Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 15, 1 April - 10 May 1917, Part 13

HEADQUARTERNo G1/288

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION

No. 2.

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON RECENT OPERATIONS CARRIED
OUT BY THE FIRST AND THIRD ARMIES.
27/4/17

One of the Canadian Divisions attributed the success of the operations to attention
paid to the following points:
1. A good plan, even if an ambitious one.
2. Very careful preparations and instructions.
8. A complete copy of hostile position was marked out, showing, not only the trenches
and prominent features, but also machine gun emplacements, trench mortar emplacements, etc.
Al ranks practised rehearsals of the attack on the marked position.
4. A very careful study of the objectives for the attack from captured maps and
photographs. Avallable information was issued to all ranks.
5. A careful scheme for Infantry observation posts, and means of signalling back
information.
6. A systematio destruction of the hostile trenches by Heavy Artillery, taking portions
of trenches at a time after careful registration. No general shooting at an drea by the
Artillery was allowed.
The success of the 106 Fuze as a wire-cutter was very marked.
In order to be quite satisded that the wire had been effectively cut, the trenches were
cleared 48 hours before zero and the Heavy Artillery turned on the wire with the 106 Fuze
with most satisfactory results.
7. Great care was taken to superintend not only Brigade Orders but Battalion Orders-
with the result that COs had nothing to do once the attack was launched, in spite of the
fact that there was very heavy nghting.
8. A signal should be arranged to stop the fnal barrage in order to enable patrols to
push forward after the dna) objective has been gained.
9. The roads leading up to NO MANS LAND should be prepared beforehand to carry
Heavy Artillery, and material dumped as far forward as possible to carry the roads forward
at once. Parties for this work must be sufßciently far forward to start work almost
immediately.
10. The weather was very bad: shelters, with water pipes close by, would have been
very useful for erection in the forward area for the Infantry to come to as soon as
relieved.
The men had to come back to dirty dug outs with little chance of a wash, which they
wanted more than anything else.
C. H. HARINGTON, Major-General,
General Staff, Second Army.
23rd April, 1917
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Avermiulad DIvlslos
THIRD
Divisionel Headquarters,
27/4/17.
C.R.A.
C.R.E.
o.0.c. 9th Aust, Inf. Bde.
c.o.c. 10th
-do.
6.0.c. 11th
-do-
Pioneer Bn.
O.c" 3rd Aust.
O.C. 3rd Aust. Div. Signal Co.
Div. Train.
O.C. 3rd Aust.
O.C. 207th Mechine Gun Co.
A.D.M.S.
A.D. V. S.
Camp Commandent.
I invite your personal consideration to a question
which is becoming deily more pressing and important in connection
with the Armies in FRANCE. - I allude to the subject of economy
and prevention of waste of rations, and to the extreme importance
of these matters at this critical juncture.
Owing to a shortage of sea freight and the consequent
leficiency of food supplies in the United Kingdom, it may soon
become impossible to maintain the present soale of rations for the
Army. - The undesirable course of reducing the present rations
can only be avoided if we can succeed in instilling into the minds
of all subordinate offioers, and of the troops themselves, the
vital necessity of encouraging every possible form of economy and
prevention of waste. This can only be done if Commanders of Units
will take the matter up very seriously and will ensure that all the
and sus-
officers under their command make a spocial continuing
tained effort to instil into the mind of each individual soldier
a sense of his responsibilities in these matters.
It is well known that a considerable amount of waste
of edible materials is going on, not only beoause the rations now
actually available are often not consumed at all and are thrown
away, but also beoause they are not used in the manner to produce
the utmost food value.
Good as the arrangements within this Division have
jeen in connection with establishment of Field Kitchens, careful pre¬
paration of diet sheets, and getting the utmost food value out of
food supplies, the juncture has arrived when it has become imper-
ative to exercise even greater pains in all these directions.
The greatest care must be taken that the number of
rations demanded are never in excess of those actually required.
In the event of there being, on any ococsion, an overdrawing, and
rations have not been consumed, it is hoped that all concerned will
make it a point of honor to not draw, on subsequent days, to the
extent of unconsumed supplies in hand, so that there may be no
waste. - The possibility of making still more of the authorized
ration should be most oarefully studied, the use of the stock
pot should be extended, and everything of value should be saved
whether for food or for fat preservation.
The matter has reached such a position that the
Commander-in-Chief considers it imperative that there shall be a
united and well directed effort throughout the whole Army to reduce
waste to the absolute irreducible minimum.
JUtutremct
Major-General,
Commanding Third Australian Division.
 

28/4
DEMONSTRATION.
April 28th.
Commencing 1.30 p.m.
+++++
1. 4" STOKES MOI
RTARS (on Helfaut Common)
firing:-
(a) Thermite, 48 rounds (4 per gun). Approximate range 430yds.
(b) W.P., 2 rounds only. At maximum range (about 900 yds.)
(c) W.P., 6 rounds only. Air bursts, range about 600 yds.
(d) P.S., 24 rounds (2 per gun). Range about 400 yds.
(e) Smoke Barrage, R.P., Range about 480 yde.
11. (i) PROJECTORS (on Bilques Cormon)
firing:-
(a) 20 shells filled with oil, to burst, range 500 yds.
(b) 3 Gas Shells, to burst, range 500 yde.
(c) 20 sholls filled with oil, to burst, st maximum range
1200 yde.
(11) FLAEMFNTERFER.
1 Shct.
 

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SECRE
THIRD AUSTRALLAN DIVISION
Divisional Headquarters,
so/e/17.
Notes from Conference at Divisional Headquarters on 29/4/17.
PRESENT.- 3 Infantry Brigadiers, C.R.A., C.R.E., Capt SIMPSO
). Pioneer Bn., Major WILLLAMS,
representing Div. Signal Co.,
R.E., A.G., c.s.O.l.
Divisional Commander presided. -
It was ruled that assaulting Bettalions and reserve Battal-
ions were not to be over establishment during the fight, but that
extra duties, e.g., 300 men attached to R.E. Coys., carriers for
Vickers Gun Coys. te. might be found from personnel surplus to
the fighting establishment.
Diecussion as to equipment and munitions to be carried en
the man.
eth Brigade considered 170 rounds should be carried.
ersep!
4o.
do.
loth Brigade
do.
in the ease of those men cerrying tools.
11th Brigade thought it mast b edvisable to adhere exsctly
"Training
to the suggestions contained in s.s. 135
ef Divisions for offensive setion
The question of provision of calice bandoliers eropped up.
Also the number of rounds to be carried by Lewis Gun personnel.
It was thought they might carry lso in their equipment.
loth and I1th Brigades considered 50 rounds suffieient
for carrying parties to carry in their equipment.
Brigade advecated 120 rounds.
11th Brigade advocsted establishment of platoon dumps
formed by colleeting loose bandoliers.
All Erigades agreed that Reserve x troops of fighting
Brigades and personnel of Reserve Brigade should earry the same
s:
ammunition as assaulting troops.
All agreed that the average man should carry two bombs.1-1
Bombere xcarry numbere as per
Carrying parties, no bombe.
ith Brigade tri
. Reserves, same as fighting troope.
being in reserve, to carry 4 bombe each.
.?
th Erigade thought whole of End wave should carry a piek
or chovel.
loth Bde. thought every platoon should carry e pieke, and
e shovels. This only to apply to platoons of C and K Battalions.
1lth Bde. thought every man should cerry a tool.
Ruling come to was that Picks and shovels should be
earried, but the minimum numbers necessary should be given to
each platoon.
Brigadiers to estimste requirements.
C.R.E. to colleot extra toels and make alletment in order
that mobilization stores should, if possible, remain on wheels.
If necessary, however, mobilisation stores to be used.
All Brigades agreed that greund sheets sheuld be earried
instead of grest-coat, and that 3 to 6 candbags per man should
be carried, varying in sccordance with the dutios of the troope.
C.R.E. asked for four platoons for trolleying.
 

snonz
3/e/lV.
C.R.A. suggested no wire eutting need be done epposite the mines
This will, of course have to be done in case mines do not work
It was decided thatßrigadiers should reesive a copy of letters
written by Divisional Headquarters to c.O.c., R.A. et Corps
with regard te targets.
All Brigades agreed thet troope should be in position
of ossembly at least one hour before zero.
Barrage timings agreed to as followe.
Barrage to go down 50 yards in front of enemy's front
line from O to plus s
Remainder of Barrage. - As shown on C.R.A's barrage mep,
except that C.S.O.l and Brigade-Major R.A: are to discuss setion
of barrage en General JOBsON's right, and keep it somewhat
closer in.
The question of the final halt being only 150 yards
from cur line ef consolidation was brought up.
No definite
ruling arrived st.
Position of S.O.S. Barrage during final consolidation
to be considered, i.e. shether to be on UNCMENY TRENCH or closer
in.
Frigadiers to supply from their cen Brigades the extra
men for their own Viekers Companies for carrying
Division to arrange necessary numbers for ZOVth M.C.00.
The whole of the 3" Stokes to be at disposal of the
Infantry Brigadiers,
10th Brigade asked that 8 seppers might ge forward with
their asssulting troops, sth Bde. 12. These to be attached to
Company Hesdquarters.
C.R.E. to select and detail. All to be arch-experts in
the siting of trenches.
One Field Co. and one Co. Pioneers to be alletted by
C.R.E. to cach Brigade area of assaulting Brigades.
c.S.0. 1, under direetions of the Divisional Commander,
to allot arcas for work in our cen lines to 9th and lOth Bdes
later on when a certain amount of progress has been made.
Brigadiers to consider positions to which they will
withdraw troops to rest after the attack, when no longer required
to hold the new line.
Engineer liaison with Infantry to be most thorough,
C.R.E. to arrange this.
Working strength of a Battalion fer Engineer work in pro
paration of arce prier to the offensive, to be 600 of all ranks.
Alletment to Pioneer Battalion at present to be.-
Trench Mortar positions.
i coy.
For cach ettacking Bde. preparatery work
1 Coy.
i coy.
All work in rear.
Brigadiers of assaulting Brigades to take special steps
with regard to flank lisison.
c.s.O. 1 to go inte further details with Brigade-Major,
R.A. regarding O. P's in CHATEAU.
 

r
ie
-3-
Aod
Plateon Commanders not to be allowed to wander over Hill
éi looking at the greund, but to be taken up by officers of their
oen Battalions to the CHATEAU.
These, in their turn, to be
taken there by Captein SIMONSON.
710
c.0.c.
C.R.A.
C.R.E.

Inf. Bie.
eth Aust.
edo¬
10th
ith
-do
File.
 

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157.
 

Verse.
Ohorus.
 

Breng iar
DESCRIPTIVE OF OUR EXPERIENCES AT HILL 63.
Sung to the tune of "My Home in Tennessee".
I'm so happy, oh so happy.
Don't you envy me.
I'm off to-day at three
To my home on Hill six three
Lewis Gunners, Sigs. and Runners
Waiting for me there
In the trenches "na-poo" wenches
"Boko" shell and flare.
My home on sixty three - that's where I long to be,
Down in the old C.T. where Fritz strafes with H.E.
Oh we all hang on so tight, when he sends us gas at night
Five nines pealing, whizz bangs squealing
What an awful sight
The shells used in this war
Make me love dugouts more
The tunnels I adore, You can't hear nine two's roar
The Pioneers will meet me, with a working party greet me
When I get back, When I get back,
To my home on Hill six three.