Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 2, 23 February - 31 March 1915, Part 10
FIELD MESSAGE.
TO M . R . Brigade .
No. G 99 15th March 1915. White
THE ENEMY HAS RETIRED SOUTH OF ZAHR BAADEIN WHICH POSITION IS
APPARENTLY HELD BY A COVERING FORCE AAA THE M. R. BRIGADE WILL
ATTACK THIS COVERING FORCE WITH THE OBJECT OF DISCOVERING THE
ENEMY'S DISPOSITIONS TO THE SOUTH OF ZAHR BAADEIN.
Reports to FLAGSTAFF HILL.
ARMY HEADQUARTERS.
A.B.C. Gen. Staff.
EL MARG 3 a.m.
White
NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
INTER-BRIGADE FIELD OPERATIONS.
MONDAY, 15th MARCH, 1915.
Reference Map of Egypt 1:50,000 MUDIRIA QALIUBIA. Sheet Corrected 1914.
GENERAL IDEA.
NORTHLAND (WHITE) is at war with SOUTHLAND (BROWN).
SPECIAL IDEA (WHITE).
A severe battle took place yesterday, 14th March, about the SUEZ
ROAD between HELIOPOLIS and TOWER NO. 3.
From information received from spies, it appears that, though
undefeated, BROWN'S morale was so shaken that he has withdrawn a
portion of his troops for the purpose of re-organization.
A WHITE FORCE, strength as under, is ordered to drive in his
covering force in order to gain information as to the situation.
WHITE FORCE.
Commander - Colonel A.H.Russell, A.D.C.
Troops - N.Z.Mtd Rifles Brigade and one 18 pr Battery.
INSTRUCTIONS.
The above force will wear white hat bands.
The above force will rendezvous at road junction NORTH of TRAMLINE,
Square F-9 at 7 a.m. on Monday, 15th March.
No one is to be SOUTH of the SUEZ ROAD before 7.30 a.m. at which hour
operations will commence.
At the rendezvous Field message No. G.99 will be handed to the O.C.
WHITE FORCE by the Chief Umpire.
10 rounds blank S.A.A. will be carried per rifle.
Casualty screens will be displayed.
Two Ambulance Wagons, each drawn by six horses, will accompany the
above Force.
Casualties are to be practised.
All 1st Line Transport is to be doublehorsed.
Bayonets are not to be fixed at any time during these operations.
Opposing forces will not approach within 50 yards of each other.
No operations to take place EAST of the line I-J.
My Umpire Notes 15/3/15
White Force (Russel - M. Rifles)
Orders handed over 6.48 am.
"Wellington Rgt won the advance - direction
Virgin's Breast, pt 195
patrol round Coombe Hill I shall
Several enemy scouts observed at 7 am. at
Virgin's Breast & to North
at 7.15 a body of led horses going South was to
west of Virgin's Breast
Screen starts at 7.29 - before time.
7.42 Screen firing or under fire
Brigadier dismounts & observes
Awkward place to Concentrate & time
taken & no concealment.
7.50 Messages re Enemy Scouts N.E & N. W. of
Virgin's Breast
7-52 Canterbury - ordered to move up to the left west at a trot
7.55. Head of Canterbury crosses Bdge
& comes in to right of advance
8.10 Enemy much exposed on Zahr
Baadein, & nearer ridges - Guns put
on to him
8.15 hold Send 1 Squadron
Auckland to support screen
immediately in front of Virgin's
Breast, & hold remainder ready
to move
8.18 Good, the way messages
reaches Brigadier, altho he
moves rapidly
8.21 - Canterbury squadron
dismounts prematurely
8.30 Mounted officers in firing
line
8.35 We nip across to Virgin's
Breast
Canterbury Horses exposed
8.52 Brigadier dictates fresh
orders at Virgin's Breast
Bgde H.Q. too far forward
too early (8.52)
Bgdr relied more on what he
could see himself than upon
reports
8.55 Orders to Arty. to switch
on to 195 Hill when Auckland
& Canterbury attack.
9.04 - Excellent signalling & despatch
service
9.06 White battery in action against
a squadron moving in close
formation across the front at
a walk
9:15 - Up to now no sections
attempt to carry out the task
to get information. -
9:20 - Auckland sweeping
eastwards - 1 mile E of Virgin's
Breast. - While Canterbury
is going West
White Force now scattered-
along a 3 mile front - no
weight at any point
9.34 - Good artillery Targets
while enemy is reinforcing
Westward across his front
9-43 Canterbury & Wellington
pressing attack W & S respectively
9-52 Auckland Regts having
driven off enemy - retired
on foot nearly ½ mile to
their horses, instead of
bringing the horses up
10-2 Bgde H.Q. moves forward
to
10-12 at new position
10-16 Cease fire
LIGHT Horse Manoeuvres 15/3/15
"A" Form
C.M. Form A.39.
Army Form C.2121.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.
TO M.R. Brigade
Sender's Number G.99
Day of Month Fifteen
AAA
The enemy has retired south
of ZAHR BAADEIN which position
is apparently held by a
covering force AAA The M.R.
Brigade will attack this covering
force with the object of
discovering the enemy's dispositions to the
south of ZAHR BAADEIN AAA
Reports to Flagstaff Hill
From Army H.Q.
Place EL MARG
Time 3 p.m.
A.B.C. General Staff
Signature of Addressor or person authorized to telegraph in his name
ALL PACKAGES FORWARDED AT OWNER'S RISK UNLESS INSURED
DECLARATION FORM
This form should be filled up and sent to THOS.COOK & SON (Egypt), Ltd., CAIRO.
Full particulars and instructions must be stated herein, as this form will be solely acted upon for Shipping and Advising the Goods.
THOS.COOK & SON (Egypt), Ltd
GENERAL PASSENGER, SHIPPING AND INSURANCE AGENTS
Near Shepheard's Hotel, CAIRO.
Also at ALEXANDRIA, PORT SAID, SUEZ, ASSIUT, LUXOR, ASSUAN, WADI HALFA, KHARTOUM, &c.
Head Office: LUDGATE CIRCUS, LONDON, E.C.
And in all the principal towns and cities throughout the world.
Please arrange for the shipment of the undermentioned packages of which I declare the contents and value as under:-
Mail or Cargo Steamer
NOTE - The property mentioned below is entrusted to and accepted by Thos. Cook & Son (Egypt) Ltd., on the Conditions set out below, but also on the condition that all liability on the part of Thos. Cook & Son (Egypt) Ltd., absolutely ceases and determines on the property passing out of their possession.
Marks and Numbers.
Col. J. Monash.
Commdg. 4th Brigade
A.I.F.
Name and full delivery address.
Dr Rosenhain
"Warrawee"
Coombe Lane
Kingston Hill,
Surrey
England
Description of Pkg., and if tin-lined or not.
Wooden Cabin Trunk
3'x2'x14"
Not tin lined
Full description of Contents, for Customs and Insurance purposes.
State if new or used.
Clothing, uniforms, military books & accoutrements
All used
Value for Customs.
£60.0s.0d.
Separate value of each package for Insurance.
For Rates and Conditions see Back.
£60.0s.0d.
No. of Keys one
Later a similar form regarding Green Suit Case
value 7/10/0
Freight or Carriage to be charged to Consignor
Duty (if any) to be paid by Consignee
CONDITIONS.
I/We agree to and accept the conditions set forth above.
Date March 4/15
Signature of Sender John Monash (Colonel)
Address Aerodrome Camp, Heliopolis, Egypt
FOR RATES AND CONDITIONS OF INSURANCE SEE OVER.
I hereby declare that, with the exceptions above mentioned, these packages do not contain any articles liable to duty.
Signature John Monash
Date March 17 1915
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