Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 6, 12 July - 3 August 1915, Part 3

"C" Form (Duplicate).        Army Form C. 2123.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.      No. of Message

SM    11-10 p   36                                                            

RIW

E Stephen
Charges to Pay.
£.  s.  d.  
Office Stamp.
BQ      28
18.7.15.
Service Instructions.
Handed in at RIW Office 2310 m.   Received 2320 m.

TO  Col Monash 4^th Bde
Sender's Number.     Day of Month. 18^th     In reply to Number     A A A 
BM 206                          18^{th                                      _______} 

The GOC wishes to see all
Brigadiers at Div Hq ANZAC
Cove at 1100 tomorrow aaa
Ackge       BM 463

JM   
FROM   4^th Section 2315
PLACE & TIME
 

“C" Form (Duplicate).                 Army Form C. 2123.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.      No. of Message

S.M.     9.5A   
NZ  
JMC
Charges to Pay.
£     s.     d.
Office Stamp.
18/7/15   Bq
Service Instructions.
Handed in at N.  Z.     Office 9.5A  m.     Received  9 12 am.   
TO                4^th Brigade
Sender's Number    Day of Month 18th   In reply to Number      A A A                             
N Z g 581                     18th                               ______

Reference n z g 349 dated 1 July
Para 3 Bomb throwers may carry
slung rifles if they wish to
do so  AAA Those who do not
carry them are to leave their
rifles with the Regtl. Ammn
reserve.   AAA                Acknowledge BM 454

FROM              NZ & A Div
PLACE & TIME        0900
 

July 19/15
Conference at Div. H.Q
1. Gas. No doubt of it - very soon; & when we least expect it
Every man have Respirator on person. -  Sentries actually wear it, at night.
If A. Corps approves - helmets to be worn & carried.  Respirators only a make shift.
Every man to have a Helmet. and a Respirator in Reserve.
i.e. in Post Reserves.
 

Arrange gas alarms. - once or twice a day; everybody pass it on
See about the sprayers - & supply of mixture.
Train men in use of sprayers.
Impress seriousness on all men.
 

2. Heavy Howitzers - spherical shells 10" to 11" - with steep descent.
 

3. Cholera.
4. Bomb carrying - go ahead & make our own carriers.   XX
 

5. Consider advances over rough country by night. - ? small columns 
Should they stop to fire ?
6. Guides for night operations
Use of Compass ? Qualified Compass Officers ? Supply of Compasses ?
Train Connecting files - specially select men.
7. Method of issuing from Trenches - cutting of steps - bridges.
8. Make men shave.
9. Secrets not to be discussed.
10. Notify quantity of Picks & Shovels in our custody, & shortage.
11. Turkish rifles go to Belgium.
12. Silencers & Telescopic sights are coming from England, a few only.
[[Bmq met?]]

SPECIAL ARMY CORPS ORDER.
ANZAC COVE, 19th July, 1915.
We have recently received information that at a Council of War
held among the Turkish leaders, it has been decided to send another
100,000 men to the Peninsula and to make a final tremendous attack
upon the British troops here.  Whether such an attack is likely to
be delivered mostly upon us or upon Cape Helles we cannot say, but as
we are the weaker force it is quite possible they may think they can
drive us out of our trenches, if they can only come in large enough
numbers.  I am quite certain there is not an Australian or a New
Zealander who believes this, or who will for one moment allow them to
do so in whatever numbers they might come.  In fact, from my daily
visits to the trenches, I know well that you are all only longing for
the Turks to come and attack us, so as to give you yet another chance
of showing them what Australian and New Zealand soldiers can do.
Our trenches are strong and our shooting is good, so we know
we can wait any attack with perfect confidence. The only thing we
have to remember is to be fully prepared for it in every way, and to
be fully determined to destroy every Turk who appears in front of our
trenches:  accurate and rapid fire in the first instance, and if he
ever gets up to the trenches, then the bayonet.

We have to remember that we may now be faced with the brutal
contrivances of the German in the way of asphyxiating gases.  Helmets
are being served out to all ranks which give complete immunity from
this, and instructions have been given to all as to the exact proced-

ure to be adopted in the event of the enemy's attack being preceded
by asphyxiating gas.  If these orders are followed, you need have no
fear whatever of the gas, the very use of which will more than ever
determine you to wipe out an enemy who can sink to such dastardly
devices.
                                                 

W.R.Birdwood.
Lt Col

                                                                                                    44  

                                                                                             33
                                     N. Z and A. Div.
SECRET                                                                Div. H.Q.
No. N.Z.G. 623                                                      20. July. 1915
                                                                                    SECRET
To  4^th Aust Inf B^de
 

1. Following message has been received from
   G. H. Q. begins "Italian Embassy CONSTANTINOPLE
   reports that arrival of ammunition from
   GERMANY is confirmed and that great
   effort to expel us from this PENINSULA
   is to be made on 23^rd  JULY, national
   fêtē-day."

     This information may be given out to
     Battalion and Regimental Commanders
     but is to be kept SECRET by them for
     the present.
2. Meanwhile - for 22^nd & 23^rd July, all
    Army Corps and Divisional Fatigues 
    unless specially ordered, will be
     suspended; and arrangements are
     to be made to substitute, as far
     as possible, pack transport for

47  
32
     men in the carriage of water and 
     supplies in Brigade and lesser
     unit charge.
3.  Officers and men should be kept
     as fresh as possible between
     now and the above
     mentioned dates.

4. Every effort is to be made to
    render all posts impregnable
     

Please acknowledge receipt.

W.G. Braithwaite LtCol
G. Staff.
N.Z. & A. Div.
NOTED
M^cSharry Major    O.C.    13^th Bn
R. Rankine Major     "     14^th     "
JHCannan LtCol       "     15^th     "
H. Pope Lt Col           "     16^{th      "}
 

Ref Ga 362
Recd 1920
Ackd Bm 470
JPM^cG Lt Col
1945

 N.^o                Alexandrie, le 20 Juillet 1915
                       (P.O.B. 72)
M
                                                                                                   Doit
à A. Mayer & C^o
[Arabic]
ALEXANDRIE & LE CAIRE

          _________________
LA PLUS GRANDE & LA PLUS ANCIENNE
MAISON DE CONFECTION pour Hommes, Dames et d'Enfants
LINGERIE, CHAPELLERIE, BONNETERIE, CORDONNERIE, ARTICLES DE VOYAGE, Erc., Erc.
[Arabic]
__________________________________________________________

3 Flanels  a 24  pp  72
 

PAYĖ

                                                                                    21/7/15.
Conference of C.O's, Adjts & Staff.
 

Various papers in attack
1. Secret notice re attack July 23 - Ammunition √
                                                                 Keep men together. √
                                                                 Allow leave sparingly - very √
                                                                 pull things together. √
                                                                  map, N^o men √
2. Gas attack.   Serious nature
                             Certainty to come √
                              Respirators √ Helmets
                              Helmets√ issue & carry - Respirators√ in C^o or Bⁿ Reserves
                               Gas alarms√
                               Syringes - liquid 3 gals -. √
                                Impress seriousness on all ranks. √
3  Future offensive   Advances in small columns.
                                        No fire action
                                        Qualified Compass Officers - Supply of Compasses  
                                        Night guiding
                                        Connecting files
                                        Picks & Shovels
                                        Sharpening of Bayonets
 4. General Routine - Non-exercise of authority by Officers & N.C.Os
                                         Quiet at night
                                          Shave 3 times week
                                          Bad language
                                          Markings on Jackets
 

5. Secrets - not discussed √
6. Turkish rifles collected.
7. Bomb carrying √
8. Imbros Battalion√ - & leading at night
9. Condition√ of Rifles
10. Presents for √ A.M.C.- 

NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
N.Z.G. 623.                                                        Divisional Headquarters,                                                                            
                                                                             Anzac Cove, 21st July, 1915.
 

In continuation of Memo. N.Z.G. 524 dated 12th July, 1915
on the subject of dealing with gas attack.

1.  Should the enemy release the gas from cylinders, the same
     procedure will be followed as in dealing with guns projecting
     shells containing gas, namely, bringing our gun fire to bear
     on the sight site of the cylinders as quickly as possible.
2.  It may happen, however, that the cylinders are employed close
     to our trenches or they cannot safely be reached by our guns.
     In this case they will be within reach of our bomb mortars
     or hand grenades.
     All ranks will therefore be warned that if a gas attack
     is begun from close range, they are to make every effort to
     locate the places in which the cylinders are being used, and
     smother it with bombs, at the same time giving notice to the
     Garland, 3.7" and Japanese mortar bomb squads, and to the
     nearest artillery observer.
     A well aimed Lotbiniere bomb will probably be as effective
     as anything in upsetting the enemy's gas apparatus, and so 
     liberating the gas in the enemy's own trenches.

3.  In addition to the method of giving warning of the approach
     of gas referred to in N.Z.G. 524 para. 3, the use of a gong
     made of an empty shell case in each post is suggested.
 

(Sgd) W.G. Braithwaite, Lt-Col.
General Staff,
N.Z. & A. Division.

Copy No. 7
OPERATION ORDER No. 9
- By -
Major- General Sir A.J. Godley K.C.M.G.
Rec'd 2050 21/7/15
Commanding New Zealand and Australian Division.
ANZAC COVE, Gallipoli.
21st July 1915.
1.
INFORMATION    Information has been received that a Turkish attack
                   in force may be expected on the 23rd July - the Turkish
                   Constitution Day : but that it may be delivered earlier.
2.                 Section and Brigade Commanders will take the
                    following steps  :   
                   (a)  Regimental, Post and Brigade Reserves of Ammunition
                         to be completed :  pouch ammunition to be made up to
                         at least 200 rounds per rifle (3,500 per machine gun).
                  (b)  Bombs and Grenades to be brought up to the following
                         minimum numbers :-
                               Japanese Bombs                 40 per gun.
                               Garland Bombs                    50   "       "
                               3.7" Bombs                            120   "       "
                        Hand grenades         
                              No. 3 Section               800
                              No. 4       "                      800
                        In view of the fact that there may be difficulty
                        in sending up bombs to Posts during a general attack,
                        Section Commanders will increase the Post Reserves
                        of Bombs up to probable maximum requirements.
                        Lotbiniere bombs to be kept especially for use
                        against gas cylinders - 4 per Post in No. 3 Section,
                        and 8 on Russell's Top in No. 4 Section.
                        Arrangements for lighting bombs will be completed - 
                        bomb sticks will be lit just before the moon sets
                        (vide Para 4) : an ample proportion of bombs will be
                        kept up in the fire trenches within easy reach of the 
                        bomb throwers.
                  (c) Materials for oil and tow flares and ship's flares

(2)
will be drawn sufficient to light the fronts exposed
to attack for three hours. Motor headlights
and acetylene flares will be kept ready for instant
use.
(d)               All xxxxx^anti-gas arrangements are to be perfected.
(e)               All fatigues not considered absolutely essential
             are to be knocked off from 4 p.m. on the 22nd inst.
3.
COMMUNICATIONS         The O.C. Divisional Signal Company will see that
                                telephonic communication between Section Headquarters and
                                Posts and between Section Headquarters and Divisional
                                Headquarters are in good order and the wires as far as
                                possible protected from the enemy's fire. He will also
                                arrange for and test lateral communication along fire and
                                support trenches.
4.
Standing to
arms.              All troops will stand to arms 10 minutes before
                          the moon sets on the night 22/23 and 23/24 for half an
                           hour, and again at 3 a.m.  A likely hour for attack
                           will be as the moon goes down.
                           The following approximate timings of moon set and
                           daylight are given :-
                            Night of           21/22               22/23                   23/24                  24/25  
                            Moon sets       11.13 p.m.       11.54 p.m.             0.25 a.m.          0.54 a.m.
                            Daylight  -       Light enough to distinguish objects
                           about 3.30 a.m.
5.
NAVAL SUPPORT   Arrangements for Naval support are as follows :-
                               Right Flank. Day.  R.M.S. TALBOT and HUMBER. Station
                  South of Gaba Tepe. Target. Searching valley 224 C to S
                  and slopes to East of it. These vessels will arrive
                  within from two to three hours of receiving warning, one
                  or more destroyers assisting by fire as far as possible.
                             Night.   The same vessels, on station
                  throughout the night 22/23rd and 23/24th - ready to
                  open fire on first sign of attack and destroyer illuminating 
                  right flank.