Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 1, 6 January - 31 January 1915, Part 5

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TRANSPORT "A31" 
JOINS CONVOY. 
10.    At 2p.m. on 1st instant, Transport "A31" ("Ajana")  
from Fremantle joined the Convoy. 
  
DEATH ON TRANSPORT  
"A30". 
11.(a)    Early on the morning of the 1st instant, a signal  
message was received from Transport "A30" ("BOTda") to the  
effect that No. 481, Private Benjamin William Acreman,  
of the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, had died at 5  
o'clock that morning from typhoid fever.   At 11a.m. the  
transports of the Convoy stopped engines and all troops 
stood at attention while the body was committed to the deep.  
  
(b)    The late Private Acreman's address was recorded  
as  "Newmarket Road, Wallston, Brisbane" and intimation of  
his death was conveyed by the Principal Transport Officer  
in a radio-telegraph message to the Navy Office, Melbourne, 
on 3rd instant. 
  
SMALLPOX CONTACTS. 
12.    At 10-30p.m. on 1st instant, a radio-telegram was  
received from Fremantle stating that three of the crew on  
Transport "A40" were to be regarded as contacts in connection  
with a smallpox outbreak that had occurred on the 
"Runic".  In consequence of this news, arrangements were  
made to vaccinate the whole of the troops and crew,  
totalling 2900, on Transport "A40";  this work was ordered 
to be specially expedited and completion was reported on  
the 5th instant. 
  
DARKENED SHIPS. 
13.    On and after 2nd instant the Convoy moved after  
dark with all main-deck, troop-deck and cabin lights either 
extinguished or masked, and this procedure still obtains. 
  
ILLNESS OF 
MAJOR STEWART 
14.    On the afternoon of the 3rd instant, a signal was  
received from Transport "A31" ("Ajana") to the effect that  
Major Stewart of the Fourth Field Ambulance was suffering  
from typhoid fever and was seriously ill, and   on the

(*5*) 
  
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following day the signal was repeated with a request for  
the services of a female nurse. As there are not any  
nurses available in the Convoy, I signalled Lieut.-Colonel  
Beeston, the Senior Medical Officer of the Convoy, who was  
on board the "Berrima", and asked for his opinion.  Colonel 
Beeston replied that he had given certain instructions and  
would signal again next morning.  Early on the 5th Colonel  
Beeston submitted that he should go aboard the "Ajana", and  
on my approving of this course, the Principal Transport  
Officer arranged for the transfer of Colonel Beeston, which  
was safely effected at noon.  On the following day Colonel 
Beeston signalled that Major Stewart's condition remained 
unchanged, and that he would require to be invalided at  
Colombo;  arrangements have been made accordingly. 
  
ILLNESS OF LIEUTENANTS PEARCE 
AND FERGUSON, TRANSPORT "A29". 
15. (a)    On the afternoon of the 7th instant a signal was  
received from "A29 ("Suevic") reporting Lieutenant Pearce  
of the 6th Light Horse Regiment extremely ill, and asking 
that a Medical Officer be sent aboard for consultative  
purposes. Owing to the lateness of the hour, O.C.Troops  
"A29" was instructed to confer with the ship's Surgeon and  
to report later. On the following day Lieut. Pearce's  
condition had slightly improved, but late on the afternoon  
of the 9th he was reported to be extremely ill with acute  
rheumatism, while a Lieut. Ferguson, whom I cannot trace 
in Officers' list, was reported to be suffering from 
pleurisy with effusion. 
  
(b)    During the forenoon of the 11th a signal was 
received from "A29" stating it was imperative that Lieut.  
Pearce, Lieut. Ferguson and Trooper Aitken (the latter  
suffering from delusional insanity) should be landed at  
Colombo. Having in view paragraph 21 of the Military  
Board's Orders of 17-12-14 (a copy of which is in  
possession of the O.C.Troops "A29") I enquired on what grounds

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the application was made to land those patients at  
Colombo, and I directed that particulars should be  
furnished in each case.  No reply was received from  
O.C. Troops "A29" up to the time that she left the main  
Convoy on the 12th instant. 
  
ABSENCE OF 
MEDICAL 
EQUIPMENT 
16. (a)    At 12-50p.m. on the 8th instant a signal was  
received from Transport "A39" ("Port Macquarie") that  
a silver catheter was required for use in a "case of  
life and death". I caused a message to be transmitted  
to the O.C. Troops "A39" asking whether he had examined 
his medical panniers, and if not, to break the seals of  
same and report.  At 5p.m. on the same date (8th) I  
received a reply as follows :-

"No we have not any on board; we have no

medical panniers or equipments on board." 
while still later on the same date on enquiry as to the  
condition of the patient a reply was received that it  
had temporarily improved, that the urine had been drawn  
off with a rubber catheter and that they would try and  
manage to Colombo. 
  
(b)    I would direct special attention to the report of  
O.C. Troops "A39" in connection with the incident to the  
effect that no medical panniers or equipment were on  
board this ship. 
  
DELIVERY OF ORDERS 
ETC. MID-OCEAN. 
17.    On the afternoon of the 8th instant, in view of  
the then projected detachment of transports "A29", "A34"  
and "A40", of the main Convoy, arrangements were made to  
deliver orders, mails, etc., from the Flagship to these 
transports and vice versa, and for this purpose boats  
were lowered from "A29 " and "A40" at 4p.m.; the sea was 
exceptionally calm and the boats were returned to their  
respective davits 45 minutes from the time of launching.

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EATHER CONDITIONS 
18.    The weather generally has been fine throughout  
the voyage although rather hot within the tropical zone. 
Light rain, the first experienced, fell at 9p.m. on the  
6th instant but lasted only for an hour or two; steady  
rain fell early on the morning of Saturday the 9th idem, 
and continued at intervals throughout the forenoon. 
  
DEATH ON NEW 
ZEALAND TRANSPORT. 
19.    Late on Saturday afternoon, 10th instant, a signal  
was received from Colonel Bowler, Senior Military  
Officer of the New Zealand Convoy, to the effect that  
Trooper Campbell had died on the "Verdala" from pneumonia  
during the afternoon. The burial took place  
at 8 o'clock at night, the fleet stopping for a few  
minutes for this purpose.  
  
SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION  
- OFFICERS. 
20.    With a view to improving the efficiency of the  
Officers on board Transports "A38" and "A40", properly  
organised Schools of Instruction have been established  
under the Presidency of Lieut.-Colonel Burnage and  
Lieut.-Colonel Pope respectively.  So far as the Flagship  
is concerned the instruction has been productive 
of very good results; as part of the Syllabus of 
Instruction, evening lectures and discussions have  
been held, and I am pleased to report that the keenest  
interest has been manifested which cannot but have a  
very beneficial result. 
  
TRAINING OF TROOPS. 
21.    So far as the space available would permit, the  
training of the troops have been systematically carried  
out with good results. 
  
HORSES LOST 
22.  I have endeavoured as far as possible to obtain  
from the various Transports returns showing the number  
of horses lost since date of leaving first port of  
embarkation, and I append the figures in respect of

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information received under this heading :- 
     Transport                          Horses Lost. 
     "A29" ("Susvic")                                8 
     "A30" ("Borda")                                 8 
     "A31"  ("Ajana")                                  2 
     "A32" ("Tremistocles")        (No horses shipped). 
     "A33" ("Ayrshire")                              2 
     "A34" ("Persic")                   (Return not received). 
     "A35" ("Berrima")                (No horses shipped). 
     "A36"                                                    7 
     "A37"                                                    7 
     "A38" "Ulysses")                                0 
     "A39" ("Pt.Macquarie")                    5 
     "A40" ("Ceramic")               (No horses shipped). 
     "A41"                                     (Not at present with Convoy). 
     "A42"                                                    5 
     "A43"                                    (Not at present with Convoy). 
     "A44" ("Vestalia")                             14 
                            Total                            58 
  
SENIOR MEDICAL 
OFFICER. 
23.    As I have found myself frequently confronted with  
questions submitted from a number of the  Transports  
involving the need for professional advice of a responsible 
Medical Officer, I have arranged that, on arrival at  
Colombo, Lieut.-Colonel Beeston, Fourth Field Ambulance,  
will transfer from the "Ajana" to the Flagship for the  
remainder of the voyage. 
  
DETACHMENT OF 
CONVOY. 
24.    Upon the detachment of Transports "A29", "A34"  
and "A40", referred to in para. 1 (b) hereof, I promulgated  
orders to Colonel Ryrie, Senior Military Officer  
with the detachment, to assume responsible duty as such,  
as regards the execution of the orders of the Military  
Board and my several Convoy Orders. 
  
CENSORSHIP. 
25.    The orders regarding Censorship are embodied in  
my Convoy Order No. 1.  Captain Jess, Staff Captain,  
Fourth Infantry Brigade, was appointed Censor, and other  
Officers were appointed to act as Assistant Censors under 
his orders.  Up to date, upwards of 100,000 letters have  
been dealt with. 
  
HEALTH OF 
TROOPS 
26.    Generally speaking the health of the Troops has been 
excellent.  On arrival at port of final disembarkation 

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fuller particulars under this heading will be 
furnished. 
  
             (*Signed John Monash*) 
     Colonel, 
     Senior Military Officer, 
     Second Australian Convoy. 
  
ENCLOSURES:- 
    1 copy of Convoy Orders Nos. 1 to 7 inclusive. 
    1 copy of Memorandum of 29-12-14 to Commandant, 
           Fifth Military District. 
    2 sheets Flagship Log Records. 
    1 copy cablegram sent ashore at Colombo for 
            transmission prior to posting report.

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 :- 
  
1. 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, vis:- 
4 Officers 
68 others 
288 riding and draught horses. 
  
2. Above deficiencies will render the Brigade 
entirely immobile on landing at destination. 
  
3.  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.  
  
4. 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.  

13/1/15 
  
G.O.C. Colombo : - 
Brigadier General Malcolm. 
  
Governor : - 
Sir Robert Chalmers. 
  
A.D.C. Capt Nugent.

2.

13/1/15

LIST OF BOOKS.

OFFICERS MESS

13th BATTALION.  A. I. F. 
  
1.  Aiming and Firing, The Art of Instruction in                  (2 Copies) 
2.  DRILL MADE EASY (Battalion, Company, Ceremonial, Savage Warfare)  Cards 2 Sets. 
3. DON'T  The Young Officers                                                   1 Copy. 
4. DUFFERS DRIFT  The Defence of                                      4 Copies. 
5.  EXTENDED ORDER DRILL AND THE COMPANY IN BATTE                                                                                                                              2   do. 
6. FRANCO PRUSSIAN WAR, Story of (Brunker)                                                                                                                                                                   Part 1     1 Copy   
7.                 do.                           do.                                  Part 2    1 Copy. 
8.  FREDERICKSBURG, The Campaign of                                1 Copy. 
9.  GREEN CURVE The                                                                   2 Copies. 
10. GUARD AND SENTRY DUTIES                                               2 Copies. 
11. HINTS TO YOUNG OFFICERS                                                  2 Copies. 
12. HYTHE MUSKETRY COURSE MADE EASY                          2 Copies. 
13. LANDSCAPE SKETCHING, Hints On                                     1 Copy. 
14. MAGNETIC COMPASS AND HOW TO USE IT                     2 Copies. 
15. NIGHT OPERATIONS FOR INFANTRY                                   1 Copy. 
16. NIGHT OPERATIONS MADE EASY    RAPID                        Q1 ½opy. 
17. NAPOLEONS WAR MAXIMS                                                    1 Copy. 
18. PROTECTION AND OUTPOSTS                                              2 Copies. 
19. SCIENCE OF WAR (Henderson)                                             1 Copy. 
20. TRAINING OF TERRITORIAL INFANTRY                              1 Copy. 
21. TACTICS- NOTES OF EVOLUTION OF INFANTRY              1 Copy. 
22.      do.       INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY OF                        1 Copy. 
23. TACTICAL PROBLEMS, SOLUTION OF                                 2 Copies. 
24. TACTICS, ENGINEERING AND FIELD SKETCHING            1 Copy. 
  
25. WALLINGFORD AND ENVIRONS 6" SCALE MAP                          1 Copy.  
  
FOR LOAN OF BOOKS  -  
  
APPLY TO LIEUT. BINNIE OR LIEUT. BARTON (Cabin 57) 
Hours, 1.30 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 6.15 p.m. to 6.45 p.m.  
  
                                     ______________________

TRANSPORT "A38" "ULYSSES"

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