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'''Railways in the Middle Eastern Theatre during the [[First World War]]'''
16,241 railway workers were released from the Indian railways or were specially recruited for military duty or military railway work overseas <ref>
[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war/a-global-view/asia/india  First World War: A Global view: India: Indian Army] (select Indian Army option)  The National Archives, quoting the reference  [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14576092 MUN 5/176/1143/16].</ref>
==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]</ref>
"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 </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> [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 Vay to go] by Alison Gibson from Mid-day.com, now archived.</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> [https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/633422/J%20FLATMAN/ 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]].
==See Also==
*[[Prisoners of the Turks (First World War)]] for  information about the Baghdad Railway.
*[[Mesopotamia Railway]]
*[[Basra Light Railway, Mesopotamia]]
*[[Bushire Railway, Persia]]


== External links ==
== External links ==
*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://ccgi.ajg41.plus.com/2008/12/05/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://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])
*Article [http://www.jstor.org/stable/25121975 "The Bagdad Railway"] by H. Charles Woods ''The North American Review'' Vol. 208, No. 753 (Aug., 1918), pp. 219-228 jstor.org. [https://web.archive.org/web/20131123060135/http://jfredmacdonald.com/worldwarone1914-1918/ottoman-17bagdad-railway.html Transcribed version] jfredmacdonald.com/archive.org. Discusses the Turkish railway system.
:For more about the Baghdad Railway see [[Prisoners of the Turks (First World War)]]
*[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
*''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 |Online books-Digital Library of India]] for more details about this site.
*Entry from [http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1529430/MONKS,%20D%20E 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)
*[http://www.borht.org.uk/WW1.htm The Great War - Borht Projects] The British Overseas Railways Historical Trust. Includes images of models of War Department locomotives and rolling stock and details of the Trust  WW1 book project.
===Historical books online===
*[https://archive.org/details/railwaysinwester00pico ''Railways in Western Asia''] by Lieutenant-Colonel H Picot Indian Army (Retired). Published by the Central Asian Society, London 1904 Archive.org.
*[http://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023464681.0x000002 ''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. IOR/L/MIL/17/15/125/1. Qatar Digital Library. This book is also available [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.206468 Archive.org],  mirror from Digital Library of India.  
**[http://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023203943.0x000001  2 Maps] issued with the report including  "Railway Map of Basra and Magil". IOR/L/MIL/17/15/125/2. Qatar Digital Library.


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:First World War]]
[[Category:First World War]]
[[Category:Railways]]
[[Category:Foreign Railways]]

Latest revision as of 02:53, 15 January 2022

Railways in the Middle Eastern Theatre during the First World War

16,241 railway workers were released from the Indian railways or were specially recruited for military duty or military railway work overseas [1]

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". [2]

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."[3]

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).[4]

Rail track was sent from India. “For Mesopotamia, we pull up existing lines.”[5]

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.[6]

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.[7] 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.

See Also

External links

For more about the Baghdad Railway see Prisoners of the Turks (First World War)
Monks, D E. Rank: Major. Date of Death: 11/12/1918
Regiment: Bengal North Western Railway. Service: Railway Survey Siestan (Persia)
  • The Great War - Borht Projects The British Overseas Railways Historical Trust. Includes images of models of War Department locomotives and rolling stock and details of the Trust WW1 book project.

Historical books online

References

  1. First World War: A Global view: India: Indian Army (select Indian Army option) The National Archives, quoting the reference MUN 5/176/1143/16.
  2. Busehr (archive.org link) Encyclopaedia Iranica
  3. Memorial Gates Trust, First World War-Mesopotamia (archive.org link)
  4. Vay to go by Alison Gibson from Mid-day.com, now archived.
  5. 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
  6. Indian / South-Asian Industrial Locos: Military Trains by Simon Darvill. IRFCA (archive.org link)
  7. Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s record for J. Flatman