Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 10, 12 November - 18 November 1915, Part 11

26   4aB/859
Forwarded for perusal of by
O's C. Nos 1 and 2 ^sub Sections
The papers disclose that
Subordinate Officers were
responsible, possibly through
over zeal, for action which
did not come within their
sphere of duty.
Further, what has been disclosed
herein Emphasises
that it is how absolutely Essential
^it is that all important Executive
action should be in the
hands of the O.C. Sub Section
whose duty it is to see
that all within his Command
are made aware of instruction, 
password etc.
Please instruct Officers 
accordingly: note return
 J P McGlinn Lieut. Colonel,
BRIGADE MAJOR 4th INF BRIGADE,
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.
14NOV1915
OC No 2 Sub sectn
BM. 4^th Bd.
Your instructions 16/11/15
complied with
for CO CR Paull
1100

4aB/809
O.C. N^o. 2 SubSectn
Attention is again
directed to the
irregularity of an
adjutant signing
correspondence of this
nature, which is obviously
for the ^personal s notation of
the O.C. the SubSectn
Will you kindly note
return
J P McGlinn Lieut. Colonel,
BRIGADE MAJOR 4th INF BRIGADE,
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.
16NOV1915
G.O.C. 4^th Inf
above noted
E. L Margolin major
O/C N2 sub Sec
 

859
OC
N^o. 1 SubSectn
Please note return
J P McGlinn Lieut. Colonel,
BRIGADE MAJOR 4th INF BRIGADE,
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.
17NOV1915
 

"C" Form (Original)    Army Form C. 2123
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.    No. of message
Prefix  SM  Code 5am  Words
£.   s.    d. 
Charges to collect
Received  
From 13th
By  RAG
Sent, or sent out    
At      m.                           
To              102
By
Office stamp
13/11/15
Service Instructions.
Handed in at   13th Btn   Office       m.     Received 5am   m.
To   4th Brigade
*Senders number      Day of month    in reply to number       AAA
Qa 413                                    15th                         ---
Report for 24 hours ended 0500
15/11/15 (1) Sniping tally Nil aaa
4 to date (2) Casualties 2 wounded
14th Battalion (3) HACKNEY WICK
under close observation aaa Morning
of 14th observed fresh earth work
on Southern side of Post aaa (4)
14thBtn patrolled.  AQAIL DERE
from 0100 to 0200 aaa (5) No 2 & 5
Machine guns (13th Btn) opened
converging fire on HAckey WITH.
at 2217. 0100 & 0300 aaa half
belt fired in each case aaa (6)
listening post nothing to report aaa
JM
From     Durrants Post
PLACE & TIME   0500
* This line should be erased if not required
(6900) W. 9668-1672   50 000 Pads - 12/14 F.T. & Co. Ltd. Forms/C.2123
 

29
Hay Valley
Beauchops' Hill
Nov. 15/15
Confidential
N.Z. & A. Div. H.Q.
In reply to Z a 6, I have pleasure in
submitting the following recommendations:-
A. For Croix de Chevalier, Legion of Honor
Major S.C.E. Herring 13^th  Bⁿ.
B. For Medaille Militaire
N^o  717, Sergeant E.P. Hill, 14^th Bⁿ
N^o 154, Corporal John Hynes, 15^th Bⁿ
C. For Croix de Guerre
N^o 1353 Private E.J. Miller 16^th Bⁿ
N^o 355 Corporal W. Clarke 13^th Bⁿ
Full details, and reasons for above recommendations
are set forth in the papers furnished herewith
John Monash
Brig. General
Comdg. 4th Aust. Inf. Bde
 

NZ Sub Sec. Report N4
To G.O.C. 4^th Inf   101
Progress of Works
Further Terracing has been
carried on and good progress
made
Sapping forward for the
improvement of the firing line
has been pushed on very
satisfactory
Wire entanglements our other
50^x has been fixed in front
of firing line
Communication trench to
Franklins has been further
improved by deepening also
putting more traverses.
M.G. emplacements have been
improved by tunnels pushed
forward.
JM    
59
 

100
Patrols
1) Sandy Knoll reports nothing
unusual observed.
2) Patrol towards Ghurka Hill reports
digging on Hackney Knoll ^Wick by the
enemy continues to be heard
otherwise all quite
3) Patrol towards new tunnel
reports nothing observed
[*Time?*] M.G an N9 poste fired at
enemy about 10 on strong coming
up towards Hackney Wick
with Good result
[*Capt Paul "1730"   
0735
15 X1/15*]

E S Margolin Major
O/C NZ sub Sec

Bm 1595
Time 05.15
JM
61
 

"C" Form (Original).    Army Form C. 2123
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.    No. of message
Prefix  SM  Code   Words 21 
£     &     d. 
Charges to collect
Received  
From
By RAG
Sent, of sent out     
At                        m.
To
By
Office Stamp
15/11/15
99           
Handed in at      Office       m.     Received 0700 am.
To   4th Aust Bde
*Senders Number                 Day of Month    In reply to Number       AAA
BM 458                                              15th                          
Nothing to Report
Aadressed 54th Div
repeated 161st & 4th A Bdg

JM
From       162 Bdg 0700
PLACE & TIME  
* This line should be erased if not required
(6900) W. 9668-1672   50 000 Pads - 12/14 F.T. & Co. Ltd. Forms/C.2123
 

"C" Form (Duplicate)    Army Form C. 2123
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.    No. of message
SM L Dam 66 NZ
JQ
Charges to pay.   
£  &  d.
4aB/942
Office Stamp.
106
Service Instructions          
Handed in at  NZ    Office       m.     Received 1121  m.
To   4th Aust Inf Bde
*Senders number         day of month    in reply to number       AAA
G 789                                        15              
Reference your daily report aaa
The 54th Divn are arranging
to bring bursts of machine Gun
fire on to Hackney Wick during
nights on which Turks working
parties can be heard aaa Therefore
please keep in close touch
with Brigade on your left
during nights so as to give
them immediate information on
this point

3 copies

From       NZ A Div
PLACE & TIME  1120
(6900) W. 9668-1672   50 000 Pads - 12/14 F.T. & Co. Ltd. Forms/C.2123

"A" Form.     Army Form C. 2121.
4AB/942.    MESSAGES AND SIGNALS   No. of message
Prefix      Code      m.     
Words      Charge
Office of Origin and Service Instructions. 
COPY. 
This message is on a/c of: 
Service.
(Signature of "Franking Officer.")
Recd at      m.
Date   107
From
By
Sent
At    m.
To
By                 
To 4th. Australian Infantry Brigade.
* Sender's Number   Day of Month   In reply to Number     AAA
G. 789.                            15th.                     ----------
Reference your daily report AAA The 54th. Division
are arranging to bring bursts of machine gun fire xx
on to HACKNEY WICK during nights on which Turk's
working parties can be heard AAA Therefore please
keep in close touch with Brigade on your LEFT during
nights so as to give them immediate information on xxx
this point.
(From ()N.Z.A. Division, 1120.
(2)
O.C.
       1
No. 2 Sub-section,s
For your Information and
necessary action.
JP McGlinn Lt.- Col.
Briga-de Major 4th Aust Inf. Bde
1530.
Hay Valley.
Anzac. 15/11/15.

From
Place
Time
The above may be forwarded as now corrected  (Z)
Censor    Signature of Addressor or person authorised to telegraph in his name
*This line should be erased if not required. 

"A" Form.   Army Form C. 2121.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.   No. of Message
Prefix   Code   m.
Office of Origin and Service Instructions.
Words. Charge
Sent
At   m.
To 
By 
This message is on a/c of:
Service.
(Signature of "Franking Office.")
Recd. at     m.
Date 
From   105
By
TO  3rd  LH    Brigade
        4th Aust Brigade
*  Senders Number.     Day of Month.   In reply to Number     AAA
    Bm 639                        15^th                          __

The password for use tonight
in the section occupied by
this Brigade between Brigade H.Q
and fire trenches and for
use of patrols is ESSEX
OC N^o 1 SS } Bm 1597   Receipts acnd
  "    "    2  "   } 
JPMcG
13 15
15 X1 /15
From N.Z Inf Bde
Place
Time  1110.
R O Chesney
Major
Brigade Major

NZ INFANTRY BRIGADE
The above may be forwarded as now corrected. (Z) X
Censor.  Signature of Addressor or person authorised to telegraph in his name
*This line should be erased if not required. 
 

"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.
103
₤  s.  d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions. 
Handed in at the      Office at     m.    Received here at   m.
TO  4th Bde
*  Senders Number.     Day of Month.   In reply to Number     AAA

   QA 415                           15.                           BM 1597
Recieved and noted
FROM                      Durrants Post
PLACE & TIME       1500
* This line should be erased if not required.
(6900) W. 9668-1672   50 000 Pads - 12/14 F.T. & Co. Ltd. Forms/C.2123

"C" Form. (Original.)  Army Form C.2123
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message
Prefix  Code     Words
Recd   
From  QE
By         RFS
Sent, or sent out
At   m.
To
By    104
Office Stamp.
BQ
15/11
₤  s.  d.
Charges to collect 953

Service Instructions. 
Handed in at the      Office at     m.    Received here at   1430m.
TO  Bde Major 4^th Bde
*  Senders Number.     Day of Month.   In reply to Number     AAA

  QE 70                                 15^th                          BM 1597
Password noted.
FROM                      N^o 2 Sub Section
PLACE & TIME       1425
* This line should be erased if not required.
(6900) W. 9668-1672   50 000 Pads - 12/14 F.T. & Co. Ltd. Forms/C.2123
 

30
Beauchops' Hill
Nov 15/15
Confidential

N.Z. & A. Div. H.Q
In reply to NZAA 531 of 15^th inst. -
The statement in my letter of Nov. 14 that I am "the Senior Australian
officer of my present rank present with the Army Corps" is based upon action
by the war office, consequential action by the Military Board (Australia) &
my understanding of the regulations on the subject.
On April 6/15 & again on June 27/15 I requested in writing that the
question of the relative seniority of all Brigade Commanders (within the Army
Corps) might be definitely settled, so that the chain of precedence, authority &
responsibility might be made known to all concerned, - I am unaware of
any decision hereon.-
It had previously been ruled (by A.A.G. Division) that as between myself 
& Brigadier Genl F.E. Johnston our relative seniority in the Imperial
Forces (of N.2. & Australia respectively) – and not that before the outbreak of
war - would govern the question, & I accepted this ruling without demur.
London Gazette, July 9/15 gives the dates from which the appointments
to Temporary rank of Brigadier General take effect, thus:-
Major (temps. Col. ) F.E Johnston Sep 1/14.
Col. J. Monash                                     "      15/14
Col. H. Chauvel C.M.G.                      Dec 10/14
Commonwealth Gazette of Sep 5/15 announces temporary "appointments" to
the rank of Brigadier General in the Austr. Imperial Force in the same order
of precedence as above.
G.R.O. 635 states that, in accordance with Army Orders, "all officers
"belonging to a unit take precedence therein, & in their respective
"ranks according to the date of their appointment or promotion to
"those ranks.-"
By a decision of the Military Board (Australia) "Officers on
"the active list of the Commonwealth Military Forces shall rank
[* This letter was not sent
See substitute page 32]
 

31
according to the date of appointment in that rank in the Commonwealth
Military Forces;"- but this rule applies, as stated in the rule
itself, only to the rank of first appointment in the A.I.F., & not to
Subsequent promotions or appointments.-
If this rule were read otherwise it would be in direct conflict with
the army order, which applies, in terms, both to promotions & appointments
& with the local practice of recognizing precedence in accordance with
temporary rank appointments to fill vacancies.-
The grant of Temporary rank of Brigadier General is described both
in the London Gazette in the Commonwealth Gazette as an Appointment.-
John Monash
Brig Genl.
Comdg 4th Aust. Inf. Bde
[*Superseded*]