Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 11, 1 December - 25 December 1915, Part 1

Special Army Corps Order.
Australian & New Zealand
Army Corps.
1st December, 1915.

Boys,
I cannot tell you how really sorry I am to be
leaving "Anzac"', as I have to do on shifting over to
Army Headquarters.
I have not, however, any intention of saying
"Goodbye" to anyone, for I trust it is by no means
"Goodbye", as I still hope and intend to see as much
of all my old friends in the Army corps as I possibly
can do.
Nor am I going to express my thanks to officers
and men, even if I could find words to do so.  I feel
it would only be presumption on my part; for it is
for the British Empire to do that; and I well know it
will do so.
My one wish is to be able to finish this war
alongside of all my old comrades of "Anzac" - having
begun it together close on a year ago now in Egypt, I
sincerely trust that many of us may be spared to see
it through together, when the time comes to make an
end of our German enemies, though that day may be yet
far distant.
WR Birdwood
Lieutenant-General,
Commanding Australian & New Zealand Army Corps. 

48
Headquarters,
4th (Australian) Infantry Brigade,
Hay Valley, Anzac, Gallipoli Penin.
2nd. December, 1915.

Headquarters,
N.Z. and A. Division.

Submitted herewith two letters from Major J. S. Lazarus, 14th. 
Battalion, of November 24th and 30th; also a medical report (from Captain
Winn, A.A.M.C.)
This officer reported at Anzac on November 13th for duty with l4th
Battalion, as reinforcement officer - nothing being previously known of
him.  He was posted in Command of C. Company, 14th Battalion.
In his letter of November 24th he puts forward a claim to the command
of a Battalion, or, in the alternative, evacuation to Egypt for duty there
I did not consider it advisable to recommend either course.
In his second letter of November 30th he pleads age and physical
infirmities as a reason for his release from further duty at the Front.
I think it will be evident from these letters alone that this officer
is not likely to be of any utility, at the Front, either as a Battalion
Commander or in any other capacity.  I am of opinion, further, that, if
that view is concurred in, he should cease to be a charge upon the
Commonwealth.
I recommend, therefore, that this officer be returned to Australia
as medically unfit for further service and for discharge at the first
opportunity.

__________________Brig.-General,
Commanding 4th (Australian) Infantry Brigade.

Copy.
Durrants Post,
2/12/15.
C.M.D.23.
4AB/1312.
Brigade Major,
4th. Infantry Brigade.
Re Major J. Lazarus.
I beg to report that this officer is practically useless to me.
He complains that he is too unwell to do any night shifts in the
trenches or in cold weather, thus putting extra work on to the other
officers.  In the past four days he has only done one daylight shift
in the trenches and no night shifts.  In place of looking after his
Company he spends most of the day about his dug out, and in my opinion
the Company would be better looked after if put in charge of a Subaltern.
He has made up his mind he cannot "stick it" here, and an officer of that
description is worthless to me.

(Signed) Chas. M. M. Dare, Major,
C.O., 14th. Battalion.

Gramophone Record (of Capt. Locke)
at Beauchop's Hill    2/12/15

[[Puppchen, du bist mein Augenstern.

Puppchen, hab dich zum Fressen gern.

Puppchen, mein subes Puppenchen, ?]]

[[ ?? ]]

[[Puppchen, du kannst so reizend sein ?]]

[[Puppchen,  ? ? ? mein?]]

[[Puppchen, mein? ? Puppchen?]]
[[????,]]

[[???]]

[[???]]

2/12/15

Recipe for "Rum Punch"
The relative quantities of Rum & Water are those for an
ordinary nobbler & to taste.
Per full tumbler of the 'Punch'.
Rum Water (warm - to save heating)
Rum
1 dessert spoon of sugar or 1 lump.
¼ lemon squeezed
¼ lemon sliced
1 teaspoonful of Curacoa
Take a Punch Bowl, capable of being heated by spirit lamp,
Add the ingredients in the above order, while the
whole is being heated, & stir with the ladle.-
but do not let it come to the boil
Serve, with ladle., into deep punch glasses
if available
Hand drawn diagram - see original

4AB/1312.
U R G E N T
Headquarters,
4th (Aust.) Infantry Brigade,
Hay Valley, Anzac,
Gallipoli Peninsula,
3rd. December, 1915.
Headquarters,
N. Z. and A. Division,
Further to my 4AB/1312 of yesterday, I forward
herewith report from O.C., 14th. Battalion, re Major J. S. Lazarus.
As it is very undersirable to retain, in a
position of responsible command of a Defence Post, an officer who cannot
be absolutely depended upon, I consider that he should be at once relieved
from duty, pending a decision as to his ultimate disposal.
Submitted for favour of concurrence of G.O.C.,
Division, by telegraph.

_______________Brig-Genl.
Commanding 4th. (Australian) Infantry Brigade. 

5/12/15
C.B. - "A Maltese Cross, points enamelled argent, edged
"gold, terminating small gold balls, in each angle a lion
"passant guardant or; in centre, on a ground argent, the
"rose, thistle & shamrock, issuant from a sceptre between three
"imperial crowns, all within a circle gules, thereon the motto of the
"Order 'Trio in juncta in Uno' in gold letters, and encompassed
"by two branches of laurel proper, from an escroll azure, inscribed
"'Ich dien' in letters of gold." 

Copy.
AMS1075.
4AB/1312.
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
Confidential.
Headquarters,
6th. December, 1915.
Headquarters,
N.Z. and A. Division,
With reference to your A 19/71, of 3rd. inst., relative to
Major J. S. Lazarus, 14th. Battalion, 4th. Australian Infantry Brigade,
the Army Corps Commander directs that this Officer be instructed to
return to Egypt and report on arrival there to the O.C., A.I.F.,
Intermediate Base, Cairo, who will arrange for him to be brought before
a Medical Board.
Please inform xxx me of date on which it is proposed Major Lazarus
should leave Anzac so that arrangements for transport may be made.
(Sgd.) T. Griffiths, Major,
Military Secretary, A. & N. Z. Army Corps.
--------------------------

--------------------------

(3).

4AB/1312.

AMS.1075.

Headquarters,

N.Z. and A. Division,
He could leave at any time after
tomorrow 9th. instant.
John Monash  Brigadier-General,
Commanding 4th. (Australian) Infantry Brigade.
Hay Valley, Anzac,
Gallipoli Peninsula,
8/12/15. 

39
Anzac
Gallipoli
Dec. 8/15
The Moderator
Presbyterian Assembly
Melbourne

My dear Sir,
I am writing to you once again, on the subject of the
late Rev. Andrew Gillison, Chaplain of the Brigade, to express to you
the sorrow & indignation which we have felt, at the slur which has
been cast (quite unconsciously perhaps) upon the memory of a brave &
noble man, by the very tactless article which appeared in the Argus of
Oct 2, describing his end. - This article can be judged by the array
of inaccuracies as to the time & manner of place of the late Chaplain's
end. - I do not believe, for a moment, that he abused the protection
of the Geneva Brassard which he always wore; by becoming a combatant
& Killing Turks; - or even by shooting at them. - No one knew
or understood or practised, better than he, the rules of honorable warfare,
and his friends may dismiss at once the suggestion that he
could have acted in such violation of his calling. -  I have every
reason to believe that the journalist, who wrote that article, erroneous
by attributed to Chaplain Gillison a story told him of quite another
man - not a chaplain. - I trust that this disclaimer, which
may be taken to be authoritative from those who know all the facts
will prove some comfort to his friends in Australia .
Yours very sincerely
John Monash.

19
9/12/15
Agenda in Egypt for xxxxCapt . Craig:-
1. Purchase for Brigadier :-
(a)  2 packets (1 doz. each) of Gilette Razor Blades
(b)  100 Egyptian or Turkish Cigarettes - (Abdullah preferred)
(c)  Two  dry battery refills for Electric Torch – Known
as the "Ever ready" - Battery N^o. 1547 – sold by
Davies Bryan - Alexandria
(d)  Service Cap, soft, with red staff band, plain
Khakee peak - Size 7 - made in Cairo - as per
particulars which Brigade Major has.
2. Send from Alexandria - at week end rates -
by Eastern Extension Telegraph C^o - following
cable:-
[ JOHN MONASH
MELBOURNE
TWELFTH WELL SEASONS GREETINGS.
MONASH]

[*10/- for cable*]
3. Get into touch with Capt. Seelenmeyer, Brigade Vet. Officr
at Maadi Camp - to ascertain on what dates since Nov. 1
he has dispatched the fortnightly Consignments of Mess Stores.
If one of these Consignments is due to leave when you do,
it might expedite matters for you to bring it along with your
own Cargo. -
4. Herewith ₤2 on a/c of expenses of above
John Monash