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

Copy

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION

Divisional Headquarters

7th June 1917

(*Each Artillery group has 5 or 6 batteries

each of 4 or 6 guns or howitzers.*)
 

"G" Staff (operations) A. D. V. S. (7 000 animals - [[ducfly?]]  pack)

A.Q. Staff (administration) 2nd. Anzac Corps R.A. (Counterbattery groups).

C.R.A. (artillery & ammunition - 8 groups).

C.R.E. (Engineers)

Div. Sig. Coy. (Communications)

9th. Aust. Inf. Bde. }

10th.        -do-           } 12 000 Infantry

11th.         -do-           }

3rd. Aust. Pioneer Bn. (all trades)

Lieut.-Col Geddes, O.C. Defensive Battalions. 
(2 000 Infantry)

A.D.M.S. (Medical & wounded) 

Div. Train. (Supply)

A.P.M. (Traffic & prisoners)

Liaison Officer. (Control of civil population)

"B" xx Bn. Heavy Branch M.G.C. (Tanks)

O.C. No.2 Special Coy. R.E. (Projector Gas offensive)

O.C. "L" Special Coy. R.E. (Cloud gas offensive) - 112 Vickers guns).

D.M.G.C. Divisional Machine guns

Corps Heavy Artillery.  (Siege groups)

I desire to convey my gratitude to all Commanders

and all Troops of the Division for the magnificent valour and xxxxxx

splendid co-operation, as well as the high technical skill which all

ranks and all arms and departments have displayed in the achievement

of this day's great victory.- It now only remains to show that the

Division isx justx as well able to hold on to what it has won, and

is more than a match for the enemy in the hastily improvised

defensive.

(signed) John Monash

Major-General

T.C.   Commanding Third Australian Division.

A great victory;  thoroughly defeated the 4th Bavarian Division (under

Prince Franz, and the 3rd Bavarian Division - (my old antagonists E. of

Armantiers). - These Divisions practically blotted out so far as Infantry concerned;  

both opposite my sector.   On my left the N. Zealanders had Saxons

& Wirttenbergers who also got a bad beating. Further north, Prussians -

Got many prisoners, 77 m/m guns & M. Guns. My losses about 2 000 - 

In great haste & all well

J.M.

             _____________________________

The above is an exact replica of document received from John on

June 9^th - except that the notes w are in lead-pencil in John's writing

in the original.

[[LR?]]

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.

S E C R E T.

Divisional Headquarters,

7th June, 1917.

Headquarters,

2nd A. & N. Z. Army Corps.

Reference proposed further advance, to be

carried out by this Division, I beg to submit the following:-

RESOURCES.   If all goes well, I shall have by evening of

June 8th the following troops:-

(a).  4 Battalions at nearly full strength, rested

and of full fighting value, i.e., 3 of 11th and 1 of

10th Brigades.

(b).   3 Battalions in reduced numbers which have been

split up and will require a certain time to reorganize.

(c).   5 Battalions which have fought in the front

line to-day, in reduced numbers, and 48 hours without

sleep.

I consider that to ensure success, having

regard to the limited time for preparation, the task undertaken 
should not be greater than can be adequately dealt

with by 4 fresh Battalions.

FRONTAGE OF ATTACK.

Having regard to probable depth of further

advance, the frontage should be say 2,000 to 2,500 yards.

OBJECTIVE.

A new line, to be called the Red Line, running

as follows,viz:- from the Green line at about U.4.a.10.2½

and running Southerly, so as to take in the whole of the LA

POTTERIE Farm system as far South as ASH AVENUE, thence

South-Westerly to join up with the consolidated new crater,

North of FACTORY FARM.- Approximate length of new front

2,500 yards.

PLAN.

10th Brigade, with one Battalion to capture

UNCANNY Trench South of portion captured 
to-day, and whole

objective North of the DOUVE.

-2-.

11th Brigade, with 3 Battalions, to capture whole

objective South of the DOUVE, and to make a new flank to 

join up with the crater.

PREPARATIONS.

An intense destructive bombardment by Heavy Artillery

including wire cutting with instantaneous fuzes, for not  

less than 6 hours will be required.  Time would not permit

of digging orthodox assembly trenches.

ARTILLERY.

An 18-pdr. Barrage of 20 full Batteries, with a back

barrage of 4¼" Howitzers and Heavies will be required.- The

blocking of approaches from the South and East should be

undertaken by the Heavies.- Usual neutralizing fire with

gas and tear shell.

MACHINE GUNS.

The Vickers guns now available to me would be sufficient

provided the barrels are in good condition, and time must

be allowed to take up positions and set the Guns.

SMOKE SCREENS might be used to South-East if wind is favorable.

DATE & TIME.

In order to effect surprise, and to introduce a new

method I propose to assault one hour before end of evening

twilight, so that the line may come to rest before darkness

sets in, and consolidation can be done under cover of darkness;

approximate time of ZERO 9 to 9.30 p.m. - The earliest

date that this operation could be attempted would be June

9th, but an additional 24 hours would give a greater guarantee

of success.

RESERVES.

As this operation would use up the balance of my rested

Infantry, I consider that one Brigade should be attached to

me, as Divisional Reserve, to be prepared to take over

the line defensively, in case in the interim my troops are

heavily stressed or suffer much from the enemy shell fire.- I

suggest that the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade be so

-3-.

attached.
ARTILLERY PERSONNEL.    It will be essential to reinforce the

Artillery with rested personnel.

J H Steele

Major-General.

Commanding Third Australian Division.

COPY.

Divisional Headquarters,
7/6/17.
 

Dear Doctor,

It is at Uncle's suggestion that I am choosing this time to

write to you of the glorious success of the latest offensive. 

This note is written with the frequent interruptions that go 

to show that at present we are in the middle of the biggest battle that

we have yet had - and now if it were not for the news that is constantly 
coming in by telephone, by telegraph, by aeroplane, wireless, motor

despatch orders and a hundred other means all of which go to piece the

whole story together.   Not the least used method of obtaining informa-

is that from slightly wounded men who reach the various aid posts.
Prisoners often have valuable information if they can be got at in time;
captured documents galore require much sifting, and what a longing they
produce and how many mysteries do they not solve - papers and plans
that, could we have spirited them here a month ago, would have saved
hours and hours of minute examination of aeroplane photos which was
necessary to reconstruct all the details of the enemy defences.
An hour before dawn was the time fixed for the commencement of
the drama.   What a drama!   And what an opening!
The evening was close and stormy, and about 8p.m. the first
few drops of rain cleared the air and gave an indication of what might
be the condition of affairs if it were to develop into a downpour -
after an hour, however, all the rain had passed over, and nothing
but/ 

− 2 −

but the uncertainty of the wind left anything to be desired.

At 1.30 a.m. everything was the same.  The first few stabs

of flame indicated a battery in action on our own front, whilst the

sound of more distant artillery reminded one that the thousands of

troops who were moving into their assembly position in the front line

were not being harassed by the decimation fire which was the Boches'

only hope of preventing or postponing the inevitable - but, even

still, he had until 3 a.m. to bring down that withering fire which

meant annihilation of our troops and our hopes.

Soon after 2 a.m. came the news that the whole of the troops

were massed in our front trenches, having only been inconvenienced by

the usual amount of gas shelling which the Boche puts over nightly -

obviously he is all innocent that tonight's the night of nights, and

with the dawn -

A tense hour this for many thousands, not only for those who

crouched in the uncertain protection of a shallow trench knowing that

their existence depends on every man of the many thousands spread over

several miles of country doing nothing to indicate their presence.

And the last half hour, when everyone knows that however much

the Boche shells there is to be no reply by our artillery.  But the

time passes on, minute by minute, until there are only a few seconds to

go.  One begins to feel freer for every second now means a power of

difference - and it is marvellous to think that it has been

possible for an army of men to get within 200 yards of the E. front line

without detection - what a difference if, as happened last night

an/

 − 3 −

an Enemy plane flying low should drop a light and detect that mass

of humanity.  The ready waiting artillery of the Enemy want but a

signal to distribute the fire which is the only hope of theirs –

the annihilation of our assembled troops.

Only a few seconds now before zero – nothing matters

now – all one can hope now is that the E. reply to our fire will

have been affected by our various counter-battery methods – and

the question is whether the 4 mines on our front upon which a

stupendous amount of work has been done during the Winter will 

prove to have effective leads.

But zero hour arrives like the switching on of a distant

line of blinking lights, and while all noises mingle one distinguishes

that the mines have gone by the dull, red mass of flame, with, later

a rising cloud of smoke which settles for a moment above the mine – 

and now everything is awake – a tornado of noise, myriads of wicked

stabs of light and the hundred and one kinds of flare s which the

Boche immediately puts up.   As time slowly moves on the number

of flares decrease;  a dozen or so places still continue to fire 

a succession of them – red, white and golden rain – fewer and

fewer, until – and now one begins to notice the sickly smell of gas

and one/s eyes are affected by the lachrymatory gas which the Boche
is putting over in the hope of harassing our invincible men.

News comes in and everything is uncertain for a moment –more

news/

-4-

news saying we are up to the time table – more news, and still we

advance per time table.

Everything settles down to the regular sequence of events
 that was fixed a week ago – occasions of contradictory news, of

uncertainty, but always, finally, comes news of regular successes –

and the ultimate – All objectives taken. 

Then come in details of guns captured, of prisoners taken,

machine guns silenced, and, ultimately, that casualties are light.

Everything becomes normal and business is carried on as in a 

city office until news of massing troops begins to arrive;  and then

the business consists in such things as switching guns of all calibres

on to targets that give trouble.

Must close now.

Uncle is quite well and very pleased.

Please remember me to all.   Much love.

(Signed) Eric.

7/6/17
"C"  Form                         Army Form C. 2123.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.  No.of Message 141

ARMY
7 VI 17
TELEGRAPHS

Prefix      Sm      Code      G 3      Words      19
₤    s.    d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions.
Received
From Bn01
By JNG
Sent, or sent out
At ...........................m.
To ...........................
By ...........................
Office Stamp.
Handed in at BMO Office 7.30 am. Recd 7.34 am
TO                  3rd   Aust   Divn

Sender's Number.    
Day of Month    7^th
In reply to Number.
AAA

Many  congratulations
from  us  all  in
capture  of  front  field
gun

FROM                     2nd  Anzac  0730
PLACE & TIME
 

7/6/17
333
"C"  Form                        Army Form C. 2123.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.  No. of Message...

ARMY
7 VI 1917
TELEGRAPHS

Prefix      Sm      Code     B G      Words      31
₤    s.    d.
Charges to collect
Service Instructions.
Received
From  BNO
By Room
Sent, or sent out
At ............................m.
To .............................
By .............................
Office Stamp.
Handed in at BNO Office 2.22 pm Recd. 2.45 pm
TO        General  Monash  Commanding
              3rd  Aus  Divn

Sender's Number.    G 252
Day of Month.    7th
In reply to Number.
AAA

Please  convey  to  all  ranks
of  your  Division  my  heartiest
thanks  and  congratulations  on  their
brilliant  capture  of  the  BLACK
LINE
General  Godley

(* 2/50p *)
 

Repeat   to  Bgds  &  Artillery
Done       Divns.

FROM                   2^nd  Anzac  1355
PLACE & TIME