Difference between revisions of "Railways in the Middle Eastern Theatre"
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'''Railways in the Middle Eastern Theatre during the [[First World War]]''' | '''Railways in the Middle Eastern Theatre during the [[First World War]]''' | ||
==Persia== | ==Persia== | ||
| − | In Persia , "in 1915, at the time of the revolt of Tangestan, [British military] reinforcements were sent [to Busehr (Bushire, the main port)] in order to counteract the moves of the German consul,… .On that occasion a narrow-gauge railway 37 miles long was constructed to link Busehr with Borazjan, on the way to Shiraz….At the same time a factory for constructing railroad equipment was established at Busehr. The evacuation of the town by the British in March 1919 put an end to these attempts". <ref>[http://www.iranica.com/articles/busehr-ar Busehr] Encyclopaedia Iranica</ref> | + | In Persia , "in 1915, at the time of the revolt of Tangestan, [British military] reinforcements were sent [to Busehr (Bushire, the main port)] in order to counteract the moves of the German consul,… .On that occasion a narrow-gauge railway 37 miles long was constructed to link Busehr with Borazjan, on the way to Shiraz….At the same time a factory for constructing railroad equipment was established at Busehr. The evacuation of the town by the British in March 1919 put an end to these attempts". <ref>[http://www.iranica.com/articles/busehr-ar Busehr] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20131117013110/http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/busehr-ar archive.org link]) Encyclopaedia Iranica</ref> |
==Mesopotamia== | ==Mesopotamia== | ||
| − | "Without the work of the Indian auxiliaries on the Mesopotamian railways – which supplied almost every requisite for fighting and for everyday living on campaign –the Allied forces would never have enjoyed the victory they achieved."<ref> Memorial Gates Trust, [http://www.mgtrust.org/meso.htm First World War-Mesopotamia] ([ | + | "Without the work of the Indian auxiliaries on the Mesopotamian railways – which supplied almost every requisite for fighting and for everyday living on campaign –the Allied forces would never have enjoyed the victory they achieved."<ref> Memorial Gates Trust, [http://www.mgtrust.org/meso.htm First World War-Mesopotamia] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130602114722/http://www.mgtrust.org/meso.htm archive.org link])</ref> |
| − | Major Frederick Cole and his unit from India built the railway from Basra to Baghdad in Iraq, then Mesopotamia. (Major Cole was Inspector of Railways in India from about 1915 to 1930).<ref> [http://www.mid-day.com/specials/2009/aug/310809-Britain-from-the-rails-Benedict-La-Vey-Book-Review-Alison-Gibson-Play.htm Vay to go] by Alison Gibson from Mid-day.com | + | Major Frederick Cole and his unit from India built the railway from Basra to Baghdad in Iraq, then Mesopotamia. (Major Cole was Inspector of Railways in India from about 1915 to 1930).<ref> [http://www.mid-day.com/specials/2009/aug/310809-Britain-from-the-rails-Benedict-La-Vey-Book-Review-Alison-Gibson-Play.htm Vay to go] by Alison Gibson from Mid-day.com ([https://web.archive.org/web/20100809021541/http://www.mid-day.com/specials/2009/aug/310809-Britain-from-the-rails-Benedict-La-Vey-Book-Review-Alison-Gibson-Play.htm archive.org link]) </ref> |
Rail track was sent from India. “For Mesopotamia, we pull up existing lines.”<ref>[http://www.archive.org/stream/firstworldwar19102repiuoft#page/114/mode/2up The First World War, 1914-1918, Volume II], page 114 | Rail track was sent from India. “For Mesopotamia, we pull up existing lines.”<ref>[http://www.archive.org/stream/firstworldwar19102repiuoft#page/114/mode/2up The First World War, 1914-1918, Volume II], page 114 | ||
by Charles Repington 1920,(Archive.org) quoting a letter from Sir Charles Monroe, C-in-C in India, dated Simla, August 15, 1917</ref> | by Charles Repington 1920,(Archive.org) quoting a letter from Sir Charles Monroe, C-in-C in India, dated Simla, August 15, 1917</ref> | ||
| − | Trains were sent from India, including fourteen military trains in 1916. In 1918 the entire (locos, rolling stock, track, and all fixtures and fittings) Powayn Steam Tramway, in Bengal was sent for use on the Bushire Light Railway in Persia.<ref>[http://www.irfca.org/docs/locolists/industrial/display.php?file=Military.txt&title=Military+Trains. Indian / South-Asian Industrial Locos: Military Trains] by Simon Darvill. IRFCA</ref> | + | Trains were sent from India, including fourteen military trains in 1916. In 1918 the entire (locos, rolling stock, track, and all fixtures and fittings) Powayn Steam Tramway, in Bengal was sent for use on the Bushire Light Railway in Persia.<ref>[http://www.irfca.org/docs/locolists/industrial/display.php?file=Military.txt&title=Military+Trains. Indian / South-Asian Industrial Locos: Military Trains] by Simon Darvill. IRFCA ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120204155938/http://www.irfca.org/docs/locolists/industrial/display.php?file=Military.txt&title=Military%20Trains archive.org link])</ref> |
The Iraq Railways and the Indian Railway Department were a Unit and Regiment of the Indian Army in Mesopotamia during World War 1 according to a soldier’s record on the CWGC.<ref> [http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=633422 Commonwealth War Graves Commission]’s record for J. Flatman </ref> First World War medal card indexes (refer [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp The National Archives Documents Online: First World War Medal Index Cards] ) mention Mesopotamian Railways, Iraq Railways and Railways Baghdad as corps, with Mesopotamian Railways being mentioned more frequently, but it is not known by us to what extent these three differ. In addition, there are other railway units mentioned, which may be Mesopotamian based, but which could be in other theatres. Refer separate [[Railway units|list]]. | The Iraq Railways and the Indian Railway Department were a Unit and Regiment of the Indian Army in Mesopotamia during World War 1 according to a soldier’s record on the CWGC.<ref> [http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=633422 Commonwealth War Graves Commission]’s record for J. Flatman </ref> First World War medal card indexes (refer [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp The National Archives Documents Online: First World War Medal Index Cards] ) mention Mesopotamian Railways, Iraq Railways and Railways Baghdad as corps, with Mesopotamian Railways being mentioned more frequently, but it is not known by us to what extent these three differ. In addition, there are other railway units mentioned, which may be Mesopotamian based, but which could be in other theatres. Refer separate [[Railway units|list]]. | ||
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*British Library APAC Catalogue reference , Official Publications [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorv_11-5&cid=1-1-49-41#1-1-49-41 A history of Mesopotamian railways during the War]. Bombay, 1921 '''IOR/V/27/720/40''' 1921. Also available through the Integrated Catalogue. | *British Library APAC Catalogue reference , Official Publications [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorv_11-5&cid=1-1-49-41#1-1-49-41 A history of Mesopotamian railways during the War]. Bombay, 1921 '''IOR/V/27/720/40''' 1921. Also available through the Integrated Catalogue. | ||
*The National Archives catalogue reference [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/browser.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=13155&GPE=False&DOWN=TRUE&MARKER=3000*-2251848&MARKERSCN= War Diary of 2 Indian Railway Construction Battalion] '''WO 95/5246'''. (Probably, but not definitely, a unit in Mesopotamia). A War Diary was a daily record of events kept by units in active service. | *The National Archives catalogue reference [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/browser.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=13155&GPE=False&DOWN=TRUE&MARKER=3000*-2251848&MARKERSCN= War Diary of 2 Indian Railway Construction Battalion] '''WO 95/5246'''. (Probably, but not definitely, a unit in Mesopotamia). A War Diary was a daily record of events kept by units in active service. | ||
| − | *[http://www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/iraq/armoured-car-on-rails-in-mesopotamia Armoured car on rails in Mesopotamia] from Railways of Iraq. ([ | + | *[http://www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/iraq/armoured-car-on-rails-in-mesopotamia Armoured car on rails in Mesopotamia] from Railways of Iraq. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20131115083411/http://www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/iraq/armoured-car-on-rails-in-mesopotamia archive.org link]). [http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/937652064 Photo] originally from flickr.com |
| − | *[http://fuchs-online.com/iraq/files/The_Railway_Magazine_April_1928.pdf The Railways of Mesopotamia] by Richard Coke from ''The Railway Magazine'' April 1928 from fuchs-online.com. [http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffuchs-online.com%2Firaq%2Ffiles%2FThe_Railway_Magazine_April_1928.pdf html version] | + | *[http://fuchs-online.com/iraq/files/The_Railway_Magazine_April_1928.pdf The Railways of Mesopotamia] by Richard Coke from ''The Railway Magazine'' April 1928 from fuchs-online.com. [http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffuchs-online.com%2Firaq%2Ffiles%2FThe_Railway_Magazine_April_1928.pdf html version] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120722151150/http://fuchs-online.com/iraq/files/The_Railway_Magazine_April_1928.pdf archive.org link]) |
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdad_Railway Baghdad Railway] Wikipedia | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdad_Railway Baghdad Railway] Wikipedia | ||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_Republic_Railways Iraqi Republic Railways] Wikipedia | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_Republic_Railways Iraqi Republic Railways] Wikipedia | ||
Revision as of 07:44, 18 November 2013
Railways in the Middle Eastern Theatre during the First World War
Persia
In Persia , "in 1915, at the time of the revolt of Tangestan, [British military] reinforcements were sent [to Busehr (Bushire, the main port)] in order to counteract the moves of the German consul,… .On that occasion a narrow-gauge railway 37 miles long was constructed to link Busehr with Borazjan, on the way to Shiraz….At the same time a factory for constructing railroad equipment was established at Busehr. The evacuation of the town by the British in March 1919 put an end to these attempts". [1]
Mesopotamia
"Without the work of the Indian auxiliaries on the Mesopotamian railways – which supplied almost every requisite for fighting and for everyday living on campaign –the Allied forces would never have enjoyed the victory they achieved."[2]
Major Frederick Cole and his unit from India built the railway from Basra to Baghdad in Iraq, then Mesopotamia. (Major Cole was Inspector of Railways in India from about 1915 to 1930).[3]
Rail track was sent from India. “For Mesopotamia, we pull up existing lines.”[4]
Trains were sent from India, including fourteen military trains in 1916. In 1918 the entire (locos, rolling stock, track, and all fixtures and fittings) Powayn Steam Tramway, in Bengal was sent for use on the Bushire Light Railway in Persia.[5]
The Iraq Railways and the Indian Railway Department were a Unit and Regiment of the Indian Army in Mesopotamia during World War 1 according to a soldier’s record on the CWGC.[6] First World War medal card indexes (refer The National Archives Documents Online: First World War Medal Index Cards ) mention Mesopotamian Railways, Iraq Railways and Railways Baghdad as corps, with Mesopotamian Railways being mentioned more frequently, but it is not known by us to what extent these three differ. In addition, there are other railway units mentioned, which may be Mesopotamian based, but which could be in other theatres. Refer separate list.
External links
- British Library APAC Catalogue reference , Official Publications A history of Mesopotamian railways during the War. Bombay, 1921 IOR/V/27/720/40 1921. Also available through the Integrated Catalogue.
- The National Archives catalogue reference War Diary of 2 Indian Railway Construction Battalion WO 95/5246. (Probably, but not definitely, a unit in Mesopotamia). A War Diary was a daily record of events kept by units in active service.
- Armoured car on rails in Mesopotamia from Railways of Iraq. (archive.org link). Photo originally from flickr.com
- The Railways of Mesopotamia by Richard Coke from The Railway Magazine April 1928 from fuchs-online.com. html version (archive.org link)
- Baghdad Railway Wikipedia
- Iraqi Republic Railways Wikipedia
- Mesopotamian Transport Commission. Report of the Commission appointed by the Government of India... to enquire into questions connected with the organisation and administration of the Railway and River Transport in Mesopotamia. 1918 is available to read online on the Digital Library of India website. Table of Contents is computer page 6. Refer Online books-Digital Library of India for more details about this site.
- Entry from cwgc.org Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Monks, D E. Rank: Major. Date of Death: 11/12/1918
- Regiment: Bengal North Western Railway. Service: Railway Survey Siestan (Persia)
References
- ↑ Busehr (archive.org link) Encyclopaedia Iranica
- ↑ Memorial Gates Trust, First World War-Mesopotamia (archive.org link)
- ↑ Vay to go by Alison Gibson from Mid-day.com (archive.org link)
- ↑ The First World War, 1914-1918, Volume II, page 114 by Charles Repington 1920,(Archive.org) quoting a letter from Sir Charles Monroe, C-in-C in India, dated Simla, August 15, 1917
- ↑ Indian / South-Asian Industrial Locos: Military Trains by Simon Darvill. IRFCA (archive.org link)
- ↑ Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s record for J. Flatman
