Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 14, 6 October - 30 November 1916, Part 12

G.O.C.
1
CORRIGENDUM TO DETACHMENT ORDER No. I DATED 3-II-1916
 

Page 3, para 5, - AIRCRAFT.
 

Delete "½ Moon" "Battalion Headquarters".
 

G.F. Wootten
Major.-
General Staff.
4-11-1916.
 

Corrigendum to Artillery Group Order No. 1
Para 2. Battery Position Left Group - For "25th
Battery" read "26th Battery".
Right Group for "26th Battery" read "25th
Battery".
 

 

Copy No. 26
DETACHMENT INSTRUCTIONAL MEMORANDUM No. 1
5/11/16.
 

Reference Detachment Order No. 1, and to be read in conjunction
therewith.
 

1. General 
For the exercise which is to take place at the
BUSTARD on Tuesday 7/11/16 the following will apply
to all Units of the Detachment.-
(a)  Dress. -         Fighting Order.
(b) Rations. -      Haversack Ration will be carried.
(c) Water. -         Water bottles will be full
(d) Personnel. - Units must have complete personnel
and equipment of all kinds.
(e) Gas Helmets. - Every Officer and man must have
at least one gas helmet.  It will
be carried slung in the normal way.
(f) S.A.Ammunition. - 240 rounds Blank ammunition
(except for specialists for whom
special scale is normally laid
down)
 

2. Runners.           Runners will be detailed as follows. -

For	Per Co.	Total	Report to.
Divisional For- ward Report Centre.	2	10	Detachment H'Qrs. 1 hour before Zero time.
Detachment Headquarters	2	10	Detachment H'Qrs. half an hour before zero time.
Company  Headquarters	4	4 per Coy.	Company Headquarters

Messages will be carried by runners in top right
hand pocket.  If messages are important or urgent, 2
runners or more may be sent at one time.  Should a runner
become a casualty, the message will be taken from him
and forwarded to its destination, and the arm band
removed from the runner so that he will not be searched
again.
 

 3. Arm. Bands.     Bands 1" wide will be worn on each arm above the
elbow as distinguishing marks for the following specialists. -

Specialist	Color of band	No. of Bands on each arm.
Runners	Red	1
Wire cutters	Blue	1
Bombers	Green	1
Bomb Carriers	Green	2

4. "E". Company.      In the attack each man of "E" Company will carry -
1 pick
1 Shovel
2 bombs - 1 in each side pocket (Reserve for
Bombers).
10 Sandbags (Carried through belt or underneath
brace straps at back).
4 men detailed from Scout Platoon will act
as salvage party and will collect bombs and S.A.A. for
advanced dumps situated in trench A E and crater.
 

DUMPS - (Nos. 1 and 4 Platoons will make Bomb and
S.A.A. Dump in trench A E.
Nos. 2 and 3 P1atoons will make Bomb and S.A.A. Dump
in crater).
 

-2-
4. "E" Company  (Contd.)

The following parties must be detailed and organized.-
From 1 and 4 Platoons -
3 Blocking parties for A, B and C trenches respectively
(made up of Bombers and Builders.)
2 Bombing Parties (No. 1 Platoon party to work along
hostile trench to "P", No. 4 Platoon party to work
along hostile trench to "Q".
Men will also be detailed to carry rockets, Very lights
and pistols, cloth strips, &c.
From 2 and 3 platoons -
No. 3 Platoon - 5 parties to dig 5 fire bays and communication             trenches from these to crater (See Diagram
1).  A1l earth from these fire-bays will be thrown
forward.
1 party to dig platform inside crater for lateral
communication to fire bays.
No. 2 Platoon. - 2 parties (2 sections in each) one
for each communication trench from crater to trench
A E.
 

5. "A" Company.

Each man of the Platoon of "A" Company (detailed
as wire carrying party) will carry 2 bombs (one in
each side pocket) and 10 sand bags.
This platoon on reaching its objective will replace
casualties and be utilized as seems most expedient.
 

6. "C" Company.

The 2 platoons of "C" company detailed as
digging parties on the communication trenches will
carry the following.-
1 pick and 1 shovel per man.
Casualties will be replaced by men of these parties
moving up from rear to front.
 

7. "B" Company. 

"B" Company will carry stores from R.E. Dump
as required.
 

8. "D" Company.

"D" Company. - See Detachment Order No. 1, page
2, para. 9.
In addition 4 men (2 per Traffic Officer.) Will
be detailed to report to the Traffic Officers at
Detachment Headquarters half an hour before zero time.
1 N.C.O. and 2 men will be detailed to control
traffic in "K" Street.  They will be in position half
an hour before zero time.
 

9. Brigade Signal Section and Battalion Sig. Section.

Brigade Signal Section (Less parties as required
by Detachment Order No. 1, page 3, para. 10 and
Battalion Signal Section will be at Detachment Headquarters.
 

10. (Lewis Gun Detachment & Bomb Platoon

Lewis Gun Detachment and Bomb Platoon will carry
normal supply of ammunition, bombs,  &c.  Ammunition for
Lewis Guns will not be carried.

11. Machine Gun Section.

As per Detachment Order No. 1



 

-3-
12. Medical

No. 1 Aid Post.
Stretcher Bearers (16);  A.M.C. Personnel 44th
Bn., (5); Sanitary Squad 44th Bn. (9); (TOTAL 30 men)
will report to Capt. JUETT, 44th Bn, M.O. in charge
No. 1 Aid Post half an hour before zero time and be
utilized as stretcher-bearers.
No. 2 Aid Post. O/C. Capt. TAUNTON, 11th Fld. Amb.
Personnel Regimental Stretcher-bearers 43rd Bn.
These will report to Capt. TAUNTON at No. 2 Aid Post
half an hour before zero time.
 

13. S.O.S. Signal

S.O.S. signal will be made by rockets fired from
"E" Coy. Headquarters and (or) Detachment Headquarters.
Rockets will not be used for any other signal.
S.O.S. messages must be duplicated by written
messages (runners) or telephone messages, &c.
 

14. Detachment Store.

Cases of Preserved Meat and Biscuit will be at
Detachment Store.  Tins of water, according to number of
tins available, will also be stored there and any
other available stores.  The 15 men detailed from
"D" Company to report to Q.M. at Detachment Store
for the carriage of ammunition and bombs will be
handed over to and placed at the disposal of R.S.M.
44th Bn.
 

l5. Detachment Dump.

The R.S.M. 44th Bn. will be in charge of the Detachment

Dump.  All S.A.A., Bombs, &c. remaining after
distribution has been made to troops will be kept at
the Dump and supplied as required.
 

16. Traffic Control.

Traffic Officers, i.e. Lieut WALSH and one officer
from "D" Company will regulate the traffic and passage
of stores in J and L streets.  2 men (D coy.) (Traffic
police) will be allotted each traffic officer.  They
will report to the Traffic Officers half an hour
before zero time, at eastern end of J and L streets
respectively.
1 N.C.O. and 2 men (D Coy) will regulate traffic
in K street.
 

17. Artillery Barrage.

The Artillery Barrage will be represented by a line
of flags.  Troops will not be able to stand up within
a distance of 60 yards to inner edge of barrage and
will not be able to crawl nearer than 30.
 

18. Casualties.

Casualties will be made by Officers detailed.
Unit Commanders must pay special attention to
reorganizing their commands whenever necessary owing
to casualties.  Personnel of carrying parties, after
having completed their carrying will be available
for replacement of casualties.  Officers and N.C.O's
must take charge of these men and give them definite
work to do, and utilize them to the fullest extent.

19. Service Conditions.

All Officers and men must try ^to imagine service
Conditions and work accordingly.
 

20. Information.

All available information must be passed back to
Detachment Headquarters as quickly and as often as
possible.  Negative information may be extremely useful.
 

-4-
21. To be made known to all ranks.

All ranks should be made acquainted with the
position of Detachment Headquarters, 1st Aid Posts,
Detachment Store and Dump and R.E. Dumps, forthwith.
 

22. Crater Ration Dump.

A Dump of water and rations will be made in
the crater by parties carrying rations.
Q.M.S.  "E" Company will be responsible for the
establishing of this dump.
 

23. Traffic.

J and L Streets will be utilized only for
traffic moving forward.
K street will be utilized for all traffic
moving towards the rear.
 

24. Zero time and Zero day

Zero time will be 10 a.m.  Zero day will be
the 7th instant.
 

25. Marking of trenches &c.

Q.M. 44th Battalion will provide necessary notice
boards to mark all trenches, Detachment Headquarters,
stores, dumps and latrines.
He will be responsible that all notice boards
are fixed in position before zero day.  Sufficient notice
boards must be erected at the intersection or junction
of any two or more trenches to indicate clearly the [[?]]
of each trench at that point.
 

26. Transport of Stores, &c.

Q.M. 44th Battalion will provide transport for
stores, rations, &c. to the BUSTARD area, and for their
return.

GF Wootten
Major,
General Staff.

DISTRIBUTION

Copy No. 1	Lt-Col. Mansbridge, D.S.O.	by hand at .......p.m.
2	Detachment Staff Officer.	do.       .......p.m.
3	C.R.E	by D.R. at ...3....p.m.
4	M.G. Section	)
5	O.C. "A" Company.	)
6	"     B      "	)
7	"     C      "	)  by orderly
8	"     D      "	)                 at.......p.m.
9	"     E      "	)
10	O.C. Lewis Gun Detachment.	)
11	"    Bomb Platoon	)
12	"    Brigade Signal Section	)
13	"    R.M.O. 44th Bn.	)
14	7th Field Art. Bde. (For information)	)  By D.R.
15	O.C. 11th Field Ambulance (for information	)   at. 3.
16	Capt. Taunton, 11th Field Ambulance	)   p.m.
17	O.C. 43rd Battalion (for information)	)
18	O.C. Battalion Signal Section	) by orderly
19	O.C. Scout Platoon.	) at.......p.m.
20)	Divisional Headquarters.	by hand at.......p.m.
21)
22	File
23)
24)	Spare.
25)

Copy No 18
DETACHMENT ORDER No. 2.
6th November, 1916.
 

1 Intention

O.C. Detachment intends to march to BUSTARD
TRENCHES on morning of 7th instant.
 

2. March

The march will be carried out as per attached
March Table.
 

3. Distances

A distance of approximately 1 minute in time
space (100 yards) will be kept between companies
and equivalent Units.
 

4. Reports.

Reports will be sent to the head of the column.
 

GF Wootten
Major,
General Staff.

 

DISTRIBUTION

Copy No. 1	Lt-Col. Mansbridge, D.S.O.	by hand at .......p.m.
2	Detachment Staff Officer.	do.       .......p.m.
3	M.G. Section	)
4	O.C. "A" Company.	)
5	"   B         "	)
6	"   C         "	)
7	"   D         "	) by orderly
8	"   E         "	)   at........p.m.
9	O.C. Lewis Gun Detachment.	)
10	"    Bomb Platoon	)
11	"    Brigade Signal Section	)
12	"    R.M.O. 44th Bn.	)
13	7th Field Art. Bde. (For information)	)  By D.R.
14	O.C. 11th Field Ambulance (for information)	)   at.........
15	Capt. Taunton, 11th Field Ambulance	)   p.m.
16	O.C. 43rd Battalion (for information)	)   by orderly
17	O.C. Battalion Signal Section	)    at.......p.m.
18)
19)	Divisional Headquarters.	by hand at.......p.m.
20)
21	File
22)
23)	Spare.
24)

 

                                         MARCH TABLE

UNITS IN ORDER OF MARCH.	FROM	STARTING POINT	TIME OF PASSING STARTING POINT	ROUTE
11th Bde. Sig. Sectn.	Camp.	Military Cinema	7 a.m.	Main Road via LARKHILL-ROLLESTONE CAMP - BUSTARD INN.
"E" Company	do.	opposite Eastern end of Camp 20.	7.1 a.m.
Lewis Gun Detach. 44th Bn.)
Bombing Platoon  44th Bn.)
Head Qrs. Sigs.        44th Bn.)	ditto.	do.	7.3 a.m.
Stretcher bearers   44th Bn.)
"D" Coy. and stretcher-  ) bearers 44th Bn.             )	do.	do.	7.5 a.m.
"C" Coy.	do.	do.	7.7 a.m.
1 Sec. 11th M.G. Co.	do.	do.	7.9 a.m.
1 Sec. 11th Field Amb.	do.	do.	7.10 a.m.
"A" Company	do.	--------- )	Will join column
		)	at a point 200 yds
"B" Company	do.	--------- )	past starting point.
Transport 44th Bn.	do.	do.	7.16 a.m.

 

                                                       PHASE 1.
TASK TABLE FOR ATTACK ON CRATER 7th. NOVEMBER, 1916.
7th. F. A. Brigade & 1 18-pr. Battery - R. Group & 1 18-pr. Battery - L. Group.

Guns.	Time.	Unit.	Objective.	Remarks.	Rate of Fire.
18 Pdrs.	-5 to 0.1	Right Group. 25th. Battery	German Trenches. I.15.d.4.2. to M.3.b.4.8.     )
"	"	Left Group. 26th. Battery	M.3.b.4.3. to M.3.b.4.6.    )	Red Line.	4 Rounds per gun per minute. H.E.
"	"	Centre Group. 27th. Battery.	M.3.b.4.8½. to M.3.b.4.6.)
4.5 How.		107th.     "	M.3.b.4.7.                           )		4 Rounds per How.
18 Pdrs.		X              "	I.15.d.4.2. to M.3.b.4.9½. )		per minute H.E.
"		Y              "	M.3.b.4.5. to M.3.b.4.3.    )		6 Rounds per gun per minute. H.E

PHASE 2.
TASK TABLE FOR ATTACK ON CRATER.

Guns.	Time.	Unit.	Objective.	Remarks.	Rate of fire.
18 Pdrs.	0.1 to 0.4.	25th. Battery.	I.15.d.3.1. to M.3.b.1.7½   )
			)
"	"	26th.      "	M.3.b.3.4. to M.3.b.1.7½.)		4 rounds per gun
			)		per minute.
"	"	27th.      "	M.3.b.1.8½ to M.3.b.1.6. )		Shrapnel.
			)
4.5 How.	"	107th.     "	M.3.a.9½.8.                      )	Strong Point.	4 rounds per How.
			)		per minute H.E.
18 Pdrs.	"	X             "	As in Phase 1.                  )		4 rounds per gun per minute.
"	"	Y             "	"                              )		Shrapnel.
			[*Blue Line*]

PHASE 3.
TASK TABLE FOR ATTACK ON CRATER.

Guns.	Time.	Unit.	Objective.	Remarks.	Rate of Fire.
18 Pdrs.	0.4 Onwards.	25th. Battery.	I.15.c.9.3 to M.3.a.9.8½     )		0.4 to 0.10 6 Rounds
			)		per gun per minute.
			)	Black Line.
"	"	26th.      "	M.3.a.9.1½ to M.3.a.9.6½)		0.10 to 0.15. 4 Rounds
			)		per gun per minute.
			)
"	"	27th.      "	M.3.a.9.9½ to M.3.a.9.5.  )
			)
4.5" How.	"	107th.     "	As in Phase 2.                   )		0.4 to 0.10. 3 Rounds
			)		per How. per minute.
			)		0.10 onwards. 2 Rounds
			)		per How. Per Minute, H. E.
			)
18 Pdrs.	"	X            "	I.15.c.9.3. to M.3.a.9.9        )	Lift to 100	0.15 onwards. 2 Rounds
			)	yards.	per gun per minute.
"	"	Y            "	M.3.a.9.1½ to M.3.a.9.5½ )		(Increase on S.O.S Signal)