Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 12, 2 May - 31 May 1916, Part 5

action etc. etc.
I think the training will be
difficult, & one that could hardly be
left entirely to the Section Officer, being
apart from Brigade & Battallion Commanders, 
So much the concern of Company Commanders,
as far as the details of training in tactical handling
& field work are involved.
3. At present the packs without
improvement tend to damage
magazines.
The magazines require to be
separated, or firmly held, otherwise if
thrown carelessly about will be injured,
& cannot be prepared repaired easily,
or used again owing to the delivery
of the feed apparatus.
I think excellent ideas could
be evolved from the haversack; also ^which
should give a better distribution of weight; I
will be pleased to discuss this matter
if required, but nodoubt a process
of elimination will do much to solve the problem. at

The men have worked hard during
their course, & I learn from squad
instructors that several hours
each day, have been devoted from
their own time to study.
I think I can safely say
that with one exception, the
men are exceptionally Competent
Gunners, & will be perfectly safe
& satisfactory instructors.

B Teesdale Smith Capt.
17/5/16

4TH. AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Headquarters,
17th. May 1916.
G.S. CIRCULAR NO. 24.
Course of Instruction
at
Imperial School of Instruction, ZEITOUN.
COMMENC^EMENT.
1. The next Course of Instruction commences on Monday, May
29th.  The Course lasts 3 weeks except the Bombing
Courses which will last ten days (Candidates for 'B'
Class to report on the 7th. June, vide para 7).
REPORTING.
2. All ranks to report at the School by 6 p.m. on Sunday
28th. instant.  Parties will march into the School
under the Senior Officer or N.C.O., who will report
the arrival of the party.
NOMINAL 
ROLLS.
3.  Nominal Rolls by Brigades, showing No., Rank., Name,
Initials, Unit and Course are to reach this Office in
duplicate by 1100 on Monday 22nd. instant.
In the event of the Division proceeding to another
theatre of operations all parties at the School of
Instruction will be ordered to rejoin their Units.
If later it is found necessary to make any alteration
of names from those sent in on the Nominal Roll, such
alterations need not be notified by letter ot or telegram,
but should be reported on arrival at the School by the
Officer or N.C.O. in charge of the Party.
EQUIPMENT.
4. N.C.O's and men must be fully equipped and bring
blankets, but no ball ammunition should be brought.
OFFICERS
SERVANTS.
5. Officers should bring servants with them in the proportion
of one servant to two Officers.
PAY.
6. All N.C.O's and men attending the Course should be paid
 as far as possible up to date before leaving their Units.
SELECTION
OF THOSE
[[?]] ATTEND.
7. Those selected for the N.C.O's Class should be specially
chosen with a view to their becoming good
instructors.
Those selected for the Machine Gun Course should have
some aptitude for the work, be of good physique, keen
and intelligent.
The G.O's.C. 4th. and 12th. Infantry Brigades will each
detail a Machine Gun to be taken to the School.
Those selected for the "Advanced Telephone Course"
should be able to "sound read" and have some previous
knowledge of the telephone instrument.
With regard to the Stokes Gun and Bombing Class, it
should be noted that there are two courses, "A" and "B",
For "A" Course all ranks should report at the school
on Sunday 28th. instant, before 6 p.m.  For "B" Class
all ranks should report at the School on Wednesday
June 7th., before 6 p.m.  Each of these Courses lasts
10 days.

Page -2-
RETURN.
8. All Officers, N.C.O's and Men must return to their
Units on completion of the Course, under the train
arrangements made by the Commandant of the School.
In the case of Officers, N.C.O's and Men being
granted leave by their Commanding Officers, immediately
upon expiration of the Course, the fact must be notified
to the Commandant at least one week before the
expiration of the Course.
VACANCIES.
9. A statement showing the allotment of vacancies to the
troops under your Command is sent herewith.
10. Please state by noon on the 20th. whether you anticipate
being able to fill all vacancies, and if not,
how many will not be filled.

H.G. McRae Capt.
for
Lieut-Colonel.
G.S. 4th. Australian Division.

Copies to :-
G.C.C. 4th. Infantry Brigade
G.C.C. 12th. Infantry Brigade
G.C.C. 15th. Infantry Brigade
C.D.A.
O.C. 4th. Pioneer Battalion
O.C. 4th. Signal Company
O.C. 4th. Cyclist Company
 

SECRET
[*4^th Australian Division
GC 5/4
19 May 1916*]
Headquarters,
4th. Australian Division.
18th. May 1916.
Headquarters,

3rd. A.L.H. Brigade.
Re Map 1/100,000.  Sheet C. 19.
The following Bikaner Camel Corps patrols will be
sent out during the week ending 28th. May.
Strength of patrol.  1 N.C.O. and 6 men.
Hour of start.  0400.
______________________________________________________________________
DATE                TO VISIT                MAP              RETURN JOURNEY
                                                          SQUARE  ______________________________________________________________________
MONDAY          UMM ADM         C.5                 direct to Camp
22nd. May                             
TUESDAY          ET TASSA            B.2                 via EL TASSI (B.3)
23rd. May          663                          
WEDNESDAY  KHABRIT EL       C.4                 via 680 (C.4)
24th. May          HABBEL
THURSDAY       UMM ADM         C.5                 direct to Camp
25th. May
FRIDAY              EL TASSI             B.5                 ET TASSA 663 (B.2)
26th. May
SATURDAY        HUBR UMN      C.4                 direct to Camp
27th. May           MUKHSHEIB
SUNDAY             430                     A.4                  EL TASSI (B.3)
28th. May

_______________________________________________________________________
Please acknowledge receipt of this memo.

C Dickinson Major
for
Lieut-Colonel.
G.S. 4th. Australian Division.

Copy for information to :-
5th. Australian Division
54th. Division
R.F.C. through 2/ANZAC
Brig.Gen. Monash, C.B., V.D.
1 Copy File.

Thermograph  

Diagram - see original document

 

 

 

ZEITOUN SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION.

29 - 5 - 1916.

 

Allotment of Vacancies.

Course                                   4th.                                                  Bde.	12th. Bde.	15th. Bde.	Div.  Art.	4th Pio- neer Bn.	4th. Sig. Coy.	Cyc     Total list   Vacancie Coy.  Off. O.R
Bombing 2nd. Course                     Officers                2                     O. Ranks              14	2 14	2 14		4		6      2                         48
Stokes' Gun 2nd. Course                      Officers              4                      Rank & File       12	4 12	4 12		2		12                            36
Advanced Telephone          1	1	1	4		2	All ranks                      9
Officers                                    7	7	7		2		23
N.C.O's                                      9	9	9		2		1                          30
Machine Gun                                               Officers              3                       Rank & File .    22	3 22	2 24				3                            60
Lewis Gun                        Officers                        Rank & File.     5	5	1 5		1		2                             15

  20/5/16                                                              

 

MOVE OF 4th AUSTRALIAN DIVISION    

NO.1

CONFIDENTIAL.

C.A.Q.19.

1.  Information has been received that the weight of baggage to

    be taken by Officers will be as detailed in Field Service Pocket

    Book, and that it may include the 100 lbs. left at the Base.  Any

    baggage beyond this amount must be got rid of before the move.

    Should Units wish for Messrs. Thos. Cook to be sent for to assist

    in this, information will be sent to this office by Formation

    Commanders, and Messrs. Cook will be advised.

2.   No cameras are allowed to be taken. All cameras must be sent 

      away before the move either personally or with the assistance of 

      Messrs. Cook.  A certificate will be rendered by G.C.C., Brigades 

      and Divisional Units before leaving that no cameras are in possession 
      of Officers or Other Ranks.

3.   Sacks for the packing of harness and saddlery are to be indented

      for on D.A.D.O.S., 4th Australian Division, forthwith.

4.   O.C. all Units will arrange for a Medical Inspection of their

       Units for Venereal Disease within 5 days of the date of departure

       of their Unit when this is notified.  

5.    The following letter is published for information.  The patches

        have been asked for at once and will be issued as soon as received.

        When received they are to be at once sewn on the inside of the

        Australian pattern serge Jacket (not Khaki Drill).

        The Gas Helmets and Satchels will be issued by Units on board

        ship.

---------------

"Headquarters, 4th Australian Division  -

Just prior to Division leaving its present position, the

following stores will be issued :-

                            Gas Helmets        2 per Officer and Man  

                             Satchels                 1    :           :          :        :

                             Patches Pocket   1   :           :           :       :

These stores will be taken in bulk by each Unit and issued

to individuals on board ship.

The first article to be issued should be Patches Pocket,

which is to be sewn on the inside of the service dress jacket.

Units should be paraded after this has been done and the 

two Gas Helmets and Satchel issued.  One Gas Helmet will be kept 

in the Satchel and one in the pocket of the coat.

Both Gas Helmets will be invariably carried both by

Officers and men of the whole Division.

The Corps Commander will hold Officers Commanding Units,

personally responsible that from the day of disembarkation, the

above is carried out as the efficiency of the Unit depends on

its immunity against gas attacks and lachrymatory shell fire.

                                                                        (sgd) HOWELL-JONES,  Lieut-Colonel,

              19/5/1916                                                                  A.O.D.

              Headquarters,                                A.D.O.S., 2nd A. & N.Z Army Corps"

                   ISMAILIA.                  ------------

 

                                                                         Elerius Lory      Lieut -Colonel,

               Headquarters                                                 A.A & Q.M.G.,

                   22/5/16.                                           4th AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
JM

21/5/16          

Address to 16th, 13th & 14th Bns

on parade inspection - May 22, 23, 24

I do not as a rule believe in making speeches to men on parade, but

on the occasion of this inspection there a few things which I think I

ought to say to you.

In the first place I wish to convey to you, Major Arthman ^Colonel Teling ^Major Fetter, & to all ranks

my satisfaction with this inspection, and to congratulate the 14th Bat-

talion on the progress it has made in its war training. - This Battalion

has suffered considerable disabilities in comparison with other Battalions

of the Brigade, by reason of the fact that for the first five weeks of after coming 

to [[???]], the Battalion was scattered over the various posts of the inner

line.- In spite of these disadvantages, the progress has been good.

I also think that your turnout today & your steadiness on parade reflects

credit upon the Battalion.- At the same time, there is a great deal of

work yet to be done.  There is a good deal of difference between the best

& the worst platoon, between the best & the worst soldier in the Battalion, &

you cannot regard yourselves as approaching perfection until there 

is no difference with talking about ^ the difference between  the best & the worst platoon 
that the Battalion can turn out is so little that it's not worth talking about.

Nobody knows better than I do that you have been through a hard and

uninteresting time on this hot, dusty, fly infested desert, with very

little leave, & very little distraction from the daily routine of work;

and I am very glad therefore to be able to give you all a hint

that it will not be long now before we shall get away to France. I 

do not myself know the exact date, but I do know that very few

of the Fourth Division will be left in Egypt by the middle of June.

I am sure you will all be very glad to hear that.

What I really want particularly to say to you relates to these this

approaching transfer ^move to France.-

In the first place I want to remind you the xxx 1^4th Battalion has ^already made a

reputation for itself which will not die as long as the English language is

spoken in Australia.- Of the men who helped to give this Battalion ^make that

reputation ^for this Battalion not one third remain in the Battalion today. The great majority 
of you are newcomers & have joined since in the later ^closing stages of a since ^the Gallipoli 
Campaign & since the Battalion has returned to Egypt. - The Battalion

looks to the new men to help in every way to maintain the reputation it

has won, a reputation for gallantry, for dash, for the power of ^hardships endurance

for good will & good behaviour.- Looking closely at you all, ^as I have done today I

feel confident that the Battalion of today will in all these respects give as

good an account of itself as the Battalion of a year ago. - 

But I have to warn you nevertheless that ^you will find the conditions in France very 

different from what you have been used to here in Egypt with ^living among a colored native population 
for which every ^the average Australian naturally ^by his nature feels a certain ^healthy amount of 
disdain contempt.

But in France we shall be the guests of a great, a brave & gallant nation

^of people in every way as good as ourselves, and it is up to us to see that our behaviour 
when in their country is what the behaviour of every good soldier

ought to be - dignified, courteous & gentlemanly - showing to the

French people ^& the French soldiers the same respect that we wish them to feel for us 
Australians.

Now among 1000 men like you lads who I am talking to now, there

are bound to be^ sometimes a few rotters ^& wasters- a few men who don't care whether 
other people respect them or not, who don't respect themselves,

men who drink to excess, who wouldn't stop at robbing