'WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. ''D''. Volume 42 PART I (From 1st...

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 January 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 3-14 and a synopsis can be found at folio 15. The volume mostly relates to:. Reinforcements and labour requirements of Force D; Staff recruitments, appointments, and defined responsibilities of certain positions; Supplies for Force D, including: rations, weapons, ammunition, blankets, animals, and vans; Lists of sick and wounded soldiers; Information about prisoners of war; Turkish [Ottoman] forces: information about deserters; information supplied by deserters; and distributions for week ending 1 January (f 35), weekend ending 8 January (ff 129-131), and week ending 15 January (ff 224-225); Details of tonnage [amounts of cargo] transported on ships; Petrol supply at Abadan; Railway and port traffic reports; Information regarding the Russian-Turkish [Ottoman] armistice; Affairs in Persia [Iran], including: status of Russian troops at Kermanshah; British goal of preventing Turkish and German legations reaching Teheran [Tehran]; desire of Anglo-Persian Oil Company to acquire land on Abadan island; and discussions regarding the proposed despatch of British detachment into north-western Persia; Status and remit of the Transportation Commission to Mesopotamia, headed by General Henry Francis Edward Freeland, and its relationship to the War Office Mission; Railways construction progress, as well as materials required and transported for railway construction; German forces: status in Palestine; intelligence on reconnaissance airplanes; and information about commanders; Proposals regarding work on surveys and hydraulic systems in Mesopotamia; Demand for personnel across multiple departments; Discussions about sharing intelligence and personnel with the Dunsterville Mission; Proposed propaganda approach for the Caucasus region; Difficulties with the transportation of supplies; Status of Russian troops in the Caucasus region; Status of British and Russian forces near the Dialha [Diyala, river]; Shortages of tin metal; The volume also contains:. Distribution of Force D, including details of: Tigris and Euphrates defences and Lines of Communication units; and names of General Officers and Brigade Commanders (ff 16-29); Appreciations [reports] from the Directorate of Military Operations summarising the situation in Mesopotamia and Persia on 6 January (ff 102-103) and 13 January (ff 187-188); Distribution of troops on 9 December 1917 (ff 149-154); Statement showing strength of the different contingents serving with Force D as of 10 November 1917 (ff 205-217); Whilst the volume contains copies of earlier material dating from November 1917 onwards, the bulk of the material dates from January 1918.

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

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