Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 6, 3 August - 7 August 1915, Part 4

Conflict:

First World War, 1914–18

Part of Quest:

Sir John Monash (General, b.1865 - d.1931)

Subject:

Documents and letters

Status:

Awaiting approval

Accession number:

RCDIG0000592

Difficulty:

Draft (final corrected)

COPY No. 1A

OPERATION ORDER .No. 5.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL J. MONASH, V.D.

Commanding Fourth (Australian) Infantry Brigade.

RESERVE GULLY.

August 6, 1915.

REFERENCE MAP: KURIJA DERE, 1:20000.

INFORMATION. The Brigade forms part of the NORTHERN
Assaulting Column, which comprises also the 29th (Indian)
Brigade, Engineers and Mountain Artillery.- Other formations
will operate EASTWARD of our No. 1, 2 and 3 outposts, and
NORTHWARD OF THE AGHYL DERE in square 92.m.n.
INTENTION. To make a night march and advance to the ABDEL
RAHMAN BAIR spur, to be followed by the occupation of
KNOLL 305 (square 93.w.) and the ridges to the NORTH and
SOUTH of same.
STARTING POINT. Head of column passes STARTING POINT -
No 5 SUPPLY DEPOT - RESERVE GULLY at 9.35 p.m. on
August 6th.
ORDER OF MARCH. Column of route in following order:- 13th
Battalion, 14th Battalion, Brigade H.Q. and signals, 15th
Battalion, 16th Battalion.
ROUTE. WEST down RESERVE GULLY to BEACH ROAD, thence NORTH along BEACH ROAD to the valley of the AGHYL DERE, thence EASTERLY, as per instructions hereunder.
GUIDES. A party of Special Guides will lead the march
throughout. The Staff Captain - with one N.C.O. and 3 men
detailed by the 13th Battalion, will accompany this party and
will:-

(a). check the general direction and position by pace and
compass;

(b) decide the positions where detachments are to be made
from the head of the column as explained hereunder.-

-2-
7. The column will proceed intact to the point in the valley
of the AGHYL DERE where the track crosses the line between
squares 92.s and 92.x. At this point the 13th and 14th
Batalions will be detached to carry out the duties of left
flank and outpost protection.

8. OUTPOSTS. Commander:- Lt. Col. L.E. TILNEY. V.D.
Troops: 13th and 14th Battalions.

Outpost line: KNOLL 100 near 92.0.9 (exclusive) to
KNOLL 100 between 92.p. and 92.u to
spur running from 92.p.9. to B in ABDEL
[*l? x*] at 93.l.9.

The LEFT flank of this outpost will be KNOLL 92.0.9
exclusive. O.C. Outposts will be responsible for getting touch
with the troops of the 13th British Division who will prolong
this outpost line to the WEST.

The right flank of the outpost line will be ABDEL RAHMAN
BAIR SPUR as far as and including the ground overlooking the
valley of the DAOUK JULAK DERE.

The outpost line will be at once entrenched, and
communications provided SOUTHWARDS into the valley of the
AGHYL DERE.
9. PRELIMINARY MEASURES. In order that the advance of the main

column may not be delayed the outpost troops will proceed as
follows:-
The 13th Battalion will march from the point named in
para. 7 above, NORTHEASTERLY along the valley leading
to the spur on which point 92 (in black) is marked ^ and will as
a preliminary measure, make good this spur as far as
92.u.6.

The 14th Battalion will march by same route, and will
move to REAR of, i.e. to be SOUTH of this spur into a
position to be decided by O.C. outposts - so as to set
in support of 13th Battalion.

As soon as this preliminary line has been made good,
the outposts will move NORTH to their final positions.

-3-
10. As soon as the above measures have been taken, the main
column will continue the advance up the valley of the AGHYL
DERE as far as the confluence of the two branches, so named,

at the line 92.x. and 92.y. From this point the advance
will be on a general magnetic compass bearing of 78⁰ , the
objective being the mound A in RAHMAN.

11. ADVANCED GUARD. During the latter phase of the advance the
head of the column will be covered by an Advanced Guard of
one company to be detailed by C.O. 15th Battalion. The
Advanced Guard will march in column of route at a distance
of 100 yards from the main body, and will throw out a line
of scouts to proceed rapidly to the ABDEL RAHMAN BAIR spur,
and to send back information as to the situation there, to
head of main body.

12. FLANK PICQUET. When the head of the column reaches the
ABDEL RAHMAN BAIR spur, C. O. 15th Battalion will detail
a picquet of 1 ~~platoon~~ Company to proceed NORTHWARDS down the spur to vicinity of E in ABDEL. The duties of this picquet are:

(a) to obtain touch with the right flank of the outposts

(b) to maintain communication within the main body.

13. MARKING ROUTE. C.O. 15th Battalion will arrange to mark the
route of the march, from the ~~confluence of the two AGHYL~~ Second E in DERE near
~~DERE-streams,~~ 92.2.1, to the ABDEL RAHMAN BAIR spur, by dropping a connecting file ^in pairs every 50 yards. The length of this section is about 21000 yards, requiring 40 men.

14.ASSEMBLY. On reaching the place of assembly, the remainder
of the Brigade will form column of companies to the right,
facing SOUTH i.e. up the spur; 16th Battalion to SOUTH of
15th Battalion; Indian Brigade to SOUTH of Australian
Brigade.

15. Orders for the assault of knoll 305 will be issued at place
of Assembly.

16. When the position has been taken, the section to be held by t

-4-
this Brigade will extend from R in RAHMAN, from KNOLL 305
(exclusive), a length of about 1100 yards. This section will
be fortified with fire, support and communication trenches.
The LEFT flank of the section will cut communications to the ~~RIG~~
RIGHT flank of the outpost line.

17. AMMUNITION. The first position of the Brigade Ammunition
Reserve will be in the VALLEY just SOUTH of 92.u.9. Later
position will be notified to all concerned.

18. REPORTS. During the advance to head of 15th Battalion; after
occupation of position to vicinity of 93.q.9.

JM McGlinn Lieut. Colonel.
Brigade Major,
4th (Australian) Inf. Brigade.

Issued at: 11 a.m.

[*TA Brigadier*]
Copy No.1 - Field War Diary
2)- 4th Brigade Staff

5 - O.C. Signals

6 - 13th Battalion

7 - 14th "

8 - 15th "

9 - 16th "

10 - Supply Depot

11 - Field Ambulance

[*T*] DRAFT (FINAL CORRECTED).

Copy No. 3

O P E R A T I O N O R D E R No. 5.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL J. MONASH, V.D.

Commanding Fourth (Australian) Infantry Brigade.

RESERVE GULLY

August 6th, 1915

REFERENCE MAP: K U R I J A D E R E D E R E 1:20000.

INFORMATION. The Brigade forms part of the NORTHERN Assulting
Column, which comprises also the 29th (Indian) Brigade, Engineers
and Mountain Artillery. Other formations will operate EASTWARD
OF OUR No. 1, 2 and 3 outposts, and NORTHWARD of the AGHYL DERE
in squares 92.m.n.
INTENTION. To make a night march and advance to the ABDEL RAHMAN
BAIR spur, to be followed by the occupation of KNOLL 305 (square
93.w.) and the ridges to the NORTH and SOUTH of same.
STARTING POINT. Head of column passes STARTING POINT - No. 5
SUPPLY DEPOT - RESERVE GULLY at 9.25 p.m. on August 6th.
ORDER OF MARCH. Column of route in following order:- 13th
Battalion, 14th Battalion, Brigade H.Q. and signals, 15th
Battalion, 16th Battalion.
ROUTE. WEST down RESERVE GULLY to BEACH ROAD, thence NORTH along
BEACH ROAD to the valley of the AGHYL DERE, thence EASTERLY,
as per instructions hereunder.
GUIDES. A party of Special Guides will lead the march throughout.
The Staff Captain - with one N.C.O. and 3 men detailed by the
13th Battalion, - will accompany this party, and will:-

(a) check the general direction and position by pace and
compass;

(b) decide the positions where detachments are to be made
from the head of the column as explained hereunder.-
The Column will proceed intact to the point in the valley of the
AGHYL DERE where the track crosses the line between squares 92.s.
and 92.x. At this point the 13th and 14th Battalions will be detac

-2-

detached to carry out the duties of left flank and outpost
protection.
OUTPOSTS.Commander: Lt. Col. L. E. TILNEY, V.D.
Troops: 13th and 14th Battalions.
Outpost Line: KNOLL 100 near 92.0.9 (exclusive) to KNOLL

100 between 92.p. and 92.u. to spur running
from 92.p.9 to B in ABDEL at 93.L.9.
The LEFT flank of this outpost line will be KNOLL 92.9.0.
exclusive. O.C. outposts will be responsible for getting touch with
the troops of the 13th British Division who will prolong this outpo
post line to the WEST.
The RIGHT flank of the outpost line will be ABDEL RAHMAN BAIR

SPUR as far as and including the ground overlooking the valley

of the DAQUK JULAK, DERE.

[*The outpost line will be

at once entrenched, and communications

provided SOUTHWARDS into

the valley of the AGHYL DERE.*]
PRELIMINARY MEASURES. In order that the advance of the main
column may not be delayed the outpost troops will proceed as
follows:-
The 13th Battalion will march from the point named in para.7
above, NORTH-EASTERLY along the valley leading to the spur
on which point 92 (in black) is marked, and will, as a
preliminary measure, make good this spur as far as 92.u.6.
The 14th Battalion will mark by same route, and will move
to ~~xxxx~~ of, i.e. to the SOUTH of this spur into a position
to be decided by O.C. outposts - so as to act in support
of 13th Battalion.
As soon as this preliminary line has been made good,
the outposts will moveNORTH to their final positions.
As soon as the above measures have been taken, the main
column will continue to advance up the valley of the AGHYL
DERE as far as the confluence of the two branches, so named,
at the line 92.x. and 92.y. From this point the advance will
be on a general magnetic compass bearing of 78°, the objective
being the second A in RAHMAN.
ADVANCED GUARD. During the latter phase of the advance the
head of the column will be covered by an Advanced Guard of

- 3 -
59

one company to be d etailed by O.C. 15th Battalion. The
Advanced Guard will march in column of route at a distance
of 100 yards from the main body, and will throw out a line
of scouts to proceed rapidly to the ABDEL RAHMAN BAIR spur,
and to send back information as to the situation there, to
head of main body.
BLANK PICQUET. When the head of the column reaches the
ABDEL RAHMAN BAIR spur, C.O. 15th Battalion will detail a
picquet of one company to proceed NORTHWARDS down the spur
to vicinity of E in ABDEL. The duties of this picquet are:
(a) to obtain touch with the right flank of the outposts,
(b) to maintain communication with the main body,
(c) to watch the country to the EAST and NORTH.
MARKING ROUTE. O.C. 15th Battalion will arrange to mark the
route of the march, from the second E in DERE near 92.s.1.,
to the ABDEL RAHMAN BAIR spur, by dropping a connecting file
in pairs every 50 yards. The length of this section is about
1000 yards, requiring 40 men.
ASSEMBLY. On reaching the place of assembly, the remainder
of the Brigade will form column of companies to the right,
facing SOUTH, i.e. up the spur; 16th Battalion to SOUTH of
15th Battalion; Indian Brigade to SOUTH of Australian Brigade.
Orders for the assault of KNOLL 305 will be issued at place
of assembly.
When the position has been taken, the section to be held by
this Brigade will extend from R in RAHMAN, to KNOLL 3005
(exclusive), a length of about 1100 yards. This section will
be fortified with fire, support and communication trenches.
The LEFT flank of this section will cut communications to the
RIGHT flank of the outpost line.
AMMUNITION. The first position of the Brigade Ammunition
Reserve will be in the VALLEY just SOUTH of 92.u.9. Later
position will be notified to all concerned.

- 4 -
REPORTS. During the advance to head of 15th Battalion; after
occupation of position to vicinity of 93.q.9. 58

JM McGlinn Lieut. Colonel.
Brigade Major,
4th (Australian( Inf. Brigade.

Issued at 11 a.m.

Copy No. 1 - Field War Diary.

3)- 4th Brigade Staff.

5 - O.C Signals.

6 - 13th Battalion

7 - 14th Battalion

8 - 15th Battalion

9 - 16th Battalion

10 - Supply Depot.

11 - Field Ambulance.

12 - O.C. Bde Amm Reserve

ANZAC Aug 6^th 3.pm 62

My dear General Monash,

In discussion with Major Newton & guides this morning
two things came up.

(1). That any counter attack from Northward on us

must come by the ~~xxx~~ road Byuk Anafarta - 305

& to will strike 7^th picquet (1 Co 7.) on lower part of

Abdel Rahman Bair - It will I think be well

to warn O.C.s both ~~and~~ of outpost battⁿ & supporting

battⁿ of this probability, and to tell

latter to have & strong support, say 1/2 Battⁿ; near

this picquet ie. towards E end of his line.

(2)_When the column passes the fork of the Aghyl

Dere I want ~~1/2~~ a platoon to be detatched & to take

up a position commanding the end of the main

ravine (where it joins the one we use) so as to block

it to any enemy who might move down it away

from Gen. Johnston, & annoy our march_ 92.y.4.

or near it wld be a suitable spot? They would

of course entrench & could rejoin unit at Dawn_

Their unit might be the supporting battⁿ to the

outposts? They might also furnish a small post

at the fork of Aghyl Dere to prevent any of

7^th B^de or of mine from going by the wrong

turning.

I am sorry to say 1/2 the Sikhs (14^th) were not

landed last night, & will not land tonight

in time to come with us.

In view of this I wish you to furnish all

outposts & supports, including picquet

at "e" in Abdel on spur & the platoon

near fork of Aghyl Dere from the 2

battalions - thus having 2 complete

battalions left for attack on 305.

Yours truly

Lt C Cox

B.G.

Please acknowledge receipt.

Last edited by:

Deb Parkinson

Last edited on:

25 July 2024, 5:23 pm

Last updated: 25 July 2024