Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 12, 3 April - 30 April 1916, Part 6

Confidential

Headquarters,

4th. Australian Division,

Letter of Lieut-Colonel Tilney, Commanding Officer 13th.

Battalion herewith. I also forward the previous correspondence
in this matter, so far as I hold same, as he requests.
In-as-much as the gist of the second complaint appears be that
the original Circular Memo of April 15th. 1916 was circulated among
the officers of two other Brigades, I wish to state that the copies of
this Circular which reached me were marked "Confidential", and I xxxx
personally communicated them confidentially to Commanding Officers only
and not to junior officers.
As I do not think that the G.O.C Division intended that para 6
of original memo was to be promulgated to junior officers in other
Brigades, may I venture to suggest that, if this is found to have been
done, either intentionally or accidentally, a direction withdrawing
such promulgation to such junior officers may dispose of this complaint

BRIG-GENL.

Commdg. 4th. Aust. Inf. Bde.

SERAPEUM.

27.4.1916

27/4/16
Notes for Article on
Anzac Day in the Desert
Event had been looked forward to with much anticipation. 
Seeing that the manning of the
Defences of the Canal could not be neglected
there was tribulation among those units &
officers & men to whose lot it fell to supply
the garrison & perform the duties necessary
for the day itself.
All the remainder however made high holiday
for (except for the formal Memorial Ceremony) all
work of every kind was stopped for the day.
Permission had been obtained for all Anzac
veterans to wear some distinguishing mark.
Every man who had taken part in the Gallipoli
Campaign was entitled to wear a strip of
blue ribbon on the right breast, while every
man who had taken part in the memorable
Landing was in addition entitled to wear
crimson ribbon. - The numbers of
offcers & men who thus actually wore both
was very few - and had the
 

envy of their Comrades. - 
From Reveille at 5 oclock all was bustle &
activity in the Camps of the 4^th Brigade, to get
ready for the memorial service fixed for half
past six. - All units were turned out
fully armed, & dressed in their best parade
turnout; band instruments shone resplendent
in the early morning sunlight, & a firepit
draped with the Australian flag was formed of
the drums. - 
The Brigade was formed up in a huge hollow square
the sides comprised of clearly packed lines of men
20 deep. - A special choir of 100 voices
had been trained for the service. - The bands
were brigaded under the service Bandmaster.
In the crisp cool morning and, with a gentle north
breeze, the service was conducted by Chaplain
Lt Col. Wray - who himself took a distinguished
part in the Landing on Gallipoli. So also did the
Brigadier & the five senior commanders of the
Brigade, all of whom had been decorated for
their conduct of those operations.
The service opened with hymns & prayers &
a special prayer for the dead heroes of the Brigade
Then followed a stirring ^& eloquent address by the Chaplain
which was listened to with wrapt attention by the
newer Australians who formed the back of
the parade, & left few of the veterans
unmoved. - The Keynote of the address was
& Australian nationhood which had been
 

actioned on that ever memorable April 25^th 
a year year ago. -
At the Conclusion of the address - the whole
Brigade was called to attention, & stood in
rigid silence while the Bands played the
"Dead March in Saul". - When the last
rumble of the muffled drums had died
away, the massed Buglers of the
Brigade blew the sounded the "Last
Post". - It was a stirring picture to see the
parade of over 5000 men standing motionless
& in perfect silence on the dull uniform
background of the desert to the end.
The formal ceremony concluded with the
National Anthem.
Then breakfasts - special fare
provided by regimental funds.
Morning spent in Inter-battalion sports,
Cricket matches, donkey races,
Mounted flag races &c
In afternoon, grand Aquatic Carnival
on Suez Canal given by whole of
Fourth Division - programme involved
 

Practically the whole Division stripped to the
skin went into the Canal, & spent
the afternoon in the water. - The sight
of some 15000 naked figures making a
wild splashing rush for the sloping sandy
banks whenever the judges launch tooted
the signal to "clear the course" for an event
was a sight to remember; also the rush
for the water when each event was over.
Sports very good, competitions close & 
exciting.
The magnificent physique of the Australians
their tanned skins &c &c
Many comic items not on programme.
Anzac Derby (Item 8) won by
Fourth Brigade. - 
Such Unit had prepared some comic stunt
then one battalion had fabricated a weird
looking freak gun boat, made out of
red biscuit tins, manned by a crew
of burnt cork niggers in gorgeous colored
apparel - holding a long line of trim
 

tin boats, full of tiny tin soldiers -
a screamingly funny skit on the
famous landing. -
Many men had Catamarans, made of oil
jar rafts & old spars, using old shoes
as paddles.
Numbers of Canoes, with fair "ladies" - rouge
of countenance, (but often shockingly
alternated as to skirts & hosiery) - much
xxxxxxxxxx love making in the canoes -
generally ending in the armorers swain
& his "Kliner" upsetting the frail craft &
struggling sprawling in the water. - 
One Battalion produced a magnificient
'dreadnaught' - gorgeously painted with
and placarded - its paddle wheels whizz
around feet above the water. -
During the Carnival, many distinguished
visitors. - Several Canal Company Commands
Some with ladies, who discreetly ignored
the abundant display of masculine
 

charms. - Also Lt General Dudley & his
staff came down from Ismailia to
afternoon tea, & about 5 o'clock
H.R.H. came up from Suez in a
little naval pinnace, & stayed an hour
with us. - The Prince joined heartily
in the fun & was cheered wherever he
went. He wore uniform of Staff Captain
on G.H.Q staff. -
Carnival ended in presentation of trophies
by Maj. Genr Sir H.V. Cox. -
In evening 'Mess dinners' on the
humble fare of the desert. Many
Units had xxxxx guest rights.
Many cables of Congratulation sent during
day to Kindred Divisions, Gen. Birdwood
in France, Anzacs in London, & 1st Anzac
Corps in France. - & replies
received.
 

Later - sing - songs, band concerts
& serenading - Kept up till an
hour after usual time for "Lights
Out". -

        __________________
 

G.O.C.
4^th Brigade
Page 478.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 83.

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY.
28 April, 1916.

GENERAL HEADQUARTERS,
EGYPTIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

1. GENERAL INTELLILGENCE.
2. SITUATION IN IRELAND.

******************************

JM
 

Page 479.
1. GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
At the Allied Conference held in Paris the Allies arrived at a
complete understanding regarding several outstanding questions of
policy. The shipping question was reviewed in all its aspects, and
it was determined that Allied shipping should be pooled as far as
possible, and that the high cost of living, especially in Italy,
should be met by diverting grain ships to Italian Ports and by
sending consignments of coal from England. Already improvement
has been achieved and the maximum value is being obtained from the
available shipping.
The Serbian representatives attending the Conference were
assured that neither Great Britain, France or Russia had any intention
of concluding a separate peace with Bulgaria.
The French Government have agreed to take immediate action in
transporting the Serbian Troops to Salonika, rather than to wait
until the British Government can detail ships which would necessitate
some delay since all the available tonnage is now fully occupied.
The Allied Governments have had to refuse the proposed relief
for the Serbian peasantry as regards food supply. But there is no
objection to a medical and Sanitation Mission, composed of neutrals
going up country to attend to the needs of the civil population.
Suffering is known to be great, but the policy of the Central Powers
in denuding the country of all supplied holds out no prospect of
the food consigned to the Serbians peasantry being distributed to
them.
With the knowledge of the Allied Governments the Roumanians
have been exporting no less then 120,000 tons per month of grain
and vegetables to enemy countries. For the present Roumania feels
herself unable to resist the demands of the Central Powers, but she
has refused to allow her rolling stock to leave the country. An
organization named "Central Purchase Association" has been set
up in Germany, and this is charged with the duty of procuring food
supplies by the easiest route. This grain from Roumania is brought