Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 14, 1 December 1916 - 10 February 1917, Part 19

4.
minimum strength has been laid down for the Platoon.
During active operations, should casualties be such
as to reduce the strength of Platoons below the minimum
figure given, the necessary numbers will be obtained by
the temporary amalgamation of Companies in the Battalion,
or Platoons or Sections in the Company, as best meets the
exigencies of the case.
Under normal circumstances, during periods of
trench warfare, Platoons must not be allowed to fall below
the minimum strength laid down, but must be kept at that
strength by the recall of men from extra regimental employ,
when necessary. Every effort must be made to increase the
strength of Platoons by reducing the number of employed
men.
The Commander-in-Chief wishes Army Commanders to
give their special attention to this matter. The number
of non employed extra regimentally is at present very
great, and involves a loss in fighting power of approximately
3,500 men per Division throughout the Army.
By a careful application of the regulations under which
reinforcements may be demanded to replace non-effectives,
by pooling, and by rigorous combing-out, it should be
possible to reduce this number so that it does not exceed
an average of 150 men per Battalion.

Sd/ L.E.KIGGELL,
Lieutenant-General,
G. G. S.
General Headquarters,
7th February, 1917.
 

APPENDIX I.
Battalion Headquarters.
Other Ranks.

APPENDIX II.
Other ranks
Establishment of a Battalion including attached ...  971.

The above figures include those who must be left behind
when the Battalion takes part in an attack, see
C.B./1635 (S.S.135), page 58.

COPY.
"Q" 104/173.

CONFIDENTIAL
222/12
Headquarters
2nd Anzac Corps.
Will you please forward to this Office, as early as
possible, Confidential Reports on the undernamed Officers.
Should the report be of an adverse nature, it will
be communicated to, and initialled by, the Officer concerned.
A copy of the form to be adopted when forwarding the
reports is attached.
G.S.0.
Lieut-Colonel G.H.N. JACKSON, D.S.O./Ist Grade,3rd Aust.
Division.
Major. C.G.E. WYLLY, V.C. 2nd Grade,                            ditto.
(Sgd) J. KNOWLES, Major.-
A.M.S. Second Army.
6-8-1917.
Headquarters             No. 3708/2  A.
3rd Aust. Division.
For information and necessary action.
Report to be rendered in duplicate as early as possible.
(Sgd) H. H. PRIDEAUX,
Captain.,
D.A.A. & Q.M.G., 2nd Anzac Corps.
7-2-17.
Headquarters,
2nd A. & N. Z. ARMY CORPS.
Report in duplicate herewith.
(Sgd) JOHN MONASH, Major-General,
Commanding, 3rd. Australian Division.
8-2-1917.