Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 15, 1 April - 10 May 1917, Part 4

Conflict:

First World War, 1914–18

Part of Quest:

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

Subject:

Documents and letters

Status:

Open for review

Accession number:

RCDIG0000619

Difficulty:

(Copy) SECRET

DRAFT ONLY. 9/4/17.

MAGUM OPUS.

OUTLINE OF PLAN.

DISPOSITIONS of BRIGADES :- in Frontage - Two Brigades in line - each Brigade on a frontage of two Battalions. -

in Depth - Each Brigade in two lines - two

Battalions in each line.

2. DISPOSITIONS of BATTALIONS in Frontage - Each Battalion attacks with 3 or /^with 4

companies in line - (according to

frontage and nature of objectives.).

Each Company forming two platoon

waves on a two platoon frontage.

3. BOUNDARY BETWEEN RIGHT AND LEFT BRIGADES. A line running from the point where ANSCROFT AVENUE

joins our front line, through M in GREY FM. -

4. OBJECTIVES Leading four Battalions capture 1st objective (which

is the enemy's front line) and 2nd objective (which is

enemy's support line; and digs in on the line

D, E, F, G, H, J (see plan attached) which is 60

to 100 yards beyond enemy's support line and takes

in LA DOUVE FARM MOAT, and AVENUE FARM.

Rear Four Battalions pass through leading Four Battalions

(During a short halt of the Creeping Barrage) and

then follow the barrage to capture ULNA AVENUE and

the line of the ULCER RESERVE and ULSTER RESERVE

trenches, including SCHNITZAL FARM and GREY FARM. -

These four Battalions dig in on the line E, K, L,

M, N (see plan), and also establish an/outpost line

with picquets at points T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z marked

on map.

-2- 9/4/17.

5. REFERENCE LETTERS OF BATTALIONS The Battalions are lettered from right to left;

the leading Battalions being A, B, C and D, the

rear Battalions being E, F, G, H. On completion

of the operation, the Battalions will occupy the

relative positions shown thus :-

D, C, B, A )
H, G, F, E )

6. PROBABLE DISPOSITIONS OF BRIGADES & BATTALIONS. The probable dispositions will be as follows:-

A Bn. 9th Inf. Bde. 33rd Bn (Lt-Col. MORSHEAD)

B Bn do. 35th Bn (Lt-Col. GODDARD)

C Bn. 10th Inf. Bde. 39th Bn (Lt-Col. HENDERSON)

D Bn. do. 40th Bn. (Lt-Col. LORD)

E Bn. 9th Inf. Bde. 36th Bn. (Lt-Col. MILNE)

F Bn. do. 34th Bn. (Lt-Col. MARTIN)

G Bn. 10th Inf. Bde. 38th Bn. (Lt.-Col. DAVIS)

H Bn. do. 37th Bn. (Lt.-Col. SMITH)

7. RESERVES 11th Brigade furnishes Divisional Reserve,

one Battalion to move up ^before zero to vicinity of PROWSE

POINT and one Battalion to vicinity of FUSILIER

FARM, ^immediately that the assult^ing ~~is launched~~ ^Battalions are clear; remainder of
Reserve Brigade to remain under arms at ^the CATACOMBS

With the exception of C and H Battalions (whish owing

to Frontages and Objectives allotted will attack

with all four companies) ^at least one Company of each

Battalion will be held available as Brigade Reserves

and to provide Brigade Carrying Parties. - The

moppers up and Battalion carrying parties will be

drawn from the Assaulting Companies themselves. -

- 3 - 9/4/17

8. ARTILLERY BARRAGE & TIME TABLE It being understood that "Zero" is the time

when the leading Infantry leave our trenches, the

following time-table is proposed :-

(Here follows the time table arranged in

conference with "G" Staff & B.M., R.A.)

9. MACHINE GUN COMPANIES. One M.G.Co. will be held in reserve at the

CATACOMBS. - Prior to and during the assault,

the other three M.G. Companies will be employed to

barrage objectives, selected in consultation with

Corps Machine Gun Officer. - After capture of

all objectives, (and ~~when~~ ^at a clock time decided by Divisional

Commander) one M.G.Company will pass/under orders

of each front line Brigade for defence against

Counter-attack; the Divisional Machine Gun Co.

being held in Reserve in vicinity of ST YVES P.O.

near our outer flank, also for defensive employment.

10. ENGINEERS AND PIONEERS One Field Company, and Pioneer Battalion less 2

companies will be held in reserve. The remainder

will remain under the orders of the C.R.E. One

Field Co. and one Company Pioneers will be employed

by him with each of the attacking Brigades. -

One hundred Infantry ~~from 11th Brigade~~ will be

allotted to each of these two Field Companies.

Special Tasks. - Communications across NO MAN'S LAND

Formation of Strong points in our

new lines.

Clearing overland routes in captured

territory.

Bridging LA DOUVE RIVER.

Defensive wiring (if ordered) in

front of right Brigade.

-4- 9/4/17.

11. MEDIUM TRENCH MORTARS. These will be employed in cutting wire prior to

Zero; during the "time table" they will participate

in the barrage of enemy front lines from Zero to

Zero plus five minutes.

12. LIGHT TRENCH MORTARS. One Battery is held in reserve. - One Battery

remains at disposal of each attacking Brigade, to

move forward, under Brigadier's orders, into

captured territory, for employment defensively,

and to engage any suitable targets within range, -

particularly on the new front of the right Brigade.

13. APPROACH MARCH & ASSEMBLY ("G" to draft)

14. METHOD OF ISSUING FROM TRENCHES. ("G" to draft)

15. ADMINISTRATIVE. The following is a brief outline of proposed

arrangements.

(a) Traffic Control )

(b) Dumps, - & their replenishment ) Extracts from

(d) Water Supply ) be inserted.

(e) Concentration Camp )

(f) Tramway construction and )

operation. )

&c. &c. )

-5- 9/4/17.

16. POSITION OF HEADQUARTERS
Division STEENWERCK

9th Inf. Brigade U.20.a.8.9.

10th do. U.14.c.5.2.

11th do. CATACOMBS

A Bn. U.15.c.6.6½

B Bn. Prowse Point

C Bn. U.14.b.1½.9½

D BN. U.8.c.3½.4.

E Bn. U.15.c.9½.5.

F Bn. U.15.a.6½.1½.

G Bn. U.8.d.2½.1½.

H Bn. (not yet reconnoitred)

Note:- E, F, G, and H Battalion Headquarters will

move forward, after assault, to suitable dug-outs

in captured territory. -

17. ARTILLERY PREPARATIONS The whole of the Gun positions, Group H.Q., O.P's.,

Communications, liaison, dumps and tramways have

been settled in accordance with the orders of

B.G., and R.A.

18. DISPOSITIONS AFTER OPERATION In accordance with the situation, and at times

to be determined by the Divisional Commander,

the captured ground will be organized for defence

in depth, on the basis of a single Brigade front,

with two Battalions in the line and two in close

support. - If not otherwise employed, the 11th

Brigade, with Headquarters at the CATACOMBS, with

its associated Machine Gun Co., Light Trench

Mortar Battery, Field Co , and one Company of

Pioneers, will be allotted to this duty, the

troops of the assaulting Brigades being withdrawn

in stages to billets and camps within the concentration

area, to rest and reorganize; -

-6- 9/4/17.

those in the most forward positions being the

first to be relived. -

19. DEFENSIVE FRONT STE YVES TO RIVER LYS. Inasmuch as two Battalions of the Reserve Brigade

are proposed to be pushed forward in immediate

support of the operations, as per para. 7, and

200 of the remaining two Battalions will be

attached to Field Companies, it will be seen that

the total of unallotted troops remaining at the

disposal of the Divisional Commander will be less

than two Battalions. It is hoped, therefore,

that the garrison of the Defensive front -

estimated to require two Battalions and a Brigade

of Artillery, can be supplied form another

formation, as foreshadowed in Corps Provisional

Plan, para. 6. - The left flank of this Garrison

will be available for defensive measure covering

the ground south of the line of ULTIMO AVENUE

(inclusive), and liaison will be established,

for this purpose, between this garrison and our

right assaulting Brigade. -

20. MISCELLANEOUS The following measures have still to be considered: -

(a) Arrangements for signalling our progress by

light signals.

(b) Arrangements for S.O.S action upon new front,

by day and by night

guidance of Infantry.

SECRET 9.4.17

MAGNUM OPUS

Preliminary Outline

10th A.I.B

THE DISPOSI TIONS OF THE BRIGADE -

39th.Battalion
1ST. Objective - ULRICA trench from the

Right Bank of La DOUVE to Brigade Right

boundar y, a frontage of 55 0 yds.

2nd. Objective - ULRICA support from LA DOUVE

to Brigade Right boundary, a frontage of

550 yds.

400th. Battalion

1st. Objective - ULRICA trench U.8.b.00.40.

to RIVER DOUVE, frontage 400 yds.

2nd. Objective - ULNA Switch inclusive from

ULNA support to the RIVER, frontage 300 yds.

(It is desired to extend the frontage to

(U.8.b.00.40. on the left)

38th. Battalion less 2 Coys.

3rd Objective - Portion of ULSTER RESERVE.

Strong point at GREY FARM, and line of

ULSTERR RESERVE to the RIVER DOUBE,

frontage 350 yds.

(The desirability of a strong point to

( the EAST of Road at U.10.a.15.50 is

( suggested.)

37th. Battalion

(3rd. Objective - ULCER RESERVE from Brigade

Left Boundary to the RIVER, frontage 500 yds

4th Objective - UPSET (new) TRENCH from

Brigade Left Boundary to RIVER,

frontage 500 yds; and two strongpoints,

one at BETHLEAN FARM and the other at

HUT.

2 Coys. 38th. Battalion (BRIGADE RESERVE.

2. & 3. INTERNAL DISPOSITIONS OF THE BATTALIONS -

39th.Battalion

Four Companiesin line, each company with

two platoons in line, making eight platoons

in the FIRST WAVE.

First Wave to take SECOND OBJECTIVE, and

consolidate the new line "D F ".

SecondWave to take FIRSTOBJECTIVE,&to

supply Moppers Up.

(2)

2. & 3. INTERNAL DISPOSITIONS OF THE BATTALIONS (Continued) -

40th. Battalion
Two Companies to assemble in our front

and support trenches immediately NORTH of

the DOUVE - the First Wave to advance in

line with the First Wave of the Brigade on

Our left, and to push on to ULNA SUPPORT and

ULNA SWITCH. The Second Wave to Provide

Moppers Up for the front line trench, and to

cooperate with the ThirdWave in constructing

cross ings over the RIVER DOUVE in NO MAN'S

LAND. The remaining two Companies in two

Waves - Third and Fourth Waves. The Third

Wave cooperates with thesecond Wave in

constructingthe crossings. The Fourth Wave
completes the takingof the First Objective,

and ultimately sends forward help towards

the digging of the new line "D F ".

38th. Battalion
Two Companies in two Waves. The Third

Wave goes through to the furthermost edge

of GREY FARM Strong Point and theline of

trenches prolonging it towards the RIVER.

The Forth Waveprovides Moppers Up and

takes ULSTER RESERVE.

37th. Battalion

Drosses the DOUVE RIVER by crossings

placed in position by the 40th. Battalion.

Fifth Wave goes to UPSET TRENCH and the

two Strong Point positions.

The Sixth Wave supplies Moppers Up, and

takes ULCER RESERVE.

4. DISTRIBUTION OF LEWIS GUNS DURING CONSOLIDATION-

38th. Battalion
Four LewisGuns garrisoning the suggested

Strong point and guarding the Road running

NORTH EAST from it.

The other four in the hands of Company

Officers in the consolidated line.

37th. Battalion
Four Lewis Guns in each StrongPoint. One

gun in U.10.a.0.7.

The remainder of Lewis Guns in the new

lines.

5. EMPLOYMENT OF VICKERS GUNS -

There does not seem to be much chance of

using Vickers Guns on the actual Brigade Sector during the

Assault, and a first-hand knowledge of the ground is necessary

before adequate tasks could be allotted.

3.

6. RESERVES IN OURLINE -

Two Companies of the 38th. Battalion, will

form the Brigade Reserve.

7. STRENGTH ANDORGANIZATION OF CARRING PARTIES -

FromBridge to Battalion - One Officer and

40 men to each of the 37th. and 38th. Battalions.

Company carriers, from Battalion to Company,

t wo sections/per Company.

8. SUPPLIES OF TOOLS, WIRE, and AMMUNITION -

A Brigade Dump, and Battalion Dumps for the

39th. and 40th. Battalions will be established in or near our

front line trench, and well stocked beforehand.

Company carrying parties of the 39th. and 40th.

Battalions will carry the required stores direct from their

Battalion Dumps. Company carrying parties of the 37th. and

38th. Battalions will be assembled at BrigadeDump before ZERO

hour, andloaded/with supplies in anticipation of requirements.

Battalion carrying parties of 40 menper

battalion of the 37th. and 38th. Battalions under an Officer

will carry forward material to establish battalion dumps in

rear of the third objective.

9. METHOD OF ASSEMBLY, &c.

The 39th. and 40th. Battalions in our front

line trench will sally ports at the rate of at least one per

platoon.

The 37th. and 38th. Battalions - The

preliminary assembly is to be provided for in the support

trenches and avenues as close to the front line as possible.

This cannot be arranged in detail without further knowledge

of the locality.

10. KEEPING DIRECTION DURING ADVANCE -

It is not anticipated that the matter of

direction will give any great difficulty in this case. The

First and Second Objectives of the 40th. Battalion offer some

slight difficulty, but it isproposed to attack them at first

in a due EASTERLY direction, which will bring the first Wave

to the southern half ofULNA SUPPORT. This fact coupled with

the barrage should make ULNA SWITCH untenable. A slight

change of direction to the left will be necess ary for this

Wave toreach its final objective.

11. CROSSING LA DOUVE-

The suggested method has been indicated in

the above "Dispositions of Battalions", viz, for two

Companies of the 40th. Battalion to assemble in our front

trenches NORTH of the D OUVE, andto attack in an EASTERLY

direction, OneCompany will make good the trenches between the

BEAK and the southern half of ULNA SUPPORT.

Parties detailed from Second Company will

cooperate with otherparties from the Third Company in placing

across theRIVER in several places between the BEAK and ULRICA

TRENCH light bridges previously constructed by the Engineers

and carried out before ZERO hour.

WRamsay McNicoll B.G.

10th A.I.B 9.4.17

SECRET

SECRET.

2nd ANZAC.

No. S.G. 109

10/4/17.

Major General J. Monash, C.B., V.D.,

Commanding 3rd Australian Div ision

The attached notes have been received from

G.H.Q. regarding the policy which governs the employment

of the R.F.C.,during the present operations.

The Commander-in-Chief has directed that the

notes should be made known to Divisional Commanders, and

that the paper is not to be reproduced.

CW Cwyman

B.G.,G.S.,

2nd ANZAC Corps.

Lt Col. Jackson.

For your personal perusal - I do not

propose to use this document, except to meet

criticisms of our air policy which may be

varied by our Artillery or other units. Please

return to me -

J.M.

11/4/17

GW

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Jen

Last edited on:

8 December 2024, 1:31 pm

Last updated: 8 December 2024