Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 15, 10 May - 9 June 1917, Part 2

12/5/17
At                   on

tp  On Friday 11^h/17, at  3 o'clock, one

Artillery  offcr & one Infty. officr, accompanied

by 2 soldiers with fixed bayonet. - Say

interpretation in [?] [?] near

La Clef de la Belgique - rifle went off

accidentally. - 

Ultimately saw Sr Dixon 9^th Bgde.-

R Pirmez . 1^st N.Z. Infty. Bgde.
                                

3?^th B^n.  Sr.Pellers -

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12/5/17

Notes for Conference with 9^th & 10^th Brigades, 13/5/17.

 

1. Extension of scope of attack

Object - to exploit success

                 capture guns

                 improve hold on ridge.

Blue line pushed out - we take in Bethlehem farm

Black line pushed out - to Hun's Walk.

2. Involves increase of task set to Division.

3. Objections to using Reserve Brigade -  No Bde H.Q.  ) & Signal arrangement.

                                                                               No Bn H.Q. )

                                                                               destroys unity of Command.

                                                                               destroys reserves in hand.

                                                                               will cause confusion

4. No hesitation about enlargement of tasks

(a) Visit to Virmy - Nature of ground.

                                   extent of Canadian tasks

(b) efficiency of our destructive bombardment, & increase

9c) probable disorganization of enemy.

5. Former dispositions wash-out ; but must adapt to existing Assembly arrangements.

6. Alteration of    (a) new positions of final front

                                      final support lines

                                 (b) new Brigade boundaries

                                 (c) increase of task of 9^th Bgde

                                                                          10^th   "

7. Details :- 9^th Bde with 3 Bⁿ ;   A for night flank trough

                                                           B for front line system } 450^x front

                                                           E for Ulster Reserve system

                                                            F Reserve

                     10^th Bde                      C All ground bet. La Douve & Bde [?]

                                                           D Douve Crossing & Sabient

                                                           G North of Douve to [ungodly?] trenches

                                                           H Subsequent operation.

9th  Bde to take on all consolidation & defence South of Douve this frees C

N.Z. to take over consolidation & defence of line N. of Hun's Walk.

Positions just N. of Gray Farm during the 2 hour halt. 

'Blue' line must be consolidated.

10^th Bde re line of xxxxx ^strong points between Uncanny Trench & Douve, to be connected later.

8. System of previous strong outposts - no further need - only covering parties

Line of Resistance to be "black" line - wiring in front. -

9^th   but 9^th Bde to seize new crater, if blown.

9. Observation from Septieme Barn.

10. - Consequential measures : -   1. Destructive Bombardment. 

                                                              2. Field gun barrages 

                                                              3. M.G. Barrages

                                                              4. S.O.S. action. 
 

11. Meeting Counterattacks :- Douve breaks up dine & defines direction
                                                       Army Boundary.

[If?] South of Douve - note flank action of 10^th Bgde.
[If?] North of Douve - enfilade fire from Ash Avenue spur.

& Artillery enfilade action

12. 10^th Bde - ^ enemy guns at Steipmast Fm.

13. Trenches to be consolidated

 

 

                                       9^th Bde          10^th Bde

Front line                      850                    610

Support line                 700                   360

                                                                                    

Total                               1550                  970

                                                                                    

 

i.e. 9^th Bde 1500 yds      = 750 men in 12 hrs

    10^th Bde  1000 yds     = 500 men in 12 hrs