Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 7, 8 August - 15 August 1915, Part 6

Conflict:

First World War, 1914–18

Subject:

Documents and letters

Status:

Awaiting approval

Accession number:

RCDIG0000593

Difficulty:

?9 Aug/15
Boys,
I want to thank you all so sincerely for the magnificent
work which you all have done in the continuous hard fighting you have
had since the afternoon of the 6th. I well know what a tremendous
strain this has been upon all, and with what unflinching bravery you
have on every occasion faced and dealt with the enemy.
The ~~2nd~~ 1st Australian Infantry Brigade began by attacking and
capturing the mass of trenches held by the enemy at Lone Pine by the
gallantest of charges, in which they completely routed the enemy and
drove him with the bayonet from the whole series of trenches he held
there. Ever since then the Turks have endeavoured to turn us out but
have entirely failed, though I regret to say they have caused heavy
losses among our boys. These however have been insignificant compared
with the enormous losses we have inflicted on the Turks, whose
dead are choking the trenches there and lying in piles all round
every trench.
On the left the New Zealand and Australian Division with the
Indian Brigade and the 15th Division made a night march which will
be memorable in history through the most difficult of country. They
succeeded in completely surprising the enemy in the many trenches they
hold in the lower hills, capturing one position after another with the
greatest skill and dash.
Owing to the enormous difficulties of the country we were
unable to achieve our object of capturing the whole of the crest of
the Chunuk Bair as we had wished, but the New Zealand Mounted Rifles
having cleared all the lower hills gave an opening for the New Zealand
Infantry Brigade to seize a portion of it which we now hold. The
Turks have made constant attempts to drive us out, and are sure to
continue to do this, but we all know how determinedly the New Zealand,
Australian and Indian Brigades together with the men of the 15th
Division who now hold it will hang on for all they are worth until as
we hope we completely achieve our object.
There is one thing every one of us must never forget - that
is, the enormous self-sacrificing assistance the infantry have received
throughout from every gun - Australia, New Zealand, 69th and Lowland
Brigades - in our position. They have always commenced the fight
for us by a heavy bombardment of the enemy, and when themselves most
heavily shelled by the enemy's guns, have continued to keep up their
fire without any cessation or hesitation despite all casualties. We
can none of us be sufficiently grateful to our gunners, for whom no
praise I can give is too great.
I know that every one of us will wish to express our gratitude
to the stretcher bearers who regardless of all risks daily have
exposed themselves to bring in wounded under the heaviest of fire.
Our losses I regret to say have been heavy, but that must
always be essential when strong and well defended positions have to be
taken, and we must remember that the Turkish losses have probably
been five or six times as great as ours, and that they are equally
exhausted.
The Commander-in-Chief relies upon us hanging on at all
costs to all we have gained, and making good new ground whenever we
can do so.
We have already captured nearly 700 prisoners, including
some Germans, two large German trench mortars, nine maxim guns, and
one Nordenfeldt as well as a very large number of rifles and much
ammunition.
I knew well that every member of the force means to stick
to it for all he is worth, to see this through to success and show
the Turks what much better men we are than they are.
W R Birdwood

MESSAGE AND SIGNA

^{Rec d} ^from ^By	^{Prefix........Code......Words......}				^{Sent, or sent out} ^{At...............M.} ^{By...................} ^Returned 84 ^{at.................M.}
	^Delivery	^Means ^Distance	^{Charges for} ^Delivery	^Collected ^{Paid out}
^{Service Instructions.}
^{Handed in at the Office at M. Received here at M.}
TO Bde HQ
*^{Sender's Number.}		^{Day of Month} 9^th		^{In reply to Number.}		A A A
Enemy advancing in small numbers approximately 500 on our left on front of Borders outpost line Spoke Tilney He is OK JPM^cG 0525
FROM 13^th Bn PLACE Tilneys Post TIME 0505

^{All Porterage, Redirection, or other charges collected on delivery are to be bought to accouat by me ans of Stamps affixed to the face of the}
^{form, and the particulars of such charges and of amounts paid out are to be set forth in writing above, in the space headed "Delivery" and}
^{"Charges for Delivery".}
^{* This line should be erased if not required.}

No. 28/15.
W.O. i/c.,
Australian Base Post Office,
CAIRO.
Colonel Monash enquires for two parcels,
about 8 lbs. each, despatched from London to him about middle of
June.
Please have search made for them and let
me know if they are found.
His address is O.C. 4th Infantry Brigade
A.I.F. Anzac Cove, GALLIPOLI.

C.S. Cunningham Lieut.
O.C. Aust Base Post Office.
Alexandria,

3. 8. 15.
O.C.

Aust Base.P.O.

Alexandria.
Parcels 831, 970, addressed to Col.Monash,
were forwarded to 4th Brigade Hdqrs, Gallipoli on 29th July.
H.T Butler
Lieut.
O/C.No.I.Section.
Cairo.
9/8/'15.

Army Form C. 2123.
orm. (Original). MESSAGES AND SIGNALS No. of Message

_Rec^d. _^from KO _^ByGPM	^{Prefix....................Code..........................Words....................}				^{Sent, or sent out} ^{At............................M.} ^By78 ^{Returned...............} ^{at..............................M.}	^{Office Stamp.} BQ 9/8/15
	^Delivery	^Means ^Distance	^{Charges for} ^Delivery	^Collected ^{Paid out}
^{Service Instructions.}BM 671
^{Handed in at the Office at M. Received here at}5.40^M.
TO V.T.H. Australian Bde
^{* Sender's Number.}		^{Day of Month.} 9^th		^{In reply to Number.}		^{A A A}
Enemy attacking on force on our left and on Australian right AAA Can artillery be asked to assist. Asked to fire map reference BM 671
FROM Kings Own. PLACE TIME

Army Form C. 2123.
SSAGES AND SIGNALS No. of Message.............

_Rec^d. _^from _^By	^{Prefix....................Code..........................Words....................}				^{Sent, or sent out} ^{At............................M.} ^By79 ^{Returned...............} ^{at..............................M.}	^{Office Stamp.} About 5 am?
	^Delivery	^Means ^Distance	^{Charges for} ^Delivery	^Collected ^{Paid out}
^{Service Instructions.}
^{Handed in at the Office at M. Received here at M.}
TO
^{* Sender's Number.}		^{Day of Month.}		^{In reply to Number.}		^{A A A}
About 100 Turks have come down (Koja Dere) valley left hand of knoll to N of left of 13^th (valley) Kiaajik
FROM PLACE TIME

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

^{Prefix....................Code..........................Words....................}		^Received ^{From.............} ^{By...................}		^{Sent, or sent out} ^{At............................M.} ^{To.........................} ^{By........................}	^{Office Stamp.} 82
^{£ s. d} ^{Charges to collect}
^{Service Instructions.}
^{Handed in at the Office at m. Received here at m.}
TO 4^thAustralian B^de
^{* Sender's Number}	^{Day of Month}		^{In reply to Number}		^{A A A}
artillery fire required on Square 92 U 6 there are two machine guns here
FROM PLACE & TIME Kings Own

^{* This line should be erased if not required.}
^{W.2384-583. 30,000 Pads 8/14. S. B. Ltd. Forms/C.2123.}

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

_Rec^d. _^from KOS _^ByLRin	^{Prefix....................Code..........................Words....................}				^{Sent, or sent out} ^{At............................M.} ^{By 83} ^{Returned...............} ^{at..............................M.}	^{Office Stamp.} BQ 9/8/15
	^Delivery	^Means ^Distance	^{Charges for} ^Delivery	^Collected ^{Paid out}
^{Service Instructions.}
^{Handed in at the Office at M. Received here at}0630^M.
TO 4^th Aus Bde
^{* Sender's Number.}		^{Day of Month.}		^{In reply to Number.}		^{A A A}
~~Turks advanced~~ Artillery fire required on SQUARE 92 U 6 AAA. Two hostile machine guns there 92 U 6 is within our own lines. Staff Capt is attending JPM^cG 0630 9-8-15
FROM KINGS OWN PLACE TIME

"C" Form (Duplicate). Army Form C. 2121.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message.............

	^{Charges to Pay.} ^{£ s. d.} 86	^{Office Stamp.}
^{Service Instructions.}
^{Handed in at.......................................Office................m. Received.......................................m.}

TO 4^th Australian B^de
^{Sender's Number}	^{Day of Month} Ninth	^{In reply to Number.}	A A A
Can you send ammunition up to firing line aaa artillery fire required on 93 L 4 [Arranged for JPMc Lt Col] Brigadier Am I to forward this request to GOC 29^th Bde in view of your policy to be guided only by advice of observer as to correctness etc of th such requests. JPMcG Lt Col BM
FROM PLACE & TIME	Kings Own 07-18am 9-8-15

W.2384.583. 30,000 Pads-8/14. S. B. Ltd.-Forms/C.2123.
See back
P.T.O.

Last edited by:

Deb Parkinson

Last edited on:

30 July 2024, 10:16 pm

Last updated: 30 July 2024