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

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION

Divisional Headquarters, 

4/5/17.

[*HEADQUARTERS 

4 - MAY 1917

NO. Q22/4

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION*]

9th Aust. Inf. Bde. - 

10th    -do-

11th     -do- 

 

I have been in correspondence with the Headquarters

A.IF. in United Kingdom, on the subject of providing the

Training Battalions of this Division each with a band. - It

appears that the 9th, 10th, and 11th Training Battalions are

the only ones which are so far without a band, and there can

be no doubt that bands would be of great assistance both to the 

comfort and pleasure of the men and to the training in marching

and general discipline. 

I consider that the parent Brigades should take an

active interest in this matter, and wish, therefore, to learn

your views. 

Assuming that an initial outlay for each band, on a 

modest scale to start with, would be, say ₤100 or ₤110, my proposal 
is that one half of the sum, or ₤50, should be raised by subscription 
among the present members of the Training Battalions; 

the sum of ($)50 should be contributed by the parent Brigade, and

I am willing to contribute out of Divisional Funds, for the three

bands altogether, another ₤50. - the manner in which the Brigade

contribution of ₤50 should be raised, would be left of the

Brigades to decide.

Will you please let me know at your earliest convenience 
whether or not you approve of the idea and would under-

take to contribute the quota names. It would not be necessary

to pay over any money until I have ascertained whether the

Training Battalions themselves are agreeable to fall in with

this scheme. In order that there may be no undue delay, please

let me have an early reply. 

[*Presis*]

A to see 

No 1. P.14 5/17

JM 

Maj or-General. 

Commanding Third Australian Division 

5/5/17

War Medals

Major General Chichester visited me today, & showed me a War Office paper

discussing the proposals for War Medals - with a view to getting an expression

of opinion from me. 

The paper set out that the War Office had decided as follows: - 

1 A British Medal - distinctive design - & distinctive ribbons - for 

every officer & man who has put on Khaki voluntarily, whether he 

had entered a war zone or not; A clasp to be given for each

year or part of a year that he was serving - but not for that 

year or part of a year in which he had entered a war zone, &

for which latter he received a clasp on the International Medal. 

2 An International Medal - Each country has its own distinctive

design, but all countries have the same ribbon. - To be given to

every officer & man who enters a war zone - (one of the several
zones geographically defined; A clasp to be given for each
year or part of a year spent in a war zone. -

Under above rules I would get:-    British medal, with clasp for 1914
                                                                International Medal, with clasps for 1915
                                                                                                                                    1916
                                                                                                                                    1917
                                                                                                                                     et.fol.
JM
 

G.O.C.

5/5/17

On 25th May. Gun mins
at 4.54. a.m.

∴  light about 3.45 a.m.
∴ our tps must be
assembled by 2.45 a.m.
i.e. 1 hour before attack
at Dawn.

 ∴ Short approach march
about 11.30. P.M.  ※
allowing 2000⁺ per hour
pace of advance.

 

G06

"C" Form.   Army Form C. 2123
(In books of 100).

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

No. of Message

Prefix SM
Code KB 
Words 29  

Received 

From GI3

By a young

[*ARMY
AY-6.V.17.C
TELEGRAPHS*]
₤      s.    d.
Charges to collect
Sent, or sent out
At        m.
To
By
Office Stamp.

Service Instructions. 

Handed in at G13    Office 1010pm.    Received 1012pm.

To GI2

*Senders Number   Day of Month     In reply to Number    AAA

C144                             6th                        Q22/4

All units this brigade are

agreeable to proposed formation

of 10^th Training Battalion 

band and are prepared 

to contribute to initial cost

[*10th Bde*]

FROM GI 3

PLACE & TIME 10 15

 

61

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION,

Divisional Headquarters, 

6/5/17

Major-General The Hon. J.W.McCay, C.B., V.D., 

A.I.F. Depots, TIDOWRTH,

ENGLAND

 

My dear McCay, 

It occurred to me that you might like some specific

instances to illustrate the matters referred to in my recent

letter to you of the 3rd inst.

Here are some particulars relating to only one of

my three Brigades, which happen to be before me at the present

moment. 

This Brigade has sent over to the 10th Training

battalion, the following officers. - 

Captain   W.L. ALLEN                   37th Bn.

Lieut.        C. KERRY                          do.

Lieut.        C.J. CALLAN                 38th Bn.

Major        G.S. ARMFIELD            39th Bn. 

Lieut.         E. FLEITER  M.C.              do.

Lieut.         V.C. SMITH                    40th Bn.

Lieut.         I.A. DORRINGTON      37th Bn.

Lieut.         H. CRISFIELD               38th Bn.

Lieut.         P.S. SPARK                       do.

Capt.         A.L.T. CRUICKSHANK   40th Bn.

Lieut.        F.C. BURGESS                  do.

We have also recommended that Lieut-Colonel F.G.WOODS,

formerly commanding 37th Bn., and at present commanding the 

5th Divisional Base Depot, should be sent to ENGLAND to command

the 10th Training Battalion. 

No officer has yet arrived from the 10th Training

Battalion to replace any of the above, and the following 

officers of the 10th Training Battalion have been specifically

asked for as exchange officers, some considerably over 2 months

ago, viz.-

-2- 6/5/17.

 

Lieut.    L.J. BEATTIE                38th Bn.

Lieut.    H.H. McCOLL                  do.

2/Lt.      P. NEILSON                  39th Bn.

2/Lt.      C.P. CRISTENSEN       39th Bn.

2/Lt.      C.F. SHARLAND          40th Bn.

Apart from the Training Battalion, there seems great

difficulty in getting back convalescent officers. - All our

officers are instructed that if evacuated sick or wounded to

ENGLAND or elsewhere, they are to at once notify their Units

when they are convalescent. - They drift to PERHAM DOWNS and 

there they seem to stick. - The following are some names of

officers who are known to be at PERHAM DOWNS, and who have

been reported 'Fit for general service' in some cases 4 or 6

weeks ago. Viz. -

Lieut.      W. MAXWELL     38th Bn.

Lieut.      S. MOORE           40th ''

Lieut.      P.G. TOWL           37th Bn.

Lieut.      L.J. BREWER          do.

Lieut.      C.L. McINTYRE    40th Bn.

It has also been requested that Capt. W.K. FINDLAY, a 

reinforcement officer of the 40th battalion, should be sent to

join his Unit. 

The delay in effecting exchange with officers from the 

front, and in sending to rejoin their Units, convalescent

officers, is naturally having a serious effect on the strength

of the officers of the Units. - As direct commissioning has been 

done away with, it is not possible to maintain the strength of

officers under these circumstances, which is particularly 

unfortunate in view of a probable early offensive.

Yours sincerely

JM.

Received from Ag. Gen Farmar 8/5/17

No. 46  
 Canadian Corps. 

6th May, 1917.

A.Q.M.G.

CANADIAN CORPS.

SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE.

THIS SUMMARY IS OF SUCH A CONFIDENTIAL CHARACTER THAT IT MUST NOT BE

TAKEN NEARER THE FRONT THAN BATTALION HEADQUARTERS AND ITS CONTENTS

ARE NOT TO BE COMMUNICATED TO ANYONE OUTSIDE HIS MAJESTY'S SERVICE.

Part 1.

Information from our own Front.

PRISONERS OF WAR.

Prisoners passed through Corps Cage today - 1 Officer 17 O.Rs.

       "               "               "          C.C. Stations                            4
                                                                                       _________________

                                                                                       1 Officer 21 O.Rs.

GRAND TOTAL since 9th April     5.CC3.

OPERATIONS.

A successful minor operation was carried out last night by the

Left Bde. Left Division, resulting in the capture of the triangle of

trenches bounded by M.36.d.42.75 - M.36.b.65.10 and M.36.d.30.93.

Blocks have been established at M.36.b.40.13 - M.36.d.40.70 - M.36.d.60.80 
and M.36.b.62.10.

Severe fighting took place and the enemy made two determined

counter-attacks against the right of our now position in which he 

suffered heavily. One Officer and 33 O.R. were taken prisoner.

Enemy artillery was very active throughout the operation. 4th Cdn.

Division reported at 10.30 a.m. enemy snipers very active from front

and support lines about M.36.d.7.4, causing us some casualties.

CALLOUS Trench is reported heavily manned by the enemy.

The Right Division captured a prisoner of the 69th Regiment

carrying orders for a relief on which action was taken by our

artillery.

Front line right sector was shelled intermittently throughout

the night and communication trenches more than usual. There was

considerable shelling with 77mm. and much machine gun fire on the

centre sector after midnight. 

ARTILLERY.

Yesterday afternoon trenches in vicinity of FRESNCY were subjected

to several bursts of heavy fire. During the night there was

considerable activity on both sides, on the Northern Sector of the

Corps front, the shelling being particularly heavy about 11 p.m. to 
midnight, due to a small raid carried out by Left Division against

triangle of trenches in M.36. At 2.40 a.m. S.O.S. signals were

reported on Left Brigade front of Left Division; our 60-pdrs. opened

up on S.O.S. line and counter-battery on hostile batteries was kept

up till 4 a.m., when situation was reported normal.

Late this morning there was heavy shelling in S.5 & 6 and M.35,

from the direction of LENS.

Owing to heavy ground mist and bad visibility only one successful

aeroplane shoot was carried out. Five hostile batteries were engaged

with ground observation.

IDENTIFICATIONS

Result of successful minor operation, prisoners belonging to the

118th Regiment, 56th Division, and 34th R.I.R., 80th R.Division, were

captured.

                                                                                                               The. . . . .

 

Canadian Corps.

6th May 1917.

No. 48.                                           

Page 2.

The order of battle from North to South is as follows:-

118th Regt. - 34th R.I.R. - 266th R.I.R. - and 264th R.I.R. (Normal)

A prisoner belonging to the 69th R.I.R., 18th R. Division was

also captured and the order of battle obtained from this man is as

follows:-

5th Guard Grenadiers, - 69th R.I.R., 25th R.I.R. and 17th R.I.R. (normal)

Prisoner was a battalion runner and had documents of great interest

in his possession when caught.

According to prisoners statements he had taken orders to the 6th

Coy., and was proceeding to the 8th Coy. when he lost his way, and

wandered into our lines. He further states that the frontage of the

69th R.I.R. was reduced on the 3rd inst by a side slipping of the 5th

Ground Grenadiers, and that the movement referred to in the captured

orders were to readjust the distribution of forces and place them on

the same basis as they were prior to the 3rd inst.

The following is a transaction of the order in possession of

prisoner as well as a comment on the Regimental orders by one O.C.

Company to another: -

R.I.R. 69                              

5.5.17.

REGIMENTAL ORDER.

(I). The re-grouping of the Regiment is to take place during the

night 5th/6th May 12 p.m. (midnight) in the following manner: -

KAMFF BATTALION (Front Line Battalion).

Commander -    Capt. CAESAR.

4 Coys.   IT Battalion (altogether 200 men)

beginning on the right flank.

8th Coy.    G.C.     Lieut. BUSSENSCHUTT.

6th Coy       "             "      BAUROSE.

5th Coy       "             "      PASSBINDER.

7th Coy.       "             "     HANDWERK.

Each company will be divided into two parties of equal strength at

a distance of 150 - 250 metres.

The 1st Party constitutes a line of outposts in touch with

one another - garrisoning the pieces of trench and shell-holes that

are available

The 2nd Party will be in groups in shell holes.

(B) Battalion Reserves: - (Supports for front line Battalion)

garrisoned in hollow road near Bn, Battle H.Q. II Bn., 69th R.I.R.,

consists of a platoon of bombers 32 men, Schanz Coy. (Entrenching

Coy.) 45 men.

(Signed) BUORKOLTZ,

Colonel and C.O. Regiment.
 

II/R.69.

5/5.

8th & 6th Coys.

Addressed to 5th, 6th, 7th, & 8th Coys.

BATTALION SUPPLEMENT.

The ordered re-grouping starts to-night 10 p.m. The 8th, 6th,

5th, 7th Companies will gradually quadruple the intervals bearing in
 

 

Canadian Corps.

6th May 1917.

No. 46.

Page 3.

mind that constant touch is kept on the left and on the right until

they come in contact with the 5th Grenadiers in the neighbouring

sector.

The Company Commanders will place themselves on the right flank

of their company during the process of extending to the right.

The 1st and 4th Coys., the Grenadier Guards, also the companies

of the 3rd Battalion, withdrew from the front line rearwards to the 

extent of 150 metres and remain there, until the companies of the 2nd

Battalion have completed the distribution as laid down in Regimental

Orders.

Attached sketch will give an idea of how the re-grouping will

appear on completion.

During the process of withdrawal from the front line, the

Company Commanders will remain on the left flank of their Companies

and in this manner be able to keep in touch with the companies of the

2nd Battalion.

Only after personal agreement between the Company Commanders

of the Grenadier and the 3rd Battalion with the Company Commanders

of the 2nd Battalion, will Grenadiers and the 3rd Battalion proceed

with the re-grouping in the ROUVROY VORRIEGEL, which will

now on be considered as Regimental Reserve.

The Company Commander of 12th Coy. will personally bring the

written statement of the C.O. of the 8th Coy. (Lt. BUSSENSCHUTT).

(LT. BAUROSE). - The C.O. 1st Coy. Grenadier Guards that of the 5th

Coy., to the Battalion Commander of the KAMFF Battalion when marching through the Reserve position.

The 7th Coy. will release, during the re-grouping the detailed 

platoon of the Schanz Company, who will report to the Battalion

Reserves on the Sunken Road.

(Signed) CAESAR,

Capt. and O.C. Battalion.

 

PLAN.

Of a Company after carrying out the arrangements laid down by

Regimental order of 5th May.
 

Diagram: see original document.