Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 13, 16 August - 30 September 1916, Part 3

135a

-3-   

it is too early to make an accurate forecast) will be ready for

service abroad very early in October, as it is probable that

by then they will have reached a condition of fighting efficiency

at least equal to that of the other Australian Divisions after 
re-organisation, and just prior to landing in FRANCE.-

If this latter plan be adopted, drafts could then be made,

in any desired numbers, from the Infantry units, commencing about 
October 10. - This forecast  is also, of course, subject to there

being no undue delay in receiving important training and fighting

equipment which is still deficient, such as service rifles, machine

guns, mortars, transport and horses.

With regard to the second paragraph of the War Office

letter, it is pointed out that sensible delay in the preparation

of the Division will be inevitable if withdrawals in any substantial 
numbers are made either now or hereafter, - unless the

Division is to proceed on active service, below war strength, or

with a proportion of partially or untrained personnel. -

It is requested, in view of the above representations, that 

a direction may now be given as to whether it is desired that a 
proportion of say one-third of the Infantry be at once definitely

withdrawn from units for separate training as drafts, or whether

the present uniform system of training shall continue. -

I strongly recommend the latter course as ultimately

yielding much larger and better results, in very little extra time. -

If, however, the former course be decided upon it will be

necessary to supply to this Division, at once, untrained reinforcements 
equal to the number to be set aside for training as drafts, so that 
the completion of the training of the Division may not be delayed.

(Sd) John MONASH

Major-General.

Commanding Third Australian Division.
 

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE

HEADQUARTERS.

9TH INFANTRY BRIGADE.

No. 2 Camp Lark Hill  21st August 191

CONFIDENTIAL.

G. O. C.

3rd Australian Division.

I have to report on Officers as follows:--

33rd BATTALION. C.O. Lieut.Col.Morshead, satisfactory

Special mention:  Major Simpson. O.C.  A Coy. Field

Firing 26% of hits

Captain Craigie, O.C.  B Coy, Field

Firing 37% of hits

34th BATTALION: C.O.   Lieut.Col.Lamb, satisfactory

35th BATTALION : C.O.  Lieut.Col.Holborrow, Fair

Lieut. M.S.Findlay  and

Lieut. C.E.Grace    failed to

qualify at Bombing School

36th BATTALION: Act/C.O. Major Cooke Russell, Satisfactory.

2nd Lieut. C.W.Boddy failed to 

qualify at Bombing School

9th MACHINE GUN COY.  C.O. Capt.Wells, Satisfactory

A. Jobson Brig. Gen.

Commanding Ninth Infantry Brigade

A.I.F.
 

C O P Y.

121/Drafts Ac/2167 A.G.2.a.)

21st August 1916.

Sir,

I am commanded by the Army Council to place before

you for the information of the Secretary of State for the

Colonies, the following statistics with regard to the

Australian Imperial Force:-

(1) There are at present in France 4 Divisions of

the Commonwealth Forces, and it is estimated that to complete

and maintain these Divisions in the Field up to 31st.

December 1916, 50,000 reinforcements will be required.

(2) In order to maintain these Divisions it has been

found necessary, owing to recent heavy casualties, to draw

on the 3rd Australian Division for drafts.

(3) It appears that the drafts at present in sight up

to the end of 1916 will not be sufficient to replace the

personnel taken for reinforcements from the 3rd Division and

to meet future casualties.

The Council therefore request that a telegram

on the lines of the enclosed drafts may be despatched to the

Commonwealth Government.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

Whitehall,

S. W.
 

C O P Y.

 

The Army Council wish you to be informed that in

view of the heavy casualties recently suffered by the

Australian Divisions in France it will be necessary to

draw on 3rd Division for reinforcements, and they

therefore recommend that a special draft of 20,000 infantry

in addition to the normal monthly reinforcements shouldbe

sent as soon as possible to make good the present deficit

and so enable 3rd Division to be brought up to strength

again. They further recommend that for the 3 months

following the despatch of this special draft the monthly

reinforcements of infantry sent should be calculated at 25%

of establishment, that is about 16,500 per month for 5

Divisions.  The Council are aware that the provision of

this additional personnel will probably greatly inconvenience 
the Commonwealth Government in training and other

arrangements but it is the only means of retaining the

3rd Division for service in the Field.

War Office.

21st August 1916.
 

A/SED

A.I.F. 1.   14/6/16.   25,000.

IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE

Qa

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE

Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F.

130, HORSEFERRY ROAD,

LONDON.  S.W.

22nd August, 1916.

Major General J. Monash,      

G.O.C.   3rd Division,A.I.F.

LARK HILL.

Dear General,

It was a great pleasure to me to forward on telegram about

your promotion, and may I say how much I appreciate the very prompt 
and business-like way in which all business with your Division is 
conducted from your end.  The whole thing is very pleasant and 
helpful.

Reinforcements. I duly received your letter of the 17th instant

and, as usual, it is clear, explicit and definite. May I put

another point of view before you?   The arguments you use had

occurred to me and it was for that reason that I accepted the decision 
of the Army Council without objection or particular comment because 
I felt that the men at the Training Camps would train so much more 
quickly than their estimates based on British performances that your 
embarrassment would be quite temporary.   I cannot tell in letters 
naturally all that transpired at a conference of that kind.   I made 
it quite clear there was to be no interference whatever with any 
Division without the fore-warning and subsequent consent of the Australian Government.  The disbandment of the Division had been very carefully discussed at the Army Council but I think you know me well 
enough to know how very jealous I am of Australia's rights, their 
recognition in matters of principle and how utterly regardless I am 
when it comes to a contest between British and Australian opinion of 
anything likely to affect our country.   I am here definitely to watch 
and guard Australian interests and as we get on further with our 
acquaintance, which I feel is ripening into friendship, you will 
feel that Australia's interests will be safe in my hands and I 
count you as one of my strongest backers whenever it comes to a 
contest.

I hope to be down in your District very soon now and

will endeavour to spend a full day with you, or an evening, so that

we can discuss these and similar matters.

I enclose copy, (to be regarded as "Confidential") of

communication between the War Office and the Colonial Office for

transmission to Australia which throws further light on their

intentions.

Truly yours,

[[?]] [[?]]

(*Rec? from        25/8/16

Maj. Gen. Sid. F. Howard*)
 

1.

Brigade	Division.	Army.
General Questions. 1. Has the Brigade had much practice in Extended Entrenching Schemes, Relieving, Rationing, Manning and Assaulting by Brigades? Use of Sandbags? Revetments, etc?
2.  Making Knife Rests, etc., and laying trip wires by night?
3.  Bombing?
4.  Miniature Rifle Practice and firing from Trenches?
5.  Charger Loading blindfolded or  automatic?
6. Daily cleaning of Rifles on parade with pull-through and oil bottle?
7. Bayonet fighting over obstacle  course by day and by moonlight?
8.  Firing from Trenches?
9. Light bridging, rafts, etc?
10.  Night Work, Outposts, etc?
11. Battalion Marching by night, fully equipped?

2.

12. Battalion Marching by night, fully equipped, across country, on a broad front?
13. Tactical Exercises in conjunction with Artillery?
14. Tactical Exercises in conjunction with Aeroplanes?
15. Any Pattern Bombs - Hills, Hale or German?
16. Is there a Brigade or Divisional Bombing School?
17. Signalling School?
18. Range-finding School?
19. Machine Gun School?
20. Any complaints as to Training or physique of last drafts?
21. Any difficulty about getting ready for Service owing to  men on furlough?
22. Percentage on furlough now?
23. Date on which last furlough expires?
24. Which Battalions have not  completed Company Training?
25. Which Battalions have not  completed Battalion Training?

___Brigade___Division

	Personal equipment complete  or not	Musketry  Completed  or not	Probable  date of completion	Cold Shoers		No. of shoemakers	No. of tailors
				Trained.	Training.
Units.

	Cooks sufficient or not.	Scouts		Snipers.		Stretcher Bearers
		Trained.	Training.	Trained.	Training.	Trained.	Training.
Units.

	Sanitary Squads & Water Parties		1st Line  Transport complete  or not	No. of  men under  4 months  service	No. of  Gas  Helmets.	No. of  miniature  Ranges.	No. of  miniature  Rifles.
	Trained.	Training.
Units.

	No. of  Bayonet Fighting Courses.	No. of  Physical Drill  Bayonet  & Ftg. Instrs. att:		No. of regular serving or retired officers separately.
Units.

___Brigade___Division____Quartered at____

Establishment  without M.O.

Strength  fit for  G.S.

Deficit

Medical  Officers

Lewis Gunners

Trench Mortar.

Officers. O.R.

Trained.

Training

Trained.

Training

Units & names of C.Os.

O.

OR

O.

OR

O

OR

O

OR.

O

OR

O

OR

Bombing			Signallers Morse & Buzzer
Instructors	Platoon Sqds. Trained.	Platoon Sqds. Training.	Instructors	Trained.		Training.
				O	OR	O	OR

One man Range Finders					RIFLES.		Periscopes.	Telescopic  sights	Armourers	Tools  or not.
Instruments	Trained.		Training
	O	OR	O	OR	S.	EY

No. & Description of Machine guns per Bn.
No. of Trench Mortars.
Are all men being taught to throw dummy bombs
and finally at least one live Mills grenade
and to understand its working.
Are all officers and men being taught to lay and
fire a Lewis gun and to change the magazine.

 

COPY.

The Secretary of State for the the Colonies.

To the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

(Sent 5.20 pm. 24th August 1916.)

 

It is desired by Army  Army Council that your Government be

informed that it will be necessary to draw on 3rd Division for reinforcements 

owing to heavy casualties recently suffered by Australian

Divisions in France.  They therefore recommend that in addition to the

normal monthly reinforcements a special draft of 20,000 Infantry be sent

as soon as possible to make good present deficit and so enable 3rd

Division to be again brought up to strength. They recommend further that

for 3 months following despatch of this special draft the monthly reinforcements 

of Infantry sent should be calculated at 25 % of Establishment,

that is, about 16,500 per month for 5 Divisions.  This is the only means

of retaining 3rd Division for service in Field though the Army Council

are aware that the provision of this additional personnel may greatly

inconvenience your Government in training and other arrangements.

 

Bonar Law.