Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 2, 23 February - 31 March 1915, Part 6

CO-OPERATION OF 3 ARMS. 
In order to get full value of the 3 arms, it is necessary that 
1. Each arm should know the power and limitations of the 
other two. 
2. That in any combined operations there must be constant 
and certain communications between them. 
When the O.C. of a force decides on a certain course of action 
it is the duty of the C.R.A.  to say whether this particular 
course is or is not, the best for artillery co-operation.  If 
not, to point out in which respects, and to suggest modifications, 
and to say which course would be more favourable from 
an artillery point of view. When orders are written, for C.R.A. 
should write the artillery part insertion in the force 
orders, after they have approved by the O/C force. 
Artillery with Advance Guard. 
1. The Commander of Artillery of Advance Guard will accompany 
the A.C. Commander on the march, so that he may be constantly 
aware of his plan or changes in that plan, and get 
information. 
2. The Artillery must occupy, position to assist the Advanced 
Guard in holding ground gained, and repelling any attack 
made on it. 
3. A wide dispersal of guns is often advisable, and any  
breaking up Units must be rectified later. 
4. It is the duty of the C.R.A. advanced Guard to keep  
constantly in touch with the course of events.  If not 
with the A.G Commander he must send another Artillery
Officer to represent him 
5. The C.R.A. of Advanced Guard must tell the A.G. Commander 
if he considers more Artillery are required from the 
main body to be sent on in advance, and must have positions 
reconnoitred before they arrive. He must keep C.R.A. with 
main body fully informed of his actions. 
Artillery of Main Body. 
1. The C.R.A. will remain with the O.C. forces, or must leave 
a Staff Officer to represent him. 
2. If a deployment of Infantry is intended, he must point out 
to O.C. Force to what extent and from what position he 
can cover that deployment, and must be ready to engage 
hostile artillery which might delay that deployment. 
3. His task is to be able at once to bring fire to bear on  
any hostile movement or artillery which might delay or 
interfere with the advance of his infantry.  To do this, 
he must know direction and limits of infantry units, and 
keep himself constantly informed of their positions. 
4. He must leave some R.A. representative with each body or 
troops he is supporting. 
5. It may be often possible and necessary to use the Brigade 
telephone cart to lay a line from Infantry Brigade H.Qrs 
to Artillery Brigade H.Qrs.

(2). 
6. When the infantry reach a point where the effect of the 
enemy's rifle fire begins to be seriously felt, their 
forward movement depends on covering fire being 
effectively developed by guns, machine guns and rifles in 
combination.  The C.R.A. must have a thorough grasp of the 
tactical situation, and appreciate fully the needs of the 
infantry. 
7. If units of the 3 arms are associated for a distant  
tactical operation they should be under one commander. 
This means that Artillery are frequently placed under the 
orders of an Infantry Brigadier, for a distant tactical  
operation ( such a flankGuard) but does not absolve the 
C.R.A. of that unit from keeping the C.R.A. of Main Force 
informed of his movements and objectives or from 
co-operating with cross or oblique fire. 
Infantry with Artillery. 
1. The Commander of an Infantry Unit must keep himself 
informed as to 
a. What support he can expect from the artillery. 
b. Where he can find them. 
c. Where the small are portion of Brigade 
Ammunition Column is and leave an 
officer with it. 
2. He must give the Artillery Officer sent with him early 
information of his plans or changes in those plans. 
3. He must remember that one 6 gun 18 pr battery can, if 
necessary, place 18,000 bullets a minute in any required 
area, and that if any area has been registered by hostile 
artillery that is the volume of fire to expect, and that 
unless his artillery can neutralize this fire, heavy losses 
will be incurred. 
4. Infantry must be warned not to pass close in front, or lie 
down near guns in action, whether actually firing or not. 
Many accidents have occurred by neglect in this respect.

AW March 15 
NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN DIVISIONS. 
FOURTH (AUSTRALIAN) INFANTRY BRIGADE. 
  
OPERATIONS STANDING ORDERS 
by 
COLONEL J. MONASH. V.D., 
COMMANDING FOURTH (AUSTRALIAN) INFANTRY BRIGADE. 
"Published under paragraph No. 1884, King's Regulations" 
A. The following orders are promulgated:- 
(a) to save frequent repetitions in 
Operation Orders. 
(b) to secure uniformity of action by all 
Commanders within the Brigade. 
B. These Orders apply to all Operations of War, except 
when expressly varied in Operations Orders, or in special 
instructions issued from time to time. 
C. Any permanent variations will be promulgated in 
writing, and will be entered upon all copies in the 
possession of Units. 
D. Where anything contained in these orders appears to 
conflict with Army Corps or Divisional Standing Orders 
the latter are to be taken as paramount. 
AMMUNITION.   1.  -  Small Arms Ammunition, 120 rounds per man, will be 
carried by every soldier armed with a rifle. Deficiencies 
will be made good at every opportunity from Regimental 
Reserves. 
2.   For each Machine Gun there will be carried 3500 rounds 
with the gun, and carried 8000 rounds per gun in the G.S Limbered 
Waggon accompanying the Machine Gun Section. 
3.  -  In each of the five G.S. Limbered Waggon with the 
Battalion there will be carried 8000 rounds, and on each 
pack animal 2000 rounds. 
4.  -  These several reserves will be replenished from the 
Brigade Ammunition Reserve or from the Artillery Brigade 
Ammunition Column, as the case may be, at every opportunity. 
5.  -   The Regimental Sergeant Major is responsible for the 
Regimental Ammunition Reserve Waggons. He will have

permanently detailed to him two cyclist orderlies, for  
communication. 
6.  -  The Company Quartermaster Sergeant is responsible for 
the two Company Ammunition pack animals.  He will have 
permanently detailed to him two orderlies for communication. 
7.  -  The Brigade Ammunition Reserve consists of two Limbered 
G.S. Ammunition Waggons from each Battalion, i.e 8 waggons 
in all.  The same vehicles, horses and personnel will 
always be detailed for this purpose.  This reserve will be 
under the command of the Transport Officer of the 15th 
Battalion, who will report to and march with Brigade 
Headquarters, whenever there is any probability of battle. He  
will be assisted by the Transport-Sergeant of the 14th 
Battalion, who will be normally employed to proceed to and 
maintain communication with the Artillery Brigade Ammunition 
Column (small arms section) allotted to this Brigade.  The 
O.C. Brigade Ammunition Reserve will draw from the nearest 
Battalion two cyclist orderlies for communication.  He is 
responsible for keeping in touch with Brigade Headquarters 
to ascertain the plan and development of the action. 
8.  -  The first position of the Brigade Ammunition Reserve 
will be notified in Operation Orders.  Subsequent positions 
will be notified by field messages from Brigade Headquarters; 
but this will not relieve the O.C. Brigade Ammunition Reserve 
from maintaining communication with all four Battalions and 
with the Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column. 
9.  -  Whenever action is probable, every soldier will be 
issued with an additional 80 rounds of ammunition from the 
Regimental Reserves, the same to be immediately replenished 
from the Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column. 
10.  -  Ammunition Bandoliers when not actually issued to the 
man, will be kept filled with 50 rounds, ready for issue full.

MACHINE GUNS.   11.  -  An Officer is nominated in Routine Orders as Brigade 
Machine Gun Officer.   Whenever two or more Machine Gun Sections are ordered to be brigaded, he will take command 
of same to operate as directed. On the march and in 
quarters he will be with Brigade Headquarters. 
12.  -  Machine Guns will be maintained in a state of 
readiness for immediate action. Although normally each 
section marches at the rear of its Battalion it will be 
prepared to go forward to the head of the column or to 
join the main or vanguard so as to come into action to 
cover a deployment, or otherwise. 
ENTRENCHING   13.  -  The regimental reserve of entrenching tools is in
TOOLS.   charge of the Regimental Sergeant Major, and will when 
necessary be supplemented from the Brigade Reserve. The 
Brigade Reserve of Tools will normally be with Brigade 
Headquarters, but during action with the Brigade Ammunition 
Reserve (unless some other position is expressly 
detailed in orders) in both cases in charge of the O.C. 
Brigade Ammunition Reserve, who will issue same on demand. 
All tools so drawn must be returned to the Brigade Tool 
Reserve at the first opportunity after completion of the 
work for which they were required. 
PREPARATIONS    14.  -  Whenever a plan of action is decided upon, Battalion
FOR ACTION.  Commanders with Adjutants will join the Brigadier, to receive 
orders and to make a personnel reconnaissance of the ground. 
The movements of the units in the directions of the places of
assembly or places of deployment must not thereby be arrested 
or retarded. 
Upon receipt of orders for action the Adjutants will 
ride back to guide the Battalions to the allotted positions, 
and the senior Majors and Company Commanders will ride forward 
to join the Battalion Commander to receive orders and to 
make a personnel reconnaissance of the ground.

INFORMATION   15.  - It is the duty of the Commander of every Brigade Unit 
AND INTER-  throughout an action to keep Brigade Headquarters informed
COMMMUNICATION.  of the position of his Unit Headquarters, and of every change 
in its position. He is also responsible for doing everything 
that is possible to keep all means of communication 
intact.  He will send a representative of his Battalion to 
Brigade Headquarters during every action. (See I.T. Section 
119.) 
16. - It is also his duty to keep in close touch with the 
action of neighbouring units, whether forming part of the 
Brigade or not;  and to keep them acquainted with what his unit 
is doing. To enable him to carry out these functions. 
efficiently he is justified in specially detailing Officers 
and selected N.C.O's to assist in effecting and maintaining 
these communications. 
REPORT CENTRE.   17.  -  The Brigade Section of the divisional Signal Company 
normally marches at the place designated in Operations Orders 
as the "report centre", and normally bivouacs with Brigade 
Headquarters.  The Section is the report centre for the 
receipt of reports and field messages, and the Officer or 
N.C.O. in charge is responsible for the receipt and recording 
of all reports, messages and orders and for their transmission 
to the Brigade Staff if temporarily absent from the 
report centre. 
PROTECTION.  18.  -  Whenever a portion of the Brigade is detached on 
protective duty such as Advance Guard, Flank Guard, Outposts 
etc., Officers Commanding the Units left with the main body 
or in bivouac will do everything possible to supply to the 
Officers Commanding the units of the protective detachment, 
on their demand, spare ammunition, food and water, and 
essential transport (if deficient) to enable them to proceed 
on the detached duty fully equipped with the minimum of 
delay.  Such deficiencies can be replenished at greater

leisure by the units remaining behind.  
On the march and during halts, all units are responsible 
for their own local protection;  observation posts should 
generally, be sufficient. 
MARCHES.  19.  -  Unless the tactical situation renders it undesirable, 
every unit will halt at 10 minutes before every clock hour 
and will resume the march at the clock hour. 
20.  -  All units will march well closed up. Advantage will 
be taken of all halts and temporary checks to close up distances. 
21.  -  At each hourly halt and at any intermediate halt other 
than a temporary check each Battalion will send a mounted 
Officer to the Brigade report centre to ascertain if orders 
are about to be issued. 
22.  -  Troops will invariably march at ease unless otherwise 
ordered. 
23.  -  During halts on the march and on arrival in bivouac, in 
the absence of picquets, Commanding Officers will picket all 
sources of water supply contiguous to their positions. 
24.  -  As soon as it is known that the Brigade has halted for 
the night, each Battalion will send a representative to  
Brigade Headquarters for orders. 
TRANSPORT.   25.  -  Each Battalion will detail a permanent escort for all 
its vehicles, as under:- 
One N.C.O. in charge of the whole escort. 
For each Water Cart - two men. 
For each other vehicle (except the waggon 
carrying the Machine Guns) - one man. 
These men are available for loading and unloading duties, as 
well as for defence.  This applies to the First Line and  
Train Vehicles.  Each man is permanently detailed to a 
particular vehicle, and always accompanies same.  When the

vehicles are separated, the N.C.O. is with the Regimental 
Ammunition Reserve Vehicles. 
26.  -  Similarly, the 13th Battalion will permanently detail 
1 lance-corporal and two privates, and the 16th Battalion 
will detail 3 privates, as escort to the 6 vehicles of Brigade 
Headquarters. These men will be permanently detailed to 
particular vehicles by the Brigade Quartermaster Sergeant. 
27.  -  The escort personnel, provided in paras 25 and 26 is 
forbidden to ride on the vehicles, or to place arms upon  
them. 
BRIGADE   28.  -  Whenever the Brigade is detached from the Division and is  
TRAIN.  marching or operating as a detached force the Train Vehicles 
of the Brigade will remain under the command of the O.C. 
Brigade Train, but the escort to these vehicles, as above 
detailed, together with any additional escort which may be
detailed in Operation Orders, will be under the command of 
the officer detailed in Operation Orders as "O.C.Escort to 
Train".  This officer is charged with the security of the 
train from attack.  When not otherwise formed or employed 
for defensive purpose, the escort, (other than the one man 
or two men marching with each waggon) will march in fours in 
rear of the Brigade Train Vehicles. 
BILLETS &   29.  -  In bivouacs or billets, commanders of units are 
BIVOUACS.  responsible for their own local protection, discipline, alarm post 
and for the condition of readiness to turn out of their units, 
also for notifying Brigade Headquarters of the exact position 
which they will occupy during the hours of darkness. 
30.  -  Two orderlies from each Battalion, who are acquainted 
with the location of Battalion Headquarters, will be sent to 
Brigade Headquarters and remain there during the hours of 
darkness. Rations and ammunition for these orderlies
will be arranged regimentally.

31.  -  Troops must not be permitted to move during night 
beyond the limits assigned for the Billeting or Bivouacing 
area of their unit.  Whenever details or bodies of troops move, 
by authority, out of their arms, they must be fully armed. 
32.  -  Each Battalion will detail, when in Billets, for its 
own lines, a fire picquet consisting of 1 Officer, 1 N.C.O. 
and 20 men. 
33.  -  Each Battalion will also detail, when in Billets, a 
picquet of one N.C.O. and 10 men to report for police duty 
to the Sergeant of the Brigade Headquarters Mounted Military 
Police. 
34.  -  When in Bivouacs or Billets arms must not be piled, but 
each man must have his rifle within reach. 
SUPPLY.  35.  -  As soon as the location of the bivouac or billets has
been determined each unit will detail a mounted officer to 
proceed to the Train and conduct the Baggage and Supply 
Waggons to the bivouac of his unit.  All vehicles will carry 
the distinguishing colors of the unit so as to be recognisable 
at a distance. 
36.  -  When supply waggon arrive at bivouac or billets, they 
must be unloaded with the utmost despatch, to enable them to 
return without delay to refilling point. 
37.  -  Every advantage will be taken of empty supply waggons 
to evacuate the sick and wounded, and to send to the rear spare 
arms and equipment. 
38.  -  Water bottles will invariably be filled overnight in 
readiness to leave Bivouac or Billets. Men must be trained 
to use water most sparingly, and to accustom themselves to 
depend only on the supply carried by themselves.  Water Carts 
will not be used to replenish waterbottles  except with the

express permission of the Battalion Commander. 
39.  -  The greatest care must be exercised by all Officers 
as to the quality of the water used for drinking and cooking, 
and for replenishing waterbottles and water carts. Whenever 
possible, the source of supply must be medically examined, 
and all water boiled before use. 
40.  -  The Officer sent forward by the Battalion for billeting 
duty will prepare an allotment of water for his unit, not 
overlooking the interests of units downstream. He will take 
steps to safeguard by sentries the drinking water from local 
contamination. 
RATIONS.  41.  -  When troops move from Bivouac or Billets each soldier 
will carry, whenever available, sufficient food for 24 hours. 
The emergency ration will invariably be carried in addition, 
but is never to be used without the permission of the senior 
officer present. 
DAILY STATES.  42.  -  The daily State will be rendered to Brigade Headquarters 
15 minutes before the time named for the march of the first 
unit to move from Bivouac.  In the case of unit moving 
out independently the its State will be rendered 15 minutes before 
the unit moves. 
If no movement takes place before that hour, the Daily 
State will be rendered at 7a.m. 
TIME.   43. - Official time is kept by the Brigade Major, and watches  
will be checked at every opportunity.