Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 1, 5 November - 15 December 1914 - Part 8

O. C. 4^th  Inf. Bde A. I.E. F.
I forward herewith notes re instruction
of the Brigade in Field Fortification, and hope
these arrangements will suit.
R. P. PakenhamWalsh.
Lieut. R. E.
Broadmeadows
30. 11. 14  

Notes re Instruction of 4^th Inf. Bde
in Field Fortification.

1. Lieut Pakenham-WalshR. E. will be at Broadmeadows till
Saturday Dec 5^th.
Sergt Sibthorpe R. A. E. will be available for instruction &
supervision of work at any time, if O. C. Engineer Reinforcements
is informed beforehand he will arrange with Sgt Sibthorpe
to be present.
2. The Engineers 1^st Reinforcement have constructed works of
several types near the wood N of the Camp (about 500^x away)
Other works might be constructed by the Infantry, xx near
these.
3. The works proposed to be constructed would be :-
(1^st Party 2 lengths of t 3' x 3' Fire trench traversed at
(7^x intervals, each to take 20 rifles
(2^nd Party. Lying cover with entrenching tool under service
conditions.
{*morning 8.45 to 12.15*}
(3^rd Party   3' x 3' Rifle pits each to hold 2 men arranged
(so that they could be joined into a traversed
(trench later.
(4^th Party   Sitting fire rifle pits each for 2 men, working
under service conditions with shovels, (one
man digging l & one giving covering fire.
{*afternoon 3.0 to 4.30*}
4. The work will be laid out by the instructor previously
and he will explain to the Officers, the method of
marking out, extending men on task, computation of
tasks, balancing of excavation & parapet.  He will
also explain on the ground principles of siting trenches
& obstacles both for passive & offensive defence. 

Dec/1914
Officers

N. C. O's
Orderly Sgts.
two G's for Sgt Majors.
one G for Sgt
none for Cpl.

Band

Buglers (once)
Orders.

Harrington
parade

Fall in  (twice)

Parade for
Guard

Fatigue

Alarm   twice

Fire     &c

Officer's Dress
for dinner

Sergeant's
Dinner

Officer's Dinner     Officer's wives have pudding &c

Men's dinner         Pick em up, &c | & 1^st Call

Reveille,  Retreat,  1^st post,  last post,  lights out.

Stand Fast

Double

Advance   Halt

UMPIRES' REPORT.
BROWN FORCE.
lst December, 1914.
UMPIRES:-  Major R.E.Snowden.
Capt. A.F.Richardson.
Capt. C.F.Corser.

1.  The Umpires were not informed of the instructions
and orders given to the Light Horse and Artillery.
2.  The advanced guard of the Brown Infantry moved off
from the BUNDOONA Post Office on the Upper PLENTY Road, at
11.20 a.m, and marched on a line towards MAHONEYS Road.  The
BROWN Infantry, accompanied by a section of Field Artillery,
moved by the road (unnamed) leading from the D in BUNDOORA to
the EPPING Road.
3.  The column came under fire upon entering some open
paddocks at the letter N (of yean YEAN) in YAN YEAN PIPE TRACK.
White's position was along the North side of MAHONEYS the
railway line extending from the North side of MAHONEYS Road
to the E in EPPING on the EPPING Road.  White's position at
the time (1  o 'clock p.m) was a strong one, and Brown's
Infantry and section of Artillery was under fire at about
7000 yards, and in close formation for about five minutes.
4.  No Artilllery position was taken up on COOPERS HILL.
At 11/50 a.m, a column of White infantry and his Light Horse
moving past EAST along MAHONEYS ROAD, in close formation, would
have come under effective Artillery range from this position.

AUSTRALIAN
IMPERIAL FORCE                            R Eccles Snowden Major
DEC 1  1914                                                 15^th Bⁿ 4 Bde A.I.F.
4th Infantry Brigade. 

A M C.
1 Ambulance Waggon
 

11
CONFIDENTIAL            FIRST  SCHEME - DEC 1st

TACTICAL FITNESS EXAMINATION, PART II, PRACTICAL,
near BROADMEADOWS, December 1st & 2nd, 1914.

References - Map of HEIDELBERG District, 1" to 1 mile.

GENERAL IDEA.
A Brown Force has moved West as far as TEMPLESTOWE
- BOX HILL against a White Force holding the
line from COBURG southward.

SPECIAL IDEA - BROWN.
At 10.30. a.m. you are put in command of 1
Squadron L.H. (at R of MOUNT COOPER) and 1 Battery
F.A. and 1 Battalion (at G of GREENSBOROUGH).  You are
told that the main body is moving West against White
at 11.a.m., and you are to act as right flank guard,
moving by the line of MAHONY'S ROAD.

INSTRUCTIONS.
1.  Rendezvous - As above, ready to move at, but
not earlier than, 11.a.m.
2.  "White" will wear one white arm band.
3.  Troops are to be clear of ground South of
MAHONY'S ROAD by 2.p.m. 

1
CONFIDENTIAL         FIRST  SCHEME - DECEMBER 1st

TACTICAL FITNESS EXAMINATION, PART II, PRACTICAL,
near BROADMEADOWS, December 1st & 2nd, 1914.

References - Map of HEIDELBERG District, 1" to 1 mile.

GENERAL IDEA.
A Brown Force has moved West as far as TEMPLESTOWE
- BOX HILL against a White Force holding the
line from COBURG southward.

SPECIAL IDEA - WHITE.
The Main Body is holding the line of MERRI
CREEK from COBURG southwards . As commander of the
Left Flank Guard, consisting of 1 Squadron, 1 Battery
and 1 Battalion, you are ordered to oppose any advance
of the enemy from line North of PRESTON.

INSTRUCTIONS.
1.  Rendezvous at 11 .a.m. - 1 Squadron L.H. at
"Br" on MAHONY'S ROAD.
1 Battery F.A. )
1 Battalion      ) at Cross Roads, CAMPBELLFIELD.
2.  L.H. are not to cross EPPING ROAD before 11.15
a.m.  Remainder to move not earlier than 11 .a.m.
3.  White troops will wear one white arm band each.
4.  Troops to be clear of ground South of
MAHONY'S ROAD by 2 .p.m.

11
CONFIDENTIAL     Second Scheme - December 1st

TACTICAL FITNESS EXAMINATION, PART II., PRACTICAL,
near BROADMEADOWS, DECEMBER 1st & 2nd, 1914.

References - Map of HEIDELBERG District, 1" to 1 mile.

GENERAL IDEA.
A Brown Force is holding a position from CLEAR
HILL, North of GREENSBOROUGH, to the Eastward, facing
North.  The main White Force is about 5 miles North of
EPPING.

SPECIAL IDEA - BROWN.
You are detailed to escort a convoy of 100 waggons
from the crossing of BELL STREET over MERRI CREEK, COBURG,
by the UPPER PLENTY ROAD to GREENSBOROUGH.  Troops at
your disposal, 1 Squadron Light Horse, 1 Battery Field
Artillery, 1 Battalion.

INSTRUCTIONS.
1.  Rendezvous - Escort and waggons at 2 p.m. at MERRI
CREEK and BELL STREET.  Waggons to be represented
by 4 dismounted men with red flags at intervals
of 650 yards.
2.  The whole may move at 2 p.m.
3.  The White troops will wear one white arm band each.