Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 11, 8 January - 31 January 1916, Part 1

4aB
2160
ISMAILIA
9th. January 1916
N. Z.  AND  A. DIVISIONS
Yesterday some 400 of my Ninth Reinforcements
arrived, the quotas of two Battalions being without officers.
On interviewing those officers who did accompany their quotas,
they informed me that they had themselves had great difficulty
in securing permission to join the Brigade, the reason being
that an impression existed in the Training depot that officers
were not required for this Brigade.
Upon the contrary, officers are most urgently
required.  It is known that Lieutenants Drinkwater, McPhillamey
and M.R. Walker belonging to 13th. and 14th. Battalions were
in this way held back, and there are probably a number of
others, for all Battalions.
Under above circumstances it is requested that
a telegram be urgently sent to the Training Depot requesting
that all quotas should be accompanied by their full complement
of officers, and that all officers so far held back, as above,
be sent on at the earliest possible moment to join their units
and assist in the training. 
J.M.
BRIG-GENL.
Commdg. 4th. Aust. Inf. Bde.

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE
FOURTH INFANTRY BRIGADE.
ISMAILIA
9th. January 1916.
My dear General,
Upon the subject of the attached file,
there is no question that Lieut. Wallace Crabbe was an able,
industrious, and couragous officer.  It is also true that he
figured most favourably in the adventure which won Jacka his
V.C., but so did several other officers, two of whom were
killed at the time.  Lieut. Crabbe lost his life during the
assault of Hill 60 on Aug. 21st. when we got our first footing
on the Khaiajik Aghala- when also several of his comrades
were killed-  Throughout, he always ranked among the best
and bravest, but on no occasion did I feel justified in
singling him out specially, among so many of whom the same
could be said.  Only those whose services were exceptional
in relation to those of their comrades have been selected by
me for recommendation for distinction.  I am afraid that is
all that can be said in this matter."
Yours sincerely,
Lieut-Genl. Sir, A.J. Godley.

Copy/
ISMAILIA
10th. January, 1916
N.Z.  &  A. DIVISION/
The following information has been obtained, by an
officer deputed by me, as to the Reinforcements available at Zeitoun and
Abbassieh for this Brigade.  (The figures are in addition to the 400
recently joined).
13th. Battalion   7 Officers    520 others.
14th. Battalion   11   do.          900  do
15th. Battalion    8   do.          560  do. 
16th. Battalion    8  do.           622  do. 
_______________________________________ 
 Total                    34 Officers  2602 others. 
_______________________________________ 
Of the officers, the great majority have undergone training in special
officers Training Schools, and may be regarded as fit to take up duty as
Platoon Commanders at once.
Of the 2602 other ranks, about a 1000 belong to the earlier reinforcements
(8th, 9th, 7 10th) and should be quite sufficiently trained to be of
immediately value.  The remaining 1600 belong to the 11th. and 12th. Reinforcements.
There are also 298 "Details" belonging to this Brigade, at
Abbassieh, who ought to rejoin at once.
It is hoped that special efforts can be made for at least
1200 of the above to join so as to bring the Brigade to War Strength, and
that this may be done at once so that all concerned may benefit from
the collective training now in progress.
sgd. John Monash.
BRIG-GENL.
Commdg. 4th. Aust. Inf. Bd

STATE 
Showing No. by Units 

UNITS     RE-INFORCE 
                  MENTS.          OFFICERS    O. R.    TOTALS   Remarks  Hospital 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
13th.Bn.       9                        2                142           144 
                      10                       2                128           130 
                      11                        3                250          253              527                                                                                                                                            65 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
14thBn.         8                      1                                      1 
                       9                       2                148            150 
                      10                       2                 152            154 
                      11                        3                 300          303 
                      12                       3                 300          303             911 
                                                                                                                         38 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
15th.Bn.                                    1                                      1 
                        9                         1                    60            61 
                       10                        2                  148           150 
                       11                         3                  280          283 
                       12                         1                    72             73             568                                                                                                                                         60 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
16th. Bn.         9                         2                   104           106 
                        10                        2                   102            104 
                        11                         3                   296           299 
                        12                        1                   1210           1221           630                                                                                                                                        71 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                                                                         2636 v DETAILS 
13th.  Battalion     71    Hosp.  13  
14th.     do.             84      "         8 
15th.     do.             84      "        22 
16th.     do.             59       "       17

AUSTRALIAN 
IMPERIAL FORCE 
4A.B 
FEB 10 1916 
2676 
4th Infantry Brigade 
'Diagram - see original' 
TRAINING AREAS 
NZI Bde  C.D.J.K. 
4^th A.I.Bde G.H. 
N.S.R.Bde F 
Musketry E 
Area allotted as per D.R.O. 
1036 A B 
[*W.H. Hastings 
Capt 
G.S. 
N.Z. A Div 
10-2-16*]  

1986 2A 
Australian Imperial Force 
No 79/4/2 
INTERMEDIATE BASE 
F.D. 
10th January 6. 
Dear Sir, 
The following copy of a telegram received by Lieutenant- 
Colonel McGlinn from Brigadier-General Monash 4th 
Australian Infantry Brigade regarding the nondelivery of a 
cablegram addressed "Fouraib" has been brought to my notice 
namely:- 
Begins: "Delaney of Reuters writes Melbourne 
"cable to me (Fouraib) dated 30th was tendered 
"for delivery Sellheim's office, but latter 
"refused accept.  Please investigate."  Ends. 
2.  I am directed to ask please, that you be good 
enough in view of the statement made against this office 
to kindly furnish full details of the circumstances under 
which you wrote stating that the undelivered telegram in <
question when tendered for delivery was refused at this 
office. 
3.  Information is particularly desired as to the 
date on which the telegram was tendered, the name of the 
messenger making delivery, and the person or persons so 
far as can be found out who refused delivery and who they 
were, i.e. whether an Orderly at the door, one of the guard, 
or simply an unauthorised person who happened to be about 
at the time. 
4.  In connection with a case of this nature it is 
to be regretted that as the matter was brought to your personal 
notice, you did not take the only action left open 
to you at the time i.e. to notify a responsible Officer of 
this Base when the telegram had been refused.  If you can 
see your way to inform me why this was not done I should 
be much obliged.

(2) 
5.  Other cablegrams similarly addressed have been 
accepted and forwarded and it is desired to make exhaustive 
enquiries in this office as to who is responsible <
and where the fault lies. 
Yours faithfully, 
Lieutenant. 
Assistant Military Secretary. 
A. I. F. Intermediate Base. 
Mr. G. C. Delaney 
C/o Reuter's Telegraph Company, 
Khedival Buildings. 
CAIRO.

Ismailia 
Jany 11/16 
Lecture to Officers 
Introduction.   No previous opportunity - pleasure 
Reinfets. & recent promotions - 
To juniors, not seniors 
Take work very seriously 
War duty to Empire & Australia <
Reputation of Brigade - owe it to ourselves 
owe it to our dead 
Duties & Responsibilities 
Officers have privileges - & increased responsibilities  
Mental & Moral Realities - force of example - faithful reflection 
tidyness 
orderlyness  
punctuality 
obedience 
cooperation & mutual help 
Loyalty - even when wrong 
no washing of dirty linen 
Leadership - psychology - if better man 
Justice, firmness & fairness 
Strictness 
Discipline = power of securing coordinated action 
yet - tools must be sharp - cleanliness 
tidyness 
punctuality 
Saluting 
Attention 
No compliments on Manoeuvre 
Instructors  Programmes - scheduled 
variety 
Previous notice by senior 
Think out instruction 
Style - position - well in front 
tone - no whisper 
don't fidget 
Correction of errors & all faults 
(responsibility of leaders) 
Make presence felt 
Organization 
Later on technical subjects 
Pass this on - to N.C.O's & men - Platoon 50 men. 
should become perfect 
emulation.

SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY. - N^o 1. 
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS. 
11th January, 1916. 
The evacuation of Cape Helles having now been successfully carried out, the Commander
-in-Chief republishes the Special Order of the Day of the 21st December 1915. 
> Even allowing for some advantage from the experience already  gained, the 8th Army 
Corps had to face at least as formidable an undertaking as their comrades of the Australian 
and New-Zealand and the 9th Army Corps, seeing that the withdrawal of the latter had naturally rendered the enemy more vigilant and alert, as well as more aggressive.  The manner in 
which the 8th Army Corps maintained its offensive spirit to the end, and attacked and 
captured Turkish trenches while  preparations for withdrawal were actually in progress, reflects 
the highest credit on all ranks, as does the way in which the attempted Turkish attack on 
January 7th was met and repulsed. 
All that was said of the Australian and New Zealand and the 9th Army Corps in the 
republished Order of the Day, now applies equally to the 8th Army Corps, and the Commander
-in-Chief desires to express to the General Officer Commanding Dardanelles Army, 
and all ranks in the 8th Army Corps from the General Officer Commanding to regimental 
officers, non-commissioned officers and men, his high appreciation of the excellence of the 
arrangements and of the soldierly conduct of the troops. 
A. LYNDEN BELL, 
Major General 
Chief of the General Staff,

Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY. - N^o 1. 
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS. 
11th January, 1916. 
The evacuation of Cape Helles having now been successfully carried out, the  
Commander-in-Chief republishes the Special Order of the Day of the 21st December 1915. 
Even allowing for some advantage from the experience already gained, the 8th Army 
Corps had to face at least as formidable an undertaking as their comrades of the Australian 
and New-Zealand and the 9th Army Corps, seeing that the withdrawal of the latter had  
naturally rendered the enemy more vigilant and alert, as well as more agressive.  The manner in 
which the 8th Army Corps maintained its offensive spirit to the end, and attacked and 
captured Turkish trenches while preparations for withdrawal were actually in progress, reflects 
 the highest credit on all ranks, as does the way in which the attempted Turkish attack on 
January 7th was met and repulsed. 
All that was said of the Australian and New Zealand and the 9th Army Corps in the 
republished Order of the Day, now applies equally to the 8th Army Corps, and the  
Commander-in-Chief desires to express to the General Officer Commanding Dardanelles Army, 
and to all ranks in the 8th Army Corps from the General Officer Commanding to regimental 
officers, non-commissioned officers and men, his high appreciation of the excellence of the 
arrangements and of the soldierly conduct of the troops. 
A. LYNDEN BELL, 
Major General 
Chief of the General Staff, 
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. 
JM