Papers relating to the service of Noel Murray Brazier, 1914 - 1916 - Part 6

4^th. January 1916.
Col. Brazier.
OC. Troops.
HMS. "Star of England"
(The first hospital transport to
return) N.MB.
Dear Sir
The members of the Club are desirous of
Entertaining yourself & officers of the Australian &
New Zealand Army Corps - now here at dinner
tomorrow Evening at 7.30 pm - & I shall be much
obliged if you will let me know per bearer - the 
number likely to accept.
Yours faithfully
A.G. Abraham.
Hon Secretary.

CITY HALL,

CAPETOWN

25th January, 1917.
Dear Sir, 
Will you please allow me to express my best
thanks to you for permitting your band to perform
at the recruiting rally to be held to-morow
evening at the City Hall.
It is, unfortunately, not possible for us
to advertise your kind action, as this is against
the regulations laid down by the censor, but we
appreciate very highly the consideration shown.
I am, Dear Sir,
Yours faithfully,
H Hands
Mayor.

COMMONWEALTH MILITARY FORCES.

DISTRICT HEAD QUARTERS,

PERTH.

215/13/84.
3rd, February, 1915.
Lt. Colonel, N. Brazier,
In accordance with C.M.R. 418 (e)
you will be afforded an opportunity tomorrow at 3.pm.
of furnishing evidence to shew why you should not be
called upon to pay for deficiences in the 25th Light Horse

W Bűttner Captain,

President of Board,
The height of absolute
rottenness

NMB
How we start the war

10th Regt 3rd L.H.Bgde

CLAREMONT 6th Feb 1915

Head-quarters

5th Military District

I have read the finding and recommendation of 
the Board appointed to investigate a charge of why I 
should not be called upon to pay for certain deficiencies 
in the Equipment etc, in the 25th Light Horse Regiment, 
and beg respectfully to state that I consider the finding 
and recommendation absolutely unjust in face of the fallx
following facts.

I was not informed that a Board was to be held 
when it was appointed, nor of the existance of a Board 
until the afternoon of the 3rd inst.

On the morning of the 4th inst at 10 O'Clock I 
received an Official notice to attend at 3 p.m. the same x
day, and show cause why I should not be called upon to pay 
for these deficiencies under C.M.R 418 (es)

I began my duties in connection with the A.I.F. 
in September, and over 4 months later, and during the 
last few days of my busiest period prior to embarkation, x
was expected to furnish all information on this matter ata 
moments notice.

From a very casual glance, at the proceedings,
shown to me, on the afternoon of the 5th inst, in my office
of the 10th Regt Light Horse (A.I.F.) it would appear that
several matters were referred to that occurred previous
to my signing the the Equipment Ledger, in November 1913,
and were given as evidence in connection with the transfer
to Captain Ogilvy.

I have been given no opportunity to collect any
evidence, other than from memory of the actions I had
taken.

No notice seems to have been taken of the fact 
that from April 1914 to October 1914, the Permanent Adjutat

Lieutenant Manley, did really no duty.

On many n occasions I asked Headquarters for xxxx

assistance and withn but little satisfaction.

From April to August the whole time of my depletted

staff was occupied in getting out the necessary annual
returns.

In August the Quartermaster was taken from the 
Regiment for duty in the A.I.F. Camp, the Staff instructors

Regiment and all the Squadron Quartermaster Sergts joined
the Expeditionary Force.

During the period under review W.O. Everington
was transferred to Bunbury from Squadron to Squadron.

At the same time the organisation of the Regiment
was changed from 3 Squadrons and 1 attached, to 3 Squardrons,

necessitating further transfers of equipment.
In Lieut. Manley's report, while making some
general statements, he quoted no specific cases and 
the forwarding on, by myself, of his report made no attempt
to disguise anything.

-2-
Had Lieut. Manley not been taken ill, immediately
after the annual camp at Narrogin in March
and April, these specific cases would have been asked for 
and investigated, while from April 1914 till the time of 
my joining the 7th. Light Horse, A.I.F. in September 
1914 Lieut. Manley was too ill to xxxxxxxxx attend to 
any business, and it was not possible with the limited
staff to make further proper investigations.

On the appointment of permanent Adjutants and
Quartermasters, Commanding Officers were certainly of
opinion that much personal Officers were certainly of 
opinion that much personal responsibility would be removed
from them, especially in the supervision of the 
equipment of a Regiment scattered over such a large area
as the 25th. Light Horse is contained in..

My orders of the 9th. June 1914 were certainly
plain and it was not anticipated that I should make a 
personal stock-taking, nor could I do any more that this
at the time, nor could I, without further information from
my permanent Adjutant, who was ill, located any special
delinquiencies in my officers

It is not possible at this stage on the eve of
embarking on Active Service, to get any further evidence 
as per C.M.R. 418 (e).

Under the extenuating circumstances I claim that
under C.M.R. 418, Sub. Paras. 2 and 3, I have done all
that a C.O. could do.

I must also say that I feel the cruelty of the
finding at the elevent hour prior to my departure on
Active Service very keenly: that I have had little or
no assistance from Lieut. Manley and that I have been
given no opportunity to go into the matter myself.

In conclusion, I can only say I demand the right
to give further evidence, (more espscially as the Board
is composed of all permanent officers, only one of whom
has had any regimental experience in Australia, and the
others are little acquainted with the difficulties to be
contended with in the Citizen Forces while none of them
are acquainted with Light Force administration.) because
no effort was made by the Board to find out whether the 
permanent xxx Adjutant and Quartermaster had done his 
duty.

It would appear as if, notwithstanding the appointment 
of permanent officials, whether they did their 
job or not, they could push off the responsibility, get 
a board of permanent officers to clear them, and let C.Os.
pay. This state of things cannot last long, and to do 
it all in the dark at the eleventh hour can only be 
described as wicked.

Liet Col

Commanding 10th Regt 3rd Light Horse Bgde 

Copies of Correspondence relating to
Drv Kennedy J and Tpr Walker F.J
From Co 10 LH
to Bde Headquarters 3^rd L.H Bde.
363 20/8/15
"197 Kenndy J and 171 Walker FJ both of
the Regt landed this morning having
left Egypt without authority aaa Please
instruct.
Co 10 LH
Reply 497 20/8
Men to be Dealt with for illegally absenting
themselves and for disobedience of orders
To be handed over to Provost Sergeant for
punishment and report forwarded here
of now dealt with
1200 09 J M antill BM.
From Co 10 LH 374 21/8
I am of opinion that 197 Drv Kennedy E.
and 171 Tpr Walker F.J. being under orders
of O.C. 3rd LH Bde Details Heliopolis
cannot be dealt with by me for illegally
absenting themselves and disobedience of
orders aaa. If they are allowed to remain
here their action would be condoned and
no punishment could be meted out.
Co to [[L H?]] 1100 sgd Noel M Brazier Lt Col
Copy  BM 510 210 rep 374
These men please arrange to send them
to B.H.Q. at 0900 tomorrow.
1345 No 4 section sgd Per telephone

BM 524 22/8.
Re 197 Drv E Kennedy The Brigadier wishes a report
upon him - It appears he is one of the
original 10^th LH and it is to he states why
as such he has not been sent forward
to his Regt. before in view of orders
having been issued that preference was to
be given to members of the Regiment
before Reinforcements.
The case is being remanded until tomorrow
at 0900 Report today please.
3. LH Bde sgd J M Antill  Lt Col
1000 B.M.
To Brigade Headquarters
3rd L.H Brigade
385 22/8 PM 524
Cannot answer Refer to G.O C A & NZ
Training Depot Zeitoun
Co 10 LH  sgd Noel M Brazier Lt Col
To CO 10 LH BM 538 23/8
You do not appear to have understood the
purpose of my enquiry I am now instructed
to request you will at once send me a full
report on this man as directed in order
to enable the case now pending to be dealt
with. sgd J M Antill BM
No 4 Sect.
0935.
To Bde Hdarters 3rd LH Bde
388 23/8 BM 538
Further to my 385 of yesterday
I regret the desired information is not 

available here aaa.
The details of the 3rd LH Brigade at HELIOPOLIS
are under the direct oders of the G.O C. A & NZ
Training Depot Zeitoun, from whom the
OC. Details taken his instructiona as to
forwarding men reinforcements aaa
Drafts for all units are sent forward
under these instructions aaa Why any
particulare man should not have been
sent forward can only be determined
by reference to the G.O C above aaa.
Co 19 LH 1005 (Sgd) Noel M Brazier Lt Col