Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 14, 1 December 1916 - 10 February 1917, Part 18

Conflict:

First World War, 1914–18

Part of Quest:

Sir John Monash (General, b.1865 - d.1931)

Subject:

Documents and letters

Status:

Awaiting approval

Accession number:

RCDIG0000617

Difficulty:

5/2/17

Army Commander

1. I have now held Conferences at great length with

72 Commanding Officers in this Army during attachment

to Second Army School.

I feel that those attachments are valuable. They

give the C.Os. a short change and enable us to show them the

objects and working of the various schools, the methods of

training and the value of Intelligence and other subjects

which all help to broaden out the limited horizon to which

this form of warfare confines them.

2. Although they are splendidly loyal and prepared

to put up with every kind of difficult I am c firmly of

opinion that there are ways in which their tasks might be

lightened and that if this is done we shall get greater

efficiency and better work.

3. Two outstanding points have been impressed on me : -

(a) The C.Os. do not know their Commanders and Staffs as

friends and would like to do so.
They know little of what is going on.

(b) That they are inundated with writing and reports. I

do not say that this is universal and there are many

exceptions but it is fairly general.

I could quote chapter and verse for every case

but prefer not to.

All that is wanted is to know that there are

certain difficulties a d Commanders and Staffs will all be

only too ready to rectify them as all leading to the goal

we are striving to attain.

4. It is evident that as the Army increases the proportion

of qualified staff officers decreases and we have a

number of young staff officers now who perhaps do not realize

their first duty, viz. to help the troops and the result of

all bad staff work is that the troops themselves directly

suffer.

5. It was for this reason that with your permission

I addressed all the junior staff officers throughout the

Army and strongly emphasised the importance of good staff work

and the evils of bad.

6. They feel that in some cases they are being driven

and driven by wrong methods. They are only too anxious to

be led but in some cases are being badgered and worried by

untrained staff officers with but little experience and which

they naturally resent.

7. Two of their principal troubles of course are : -

(a) The constant call for working parties even when in Reserve.

(b) The constant call for officers for courses of every kind

when they are already very depleted, which in many cases

has been unavoidable.

With the increase in both officers and men both

these difficulties should decrease but there is an evident

feeling in several cases that units would rather be in the

line than out of it.

They feel that their time out is unsatisfactory.

There is much that they want to do in training their officers

and men but they never can get them for the above reasons and

for reasons which they would better understand if explained

to them by visits of staff officers.

8. It is evident that many orders issued by higher

authority never reach them.

Very few have over heard of ammunition being

allotted for Company Officers' shoots. (G.940 of 26th 2

October, 1916, Appendix G.)

In cases where these have been held the C.Os.

speak in the highest terms of the valued gained.

Great difficulty appears to exist in many cases

in obtaining aeroplane photographs.

In one case a C.O. had never even seen one and yet

machinery exists for 3 copies of every photograph taken of 2

any portion of the front being sent to Brigade H.Q.
Orders were issued (this office G.404 dated 14/12/16)

that extra Infantry lent to Tunnelling Companies might be

replaced every 2 months so that they should not lose their

efficiency as fighting soldiers. Hardly any C.O. has heard

of this order.

9. As regards courses, many C.Os. openly admit that

they get little value to their battalion from the officers

that go through. This may improve now they seen their

actual working but it has undoubtedly been the custom in some

cases to send the same officer, who was not very useful in the

trenches, to course after course till he disappears or goes

sick and never to use him for imparting his knowledge.

That system defeats the object of course entirely.

10. More might be done in helping C.Os. by preliminary

orders or warning of what is likely to be required. Orders

are

are frequently received for working parties at very short

notice, which only means that the men go to work often

without food.

11. All speak very highly of the rotation between

the Infantry and the Field Artillery.

The improvement in this respect is most marked

and satisfactory but the same relations do not in any way

exist with the Heavy Artillery and this matter wants taking

up.

It is suggested that the best means will be by

attachment as under : -

Infy. Brigadier to Heavy Arty. H.Q. for 2 or 3 days

C.O. " " Group " "

Selected Majors

or Captains " " Battery " "

and vice versa by attaching Heavy Artillery officers to

Infantry. This might be done under Corps arrangements and

with 11th H.A. Group.
12. Rolations between the Infantry and R.E. apparently

very greatly in Division.

In some cases they are good but in others there is

evidently much room for improvement.

13. Opinions as to the value of the Medium Trench

Mortars also vary greatly. There is no doubt that there

is much room for improvement both in the command and personnel

of Medium T.M. Batteries. Steps are being taken in this

respect and it is hoped that the new 6th T.M. with range over

1,000 yards will receive more support.

14.

14. Many C.Os. ask for assistance in Musketry Instruction

and in the tactical handling of Lewis guns.

15. They were much struck with the Second Army Workshops

but were quite unaware as to what could be obtained therefrom.

16. In Administration matters in discussion with

D.A. & Q.M.G. they were unaware of many things to which they

are entitled and could get it. In battalions with good quarter-masters

no doubt this does not occur.

17. I wish to emphatically state that those points are

not put forward in any spirit of criticism. They are merely

discussions on front line conditions with a view to seeing if

there are any points on which we can concentrate our efforts

to help these on whom our future success must rest.

17. I wish to emphatically state that those points are

not put forward in any spirit of criticism. They are merely

discussions on front line conditions with a view to seeing if

there are any points on which we can concentrate our efforts

to help these on whom our future success must rest.

The chief means by which, I think, matters could be

improved are ; -

(a) A closer sympathetic touch between Staffs and C.Os. as

friends out to help and not always to find fault.

(b) By saving much writing by personal visits to obtain

information that may be required. This applies equally

to the Administrative Staffs.

The chief means by which, I think, matters could be

improved are ; -

(a) A closer sympathetic touch between Staffs and C.Os. as

friends out to help and not always to find fault.

(b) By saving much writing by personal visits to obtain

information that may be required. This applies equally

to the Administrative Staffs.

command 1,000 men, the reasons for things.

(d) By conferences of Staff and Departments in all formations

from time to time to see that all parts of the machinery

are working properly.

CM Harrington

M.G.G.S.

5/2/17.

7/2/17

Date .................

PRO FORMA.

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.

................... BRIGADE .................... BATTALION.

RETURNS SHOWING DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONEL ON (Date) at (Time)

A. GENERAL STATEMENT: - O.R

1. Establishment of Battalion - including attached, )................. 973.

(as per War Estab: only). )

2. Strength - including Sick, On Command, Schools, Detached.... _______

3. Wanting to complete, or over strength.....................

B. ANALYSIS OF ITEM 2. -

4. Strength = as per item 2............................................................

5. Actually present with the Battalion at date and )................ ________

time mentioned )

6. Not available to the Battalion. for )

all reasons. ) ........... __________

C. ANALYSIS OF ITEM 6.

7. Sick, but remaining on strength . . ................................

8. Detached for duties at Brigade Headquarters ..................

9. Detached for duties at Divisional Headquarters .................

10. Absent on Railway Works ....................................................................

11. Absent on Mining and Tunnelling Works..................................

12. Detached for Corps Duties .................................................................

13. Absent on duty under Forest Control .........................................

14. Detached for Duty with Machine Gun Company ...............

15. Detached for Duty with Trench Mortar Batteries .................

16. Detached for Duty with Divisional Signal Company ..........
17. Detached for duty with Divisional Train ......................................

18. Detached for Duty with Divisional School .................................

19. Detached for Duty under A.P.H., for Police Duties)..............

and Traffic Control. ) .............

20. Detached for Duty as Guards ............................................................

21. Detached for Duty with Second Army Purchase Board ...

22. Detached for Duty with Divisional Canteens ............................

23. Detached for Duty with Brigade Canteens .................................
24. Attending School ..........................................................................................
25. .......................................................................................................................................

26 .......................... TOTAL INEFFECTIVES (To agree with Line 6.) ...... __________

Sheet 2.
D. DETAILS OF ITEM 8. (Showing duties performed):

DETAILS OF ITEM 9. (Showing duties performed):

DETAILS OF ITEM 12. (Showing duties performed):

DETAILS OF ITEM 17. (Showing duty on which employed):

DETAILS OF ITEM 20. (Showing Strength and Post):

DETAILS OF ITEM 24. (Showing school attended);

................................................ (Signature).

Adjutant ..................................Battalion.

7/2/17

O.B. /1919

Second Army

After considering the numerous recommendations

received regarding the organization of the Infantry

Battalion, the Commander-in-Chief has decided generally

to adhere to the organizations it stands, and directs

that no fundamental change is to be made in the authorised

organization of Infantry Battalion. But in order to

ensure the necessary degree of uniformity of training and

tactical method throughout the Army, it is necessary that

there should be similarity of organization in all Battalions.

The following instructions are therefore issued.

Battalion. 2. The Battalion will continue to consist of : -

(a) Battalion Headquarters;

(b) 4 Companies, consisting of 4 Platoons of 4

Sections each.

Battalion Headquarters. 3. In Addition to the personnel shown in War
Establishments

as forming part of the Battalion Headquarters,

certain other personnel will be attached. This personnel,

which is principally employed on administrative duties,

will be temporarily detached from Companies whilst so

employed, but will remain on the establishment of the

Companies for accounting purposes. A Headquarters Company

as such will not be formed

The detail of the personnel included in the

Battalion Headquarters is given in Appendix I. The total

should not exceed 150 other ranks.

The personnel composing the Battalion Headquarters

can conveniently be divided into two categories, namely

the fighting portion and the administration portion. The

former will be grouped into sections each under a

commander. The strength of the latter will not exceed

80 other ranks.

4. Each /

4. Each Company will consist of : - Companies

(a) Company Headquarters:

(b) 4 Platoons.

Company Headquarters, the strength of which should

not exceed 14 Other Ranks, will be composed entirely of

fighting troops, and will be formed as a section under

commander.

5. The Platoon, the minimum strength of which should Platoons

not be allowed to fall below 28 Other Ranks, and the

maximum strength of which will normally not exceed

44 Other Ranks, will consist of : -

(a) Platoon Headquarters:

(b) 4 Sections, permanently organized, each with

its own leader and an understudy.

Platoon Headquarters, the strength of which should

not exceed 4 Other Ranks, will be composed entirely of

fighting troops

The composition of the Sections will normally be : -

(a) 1 Section Lewis Guns; (Lewis Gunners, except Nos 1

(to carry a rifle and bayonet

(and to be proficient in

(their use

(b) 1 Section Bombers ;

Rifle Grenadiers.

6. The organization outlined above is designed to

create a fighting machine composed solely of fighting

ranks and distinct from the necessary administrative

establishment.

7. The /

7. The essence of this organization is :-

(a) That the Platoon should constitute a unit

for fighting and training, and should

consist of a homogenous combination of

all the weapons with which the Infantry

is now armed.

(b) That specialists should all be with their

Platoons and Companies except such as

may be required at Battalion and Company

Headquarters either for purposes

of fighting or for instructional duties;

(c) That every portion of Battalion, including
the fighting portion of Battalion Headquarters
and Company Headquarters, should
consist of a certain number of permanently
forward units, namely Sections, each
under its own commander;

(d) That the rifle and bayonet is first, and the

hand grenade the second, weapon of every

soldier, and that all men in Rifle Sections

must be trained either in the Lewis Gun or

the Rifle Grenade, so as to be ready to

replace casualties amongst the personnel

employed with those weapons ;

(e) That every man is available for working and

carrying parties irrespective of the weapon

with which he is armed :

(f) That one Lewis Gun with its detachment is allotted

to each Platoon. Although this will be the

normal organization it may often be advisable,

in dealing with particular tactical situations,

to allot a second Lewis Gun to a Platoon,

or to withdraw temporarily one, two, or

more of these guns from Platoons for special

tactical employment under the orders of Company

or Battalion Commanders. It is to be

clearly understood that the normal organization

herein laid down is not intended to

interfere with any such temporary special

grouping or employment as circumstances may

render desirable.

Para. 5, page 17 of "Instructions for the Training

of Divisions for Offensive Action" will be

amended accordingly

8. In order to meet the varying conditions under which

Battalions serve, to allow of more flexibility as regards

the number of men detached for extra regimental employ, and

to meet the case of heavy casualties, a maximum and

/ minimum

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