Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 14, 10 February - 30 March 1917, Part 14
Divisional Headquarters:
March 22nd, 1917.-
STATEMENT SHOWING O.R. EMPLOYED ON DUTY OUTSIDE
THE DIVISIONAL AREA.
| INFANTRY. | As per Letter to Corps 23-2-1917 less 10th Brigade. |
As at
|
| At Railway Works. . . . . . | 200. | 192. |
| Tunnelling Company. . . . . . | 214. | 192. |
| Corps Duties. . . . . . . . . | 23. | 23. |
| Forest Control. . . . . . . . . | 36. | 36. |
| 2nd Army Purchase Board. . . . | 14. | 14. |
| At Schools (Not as Students). | 6. | 6. |
| Field Supply Depot. (Caestre). | 9. | 9. |
| 502. | 472. | |
| PIONEERS. | ||
| At Corps Dip. | 32. | |
| At Railway Party. | 102. | |
| 134. |
23/3/17
Corps Conference
Defensive Arrangements
Memo of March 11 gave details of fronts.
X No question of fighting a retiring action.
X Taking of part of our line by enemy - we can pocket him.
X Immediate Counterattacks upon local successes.
Hill 63 is as important because it is the pivot on which the
holding of Kemmel Hill depends.
We to develop Armentieres defences - especially as regards Machine Guns. XX
Corps Keeps a call on our Reserve Brigade (74th) & they are not to be employed for
Counterattack without Corps sanction.
_______________________________________________
XX 25th Div. 74th Bde to prepare with me schemes for Counterattack, in case
enemy gets a footing east of Armentieres.
_______________________________________________
XX Spread it about that all our work is offensive, with a view to drive
enemy out of the country this spring. - √
_______________________________________________
XX Have Knife rests ready to close all roads.
_______________________________________________
Offensive
Bombardment 4 days, - attack at dawn - due to difficulties
of assembly.
1st day. - X Corps.
IX "
2nd Anzac
Red = 1st bomb on first day
Blue = end of 1st day.
_______________________________________________
Corps Cm Appreciation front of 3 Divs. with 1 Div. in reserve
Rt & centre Division must reach near their final objective (black)
in one day.XXX Write in specially for labour from Railways & Mining.
We shall have 17 Bts of 18 prs & 5 Bts of Hows.
23/3/17
XXX Fix soon Bde fighting H.Q.
X Consider merging of Div. School & Reinforcement Camps
26/3/17.
UNITS OF 74th. INFANTRY BRIGADE.
| Unit. | Name of C.O. | Billeted at. | Working under. | Nature of Work. |
| 11th. Lancs. Fuliers. | Col. MARTIN. | ARMENTIERES. | G.O.C. 11th A.I. Bde | 1 Co. Cable burying, 3 Coys. repairs to subsidiary line. |
| 9th. Loyal N. Lancs. | Col. CARIGIE-HALKETT. \ | Armentieres |
C.R.E. | Armentieres Defences. |
| 13th. Cheshire Rgt. | Col. FINCH | NIEPPE. - | C.R.A. ( |
Camouflaging of gun positions. Building Battery Control posts. Constructing cover for ammunition. Construction of Trench Tramways for supply of Ammunition & Supplies, if material is made available. Construction of Roads and approaches. Cover for Personnel. |
| 2nd. Royal Irish Rifles. |
Col. GOODMAN. | Oostove Farm (B11d) Central) |
C.R.E. ( |
Seaforth, St. Ives area. |
| " | ||||
| 74th. M.G. Coy. | Capt. MARRIOTT Mj Gen Beltrill (G.I.3.) |
" | " |
J.M.
23/3/17
[*25/3/17*]
27/3/17
Magnum Opus.
| Formation for Attack. |
Two Brigades in line; each two Battalions in two lines; each Battalion with 4 Companies in line; each Company in two platoon waves i.e. Frontage, 16 Companies; depth, 8 lines = 4 waves. (not counting moppers-up & &c) |
| Dispositions. |
9th Bgde on right; 10th Brigade on left; 11th Bgde in Reserve |
| Objectives. |
First bound = Enemy front and support lines = 2 objectives Second bound = Enemy reserve line, and strong points on line of road = 2 objectives. |
| Right defensive flank. |
Propose to make a front to South, on line of road running from Westminster Avenue to Flattened Farm - ultimately refusing same to left along enemy switch trench. |
| Assembly. |
Each Brigade & Battalion on its own frontage. Surveys being made. Trenches to be renovated and made anew - to permit of definite allotment in frontage and depth, down to platoons. |
| Headquarters. |
Original:- Division at Catacombs Brigades Battalions - first bound in Support line second do. in our front line Subsequent:- Division at Catacombs Brigades in our old front line Battalions - first bound, remains in our support line second bound, to be established in enemy support line. |
| Approach March. |
Improvements to Commnication Trenches through Wood to & by Ontario & only way - different routes for the different Bns. |
| Reserve Brigade |
At Catacombs. - Importance of full Brigade - Counterattack Relief Cover junction with N.Z Working parties Can administer two Bns if lent me. |
| Communications forward. - | Russian saps; - additional trenches |
| Signalling Arrangements. | Present & Advanced Terminals. - Alternative Stations. |
| Artillery. - |
Dispositions. - Works. - Ammunition Supply. - O.P's. - Mortars. - |
| Wire cutting. - | Front System. Rear Systems. Hedges. |
| Engineers. - |
One Fd Company to each front Brigade - One Co in Reserve at Catacombs} |
| Pioneers. - |
One Co to each front Brigade - two Cos in Reserve at Catacombs }under C.R.E. |
| Mines | to be blown if possible. |
| Liaison | with Division on our left. |
| Signboards - | large - painted - facing rear - in hand. |
| Reconnaisances. |
O.P. at Chateau Ruins - Alidade Chart - Camoflage |
| Advance Depots:- |
Bombs, Tools, S.A.A., Sandbags, Water, Lights, Wire, Rations. |
| Carrying parties. - |
Drawn from front line Brigades - not reserve Brigade. - |
| Administrative. - |
Pack transport. Tramways. - Medical - Concentration Camps |
| M.G.Cos & L.T.M.Bts | Rôles not yet settled |
Dering leave
Jobson leave
Cannan do.
Army Comdr visits Th
Postpone visit to 10th Bgde
Present frontages N 5150
S 6150
11300
* HEADQUARTERS *
28 MAR. 1917
No G25/216
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
THE ROLE OF THE INFANTRY IN CONSOLIDATING A
CAPTURED POSITION
AND
HOW TO DEAL WITH CRATERS.
The accompanying diagrams show the Role of the
Infantry in consolidation. The technical troops'
duties lie for the most part behind - constructing or
improving communications, erecting supporting points,
on roads etc.
With reference to the diagram showing the first
stage it will be noticed that the flanks of each
little post are refused to allow of protection to
each post by its neighbours.
It will also be noticed that the old German
trenches have not been used. However tempting these
may be, experience has taught us that old
German trenches, accurately marked on their maps, are
things to be carefully avoided.
In course of time, after the third stage, the
"outposts" will be provided with covered ways back to
the 'new line' and still later may be joined up to
provide an 'advanced new line'.
_______________
GOC's copy
Distribution of Advanced Troops on Capture of Position
To begin with Avoid holding old German Trench Go Forward 50x to 100x
Reference
① Scouts in
Craters
② Groups for
Small Posts
to be made
in Craters
Diagram. See original document
Small circles
Represent Shell craters
1st Stage
Small Posts Completed.
Diagram. See original document
Outpost Line
Scouts and Lewis Guns
about 100x in front of
line of Small Post
Line of Small Posts for
Groups of 4 to 8m n
50 to 100 in front of old
German Support line
Original Craters
Diagram. See original document
2nd Stage
Small posts formed into continuous line.
Diagram. See original document
Outpost Line
Scouts and Lewis
Guns
about 100x in front of
line of Small posts.
Small Posts
connected to form
continuous line
Diagram. See original document
3rd Stage
Communication Trenches completed back to old
German Support Line
Diagram. See original document
Outpost line
Scouts and Lewis
Guns
New line connected
to old support line
By communication
trenches
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