Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 15, 10 May - 9 June 1917, Part 14

June 5/17
Corps Conference
Final - Clearing up doubts.
_________________________
Contract patrol Work - (Kennear) - Quesnay counterbattery. -
Flares - all quite understood - times all laid down.  -
Lewis Counterbattery work. -
(1) Get rid of counterbattery positions - a great many positions destroyed
but guns move 100 yds or so
(2) tackling new positions discovered day before.
(3) yesterday we had 8 successful shoots.
proposals - not all out yet -
All Quesnay positions searched all day to day
Have never yet disclosed all our guns -
12" & 8" guns are in Armentieres
Today & tomorrow are Counterbattery days.
Other Corps have suffered in their own guns.
(Powell) Today, we shall go on with the 6" on the trenches.
There are only about 20 batteries come in against us on whole Army front
[[Lewis?]] thinks there are more in from the photographs.
[[Lewis?]] will see XI Corps today
Zero hour is not settled. - About dawn on June 7 Thursday. -
Engagement of batteries that may open prior to Zero will be automatic.
Our trouble will come from the right flank, enfilading the new line. - this
is particularly so on N.Z & 4^th Austr. Div.
(Po ell) We are gassing by heavies now every night, & we shall have enough for
Z day, & at Zero hour. -
[[Jerome?]] will look after wirecutting in front of support line, while we shall take on
the wire in front of front line with 4.5" Hows with 106 fuzes.
If we want more 106 fuzes we have only got to ask for them (Powell)
Six motar machine guns for our reserve. -  X
There will be 11,000,000 rounds S.A.A. in reserve.
[[Progestor ?]] & 4" stokes guns - 1200 [[progectors?]] for Messines - wind not favorable
but if favorable, 3 a.m. tomorrow morning. -
[[?]] men to be fresh, and rested on Y day. -
Hot food, last thing.-
 

5/6/17
Shiny helmets, & bayonets, - fixing of bayonets.
carrying bayonets at the old "advance" or shoulder.     XX
Zero + 10 has disappeared.  A "New Zero" will be notified. - 
Work to the probability of new Zero being old Zero + 10. -
Mounted Troops - only 1 squadron. - moves to 0.32 central at
Zero + 5 hrs. -  3 detachments go onto & work N.E. -
Tanks - we should have his new orders.
We meet serious Counterattacks on the green line
The two new companies to be employed to do any carrying for L Company.
Mines - does everybody Know. -
time - Action on corps watch only. -
Maps.
Dropping of situation maps
Reports - importance of instant reports, negative as well as positive.
Divisional staff officers - especially Q - go up to see what is going on. -
Liaison
Employment 4^th N.Z. Brigade - 3 B^ns to Tanet, 1 Bⁿ for sundries.
Signpost for forward roads.
Infantry to help guns up.
Employment of pack animals.
Gas masks for pack animals - 1500 per Division - on the brow bands.
Water - likely to be shortage - men not to touch bottles till they reach
their final objective. - Troops to dig shallow wells to get washing
water. -
Keeping back sappers - Keep a good reserve.
We need not use of small surplus of tramway material for guns.
If a division is relieved in the line, we leave a small personal to guard our
tramways. -
Nobody out of Morbecque without Corps Authority
 

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E.M. 38
HEADQUARTERS
6 JUN 1917
G1/258/1863
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
57TH DIVISIONAL DETACHED FORCE.
THE DEFENSIVE BATTALIONS.
Detachment Headquarters,
5.6.1917.
1. INFORMATION. 
Information has been received that there has
been considerable re-distribution of the enemies'
forces opposing us and that the 9th Bavarian
Regiment which was South of the River LYS is now
astride it. The 5th Bavarian Regiment having been
withdrawn owing to the severe casualties it has
sufferred from our artillery.
2. INTENTION.
The Defensive Battalions will hold the line from
the River LYS to WESTMINSTER AVENUE, exclusive,
thereby securing the right of the attack and
forming a refused flank to the enemy.
[*xx] Heavy retaliation by the enemy's artillery may be
expected not only on our Front Line with supporting
points but in the back areas. The Defensive Force
will, without any further assistance, maintain the
line.
3. LINE OF ACTION ON "Z" DAY 
(a) On Z Day the front line will be thinned of
Lewis Guns and Posts, forming an outpost line whose
duties will be that of observation and resistance.
On no account will a retrograde movement be made.
The line will be held at all costs and in case of
a serious attack by the enemy, so break up his
attack that the line of resistance will shatter all
hopes of the enemy obtaining his object. The line
TOOL HOUSE - CANTERS FARM, the support line to 
BARKENHAM AVENUE - the latter itself - with SMYTHE AVENUE,
NAPOO AVENUE SWITCH - SEVENTREES AVENUE - CHESHIRE
BREASTWORKS - HUNTERS AVENUE and the supporting points
to WESTMINSTER AVENUE forming the Main Line of
Resistance which will never be given up.
(b) Owing to the extended front and the limited number
of troops available for the same, it is necessary that
the benefit of the careful reconnaissance that has
been made be profited by. Battalion Commanders must
so dispose of their Battalions that strong posts are
formed covering vulnerable points, and the best points
for mutual support of the one with the other be
obtained.
(c) The Sectors between TOOL COTTAGE and BUTCHERS
SHOP - RED HOUSE and MONMOUTH HOUSE covering the
WARNETON RAILWAY. LA WARNAVE RIVER and ECOLES FORT -
especially where the LEFHEER - PLOEGSTEERT Road

cuts our line - and DEAD HORSE CORNER, require especial
attention.
Battalion Commanders will therefore have schemes

drawn up to meet any tactical situation, which may
arise - To meet viz:-
(a) The enemy having failed in his counter-attacks
on the Offensive front, may, as an alternative,
attempt to threaten the Defensive front by counter
attacks.
(b) Heavy retaliation by the enemy, is only
naturally to be expected from the enemy and troops
must be so disposed that casualties are minimised
if possible by careful distribution.
[[*GOC
6/6/17 GM

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SECRET
(c) Should the enemy gain a temporary footing in our
line, a party especially earmarked for the local
counter attack - which must come at once - will be
launched to restore the situation. The use and employment
of Rifle Grenadiers, Bombers and the Lewis Gun
being thought of, in the opposition of the counter
attacking unit.
(d) Battalions will mutually co-operate in assisting
each other and Battalion Commanders will confer with
each other on this matter.
(e) Battalions will arise to this special occasion
in the strengthening of the line by an extra effort -
which being is of paramount importance xxx the localities 
alone above mentioned requiring special attention.
(f) Battalion Commanders will formulate schemes to
push forward reconnoitring patrols into the enemy's
lines xxx on the first suspicion of the enemy
evacuating his defensive line opposite their respective
units, and establish an outpost line - but - on no
account must the defensive line be jeopardised.
(g) At night the front line must be held as under normal
strength conditions.
(h) At 30 minutes zero a percentage of each Battalion
will fix bayonets, and make them conspicuous at various
points along the whole of the Sector in the Front - 
Support - and main Defensive Lines, in order to if
possible deceive the enemy into believing that an attack
will be made from the Defensive Front.
From zero to zero + 15 - vigorous fire action with
Lewis Guns and rifles - together with a rifle grenade
barrage will be maintained on the enemy's lines.
(j) The O.C.. 15th Machine Gun Batteries will sweep
the enemies lines as far as U.22.c central by
enfilade fire - together will all his C.Ts. and lines
 of approach opposite the Sector. At the same time the
Vickers Guns will be so disposed of that the localities
referred to in para. 3 (c) are swept by the Fire Action
of his guns - and assist the Infantry in theirs, should
the enemy attempt an offensive movement.
(k) O.C. Medium Trench Mortars and 4th New Zealand
L.T.M.B's will so dispose of their mortars, that
offensive action and defensive action may be assimulated
on the localities enumerate in para.3 (c) paying

especially attention to FACTOR FARM and its vicinity -
From zero to zero +15, Batteries will open at a rapid
rate of fire on the enemies lines - after which in
spasmodic bursts along the whole line.
Thomas Fairly
Captain,
Brigade Major,
57th Divisional Detached Force.
DISTRIBUTION

Copy No.
1.  O.C.

2. G.Staff.
3.A.G.Staff
4. M.Group R.A.
5.  10th Australian Inf.Bde.
6.  11th        "               "     "
7.  3rd Australian Division.
8. 33rd Bn. A.I.F.
9.  O.C. Medium T.M.s.
10. Sigs.Dept. Battalions.
11. 171st Inf. Bde.
12. 4th N.E. T.M. Battery.
13. 15th Motor M/Gun. Coy.
14. O.C. "B" Battalion.
15. "C" Battalion.
16. War Diary.
17.   "        "
18. File.
19. Spare.
20. Spare.

Goddard        9^th
Not in yet      10^th
Mainsbridge  11^th
Have been 
asked.
Am arty again
5/6/17
GM

GOC
Davis is
substitution for
GOC 10^th Bde
5/6/17 
GM

SECRET
MESSINES OFFENSIVE
Time table
6/6/17