Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 14, 10 February - 30 March 1917, Part 15

3^rd Stage Rifle Pits connected to make Firebay for 6 to 8 men

Diagram - see original

4th Stage (Communication Trench and Slits made)

Diagram - see original document

5^th Stage (Emplacement for Lewis Gun made)

Diagram - see original document

MAGNUM OPUS SECRET

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION

Divisional Headquarters,

29/3/17.

G.O.C

"G" Staff.

C.R.E.

3rd Canadian Tunnelling Co.

3rd Aust. Div. Signal Co.

PREPARATIONS FOR OFFENSIVE - CONSTRUCTION OF HEADQUARTERS.
1. This memo is not intended to convey absolutely final decisions,

but to lay down the principles upon which the Headquarters are

to be selected and prepared.

2. DATA. The attack will be made by 8 Battalions, in two lines, i.e.

4 Battalions in the first line, for the first "bound"; 4 Battalions

in the second line, for the second "bound". – These Battalions

are to be numbered as follows, from right to left, viz: –

First line A, B, C, D. Second line E, F, G, H.

During the assembly, the first line Battalions will form up in

front of, i.e. to the north-east of the second line Battalions;

but at the conclusion of the operation, the second line Battalions

will finish in front of, i.e. to the north-east of the first line

Battalions. –

Thus the actual relative positions of the Battalions will be

as follows , (taking the top of this sheet of paper as the NORTH-EAST viz:–

During assembly D C B A } Figure 1
                                  H G F E }             
                  ————————————-
After advance        H G F E } Figure 2
                                  D C B A }
3. Each of these 8  Battalions will require a convenient and

reasonably safe headquarters, within our own lines, and as close

as possible to our present front line, from which to superintend

the assembly, and from which to control the advance. – It may be

assumed that the whole 8 stations will require to be occupied

for at least four days. –

4. It is proposed that the relative positions of the eight

headquarters shall be per figure 2, in para. 2 above, and not

as per figure 1, that is to say, the Headquarters will be arranged

to correspond with the relative positions of the eight Battalions

after the advance, and not of those during assembly. – The objects

of  this arrangement are: –

(a) So that the Headquarters of A, B, C, and D Battalions

will not have to move forward, after the advance.

(b) So that the Headquarters of E, F, G, and H Battalions

may, on vacation – when the personnel moves forward

to new positions within the captured territory – be

available for other purposes – inter alia for

advanced Brigade report centre. –

5. Each Headquarters should be behind the area in which its

Battalion is to operate, and as centrally placed as possible, – so as to reduce to a minimum the distance to be traversed by runners &c. –

SECRET

29/3/17.

– 2 –

6. Our country N.E. of ST YVES Post Office near our front line is

much demolished, and there would be great difficulty in carrying

out underground construction therein.

7. There exist in our front line, two stations, respectively at

14. b. 9½. 4. and at 8.d.2½.1½. which are the adits to mining

operations . These two stations will also be the terminals of

buried cables. – It is very probable that the former will be

untenable until at least 24 hours after zero hour, on account

of gas fumes, but the latter will be tenable throughout. – Both

stations will therefore be available as advanced Brigade Report

Centres, – after the advance is completed; – but only the latter,

or northern, station will be available as a Battalion Headquarters.

8. As regards the front line (i.e. north-eastern line) of Battalion

Headquarters, it is uncertain how soon they may be moved forward

into captured enemy territory; whether immediately after, or some

2 or 3 days after the advance depends on whether suitable

undamaged dugouts can be speedily found and prepared in the

captured ground. – 

But as regards the rear line of Battalion Headquarters, it may

be assumed that these will be vacated very soon after the advance,

(if same is completely successful and the consolidation of our

new line proceeds satisfactorily), by the withdrawal of the

A, B, C, and D Battalions to positions in rear where these

Battalions will reorganize and provide working parties to help

the garrison of our new front lines. –

9. The above considerations  point to the following approximate

positions as the most suitable for the eight Battalion Headquarters,

and the two Advanced Brigade Headquarters Report Centres: – (The

reference letters correspond to the numbering of the Battalions

as per para. 2 above) : –

E 15.c.9 1/2. 5. ST IVES Post Office
F  15.a.6 1/2.1 1/2. TORONTO AVE
G 8.d.2 1/2, 1 1/2 Adit to mine Cable Head - advance for
right Brigade Report Centre after advance.
H Near point where the LA - HUTTE - MESSINESS
Road crosses our front line.
A 15.c.6.6 1/2
B. PROWSE POINT
C 14-b. 1 1/2. 9 1/2

D. 8.c.3 1/2.4
14.b.9 1/2.4 Cable Head for Right Brigade Report 
centre after advance
10. Of the above locations A, B, E, F, and G are at points where

undergound accommodation already exists, which will require to

be adapted for occupation by Battalion Headquarters and Signal

Staff; but at the remaining 3 points entirely new shell-proof

accommodation will have to be constructed.

11. "G" Staff, in conjunction with C.R.E., will now submit final

proposals in the light of above considerations. - After approval

by me, all at present concerned (i.e. C.R.E., Div. Signal Co., and

Tunnelling Co.) will be notified. –

John Monash

Major-General,

Commanding Third Australian Division.

[*An example of an "Official" letter*]

March 30/17

G.O.C.

Re

Are we

Would you say carry on

as usual with our

Comfort Supplies, you

told me to carry on to Mch 31^st

we leave over 1000 cases

in our depot.

H.Q. Clerke
[*Replies to
‘Adj’ Major*]

GOC
S.S. 133.
HEADQUARTERS
30 MAR. 1917
No. G19/50
THIRDS AUSTRALIAN DIVISION

SECRET.  
1. In the preparation of maps illustrating Artillery bombardment schemes the following colors will be used to 

indicate the various natures of ordnance employed.

18-pdr. 
Diagram, see original document

4.5-in. How. 

Diagram, see original document

18-pdr. & 4.5-in. How. combined. 
Diagram, see original document

60-pdr.)

4.7-in.  ) 

Diagram, see original document

6-in.. gun. 
Diagram, see original document

9.2-in. or 12-in. gun. 
Diagram, see original document

6-in. How. 

Diagram, - see original document

8-in.. How.   )

9.2-in. How. ) 

Diagram, see original document

12-in. How.)

15-in. How.) 

Diagram, see original document

Light Trench Mortar

Diagram, see original document

Medium Trench Mortar. 
Diagram,  see original document

Heavy Trench Mortar. 
Diagram, see original document

The number of guns or howitzers firing on each 

objective should be shown by a numeral.

Chalks or coloured pencils must be used for maps

illustrating artillery bombardment schemes; NOT coloured

inks.

30/11/16

AMENDMENT TO SECRET PUBLICATION.- 30/3/17

[*Above copy amended.*]

S.S. 133.- Colours to be used in preparation of Maps

illustrating Artillery Bombardment Schemes to indicate various

natures of Ordnance employed".

The colour as used to denote Trench Mortars should be

BROWN instead of YELLOW.

JM

1/4/17

18/3/17

THEATRE DE MONTE CARLO

REPRÉSENTATIONS D'OPÉRAS

Sous le Haut Patronage

de S. A. S. LE PRINCE DE MONACO

Dimanche 18 Mars 1917, a 2 h. ½

REPRÉSENTATION

Au bénéfice des Œuvres Militaires de la Guerre

AVIS. - Le lever du rideau aura lieu a 2h. ½ très précises. - Le

public est prié d'arriver bien exactement à l'heure, car, pendant l'exécution, 

les portes de la salle  resteront rigoureusement fermees jusqu'à la fin de

l'acte. - Les mêmes dispostion seront prises pour les actes suivants.

Prix des Places: 20 francs

Le invitations sont rigoureusement personnelles.

3^e Rang - Fauteuil d'Orchestre N^o 70

Côté Droit
[*CASINO DE MONTE CARLO*]

THEATRE DE MONTE CARLO

REPRÉSENTATIONS D'OPÉRAS

Sous le Haut Patronage

de S. A. S. LE PRINCE DE MONACO

Dimanche 18 Mars 1917, a 2 h. ½

REPRÉSENTATION

Au bénéfice des Œuvres Militaires de la Guerre

AVIS. - Le lever du rideau aura lieu a 2h. ½ très précises. - Le

public est prié d'arriver bien exactement à l'heure, car, pendant l'exécution, 

les portes de la salle  resteront rigoureusement fermees jusqu'à la fin de

l'acte. - Les mêmes dispostion seront prises pour les actes suivants.

Prix des Places: 20 francs

Le invitations sont rigoureusement personnelles.

3^e Rang - Fauteuil d'Orchestre N^o 72

Côté Droit
[*CASINO DE MONTE CARLO*]

1

TEA-ROOM

DU

RESTAURANT DU GOF DE MONTE CARLO

Monte Carlo, le 19 - Mars 1917        

Table...................... N^o..............

2 déjeuners	10	-
1 Chablis	5	-
2 filtres	2	-
2 Gd Marnier	3	-
Total.	20

PAYE
N^o..............Total............

10.80

N^o 6

Note pour M General Monash

Hôtels Regina Palace & Balmoral

MENTON (A. -M.)

PAUL ULRICH, Propriétaire

Mois Mars	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
1917
Arrangement....	10.00	10.00	10.00	10.00	10.00	10.00	10.00
Omnibus et Bagages	2.00
Appartment.......
Bain........................			1.25	1.25	1.25	1.25	1.25	1.25
Blanchissage......
Déjeuner salle...
Déjeuner Apartment
Œufs........................
Lunch.....................
Diner.......................
Note Restaurant.......
HOTELS REGINA & BALMORAL 18 MARS 1917 MENTON (AM)			Regina Palace & Balmoral Hôtel 1389    29/3/17 No 6 Reçu de M General Monash la somme de              [[?]] v. 94.10
VINS} Macon......	1.50	2.50		2.50			1.50
Bière........................		1.25				1.25
Eaux Minérales
Liqueurs................
Telegrams				1.80			1.30	1.00
Quittance............
Note du jour......	13.50	13.75	11.25	15.55	11.25	12.50	14.05	2.25
Report de la veille....		13.50	27.25	38.50	54.05	65.30	77.80	91.85
TOTAL......		27.25	38.50	54.05	65.30	77.80	91.85	94.10
Paiements....
Report....