter (No. 168-18-O) from Sir Percy Henry Noel Lake, General Officer Commanding, Indian Expeditionary Force D, to the Chief of the General Staff, Army Headquarters, India, dated 4 March 1916.It encloses three reports:Report A deals with an engagement during a reconnaissance between Butaniyah and Suwaij on 14 January 1916 (ff. 2v-3);Report B describes a rearguard action when the column was heavily attacked on 7 February 1916, on the occasion of the withdrawal from Nasiriyah [al-Nāṣirīyah] (ff. 5v-8);Report C gives an account of punitive operations undertaken by Brigadier-General H T Brooking on 9 February 1916 (f. 9).These reports give tables listing tribes, casualties and expenditure of small arm ammunition involved in various actions. The front cover is marked 'Confidential'. In addition, there are two maps (folios 10-11): 'Sketch Map of the Retirement from Butaniyeh Camp to Nasiriyah' and 'To Accompany Report on Operations Against Arab Tribesmen on Euphrates Line'.Physical description: 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 (except for the front cover where the folio number is on the verso).Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
18. 'Report from General Sir J. E. Nixon, K.C.B., Commanding I.E.F. "D." on the Operations at Dilwar 10th-16th August 1915'
- Description:
- Abstract: This confidential report is published by the General Staff, India, and consists of a letter from General Sir John Eccles Nixon, Commanding Indian Expeditionary Force D, to the Chief of the General Staff, Army Headquarters, India, and encloses a report by Major C E H Wintle, 96th Berar Infantry, on the operations at Dilwar between 10 and 16 August 1915.The report includes a 'List of Appendices' (folio 5) which includes:A: Operation Order No. 1 by officer Commanding Troops [Lieutenant-Colonel H P Lane], Bushire;1: Operation Order No. 1 by Officer Commanding, Dilwar Field Force;2: Report on operations by Senior Naval Officer [D St. A Wake], Persian Gulf;3: Operation Order No. 2 by Officer Commanding, Dilwar Field Force;4: Operation Order No. 3 by Officer Commanding, Dilwar Field Force;5: Operation Order No. 4 by Officer Commanding, Dilwar Field Force;6: Operation Order No. 5 by Officer Commanding, Dilwar Field Force;7: Copy of message referred to in paragraph 16 of Report;8: Operation Order No. 6 by Officer Commanding, Dilwar Field Force;9: Operation Order No. 7 by Officer Commanding, Dilwar Field Force;10: Operation Order No. 8 by Officer Commanding, Dilwar Field Force;11: List of casulaties;12: Statement of those noted for good work in the field;13: Statement of ammunition expended;14: Map of the operation.Physical description: Foliation: The foliation sequence is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the front cover, on number 1, and ends on the inside of the back cover, on number 18.
19. ‘A sketch of the political history of Persia, Iraq and Arabia, with special reference to the present campaign.’
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume is an overview of the political history of Persia, Iraq and Arabia, authored by the Office of the Chief Political Officer, Indian Expeditionary Force “D”, and printed by the Superintendent Government Printing, Calcutta [Kolkata], India in 1917. The volume is divided into a number of chapters:1. An introduction to the political history of Persia, Iraq and Arabia, chiefly concerning Britain’s history of naval intervention and military occupation in the Persian Gulf, and its efforts in eradicating the slave trade, arms traffic and piracy;2. A chapter entitled ‘The Arab attitude in Iraq before the War’, including: political conditions in Turkish Iraq prior to the War; the arrival of the Indian Expeditionary Force “D” at the start of the War; Ottoman ‘jihad’ against the British; Arab attitudes to the British in Iraq, central Arabia and Persian Arabistan;3. British relations with Arabistan, including an overview of the Anglo-Persian War (1856-57), and a brief outline of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company’s activities in the region;4. The Bakhtiari tribes, their leaders and their standing with the Persian Government, and the importance of maintaining British relations with them, with reference to trade routes, the maintenance of order in the oil fields, and the maintenance of friendly relations with the Shaikh of Muhammareh [Khorramshahr] and the Russians at Ispahan [Isfahān, or Eṣfahān];5. Pusht-i-Kuh – ‘the right flank of Indian Expeditionary Force “D”’: a description of the area, and its strategic and economic importance, including: topography; climate; the position and powers of its Wali [governor] (taken from Lorimer’s Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf), the Wali’s relatives; and Kaka Siyah, who reside in the region and who are of African origin;6. Arabia – the left flank of Indian Expeditionary Force “D”. The chapter is divided into two parts. The first part is a general description of the Arabian peninsula, including: topography and geographic features; political powers in Arabia: the Wahhabi, with a history of their development and territorial gains; Egypt; Ibn Rashid [Ibn Rashīd]; the British Government; and Turkish interests in Arabia. The second part is a detailed historical outline of British relations with Ibn Sa‘ūd;7. Entitled The Trend of Turkish policy before the War and since (official), and subdivided into parts on internal and external politics. The first part includes an assessment of the characteristics of ‘Ottoman people’ and their Government, the second concentrates on German influence and activity in Ottoman territories.There are pencil annotations on the front flyleaf of the volume (folio 2), which make note of sections within the volume, with the corresponding page numbers.Physical description: Foliation: There is a foliation sequence, which is circled in pencil, in the top-right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the front cover, on number 1, and ends on the inside of the back cover, on number 29.Pagination: A printed pagination system runs through the volume (ff 7-27), the numbers of which are located top and centre of each recto and verso.
20. 'Order of Battle Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force 1- 3-20 with correction slips'
- Description:
- Abstract: Memoranda issued by General Officer Commanding/General Headquarters, Mesopotamia (all duplicated to Commander-in-Chief, India), to the War Office, listing the detailed corrections to be inserted into the Order of Battle of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, covering the period 9 October 1920-29 November 1921.Note: there is one memorandum from General Headquarters, Baghdad, to the War Office, dated 10 August 1920. From 17 October 1921 onwards memoranda are from General Headquarters, Iraq, to the War Office.File also contains, three printed official Order of Battle booklets:‘Order of Battle of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. Corrected to 7th January, 1919’, dated 7 January 1919‘Order of Battle of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. 1st October 1919', dated 1 October 1919. Heavily annotated with manuscript corrections and updates in black ink‘Order of Battle of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. 1st March 1920’ (in manuscript) ‘Corrected up to 11th June 1920’, dated 29 February 1920. Heavily annotated with manuscript corrections and updates in black and red ink and pencil and one typescript page inserted at the front listing British and Indian troops with the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force on 1 March 1920.Order of Battle booklets cover, with some variations, General Headquarters and troop organisation; organisation in detail (Army troops, Cavalry, Indian Army Corps); Divisions and Brigades; Lines of Communication – defences and administrative units (including river areas); distribution of artillery; index to Army Corps, divisions and brigades; and index to units (including medical units, ordnance, veterinary services, supply and transport, engineers, signal service, air service, artillery, machine gun corps, infantry).The file documents detail the complete military establishment, movements and organizstion in Mesopotamia and developments over the period January 1919-November 1921.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 117; 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 file also contains multiple original printed pagination sequences.
21. 'Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report'
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume is Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917. Compiled by officers of the Staff College, Quetta, October-November 1923. Part I - Report(Calcutta: Government of India Press, 1925). The volume is published by the General Staff Army Headquarters, India.The volume is divided into twenty-five chapters, which cover the whole campaign in detail from December 1914 to April 1917, including the origins of the campaign; the British advance on Baghdad-Ctesiphon; operations at Kut [Al-Kūt]; the capture of Baghdad; and general reflections on the campaign.The volume includes nineteen photographic illustrations.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at 1 on the front cover and terminates at 210 on the inside back cover. The numbers are written in pencil, are enclosed in a circle, and appear in the top right hand corner of the recto page of each folio. This is the sequence used to determine the order of pages.Pagination: there is also an original printed pagination sequence numbered 2-361 (ff 8-208).
22. 'Blue Book. Paraphrased telegrams'
- Description:
- Abstract: The file consists of proofs for a proposed Mesopotamia Blue Book [a British Parliamentary official report concerning the Mesopotamian Campaign, 1914-18]. The papers consist of numbered transcribed paraphrased and unparaphrased official telegrams (particularly from the Commander of the Expeditionary Force, 1915-16, General Sir John Eccles Nixon, the Viceroy, and the Secretary of State for India) relating to military operations during the advance from Basra in 1915. The proofs were submitted to the Secretary of State for India, and include notes by John Evelyn Shuckburgh, India Office.The papers are enclosed an a folder inscribed: 'Military Department. Previous Papers' and labelled '2'.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 94; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Two additional typed mixed foliation/pagination sequences are also present in parallel between ff 15-19 and ff 27-37.
23. 'Mesopotamia Commission. Report of the Commission Appointed by Act of Parliament to Enquire into the Operations of War in Mesopotamia, together with a Special Report by Commander J Wedgwood, DSO, MP, and Appendices. London: HMSO, 1917.'
- Description:
- Abstract: A signed proof, folios 1-100, plus additional material, folios 101-124. The cover bears the signature of Sir Arthur Hirtzel, Assistant Under-Secretary of State. The report has been annotated in blue pencil at various points.Contents:'Part I. Preface.'Part II. Origin of Mesopotamia [Iraq] Expedition.''Part III. Advance from Basra to Kurna.''Part IV. The Advance to Amara [Al-'Amārah] and Kut [Al-Kūt].''Part V. Correspondence and Telegrams as to Advance on Baghdad.''Part VI. The Advance from Kut to Ctesiphon.''Part VII. Operations for Relief of Kut.''Part VIII. Armament, Equipment, Reinforcements, &c.''Part IX. Transport.''Part X. Medical Breakdown.''Part XI. Causes Contributing to the Errors of Judgement and Shortcomings of Responsible Authorities.''Part XII. Findings and Conclusions. Recommendations.''Separate Report by Commander J Wedgwood, DSO, MP.''Appendix I. Vincent-Bingley Report.''Appendix II. Memorandum by Sir Beauchamp Duff.''Appendix III. Colonel Hehir's Account of the Siege of Kut-el-Amara.'Additional material:Folio 101. Manuscript note [by Arthur Hirtzel] on net military expenditure.Folios 102-109. Copy of the East India (Army Administration), Further Papers regarding the Administration of the Army in India, 1906.Folios 110-115. Manuscript notes, titled 'Suggested redraft & amplification of second half of parag 1' [unknown hand].Folio 116. A clipping from the Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 4 July 1917, featuring an article titled 'Mesopotamia. Ex-Viceroy's Statement. The Medical Breakdown.'Folios 117-124. An expanded typescript version of Hirtzel's manuscript notes (folio 101).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 124; 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 present in parallel between ff 110-115; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence. The volume comprises a stitched pamphlet, and other stitched and loose-leaf material.
24. 'Naval Staff monographs (historical) vol 4 no 15 - Naval operations in Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf'
- Description:
- Abstract: This monograph concerns operations in Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf from the outbreak of war with Germany to the fall of Kut on 29th April 1916. It is organised into the following chapters: the theatre of operations; the attitutude of Turkey; the inception of the expedition; landing of the expedition; occupation of Basra; operations against Qurna, 4-9th December 1914; consolidation of the Basra position; occupation of Amara, 3rd June 1915; operations on the Euphrates: capture of Nasiriya, 5th July 1915; naval forces and general situation, summer 1915: operations at Bushire and Dilwar: decision to advance to Kut; capture of Kut and decision to advance to Baghdad; Battle of Ctesiphon, 22nd November 1915 and retreat to Kut; operations for the relief of Kut: Townshend surrenders, 19th April 1916.The appendices are: telegrams, 1914; orders and instructions; naval forces. Also ten maps including: the Shatt al-Arab; the Euphrates between Basra and Nasiriya; operations for the releief of Kut.Physical description: Foliation. There is a foliation sequence, which is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the front cover, on number 1, and ends on the inside of the back cover, on number 73.