Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 14, 1 December 1916 - 10 February 1917, Part 6

Artillery Reorganization

My file

24/12/17

 

Copy

AUSTRALIAN  IMPERIAL  FORCE

A.A.G., A.I.F.

25/49

 

Headquarters,

2nd Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

 

I am directed to forward, for your information 

and for the information of the G.O.C., 3rd Australian 

Division, the attached copy of correspondence relative 

to the re-organisation of the Australian Field Artillery.

 

Sgd. J.L. WHITHAM

Lieutenant-Colonel,

For A.A.G., A.I.F.

COPY      AUSTRALIAN  IMPERIAL  FORCE.
A.A.G., A.I.F. 25/49.

First ANZAC Corps,

24th Dec. 1916.

 

Administrative Headquarters,

Australian Imperial Force,

L O N D O N

 

Artillery  Re-organization.

 

1. I am to confirm my telegram of this morning 

   as follows - "Your 4301/7/4 received AAA Inform War Office 

   that Australia has already been made aware of proposed reorganisation 

   AAA  G.O.C., A.I.F. has accordingly prepared plan meeting 

   wishes Australian Government and conforming to principle of 

   retaining seasoned Units, but retaining also two F.A. Brigades 

   organised by Australia for 3rd Division AAA Letter follows to 

   explain details".

2. Your 4301/7/4 was only received on 23rd 

   instant.  It is assumed that, before this reaches you, you 

   will have informed the War Office in terms of my telegram as 

   above.

3. I am to ask you now to make a further 

   reply to the War Office in the form given in the attached draft.

4. I am also to attach thereto a memorandum 

   for transmission to the G.O.C., A.I.F. Training Depots in 

   ENGLAND, giving details of the proposed method of re-organisation 

   of the artillery of the A.I.F.  This memorandum will not be 

   despatched to the G.O.C., A.I.F. Training Depots until you have 

   received a reply from the War Office concurring in the memorandum mentioned in para.3 above.

(Sgd) J.L. Whitham.

Lieut-Colonel.

for A.A.G. A.I.F.

COPY.

A.A.G., A.I.F. 25/49.

 

DRAFT.      Memorandum to the War Office.

 

1. In reply to your 121/FRANCE/64 (A.G.6) dated 18th 

   December and further to my letter of          , I am 

   directed to forward you the following particulars of the 

   proposed method of reorganisation of the artillery of the 

   Australian Imperial Force which has been prepared by the 

   G.O.C., A.I.F. in conformity with the wishes of the Australian 

   Government.

2. It is proposed generally to adhere as nearly as 

   possible to the principle laid down by the Commander-in-Chief 

   regarding the retention of seasoned Units, but, as 

   certain field artillery brigades were specially organised 

   by the Australian Government for the Third Australian 

   Division, and by reason of the fact that some batteries in 

   FRANCE have only been in existence for a short period, and 

   are therefore not seasoned units, it is proposed to retain 

   two of the field artillery brigades of the Third Australian 

   Division, and to bring them up to the 6-gun establishment 

   by breaking up the third artillery brigade of that Division. 

   The fourth artillery brigade of that Division will be 

   broken up into sections, and used to complete the reorganisation 

   in FRANCE in the manner desired by the Commander-in-Chief.   

   One and a hald field artillery batteries and 

   half a howitzer battery of this fourth brigade of the Third 

   Australian Divisional Artillery will become spare, and the 

   personnel will be transferred to reinforcements in England.

3. The howitzer batteries recently organised and now 

   int training in England for the 1st, 2nd. 4th and 5th 

   Australian Divisions will be broken up and sent as sections 

   to FRANCE to raise existing batteries to a six gun establishment.

4. Upon learning of your concurrence generally in this 

   scheme, the necessary instructions will be issued to the 

   G.O.C. A.I.F. Training Depots in ENGLAND.

Brigadier-General.

Commandant, Administrative H.Q.

A.I.F.

 

COPY.

A.A.G. A.I.F.-

25/09.

AUSTRALIAN  IMPERIAL  FORCE.

First Anzac Corps,

---------- 191 .

G.O.C., A.I.F., Training Depots in ENGLAND,

TIDWORTH,  SALISBURY PLAIN.

                                ----------

Artillery  Re-Organisation.-

 

1. A re-organisation of the artillery in FRANCE is 

   taking place, and it is necessary that the artillery of the A.I.F. 

   should conform.

2. The principle governing the re-organisation is to 

   supply the Army with certain fluid artillery, and in consequence 

   a reduction will be made in the strength of the artillery of 

   Divisions.

   Hereafter, accordingly, the field artillery of a Division 

   will consist of two field artillery brigades, each of three 

   field artillery batteries and one howitzer battery;  each battery 

   will be of six guns.  The army field artillery formed in the 

   A.I.F. will comprise three field artillery brigades, each consisting of three field artillery batteries and one howitzer battery; 

   each battery will be of six guns.

   The "A" echelon of divisional ammunition columns will 

   be re-constituted, and will be formed into two sections.

   
   "A"    "A".   The establishment of these sections is shown in Appendix "A" 

   hereto. Army field artillery brigade ammunition columns on the 

   scale of one column to each Brigade will be formed from personnel 

   surplus to the requirements of divisional ammunition columns, 

   supplemented as may be necessary from reinforcements.  The establishment of an army field artillery brigade ammunition column 

   "B".  is shown in appendix "B" hereto.  For the present no change will 

   take place in the organisation or establishment of sub-parks.

3. The above re-organisation will be carried out within 

   the Third Australian Divisional Artillery in the following manner.   

   The 7th and 8th A. F. A. Brigades will be the field artillery 

   brigades of the 3rd Australian Division. They will be made up 

   to 6-gun batteries by breaking up the 23rd A. F. A. Brigade and 

   distributing it as follows :-

28th Battery -	1 section to 25th Battery.
	1      "          "  26th       "
32nd       "       -	1      "          "  27th       "
	1      "          "  29th       "
36th       "       -	1      "          "  30th       "
	1      "          "  31st       "

One section of the 118th Howitzer Battery will be transferred 

to reinforcements, and one section will be sent to F R A N C E  

for incorporation ij the 112th Howitzer Battery of an army field 

artillery Brigade.

The 9th A.F.A. Brigade will also be broken up. The 33rd 

Battery of this Brigade will become spare, and the personnel will 

be transferred to reinforcements. The 34th Battery will be sent to 

FRANCE by sections for incorporation in the 45th and 46th batteries 

of an army field artillery brigade. The 35th Battery will be 

broken up.  the personnel of one section will be transferred 

to reinforcements, and one complete section will be sent to FRANCE

 

(2)

for incorporation in the 47th Battery if an army field artillery 

brigade.  The 109th Howitzer Battery will be broken up, and one 

section will be added to the xxx 107th Howitzer Battery of the 

7th A.F.A. Brigade;  the other section will be added to the 108th 

Howitzer Battery of the 8th A.F.A. Brigade to complete that

battery to six guns (Diagram attached).
 [*Diagram*]

4. The howitzer batteries now being organised and trained 

   in ENGLAND for the 1st, 2nd and 4th and 5th Australian Divisions 

   will be sent over to FRANCE by sections, to raise existing howitzer 

   batteries to a six-gun establishment.

5. The divisional ammunition column of the 3rd Australian 

   Divisional Artillery will be reorganised on the new establishment 

   and on this subject further information will be sent you when 

   available.
   The army field artillery brigade ammunition columns will 

   be organised in FRANCE, and spare personnel will be drawn as required 

   from ENGLAND.

6. Further detailed instructions regarding the appointment 

   of officers to commands and the disposal of officers in excess 

   of requirements will be issued hereafter.

(Sd) Lieut-Colonel.-

A.A.G. A.I.F.-

 

App^ces  A.B.  same  as

Appendices  2 & 3  to  G. HQ letter

O B 1866 

"C" Form (Duplicate).     Army Form C. 2123.

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.   No. of Message...
Sm    MC    15
Brig
C E Hinton
Service Instructions.
Charges to Pay
₤    s.    d.
Office Stamp.
ARMY
TELEGRAPH
Handed in at  AYD  Office  215 pm.  Recd. 226 pm.

TO                   3rd   Aust   Divn       25/12/16

Sender's Number.    AQ 1623
Day of Month.    25
In reply to Number
AAA

Christmas greetings from  4
Aust Divn

FROM             4  Aust  Divn
PLACE & TIME

JM
 

Xmas  1917
Xmas  1916

MENU
--------  "A"  MESS --------

Hors  d'  Oeuvre
Oeufs  a  la  Malte
SOUP
Giblet  Soup
FISH
Fried  Fillets  of  Plaice
POULTRY
Roast  Ducklings  &  Apple  Sauce
York  Ham
ROAST  JOINT
Roast  Sirloin  of  Beef
VEGETABLES
Roast  and  Boiled   Potatoes
Green  Peas
SWEETS
Plum  Pudding  and  Brandy  Sauce
Stewed  Pears  &  Cream
SAVOURY
Cheese  Tartlets
Cafe,     Fruit,     Champagne.
 

THIRD  AUSTRALIAN  DIVISION.
Divisional  Headquarters,
26th.  December,  1916.

G.  30/10.

GENERAL  STAFF  CIRCULAR  No.  13A.

DIVISIONAL  SCHOOL.

1.   A Divisional School will be established forthwith at STEENWERCK. -
Its objects will be :-
(a).   To train instructors in all branches of training, for 

employment in Brigade Schools, or with the Units.
(b).   To train Warrant and N.C.O's, and qualify them for 

Commissions.
(c).   To set a standard for interior economy, discipline and 

administration in the platoons.
(d).   To provide winter lectures, and courses for Officers.
(e).   To train any special squads or teams in selected subjects.

2.   Teaching in the following subjects will be inaugurated at once,
but others will be added as the School develops.-
A.   Physical Training and Bayonet Fighting.
B.   Bombing and Trench Tactics, with Stokes Mortar wing.
C.   Anti-Gas instruction.
D.   Musketry.
E.   Sniping.
F.   Lewis Gun.
G.   Revolver shooting.
H.   Quick wiring.

3.   The Staff of the School will be as follows:-
Commandant    -    Colonel E.A. KETTLEWELL

Adjutant and )
Q.M.                  )          to be seconded from a unit.

Sergeant Major )      to be appointed from the Reserve Brigade,
Q.M.  Sergeant   )     while in Reserve,- in rotation.

Instructors  -             Divisional Bombing Officer
                                      Divisional Gas Officer.
                                      Divisional Musketry Officer.
                                      Army Gymnastic Staff.
                                      Such others as may be appointed from time 

                                      to time.

4.   The Commandant will be responsible for the administration of the
School, the provision of Instructors,  the preparation and promulgation
to those concerned of the Syllabus of the various subjects,
the supervision of all instruction, and the furnishing of
reports on the proficiency of Officers and other ranks who pass
through the School. - He will also supervise the work of the
Instructors with their Units, with a view to maintaining a high 

standard of efficient instruction.

P.T.O.

 

(* GOC *)

(* [[?]] *)
 

( 2 ).

5.   Vacancies for course in the various subjects will be notified 

by the "G" Staff from time to time. - Candidates should, in
all cases, be carefully selected with a view to their subsequent
employment with their units as instructors in the  subjects in
which they are sent for training.   Officers and other ranks 
who are already considered to be efficient instructors in
certain subjects should not, as a rule, be sent to the Divisional
School unless refresher training is considered desirable for 

them.

6.   The "Q" Staff will arrange for billeting the Headquarters of
the School and the Instructional Staff, for the establishment
of Officer's  and N.C.O's messes in connection with the
School, and for the provision of fatigues, working parties and
orderlies.   All personnel required for this purpose will be
supplied by the Reserve Brigade while in Reserve.   Infantry
Brigades will be called upon to subscribe in equal shares to
a small fund to be administered by the Commandant, for the 
initial equipment of the messes.

7.   The "Q" Staff will provide instructional stores and equipment,
from Ordnance, or by temporary withdrawal from Units, and all
expense stores from the dumps. -   Transport for stores required
by the School will be requisitioned direct by the Commandant on
the Divisional Train, or upon the Unit concerned. - 'Bus transport 

for the movement of the personnel into and out of the 

School will be arranged by the "Q" Staff.

8.   Brigadiers and Battalion Commanders are invited to visit the
School and see the training that is being carried out. - When
established, the Commandant will notify all Units of the various
sites where the different subjects are being taught.

G. G. E. Wally. 
Major. -
General  Staff.

DISTRIBUTION.

C.R.A.                                     3.
C.R.E.                                     4.
Div.  Sig.  Coy.                      2.
9th.  Aus.  Inf.  Bde.            8.
10th.   "        "        "                8.
11th.     "        "        "               8.
3rd.  Aus.  Pioneer  Bn.      2.
D.A.C.                                     1.
A.D.M.S.                                 1.
A.D.V.S.                                  1.
A.P.M.                                     1.
Div.  Train                              1.
"Q".                                          3.
2nd.  ANZAC                         1.
Colonel Kettlewell.              5.
File                                           1.
Spare.                                     10.