Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 1, 15 December 1914 - 5 January 1915 - Part 9
We have been given some breathing time here by Lord Kitchener for one object, and
one object only - to do our best to fit ourselves to join in the struggle to the best advantage of our country. I honestly do not think all of our men realize that this is the case. Cairo is full of temptations, and a few of the men seem to think they have come here for a huge picnic-they have money and wish to get rid of it. The worst of it is that Cairo is full of some, probably, of the most unscrupulous people in the world, who are only too anxious to do all they can to entice our boys into the worst of places, and possibly drug them there - only to turn them out again in a short time to bring disgrace on the rest of us.
Surely the good feeling of the men as a whole must be sufficient to stop this when
they realise it. The breathing time we have left us is but a short one and we want every single
minute of it to try and make ourselves efficient. We have to remember too that our Govern-
ments of the Commonwealth and Dominion have sent us here at a great sacrifice to themselves,
and they fully rely on us upholding their good name-and indeed doing much more than that-
for I know they look to us to prove that these two contingents contain the finest troops in the
British Empire, (whose deeds are going down in history), whom they look forward to welcome
with all honours when we have done our share, and I hope even more than our share, in
ensuring victory over a people who would take all we hold dear from us if we do not crush
them now.
But there is no possibility whatever of our doing ourselves full justice unless we are
every one of us absolutely physically fit, and this no man can possibly be if he allows his
body to become sodden with drink or rotten from women-and unless he is doing his best
to keep himself efficient he is swindling the Government which has sent him to represent it
and fight for it. From perhaps a selfish point of view, too, but in the interests of our children
and children's children it is necessary to keep a clean Australia as a White Australia.
A very few men can take away our good name. Will you appeal to all to realize what
is before us, and from now onwards to keep before them one thought, and only one thought,
until this war is finished with honour-that is-a fixed determination to think of nothing and
to work for nothing but their individual efficiency to meet the enemy.
If the men themselves will let any who do not stick to this know what curs they think
them in shirking the work for which it has been their privilege to be selected, then I know
well, any backslidings will stop at once-not from thoughts of punishments-but from good
feeling, which is what we want.
I have just been writing to Lord Kitchener telling him how intensely proud and well-
nigh overwhelmed I feel at finding myself in command of such a magnificent body of men as
we have here-no man could feel otherwise. He will, I know follow every moment of ours
with unfailing interest, and surely we will never risk disappointing him by allowing a few of
our men to give us a bad name. This applies equally to every one of us, from General down
to the last joined Drummer.
Will you and your men see to it?
Yours Very Sincerely,
W. R. BIRDWOOD
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.
SECOND AUSTRALIAN CONVOY.
Transport "A38"
King George's Sound,
28th December, 1914.
CONVOY ORDER NO. 5
by
COLONEL J. MONASH, V.D.,
SENIOR MILITARY OFFICER OF THE CONVOY.
ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS (URGENT).
1 (a) The following copy of Urgent Telegram received by the
Senior Military Officer on arrival at King George's Sound is
and published in order that necessary action may be taken
by all concerned :-
(b) Telegram. From Adjutant General, Melbourne.
"W8682 Commandant, Second Military District,
reports following records not received from Units
prior to embarkation. -
SECOND LIGHT HORSE BRIGADE. List Universal
Trainees.
FIFTH LIGHT HORSE. List Universal Trainees.
SIXTH LIGHT HORSE. Nominal Roll "A" Squadron
(Stop) Attestations incomplete.
SEVENTH LIGHT HORSE. No documents of any description.
FIRST LIGHT HORSE REINFORCEMENTS. No list of Trainees.
SIXTH LIGHT HORSE REINFORCEMENTS. Only attes-
tation received (stop).
No documents received from FIRST MOBILE VETER-
INARY SECTION, SECOND LIGHT HORSE FIELD AMBULANCE,
"VESTALIA", "BERRIMA" and "A42" details LIGHT HORSE
"BORDA" FIRST REINFORCEMENTS LINE OF COMMUNICATION
CORPS and FOURTH FIELD AMBULANCE documents required
duplicated attestations Nominal Roll complete files
Orders issued and List Universal Trainees. Please
obtain and transmit without delay."
2 The Senior Military Officer directs that O's. C. Troops
on respective Transports take immediate action to ensure
that information and documents required action furnished forth-
with by O's.C. Unit concerned. All documents to reach
Convoy Staff Officer on "A38" not later than 6p.m. tomorrow,
29th instant.
3 (a) Telegraphic Advice has been received from Headquarters,
Melbourne, that the following promotions have been approved:-
(b) 2ND LIGHT HORSE BRIGADE (W8619) Captains Charley,
Windeyer, Oatley, Lieutenants J.F. White, Rutledge and
Second Lieutenant Suttor to be Majors.
Lieutenants H.A.D. White, Hyman, Richardson, Second
Lieutenants Merexner and Russell to be Captains.
(c) 5th LIGHT HORSE (W8686) Captains Johnston, Righetti
and Midgley to be Majors.
(d) Promotions dated 16th December, 1914.
4 Telegraphic advice has been received from Headquarters,
Melbourne, that the following Seniority in request of
Lieutenants in Divisional Ammunition Park has been
approved viz. - Lieutenants Parry Okeden, Wynard Joss,
James, Fordyce Harvey.
CONVOY ORDER NO.5 SHEET 2.
MEDICALLY UNFIT
DETAILS, ETC. 5. (a) The disembarkation of Medically Unfit and
other
details for discharge from Transport will start
at
11a.m on Wednesday next, 30th instant , when
arrangements have been made for a boat or
boats to call at
each Transport and collect details. Medically
Unfit will be landed at Quarantine Station,
others at Albany
Town Pier.
(b) Cases of Gonorrhea are to be disembarked
only if
the Senior medical Officer on the Transport concerned
considers such a course abosolutely necessary,
but not
otherwise.
(c) O's C. Troops and O's C. Units concerned will
ensure that all preliminary steps are
immediately taken
to securing approval for discharge etc.as
details will
not be allowed ashore unless all papers are
complete.
(d) O's C. Troops must immediately advise
Convoy Staff
Officer of the approximate number of
(a) Medically Unfit
(b) Other causes,
to be discharged from their respective
Transports so as
to permit of arrangements being made for
accommodation
at Albany.
FINANCE 6. A representative of the Pay Department will
leave
Albany Jetty at 9a.m. tomorrow, 29th instant,
and visit
each Transport for the purpose of dealing
with questions
of pay, allotment, pay books, etc. etc. O's C.
Troops
to be in readiness to discuss with him all
outstanding
questions on these matters.
WASTAGE;
FILLING OF - 7. Efforts are being made to replace discharged men at
this Port by enlisted men drawn from 5th
Military District.
It is anticipated that about fifty (50) Infantry
Soldiers
will be available for the purpose. O's C. Troops
will
immediately submit requisitions for men
required to make
up deficiencies in various units.
TRANSPORT 8. Personnel irregularly embarked on
PERSONNEL. Transports is to
be transferred to proper Transports at first
opportunity
while in this Port.
OFFICERS. 9. O's C. Transports will forward so as to reach Convoy
Staff Officer not later than 2p.m. on Tuesday, 2 29th
instant, lists in duplicate showing by units the
Rank
Name and Initials of all Officers on board
respective
transports.
This information is most urgently required.
(Signed) J.P.McGlinn. Lieut.-Colonel,
Staff Officer, Second Australian Convoy.
Checked [???]
28/10/14
[?????]
28/12/14
Officers others
A. 32 19 1203
A. 41 5 119
A. 43 4 96
A. 40 78 2665
A. 35 13 1036
A. 30 5 345
A. 38 74 1978
___________________________
198 7442 Div. Trains
198 1st L.H. [????] Train
__________ 1st Signal Co.
7640 1st Signal Troop
___________ 2nd Signal Troop
Units: - 1st Depot Unit Supply
4th Inf. Bgde & Reinf 2nd " " "
1st Reinf 1st, 2 & 3 Bgdes 1st Reinf 1, 2 ,3 F. Amb
2nd Mob. Vet. Section L[??] Unit 1,2 & 3 F. CP
1st Aust Gen. Hospital L. of C. Units
2nd " " " Imp. Reservists
1st " [S???] " Field Battery
2nd " " " Field [????????]
1st " Clearing "
1st Reinf. 6th L.H
do 4th L.H
Div. [A???] Column
Div. [A???] Park
Div. Supply Col.
March of Dec 17 (contd)
Length of Columns on March
Fighting 1st Line Total
Road Space:- Battalion complete 590X 210x 800
do. H.Q alone 60x 115x 175
do. M.G. sec - 30x 30
Company 125x 15x 130
Field Amb. A & [?] Section 250x 250
H.Q. Inf. Bgde 15x 50x 65
Signal Co. No. 1 Sec. 125x 125
Road Space :- Complete H.Q. 65
Signal [????] 125
A Bns 3200
Field Amb. 250
_______
3640 x
Distances day 160 x
_______
3800 x = 2 ¼ m [?.??]
Without Transport H.Q. 15
Signal Sec _
4th Bns 2360
Field Amb _
_________
x
Confidential
DETAILS OF TRANSPORTS
-------------------------------------
Distinguish- Transport Fleet Name. Tonnage. Speed.
ing Signal. No. No.
_______________________________________________________________________
First Division.
_________________
A V B A.38 1 " ULYSSES" 14,499. 14.
A V C A.31 2 " AJANA " 7, 758 12.
A V D A.33 3 " AYRSHIRE" 7, 763. 11¾.
A V E A.36. 4 " THIRTYSIX" 5, 926 12½.
A V F A.37. 5 " THIRTYSEVEN" 5, 923 12.
A V G A. 44 6 " VESTALIA " 5, 528 11¾.
--------------------------------------------
Second Division.
_________________
A X B A.32 7 "THEMISTOCLES" 10, 925. 13½
A X C A.39 8 "PORT MACQUARIE" 7, 255 13
A X D A.43 9 "FORTYTHREE" 7, 484 12½
A X E A.42 10 "FORTYTWO" 6, 580 12½
A X F A.41 11 "FORTYONE" 5, 900 12½
-----------------------------------------------
Third Division.
_________________
A W B A. 40 12 "CERAMIC" 18, 481 15
A W C A. 29 13 "SUEVIC" 12, 481 12½
A W D A. 34 14 "PERSIC" 11, 973 13
A W E A. 35 15 "BERRIMA" 11, 120 13
A W F A. 30 16 "BORDA" 11, 120 13 -----------------------------------------------
Fourth Division.
_______________________
A N. Z. 14 17 "WILLOCHRA" 7, 784. 14
B N. Z. 13 18 "VERDALA" 5, 880 11
C N. Z. 15 19 " KNIGHT OF THE 6, 655 10½
GARTER"
-------------------------------
_________
171085
__________
96
C. R. Brewis
29/12/14
H.M.A.T. "ULYSSES",
AT ALBANY.
29th December, 1914.
Senior Military Officer,
Second Australian Convoy.
With reference to Major Midgley's
remarks, the following directions have been sent to Martin of A.43 :-
(1) Direct your Chief Engineer to provide a full
pressure of water.
(2) and (3) Not approved.
(4) Soil pipe to be made tight by Engineers or Carpenter.
(5) Special care must be exercised to prevent waste of fresh water.
C.R.Brewis
Principal Transport Officer.
Australian Imperial Force
Dec 29 1914
4th Infantry Brigade
10.40pm
Copy sent to Major Midgley
OFFICERS SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION - TRANSPORT A 36
(Vide Brigade Order No. 46.)
Chief Instructor - Lieut. Col. G.J. Burnago, V.D., C.O.,
13th Battalion.
Assistant Instructors - Major J. Adams, 14th Battalion.
Major W.W. Ellis, 13th Battalion.
SYLLABUS OF TRAINING.
Date |
Time a.m. |
Time 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. |
Time 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m |
Tuesday 29-12-14 |
Map Reading Officers to attend |
Map Reading With Paper, Pencils |
Map Reading. Protractors, Dividers. |
Wednesday 30-12-14 |
Physical Training | Free | Lecture - Battalion in Attack (Major J. Adams). |
Thursday 31-12-14 |
Semaphore Signalling |
Map Reading | Free. |
Friday 1-1-15 |
Physical Training | Free | Lecture - Outposts (O.C. Troops). |
Saturday |
Semaphore Signalling |
Map Reading | Free. |
Monday 4-1-15 |
Physical Training | Free | Discussion on Fire Discipline (Officers will be nominated to speak without previous notice |
APPENDIX "A".
Transport "A38",
King George's Sound,
12 noon, 29-12-14.
Commandant,
5th Military District.
Requested that you will be so kind as to represent
to Military Headquarters by telegraph on my behalf a precis
of following : -
- In view of Transport "A41" being detained at
Albany, owing to Bunker Fire, this Brigade and
attached units will move from this port with the
following deficiencies, viz:-
4 Officers
68 others
288 riding and draught horses. - Above deficiencies will render the Brigade
entirely immobile on landing at destination. - Requested that all possible steps be taken to
either
(a) expedite transport of above details from
Albany by "A41", when fire extinguished, or by
other means,
or (b) arrange for above deficiencies to be
made good at port of destination - so far as
concerns the horses, and for personnel to
follow at first opportunity. - I recommend that the personnel be left at Albany
for the time being in charge of the horses.
(Signed) John Monash, Colonel.
Commanding Fourth Infantry Brigade, A.I.F.
File No.
MINUTE PAPER.
(This side only to be written on.)
H.M.A.T. "ULYSSES".
AT ALBANY
30th December, 1914.
CO. , Troops,
H.M.A.T. "ULYSSES",
X" I desire to place on record my appreciation
of the very satisfactory manner in which Captains Russell,
Brache and Kellick have this day carried out the duties
assigned to them as Officers in charge of Steam Launches
in a heavy sea, without accidents, under difficult and most
unusual circumstances.
The services performed by Captain Forsyth
are also much appreciated. He carried out the duty assigned
to him in a highly satisfactory manner." X
C.R. Brewis
Principal Transport Officer.
File???
C.O. 4[[?]]
[[?]]
[[?]] A.38
[[?]] 9.45am
BRIGADE MAJOR, [[??]] INF. BRIGADE
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE
31 DEC 1914
Included in [[?]] Report
31.12.14
OC Troops 'a38'
Above has been noted for participation in
next Convey Order. Please pass to the [[?]]
Officers review, to note [[?]] to me for
filing.
J.P.McGlinn Lt Col
S.O 2nd Aust Convoy
1-1-15
[[?]]
Convoy Order
7/14
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