Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 1, 14 August - 3 November 1914 - Part 5

M-53 
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE,  
FOURTH INFANTRY BRIGADE.  
52 
VICTORIA BARRACKS,  
MELBOURNE, 19th September, 1914.  
M.53. 
  
Commandant,  
4th Military District.  
  
In reply to your telegram G.420 I telegraphed to  
you today thus:- 
"M.52. Your G.420. Have written Baker informing 
him he recommended command your quota sixteenth 
battalion and directing him recommend through 
you all remaining officers". 
after receipt of your telegram G.392 and after consultation 
with C.G.S. I formally recommended Major E.K. Baker  
as senior officer of the 4th Military District quota of  
three companies who in that capacity will take command of 
that quota until concentration although he will himself 
command a company also. 
The selection for recommendation of the remaining 
officers of the quota, I consider it best to leave to 
the judgment of yourself and Major Baker and consequently 
in Brigade Order No. 1 which was also sent forward to 
him, he has been instructed to select for recommendation 
through you the remaining officers. 
If you will please ask Major Baker to show you 
my letter of September 17th (M. 35) and my Brigade Order 
No. 1, the whole position will be made clear. He has 
probably done so before you receive this letter. 
  
Colonel. 
Commanding Fourth Infantry Bde. 
Australian Imperial Force. 
  
4 Mil D.

24   
DISTRICT HEAD-QUARTERS. 
A.M.F.—3rd Military District. 
No. 
TELEPHONE—CENTRAL 4780. 
AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES.—3RD MILITARY DISTRICT. 
  
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY 
TO "HEAD-QUARTERS, 
3RD MILITARY DISTRICT." 

HEAD-QUARTERS. 
Melbourne, 21st ^20th September 1914. 
Urgent  

From  A. A. G., 3rd Military District, 
  
To  Colonel J. Monash, V.D., 
C. C. 4th Infantry Brigade, A. I. F 
  
The Minister has appointed a Committee 
to recommend Officers for appointment to the A. I. 
Force from this District. 
The Commandant would be glad if you meet the 
Committee at District Head-Quarters, tomorrow, 
21st instant, at 10 a.m., and bring with you any 
applications you may have received. 
J. C. Hawker 
Colonel, 
A. A. G., 3rd Military District. 
JM

33 
  
Herald - Melbourne - Sep. 22/14 
  
SELECTION OF OFFICERS 
SUBJECT OF COMPLAINT  
  
BOARD TO BE APPOINTED 
  
Complaints having been made regarding 
the method of selection of officers 
for the Expeditionary Force, Senator  
G. Pearce, Minister for Defence, decided  
today to appoint in each State a board,  
consisting of two militia officers and  
one permanent officer to deal with  
future appointments. 
The Minister explained that officers  
commanding brigades and battalions 
would still have the right to nominate  
officers for the positions. The list of 
applicants would then come before the 
Appointment Board. If the Board approved  
of the names, they would go  
before the Chief of the General Staff 
for final revision. If the Board disapproved 
of any names, the officers  
commanding brigades and battalions  
could recommend further applicants. 
The Board for Victoria will be composed 
of Colonel J. Burston, Colonel R. 
Linton, and Colonel E. Tivey. D.S.O. 
J.M.

M- 56 
10/97     
BRUCHE 
VICTORIA BARRACKS 
BRISBANE (QLD.) 
  
M 56. CONFIDENTIAL MINISTER TAKEN SELECTION OFFICERS OUT OF 
MY HANDS DO YOUR BEST MY INTERESTS WITH YOUR SELECTION BOARD  
I PARTICULARLY WANT ONE PERMANENT OFFICER EACH BATTALION AS 
ADJUTANT OR SECOND IN COMMAND. 
  
12.40   MONASH 
BARRACKS   MELBOURNE 
21/9/14 
  
1^st Mil Dis

27 
5 St James Building, 
Williams St. 
21 ⁹/14 
Dear Col. Monash 
  
I am desirous of going out 
with the 2^nd Expeditionary Force and  
the fact of your being in command 
induces me to volunteer Light Horse is 
my forte I would not care to take 
service in the infantry but thought if 
all the positions on your personal staff  
now not filled my previous service with  
you and in South Africa might 
induce favourable consideration for 
this application 
  
C. Hill   Capt. 
Reply M-63 
J.M. 

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE. 
FOURTH INFANTRY BRIGADE.    0/65 
M.57. 
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL. 
VICTORIA BARRACKS, 
MELBOURNE, 21st September, 1914. 
  
Lieut.-Col. McGlinn, 
P.M.G's Department, 
516 Kent St. 
Sydney. 
  
Dear McGlinn, 
Since seeing you on Friday last, I have 
failed to get in touch with the Minister and have had no 
reply at all concerning the several matters submitted. 
You may judge of my surprise when this 
morning I received from the Commandant, 3rd Military 
District, intimation that all officers of the Brigade  
Head-Quarters Staff and of the Victorian Battalion were 
to be selected by a Board of officers appointed by the 
Minister, I not being myself a member of this Board. I 
have heard, though not officially, that the Minister has 
appointed similar Boards in the other Military Districts. 
At the moment of writing it looks as if I shall have no  
voice whatever in the selection of a single officer. You 
may be well assured that have I have addressed a very vigorous 
protest to the Minister concerning the humiliating 
position in which this places me, but, for the time being, 
I can do no more to advance your interests in either of  
the two directions which were discussed. 
I am writing you at once to let you know exactly  
how matters stand and to keep faith with you. 
Yours faithfully,

42 MV Tel  918 JW 
1  0/3 
TELEGRAM  918 JN 
E.T. No. 1   COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.    
POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, VICTORIA. 
B.316/3.14 - This message has been received subject to the Post and Telegraph Act and Regulations, 
C.3743. All complaints to be addressed in writing to the Deputy Postmaster-General. 
STATION FROM, No OF WORDS, AND CHECK. 
Brisbane   17. 1/1      7.28 
Colonel Monash 
St Georges Rd 
Toorak  Melbne 
Private stop Cannan commanding  
eighth infantry good man ask  
Courtney 
Bruche 
830   Reply IN-1 
JM 
[*NOTE.- The figures at the bottom represent the time lodged at 
Sending Station and time received at this Office respectively.*]

28  0 1143 
E.T. No. 3. 
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA   No.   
POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, VICTORIA   
26  
OFFICE DATE STAMP.  
C.E.T.O. 
21 SE 14 
MELBOURNE 
URGENT TELEGRAM 
  
C.4360. This message has been received subject to the Post and Telegraph Act and Regulations. 
All complaints to be addressed in writing to the Deputy Postmaster-General. 
STATION FROM, No OF WORDS, AND CHECK. REMARKS. 
35 2-7 Sec  95 Sydney   NSW   3 58 
Colonel Monash 
4th Infantry Brigade 
Victoria Barracks Melbne 
  
Confidential re Command New South  Wales battalion Major McManamey 
commanding 38th Infantry now offering stop Good type good leader 
stop Profession barrister known to Colonel  Legge 
  
McGlinn 
4 26     
J.M. Reply IN-65 
NOTE.- The figures at the bottom represent the time lodged at 
Sending Station and time received at this Office respectively

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE. 
FOURTH INFANTRY BRIGADE.  0/63 
M.60. 
VICTORIA BARRACKS, 
MELBOURNE,  21 September, 1914. 
  
Capt. C. Hill, 
5 St. James Buildings, 
William Street, 
MELBOURNE. 
  
My dear Hill, 
If you are desirous of joining the Light  
Horse, I should recommend you at once, with the least 
possible delay, to see Colonel Tivey, who is a member 
of the Board of Selection in this Military District,  
who is dealing with the Light Horse commissions. You  
probably know him, and he, you. 
I sincerely hope you will be successful. 
According to the views of the new Minister 
I am likely to have very little say in the selection  
of officers.  
Yours faithfully,

M.65.     
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE. 57/72 
FOURTH INFANTRY BRIGADE 
   
VICTORIA BARRACKS, 
MELBOURNE, 22ND SEPTEMBER, 1914. 
  
Lieut.-Colonel McGlinn, 
Thanks for your confidential telegram received  
late last night, submitting name of Major McManamey. 
I have already told you of the position of affairs 
and that the Minister has taken the selection of all officers 
out of my hands. 
McManamey had better apply direct to the Selection 
Board appointed in the 2nd Military District. 
  
Colonel, 
Commanding Fourth Infantry Brigade. 
Australian Imperial Force.