'WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. ''D''. Volume 31. PART I. (From...

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 1917. This is accompanied by appendices containing copies and extracts of these papers, which include: letters, memoranda, and telegrams containing instructions and reports. An index to the contents of this volume can be found at folios 3-10 and a summary of the contents can be found at folio 11. The volume mostly concerns:. Re-organisation and proposed withdrawals of certain units and divisions; Turkish [Ottoman] forces: movements and status on the Tigris and Euphrates lines; new batteries; information from deserters and prisoners; plans for the Suez Canal; commanders; activities in Persia [Iran]; and distribution for the week ending 13 February (ff 151-160); Discussions about the Turkish Mission to Kerbela [Karbala] to bring about a Shia-Sunni reconciliation; Discussions of logistics for forming two new sections of Machine Gun squadrons from the Cavalry Regiments; Arrangements and difficulties with the transfer of supplies and troops between Mesopotamia, Egypt, and India; Demands for additional reinforcements and personnel; Royal Flying Corps reports; Operations around the river Hai [Nahr al Gharraf]; Supplies for Force D, including: ammunition, weapons, rations, and animals; Discussions about the selection of journalists for a press tour of Mesopotamia; Matters relating to railways construction; Matters relating to dredging activities in Mesopotamia; Intelligence provided by the Caucasus Military Agency; Duties of the newly created position of Director, Inland Water Transport, and duties of Director, Port Administration and Conservancy; Death of the Sheikh of Koweit [Shaikh of Kuwait] and appointment of his brother; Lists of sick and wounded soldiers; Loan made to the Sheikh of Muhammareh [Shaikh of Khorramshahr] by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company; Construction and transport of rivercraft; Estimations of casualties on both sides since the beginning of operations on 13 December 1916; Details of tonnage [amounts of cargo] transported on railways and rivers; Staff appointments; Plans to raise the Bakhtiari [Bakhtiyārī, tribe] levies; Proposals to build a bridge on the Euphrates near Nasiriyeh [Nasiriyah] (relevant maps can be found at IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3270, f 102 and IOR/L/MIL/17/5/3270, f 103); Intelligence from Russian staff in Persia; The volume also contains:. Distribution and composition of Force D, including details of: lines of communication units; general organisation; units captured at Kut-al-Amarah [Al-Kut]; and names of General Officers and Brigade Commanders (ff 12-30); Diary of information from 27 January (ff 112-119), covering: climate and floods; the history of the Force D Engineer Field Park [military unit in charge of engineering depot] between May and November 1915; aviation; inland water transport; Egyptian Labour Corps; prisoners of war; and photographs; Detailed ration strength on 14 January (ff 122-124) and 21 January (ff 164-169); Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia on 11 February (ff 131-133); Distribution of troops on 21 January (ff 142-146); Whilst the volume contains copies of earlier material dating from December 1916 onwards, the bulk of the material dates from February 1917.

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

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