Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 10, 12 November - 18 November 1915, Part 12
NZAA
531
Headquarters,
N.Z. & A. Division,
15th November, 1915.
CONFIDENTIAL:
Brigadier-General John Monash,
Commanding 4th Australian Infantry Brigade.
In reply to your letter of November 14th, the
G.O.C. would be glad if you will please give dates and
further explanation of your contention.
The gradation list of the Australian Imperial
Force shows that Colonel (temporary Brigadier-General)
H. Chauvel, C.M.G., is senior to you, not only in the
Australian Imperial Force, but also in the Commonwealth
Military Forces.
C Murwith
Lieut-Colonel,
A/A.A.G. N.Z. & A. DIVISION.
32
Beauchop's Hill
Nov. 15/15
Confidential
N.Z. A. Div. H.Q.
In reply to NZAA 531 of 15th inst.
The explanation of the statement in my letter of Nov. 14, that I am
"the ##senior ^Australian officer of my rank present with the Army Corps" is as
follows:-
A.I.F. orders state:-
"on appointment, and until promoted, in the A.I.F... officers on
"the Active list of the - - - C.M.F shall rank according to their duties
"of appointment in that rank in the - - - C.M.F - - unless otherwise
expressly stated.
The underlined words in this extract have been underlined by me]
Commonwealth Gazette for week ending Sep 4/15 announces the promotions
to the rank of Brigadier General, (unconditionally), in the A.I.F. of a number
of officers, & determines the following order of precedence, viz :- McCay,
McLagan, MacLaurin, Monash, Ryrie, Hughes, Chauvel.-
Army order 35 of 1915 states that "all officers belonging - - - to a unit
"will take precedence therein, and in their respective ranks according to the
"date of appointment or promotion to those ranks --- etc"
London Gazette of July 9/15 gives the dates from which the grants
temporary rank announced therein take effect thus: - Col. J.
Monash, Sep 15/14, Col. H. Chauvel C.M.G. Dec 10/14.-
Whether the grant of temporary rank be regarded as an "appointment,"
or as a "promotion" it will be seen that the claim of precedence
is met by one as other of the regulations cited.-
John Monash
Brig - Genl.
Comdg 4th Aust. Inf. Bde.
"A" Form. Army Form C. 2121.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message
Prefix Code m.
Office of Origin and Service Instructions.
Q.A.420.
Words. Charge
Sent
At Copy m.
To
By
This message is on a/c of:
No.1 Service.
T.O. GOC 4th Bde
(Signature of "Franking Office.")
Recd. at m.
Date 108
From
By
TO No. 1 Sub-section. - Dispositions, Night
15th/16th, 1915.
* Senders Number. Day of Month. In reply to Number AAA
INFORMATION. (1). (a) 54th Division )left on no, 2
SubSections have arranged for Machine Gun Fire on
HACKNEY WICK when Turks working parties are heard.
(b) No. 2 Sub-section (left)
Six men wire-fixing from 1830 until 2400. No
patrols.
(c) Canterbury Btln. (right)
Patrolling to their front 1930 to 2330.
(d) Password for all sections
4th Brigade and N.Z. Inf. Brigade is XXXXX "ESSEX"
INTENTION (2) 13th Btln. patrols 1 N.C.O. and
3 men will debouch from 14th Btln. lines at
2000 and 0100 returning by right of 13th Btln. at
2130 and 0200 respectively. These patrols will
pay special attention to any movement which may
be heard in direction of HACKNEY WICK.
Nos. 2 and 5 Machine Guns 13th
Btln. are held in readiness to co-operate with
54th Division and bring bursts of fire on HACKNEY
WICK if movement is heard.
No. 1 Post Observation Station will
report movement on HACKNEY WICK as previously
arranged
From Issued at 1650 DW Marks Capt.
Place A/Adjutant, 13th Battalion.
Time Copy 1. Bde. H'qrs.
2. Canterbury Btln.
3. No 2 Sub-section
4. No. 1 Post
5. No. 2 Post. No. 6. No. 3 Post (14th
7. Capt. Gibbs Btln)
8 File,
JM
A I F
orders
& GRO sent this
am
34
Headquarters,
4th. Australian Inf. Brigade,
Hay Valley, Anzac,
Gallipoli Peninsula,
16th. November, 1915.
O. C.
Australian Intermediate Base,
CAIRO.
Further to my letter of October 31st. (from Alexandria) upon
the subject of delayed cables, I forward werewith, for your information,
copy of a letter received today from the Eastern Telegraph Company
Ltd.
JM
Brig.-Genl.
Commanding 4th. Australian Infantry Brigade.
HEADQUARTERS,
CONFIDENTIAL.
NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
N.Z.A.A. 531
16th November, 1915.
To.
Brigadier-General John Monash, C.B.
In reply to your letter of the 15th instant, I
have to inform you as follows:-
1. The grant of temporary rank of Brigadier-General
to certain officers of the A.I.F. was made on the authority
of the London Gazette dated 9th July, 1915.
2. The rules governing the seniority of Colonels
granted the temporary rank of Brigadier-General are set forth
in King's Regulations para, 224 (III). Such officers rank
among themselves according to the date of their promotion to
substantive rank.
Commonwealth Military Regulations also prescribe
that the rank of Brigadier-General shall be temporary and
local.
3. It is noted that the Commonwealth Gazette
erroneously converted the grant of temporary rank into promotion,
and, as this was no doubt inadvertent, the G.O.C. is
bringing the fact to the notice of the Army Corps Commander,
so that the necessary correction may be referred to the
Minister of Defence.
C W Murwith
Lieut. Colonel
A. A. G., N.Z. & A. Division
"C" Form. (Original.) Army Form C.2123
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message
Prefix Code Words
Recd QA
From RFS
By
Sent, or sent out
At m.
To
By 120
Office Stamp.
BQ
16./11.
₤ s. d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions.
Handed in at the Office at m. Received here at 0528 m.
TO 4th Bde
* Senders Number. Day of Month. In reply to Number AAA
QA 419 16th _______
Report for 24 hours ended
0500 16/11/15
1. Sniping tally ___
200 dusty in trenches for
effective shooting at range
used aaa Total to date
Four aaa
2. Casualties nil aaa
3 HACKNEY WICK observation
nothing to report aaa
4. Between 1740 and 1750
the Turks at the FARM
and adjacent trenches
appeared very jumpy
and fired a lot of
"C" Form. (Original.) Army Form C.2123
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message
Prefix Code Words
Recd
From
By
Sent, or sent out
At m.
To
By
Office Stamp.
119
₤ s. d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions.
Handed in at the Office at m. Received here at 0538 m.
TO 2
* Senders Number. Day of Month. In reply to Number AAA
ammunition aaa
5. Numbers 2 and 5 Machine Guns
remain Manned on HACKNEY WICK
but no working parties were
heard or reported aaa
6. Patrol which went out at
2000 did not return until
2215 aaa They traversed
WESTERN Slope of AGHYL DERE
and heard Tur TURKISH PATROL
aaa. They confirm previous
report That the Turks
make use of CATCALLS
to call each other when
on patrol aaa
7. AT 0100 it was considered
FROM
PLACE & TIME
"C" Form. (Original.) Army Form C.2123
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message
Prefix Code Words
Recd
From
By
Sent, or sent out
At m.
To
By 118
Office Stamp.
₤ s. d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions.
Handed in at the Office at m. Received here at m.
TO 3
* Senders Number. Day of Month. In reply to Number AAA
too light to send out
second patrol aaa
8. Listening posts nothing to
report
Div
Bm
1606
JM
162nd
1607
FROM Durrants Post
PLACE & TIME
NZ sub. Sec. Report N5
117
To G.O.C. 4th Inf.
Terracing has been
continued and Good
progress made
Sapping has been pushed
an
Wire entanglements in
front of fire trench has
been added to by 50ft
Sap to Franklin has been
further improved
Fank pit or BeckBluf
has been carried on
Tunnel for M.G. has been
completed and the gun
unplaced.
General information
every thing was quite
throughout the 24 hours
63
116
Snipers reporting no
movement of any kind
being observed. nnn opposite
our lines 2 snipers went over
to Suffolk yeomanry lines
and noticed Turks
bobing up from theyer
position after a few
accurate shots the bobing
stoped
ELMaroglin major
O/C N2 sub sec
0506
16/11 15
Div
Bm 1606
JM
65
"C" Form. (Original.) Army Form C.2123
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message
Prefix SM Code FLW Words 24
Recd
From NZ
By TJD
Sent, or sent out
At m.
To
By
Office Stamp.
115
₤ s. d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions.
Handed in at the 3P B Office at m. Received here at 0756 m.
To 4th Australian Bde
* Senders Number. Day of Month. In reply to Number AAA
Bm 465 16th
Period uneventful aaa Addressed 54th
Divn Repeated 161 and Aust Bdes
Bm 1607
JM
FROM 162nd Bde
PLACE & TIME 0658
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