'WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. ''D''. Volume 39. (From 1st to 15th...

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 October 1917. 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 3-8. The volume mostly relates to:. Reinforcements and labour requirements of Force D; Staff recruitment and appointments; Supplies for Force D, including: ammunition, rations, animals, weapons, petrol, and ambulances; Lists of sick and wounded soldiers; Information about prisoners of war; Turkish [Ottoman] forces: intelligence from prisoners and deserters; movements; commanders; plans; estimated strength and distribution on 30 September (ff 74-75); and distribution for week ending 2 October (ff 56-58) and week ending 9 October (ff 201-203); Intelligence on German troops' movements and plans; Information regarding the construction of Turkish railways in Mesopotamia; Reports on the recent action at Ramadie [Ramadi]; Questions about the use of sailing craft to convey military stores to Mesopotamia; Discussions concerning 'false' and 'exaggerated' Turkish and German communiqués; Information on freight transported by ships; Discussions about strategic planning and development of railways and ports in Mesopotamia, including establishment of a Transportation Commission; High demand for personnel across multiple departments; Problems concerning soldiers not returning from leave; Reports and discussions about Force D's air forces; Continued employment of Edmund Candler as Official Eyewitness; Financial administration of Force D; Communications regarding changes to the order of battle; Re-organisation of troops and creation of new troops; Transport provisions for the movements of troops; Port at Basrah [Basra] traffic reports and details of improvement works; Possible establishment of dairies in Mesopotamia and a woollen mill at Baghdad; Discussions about destruction and/or loss of animals [referred to as 'wastage']; Potential transfer of Russian divisions to Force D and discussions about Russian plans in Persia [Iran]; The volume also contains:. Distribution of Force D, including details of the lines of communication units and names of General Officers and Brigade Commanders (ff 9-22); Distribution of troops for Force D on 9 September (ff 138-146), 16 September (ff 176-185), and 23 September (ff 293-302); Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia and Persia on 7 October (ff 154-156) and 14 October (ff 285-287); There is a discrepancy between the content of the appendices 261-263 as described in the summary at folio 225, and the content of the actual appendices 261-263 as they appear at folios 229-230. Whilst the volume contains copies of earlier material dating from September 1917 onwards, the bulk of the material dates from October 1917.

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

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