Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 2, 1 February - 23 February 1915, Part 8

APPENDIX "J"
TRANSPORT    "A38"    ("ULYSSES").

--- LOG RECORDS. ---

                     
J.P. Mc Glinn 
Lt. Colonel, 
Bde. Major. Fourth Infantry Bde, 
Australian Imperial Force 
S.O. 2^nd  Aust Convoy 

17/18/2/15 

1. B.M. read G & S. Ideas
2. Brown O.C. Narrative
3. White O.C.  do
4. Brown Umpire
5. White Umpire

----------------------- 
My Sum up 
  
A. Discuss problem & solution 
B. My decision | no surprise 
                            | Brown advantage on left 
C. Brown - Reconnaissance yesterday 
     March 2. to 6 = 3½hrs - 4 miles 
     30 
D. White. delay at start | reading S.1 to C.os 
                   delay tools 
                   orders not understood 
                   too extended 
                   weak right 
                   insufficient observation 
E. details - see notes 
F. Examine Trenches

13^th B^n.    No.1 
  
1:55  Detail (Signaller, Cyclists) 
         struggling onto parade late - keeping 
         remainder waiting 
2-13 Not marching at ease 
        No pioneers or signallers in front 
        packs worn too low 
        M.G. was behind instead of 
        in front of M.G. Dct. 
        No guard to Water Carts (2) 
         or any Vehicles 
         No flags on Vehicles 
         G.S. Waggons badly stacked 
         Supplies were in front instead 
         of behind baggage 
3.45  White force halts 300^x E. of Tower 2 

N^o 2. 
  
4-7 White Transport moves S. off road 
4.12. C.O commences reconnaissance  
         on Tower Hill, without a screen or any 
         protection  
         General special Ideas not read 
         to all officers. Consequently Co Gunrs 
         lost opportunity of reconnaissance 
4.24. Co. Cⁿ  called forward by C.O 
4.26. S. & Sper. Ideas read to O.C. C^os 
4.30  1 C^o from left of Adj 
          1 C^o in front 
          1 C^o on right 
          1 C^o in Reserve 
4.35  C.O. goes along front with C.C.'s 
          shared allot sections & let C.Coy go 
          ahead

N^o 3. 
  
Edmonds S of Rd & across Rd A 
March from pt N of R^d B 
Forsyth in North end ½ C 
  
4.40 Adjutant allots tools to 3 Coy  
& M. Guns 
4.52 Reserves D & ½ C E of ridge 
         on which Tower is 
_______________________________ 
4.55 Orders to C. Coy. completed 
5.07 A C^o  working party move up 
         to dig 
5.15  a few patrols in position 
        on left, not nearly far enough 
        out. 
5.22  A. C^o dos drill of setting 
         out tasks very badly 
5.30  Patrols in front far too 
          near in

5 
  
6.5  Platoons scattered 
        all over the plain 
6.15 Many matches struck 
        showing positions of trenches 
         [[Brnrche?]] gives order at 6.15 
------------------- 
Night  Tools left scattered 
             Tools left dangerous 
             Too much talking 
             Too much challenging

No. 4 
  
5.35  5 patrols at last 
          going forward in centre 
          Many trenches & rifle pits started 
          without men investigating their field 
          of fire 
5.45.  B. C^o  centre trenches 
           badly enfiladed from due West 
  
Tools could have distributed 
while reconnaissance was going 
on 
____________________________________ 
Position far too extended, out 
to right 
____________________________________ 
Filling in Old trenches A. front 
of B very good 

4.10  all stand to arms 
4.20 first single shot 
5.03. Heavy Firing S. end 
5.50. Attack begins N. end 
____________________________
Attack missed its chance 
of darkness 
  
At moment fight stopped 
Brown had advantage 
because White's right - went  
but - White in act of reinforcing 

Copy for Chief Umpire. 
  
AW 
Copy N^o 9. 

FOURTH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE. 
TACTICAL EXERCISE FEBRUARY 17/18./1915 

SPECIAL IDEA WHITE 
(in sealed envelope to be opened at 4p.m. on February 
17th, 1915).

Your Battalion, which is the Advanced Guard of a 
Force marching West along the Suez Road, has reached 
Tower No. 2 at 4-30p.m. on Wednesday, February 17. 
  
You there receive the following message from the 
G.O.C. White Force : - 
"Bivouac in vicinity of Tower No. 2 AAA. 
"Throw out outposts and select and 
"prepare a defensive position in anticipation 
"of an attack during the night 
"from the direction of Aerodrome." 

---------

AW 

FOURTH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE. 
TACTICAL EXERCISE FEBRUARY 17/18. 

SPECIAL IDEA BROWN. 
(in sealed envelope to be opened at 4p.m. on Feby. 
17, 1915).

  
At 4-30p.m. on Wednesday, February 17, at Aerodrome 
Camp you receive the following message from the Brigadier :- 
  " A White Force, estimated at about one 
  " battalion, marching West from Suez has 
  " halted in the vicinity of Tower No. 2, 
  " and is making preparations to bivouac 
  " there.- AAA.  You will forthwith carry 
  " out daylight reconnaissance with an 
  " officer's patrol of 20 men, in the direction 
  " of Tower No.2 with a view to an 
  " attack tonight.- AAA.  The 14th Battalion 
  " will carry out a night march, 
  " advance and attack on enemy's bivouac; 
  " attack to be delivered at 5a.m. on Thursday 
  " February 18." 
  
(NOTE:-  The reconnaissance on February 17th must not 
               approach closer than 600 yards to Tower No. 2 
               and must halt and retire when fired upon).