Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 14, 10 February - 30 March 1917, Part 11

Conflict:

First World War, 1914–18

Part of Quest:

Sir John Monash (General, b.1865 - d.1931)

Subject:

Documents and letters

Status:

Awaiting approval

Accession number:

RCDIG0000618

Difficulty:

2/3/17

"C" Form.

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. 93

Prefix SM Code CCS Words 62

From BUO

By Fletcher
ARMY
TELEGRAPHS

Handed in at BUO Office 3.17 pm. Received 3.23pm.

TO 3rd Aust. Divn

Sender's Number Ga 137 Day of Month 2^nd

Following received from C. in

C aaa Begins aaa

congratulate 3^rd Australian Division 10^th

Australian Infantry Brigade and the

officers and men of the

Composite Battalion 37^th and 38^th

Australian Battalions on the skilful

conduct of the successful raid

carried out on the night

of 26^th/27^th February aaa

Chief aaa Ends

FROM 2^nd Anzac

PLACE & TIME 3.18 pm

Seniority of Brigade Commanders.

Rank	Name	Date of promotion Col. A.I.F.	Date of appt Temp B.G^s	Authority	Date of pt appt A.I.F.	A.M.F rank & date
Col. (temp Brig.Gen^l)	A.JOBSON	10.2.16	1.5.16	A.I.F. Graduation List	10.2.16	Lt Col. 1.7.13
Col. (temp Brig Gen^l)	W.R.McNICOLL D.S.O.	10.2.16	1.5.16	A.I.F.Graduation List Shown next senior to B Gen^l. Jobson	28.8.14	Major 9.12.12
Col. (temp Brig Gen^l)	H.W.GRIMWADE	10.7.16	10.7.16	Defence Cable W.11322 A.I.F. List 68 of 25/7/16	26.8.15	Lt Col. 16.5.10
Col (temp. Brig Gen^l)	J.H.CANNAN C.B.	30.8.16	30.8.16	Defence Cable W.V. 130 A.I.F. List 109 of 7/11/16	23.9.14	Lt Col 9.5.14

Robt.E.Jackson Major

2/3/17.

3/3/17

Keep all luggage in carriage as there is much time lost

in examination of same in Paris.

Arrive at Gare du Nord Paris, take taxi to Gare de Lyons

(if you arrive in Paris by afternoon train) have dinner at

café at Gare de Lyons, which is good & convenient to train.

Take train from Gare de Lyons at about 8.30 P.M.

for MENTON, passing through Cannes, Nice, Monaco,

Monte Carlo.

Arrive Menton Stn take carriage to HOTEL REGINA PALACE -

MENTON (The manager & servants speak English, French,

German) You will probably need a rest for the

remainder of the day.

At this hotel is staying Madame RÉNÉ KORFAN, the

young widow of a French officer, a friend of mine, whose

company you might find pleasant, if you are lonely.

She only speaks French.

The Promenade at MENTON is quiet & several

people generally sit there in the afternoon.

This will end your first day at Menton.

Tuesday Morning A walk to the Italian Frontier takes

about ½ an hour, one is not permitted to

go past the bridge. Obtain P.C'^s in Italy &

send them through Italy, the woman can be

relied on to send them.

Afternoon Take either electric tram or Motor Car to Theatre

Monte Carlo, go early into theatre to see workmanship.

Ballét begins at about 2.30 PM & ends at

4 P.M. It is interesting to sit in the hall at

xx the Casino. Take afternoon tea at Café in

Casino Grounds & take a walk round the

terraces. Then return Menton.

Wednesday 10 A.M. Take Motor Car to La Turbie (LA TURBIE)

see the precipice near the station, then

continue to Golf Links, good dinner a club

& good place to walk towards mountains. This

may be a full days trip, but company would be

an improvement. Return Menton.

Thursday 10 A.M. Take Motor car to NICE by the

lower road have lunch at HOTEL RUHL.

Rest on promenade from 3 PM - 4PM & go into the

Cafe opposite the Hotel Ruhl for tea & music.

Leave NICE at 5 P.M. (or later) & return by High

road to Menton.

Friday. Walk to Cap Martin Hotel (This is the

Michelham Convalescent Home for Officers)

Financed by Lord Michelham) You might call

on the Commandant.

Here there are lists of (in the hall) of all

the spots to visit, but I did not go to them.

The Ballét at the Casino is worthy of many

visits, different operas being played there almost

daily.

If you are lonely you might ask Madame Korfan

to go somewhere with you.

Saturday. Take tram (electric) to Monte Carlo, then

take Rack Railway to LA TURBIE. There

is a motor bus that meets trains at La Turbie

& runs to Golf Links. Which is a nice place

for a picnic.

Fares. Motor Car. MENTON to NICE 80 Francs.

- -- Monte Carlo Bank " 30 "

- - - - La Turbie " 40 "

Carriages about 3 francs per mile

4/3/17

Q145/84

3-3-17

Copy

A.A.G.A.I.E. 36/151

Duntroon Graduates

List of Senior Duntroon Graduates (Showing Royal

Military College Seniority (now with 1^st and 2^nd Anzac

Corps (Mr^d Divⁿ not included)"

Corps or Divⁿ	Rank & Name	Unit	Appointment or Attachment
1st Anzac	Capt Clowes. N.	M.C..^†	1st Div. Art. Staff/Capt G.O.C RA 1^st ANZAC.
2ⁿ Divⁿ	Capt Clowes C.A	M.C..	2^nd Div Art. B.M. 2^ndDiv Art.
1^st "	Major Brown D.R.	M.C..	4^th Bⁿ
3^rd "	Major Woollen G.F	†	3^rd Bⁿ B.M. II^nd Inf Bde
1^st "	Capt Forbes A.M.	M.C.	1^st Div Art att^d 1^st D.A.M.Q. as B.M. trainee
3^rd "	Capt. Irwin J.M.		3^rd Div Art Staff Captain.
2^nd "	Major Boase A.J.	†	12^th Bⁿ B.M. 5^th Inf Bde
3^rd "	Major Paen J.H.F	M.C.. ^†	2^nd Bⁿ G.S.O III 3^rd Divⁿ
2^nd "	Major Vowles E.L.	†	5^th Div Art. Att^d as B.M. trainee 3^rd Aust Divⁿ
2^nd "	Capt Morgan P.J.		6 Army O.C. 17 Battery F.P. Bde
2ⁿ A.N.Z.A.C..	Capt Dunlop W.A.S.		4^th LH Regt. Adjutant
1^st Divⁿ	Major Locke W.J.M..	M.C..^x	13^th Bn B.M. 3^rd Inf Bde
4^th Divⁿ	Major Wilton E.A	x	4^th M.G.Coy. Att^d 4^th D.H.Q. as BM trainee
5^th Divⁿ	Capt Legge R.G.	M.C.. †	59^th Bn Att^d 5^th D.H.Q. as BM trainee
4^th Divⁿ	Major Lee JE	M.C.. †	45^th Bn Att^d 12^th Bde H.Q. as S.C. trainee
4^th Divⁿ	Capt Kennedy M.S.		52^nd Bn Att^d 1^st D.H.Q.
2^nd Divⁿ	Capt Beavis LE.		2^nd Div Art. Adjutant of Bde
2^nd Divⁿ	Capt Hatton A.T.	†	2^nd Div Art Attd 2^nd D.H.Q. as GSOs trainee
1^st Divⁿ	Capt Milford EJ	‡	2^nd Div Art. S.C. trainee 3^rd Inf Bde
2^nd Divⁿ	Capt Berryman FH	†	2^nd Div Art Att^d 6^th Bde H.Q. as SC trainee
3^rd "	Capt Peart W.A.R.		3^rd Div Art
5^th"	Capt Crombie J.H.	†	5 Div Art Att^d 14^th Bde H.Q. as SC trainee (5th TM Batt)
3^rd "	Capt Vasey G.A.	†	2^nd Div Art Att^d S/Capt trainee 3^rd Divⁿ
2^nd "	Capt Thompson RM		2^nd Div Art.
5^th"	Caot Chapman J.A.		30^th Bn
5^th"	Capt Taplin C.Q.	*	32^nd Div Att^d 1^st Anzac
2nd "	Capt McCall J.J.L.	*	20 Bⁿ Att^d G 1^st Anzac

† Seconded
* Detached Temp
‡ to be Seconded
x Seconded - Staff Course England

CONFIDENTIAL
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
Divisional Headquarters,
6/3/17.
Headquarters,
2nd A. & N.Z. Army Corps.
In reply to your confidential letter of 1/3/17 re the
suitability of T/Lieut-Col. H.O. CLOGSTOUN as C.R.E. of this
Division, having regard to prospective active operations, I beg

to state that, in view of this definite enquiry I have been at
some pains to consider from every point of view the question put
to me. -
(1) As regards professional and technical knowledge and
capacity I am of opinion that he possesses these in a high degree.
- He was an instructor at WOOLWICH, and was specially selected for
service in AUSTRALIA as an instructor. -
(2) His command of Headquarters and three field Companies
is, throughout, most efficient, and will bear close inspection.
The Companies have been well trained, and the work which they have
carried out in the line during the last 3 months has been excellently
well performed.
(3) The Liaison between the Infantry and the Engineers is
thoroughly satisfactory. Each Infantry Brigadier has personally
assured me that both the C.R.E. and the attached Field Company
have rendered them most satisfactory assistance throughout, and
that their personal relations with the C.R.E. are, and have been
uniformly excellent.

-2-
6/3/17
(4) The relations between the C.R.E. and his Field Companies
are also satisfactory. He is regard as strict, but just,
demanding the best performance but asking for north
unreasonable.
(5) The work which the C.R.E. has carried out for me, as
Divisional work, with working parties drawn from the Divisional
reserve has always been energetically pushed on and well done. -
The drawing office, dumps and workshops which he has established
are in thoroughly satisfactory working order.-
(6) He has made numerous personal reconnaissances in the
forward areas, and has given me and my "G" staff much valuable
advice regarding works, wiring, Machine gun and Mortar emplacements,
drainage and communications. -
(7) The work ~~xxxx~~ for the Artillery has been particularly
well done. - The Corps Commander recently inspected some of
the work on gun pits, old and new, observation posts, and on
cabins and telephone stations, performed within the last 6 weeks
which would not have been possible if the supply of Engineering
materials and labour had not been carefully organised and
energetically pushed.
(8) In his personal characteristics, I find him painstaking,
and knowledgeable, with plenty of initiative and resource.
- In my earlier experience of him I found him somewhat inclined
to be a stickler for routine and red tape. - but after having had
my objections to such methods pointed out to him his department
has worked in most smoothly with the Staff and the Units. -
(9) On all above grounds I see no reason to express any

-3-
6/3/17.
doubt whatever as to his suitability to control the engineering
services of the Division during active operations. His age is
35 and he is active and industrious.
Major General,
Commanding Third Australian Division.

COPY 7/3/17.
CONFIDENTIAL.
"A".
2nd. ANZAC.
With reference to the minute of A.A.G. Second Army
numbered A/2384 dated 2/3/17, it is unfortunately true that
carelessness has been shown as regards lights in billets in 3rd.
Australian Division, notwithstanding my efforts to prevent it,
and I feel compelled to furnish the following report:-
I regret to be obliged to bring to notice the inefficiency
of the Provost department of 3rd Australian Division.
I complain of:-
(a). Perfunctory performance of the duties.
(b). Inattention to orders.
(c). Lack of interest.
It is difficult to give specific instances, where the
duties are unsatisfactorily performed generally, but I cite the
following incidents as examples merely:-
(1). Soon after the arrival of the Division, the Provost
Marshal, Second Army inspected the Police. They were not ready
for inspection at the hour fixed, and the inspection was otherwise
unsatisfactory. Upon the order of the Provost Marshal, Second
Army, another inspection was carried out a few days later. It
was then satisfactory.
(2). A suspicious man, wearing a British soldier's uniform,
was captured in the front line trenches. He was handed over to
A.P.M., 3rd. Australian Division, and allowed to escape under
circumstances which showed grave lack of supervision. The blame was
placed upon Lieut. Craze and two N.C.O's of the M.F.P., and while
they were undoubtedly culpable, it is submitted that the A.P.M.
himself was responsible for failing to exercise proper supervision
at a time when his Field Punishment Compound was being moved.
(3). Lights were permitted to be shewn at night at ARMENTIERES
and RUE MARLE to such an extent as to call for protest by an Army
unit. I myself saw lights being shewn without any apparent effort
to prevent it. The A.P.M. informed me that Corps Order no. 940

(2).
had not been promulgated in the Division. It is submitted that
it was his duty to call the attention of his "A" Branch to the
question of lights.
(4). Damage having been done at the ARMENTIERES Railway Station,
a report was called for by the Provost Marshall, Second Army.
The report furnished attributed blame for the damage to a
particular unit. On sending the papers back for further investigation,
the original report was adhered to, though a few minutes examination
of the papers would have shewn that the dates made it impossible
that the particular damage complained of, was in fact
done by that unit. This small incident is cited merely as an
illustration of perfunctoriness.
(5). At a time when the Division was ordered to keep to its own
area on account of mumps, the A.P.M. visited HAZEBROUK, thus
placing himself in a false position with reference to a breach
of the order by any other officer.
(6). The returns of cases reported by the Military Police of
the Division compare unfavourably with those of other Divisions.
(7). The A.P.M. himself informed me on the 11th. February that
he had never seen the Maire of ARMENTIERES. Co-operation with
the civil authorities is one of the principal duties of an A.P.M.
(8). On the issue of "Thaw Restrictions" Order of 17th. February
I sent the following telegram to the A.P.M. 3rd Australian Division. -
"Please station police to prevent use of road from STEENWERCK
Station to B.1. Central except on pass from Corps or Divisional
Headquarters.
The A.P.M. informed my subordinate, Capt. Herman, on the

telephone, that he declined to carry out the order as "Traffic
Control is a Corps job" and that my order was "utterly ridiculous".
I have no traffic men available for the duty - but in any case the
enforcement of the Thaw Restriction Orders I have treated as a police
matter as well as traffic matter, for they apply to many roads
upon which there are no traffic posts.
(9). On the 23rd February the following telegram was sent to

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Sam scott

Last edited on:

30 November 2024, 8:19 pm

Last updated: 30 November 2024