Miscellaneous papers relating to Mesopotamia, compiled probably by Peter Liddle

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 206 Liddle Collection MES 072
  • Dates of Creation
      1914-1974
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
      English Turkish
  • Physical Description
      3 boxes; manuscript, typescript, photographs, postcards, press cuttings, and printed material (partly photocopy). Includes maps, Christmas cards, and tickets.

Scope and Content

Item 1: Photocopied map of Siege of Kut-el-Amara (nd). Item 2: Photocopied sketch maps and typescript notes 'The Townshend Myths' (nd). Item 3: 2 original copies of proclamation to the people of Iraq, with photocopy (2 November 1918). Item 4: Proclamation to the people of the Baghdad Vilayet, with photocopy (19 March 1917). Item 5: Photocopied article "Cavalry in Mesopotamia in 1918" by Lieutenant-General Sir H.D. Fanshawe, from The Cavalry Journal [1920]. Item 6: Photocopied Army forms relating to S.W. Blythman, Lane Corporal, 5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, serving in Mesopotamia (nd). Item 7: Photocopied bibliography of books and journal articles relating to Mesopotamia (nd). Item 8: Soldier's pay book of Howard Sidney Cullum, Private, Dorset Regiment (17 August 1914-31 December 1918). Item 9: Press cuttings, mostly photocopied (25 November 1916, nd). Item 10: Turkish postcard, with translation [5 June 1916]. Item 11: Turkish Prayer, with translation (now at Museum Section: Framed Artwork: AW 109). Item 12: 2 Christmas cards (1915, nd). Item 13: Illustrated 450th Field Company, Royal Engineers, Christmas menu (December 1917); Manuscript recollections 'The Missing N.C.O.', by William P. Shanks, Sapper, 450th Field Company, Royal Engineers, with covering letter to Peter Liddle (1971). Item 14: Photocopied POW (Prisoner of War) menu (nd). Item 15: Photocopy of manuscript letter from Owen J. Mortimore, Devonshire Regiment, attached to the 2nd Battalion, Dorset Regiment, to 'My dear Olivia' (30 October 1915). Item 16: Manuscript letter from Arthur Campbell, Hospital Train 'B', RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps), with covering letter from G.G. Wray (donor) to Peter Liddle (11 Nov 1917, 27 Feb 1974). Item 17: Manuscript and typescript papers, with x-ray and ten photographs, of S.L. Latter, 2nd Lieutenant, 9th Buffs, attached to 7th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, serving in Mesopotamia, mainly relating to his wounding and subsequent disability (May 1917-January 1919). Item 18: Photostat copies of The Basra Times (29 November 1914, 24 July 1915). Item 19: Copy of Townshend's surrender communiqu to troops (currently missing). Item 20: Bound folder of typescript notes and photographs relating to the Map Compilation Section, GHQ, Mesopotamia, with covering letter from Lieutenant Colonel M.A. Nolan (donor) (15 October 1980). Item 21: Manuscript letter from Edmund O. Goldsmith, 90th Battalion, Punjabi Regiment, 15th Division, serving in Mesopotamia, to his Uncle Phil, describing battle of Khan Baghdadi (3 April 1918). Item 22: Manuscript recollections of the battle of Khan Baghdadi, by Lieutenant G.P.T. Dean, 24th Battalion, Punjabi Regiment, serving in Mesopotamia (3 April 1918). Item 23: Manuscript and photocopied papers of W. Haynes, present at the Siege of Kut-el-Amara, including a list of survivors of Kut (nd); photocopied articles and photographs (March-May 1916, nd); manuscript diary (4 August 1914, nd); West India Turf Club War Loan Lottery ticket [1917]; manuscript notes on the Mesopotamia Campaign, 31 October 1914-19 January 1917 (nd); manuscript recollections (nd); autographed menu (30 August 1915); 6 pencil and pen&ink sketches (nd); letter from King George (23 November 1918). Item 24: Typescript recollections of Harold Richard Patrick Dickson (b. 1881), Assistant Political Officer in the Gulf during the First World War, by his son, H.Y.W.S. Dickson (nd); photocopied extract from The Viceroy's Agent, by C. Chenevix Trench (nd). Item 25: Typed transcript of article "Richmond Man's Experience in the Besieged Town - Almost Died of Starvation", by R.B. Boroughs (b. 1891), a Private present at the Siege of Kut-el-Amara, from the Richmond Herald, 15 December 1917 (nd). Item 26: Guide book "The Land of the Two Rivers" (1918). Item 27: 5 photographs, some of George Boden (11 February 1919, nd). Item 28: Official reports relating to Mesopotamia, including two copies of "Report on the Treatment of British Prisoners of War in Turkey", Miscellaneous, No. 24 (November 1918); 2 copies of "Mesopotamia Commission Report" (1917); East India (Military) report "Despatches regarding Operations in the Persian Gulf and in Mesopotamia" (1915); Photocopied report on Kut-el-Amara from Major General C.V.F. Townshend (18 October 1915); Field Notes book, Mesopotamia (February 1915). Item 29: Material relating to POWs (Prisoners of War) held in Turkey, including pamphlets "Communication with Prisoners of War Interned Abroad" and "Prisoners in Turkey Committee: First Report of Executive Committee" (July 1918, 15 August 1918); Booklet "Prisoners of War in Turkey: Regulations and Notes" (August 1918); Official report "Report on the Treatment of British Prisoners of War in Turkey", Miscellaneous, No. 24 (November 1918); Typescript letter from F.O. Rybot regarding the discontinuation of "The [Kastamuni] Kronical" (13 July 1918); 8 issues of "The Kastamuni Kronical", Vol. 1, Nos. 1-3 and 5-9 (October-December 1917, February- June 1918); 3 issues of the "Yozgad, Broussa and Constantinople Magazine", Nos. 1-3 (17 August-28 September 1918); Press cutting relating to release of British Officers from Turkey (nd); 10 issues of monthly journal "The British Prisoner of War", Vol. 1, Nos 3-12 (March-December 1918).

Administrative / Biographical History

The final compiler of this collection was probably Peter Liddle, the founder of the Liddle Collection.

Arrangement

'Mesopotamia Miscellaneous' can be found under 'M' in the alphabetical sequence of the Mesopotamia Section. A handlist is located in the Mesopotamia catalogue (hard copy) and at MES 072: Miscellaneous.

Access Information

Item 11 is now in Museum Section: Framed Artwork: AW 109. Item 19 is currently missing.

Acquisition Information

Item 3 was placed in the Collection by F.J. Sampson. Item 10 was placed in the Collection by T.H. Berry. Item 13 was placed in the Collection by William P. Shanks in 1971. Item 16 was placed in the Collection by G.G. Wray in 1974. Item 18 was placed in the Collection by Ms Wheeler. Item 18 was placed in the Collection by Lieutenant Colonel M.A. Nolan, Royal Engineers, in 1980. Item 22 was placed in the Collection by Mrs M. Pinckney (cousin) ( see Research Correspondence File). Item 23 was placed in the Collection by K. Dean (see Research Correspondence File). Item 24 was placed in the Collection by Mrs P.M. Dicken (niece) (see Research Correspondence File). Item 25 was placed in the Collection by R.M. Boroughs (son) (see Research Correspondence File). Item 26 was placed in the Collection by Dr H.G. Muller. Item 27 was placed in the Collection by J. Boden (see Research Correspondence File).

Note

In English, but with a little Turkish.

Other Finding Aids

Alternative Form Available

Microfilmed.

Additional Information

Item 7 photocopied from booklist belonging to Imperial War Museum Library, London. Item 19 is currently missing.

Personal Names