Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 11, 1 December - 25 December 1915, Part 2

9/12/15

Expectations of Parcels

"C" Form (Duplicate).
Army Form C. 2123.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.   No. of Message
[*AUSTRALIAN

IMPERIAL FORCE.
DEC 9 1915
4th Infantry Brigade.*]
SM   LCOM 18
4AB/1693
Charges to Pay
₤    s.    d.
Office Stamp.
BQ

9/12
Service Instructions.
Handed in at    Officem.   Received 1125 m.
TO             Bde Major  4^th  Bde  
Senders Number.     Day of Month.   In reply to Number     AAA
QA 683                           9th                         BM 1951
Acknowledged actions taken
FROM                        N^o  1   Sub-Section
PLACE & TIME         1115
 

"C" Form (Original).
Army Form C 2123.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.   No. of Message   1
[*AUSTRALIAN
IMPERIAL FORCE
DEC 9 1915
4th Infantry Brigade.*]
Prefix    SM      Code    L Kerr      Words    24
Received
From  FK
By   ACN
Office Stamp.
BQ
9/12
₤    s.    d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions.
Handed in at Office   m.   Received 1205 m.
TO            4^th  Aus   Bde
Senders Number.     Day of Month.   In reply to Number     AAA
EK 2                             9th                        BM 1592 ^1952
Arrangements have been made
as required and programme
all understood
FROM              Lt. Opie   Durrants Post
PLACE & TIME       1145
 

2
"C" Form  (Duplicate). Army Form C. 2123.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.   No. of Message
[*AUSTRALIAN
IMPERIAL FORCE
DEC 9 1915*]
SB    MF    31
LK
Charges to Pay. 
₤   s.   d.
4AB/1693
Office Stamp.
2
Service Instructions
QE
Handed in at Office   m.   Received  1230  m.
TO                 Bde  Major
Senders Number.     Day of Month.   In reply to Number     AAA
QE 305                                                       BM 1957
Your BM 199 ^1951 received
and noted  aaa  Delay
caused by taking necessary
measures in complying
with your BM 1951
FROM              O.C.  No 2  Sub Sect
PLACE & TIME       1227
 

Ref. BM/ 
1997      11-12-15

List of men Jewish Faith
13^th  Bⁿ     Pte  Mabuttle
11^th    "        Sgt. Garcia
14^th   "        Cpl. King
14^th   "         Pte. Livingstone
15^th   "          Nil
16^th   "          Major Margolin
16^th    "          Regtl. SM Golstein
16^th    "           Pte. Gotlieb
            

 

P.480.                                                                  
4AB/1738.
Headquarters,       54
4th. Aust. Infantry Brigade,
Hay Valley,  Anzac,
Gallipoli Peninsula,
11th. December, 1915.
Headquarters,
N. Z. and A. Division.
1.   Referring to General Staff Memorandum of 10/12/15 re System of Observation,
the organisation in this Brigade comprises :-
(a)  Sentries in Fire Trenches.
(b)  Observers at Machine Guns.
(c)  Observers at Sharpshooter posts.
(d)  Artillery Observer - F.O.O.
(e)  Patrolling of our Front.

2.  The Section held by this Brigade has exceptional advantages of Command
and distance of view.   The Section extends from a point in Upper Cheshire
Ridge ^∧ (between 80. D.  6 & 9) down Cheshire
Ridge across the Aghyl Dere, to 92. T. 6 (Warwick Castle).   From
almost any point in this line, a clear view can be had of the Sari Bair
Range, from the Pinnacle Northwards, and of the whole of the basin of
the AGHYL DERE.   There are also forward posts at Becks Bluff (intersection
of Squares 92. Y. Z. and 80 d. f.) and at Franklins Post (near
92. Z. 4).   From the latter point there is an extensive view to the
North and North East.   In addition, a Machine Gun position at Rose Hill
(just S.E. of 92. y. 7.) affords a commanding observation point at East.
3.   The sentries, in the firing line, are, by day, maintained on look-out
duty, at average intervals of 20 yards.   But principal reliance is had
upon the Machine Guns, of which there are 16 distributed almost uniformly
along the Section.   Most of these guns are in tunnels;  all are
provided with telescopes, and at each there is
always an observer with telescope.
4.   Apart from this, there are 4 specially organised sniper's posts, with
telescopes, binoculars and xxx  ^∧ special rifles -two South and two North of the
(AGHYL) 
 

(2)              
55
AGHYL DERE.   These men are constantly on the look out for enemy movement
and targets.   Enemy trenches, and communications  are kept under special
observation by both these men and the machine guns.
5.   The Artillery Observing Station is situated about midway between
80. D. 5. & 9.   It is underground, with four loopholes, and from it, the
whole range and basin previously referred to, can be observed.
6.   This F. O. O's. station is in direct telephone communication with :-
(a)  the allotted Batteries
(b)   Brigade Headquarters
(c)   No. 1 Sub-section of Defence South of Aghyl Dere.
(d)   No. 2 Sub-section of Defence North of Aghyl Dere.
Artillery co-operation is practised by means of a code of signals, pre-arranged
with C.R.A. - on night lines already laid out.
7.   All detached posts, and both Sub-sections are connected by telephone
with Brigade Headquarters, and through the Headquarters station there is
complete lateral inter-communication between these posts and sub-sections
themselves.   No observer, in any part of the line, is more than 100
yards from the nearest telephone.   Most of them are wiithin only a very
few yards of a telephone.
8.   At night, as observation from all above positions is interfered with
by darkness, the country to our front is kept regularly patrolled from
dusk to dawn, in the valleys respectively of the AGHYL DERE, the LITTLE
DERE and BLACK SWAN GULLY, and the intervening spurs.   These patrols are
sent out, in succession, during the night, their times and routes being
nightly varied and alternated.
John Monash Brigadier-General
Commanding 4th. Australian Infantry Brigade.
 

11/12/15

See Original for Hand drawn sketch
 

HEAVY  PENCIL  MRKS  IND  FIRING  LINE
⇢ -   IND  ENEMY  M.G.  POSITIONS

G.O.C..  4^th  Bde  HQ
Sketch as directed
O.C.  N^o  2  Sub-Section
per  P R Paull Lt
 

12/12/15
See Original for Hand drawn sketch


 

NO 34
No 2c SUB SECTION
AGHYL DERE
12/12/15
SPECIAL REPORT 
GOC 4th Bde HQ
I beg to report that the

garrison of the Auckland
Mounted Rifles has been
relieved by the quota detailer
from the 14thBN & that 
everything is in order.
At present I have approximately
90 men in trenches
& about 60 men in support.
I have detailed ^2nd LTS HAMERSLEY
& ^2nd LT COOK to this post, to help
LT FUHRMAN of 14^th. BN.
Relief was completed by
2130 tonight. 
The following sketch
will explain position

EL Margolin major
OC N^o2 SubSection
2200

JM