Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 12, 3 April - 30 April 1916, Part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Part of Quest:
Sir John Monash (General, b.1865 - d.1931)
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
RCDIG0000611
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Surnning Carmoal Wednesday, 12h April 1916 To start at 1350 Location: 300 yards North of 16th Pattalion Head quarters. wents. Championship Rlay Race: 13th & 16th Dns. 1. 2. Offcers Relay Race. 4 officers from Each Wuit 3. Breast Stroke. 100 7aids: I men from Each tig 4.100 yards Championship. I men from Eacl wiit 5. Dwing Championbif 3" (11 Standing Dive () Running 131 Fancy. Breast & Back 6. 1007 I "" (50 yards Dreart. Shoke & So 7erds on back with hands folded) 7. 440 7ard I mere pervuit 8. Hunt the Bellman. S 9. Duck Race. open 10 offcers Challenge Race.
Starter. Lt A Williamson. 14th Bn. 15 Judges. Lt N. McGhie Capt R.C Wui 14 13t Referee. Capt. Henderson Judge of Diving: Capt Henderson. 13 Stewards. R.S.Ms. Water Pobce. Lt Williamson to arrange. tuts. & Machie Gunners B.HC. 13th 14th 15th & 16 Brs 4 Field Amblance. Prize Distribution
OTO Time 1 383 15 8F To: A. Station ane in rc1/ Sl. lichas No. 9. 18. EIPIIAN STATE IELEERAPNS 8en8 to ROMartS A65 CHARGES V 55 (23 200t0 33 a 13-9. 162 51 Continental Hotel Caire Please reserve be droom near bath room arriving Miday remaining several days General Monash AS C3.T.S RWFTOF KMNM MSDN Ctte Farte PA. POSS. TAAMAE I beg that the above telegram may be forwarded according to the conditions printed hereon. P'Administration est prite d expedier la depeche cir desous d apres bes conditions imprimbes or contro. ] a b g c osest alo ses t s gadin A Br Em vis
14/4/16 All Individual Officers on arrival in Cairo will, with the least possible delay, report themselves at Head Quarters, Savoy Hoiel, entering their names and filling in all particulars in the Special Register there. Warrant Officers, N.C.O.s. & Men: at the Office of the Assistant Provost Marshal, Mi litary Police Barracks, Bab el Hadid. W. AINSWORTH, MAIOR. Assistant Adjutant General. Force in Egypt. Cairo, 2ist Junuary 1916.
Heedcuarters. Expoentied 4th. Australian Division. cful 1-th. April 171. 600060 Brigade. 4t Irt. The L.U.C. wishes ine to convey the Following remarks SatCalion, For your information and the necess- on the 134 r vation. (I) out of 5 or 6 nen taken at random by him from the rants not one had an intolligent knowledgo of the badges worn by the stacf of the Army and one or two did not Inow what Brigade or Division the were in. The Dattalion was doing a march covered by an Advence guard; (2) the Advance guard was in formation ouite unsuited to the country. The Sattalion when hulted stood on the middle of the road (5) lnsteed of moving off the rocd instantly (in formation) and 1t again Fell in on the road instead breaking off arter. of Felling in off the side of it, and marching bnte the Foed when reedy. The Officer Con ending when told by the G.O.C. that he should (E) practise the above (() at once, replied to the effect that doing so would Listurb and upset his Advance guard. It is exactly doing the unexvected that tests the alertness of an Alvance guard and it should be constantly bested in this and every other way that is possible. The C.O.C. asked the O.C. what his whistle signel was. He (5) replied A long and short blast. The nearest Conrany Cer ander was called up and asked what the O.C's signal whistle was. He replied he did not know! He was then asked what his own was. He replied A long and short blast! Fe was then asked no he or his Platoon Coiranders signified that the; had heard a whistle signal. He did not know. The C.U.C. cesires me to add that almost all the above points heve been the subjects of special Circulars, and in several cases these Circulars have been drawn attention to a second time, and I am to add that if orcers are not carried out mronpt improvement is shown in the mothods and unless a ver. of In-truction in this Sattalien it will be his duty to report unfavourably on the O.C. and to suggest his replacement by some one else who will carry out orders more throughly and promptly. I am to request that you will acknowledge this memo: and report that it has been communicated by you and Tully expleined to the O.C. I am to adc that the G.O.C. will take an early opportun- 1t7 of agein seeing the Pattalion. The addiponal erpusay to be forwarded to the Cl ther bostations Shncan Lieut-Colonel. C.S. Fth. Australian Division.
F the Mats 21/2/16 e John R 516 Butter Scotch 7 from Dorio sooks Road Mittens Mate . Fly net Bell Fin Sweets Walmits Air Pillow Sponge 2 sitk Shirts Mun & Bor Pipe Lighter 3 Lins Tobacco Raisrs Sin Sweets Lambise N.B. The toothbrrishes ware for Eric & Pauil from Auntie Bell Fldfs. Sa Tante Brocuts Socks Pvems slelmet Pipe Pampllet Mat nott book
Erie & Paik Each aot wtth S Socks from Doris Butterscotch Flynet Toothbrush Cuntie Bell Pape Lighter 2 Sins Sweets Eigarettes Hashers Cuatie Eg 302 mbouc. d A5
F Passengers are requested to place this MUIlE. countertoil in the Control box provided in each car, mentioning any complaints on the back, or communicate direct with H. W. Tite, Manager for Egypt of the International Sleeping Car Co. Cairo Station, who will carefully investigate every case brought to his knowledge and reply when the name and address are given SERIE A 33009 International Sleeping Gar Company (Eeyptian Serrices) to 1 from S8. Tea or Coffee with bread and butter asoeovooo eancn The on Caft avec pain et beurre Meat Breakfast oevoewve Lunch (without wine) awowe Dejenner (sans vin) 17 Dinner (without wine)) Diner (sans vin) oo omn sen reenfeen eennfeene aowe anenecenedine y X benenen f fen f e en mememmenen nengunge aeeneneeeteen enend en e nte en n eeeee cvoo 10000000000000000000000000000000 1,000000000,000000000 anesoaeoeosboon BA Date Pr. 1-pr. 100.— 21- pr. 97. 50.— Fr 20— pt. 77. Only Egyptian Silver accepted.—La menue monnaie egyptienne senle est acceptee. SRUSSELS AAD MADRID PALACE HOTE SOO ROOMS, EVERY ORE WITH SATHROUR, FRUM Fis 750 Passengers are respectfully requested to see that a bill is made out in their presence for every amount however small, and to see that the above total corresponds with the total shown on the red control coupon below, which dont be detached in their presence won the amount is paid
Horns Comparr Cencovon FOrrraN HE CAEORAE A. WILD, General Manager at 1 Ar. s PYRNMIDS Grand Continental Hotel MENA HOUSE ALEKNNDRIN MTEDURN HOTHL CAGINO SAN STEFANO HOTEL DES AAINS CecASiOR GRAND HOTEL HELOUAN Gllise RATH SSTABLISHMENT ECYDT. No. 45 M Brig. General Monash an 1916 TOTAL L.E. 50 Pension Avril 14 60 Beaune 1R/ White Labil 120 15 60 40 a Lunchs Trivite 46 1Beaune 2 Pelsens 184 lemonade 1lemonsg Hes 60 46 35 1Beaune T Pilsen 98 4e3 1f Beer 44 shandy gaff. a4 m FGEORGE MUNGOVICH HOTELSCO 86 Can AT APRISIS 5548 Received from an M 3EL 3 8 6. 9 Cashier
SCOPS Confidential. Headquarters 4th. Aust. Division. Explanation of C.O. 13th. Battalion submitted. I should like to add that I feel sure that the C.O.C. may safely take it for granted that in so far as the units of this Brigade are found to fall short, in any particular of the high standards to which all aspire, this is not due eather to want of will, organt of effort on the part of the senior officers concerned. While 1 Tully recognise that the present condition of efficiencyn of the Units of this Brigade leaves very much to be desired, I am also not unmindful of the exceptional difficulties with which senior officers have been confronted by a constantly changing personnel and by an attempt to carry on simultaneously, and in a very brief period, the reorganisation of personnel (particularly officers and N.C.O's) - the re-equipment and the training both elementary and advanced. While I do not on that account, relax the call upon all for the utmost effort, I have found it necessary to exercise both patience and sympat- by in order to maintain a spirit of enthusiasm among my senior officers 18.4.1916. CopY 9.A. 626 From C.O. 13th. Battalion Tof G.O.C. 4th. Aust. Inf. Brigade I beg to submit the following explanation :- Of the five men spoken to by the C.O.C. two joined the Battalion (1) The latter were men who had been left at Tel-el-Kebir, Three at Serapeum. behind by the 1st. Division, concequently none had had much training in this The order referring to the signaficance of armiets was promul- Battalion. sated in Battalion orders immediately after its receipt. The battalion order was read on parade and the men were told to ask questions about any armiet they were not sure of. The battalion as a whole came under my command for field exercises (2). for the first time last Saturday since I recassumed command. The Advanced Guard work was purely of an elementaty and instruttional nature, so much so that many of the men required to be instructed individually in duties of an Advanced Guard, such as passing messages etc. It was to give the O.C. A.C. an opportunity of doing this that I did not wish to do anything to interfere with his instruction. It was the first time most of the men bad done Owing to constant changes in personnel the battalion Advanced Guard work. consists largely of men who have had but very elementary training, and, up to the present week, the training has, by Brigade instructions, consisted of section and platoon work. The formation of the Advanced Guard was decided upon by its O.C. 1 detailed the strength which I was of opinion would be A.G. the handling of the force necessary for the work and left to the O.C. In such cases if I am not satisfied with the work done I do not interfere during the operation, but note mistakes and critise at the conclueion of the exercise, afterwards testing by further work to see if all have profited by their exgerience. At the halt mentioned, which was the first of the march, the (3). The method of clearing the road battalion was slow in clearing the road. viz, to halt on the road and break off is the one which has always been practiced hitherto in the N.2. & A. Division and is in accordance with P.S.F The me hod given by the G.O.C. was practiced as directed.

Swimming Carnival.

Wednesday, 12th April 1916.

To start at 1330.

Location: 300 yards North of 16th 
Battalion Headquarters.

Events.

1.    Championship Relay Race:  13th & 16th Bns.
2.    Officers' Relay Race.                4 officers from Each unit
3.    Breast Stroke. 100 yards:        3 men from Each unit
4.    100 yards Championship.      3 men from Each unit
5.    Diving Championship             3    "         "          "        "
(1) Standing Dive
(2) Running     "
(3) Fancy.          "
6.    Breast & Back 100 yards.          3    "         "          "        "
(50 yards Breast Stroke & 50 yards on back with
hands folded)
7.    440 yards.                                      5   men per unit
8.    Hunt the Bellman.                     5       "      "        "
9.    Duck Race.                                   Open.
10.    Officers' Challenge Race.
 



 
 

Starter.                  Lt A. Williamson.      14th Bn.
Judges.                 Lt N. McGhie             15th   "
                                Capt R. C. Winn       14th   "
Referee.                Capt. Henderson     13th   "
Judge of Diving: Capt. Henderson.    13th   "
Stewards:              R.S.M's.
Water Police:       Lt Williamson to arrange. 
Units:

B.H.Q. & Machine Gunners

13th, 14th 15th & 16th Bns.

4th Field Ambulance.

Prize Distribution.

 

No.  EGYPTIAN STATE TELEGRAPHS    E.S/R.-155-14
Form No. G. 13.
Orig'l No. 15.

[*?*] rds 8 PT.
Time
Remarks
Route
Station 
Date  13-4-16
Sent to
At
By
CHARGES.
To:   Continental Hotel

A: Cairo

Please reserve bedroom near bathroom
arriving Friday remaining several
days

General Monash

Not for transmission.        Cette partoe 'est pas ă transmettre           

I beg that the above telegram may be forwarded according to the conditions printed hereon.}

Signature ELSimonson Address 4 Bde. HQ AIF

The Telegraph Dept. declines responsibility for delay, errors, non-deliveries, etc.

 

[*14/4/16*]

All Individual Officers on arrival in
Cairo will, with the least possible delay,
report themselves at Head Quarters, Savoy
Hotel, entering their names and filling in
all particulars in the Special Register there.

Warrant Officers, N.C.O.s, & Men, at the
Office of the Assistant Provost Marshal, Military
Police Barracks, Bab el Hadid.

W. AINSWORTH, MAJOR,

Assistant Adjutant General,

Force in Egypt.

[*Y 5*]

Cairo, 21st January 1916

 

[*Confidential*]

[*C/144*]

Headquarters,

4th. Australian Division.

15th. April 1916.

G.O.C.

4th Inf. Brigade.

The G.O.C. wishes to convey the following remarks
on the 13th Battalion, for your information and the necessary
action.

1.  Out of 5 or 6 men taken at random by him from the ranks not
one had an intelligent knowledge of the badges worn by the
Staff of the Army and one or two did not know what Brigade
or Division they were in.

2.  The Battalion was doing a march covered by an Advance guard;
the Advance guard was in formation quite unsuited to the
country.

3.  The Battalion when halted srtood on the middle of the road
instead of moving off the road instantly (in formation) and
breaking off after. It again fell in on the road instead
of falling in off the side of it and marching onto the
road when ready.

4.  The Officer Commanding when told by the G.O.C. that he should
practise the above (3) at once, replied to the effect that
doing so would disturb and upset his Advance guard. It is
exactly doing the unexpected that tests the alertness of an
Advance guard and it should be constantly tested in this
and every other way that is possible.

5.  The C.O.G. asked the O.C. what his whistle signal was. He
replied "A long and short blast". The nearest Company
Commander was called up and asked what the O.C's signal
whistle was. He replied he did not know! He was then asked
what his own was. He replied "A long and short blast"! He
was then asked how he or his Platoon Commanders signified
that they had heard a whistle signal. He did not know.

The G.O.C. desires me to add that almost all the above
points have been the subjects of special Circulars, and in
several cases these Circulars have been drawn attention to a
second time, and I am to add that if orders are not carried out
and unless a very prompt improvement is shown in the methods
of Instruction in this Battalion it will be his duty to report

unfavourably on the O.C. and to suggest his replacement by some
one else who will carry out orders more thoroughly and promptly.

I am to request that you will acknowledge this memo; and
report that it has been communicated by you and fully explained
to the O.C.

I am to add that the G.O.C. will take an early opportunity
of again seeing the Battalion. The additional copies are
to be forwarded to the C.Os of other battalions.

J H Cannon

Lieut-Colonel.

G.S. 4th. Australian Division.

 

Tl

John
[*With Mat's
21/2/16
Regn 15/4/16*]

Butter Scotch }

Socks                 }

 from Doris
Mittens   "    Mat R.

Fly Net         }

Tin Sweets  }

   "   Bell

Walnuts           }

Air Pillow          }

Sponge             }

2 silk Shirts       }

Pipe Lighter     }

3 Tins Tobacco }

Raisins               }

Tin Sweets        }

Zambusc          }

    " Mum & Bert
N.B. The toothbrushes are for
Eric & Paul from Auntie Bell
Fldfs.     "    Sa
Biscuits     "   Tante

Socks Poems    }

Helmet               }

Pipe Pamphlet }

Note book          }

     "   Matw
 

Eric & Paul

Each  

Socks

Butterscotch

    "   from Doris

Flynet

Toothbrush

Pipe Lighter

2 Tins Sweets

Cigarettes

Washers

     "  Auntie Bell
Zambuc     "    Auntie Vic
 

 

International Sleeping Car Company (Egyptian Services) 39009 Receipt.
See original receipt

 

 

THE GEORGE NUNGOVICH EGYPTIAN HOTELS COMPANY

Receipt for hotel expenses.
See original receipt

 

Copy/-

Confidential.
Headquarters
4th. Aust. Division.


Explanation of C.O. 13th. Battalion submitted. I should like
to add that I feel sure that the G.O.C. may safely take it for granted that in so far as the units of this Brigade are found to fall short, in any particular, of the high standards to which we all aspire, this is not due to either to want of will, orwant of effort on the part of senior officers concerned. While I fully recognise that the present condition of efficiencyx of the Units of this Brigade leaves very much to be desired, I am also not unmindful of the exceptional difficulties with which senior officers have been confronted by a constantly changing personnel and an attempt to carry on simultaneously,
and in a very brief period, the reorganisation of personnel (particularly officers and N.C.O's)- the re-equipment and training of both elementary and advanced. While I do not on that account, relax the call upon all for the utmost effort, I have found it necessary to exercise both patience and sympathy in order to maintain a spirit of enthusiasm among my senior officers.


18.4.1916.

Copy/   Q.A. 626
From   C.O.   13th. Battalion
To½   G.O.C.  4th. Aust. Inf. Brigade


I beg to submit the following explanation :-


(1)   Of the 5 men spoken to by the G.O.C. two joined the Battalion
at Tel-el-Kebir, Three at Serapeum. The latter were men who had been left behind by the 1st. Division, consequently none had much training in this Battalion. The order referring to the significance of the armlets was promulgated in Battalion orders immediately after its recepit. The battalion order was read on parade and the men told to ask questions about any armlet they were not sure of.


(2).  The battalion as a whole came under my command for field exercises for the first time last Saturday since I re-assumed command. The Advanced Guard work was purely of an elementary and instructional nature, so much so that many men required to be instructed individually in duties of an Advanced Guard, such as passing messages etc. It was give the O.C  A.G. an opportunity of doing this that I did not wish to do anything to interfere with his instruction. It was the first time most of the men had done Advanced Guard work. Owing to the constant changes in personnel the battalion consists largely of men who have had but very elementary training, and, up to the present week, the training has, by Brigade instructions, consisted of section and platoon work. The formation of an Advanced Guard was decided upon by its O.C. I detailed the strength which I was of opinion would be necessary for the work and left to the O.C.  A.G. the handling of the force
In such cases if I am not satisfied with the work done I do not interfere during the operation, but note mistakes and criticise at the conclusion of the exercise, afterwards testing by further work to see if all have profited by their experience.


(3) At the halt mentioned, which was the first on the march, the
battalion was slow in clearing the road. The method of clearing the road viz, to halt on the road and break off is the one which has always been practiced hitherto in the N.Z. & A. Division and is in accordance with F.S.R  The method given by the G.O.C. was practiced as directed.

 

 

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