Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 14, 1 December 1916 - 10 February 1917, Part 1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Part of Quest:
Sir John Monash (General, b.1865 - d.1931)
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG0000617
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 7

Fargof Frelån Second Army Intelligence. December, 1916. WEATHER OF JANUARY, FEBRUARY & MARCH in the British Army Area, based on otservations extending over period from 10 to 20 years. From METEOROLOGICAL SEO ON, R.E., G.H.Q. ............ After DECEMBER the weather begins on the average to im- prove, very gradually at first, more rapidly as a rule after the end of FEBRUARY. The ground, on the other hand, rarely begins to improve until after the middle of FEBRUARY, when it is in about its coldest and wettest condition. JANUARY is sometimes as bad a month as DECEMBER, or even worse; and on the average it is colder. FEBRUARY is more frequently dry, but the alternating frosts at night and thaws in the day usually keep the ground in a soft and diffioult state. Only if a spell of frosty weather sets in with Easterly winds is there any likelihood of dry conditions; and even with such a spell there is consider- able risk of oloudy, wet or snowy weather following and pract- ioally renewing the worst Winter oonditions. During MARCH both the weather and the ground improve rapidly on the average; and a spell of good weather will pract ically end the Winter conditions, APRIL being, on the average, the driest month of the year and relatively one of the sunniest. There is no period of the year when long spells of dry olear weather are more likely than in the two months from the middle of MAROH to the middle of MAY; but at any time of the year a spell of bad weather may occur, and right up to the end of APRIL such a spell may be acoompanied by snow. If any partioular date had to be selected, on the basis of average statistios, as the date from which a general rapid improvement in the weather and the ground took place, MARCH 15th would be chosen, the probability of bad conditions dimin- ishing from thence onwards. Bad conditions are, however, frequently renewed after the middle of MAY, and JUNE is often one of the wettest months of the year as well as being relat- ively more cloudy than the Spring months preceding it and the Summer months following it. The variations of temperature and average weather over the British Army Area are slight except in the matter of rain¬ fall. Charts are attached which show clearly the differences in this respect. Generally speaking, the Southern part of the Front is drier in JANUARY than the Northern, but in FEBRUARY and MARCH there is little to choose. Roughly, the Front runs in all three months between two areas of relatively heavy rain- fall, one to the N.W. from FREVENT to BOULOGNE, the other to the S.E. from CAMBRAI to MEZIERES. There is slightly more snow on the high ground of Third, Fourth and Fifth Armies, than on the low ground of First and Second Armies; the latter, on the other hand, have a little more fog in cold weather and less in mild humid weather. The high ground also gets stronger winds which help to dry it. On the attached charts of RAINFALL, the lines separating areas coloured in different ways are roughly contour lines of equal rainfall in that they separate areas of higher from areas of lower rainfall. The total rainfall for the month in inches is marked on each area. For example, places in the areas marked 1.8 have an average rainfall for the month vary- ing between 1.6 and 2.0 inches so that the area as a whole has ...
- 2 has a rainfall of 1.8 inches. A table is appended showing the average monthly amounts recorded during the past 15 to 20 years at a number of places in the vicinity of each Army Area; also a table of average and extreme values for ARRAS. Diagrams have been added illustrating te variation of Rain days, Frost days, Snow days and Thunderstorm days throughout the year, and of average and extreme Temperatures. JANUARY. FROSTS occur one night out of two on the average, and in one January out of three frost cocurs on 20 nights or more. About 3 days per month it freezes all day as well as all night. Aotually, frosts usually ocour in spells of about 5 days, with a longer spell of 10 days in about one year in four. In no year is frost continuous throughout the month, and no year is en- tirely free from frost; but in one year out of five there is no appreciable frost, i.e. it does not freeze during the whole of any day, and only slightly on a few nights. The average night temperature for the month is, however, 310 F., i.e. below freezing point. RAINFALL is 20% or more less than in DECEMBER, appreciable rain falling on 1 day out of 3: the least number of days of appreciablo rain in any January during the past 20 years was 4 in 1897. The month is comparatively dry, abuotonce in 4 years and very dry about once in 7 years. It is wet about once in 4 years and very wet about once in 7. Dry spells are usually also cold; warm dry spells are rare. SNow falls on the average about 6 times during the month but frequently melts soon after it falls. January is, however, the month when snow is likely to lie longer than at any other time. EVAPORATION is at its lowest ebb - as slow as in December so that only about 10% of the rain which falls evaporates; the rest has to be got rid of by drainage, so that the ground is apt to remain waterlogged in the plains and valleys. FOG ocours on 2 mornings eat of 5 and sometimes lasts all day; there is also much cloud, the sky being clear for only about one hour out of four during the daytime. GALES or HIGH WIISS are frequent, ocourring on about one day out of four, THUNDERSTORMS are rare; about 1 in 10 years. FEBRUARY. FROSTS occur at night nearly as frequently as in January, and in one February out of four it freezes on 20 nights or more. Continued frost throughout the day is less frequent than in January, but the spells of frost which do occur are usually of longer duration; ten-day spells come about 1 year in 3. In no year has frost been continuous throughout the month, but about 1 year in 5 it freezes on every night but 3; and about 1 year in 5 there is no appreciable frost. The average night temperature for the month is 320 F., i.e. just froezing; but the lowest temperature in February is as low as the lowest in January. RAINFALL is only slightly less than in January; appreciable rain falls on I day out of 3. The least number of days of appreciable rain was 4 in 1898, 1907, 1913. The month is com- paratively ... * Some of the excess water peroolates deep down and raises the level of the underground water.
- 3 - paratively dry about 1 year in 3 and very dry about 1 year in 4, in fact, if February is dry at all, it tends to be very dry. When the month is wet it is usually very wet; this oocurs about 1 year in 5. SNOW falls on about 5 days in the month on the average. EVAPORAIION is greater than in January, and about 20. of the rain which falls is evaporated. The improvement in the ground is, however, hardly appreciable as its temperature is at the minimum for the year and it starts in a soaked condition. FOG oocurs on about 1 morning out of 3, rather less fre- quently than in January. The amount of oloud is less and the sky is clear for nearly l hour out of 3 during the daytime. GALES or HIGH WINDS oocur rather less frequently than in January; about 1 day in 5 on the average. THUNDERSTORMS are rare; 3 in 20 years. MARCH. FROSTS oocur on one night out of three on the average, more frequently in the first 20 days and less frequently in the last 10. Even during frost spells, thawing almost in- variably ooours during the day; it is extremely rare for the temperature during the day not to rise above freezing point, but occasionally a long spell of rather severe frost oocurs during the month, as in 1892 when there was frost more or less severe on all but 7 nights. Occasionally the month is entire- ly free from frost. The average night temperature for the month is 350 F., well above freezing point, and the average day temperature is 500 F. RAINFALL is rather greater in amount than in February, but the frequency is approximately the same; appreciable rain falls on about 10 days a month, but about once in 10 years on only 5 days. The month is comparatively dry about once in 4 years, and very dry about once in 7. It is comparatively wet about once in 5 years and very wet once in 7. Dry spells are sometimes warm in the day and cold at night; sometimes they are cold both by day and by night. SNon falls practically as frequently as in January, viz. 8 times during the month on the average. It rarely lies long, however. VAPORATION is increasing rapidly during the month. About 50% of the rain which falls evaporates, and in dry months evaporation accounts for practically all the rain. As natural drainage is also going on, the ground rapidly improves unless the month is a wet one. FOG occurs on about one morning in five, and bad fog is much less frequent than in the preceding monthe. Cloud is also less, and the sun shines for a third of the time it is above the horizon. GALES or HIGH WINDS are about as frequent as in February; about 1 day in 5 on the average. THUNDERSTORMS begin to increase in frequency; 7 in 20 years. TEMPERATURE & RAIWFALL TABLES:-
4- VALUES OF AVERAGE MONTHLY RAINFALL IN SECOND ARMY AREA, IN INCHES, FOR YEARS 1891 tD 1910. r: 5. MESSINES. LILLE BOESINGHE. MENIN. 1.85 2.40 1.73 2.0I 1.81 January 2.17 1.81 1.42 1.69 1.85 February 1.73 1.97 2.44 1.73 2.13 March 1.7 1.73 1.34 1.38 1.73 April 2.17 2.21 2.58 2.44 2.36 May 2.05 2.44 2.36 2.24 2.48 June 2.84 2.76 2.17 2.52 2.24 July 2.40 2.44 2.60 2.56 2.84 August 2.32 2.80 2.21 2.44 September 2.68 2.48 3.11 2.72 October 2.56 2.91 2.78 2.32 3.62 3.03 2.91 November 2.68 2.05 2.17 2.95 December 2.80 VE T43T: OF VALTTG OF TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL COMPARA JANTTT From Meteorological Section A.E., compiled from records at ARPAS. TEMPERATURE. Night Frosts Absolute. Average. Least High- Low- Gtst Avor. Day. Night. Yoar Iear No. 78: est. est. No. 1899 23 310- 551 15 42 38 January 1808 1891 450 3 Febrv. 858 128 1912 350 500 84 1892 13 March RAINFALL. Least Gtst. Aver.40.0f Aver.No.of Average Total Year lear total days of Rain-days. (inches) appre..Pain O.46 1898 3.8 1900 1.93 January 1893 O.14 1891 3.5 1.81 18 February 4.2 1905 O.32 1893. 18 1.93 March e Freezing.
Eß THIRD AUSTRILIIE DIVISIOn. ----------------------- 1 Hoadquerters, ist December, 1916. Ootl 3.Jiüun 10. 25. ---- SCILS OF RETIONS ND EORACE! ------ Normal Ration. Scalo of tions. §/8th oz toa. 1 ib frosh or frozon moat 3 ozs jam. 3 ozs sugar. (2/2 ozo whon s + 15 (nominal) proscrved noat. swectened varioty of oon- ir lbe broad or lb biscuit. densed nilk is isgued). 4 ozs bacon. 2 ozs chooso. th oz nustard. i 2 ozs dried vogotablos. 1/56t4 oz popper. 1/isth tin condonsod milk. 1/55oth gallon limo juico, on rocommandation of tho Liodical Officor. garettes por wock for gmokers. 2 ozs tobacco or ci on of the Gencral 1/64th gallon rum at the discrot Offioor Comnanding, on the rocommondation of the Mecical Officer, but not to be issued concurrontly with the pea soup or zo authorisod for men in tho trenches. 1 box matches - twico a wock at tho front. Iron Ration. 1 15 (nominal) prosorvod neat. 1 ib biscuit. f ozs sugar. 5/8th oz toa. 3. 1/8th oz toa, oz cugar, daily for non in the trenches, whon considorod necescary by Kruy Commanders. 2 ozs poa soup or two oro cubos or othor oquivalont available (a. + oz cosoa or chocolato, l/10th tin concoused nilk. b. 1/5th wico a week for non in tho tronchos during tin cocoa & milk), daily for men in tho trenchos during sovore wintor nonths, or woathor on domand of Army Com anders. treico wockly at the front. 2 ozs butt wurico wookly at the front (whon 1 oz picklos availablo) 1/5rd oz sauoc.
2. CIRCUL RIZORNDU:N. 25 - P. Soale ef Ratiows (Cer?.). pje 1. 4 ozs pioc ... ... . . . . . . 4 ozc broad or bisquit. ... . . . 3 ozs jan. 3 ezs dried fruits, (when availablo) 2 ozs honcy ... .. . . . . . . . 3 ozs jam. 4 ozs becon ... ... ... ... £ tin L.& V. Ration. 1 1b flour ..... ... .. . 1 15 biscuit. 1b fresh vogetahles, whonovor obtainablo, in licu of 2 ozs driod vegotables. i tin M.4 V. .. .. .. ... i moat ration and 1 vogetablo ration. i tin Pork & Bcans..... 15% of a moat ratlon. Hay. eats. 15 e Shires or Clydosdales ... ....... ..... . . . Soalo Horses, draught, of hoavy brigades, R.G., of and othor horses, draught, hoavy of 17 Fcrago. 13 ... ... ... ... the Irny .1. ili Officers' chargors, and othor horses 13 ovor 15 hands iich ... ... ... 10 Cots, other than officors" chargers ... .... . . . lules of 15 hands ant upwards 10 18 ... ... onployed on heavy draught work 3. 6 ... ... ... . .. Small mulos Iscues are nado on a flat rato of 17 lbs Oats per hoavy eicers Commanding draught horse. It is left to if¬ Units to listributo this ration as thoy think fit. -TOrr slitig lj. ... 1 1b oats. 1 ib orushed naizo ... ... ... 1 1b oats. 1 1/8 1b bran Zue Fuol for cooking, warn ag buildings occupiol as billets, washing, Fucl. ec., is authorisod at the ccalo of 4 lbs por man dailg, and will 3. bo made up as follows: (a) For men not in tho trenchos ... ... 2½ ibs wood and la Mos cocl. ... ... 2 Ins coke and (b) For nen in the trenches 1½ 15 charcoal. The balance of the 4 lbs allowanco of iuel undor (b) which is cquivalent to 1 1b wood or - ib coal, may be aldod to the quan- n under (a) and usod in tho roar of tho trenches. titios dra Ooko and Charooal are to bo demanded on tho abovo-mentionod scalo for mon in the trenchos only. iupet the proccht at th Hay. 4.
---- 7 GIRCULIR MEMOR NOUI NO.25 - rage 3. ---- --- Hay is sont up at the prosost et the rate of 8 lbs por herso, it H7. probable that when an advance is mado this will be cut lewn-to is 6 1bs per hersc. The ration, howover, romairs as shown in 2 and tho balanoo is mado up by local purchase of bucbrecrmoditios as Strew, Boot, otc.. S stom Railway Tains. ply.Ono days suynties arrive at Railhcadsdaily, fer Formations. tod Devastonel Nock Therue conteining 20,000 mens docordiig to a f rations, and exbras, and 5 0000 hnode rewons. ppuruintely 2,000 mens vat ons por Division Irosorve oI is rotained et Reilhoads to allow for adent onel troops. STANDARD DIVELONLL PACK TRAIN. ...... Horsos - 5,900. TYES:- HE7 - 20,000. - -- ors Dir- l 3,000 lbs (ogocpt Wodnosiays and Saturdays) Bisquit -15,000 rations. Broad Frozon Moct - 12,000 lbs. resorved Loat - 4,750 ratiens. REDAY - SATURDAY. I.& V. - 3,000 rations MLLUDAY IET. Pork & Beans - 5,666 tras - SUELEY - TCMIDET - WEDEDALSY - FRIDAY. J£- 3,750 198. Sa: Dricd Fruits bolow. Facon - 5,000 lbs. Cheeso - 3,750 lbs. Sugar - 3920 lbs. (inoludes 320 lbs for tronch rations) T.a 8 810 lbs (includos 60 ibs for trench rations) Salt - 400 15s. Pappor - 20 1bs. ustard - Soe under twice wockl 11 Condonsed Mils - 1,666 tins (1 tin to 12 men). atoos - 7,500 152. Run - 100 galls. T eal TII Interd - 40 15s - HOLE mHmt- Ton I tchos - 140 ross - WEDRESDIY - SITURDAY. e.p.I oD - Butter - 2,500 lbs - MOMDEY - WDDNDSLIY - S TURDAY. I. & V. - a5 khown abovo. to Pickles - 1,250 15s - SUNDEY – TUESDIY - FRIDAY. om or other Scuce at scalo of 1 oz of S uce 1 3 ozs: Pioklos. WTOR023T

[*For G O.C.*]

to retain *]

Second Army Intelligence.

December, 1916.

WEATHER OF JANUARY, FEBRUARY & MARCH in the British

Army Area, based on observations extending over

period from 10 to 20 years.   From METEOROLOGICAL

SECTION, R.E., G.H.Q.

********************************************************************************        

 

After DECEMBER the weather begins on the average to improve,

very gradually at first, more rapidly as a rule after

the end of FEBRUARY.   The ground, on the other hand, rarely

begins to improve until after the middle of FEBRUARY, when it

is in about its coldest and wettest condition.

JANUARY is sometimes as bad a month as DECEMBER, or even

worse; and on the average it is colder.

FEBRUARY is more frequently dry, but the alternating

frosts at night and thaws in the day usually keep the ground

in a soft and difficult state.   Only if a spell of frosty

weather sets in with Easterly winds is these any likelihood of

dry conditions;  and even with such a spell there is considerable

risk of cloudy, wet or snowy weather following and practically 

renewing the worst Winter conditions.

During MARCH both the weather and the ground improve

rapidly on the average; and a spell of good weather will practically 

end the Winter conditions, APRIL being, on the average,

the driest month of the year and relatively one of the sunniest.

There is no period of the year when long spells of dry

clear weather are more likely than in the two months from the

middle of MARCH to the middle of MAY;  but at any time of the

year a spell of bad weather may occur, and right up to the end

of APRIL such a spell may be accompanied by snow.

If any particular date had to be selected, on the basis

of average statistics, as the date from which a general rapid

improvement in the weather and the ground took place, MARCH

15th would be chosen, the probability of bad conditions diminishing

from thence onwards.  Bad conditions are, however,

frequently renewed after the middle of MAY, and JUNE is often

one of the wettest months of the year as well as being relatively

more cloudy than the Spring months preceding it and the

Summer months following it.

The variations of temperature and average weather over

the British Army Area are slight except in the matter of rainfall.

Charts are attached which show clearly the differences

in this respect.   Generally speaking, the Southern part of the

Front is drier in JANUARY than the Northern, but in FEBRUARY

and MARCH there is little to choose.  Roughly, the Front runs

in all three months between two areas of relatively heavy rainfall,

one to the N.W. from FREVENT to BOULOGNE, the other to

the S.E. from CAMBRAI to MEZIERES.

There is slightly more snow on the high ground of Third,

Fourth and Fifth Armies, than on the low ground of First and

Second Armies;  the latter, on the other hand, have a little

more fog in cold weather and less in mild humid weather.  The

high ground also gets stronger winds which help to dry it.

On the attached charts of RAINFALL, the lines separating

areas coloured in different ways are roughly contour lines of

equal rainfall in that they separate areas of higher from

areas of lower rainfall.  The total rainfall for the month in

inches is marked on each area.   For example, places in the

areas marked 1.8 have an average rainfall for the month varying

between 1.6 and 2.0 inches so that the area as a whole

has . . . 
[* JM? *]

 

- 2 -

has a rainfall of 1.8 inches.   A table is appended showing

the average monthly amounts recorded during the past 15 to 20

years at a number of places in the vicinity of each Army Area:

also a table of average and extreme values for ARRAS.    Diagrams

have been added illustrating the variation of Rain days, Frost

days, Snow days and Thunderstorm days throughout the year, and

of average and extreme Temperatures.

                                                     ______________________

JANUARY

FROSTS occur one night out of two on the average, and in

one January out of three frost occurs on 20 nights or more.

About 3 days per month if freezes all day as well as all night.

Actually, frosts usually occur in spells of about 5 days, with

a longer spell of 10 days in about one year in four. In no year

is frost continuous throughout the month,and no year is entirely

free from frost, i.e. it does not freeze during the whole

of any day, and only slightly on a few nights. The average

night temperature for the month is, however 31° F., i.e. below

freezing point.

RAINFALL is 20% or more less than in DECEMBER, appreciable

rain falling on 1 day out of 3: the least number of days of

appreciable rain in any January during the past 20 years was 4

in 1897. The month is comparatively dry, about once in 4 years

and very dry about once in 7 years. It is wet about once in 4

years and very wet once in 7. Dry spells are usually

also cold; warm dry spells are rare.

SNOW falls on the average about 6 times during the month

but frequently melts soon after it falls. January is, however,

the month when snow is likely to lie longer than at any other

time.

EVAPORATION is at its lowest ebb - as slow as in December -

so that only about 10% of the rain which falls evaporates; the

rest has to be got rid of by drainage*, so that the ground is

apt to remain waterlogged in the plains and valleys.

FOG occurs on 2 mornings out of 5 and sometimes lasts all

day; there is also much cloud, the sky being clear for only

about one hour out of four during the daytime.

GALES or HIGH WINDS are frequent, occurring on about one

day out of four.

THUNDERSTORMS are rare; about 1 in 10 years.

                                 ______________________________________

FEBRUARY.

FROSTS occur at night nearly as frequently as in January,

and in one February out of four it freezes on 20 nights or more.

Continued frost throughout the day is less frequent than in

January, but the spells of frost which do occur are usually of

longer duration; ten-day spells come about 1 year in 3. In no

year has frost been continuous throughout the month, but about

1 year in 5 it freezes on every night but 3; and about 1 year in

5 there is no appreciable frost. The average night temperature

for the month is 32° F., i.e. just freezing; but the lowest

temperature in February is as low as the lowest in January.

RAINFALL is only slightly less than in January; appreciable

rain falls on 1 day out of 3. The least number of days of

appreciable rain was 4 in 1896, 1907, 1913. The month is comparatively ...

____________________________________________________________________________

* Some of the excess water percolates deep down and raises

the level of underground water.

 

- 3 -

 paratively dry about 1 year in 3 and very dry about 1 year in

4, in fact, if February is dry at all, it tends to be very

dry. When the month is wet it is usually very wet;  this occurs

about 1 year in 5.

SNOW falls on about 5 days in the month on the average.

EVAPORATION is greater than in January, and about 20% of

the rain which falls is evaporated. The improvement in the

ground is, however, hardly appreciable as its temperature is at

the minimum for the year and it starts in a soaked condition.

FOG occurs on about 1 morning out of 3, rather less frequently

than in January. The amount of cloud is less and the

sky is clear for nearly 1 hour out of 3 during the daytime.

GALES or HIGH WINDS occur rather less frequently than in

January; about 1 day in 5 on the average.

THUNDERSTORMS are rare; 3 in 20 years.

MARCH.

FROSTS occur on one night out of three on the average,

more frequently in the first 20 days and less frequently in

the last 10. Even during the first spells, thawing almost invariably

occurs during the day; it is extremely rare for the

temperature during the day not to rise above freezing point,

but occasionally a long spell of rather severe frost occurs

during the month, as in 1892 when there was frost more or less

severe on all but 7 nights. Occasionally the month is entirely

free from frost. The average night temperature for the

month is 35° F., well above freezing point, and the average

day temperature is 50° F.

RAINFALL is rather greater in amount than in February,

but the frequency is approximately the same; appreciable rain

falls on about 10 days a month, but about once in 10 years on

only 5 days. The month is comparatively dry about once in 4

years, and very dry about once in 7. It is comparatively wet

about once in 5 years and very wet once in 7. Dry spells are

sometimes warm in the day and cold at night; sometimes they

are cold both day and by night.

SNOW falls practically as frequently as in January, viz.

6 times during the month on the average.It rarely lies long,

however.

EVAPORATION is increasing rapidly during the month.

About 50% of the rain which falls evaporates, and in dry

months evaporation accounts for practically all the rain. As

natural drainage is also going on, the ground rapidly improves

unless the month is a wet one.

FOG occurs on about one morning in five, and bad fog is

much less frequent than in the preceding months. Cloud is also

less, and the sun shines for a third of the time it is above

the horizon.

GALES or HIGH WINDS are about as frequent as in February;

about 1 day in 5 on the average.

THUNDERSTORMS begin to increase in frequency; 7 in 20

years.

TEMPERATURE & RAINFALL TABLES:- 

 

 - 4 -

VALUES OF AVERAGE MONTHLY RAINFALL IN SECOND ARMY

AREA, IN INCHES, FOR YEARS 1891 TO 1910.

 

                       BOESINGHE.   MENIN.   MESSINES.   COMINES.   L

January                   2.01                 1.81                 2.40              1.73            1.85   

February                  1.69                1.85                 2.17               1.42            1.81

March                      2.13                  1.73                  2.44              1.73            1.97

April                          1.73                 1.34                 1.77               1.38              1.73

May                          2.36                 2.44               2.56               2.17              2.22

June                         2.48                 2.24               2.36                2.44           2.05  

July                           2.24                  2.52               2.76                2.17             2.84

August                     2.84                  2.56             2.60                 2.40           2.44

September             2.68                  2.44              2.80                2.21             2.32

October                   2.91                  2.56                2.72               2.48             3.11

November              3.03                 2.91                 3.62                 2.76            2.32

December             2.80                 2.17                 2.95                2.05            2.68    

———   

COMPARATIVE TABLE OF VALUES OF TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL

JANUARY [[?]] From Meteorological Section R.E.,

compiled from records at ARRAS.                                 

TEMPERATURE.
  Average. Absolute.

 Night Frosts.

  
  Day. Night. Highest Lowest Aver.
No.		 Gtst
No.

Year

 

 Least
No.

Year.

 
January 42° 31°# 55° 7° 15 23

(1891

(1909

 6 1899
Febry. 45° 32°# 55° 0° 13 24 1891 3 1898
March 50° 35° 73° 14° 10 24 1892 0 1912

 

RAINFALL.
  Average
(inches)		 Aver. No. of
Rain-days.		 Aver. No. of
days of
apprec. rain		 Gtst.
total

 

Year

 Least
Total

 

Year
January 1.93 17 9 3.6 1906 0.46 1898
February 1.81 16 9 3.5 1893 0.14 1891
March 1.93 16 10 4.2 1905 0.32 1893.

# Freezing.

 

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.

[*GOC*]

Headquarters,

1st December, 1916.

CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM No. 25

SCALE OF RATIONS AND [[PORTION?]]

Scale of Rations. Normal Ration.

1 lb fresh or frozen meat

or

 5/8th oz tea.
¾ lb (nominal) preserved meat. 3 ozs jam.
1¼ lbs bread or ¾ lb biscuit.

3 ozs sugar. (2½ ozs when a

sweetened variety of condensed

milk is issued).
4 ozs bacon. ½ oz salt
3 ozs cheese. 1/50th oz mustard.
2 ozs dried vegetables. 1/36th oz pepper.
  1/12th tin condensed milk.

1/320th gallon lime juice, on recommendation of the

Medical Officer.

2 ozs tobacco or cigarettes per week for smokers.

1/64th gallon rum at the discretion of the General

Officer Commanding, on the recommendation

of the Medical Officer, but not to be

issued concurrently with the pea soup or

oxo authorised for men in the trenches.

1 box of matches - twice a week at the front.

Iron Ration.

1 lb biscuit. 1 lb (nominal) preserved meat.
5/8th oz tea. 2 ozs sugar.

EXTRAS.

1/8th oz tea, ¾ oz sugar, daily for men in the trenches, when

considered necessary by Army Commanders.

2 ozs pea soup or 2 oxo cubes or other equivalent available

(a. ¼ oz coca or chocolate, 1/10th tin condensed milk. b. 1/5th

tin cocoa & milk), twice a week for men in the trenches during

winter months, or daily for men in the trenches during severe

weather on demand of Army Commanders.

2 ozs butter - twice weekly at the front.

1 oz pickles - twice weekly at the front (when

available)

or

1/3rd oz. sauce.

 

CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM: NO. 25 - PAGE 2.

Scale of Rations (Cont.)

EQUIVALENTS.

4 ozs rice ... ... ... ... 4 ozs bread or biscuit.

3 ozs dried fruits ... ... 3 ozs jam.

(when available)

2 ozs honey ... ... ... ... 3 ozs jam.

4 ozs bacon ... ... ... ... ¼ tin M.& V. Ration.

1 lb flour ... ... ... ... 1 lb biscuit.

½ lb fresh vegetables, whenever obtainable, in lieu of

2 ozs dried vegetables.

1 tin M.& V. .. ... ... ... 1 meat ration and 1 vegetable ration.

1 tin Pork & Beans.. ... ... 15% of meat ration.

Scale of Forage. 2. 

  Oats Hay
a) Shires or Clydesdales             17 13

b) Horses, draught, of heavy brigades, R.G.

    and other horses , draught, heavy of the army

17

 

13

 
All Officers' chargers, and other horses over 15 hands 1/2 inch 12 10
Cobs, other than officers' chargers 10 10
Mules of 15 hands and upwards employed on heavy draught work 12 10
Small mules 6 10

c) Issues are made on a flat rate of 17 lbs Oats per heavy 

draught horse. It is left to Officers Commanding 

Units to distribute this ration as they think fit.

EQUIVALENTS

1 lb crushed maize    ....    1 lb oats

1 1/8 lb bran                 ....     1 lb oats

Fue

Fuel 3.

Fuel for cooking, warming buildings occupied as billets, washing,

etc, is authorised at the scale of 4 lbs per man daily, and will 

be made up as follows:-

(a) For men not in the trenches   ....... 2 1/2 lbs wood and 1 1/2 lbs coal

(b) For men in the trenches           ....... 2 lbs coke and 1 1/2 lbs charcoal.

The balance of the 4 lbs allowances of fuel under (b)  which is

equivalent to 1 lb wood or 1/2 lb coal may be added to the quantities

drawn under (a) and used in the rear of the trenches.

Coke and charcoal are to be demanded on the above mentioned

scale for men in the trenches only.

Hay 4.

Hay is sent up at the pr??? at the 

 

CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM NO. 25 - Page 3

Hay 4.

Hay is sent up at the present at the rate of 8 lbs per horse, it 

is probable that when an advance is made this will be cut 

down to 6lb per horse.

The ration, however, remains as shown in 2 and the balance 

is made up by local purchase of such commodities as Straw, Beet, etc.

System of Supply 5.

Railway Trains.

One days supplies arrive at Railheads daily, for Formations, 

according to a fixed Divisional Pack Type containing 20,000 mens 

rations, and [[?]], and 5,900 horse rations.

A reserve of approximately 2,000 mens rations per Division

is retained at Railhead to allow for additional troops.

STANDARD DIVISIONAL PACK TRAIN

Type:- Man - 20,000.  Horse - 5,900

Mens Rations

DAILY

Biscuit - 3,000 lbs (except Wednesdays and Saturdays)

Bread ) 15,000 rations.

MEAT ) Frozen Meat - 12,000 lbs.

            ) Preserved Meat  - 4,750 rations.

            ) M & V  - 3,000 rations - MONDAY - THURSDAY - SATURDAY

            ) Pork & Beans - 5,666 tins SUNDAY - TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY... FRIDAY

Jam -   3,750 lbs. See dried fruits below.

Bacon - 5,000 lbs.

Cheese - 3,750 lbs.

Sugar - 3,920 lbs (includes 320 lbs for trench rations).

Tea -  810 lbs (includes 60 lbs for trench rations).

Salt - 400 lbs.

Pepper - 20 lbs.

Mustard - See under twice weekly.

Condensed Milk  - 1,666 tins (1 tin to 12 men).

Potatoes - 7,500 lbs.

Rum - 100 galls.

TWICE WEEKLY.

Mustard - 40 lbs MONDAY - THURSDAY.

Matches - 140 gross - WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY.

THRICE WEEKLY.

Butter - 2,500 lbs MONDAY - WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY.

M.&V. - as shown above.

Pickles - 1,250 lbs SUNDAY - TUESDAY - FRIDAY.

or

WORCESTER or other sauce at scale of 1 oz of sauce = 3 oz Pickles.

 

 

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