Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 14, 6 October - 30 November 1916, Part 11

Headquarters,
2nd Anzac Corps, 3rd November, 1916.
My Dear Russell,
The Army Commander has spoken to me again about the
question of the Officer's Club in Bailleul, and is very
anxious that our Divisions should belong to 1t.
I think that perhaps you may not have entirely
understood the conditions and objects with which it has
been started. To begin with, it is in no sense a 9th Corps
Club. 1t is just as much for our Corps. The Army Commander's
Idea in starting these Clubs was for the two Northern Army
Corps to use the one at Poperinghe, which is a very flourishing
institution, and which is a great deal used both by the 8th
and 10th Corps, and similarly that in Bailleul would serve
the 9th and 2nd Anzac  Corps.
All Divisions of the 9th Corps have subscribed to
it, including the most Northern of theirs, who are practically
just as far from Bailleul as our Southernmost one at Sailly.
There is no individual membership, and both the
Army Commander and I think it is a pity that any of our
Divisions should be the only ones in the whole Army not belonging 
to an Officers’ Club.
There is no doubt that during the Winter, Bailleul is
rather the natural centre to which everybody in this part of
the world gravitates, and I believe they would find it a good
thing to have a place to go to, to meet fellows of other
Divisions, and to get a good meal and a comfortable bed.
The Officers’ Clothing store will be here, and
your officers will be in and out here to it, and, now it has
been decided that your Division is to remain where it is for
the whole Winter, I feel sure that the Club will be a convenience 

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to your officers, especially as we shall have three
Divisions, and each Division will, therefore, have a
brigade out of the line, of which the officers may be glad
of some such place to go to.
Judging by the experience of the Club at Poperinghe
the financial aspect of the question will be quite satisfactory, 

as they have, in a very short time, made so much money,
that they are quite able to pay off any expenditure which
they may have incurred, and to make money into the bargain.
Yours sincerely.
Major-General Sir Andrew Russell K.C.M.G.
Commanding New Zealand Division. 

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COPY
DETACHMENT  ORDER  No. 1    3/11/16.
REFERENCE - 1/20,000 Map SALISBURY PLAIN and attached Plan.
1. INFORMATION.  We succeeded yesterday in occupying the hostile fire
trench up to point" P" on our right and up to point
"Q" on our left. The part between" P" and "Q" is
not yet in our possession.
2. INTENTION. A mine will be fired on a date and at a time to be
notified hereafter, known as Zero day and Zero hour.
The crater which will be formed is indicated on the
attached plan: The crater will be consolidated, and
the portion of the enemy's trenches between points
"A" and "E" will be occupied. Blocks will be estab-
lished in communication trenches "B", "C" and "D".
When our troops are thus established, arrangements
will be made to bomb right and left and join hands
with the troops on our right and left whose flanks
are now at points "P" and "Q"
3. TROOPS. The following force has been detailed to carry out
operations as per para. 2.
Commander..- Lt-Col. W.O. MANSBRIDGE, D.S.O.
Troops                                   To be known as

1 Section of 11th Machine          Machine Gun Section.
Gun Company.
1 Company 33rd Battalion       "A" Company
1 Company 34th Battalion      "B" Company   
1 Company 37th Battalion       "C" Company.
1 Company 43rd Battalion       "D" Company.
1 Company 44th Battalion       "E" Company.
Lewis Gun Detachment, 44th Lewis Gun Detachment.
Battalion

Bombing Platoon, 44th Bn.      Bombing Platoon
Signal Section, 11th Bde.             Brigade Signal Section.   
Stretcher-bearers, 44th Bn.       Stretcher-bearers.
1 Sec. 11th Field Amb.                   Section Field Ambulance.
Headquarters Signallers;            Battalion Signallers.
44th Battalion
ARTILLERY and AIRCRAFT will co-operate.
4. ARTILLERY. At 5 minutes before Zero hour the artillery will put
down a barrage on the enemy’s front line trench
extending to within 70 yards of points "P" and "Q".
The limits of this barrage are indicated in Red on
attached plan. At 1 minute after zero hour the centre
of the Artillery barrage will lift 150 yards, and will
form a box as indicated in Blue. At 4 minutes after
Zero hour the artillery barrage will lift another
100 yards, and the inner edge of it will be as indicated 

in Black. At the same time it will be widened
70 yards to either flank as indicated also in Black.
This last Barrage will continue until the consolidation 

of the mine crater and enemy's firing line
is complete, and until we have joined hands with the
troops on either flank. From 4 minutes after zero
hour _∧to 10 minutes after zero hour the barrage indicated in Black will be intense
after which it will be slackened, but ready to increase
on the "S.O.S" signal being given.
Disposition of troops at Zero time is given in
5. DISTRIBUTION. Disposition of troops at Zero time is given
Appendix I. The assault and consolidation will be
carried out by E company. Prior to attack E Company
will be formed up in NEW FIRE LINE.
1. At 1 minute past zero time and explosion of mine._

Nos. 1and 4 platoons E company each with 1
Section Bombing Platoon will rush the hostile
trench A E, No. 1 platoon moving from right of
NEW FIRE LINE by North side of crater: No. 4 

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4 DISTRIBTUION (Contd.)-- platoon moving from left of NEW FIRE LINE by South
side of crater.
When objective has been attained No. 1 Platoon
will consolidate position occupied.
Blocks will be established in trenches B, C and
D at a distance of 30 yards from trench A E.
After trench A E has been made good No. 1
platoon will go forward and erect wire entanglement
75 yards long and 4 bays thick at a distance of
40 yards in front of trench A E. (see diagram 1).
2. At same time Nos. 2 and 3 platoons will rush
the crater. When it has been occupied No. 3 will
immediately consolidate it.
No. 2 platoon will dig 2 communication trenches
to trench A E (See diagram 1).
3. Battalion Lewis Gun detachment will move forward
1 section on the right and 1 section on left of
trench A E each section accompanied by 10 bombers,
preceded by 3 Battalion Scouts and will occupy
a position 80 yards in front of trench A E to cover
wiring party.
On completion of wiring and blocking,
wiring party and Lewis Gunners with their scouts and
bombers will retire to trench A E.
4. "A" company will provide a wire carrying party
of 1 platoon. Two sections of which will be at the
head of each of "J" and "L" streets together with
wire, posts, pickets etc.
Those will move forward by right and left flanks
respectively, of trench A E to a point 70 yards in
front of latter trench.
5. As soon as E company leave NEW FIRE LINE, "A" company
will occupy it
6. "C" Company less 2 platoons will remain in SUPERVISION
TRENCH.
Two platoons of "C" company will be detailed as
digging parties, one to each of communication trenches
from NEW FIRE LINE to crater and will move out to
these trenches as soon as "A" company occupy NEW FIRE
TRENCH.
7. "B" company will remain in SUPPORT trench and will
be at disposal of R.E. for carrying parties.
8. Machine Gun Section will assist in barrage, bring
indirect fire to bear on enemy’s trenches from
previously: prepared positions in SUPPORT line.
9. "D" Company remain as reserve in RESERVE TRENCH.
"D" Company will detail the following carrying
parties: -
10 men for ammunition
5 men for bombs
2 men for water
2 men for rations.
They will report to the Q.M. at Detachment store
and Dump, ½ hour before Zero time. 

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4. DISTRIBUTION (Contd.) 10. Officer Commanding Brigade Signal Section
will be responsible for communication within the
detachment. Signal Section parties for establishing 
communication with captured positions
from NEW FIRE LINE, will prior to moving out be
in "K" street at its head. They will move out
immediately after enemy position has been occupied.
Buried cable will be laid along high level
tunnels ready to be run out from extreme limit
of Tunnel to Crater after assault has taken place.
O.C. Brigade Signal Section will make all necessary
arrangments.
11. Lewis Gun Sections of "B" and "D" companies will
be grouped and held in readiness in SUPERVISION
trench at "L" and "J" Streets: and will move forward
to trench A E as soon as latter is occupied by our
troops and will report to Officer-in-charge who
will utilise them for blocking purposes.
DETACHMENT AID POSTS. - Are situated as follows.-
No. I in SUPERVISION trench immediately on right of
"K" Street. 
No. 2. At junction "J" Street and supervision trench.

DRESSING STATION. - Section 11th Field Ambulance will
establish dressing station East of Road running
North-west from BUSTARD INN. Indicated "Z" on
diagram 1. attached plan.
DETACHMENT STORE - Will be situated at the junction of
"L" street, and Support Line.
DETACHMENT DUMP - Detachment S.A.A. and Dump will be
situated in "L" street between SUPERVISION TRENCH
and SUPPORT LINE.
5. AIRCRAFT. Contact planes will fly at 10, 30, and 45 minutes 

and 1 hour after zero time in order to locate position
of our Infantry.
The following ground signals will be used:-
N.N. - Ammunition wanted.
Y Y. - Grenades wanted.
0.0. -  Artillery barrage wanted.
P.P. - Artillery barrage to be lengthened.
X.X. - Held up by machine guns.
Z.Z. - Held up by barbed wire.
H.O.X.- Being counter-attacked.

Full Moon - Artillery Brigade Headquarters.

¾ Moon - Infantry Detachment Headquarters

[*(Deleted [[?]] Lt)*]½ Moon - Battalion Headquarters

The position of Infantry indicated by Bengal lights

50 yards apart supplemented by strips of black cloth 3

feet wide and 10 feet long placed on the white parados of 

the trench. 6 of these strips will be made available.

6. TRAFFIC OFFICERS. - Lt. WALSH and an Officer to be detailed by 
Officer Commanding "D" Company will act as Infantry
traffic Officers in "L" and "J" streets respectively.

7. WATCHES. - Watches will be synchronised at 3 hours before,
and again at 1 hour before zero time.
8. DETACHMENT HEADQUARTERS - Detachment Headquarters will be
situated in "K" Street 50 yards West of SUPPORT TRENCH.

PTO

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9. REPORTS. Reports will be sent to detachment Headquarters.
GF Wootten

Major,
General Staff.
DISTRIBUTION.
Copy No. 1- 3   Divisional Headquarters,
                      4   Southern, Command.
                      5    Lt-Col. W.O. Mansbridge, D.S.0.
                      6   Detachment Staff-Officer.
                      7   C.R.E.
                      8   Machine Gun Section.
                      9   Officer Commanding "A" Company.
                     10   do.                                    "B"       "
                      11   do.                                    "C"       "

                      12   do.                                   "D"       "
                      13   do.                                   "E"       "
                      14 Officer Commanding Lewis Gun Detachment.                           
                      15   do.                                   Bombing Platoon
                      16   do.                                   Brigade Signal Section
                      17 R.M.O. 44th Battalion.
                      18 Air Squadron. ) for information.

                      19 7th. F.A. Bde.  )
                      20. File.
                      21 Officer Commanding 11th Field Amb.
                      22   )
                      23   )
                      24.  ) Spare.
                      25   )
                     26    ) 

APPENDIX 1.
DISPOSITION of troops at zero time.
PLACE                                 TROOPS     
NEW FIRE TRENCH           2 Sections Bombing Platoon; ½                                                           Lewis
                                                Gun detachment plus 3 scouts.
(reading right to left)         1 and 2 Platoons E company
                                                3 and 4 platoons E Company
                                                ½ Lewis Cun detachment plus 3                                                          scouts
                                                 2 Sections Bombing platoon.
"J" STREET    )   Between   (Wire carrying party (2 sections)
                                                 (1 Platoon "A" company

(front to rear) NEW FIRE   (No. 2 1st Aid Post.
                              LINE

"K" STREET   )                       (Bde. Signal Section party:

                        )      and          (1 platoon "A" company

(front to rear)               N^o 1.(1st Aid Post.
 

"L" STREET   )  SUPERVISION  (Wire carrying party (2 sections)

                        )                               (1 platoon "A" Company.

(front to rear)    TRENCH. 
 

SUPERVISION TRENCH.          "C" Company xxxxxxx

"K" Street      )  Between           Detachment Headquarters 
                        )

                        )SUPERVISION

                        )     and

"L" STREET    ) SUPPORT LINE   Detachment Store and Dump.

 SUPPORT LINE               -             "B" Company. R.M.C. Sectn.  
In the open at terminus)            R. E. DUMPS.

"J" and "K" of Streets.        )  
RESERVE TRENCH.    -                   "D" Company.
East of BUSTARD INN road) Sectn, 11th Field Ambulance.
(near line of trees.               ) 

APPENDIX 1. PAGE 2.
DIAGRAMATIC REPRESENTATION OF DISPOSITIONS
BEFORE ZERO TIME
Diagramatic & not to Scale.
Diagram - see original document

—DIAGRAM 1—
Scale 40 yds to an inch
Diagram - see original document 

Diagram - see original document

MINE BUSTARD TRENCHES
Scale 1:5000

Reference map Salisbury Plains 1:20,000

E.E.M. del.

2.11.06