Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 10, 1 November - 12 November 1915, Part 2

 7
16^th Battalion   
3/11/15
Brigade Major
4^th Inf. Bde
Sir,
The Adjutant of the 10^th Londons whom  
we are relieving informed me this
morning he has orders to remove all  
material except ammunition, bombs & flares.
We have no picks & shovels, telephones  
or wire, water tins, iron loopholes,  
or sandbags. They are also removing  
barbed wire.
I would suggest that if possibly it  
could be arranged that we take over 
all material from them matters  
would be very much simplified.
Also as the only site available  
for placing the troops not actually in
the trenches is very small, & not  
altogether in a sanitary condition, I
would like to send a fatigue party  
across early tomorrow morning to
get things into something like order.
E Arundel Wilton Capt 
a/ O.C. 16^th Inf A.I.F.

 

 6
HQ 4^th Aus Inf Bde    
HAY VALLEY 1450
3.  X1.  15.
GOC 
162^nd Bde
I understand from Captain Wilton of my  
Bde who is taking over the Section Newburys,
Becks - Franklins - Warwick Castle that tomorrow
4^th would suit your you better than this
evening to relieve.
I therefore propose moving up my
Relieving Bn tomorrow forenoon to near your
Bde H.Q and then bringing reliefs forward to
trenches in Small parties leaving the actual
xxxxx  occupying of Franklins till dark. I should be
glad to know if you concur?
Could you kindly arrange to leave
any Barbed wire ^and some entrenching tools and I will replace
as soon as ours arrives.
J P McGlinn Lt Col
a/OC 4^th Inf Bde

9
G.O.C.
4 A.I. B^de
The arrangements you propose for taking
over the line WARWICK CASTLE - AGHYL DERE
will suit excellently.
I have had a talk to Cap^t Wilton and am
arranging to leave everything he wants. I will let
you have a list later so that it can be repaid
when you receive your supplies.
A  [Mudqits?]  Genl
3 11/15  [Cmy?] 62 B^tn
Reptd to Div
Bm 1363
3-X1-15

 

"C" Form (Duplicate). Army Form C. 2123   
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message
SM 7 AJ  47

ZG

KJ
Charges to Pay. 
₤   s.   d.
Office Stamp.

3^rd
13
Service instructions.
Handed in at      ZG      Office   1805  m.   Received   1818 m.
TO   4^th Inf Bde
HAY VALLEY
*  Senders Number.     Day of Month.   In reply to Number     AAA
ZG 2321                            3^rd                         Bm 1312
No brigade reserve ammunition
has been handed over but
should you be short of
ammn. we xx shall be
glad to let you draw
on ours provided Divnl
authority is first obtained
BM 1430
xx  4-X-15
FROM    7^th A I Bde
PLACE & TIME   1731

"C" Form. (Original.)  Army Form C.2123
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message
Prefix  SM    Code    HJpm  Words  45
Recd
From  NZ
By  GP
Sent, or sent out
At   m.
To
By
Office Stamp.
10
₤  s.  d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions. 
Handed in at the   NZ  Office at     m.    Received here at 2050  m.
TO 4 A I Bde
*  Senders Number.     Day of Month.   In reply to Number     AAA
   G 622                             3^rd                             Bm 1354
The establishment of your
Brigade Headqrs in HAY VALLEY
provided you cut a communication
trench from it to HOTCHKISS
GULLY or the AGHYL DERE
whichever is shortest & most
suitable within 48 hours aaa
Ackge
BM 1370
3   X1  15
FROM   N Z A Div
PLACE & TIME  2035

 

S.S. Transylvania
French official Communique 4^th Nov.  1915.
In Belgium the French artillery has
directed on the German positions in the
region of Lombaertzyd a prolonged
bombardment which beat effectively
the German batteries which were
shelling the French trenches. Violent
artillery fighting has also taken place
in Artois in the sector of the wood of
Givenchy and to the south of the
Somme near Beuvraignes & Cessier.
In Champagne fighting has
continued all day with the greatest
activity in the vicinity of La Ferme
Chausson between hill 199 and
Maisons de Champagnes. The French
at first completely routed the Germans
from the last portions of the advanced
trenches which they still held since
yesterday. Towards the end of the day a
new attack of an extremely fierce
character permitted the Germans to
gain a somewhat insecure footing
at some points of the front. Another
attack against the French sector of
La Courtine has been completely repulsed.
In the Vosges violent artillery duels
continue followed by vigorous trench
fighting.  ____.
(over)
 

The King passed a somewhat disturbed
night, but His Majesty is considerably
better and comparatively free from pain, 
__________
 

 SHIPS ORDERS.   4/11/15 H.M.T. TRANSYLVANIA
No. 2.
By Brig-General John Monash C.B. V.D.
APPOINTMENTS.  1.  Ships Sergt Major. C. Sergt Major Hare
LIFE BELTS.            2.  During Daylight hours Life Belts will be
                                        worn by all N.C.O's and Men.
ALARM.                   3.  On boat alarm, which is Six Blasts of the
                                        Ships Whistle all Boat Crews will fall in
                                        with their Backs to the Boats, and
                                        remainder will fall in on their Baaks
                                        Parade Decks facing Seawards.
DRESS.                     4.  For the inspection Parade N.C.O's and Men
                                         will fall in with Rifles.
                                         For the alarm the GAURD will only only will, carry
                                         Rifles.
DUTIES.                    5.    Medical Officer     Captain Kennedy
                                          Captain of the Day.    Captain Hampson.
                                           Next for duty.               Captain Grendell
                                           Orderly Officer.            Lieut Mc Kenzie
                                           Next for Duty.               Lieut Holland
                                           Officers of the Watch. Captain Ford & Lieuts
                                                                                    Peacock & Cumming.
                                           Next for Duty.                Lieuts Lowe, Strange,
                                                                                    & Beetham.
                                           Unit for Duty.                 29th Division.
                                           Next for Duty.                42nd Division.
                                           The orderly Division will supply Ships
                                           Gaurd of 1.Sergt. 2. Cpls and 54 Men.
                                           Submarine Gaurd of 1.Sergt 1. Cpl and 30
                                           Men. Both Gaurds to Mount at 6pm.
CLEANLINESS.            6. The condition of cleanliness of Troop Decks,
                                             Mess Rooms, Corridors etc, has hitherto
                                             been most unsatisfactory. The O.C. Troops
                                             trusts that all Ranks will render the
                                             Utmost assistance to correst these defects.

CW. Johnston.
Captain and Adjutant.


 

"C" Form. (Original.)  my Form C.2123
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message
Prefix  SMJ Code  EAM   Words
Received 
From  QA
By  Kerr
Sent, or sent out
At   m.
To
By
Office Stamp.
4/11/15
BQ
₤  s.  d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions. 
Handed in at    QA  Office  0500   m.    Received   0520 m.

TO 4^th Bde
*  Senders Number.     Day of Month.   In reply to Number     AAA
QA 308                             4^th                           ____
Report for 24 hrs ended 0500
4^th-11-15.
No(1)
Durrants post taken over
from 28^th Bn at 1100 aaa Sections
allotted 1 & 2 to 13^th Bn 3 to 6 incl
to 14^th Bn
N^o(2)
Sections 24 to 30 inclusive taken
over from 27th Bn at 1530 and allotted
to 13th Bn aaa
N^o(3)
Hotchkiss QF. fired shot into
M G Position behind farm at 
about 1600 aaa
N^o(4)
Rose Hill shelled at about
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.
 5
₤  s.  d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions. 
Handed in at       Office      m.    Received    m.

TO    (2)
*  Senders Number.     Day of Month.   In reply to Number     AAA
1245 aaa
N^o(5)
No movement of troops 
observed  aaa
N^o(6)
Patrols reported no movement
during night

BM 
1373
4-11- I15
FROM     Durrants Post
PLACE & TIME  0500

 

"C" Form (Duplicate). Army Form C. 2123   
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message
SM   FL  
162 Bde
L Kerr
Charges to Pay. 
₤   s.   d.
Office Stamp.
3
4/11/15
Service instructions.
Handed in at     ZPB      Office 0655   m.   Received    0705 m.
TO   4 Aus Bde
*  Senders Number.     Day of Month.   In reply to Number     AAA

  BM 381                           4^{th                             ______}
Enemy reported working during
night on Hackney Wick aaa
Otherwise nothing to report
aaa
Addressed 54^th Div
Repeated 161^st; 4^th & 7^th
Aust Bde
FROM     162 Bde
PLACE & TIME  0650
 

2
NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
__________________________________
G. 634. 
Divisional Headquarters,
4th November 1915.
The Brigadier-General,
R.A. - N. Z. & A. DIVISION.
(Copies to all Brigadiers & O's. C. Units, N.Z. & A.
Division for information).
MEMORANDUM.
The G.O.C. wishes you to instruct all Officers Commanding
Artillery Brigades and Batteries to make a point of visiting
the Brigadiers and Commanding Officers of the Mounted and
Infantry Brigades of the Division, with a view to discussing,
on the ground, the question of targets and methods of ensuring
the best possible co-operation between the Artillery and the
troops in the first line.
The necessity for the closest co-operation between the
two arms is obvious, and the G.O.C. desires that in future
this may be facilitated by a closer personal touch being
kept between the Commanders of Artillery Units and the
Brigades which they support.
Artillery Brigade and Battery Commanders should let
Brigadiers and Commanding Officers know the targets on which
their particular batteries fire, in order that these Officers
may understand what measure of support they may expect from
their fire.
WG Braithwaite
Lieut-Colonel,
General Staff,
N.Z & AUST DIVISION.
[*See note on file attached
JM
14/11/15*]