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 pro-

posal is that one half of the sum, or ($)50, should be raised by sub-

scription 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 con-

venience 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 cheme. In order that there may be no undue delay, please

let me have an early reply. 

[[Paris?]]

A to see 

No 1. P.14 5/17

JM Original Signature see Document

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 sae 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. - 

[[Gor?]]

5/5/17

On 25th May. Some mins

at 4.54. a.m.

light about 3.45 a.m.

our Tps 

G06

"C" Form.

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

Army Form C. 2123

(In books for 100).

No. of Message..............

Prefix [[?]] Code KB Words 29  

Received 

From G23

By Monash

Official Stamp - See original document

Handed in at G13 Office [[?]] Received [[?]]

To G2

Senders Number C144 Day of Month 6th In reply to Number Q22/4   AAA

 

All units this brigade are

agreeable to proposed formation

of 10th Training Battalion 

and and are prepared 

to contribute to initial cost

 

10th Bde

FROM YI3

PLACE & TIME 10 15

*This line should be erased if not required. 

(5334), Wt, W7496?M857.  500,000 Pde, 10/16. D.D. & L. (E489). Forms C/2123/3.

61

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION,

Divisional Headquarters, 

6/5/17

 

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

A.I.F. Depots, TIDWRTH,

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 vefore 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 Divisonal 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 form 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 [[Aj. San Farman?]] 8/5/17

No. 46   Canadian Corpd. 

5th May, 1917.

A.Rmly

 

CANADIAN CORPS.

SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE.

THIS SUMMARY IS OF SUCH A CONFIDENTIAL CHARACTER THAT IT MYST 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 out 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 carrie dout last night by the

Left Bde. Left Division, resulting in the capture