Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 11, 1 December - 25 December 1915, Part 5
SECRET.
NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
No G. 91
Divisional Headquarters,
15th December, 1915
From : General staff,
N.Z. & A. Division.
To : All Brigades.
C.R.E.
MEMORANDUM.
I am to say that the General Officer Commanding
desires :
√ (1) that particular attention be paid to the display
of a normal number of periscopes in the trenches
especially on the day of the final night.
√ (2) ammunition should be placed handy in various places
in the trenches to assist the men of "C" party to fire
from various points in the length assigned to them.
√ (3) Under Brigade orders arrangements may be made for
men of "C" party to be specially told off to place
obstacles, on the defined routes by which an enemy might atke
attempt to follow.
(Sgd) W.R.PINWILL, Major,
General staff,
N.Z. & A. Division.
4th A.I.Bde √
10
"C" Form (Original).
Army Form C. 2123.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No of Message...
Prefix SM Code Words
£ s. d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions.
Received
From QA
By L Kerr
Sent, or sent out
At .....m.
To .....
By .....
Office Stamp.
Handed in at..... Office.....m. Received 0550 m.
TO 4th Bde
Sender's Number QA 775
Day of Month 16th
In reply to Number --
AAA
Report for 24 hrs ended 0500 16/12/15
aaa
(1) Sniping tally aaa No No 1068 MASON
13th Bn one near 80F5 aaa No 2517
FROST 13th Bn one near 80F8 aaa
20 to Date aaa
(2) Hotchkiss aaa 20 Rds at positions
near 80F6 demolishing one & partly
demolishing 2 others aaa 10 Rds at
position on Spur near 80F3 demolishing
it aaa 8 Rds at loopholes near
80F8 demolishing 2 aaa
(3) Casualities Nil aaa
(4) Patrols & listening Posts nothing to report
FROM Durrants Post
PLACE & TIME
11
No 2 SUB SECTION
AGHYL DERE
16/12/15
SPECIAL REPORT 38.
To G.O.C.
4th Bde HQrs
Progress of Works
1. Works generally, draining, tunnelling,
terracing, etc. proceeded with as per
special report No. 36 on 14/12/15.
Snipers Report
2. All our snipers on duty today.
N.C.O. in charge reports that no enemy
movement is visible, & no good shots
are obtainable just this last few days,
our snipers employ themselves [[faulting?]]
shots into [[connect ?]] in communication Saps
which must be used to carry the
enemy traffic.
Capture of Prisoners :-
3. A Turk gave himself up at No. 1
Sub Post No 5 Post as per my QE
413.
Patrols
4. All patrols went on as per
disposition, & on return reported
that everything was very quiet in
front, & beyond a bit of digging
12
(2)
[[Lizards?]] Grey Trench nothing was heard
∧ of the enemy
Machine Guns
5. Officer i/c M Guns reports all quiet
today little firing.
E. Margolin major
O.C. N 2 Sub Sec
(*0545*)
[[JM ?]]
22
"A" Form.
Army Form C. 2121.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message...
Prefix............Code........m.
Office of Origin & Service Instructions.
Words Charge
Sent.
At .......... m.
To .......
By ......
This message is on a/c of :
SECRET Service.
(Signature of "Franking Officer")
Recd. at .........
Date ......
From Copy No. 1
By ......
TO ( G.O.C., 4th Aus. Inf. Brigade
( Dispositions No. 1 Sub-section -
( Night 16th/17th December, 1915.
Sender's Number Q.A. 776
Day of Month 16-12-15
In reply to Number --
AAA
(i) Listening Posts 25 yds in front of
Nos. 1 and 3 POSTS.
(ii) 13th BN. PATROLS 1 N.C.O. and 3 men
will leave CONNORS TUNNEL at 1930 and 2230
patrol AGHYL
DERE returning via No. 1 Post at 2130 and 0300.
Detailed by O.C. No. 1 Post.
(iii) O.C. No. 2 POST will detail two
patrols consisting of 1 N.C.O. and 3 men to
leave No. 1 POST at 0100 and 0300 patrol
AGHYL DERE
returning via CONNORS TUNNEL at 0330 and
0530.
Sydney McSharry Lieut- Colonel.
C.O., No. 1 Sub-section.
Issued at 1330.
(Communicated to Brigade Headquarters,
adjoining sub-sections and all Posts).
From
Place No. 1 Sub-section.
Time
21
"A" Form.
Army Form C. 2121.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message...
Prefix Code m.
Office of Origin & Service Instructions.
Words Charge
Sent.
At ..........m.
To ............
By ............
This Message is on a/c of :
SECRET Service
(Signature of "Franking Officer").
Recd. at ........... m.
Date ...................
From Copy No. 1
By ........................
TO ( G.O.C. 4th Aus Inf Brigade
( Dispositions No. 1 Sub-section -
( Night 16th/17th December, 1915.
Sender's Number Q.A. 776
Day of Month 16-12-15.
In reply to Number --
AAA
Addenda. O.C. No. 1 Post will detail 12 men
to
report to Engineers at FORD BARRICADE at
1830 for
purpose of fixing cheveux-des-frises and a
party
of 1 N.C.O. and 8 men same time and locality
to act
as covering party.
Sydney McSharry Lieut-Col.
C.O., No. 1 Sub-section.
Issued at 14451
( Communicated to Brigade adjoining
sub-sections and all Posts )
From
Place No. 1 Sub-section.
Time
20
1625
16th Bn Issued at 1530
No. 2 SUB SECTION
AGHYL DERE
16/12/15
Dispositions of No. 2 SUB SECTION
No 1 SUB SECTION (RIGHT)
CANTERBURY MR. (left) for night
16 - 17 Decr 1915.
No 2 SUB SECTION
INFORMATION
LISTENING
PATROL
(1) A patrol of 1 NCO & 2 men will
leave MORSE TUNNEL at 1900 proceeding
through trenches at BECKS to a point
approximately 92 Z7 for the purpose of
listening & observing returning & reporting
to Officer i/c No. 3 POST at 0030.
This patrol will be split into two reliefs
1st relief 1900 to 2130
2nd do. 2200 to 0030,
A second series of two reliefs of this
patrol will leave BECKS going to same
position with the same object.
1st relief 0200 to 0415
2nd do. 0430 to 0630.
LISTENING
PATROL
(2) A patrol of 1 NCO & 3 men will
leave FORD BARRICADE at 2200 proceeding
along SOUTH AGHYL DERE to a
point 150 yds beyond its confluence
with the BLACK SWAN DERE for the
purpose of listening & observing & will
return at 0030 reporting leaving &
returning to Officer i/c FORD BARRICADE.
PATROL
LISTENING
(3) A patrol of 1 NCO & 2 men will leave
NEWBERRYS going on a bearing of 135°
to a point 50 yds in advance of our
line for the purpose of listening
19
(2)
Dispositions of No.2 Sub Section 16-17 Dec 15
& observing
This patrol is a series of 5 reliefs [[as under?]]
1st relief 1930 to 2130
2nd do. 2130 to 2330
3 do. 2330 to 0130
4 do. 0130 to 0330
5 do. 0330 to 0530
PATROL
LISTENING
(4) A patrol of 1 NCO . 4 men will leave
BARRICADE in NORTHERN AGHYL DERE
proceeding to a point 92 Z1 then up
SOUTHERN BRANCH towards 92 Z5 for the
purpose of listening & observing.
This patrol will be a series of 5 reliefs.
1st relief 2000 to 2200
2nd do. 2200 to 2400
3rd do. 2400 to 0200
4th do. 0200 to 0400
5th do. 0400 to 0600
No. 1 SUB SECTION RIGHT
(A) Listening Posts 25 yds in front of
Nos 1 & 3 POSTS
(B) 13th Bn PATROLS 1 NCO & 3 men will
leave
CONNORS TUNNEL at 1930 & 2230
patrol AGHYL DERE returning via No 1
POST at 2130 & 0030. Detailed by
O.C. No 1 POST.
(C) O.C. No 2 POST will detail two Patrols
consisting of 1 NCO & 3 men to leave
No 1 POST at 0100 & 0300 patrol AGHYL
DERE returning via CONNORS TUNNEL at
0330 and 0530
18
(3)
Dispositions of No 2 Sub Section
Cont 15-17 Dec
CANTERBURY MOUNTED RIFLES (LEFT)
PATROL
(D) A patrol of 1 Officer (or Sergt.) and
4 men will leave BARRICADE
IN THE N AGHYL DERE at 92 Y3 &
proceed up the NORTHERN BRANCH of
AGHYL DERE to WELL at JUNCTION of
GREEKS 92 Z1/2 returning to lines
at POST 41.
OBJECT
The well will be watched to note
movements of the enemy.
1st Relief 1800 to 2100
2 do. 2100 to 2400
3 do. 2400 to 0300
4 do. 0300 to 0545
Note for 4th Relief
To be in lines by 0545.
E Margolin major
O.C. N 2 Sub-Sec
To 1. 4th Bde HQrs
2. No 1 Sub-sect
3. O/C CMR
4. File
5 to 9. O/C 1, 2, 3, 4, [[5?]] Posts
10. O/C Machine Gun Sect No 2 Sub-Sect
PASSWORD : STRAWBERRY
14
"C" Form (Original).
Army Form C. 2123.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message...
Prefix SM Code CMJ Words
₤ s. d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions.
NZA
Received
From NZA
By ALP
Sent, or sent out
At ................. m.
To ...............
By ...............
Office Stamp.
16/12/15
Handed in at ....... Office.....m. Received 1335 m.
TO 4th Aust Bde
Sender's Number BM 251
Day of Month 16th
In reply to Number --
AAA
The password for tonight
16/17 is Strawberry
(*Nos [[ Sub? Sect? ]] )
) Bm 2075
2 " *)
FROM N Z Inf Bde
PLACE & TIME 1525
15
"C" Form (Original).
Army Form C. 2123.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message...
Prefix SM Code Words
₤ s. d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions.
Received
From GA
By L Kerr
Sent, or sent out
At ................ m.
To ................
By ...............
Office Stamp.
Handed in at ............Office....m. Received 1630 m.
TO 4th Bde
Sender's Number QA 773
Day of Month 16th
In reply to Number BM 2075
AAA
Password Noted
FROM OC No 1 Sub Sect
PLACE & TIME 1615
16
"C" Form (Original).
Army Form C. 2123.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message...
Prefix SM Code DD Words 21
₤ s. d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions.
Received
From QE
By L Kerr
Sent, or sent out
At ...................... m.
To ......................
By .....................
Office Stamp.
Handed in at ........ Office ......m. Received 1635 m.
TO B M 4th Bde
Sender's Number QE 433
Day of Month 16th
In reply to Number BM 2025
AAA
Password Received & Noted
FROM OC No 2 Sub Sect
PLACE & TIME 1621
13
"C" Form (Original).
Army Form C. 2123.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message...
Prefix SJ Code DCW Words
₤ s. d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions.
Received
From Q 3
By L Kerr
Sent, or sent out
At ..................... m.
To .................
By .................
Office Stamp.
Handed in at ......... Office ......m. Received 1533 m.
TO B M 4th Bde
Sender's Number QE 432
Day of Month 16
In reply to Number --
AAA
Sniper reports that enemy
about 200 was observed
moving from Bedford Ridge
towards Hackney Wick
appeared to be carrying
shovels
(*Div Enemy report
Bm 2081*)
JM
[[W/MC ?]]
FROM OC No 2 Sub Sect
PLACE & TIME 1615
SECRET.
NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
No.G.117
Divisional Headquarters,
16th December, 1915.
To : All Brigades,
C.R.A., C.R.E.., A.D.M.S., Admin. Staff.
ANZAC, 2nd Australian Division, No.4
Section.
Reference Divisional Operation Order No. 22
dated 15th Decr.
The following amendments and additions to the above quoted Order are issued :-
1.
√ (a) Para. 5 (e).- Substitute the following :-
"Commanders of "C" parties will be informed
that a final an
covering position extending from No. 1 Post
via WALKERS Ridge
PLUGGE'S Plateau - to McGLAGANS Ridge will
be occupied by a
Rear Party drawn from certain "C" parties of
the Army Corps.
The Commander of the Rear Party is being
furnished by the
2nd Australian Division. The portion of the rear
party drawn
from the N.Z. & A. Division is 75 all ranks, which
will be
furnished from the "C" party, 1st A.L.H.Brigade.
It will be
in position, in accordance with orders to be
issued by the
Rear Party Commander, at 6 pm on the second
day."
√ (b) Para. 5(d). - last line :-
For "Divisional Representative" read
"Commander of Rear Party".
√ (c) Para 9 -
The Divisional Representative will be at the
place where the main sap enters Mule Gully.
2. Appendix B
√ Amended Embarkation Table - Second day -
is attached, also
March Table for "A" Parties.
3. Instructions to Brigadiers.
√ Number last two paragraphs 8 and 9
respectively and add to
para. 9 - "Particular care is to be taken that
orders to
withdraw are given and passed quietly and
that the word "retire" is not made use of.
(Sgd). W.R.PINWILL, Major,
General Staff,
N.Z. & A. Division.
This transcription item is now locked to you for editing. To release the lock either Save your changes or Cancel.
This lock will be automatically released after 60 minutes of inactivity.