Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 15, 1 April - 10 May 1917, Part 18

T 10 5pn
General Birdwood to General Howse
Reference recommendation Honors & Awards
War office have proposed C.M.G. for Lt Col Gordon,
Hayward and Millard.
Lt Col Millard also proposed for mention. Also it 
has been proposed by War office  St Col Hurley 
Mackenzie Newland & Poate for mentions.
Do you approve and do you wish any change
Lt Col Hurley & Mackenzie have been noted for the
Order of the British Empire
per Lt Col Whitham
Wants a priority wire in reply. 
 

Think strongly that HURLEY should get C.M.G instead of GORDON and possibly GORDON might replace HURLEY in the mention list and in the Order of British Empire.
 

H.Q. STAMP.

Q131/32.
COPY.
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
2131/32.
Headquarters
10th May, 1917.
Headquarters,
A.D.M.S.
STAMP.
M.50/23.
R A T S.
Could instructions be issued, please, that any disease
among rats is to be reported to this Office. The presence of mange
among rats should be particularly looked for.
Could it also be stated, please, for information:-
(1) How many traps are in use in this Division.
(2) Distribution of the traps.
(3) Rough estimate of the number of rats caught.
(4) Whether the rats caught seem healthy, i.c., not mangey
or emaciated, etc.
(Sgd) ARTHUR T. WHITE, COLONEL
A. D. M. S.
2131/32.
Divisional Headquarters,
May 13th, 1917.
D.A.D.O.S.
3rd Australian Division.
RATS.
Can you please give the information regarding questions
1 and 2?
(Sgd) C.A.PYKE. Captain.
D.A.M.Q.G., 3rd Aust. Division.
3.
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISIONAL ORDNANCE.
Headquarters,
3rd Australian Division.
RATS.
(1) 600.
(2) 9th Inf. Bde. 150.
10th -do- 150.
11th-do -300.
43 rats have been caught at Ordnance Dump - all in good condi-
tion and showing no signs of disease.
(Sgd) W.JACK. Captain.
15th May, 1917.
D.d.D.O.s. 3rd Australian Division.
 

4.
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
15th May, 1917.
The A. D. V. S.
3rd Australian Division.
Minute 1 (4) appears to be a Veterinary question,
and that it may be necessary to take the temperatures of doubtful
cases.
Will you please be so kind as to make a report
in due course?
(Sgd) C.A.PYKE. Captain.
for Lieunt—Colonel.
A.A. & Q.M.G., Third Australian Division.
P.S.
In the event of "Mangey" rats being captured, do you
consider it advisable, in your capacity as O.C. Dip, to arrange
a time-table for the dipping of rats, - also to have their
"premises" sprayed.
(Sgd) C.A.PYKE. Capt.
 

-5-.
Headquarters,
Third Australian Division.
I will instruct V.0s. of this Division
to examine any rats submitted by those who have them, in accordance
with minute 1 (4).
If temperatures are to be taken in
accordance with your suggestion, it will be necessary to have
charts.
Re Dipping as suggested.— As the Dip is
a Corps matter, should this not be referred to Headquarters Corps?
If this is approved it will be necessary before making a time-table
to find out what Units have rats.
(Sgd) C.D.STRONG. Captain.
19-5-17.
A.D.V.S., 3rd Australian Division.
 

11th. AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE.

Open Warfare Scheme for 10th instant.

 

GENERAL IDEA. (1) A state of trench warfare has existed between our force 

(Blue) and enemy force (Red) on a general line. 

GURNY - lo BUISSON - COULOMBY - CAMPAGNE 1 oz BOULONNAIS.

(2) Blue force has subjected Red force to continuous attacks

and bombardmonts, and to relieve our pressure and to delay our main

attack, the enemy has retired Eastwards on front of Blue 1st Army

(North of us) and shows signs of doing likewise on our front.

(3) Enemy front line on 3rd Australian Division front runs

as follows:-

BOIS du THITRE - le BUISSON - point 400 yards East of HARLETTES.

 

SPECIAL IDEA. (1) On the night of the 9/10th May, the 11th Australian Inf-

antry Brigade is holding a frontage of 2000 yards - frontage running from

S to N, right flank on BOULOGNE - LUMBRES road - Left flank 2000 yards

N of this road. The front line trench runs N to S, 200 yards East of 

HARLETTES.

(2) The dispositions of the Brigade are as follows:-

(a) 42nd & 43rd Battalions in the line, 42nd on the right & 43rd on the 

left, each holding a front of 1000 yards.

Each of those Battalions is disposed as follows:-

Four companions in the line, each company with one Platoon plus

2 Lowis Gun sections in front line, 1 Platoon in support and 2 Platoons

(less 2 Lewis Gun Sections) in Battalion reserve.

(b) 44th & 41st Battalions in reserve. 44th Battalion billetted at

ALQUINES and 41st Battalion bivouacked and billetted at the West Lodge

of BOIS FORTE TAILLE and BULESCAMPS.

(c) Machine Gun Coy - 8 guns in the line

                                           8 guns in Brigade reserve.

(d) Trench Mortar Battery. 4 Mortars in line, 4 in Brigade Reserve, 

(3) On the morning of the 10th May, patrols of the 42nd & 43rd

Battalions report enemy trenches on their front, have been vacated by

enemy. Similar information comes to hand along the whole Corps front

and is further confirmed by aeroplance observation at 5 a.m. on morning

of 10th instant. Aeroplane reports enemy appears to hold line QUELMES

 LUMBRES - ELMES - NAVRANS, but has a strong outpost position on the 

line ZUTOVE - NORDAI - le VAL d' ACQUIN - N.D. des ARDENIS.

(4) At 2.30 a.m. 3rd Aust. Division receives orders to advance

from present front line at 11 a.m. and to take & hold defended line

SENINGHEM - "E" in B do 1' EGLISE - "C" in WESTBECOURT (frontage to

11th Aust. Infantry Brigade from LUMBRES - BOULOGNE Road to 2000 yards

North thereof), protected by a line of outposts about 1500 yards East

of main line defence

 

OPERATION. 11th Aust. Infantry Brigade will advance to new postition

as per Brigade Order "A" to be issued. 

 

(Sgd) G.F. OOTTEN. Major.

Brigade Major 11th Inf. Bde. A.I.F.