Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 10, 1 November - 12 November 1915, Part 9

G.O.C.
WAR OFFICE TELEGRAM.
NOVEMBER 9th, 1915.
On the Western front a severe local struggle continues in Champagne.
On the Russian front the Germans continue in vain their attempts to force the Sveina and to cap-
ture Riga. In the Wolhynia on the Styr, and in Galicia on the Strypa, the Russians are maintaining an
effective resistance to any further advance by the enemy.
 

The political crisis in Greece has been so far resolved that M Skouloudis, a veteran statesman, has
accepted the task of forming a Cabinet. The new Prime Minister has declared that the policy of his
administration towards the Allies will be very benevolent.

In Serbia, in the South, the Bulgarians have suffered a heavy defeat at Izvor to which French and
British troops contributed thus throwing back the enemy in his threatened advance on Monastir. In the
Valley of the Morava Austro-German reports speak of a continued advance and the capture of Kraljevo,
and it is claimed that the Bulgarians have occupied Nish.

In the form of a letter to Edward Grey, the American Ambassador in London has transmitted
views of his Government on the subject of restrictions on American commerce during the present war.

The following awards are published in a supplement to the London Gazette:-
To be C.B.—Isherwood, Simpson, Baikie, Johnston. Australian Officers: Hobbs, Johnston.
Courtney, Cannan, Rosenthal, Hillier, Smith. New Zealand Officer: Findlav. To be K.C.M.G.—Douglas.
New Lealand Officer: Russell. To be C.M.G.—Winter, Perseval, Austin, Birtwistle. Leslie, Pilkington.
Richardson, Carey, Knox, Mackelvie, Australian Officers: Beeston, Wanliss. Owen, Christian, Marsh,
Bennet, J. Bennett, G. Bessell, Browne, Brockman. King, Robertson, Rabett, Stevenson. New Zealand
Officer: Begg.
 

[[Mn?]]
QA

RFS
Office Stamp.
(58)
BO
10/II
Received 0505 m.
TO 4th Bde (1)
Senders Number 
QA338
Day of Month
10th
In reply to Number

––––––
AAA
Report for 24 hours ended
0500 10/11/15
(1) Sniping tally aaa
2465 Pte W. WILMOT 13th Bn
shot [[Linkish?]] sniper in 
BLOCKHOUSE at 1600 aaa
(2) Suspended ∧ near top of apex scub cutting
and were fiting [[during
 the
operations of [[//0]] 2 Sub section
aaa
(3) 1813. - two bombs burst
in direction HACKNEY WICK
1815 - third bomb aaa
1817 - blue light shown aaa
another bomb was thrown

Office Stamp (57)
TO (2)
and machine gun fire
was opened aaa
from then on intermittent
bombing and rifle fire aaa
2200 Patrol reported all
clear aaa
FROM Durrant Bd
PLACE & TIME 0500
 

[[Sm?]]
QE

RFS
Office Stamp.
(56)
BQ
10/II
Received 0340 m.
TO 4th Bde 
Day of Month
10th
AAA
All OK here
Standing to Arms
FROM CO [[//0?]] 2 Sub Section
PLACE & TIME 0530
 

ZPB

RFS
Office Stamp.
(55)
BQ
10/II
Received 0707 m.
TO 4th Aust Bde 
Senders Number 
BM421
Day of Month
10th
In reply to Number
––––––
AAA
Enemy very busy on
wire entanglments in
front of SANDBAG RIDGE aaa
Otherwise nothing particular aaa
noticed aaa
Addressed 54th Division
repeated 161st and
4th Aust Bde
FROM 162nd Bde
PLACE & TIME 0654
 

Headquarters,

Hay Valley, Anzac
Gallipoli Peninsula,
10th. November, 1915
My Dear Griffiths,
Your memos of October 8th and 9th did not come
into my hands till my return to Anzac yesterday. I hasten to
reply for the information of the General:-
Lieut.-colonel J.P. MCGLINN, V.D., already has the substantive
rank of Lieut.-Colonel in the C.M.F. and A.I.F. - He has
lengthy experience and is fully qualified as Battalion commander.
He is, however, indispensible in this Brigade, both as Brigade
Major, and as Second-in-Command.
Major (temporary Lieut.-colonel) L.E.TILNEY, 16th. Battalion
is already in command of 13th. Battalion. - He is absent sick
in England, but is expected to rejoin shortly.
Major W.O. MANSBRIDGE, D.S.O., 16th Battalion, has been
invalided to Australia and is not any longer available.
Major J.S. LAZARUS. This is a reinforcement officer of 14th.
Battalion. Nothing is known of him, as he has not yet joined
the Battalion at the Front.
Major R.E. SNOWDEN, 15th. Battalion, is at present in acting
command of the 15th. Battalion - during the absence - sick in
England - of Lieut.-Colonel Cannan. He is carrying out his
duties satisfactorily, and it is probable that I shall shortly
recommend the grant to him of temporary rank of Lieut.-Colonel.
I am afraid that none of the above are therefore
available for Battalion commands outside of this Brigade.
Yours Faithfully,
Major T. Griffiths,
Military Secretary,
Australian & New Zealand Army Corps.
 

PLAN OF LEFT OF No 3 SECTION (FORMERLY PART OF No 4 SECTION)
10/11/15
scale: 1 inch to 25 Yards
[*Received from Div. H.Q. on 10/11/15*]
DIAGRAM

27
Anzac
Head Quarters 4th Aus. Inf.
Brigade
Nov. 11/15.
G.O.C. 2nd Aust. Inf. Bde
Mudros West. 
Lieut Eric Simonson, (Melb. Univ. Rifles)
who is at present in the Training Depot at Heliopolis
Egypt, training with the 9th Reinforcements of the 8th
Battalion A.I.F., is desirous of being transferred to the 
14th Battalion A.I.F. of this Brigade; & if this can be 
concurred in, I am desirous that this officer should 
join this Brigade at once. - 
Will you be good enough to say whether you are 
prepared to concur in this transfer, so that I may
apply for approval through Army Corps.
John Monash
Brig. Lieut.
Comdy. 4th Aust. Inf. Bde.
 

Office Stamp.
(62)

TO 11 Bde
Senders Number 
qw 2/6
Day of Month
11th
In reply to Number

––––––
AAA
Report for 24 hours
Ended 0500 11th [[a?]] (1)
at 0950 [[Nu?]] 1 & 2 M G 
[[ugag?]]  [[Sur?]] MG which was
from down AGHYL DERE.
& Slater down. CHAILAC DERE
from CO part about 20 yds
East of 5078 aaa
CO & MG from [[?hiwa]] APEX
also first at it but without
result aaa [[Hotehtiss?]] [[Notf?]]
aaa (2) at 1600 [[Hr?]] MG personell-
of 27th Batn was [[rel?]] & 2
GM [[?]] [[?]] [[?]] [[Man?]] / by
13th & 1 by 14th Btn Crews aaa

Office Stamp.
(61) 11/1/15
Handed in at [[3th?]] [[?W]] Office
 Received 5 [[am?]] m.
 No (3) Scrub cut/wz & wire
Fixing parties Sent out in front
of right & left of his aaa
No (4) [[Pa?]] & listening post
"report no movement" aaa 7/05
the enemy in accuiety of FARM
appear very jumpy during night

aaa
DW
Bm 1540
FROM  Durrante Post

PLACE & TIME 0500
 

 
[[SNG?]]
Office Stamp.
(59) 11/11/1915
Handed in at [[?]] [[?]] Office

TO 11th Brigade
Senders Number GE Hq
Day of Month 11th
AAA
All quiet, Nap to
[[Fraudelius?]]  [[having?]] [[hin?]]
DW Brn
1540
[[Too leque?]]
[[Dit War?]]
[[S? Kill?]]
FROM OFC - 16 th Bhi
TIME 0850

Report for 24 hours ending
05.30 11/11/15 on No 2
Subsection
(60)
yesterday morning at 1130
the turks shelled FRANKLINS
POST heavily putting 25
shells into the position from W.HILIS
no serious damage was done
to the defence, & there were no
casualties.
Work was proceeded with in
the communication Trench to 
FRANKLINS during the night
A post of 3 men occupied
SANDY KNOLL throughout the
hours of darkness but no enemy
movement was detected.
About 20 feet of the well [[sap?]]
was completed & in the bivouac
there was a certain amount of work
completed.
40 men were on fatigue at the 
ARGHYL DERE!
Div 
Brn
1543
E Maryalin Major
Ofe 16th Btt
 

11/11/15
Extract from Lord Kitchener's statement in the House of Lords,
on Wednesday, September 15th, 1915.
________________________
THE OPERATIONS IN GALLIPOLI.
"In the course of these operations the gallantry and resourceful-
ness of the Australian and New Zealand troops have frequently formed 
a subject for eulogy in Sir Ian Hamilton's reports. General Birdwood
and his Staff have greatly distinguished themselves, both in planning and 
conducting the operations of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose activities have been marked by constant success.  Their
determination to overcome apparently insuperable difficulties has been no less admirable than their courage in hand-to-hand fighting with the enemy."
_____________________________________________
Extract from Mr. Asquith's statement in the House of Commons, 
on Wednesday, September 15th, 1915.
_____________________________________________
THE MILITARY SITUATION.
"No words of admiration can be too strong, I am sure the House
will agree, for the gallantry and resource displayed by the whole of our 
Armies, and, if I may give one conspicuous illustration, by the Aus-
ralian and New Zealand troops throughout those hazardous and arduous operations."