Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 14, 1 December 1916 - 10 February 1917, Part 8

The classification of men at Etaples

as trained or untrained is largely

artificial, and in the case of

this Division I would wish to

waive it altogether.

The final training of reinforcements

will be carried out in the Divisional

Schools.

I am assured by the Authorities

at Etaples that they will raise

no difficulties to this proposal -

They only wish to protect themselves

from any assertion that inadequately

trained men are sent to take

their places in the line. If I take

the responsibility, they are quite

agreeable to the course suggested

and I am very much in favour of 

it.

The O.C. 3rd Australian Infy Base Depot can

be trusted to send forward the

right men, and Keep for courses

only those who are manifestl[y]

in need of the training.

 

 

Col Jackson's notes on the case. -

3-1-17.

CORPORAL WYKE, M.F.B. had prisoner handed over

to him; therefore responsible until he handed him on.

Should be able to state to whom he passed on prisoner.

LIEUT. CRAZE - neglect of duty in not making

special provision for 3 prisoners left when guard and 

remainder of prisoners were moved.

SERGEANT MASON - neglect of duty because he saw

L/CORPORAL RICHMOND in his room and prisoners at large in

yard, from which they could easily escape.  At the time he

knew that RICHMOND was the man who should be in charge.

RICHMOND appears to have a clear case of guilt

against him.

General want of system and lack of knowledge of

their duties displayed by the Police.

Lt Craze will be returned to his unit; - by the direct order of A.P.M. Corps

Richmond is under arrest.

A.P.M. about to take the investigation. - Intervention before dealt with 

Divisionally hamful subsequent Divisional action.

Board of Enquiry.

Col Tatham : - 3/1/17

Col Trevor inspection not satisfactory 

- men not ready -

 

COPY.    4-1-17

Provost Marshal,

Second Army.-

On the evening of 27th. December last, a man

was captured by 11th. Brigade, 3rd. Australian Division in a

gap in their front line. The man was wearing the badges of

South African Infantry, and gave the name ROLFS, and said he

belonged to list. S.A.I. He was sent to A.P.M., 3rd. Australian

Division with the attached note.

Lieut. CRAZE, assists A.P.M., 3rd. Australian

Division in Provost work at ARMENTIERES. Lieut. CRAZE handed

the prisoner over that night to Military Foot Police at ARMENTIERES,

who are under the orders of the A.P.M., 3rd Australian

Division.

The A.P.M., 3rd Australian Division, reported

the matter verbally to me, and informed me that he was communicating

with A.P.M., 9th. Division, to which the South African Bde.

is attached.

Last night it was verbally reported to me that

the prisoner had escaped. This morning I proceeded to ARMENTIERES

to enquire into the circumstance.

I attach copies of the statements made to me by

Lieut. CRAZE, Sergt. MASON and L/Cpl. RICHMOND.

The last named was placed under arrest by A.P.M.,

3rd Australian Division.

I await orders as to further action to be taken

in the case of Sergt. MASON and L/Cpl. RICHMOND.

3-1-17        (Sgd). F.T. Tathan, Lt-Col.

A.P.M. 2nd. A. & N. Z. Army Corps.

 

COPY        4-1-17

Lieut. CRAZE, W.J., 58th. Battalion, A.I.F.

I am assisting A.P.M. 3rd. Australian Division.

He has his office at Divisional Headquarters, STEENWERCK.

I stay at ARMENTIERES.  ROLFS was handed over to me on the

night of 27th. December with note on pink paper signed J.A.

MILNE from 11th. Bde. in ARMENTIERES.   I placed him that 

night in M.F.P. billet at about 8.30 p.m.  He had an

identity disc on his neck showing 409, Pte A. ROLFS, 1st.

S.A.I.   He said he belonged to "A" Coy. of 1st. Reserve

Battalion, S.A.I. attached Seaforth Highlanders, 9th. Division.

at ARRAS.   He said he was returning from England on leave.

He gave me details of his movements.  He said he found himself

at STEENWERCK on morning of 27th. December, and walked about

making enquiries, and went into front line expecting to find

South Africans there.   He was found in a gap between 3rd.

Australian Division right and 34th. Division left. 
I handed

him over to Corpl. WYE at M.F.P. billet and notified A.P.M. 3rd.

Australian Division, who came down on 28th. and saw the man, and

ordered me to keep the man in custody and write to A.P.M., 9th.

Division, enquiring about the man, which I did. No reply has

come.   I did not telegraph.   I saw ROLFS every day until 31st.

December, the day before he escaped.   There used to be a guard

of 1 N.C.O. and 5 men of 36th. Battalion, A.I.F., in addition to

M.F.P., at the billet.   That guard was removed on morning of

31st. December to F. P. Compound, leaving no guard except the

M.F.P. at the billet.   I ordered that all the prisoners, except

ROLFS, MATTHEWS and WEBSTER were to be sent to F. P. Compound

with the guard.  I gave no special orders about the guarding of

the three prisoners who were left at M.F.P. billet, but took it

for granted that the M.F.P. would guard them. There were no

written orders and none were issued.   No new guard was asked

for to take the place of the guard that was removed.   I thought

the M.F.P. were sufficient guard.   I wrote full description of

ROLFS to A.P.M. 9th DIV.

 

COPY        4-1-17.

No. 1189, Sergt. MASON, W. M.F.P.

A prisoner named ROLFS was handed to this billet while

I was away on leave, and I found him here on 28th. December.

Record shows his number was 409, his rank Corpl. and his unit

1st. S.A.I. (A. Coy) - (Reserve Battalion).   He had identity disc.

He was here at 3 p.m. yesterday in the detention yard at M.F.P.

billet.   At 4.30 p.m. I returned from my visiting patrol, and found

the soldier was missing.  He was confined in the yard when I left

at about 3 p.m. having exercise.  There was no sentry over him.

The door leading into the street was not locked, but closed.

It could be opened from the inside and there was no sentry.   There

was nothing to prevent the prisoner walking out.  The prisoner was

under the charge of L/Cpl. RICHMOND ( No. P.2306 ) who was detailed

by me for the week to act as Cells custodian.
My duty roster shows

duties as follows :-

L/Cpl. CHEESEMORE - Cells.

L/Cpl. RICHMOND - Gasman and cells.

Corpl. CHEESEMORE was at the F.P. Compound (elsewhere)

for the day.   Corpl. RICHMOND was in charge of Cells at M.F.P.

billet where ROLFS was.   The reason I did not have a sentry in

charge of the prisoner while exercising in the yard, was that I

expected Cpl. RICHMOND to be with the prisoner.   There were two

other prisoners ( Cpl. WEBSTER, R.E. and Pte. MATTHEWS, R.E.

awaiting trial and sentence).   All three of these prisoners were in

the yard when I went out at 3 p.m.   Cpl. RICHMOND was in his room

when I left, and there was no one with the three prisoners in the 

yard.   At 4.30 p.m. I made the discovery that ROLFS had gone.   It

was not reported to me.   I went to warn prisoner MATTHEWS he was

wanted in the office.   He was in the cellar with two policemen

(L/Cpl. PARTRIDGE and L/Cpl. COOK).   I asked them where the third

prisoner was, and they replied they did not know.   When I returned

at 4.30 this occurred.   When I returned at 4.30 L/Cpl. RICHMOND was

having his tea in his room.   I at once asked him where the prisoner

ROLFS was, and he set off to look for him.
There used to be a guard

here supplied by 36th. Bn. A.I.F. of 5 men and 1 N.C.O.   This guard

was removed on 31-12-16.   There was no guard here since, and there

is none now.

 

 

COPY.      4-1-17.

Cpl. RICHMOND (P. 2306).

Yesterday (1st. January) I was on the duty roster

as gasman and cells.   I did not understand that I was responsible

for the custody of the three prisoners who were here.   I was

only responsible while the prisoners were in the cells.   The 3

prisoners were at exercise in the afternoon.  I saw them in the

yard.   I do not know who ordered them into the yard for exercise.

I saw them there at intervals during the day between 9 a.m. and

3.30 p.m.   There was no guard over them.  The door leading into

the street was not locked.   I did not draw attention to the fact

that there was no guard over them.  It was not my duty to do so.

The guard we used to have here was removed two or three days before,

and there was no guard available here.  There was nothing

to prevent a prisoner walking out into the street through the

unlocked door.   At about 4.30 p.m. Sergt. MASON told me one of the

prisoners had gone.   We searched the building without finding him.

The prisoner who was missing was named ROLFS of the S.A.I.   Search

was made elsewhere in ARMENTIERES.   I searched at Pont Nieppe

neighbourhood.

 

 

"A" Form.                                      Army Form C. 2121.

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.  No. of Message...........

Prefix.......Code..........m.  

Office of Origin and Service Instructions.
Words     Charge
Sent                                 

At....................m.
To.....................
By..................... 
This message is on a/c of:
..................................Service
(Signature of "Franking Officer.")
Recd. at...........................m.
Date.........................
From......................... 

By.................................
 

TO           G.O. 2.            COPY.     4-1-17.

Sender's Number    *       
Day of Month    27-12-16.     
In reply to Number         
 AAA

                                               

Herewith prisoner caught in Gap

by patrol between H.G. 2 and

H.G. 6  aaa  He has no

satisfactory explanation  aaa  He was

mooning around our M.G. and

T.M.  emplacements.

From                 H.G. 2

Place

The above may be forwarded as now corrected.

(Z)                  J.A. Milne.

Signature of Addressor or person authorised to telegraph in his name.

 

I N S P E C T I O N.

The 7th. & 8th. F.A. Brigades as newly organised, will less

Water Carts, Cokks' Carts, and Train Transport, will file in Column

of Route, past the Army & Corps Commanders, on Monday next, January 8th,

head of Column passing Saluting Point at 10 a.m.

SALUTING POINT.

Reference Map. Sheet 27 (1/40,000) -

X.25.c.9.0. about 300 yards S. of NORD-HELF.

ROUTE.

From STRAZEELE along road running E. N.E. through

squares W.29.a.& b.  W.24.c. & d.

At point X.19.c.25.95. route turns S. to Saluting

point.

Head of Column will turn West at X Roads S. of

Saluting point and return to billets.

STARTING POINT.

Head of 7th. F.A. Brigade will pass the starting point

STRAZEELE X Roads W.29.a.6.6. at 9.25 a.m.

DRESS.

Marching Order with hats.   Great-coats to be worn -

no caps, mufflers, or comforters.

WATCHES.

Watches will be synchronised by reference to

Divisional Headquarters at 7 a.m. 8th. instant.

W D Nicholls

Major R.A.

B.M. 3rd. Aust. Div. Arty.

Headquarters,
4.1.1917.

 

Not Transferable.

Instructions on back.          6003

PASS

Period during which available.

From          Jan 6th    }

To                Feb 28th. }  1917

The person named below is permitted to pass

within the area occupied by the British Army

with or without a motor cycle or car during the

period stated hereon.

This Pass is not to be accepted if the name

originally entered on it is erased and another

name substituted.

 

Name    Major Gen. Monash

Unit        G.O.C.  3^rd Australian Division

Signature and       HenryCDering. Major,

Stamp of                 Assistant Provost Marshal,

Issuing Officer.       3rd Australian Divn:

 

ASSISTANT PROVOST MARSHAL

PASS

No 3

Date 6.1.17

No. 25

LAISSER-PASSER

Valable du         6 Janvrei  }

               au         28 Fevrier } 1917

La personne nommée ci-dessous est autorisée

ā circular dans la zone occupée par l'Armée

Britannique avec ou sans motocyclette ou voiture

automobile pendant la période spécifiée ci-dessus.

Cette carte cesse d'ětre valable au cas oŭ le

nom du porteur serait effacé et remplacé par un

autre nom.

 

INSTRUCTIONS

This Pass to be shown when demanded.

It is not transferable and must be signed by the

bearer.

No Pass is valid unless stamped with a special

Pass Stamp of an A.P.M. and the Rank, and

appointment of the issuing Officer is added after

his signature.

If issued for a short period only, the word

"temporary" must be written on the face of

the Pass.

The Loss of a Pass or the finding of a Pass is

to be reported at once to the A.P.M. of the

nearest formation.

Signature of Bearer  John Monash.

INSTRUCTIONS

Ce laisser-passer devra étre présenté ă toute

réquisition.
Il strictment personnel et doit porter la
signature du titulaire.

Aucun laisser-passer n'est valable á moins de

porter la griffe spéciale de l' "Assistant Provost

Marshal" ainsi que la signature de l'Officier qui

le dé ivre, suivie des grade, corps ou emploi de

ce dernier.

Au cas oú le présent laisser-passer ne serait

délivré que pour peu de temps. le mot "temporary"

devrait y étre écrit au recto.

En cas de perte d'un laisser-passer, ou si un

laisser-passer venait á ére trouvé, le fait devrait

étre signalé immédiatement á l'"Assistant Provost

Marshal" le plus proche.