Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 13, 16 August - 30 September 1916, Part 2

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
Divisional Headquarters,
LARK HILL, 18/8/16.
GENERAL STAFF TRAINING CIRCULAR No. 10.
As the Infantry is now entering upon the stage of Battalion
Training, it is of the utmost importance that all the training under-

taken shall be on thoroughly practical and useful lines, and carefully
designed so as to disclose all weaknesses in elementary training,
discipline, equipment and technical efficiency of all ranks, in order
that these may be remedied before training in larger bodies is entered
upon; and so as to make the best possible use of the limited time
available.-
To this end Brigadiers will very carefully scrutinise the Battalion
schemes of training and will exercise close supervision over their
execution. 
Although it cannot be said that platoon and company training has
reached a satisfactory standard, experience has shown that such training
can continue quite usefully as part of the training of larger formations,
provided that Company officers are alert to avail themselves of every
opportunity to do so, and are held to their responsibility for the
efficiency of their personnel.
The Battalions must, during the period of Battalion Training,
learn to work, march and fight as a composite whole. - The personnel
has, heretofore, been widely scattered in specialised individual
exercises in such matters as bayonet fighting, bombing, digging,
signalling, gas defensive, &c., &c., but - while such exercises must still
continue until the whole personnel has been trained - the time is now
ripe for making a beginning in the combined action of all such special-

ists with that of the Battalion as a whole. -
The first thing to be taught is mobility and the power of
manoeuvre and concerted action by a Battalion, turned out as completely
as possible. - As only a proportion of transport and draught animals
is yet available for each unit, the horses, harness, vehicles and pack
saddlery should be pooled, as far as necessary, within each Brigade, for
the benefit of each Battalion in rotation.-
Each Battalion should turn out at least once in each week - if
practicable oftener - in full marching order, with signallers,
Lewis Guns, stretcher bearers, pioneers, etc., and with all ^available
authorised transport, for a full day's exercise, commencing with a route
march, and culminating in a tactical operation, such as a billeting
scheme, an attack upon a position or upon trenches, a relief of
trenches [*field [[firing?]]*],  an outpost scheme, or the like.- To ensure a successful
operation, complete reconnaissances must be made beforehand by all
responsible commanders.
Allowing for ten hours absence from camp, with two hours for
halts and mid-day rest, a Battalion could move six miles in and out,
and have four hours for the prescribed exercises. Under favourable
weather conditions, the exercise can be made to last two days, and
to include a bivouac with protection, returning by another route.
Units should also be exercised in turning out before daybreak, and
getting on the march at first streak of dawn.
Such exercises being instructional, the greatest possible
care must be taken to detect and correct on the spot every error,
defect or weakness that may be disclosed.
Needless discomfort must be guarded against, e.g., - even when
starting at dawn, men should have a proper meal before moving off and
time to eat it.
Arrangements have been made with the Southern Command for Batt- 
alions to billet during some of these exercises. Brigade Commanders
should report early which Battalions wish to billet, and on what days,
in order that application may be made to Headquarters and suitable
villages found.
G.H. Jackson
Lieut-Colonel,
General Staff.

18/8/16
NOTES OF CONDITIONS OF TRENCH AND OPEN WARFARE.
1. Before going into details necessary to
consider one or two of the larger ques-

tions in order to form ideas. Must be
able to visualise conditions in order
to interpret orders intelligently. Is
there or is there not going to be a great
difference between the two modes of fighting?
Will we ever reach the open stage?
Notes for Infantry Offices, page 1, (a),
(b) and (c).- Possibility of using
heavy artillery.
2. Artillery preparation. Will it obtain
in open warfare? What may infantry
expect from its artillery in the two
forms of warfare? In trench warfare
infantry movement depends on artillery
action.- In open warfare will artillery
action depend to a certain extent on
infantry movement?- F.S.E. 1, page 139
re not employing more guns than necessary.
4th. Division orders re lifts.
Gwynn's message,- Trench warfare. Con-

cealed artillery. Ranges known. Every-

thing registered. Elaborate system of
switch and search. Shooting close to
infantry. Ammunition dumped. Sorted by
dates, etc. Choice of positions
Definite areas of fire laid out.
Same applies in attacking from trenches
until artillery have to move forward.
3. Necessary to pick various headquarters
within hostile lines.
4. In trench warfare infantry as shown
above, get more support from their
artillery then in open. Artillery
dominating factor. Length of advances
Clock time, and minute details in orders.
5. Frontages in both forms of fighting.
Reading F.S.R. 1 unintelligently.
F.S.R.1, page 138.
F.S.R. 1, page 146.
Mode of advance in trench and open war-

fare down to smallest details.
Infantry in open warfare taking advantage
of rapid artillery fire, I.T. page 138.
Impulse for assault in open and trench
warfare - F.S.R.1, page 144.
P.T.O.

 I.T. page 109, - pace of rushes.
I.T. page 127, - length of rushes.
I,T. page 136,- length of rushes.
I.T. page 137 - Spion Kop.
25 yard rush obsolete. Do not trust
old instructors too far. Read and
try to apply. Make notes and ask for
explanation, if meaning obscure, or
ask for instances to be given by
application of theory. Staff are the
people to ask.
6. I.T. page 125, -rapid fire.
7. Woods and villages. Fixing bayonets.
How and when. How to emerge from a
wood. How to move through a wood.
8. General White's letter.
9. Notes for Infantry Officers on
Trench Warfare, page 11.

(COPY)
Q130/56      135a
C.R, S.C., 138995 (A.1)
WAR OFFICE,
LONDON, S.W.
8th August, 1916.
121/Drafts etc/2167
(A.G.2.a)
Sir
1. I am directed to inform you that since the numbers of men
under training in the Reserve Infantry units of the Australian
Forces are insufficient to replace the casualties recently
suffered in the Australian Divisions in France, it has been
decided, with the concurrence of the Headquarters of the
Australian Imperial Forces, in London, to draw drafts, for this
purpose from the 3rd Australian Division now serving under your
Command.
2. It is desired that,. the manner in which these drafts
are detailed from units of the 3rd Division should be so arranged
that the preparation of that Division for service overseas should
be delayed as little as possible in the circumstances.
3. I am to request that you will "A" report by telegram
the number of trained men that are immediately available, for
despatch overseas from each battalion of this Division, and "B"
submit as soon as possible a further report showing by battalions
the approximate numbers of men that will complete their training
as drafts and become available for despatch overseas as such
during the next 3 months, stating the date by which the various
parties from each battalion will be ready.
4. Every effort should be made to ensure that no delay
occurs either in the training or preparation for embarkation
of the drafts referred to.
I am, Sir
Your obedient Servant.
(Sd) E.M.Woodward, M.G.,
Director of Organisation.
The G.O.C-in-C.,

Southern Command

HEADQUARTERS,
-------------------------
The following is suggested as-a guide-when formulating and

carrying out collective Field Practices, when the ground is open.  It will
be obvious that the distances given vary with the nature of the ground and
the amount of cover obtainable.
Fire should be opened, if possible, at ranges not less than 700
or 800 yards.
At these ranges, it can be illustrated that controlled fire is
better than individual fire.
Here practice is gained by Section-Commanders in giving fire
direction orders.
Advances should be made by section rushes an in these stages,
mutual support, can be practiced.
at 600 yards control may be lost.  Here comes in the whole
object of training and discipline, i.e., the continuation of the fight by
individuals who know what the object is and work for it in spite of moment-

ary want of control.
On arrival at 400 yards, the fight-for-fire-superiority takes

 place.
When this has been gained all go forward with a rush covered by
Machine Gun fire and assault the position.
Machine Gun fire can be represented by a rattle or drum.
It should be pointed out that no advantage is gained, from a
shooting point of view, by attempting to obtain fire positions closer than
400 yards, as rifles shoot as well at that range as at 350 for instance.
If fire superiority is gained at 400 yards, and advance can then
be made and the position assaulted.
If at 400 yards fire superiority has not been gained, then no
advance whatever can be made. i.e., you can either go the whole 400 yards
or you cannot move at all
Targets should represent the head and shoulders of an enemy, and
when one is hit, it should be lowered in order that the fires may appreci-

ate the fact that they are either gaining fire superiority or not; and that
this will be done, should be explained to them before commencing.
The practice - 10 rounds fired in Gas Helmets should be worked
into the scheme.
The above will be carried out on any classification range where it
is possible to fire field practices.
Figure 3 targets and tiles or falling plates should be used; in
conjunction with these, some figure 6 targets can be used at distances over
400 yards.
F.C.T.Ewael.  MAJOR,
ATTACHED GENERAL STAFF, SOUTHERN COMMAND.
SALISBURY, 
19-8-1916.
[[EOC?]]

1350
(COPY)
C.R. , S.C. , 138995 (A.1.)    Q 130/56
2.
General Officer Commanding,
3rd Australian Division.
----------------------------------
War Office letter 121/drafts/2167 (A.G.2.A)
of 18th instant for information.
Please report to this office by telegraph the
numbers as as "A" of trained me immediately available, for
despatch overseas, from each Battalion in your formation.
A further report vide "B" should be submitted to
this office at an early date.
(Sd)
for Colonel,
A. A. G., Southern Command
SALISBURY.
19. 8. 16.

FIRST ANZAC CORPS HEADQUARTERS,
20th August, 1916.
[A.A.C.  A.I.F.  31/49]
Dear General - 
Sir William BIRDWOOD has asked me to send you
the enclosed copy of a private communication which he addressed
to General WOODWARD, War Office, on the 16th instant, on the

 matter of reinforcements for the Division now in FRANCE.
You will recollect we sent you, a few days ago,
a copy of an official communication sent to the War Office on
the same subject.
Yours sincerely,
[[ T ?]]
Major-General J. MONASH, C.B., V.D.,
Commanding Third Australian Division.

(COPY)   1350
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
Divisional Headquarters,
LARK HILL, 20/8/16.
Headquarters,
Southern Command,
SALISBURY.
In reply to your communication S.C. 138995 (A1)
the following returns have been received from the 9th, 10th
and 11th Infantry Brigades:-

(Sd) G.G.E. WYLLY.
Major, G.S.
for G.O.C. Thirds Australian Division.

135a
(COPY)
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION,
LARK HILL CAMP,
SALISBURY PLAINS, 21/8/16.
Headquarters,
Southern Command,
SALISBURY
Reference C.R.S.C. 138995 (A.I.) of August 19th - return
"A" of trained officers and other ranks has been furnished. -
As the majority of the officers concerned are Battalion and Company
Commanders specially selected because of their proficiency and
war services, it is presumed that it will not be considered
expedient to withdraw them from their units.
With regard to "B", it is pointed out that the whole
infantry personnel of this Division has been raised from entirely
untrained men, and trained on uniform lines to a uniform present
standard, and that the training now in progress in this Division
has been designed not with a view to preparing the personnel for
despatch overseas in a succession of drafts or parties, but with
a view to the simultaneous training of the whole of the personnel on
uniform lines, in both individual and collective exercises. - The
question propounded in para. 3 of the War Office letter of August
18th cannot therefore be categorically answered as based upon
existing conditions.
May I be permitted to state that, in my opinion, the training
of personnel as drafts requires a different procedure from the
training of the same personnel as organised units or parts of same. -
From personal experience of many thousands of reinforcements for units
under my command in GALLIPOLI, EGYPT and FRANCE, this teaching of
discipline, musketry, digging, bayonet and bomb fighting to the
individual soldier is all that is substantially necessary fit him
to take his place as a reinforcement in an already organised and
-1-

135a
-2-
fully staffed unit at a fighting front; whereas, in the case
of a new unit the training must be extended to matters of
organisation, administration and collective action, under the
soldier's own leaders. -
The period required for the former scope of training is
necessarily shorter than that required for the latter; and it
would not be practicable to carry on concurrently, in one and the
same formation, both systems of training with a due discrimination
as to the needs of the two classes of personnel and due regard
to this time factor. -
It would, in my opinion, be preferable in the respective
interests of both groups entirely to separate the two classes
of personnel, training those destined for drafts to other units
in a separate group from those who would form the depleted cadres
of the Divisional units. In this way, but not otherwise, any
desired proportion of the personnel can be segregated for
accelerated training, chiefly in individual exercises, so as to be
ready to go abroad some little time on advance of the remainder. -
If no such separation were to take place, however, the duration
of the necessary training would be uniform for the whole personnel
of the Infantry units of the Division. -
I estimate that, if so separated, and, provided that
both training equipment and additional instructors can be made
available, a proportion of any one-third of the Infantry personnel
(amounting - with a due exclusion of specialists - to about 3500
men) could be prepared as drafts in a separate camp, in from 5 to 6
weeks; - these men being taken in equal numbers from each of the 11
Infantry Battalions who have so far joined the Division, - If no
such separation takes place, I estimated that the whole of the per-

sonnel of the Division (excluding Artillery, as to whose progress