Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 13, 1 July - 16 August 1916, Part 7

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG0000614
Difficulty:
3

Page 1 / 10

EOFITDN 2010 to0 Tine 12232 te 12.43 Cnor MANL A7th 1,31.6.4.4-4/2 to L.31.A.LMER Ath 1.31.d.1-1/2,2-3/4. to L.SL.C.D3/6.104. toen 1.31.c.9-3/6.1. to 1-31.c.60112.0 Tin 12,23 te 12-8½ Pattery Target arih sam as Phase 1 satn L.51.A.1YL.Re/a te Lts K L31.A2-M2.LMe atth 1-31.c,8-3/4.1-14 to Rtr K 1-31.4.12.0. tetn 1,31.d,2-1/2,1-42 to Lts K (rnfs) 131.A.M2.D. sou Same as Phase 1 EITRRETMS LimeLandteLLSS CMCON CONL A8th RtY-X 1-26.A.8.0. 312123 18rE tenenent TSTTETE Loion E 149 K.E. X.F.Sr Destroying Parapets 149 H.N. X.F.Sr Testroying IRortS 140 N.F.; X.F.Sr restroying Parapets Dr Chase Fstimeted Emmnition 120 T. Shrap L.t. Mr Sweerln Trenches OOESMSD Lat. Mr Narnare BO TEMS bat. Mr Carrage 70 H.E K.F. 8 Fnfs Coms Crench 120 T.Shrap LotMr Eveopine Trencis 430 FITELN FolET 2241 oor 35 A.T. Lot Mr Testroytne Parapet
A05 AUSTRAIN IMPERIAI B6 484 Jul 8 1916 NOTES ON USE OF LENIS GUNS IN AN ADYANCE. EELL 4th Infantry brigatte. - It must Do clearly understood that tho Lowis gun cannot It is a supelement to and not take the place of the machine gun. in automatic rifle (of which a substitute for the machine gun. the Lewis gun is a type), though capable of extremely ravid fire, This necessitates therefore cannot sustain this firo for long. the use of short bursts of fire as the normal practice. The same goneral principles aply to Lewis guns as to 20 machine guns. Flanking firo and surprise are the two conditions which must be sought for and obtained thenever possitle. Owing to the ease with which they can be concealed, Lewis guns, even more so than machine guns and much more so than infantry, sossees the power They must thorefore avoid disclosing their positions of surprise. by opening fire without good reason. Owing to its lightnoss and the small target it offers, 3. the Lewis gun 1s of great value in an attack. It is particularly adapted for providing covering fire from the front during the first etage of an attack. Lewis gunners, under cover of darkness, smore or artillery bombardment, may be able to creep out in front and establisn thenselves in shelly-holes, ditches, croos, long grass, etc., where it will be difficult for them to be detected, and whore they will be able to fire on enemy machine gun omplacements, loop- holes and parapets generally, and so assist tho infantry to advance. It is inadvisable to send forward any Lowis guns with the First line of attacking infantry, but as soon as the infantry have got into the enemy’s tronches, Lewis guns should bo pushed up as rapidly as possible; they can provide the necessary fire while the infantry is re-organising and preparing the enemy's capturod trench and will be especially useful on the flanks. They will, in ract, as far as their nature allors, take the place of machine guns, till the lattor arrive to consolidate the position won. Spocial instructions should be given to Lewis gunnere to look for enemy machine guns and concentnate their fire upon them. In open fighting both sides will strive to obtain super- iority of fire as early as possible; the addition of mobile fire power to the infantry by the possession of Lewie guns will materi- ally assist thom in their task. Although in an attack from trenches it will usually be inadvisable to send forward Lewis guns with the leading line, owing to the short distance to be traversed and to the fact that there are obstacles such as barbed wire to be passed, in oven warfare, where attacks will probably be made over. long distances, and where the onemy’s position is only hastily entrenched, it will be possitle to push forward Lewis gune with the leading line, the sunnors moving Lewis guns the onemy as ordinary riflemon. and awpoaring to pushed Forward In this way vill be atle to provide covering fire for the infantry and will thus help then to advance. There ground is suitable, it nay sometimes be rossible for Lewis gunners to proocde the at trot ine infantry, and opportun- itiee to carry out this should be carefully looked for. An coportunity for pushing forward Lewis guns may aleo ooour when an advance is held up or a hostile counter attack develoss. In this way superiority of fire may often be obtained without inourring the loss incidental to sending up strong rein- Porcements to the front line. 5
3. To summarise, Lewis gune will be of great value for the following purposes: To supplenent the fire of infantry and machine guns. (2) To economise inCantry in trench warfare and in (11) defensivo positions. Firing from the parapot to command ground which cannot (111) be srent by machino gun firo. ire from the front during an attack. To provide covering f (iv) To assist in the consolidation of positions won, and to (v) cover the ro-orgmnisation of the attacking troope. For Orall enterwises, where the weight and visibility (vi) of the michine gur would render the lotter unsuitable. As a means of roinforcing a 1170 of infantry, with (vii) additional fire porer, under circumstances where the deploymont and sending forward of more men would result in heavy loscos. To provide a mobile reserve of Fire in the hands of (viii) Company comandors. It should never be forgotten that the Lewis gun like the Machine gun is a weapon of opportunity, and that surprise is the chief element of success in its use. LEYIS GUNS - ORGANISATION AND AEIUTITIOY SUPPLT. The Lowis detachment of 2 guns, which will be with each company, when the organisation is complete, will consist of :- 1 N.C.O. and 12 men. 3 handcarts. Two hand carts carry one gun, spare parts wallet and 40 20 of 47 rounds oach. Tho 40 magazines are in 5 boxes of magazinos 8 Magazinos, and each box contains 2 canvas carriers of 4 magazines each. There is another compartment in the cart in which 4 loose magazines can be placed. Thus each cart has 44 magazines 47 & 2,0r8 rounds. The third (spare) cart is similar in design to the others (1.o. with space for gun, spare parts and magazinos) and will carry 40 magazines of 47 rounds each. (N.E. 64 magazines are alloed for each gun. 44 are carried In each of the gun carts and 40 in the apare cart: 1.e. a total of 128). The dotachment is intended to be organized as follows:- 2 men with each gun in action (Noe. 1 and 2). 3 men responsible for annunition suoply to each gun. 2 men with spare cart (ammunition resorve). The hand cart is extromely mobile and is designed to move across country. It is intended that the two hand carts with guns should follow the company as far as possible. Then the company
161 3. comes under fire and it becomes necessary to take the gun off the cart, Nos. 1 and 2 go forward with the gun, one man carrying the gun and the other ammunition. For a short distance, moving slowly, a man can carry ono box of 8 magazines in each hand: for a considorable distance he can carry one canvas case of 4 magazines in each hand. No.s. 3, 4 and 5 remain with the cart and are responsible for the replenishment of the ammunition, bringing the cart on as close as possible behind, and then carrying up by hand. The company rosorve of ammunition consists of the spare hand cart, and the regimental reserve of 2 G.S. limbered wagons (36,000 rounds, not in magazines). The 4 spare company carts will normally be grouped at the commencement of an action as a regimental reserve under the Sattalion McG. Officer, who will be responsible for the supply to companies. Empty magazines must be sent back to the regimental reserve for refillment from the S.A.A. in the G.S. limbered wagons, or boxes of S.A.A. sent up to the companies who will refill the empty magazines. (N.S. A man can refill a magazine in about 14 minutes). 8. The system outlined in the two preceding paragraphs is, of course, liable to modifications. We have no experience as yet of the degree of mobility of the carts, and under conditions where the cart has to be left some way baok, it may be advisable to send forward originally with the gun, one or two moro men beeides No. 2 carrying ammunition, leaving only two or one men with the cart. It is, howover, desirable for purposes of con- cealment to keep the number of men actually with the gun down to two. Tho supply of hand carts for the Lewis gun is not likely to commenco before day. Ontil they arrive, the guns and magazines must be carried on the march in the limbered wagons, and in action guns and ammunition must be manhandled. (5d.) R. BUTLER, General Headquarters, Ma Jor-General, 17th March, 1916. Deputy C. G. S.
SCALE OF ANAURITION PER DIVISION. LLT LETIS SONS. Fith Si. Regimental Reserve. Bdo. Armn. Column. Div.Ann. Column. Rounds Limborod Rounds Rounds Rounds Hand 6.S. wagons. Rounds earts. Rounds gun. Rounds, gun. Rounds. gun. gun. 8900 2000 38000 9000 4 per Lattn. 4 48000 3000 158000 3990 E per Battn. 6 12020 38000 F900 48000 2000 158090 2090 2029 (3F00O 4500) 8 per Battn. 8 16000 2000 and 48909 1500 15-000 1599 4 handcarts (8000 1000) Total Rounds DOF RU. 17000. 12000. 10590.
14 16 44 thnt H tie tt SeR. Wt 11 253 20 135 irpectation sit title wterafoed. Aust Fy £ alty sake th 26 144 41 954 34 i r te prigude 4 ad 153 26 56 4 I 4 11 55
tnt 10 Bode MGlor £ M 14 78 8l9 344 Dut basualties 1 9. fourth tistrntian Fr Imgade Darty W 1900 State 711 Sofa Of Othe t A 3 26 6 143 153 46 4 50 948 38 18 8.74 28 852 949 980 31 9 54 29 331 26 25 4048 135 3913 A Bentas weedig 67
thint Set Mytoy Si4 Act LIm 12 12 14 16 fitt tenmathis 44 thet H Thty Oear 6 9 II 30 20 31 29 5 4 72 Brighd Int 1144 £0 t F 116 Fants total Other 2 52 4 150 25 26 46 50 94 919 84 12 50 752 191 46 4 A Bettees 1 pvero
4 tu to th i 4 myt 9 4 ight 32 1 28 33 12 50 16 Wt Dudations it Iumathies Htton Lp ofier 43 416 2 14 44 Frren other T6 43 46 4 844 939 8.2 ake 4 77 Tot 32 52 50 ye 6 2 2 2 Absenta o 74
To. Readquarters, AUSTeallAN IMPERIL FORGY Australian Division Ml 9 1918 9th July, 1916. 48 4th Infantry Erigade 4th Aust. Infantry Brigade. 12th Aust. Infantry Brigade. 13th Aust. Infantry Brigade. C. Ro Ao &67 Although we are coming out of the trenches, the G. O. C. considers that these notes of the Corps Commander are so important, that they should be read and kept for Tuture use DKoed Lieut-Colonel. G.Sc, 4th Australian Division.

8/7/16
TABLE OF ARTILLERY TASKS
FROM 0 to 0
Time 10.35 to 10.45
Phase 1
Bombardment
 

Battery

Target

Estimated
Ammunition

Remarks

47th

I.31.d.4.4-1/2 to
I.31.d.1-1/2.2-3/4

140 H.E.

X.F.8" Destroying
Parapets

44th

I.31.d.1-1/2.2-3/4. to
I.31.c.9-3/4.1-1/4.

140 H.E.

X.F.8" Destroying
Parapets

40th

I.31.c.9-3/4.1. to
I.31.c.6-1/2.0

140 H.E.

X.F.8" Destroying 
Parapets

Time 10.45 to 10.56                         Phase 2

Battery

Target

Estimated
Ammunition

Remarks

47th

Same as Phase 1

120 T.Shrap

X.F.10" Sweeping
Trenches

44th
Lt: X

I.31.d.1-1/2.2-3/4 to
I.31.d.2-1/2.1-1/4

60 T.Shrap

X.F.10" Barrage

44th
Rt: X

I.31.c.9-3/4.1-1/4 to
I.31.d.1/2.0.

60 T.Shrap

X.F.10" Barrage

48th
Lt: X (Inf)

I.31.d.2-1/2.1-1/2 to
I.31.d.1/2.0.

70 H.E

X.F.8" Enf: Com:
trench

40th

Same as Phase 1

120 T Shrap

X.F.10" Sweeping
Trenches

   

[*430*] 

 
  CEASE FIRE 10.55    
 Time 10.30 to 10.35                         Diversion

Battery

Target

Estimated
Ammunition

Remarks

48th Rt: X

I.26.d.8.0.

35 H.E.

X.F.8" Destroying
Parapet

 

 

4aB/4846
AUSTRALIAN 
IMPERIAL FORCE
JUL 8 1916
4th Infantry Brigade
NOTES ON USE OF LEWIS GUNS IN AN ADVANCE.
1. It must be clearly understood that the Lewis gun cannot
take the place of the machine gun. It is a supplement to and not
a substitute for the machine gun. An automatic rifle (of which
the Lewis gun is a type), though capable of extremely rapid fire,
cannot sustain this fire for long. This necessitates therefore
the use of short bursts of fire as the normal practice.
2. The same general principles apply to Lewis guns as to
machine guns. Flanking fire and surprise are the two conditions
which must be sought for and obtained whenever possible. Owing to
the ease with which they can be concealed, Lewis guns, even more so
than machine guns and much more so than infantry, possess the power
of surprise. They must therefore avoid disclosing their positions
by opening fire without good reason.
3. Owing to its lightness and the small target it offers,
the Lewis gun is of great value in an attack. It is particularly
adapted for providing covering fire from the front during the first
stage of an attack. Lewis gunners, under cover of darkness, smoke
or artillery bombardment, may be able to creep out in front and
establish themselves in shell-holes, ditches, crops, long grass,
etc., where it will be difficult for them to be detected, and where
they will be able to fire on enemy machine gun emplacements, loop-holes
and parapets generally, and so assist the infantry to advance.
It is inadvisable to send forward any Lewis guns with the
first line of attacking infantry, but as soon as the infantry have
got into the enemy's trenches, Lewis guns should be pushed up as
rapidly as possible; they can provide the necessary fire while the
infantry is re-organising and preparing the enemy's captured trench
and will be especially useful on the flanks. They will, in fact,
as far as their nature allows, take the place of machine guns, till
the latter arrive to consolidate the position won.
Special instructions should be given to Lewis gunners to
look for enemy machine guns and concentrate their fire upon them.
4. In open fighting both sides will strive to obtain superiority
of fire as early as possible; the addition of mobile fire
power to the infantry by the possession of Lewis guns will materially
assist them in their task.
Although in an attack from trenches it will usually be
inadvisable to send forward Lewis guns with the leading line, owing
to the short distance to be traversed and to the fact that there are
obstacles such as barbed wire to be passed, in open warfare, where
attacks will probably be made over long distances, and where the
enemy's position is only hastily entrenched, it will be possible to
push forward Lewis guns with the leading line, the gunners moving
and appearing to the enemy as ordinary riflemen. Lewis guns
pushed forward in this way will be able to provide covering fire
for the infantry and will thus help them to advance.
Where ground is suitable, it may sometimes be possible
for Lewis gunners to precede the attacking infantry, and opportunities
to carry out this should be carefully looked for.
An opportunity for pushing forward Lewis guns may also
occur when an advance is held up or a hostile counter attack
develops.
In this way superiority of fire may often be obtained
without incurring the loss incidental to sending up strong reinforcements
to the front line.
5
4th AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
No G 13/5/2
8 JUL, 1916

 

 

2.
5. To summarise, Lewis guns will be of great value for 
the following purposes:-
(i) To supplement the fire of infantry and machine guns.
(ii) To economise infantry in trench warfare and in
defensive positions.
(iii) Firing from the parapet to command ground which cannot 
be swept by machine gun fire. 
(iv) To provide covering fire from the front during an attack.
(v) To assist in the consolidation of positions won, and to
cover the re-organisation of the attacking troops.
(vi) For small enterprises, where the weight and visibility
of the machine gun would render the latter unsuitable.
(vii) As a means of reinforcing a line of infantry, with 
additional fire power, under circumstances where the
deployment and sending forward of more men would result 
in heavy losses.
(viii) To provide a mobile "reserve of fire" in the hands of
company commanders.
It should never be forgotten that the Lewis gun like the
machine gun is a weapon of opportunity, and that surprise is the
chief element of success in its use.
LEWIS GUNS - ORGANISATION AND AMMUNITION SUPPLY. 
1. The Lewis detachment of 2 guns, which will be with each
company, when the organisation is complete, will consist of :-
1 N.C.O. and 12 men.
3 handcarts.
2. Two hand carts carry one gun, spare parts wallet and 40
magazines of 47 rounds each. The 40 magazines are in 5 boxes of
8 magazines, and each box contains 2 canvas carriers of 4 magazines
each. There is another compartment in the cart in which 4 loose
magazines can be placed.
Thus each cart has 44 magazines 47 = 2,068 rounds.
The third (spare) cart is similar in design to the others
(i.e. with space for gun, spare parts and magazines) and will carry
40 magazines of 47 rounds each.
(N.B. 64 magazines are allowed for each gun. 44 are carried
in each of the gun carts and 40 in the spare cart: i.e. a
total of 128).
3. The detachment is intended to be organized as follows:-
2 men with each gun in action (Nos. 1 and 2).
3 men responsible for ammunition supply to each gun.
2 men with spare cart (ammunition reserve).
4. The hand cart is extremely mobile and is designed to move
across country. It is intended that the two hand carts with guns
should follow the company as far as possible. When the company

 

 

3.
comes under fire and it becomes necessary to take the gun off
the cart, Nos. 1 and 2 go forward with the gun, one man carrying
the gun and the other ammunition. For a short distance, moving
slowly, a man can carry one box of 8 magazines in each hand: for
a considerable distance he can carry one canvas case of 4
magazines in each hand. Nos. 3, 4 and 5 remain with the cart and
are responsible for the replenishment of the ammunition, bringing
the cart on as close as possible behind, and then carrying up by
hand. 
5. The company reserve of ammunition consists of the spare
hand cart, and the regimental reserve of 2 G.S. limbered wagons
(36,000 rounds, not in magazines).
The 4 spare company carts will normally be grouped at the
commencement of an action as a regimental reserve unser the
Battalion M.G. Officer, who will be responsible for the supply
to companies.
Empty magazines must be sent back to the regimental
reserve for refillment from the S.A.A. in the G.S. limbered 
wagons, or boxes of S.A.A. sent up to the companies who will
refill the empty magazines.
(N.B. A man can refill a magazine in about 1¼ minutes).
6. The system outlined in the two preceding paragraphs is,
of course, liable to modifications. We have no experience as yet
of the degree of mobility of the carts, and under conditions
where the cart has to be left some way back, it may be advisable
to send forward originally with the gun, one or two more men
besides No. 2 carrying ammunition, leaving only two or one men
with the cart. It is, however, desirable for purposes of concealment 
to keep the number of men actually with the gun down to
two. 
7. The supply of hand carts for the Lewis gun is not
likely to commence before May.
Until they arrive, the guns and magazines must be
carried on the march in the limbered wagons, and in action guns
and ammunition must be manhandled.
(Sd.) R. BUTLER,
Major-General,
Deputy C. G. S.
General Headquarters,
17th March, 1916.

 

 

 

SCALE OF AMMUNITION PER DIVISION
LEWIS GUNS. 

 

 

                                    With gun.               Regimental Reserve.           Bde. Ammn. Column. Div. Ammn. Column.
 

Hand 
carts.

Rounds

Rounds
per
gun.

Limbered
G.S.
wagons.

Rounds

Rounds
per
gun.

Rounds.

Rounds
per gun.

Rounds.

Rounds 
per gun. 

Total
Rounds
per gun.

4 per Battn.

4

8000

2000

2

36000

9000

48000

3000

158000

3000

17000.

6 per Battn.

6

12000

2000

2

36000

8000

48000

2000

156000

2000

12000.

8 per Battn.

8

16000

2000

2

(36000

4500)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and

(

)

48000

1500

15000

1500

10500.

 

 

 

 

4 handcarts

(8000

1000)

 

 

 

 

 

 

55

4th Aust Inf Brigade 

Daily State 6/7/16

               Unit

        Off

       Oths        Total

Bde HQ

6

26

32

MG

9

144

153

Sigs

1

25

26

LT MB 

4

46

50

13th Bn

30

917

947

14      " 

25

858

883

15       " 

31

953

984

16       " 

29

954

983

 

135

3923

4058

Evaluation
Sick                3
Killed              -
Wounded.    5
Absentees    11
Tweedie

 

 


67

Fourth Australian Inf Brigade 
7/7/16

Daily State to 1900 6/7/16

               Unit

        Offcs

       Others        Total

Bde HQ

6

26

32

MG Coy

9

143

152

LT MB 

4

46

50

          13       

30

918

948

14      

25

852

877

15       

31

949

980

16      

29

954

983

Bde Sigs

1

25

26

 

135

3913

4048


Sick                1
Casualties    9
Absentees    9
Tweedie

 

 


 72

4th Aust Inf Brigade 

Daily State to 1900 7/7/16

               Unit

        Officers 

       Other Ranks        Total

Bde HQ

6

26

32

MG Coy

9

146

155

Sig  Sect

1

25

26

LT MB 

4

46

50

13th Bn

30

919

949

14      "

25

847

872

15       "

31

950

981

16       "

29

952

981

 

135

3911

4046

Evaluation
Sick                5
Casualties    4
Absentees    7
Tweedie

 

 


74

4th Aust Inf Brigade 
9/7/16

Daily State to 1900 8/7/16

               Unit

        Offcs

       Others        Total

Bde HQ

6

26

32

MG Coy

9

143

152

LT MB 

4

46

50

Signalls

1

26

27

13th Bn

32

914

946

14      "

28

844

872

15       "

33

939

972

16       "

30

952

982

 

143

3890

4033

Deductions
Sick                                    7
Casualties                         8
Addition R/G Officers    8  {13  2
                                                {14  3
                                                {15   2  
                                                {16  1
Absentees                         9                 
Tweedie

 

 


 SECRET
4aB/4877
AUSTRALIAN
IMPERIAL FORCE
JUL 9 1916
4th Infantry Brigade.
Headquarters,
4th Australian Division
9th July, 1916.
To. 4th. Aust Infantry Brigade.
12th. Aust Infantry Brigade.
13th. Aust Infantry Brigade.
C.R.A. & C R.G.
Although we are coming out of the trenches. the
G.O.C. considers that these notes of the Corps Commander
are so important, that they should be read and kept for
future use. 
{{D K Donald?]]
Lieut-Colonel.
G.S., 4th Australian Division.
 

 

 








 

Last edited by:
Sam scottSam scott
Last edited on:

Last updated: