Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 15, 10 May - 9 June 1917, Part 16
514
7/6/17
"C" Form
Army Form C. 2123.
(In books of 100.)
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message...
Prefix ...... Code ....... Words ......
Received Sent, or sent out
From ......... At ..............m.
By Voner To ..............
By ..............
Office Stamp.
ARMY
AY - 7.VI.17 C -
TELEGRAPHS
Service Instructions.
Handed in at the BnO at 8.49 pm . Received 8.31 pm.
TO 3rd Aust Division
*Sender's Day of In reply AAA
Number Month to Number
G.336 7th
The Corps commander has
much pleasure in forwarding
the following message from
the Army Commander AAA
Begins "Will you please
accept my warmest
congratulations and convey
to all troops of your
corps my appreciation
of the splendid work
they have done today"
ends HEREBERT PLUMER.
Genl Commanding Second
Army
8.40 pm
FROM 2nd Anzac
PLACE & TIME 8.50 pm
341
7/6/17
"C" Form
Army Form C. 2123.
(In books of 100.)
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No. of Message...
Prefix SM Code LBl Words 35
Received Sent, or sent out
From Genl At ..............m.
By Roon To ..............
By ..............
Office Stamp.
ARMY
AY - 7.VI.17 C -
TELEGRAPHS
Service Instructions.
Handed in at the Aus. Office 11 12w....m Received 2.54 pm.
TO General Monash
3rd Aus Divn
*Sender's Day of In reply AAA
Number Month to Number
7th
Delighted to receive your excellent
news please convey heartiest congratulations
to everyone and you know
how heartily I wish you
all every further possible success
AAA
J/58B
FROM General Birdwood
PLACE & TIME
Units
GOC has received the
following message from
General Birdwood begins
AAA X X X
X /X /
ends AAA
ORDER OF THE DAY.
THE complete success of the attack made yesterday by the Second Army under the command of
General Sir Herbert Plumer is an earnest of the eventual final victory of the Allied cause.
The position assaulted was one of very great natural strength, on the defences of which the
enemy had laboured incessantly for nearly three years. Its possession overlooking the whole of
Ypres Salient was of the greatest tactical and strategical value to the enemy.
The excellent observation which he had from this position added enormously to the
difficulty of our preparations for the attack and ensured to him ample warning of our intentions.
He as therefore fully prepared for our assault ad had brought up reinforcements of men and
guns to meet it.
He had the further advantage of the experience gained by him from many previous defeats
in battles such as the Somme, the Ancre, Arras and Vimy Ridge. On the lessons to be drawn
from these he had issued carefully thought-out instructions.
Despite all these advantages the enemy has been completely defeated. Within the space of
a few hours all our objectives were gained, with undoubtedly very severe loss to the Germans.
Our own casualties were, for a battle of such magnitude, most gratifyingly light.
Th full effect of this victory cannot be estimated yet, but that it will be very great is
certain.
Following on the great successes already gained it affords final and conclusive proof that
neither strength of position nor knowledge of and timely preparation to meet impending assault
can save the enemy from compete defeat, and that, brave and tenacious as the German troops
are, it is only a question of how much longer they can endure the repetition of such blows.
Yesterday's victory was due to causes which always have given and always will give success,
viz : the utmost skill, valour and determination in the execution of the attack following on the
greatest forethought and thoroughness in preparation for it.
I desire to place on record here my deep appreciation of the splendid work done, above and
below ground as well as in the air, by all Arms, Services and Departments, and by the
Commanders and Staffs, by whom, under Sir Herbert Plumer's orders, all means at our disposal
were combined, both in preparation and in execution, with a skill, devotion and bravery beyond
all praise.
The great success gained has brought us a long step nearer to the final, victorious, end of
the War, and the Empire will be justly proud of the troops who have added such fresh lustre
to its arms.
[this page has been transcribed fully]
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
G1/258/
Divisional Headquarters
8/6/17
REPORT ON THE CONDITIONS OBTAINING IN THE LEFT SECTOR OF THE
'GREEN' LINE HELD BY THE 10th AUST. INF. BDE. PLUS
ONE BATTALION OF THE 11th AUST. INF BDE.
-------------------------
The situation generally is/satisfactory both tactically and
from an Administrative point of view.
This Brigade holds from the RIVER DOUVE on the Right, where
it is in touch with the left Battalion of the 9th Inf. Bde., to
HUNS WALK on the left where it is in touch with the 48th Bn. of
the 12th Inf. Bde., 4th Aust. Division. (both places inclusive)
Dispositions are as follows. -
RIGHT SECTOR. 38th Battalion. Commander Major MAUDSLEY.
Front Line. - 8 to 10 Platoons.
Support Line - 2 to 3 Platoons.
Strong point - SCHNITZEL FARM.-- 1 platoon.
Line of Shell Craters. U.9.s.75.95.- 1 platoon.
LEFT SECTOR, 44th Bn. Lt--Col. W.O.MANSBRIDGE, and 37th Bn.
Lieut -Colonel W.J. SMITH.
Front Line.- 3½ Companies of the 44th Bn.
Support Line.- 3 Platoons of the 37th Bn. under Major STOREY.
RESERVE TRENCH.- U.9.s.1.7. (approx.) - ½ Company.
2. The troops are tired, and have, from my personal knowledge,
been subjected to a barrage of heavy guns of the following calibres.-
4.2". 5.9". 8". and 11" from 12 noon to 5.15 p.m. The enfilade
fire which comes from DEULEMONT, and which is directed by a German
observer, has enfiladed the troops in the left sector of our GREEN
LINE during the whole of the afternoon. About 4p.m. a regular
barrage of heavy guns was instituted. I, personally, saw the enemy
massing for attack opposite the left of our left Bn., apparently
opposite the junction of the 3rd and 4th Australian Divisions. A
message from Capt. ROCKCLIFFE re this attempted counter-attack had
been sent through by the time I reached the 44th Bn. headquarters,
which had shifted into ^a shell hole in the vicinity of SCHNITZEL FARM.
Our barrage opened as quickly as possible under the circumstances as
far as I could judge, but it appeared to me that the counter-battery
work of our artillery was bad; although under the fire of the enemy
artillery myself, I feel that I retained xxx my sense of proportion;
and had the counter-battery work of our heavy artillery been good,
- 2 -
8/6/17
the continued bombardment by the enemy's heavies would not have
been possible. A detailed account of the conditions obtaining
in the Left Sector of the GREEN LINE, held by the 10th Aust
Inf. Bde. ^3rd Aust Div will be given in part II of this report.
Lieut-Colonel,
General Staff.
"A" Form
Army Form C. 2121.
(In pads of 100.)
No. of Message ..........
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.
Prefix ...... Code .......m.
Office of Origin and Service Instructions.
COPY
Words Charge
Sent
At ...........m.
To ............
By ............
This message is on a/c of:
....................... Service.
(Signature of "Franking Officer.")
Recd. at ............m.
Date ....................
From ...................
By ..........................
(*A*)
TO 10th BHQ
Sender's Number Day of Month In reply to Number AAA
* S26 A day 8th
We are in touch with
48th Bn. They are
consolidating OWL TRENCH. We
are going to join them at
junction of HUNS WALK AAA OWL
TRENCH and SEPTIEME BARN
We will cross UNCANNY
TRENCH just below the "C"
in UNCANNY
From 8.45 am
Place
Time
Sgd W O Mansbridge Lt Col
"A" Form
Army Form C. 2121.
(In pads of 100.)
No. of Message ..........
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.
Prefix ...... Code .......m.
Office of Origin and Service Instructions.
COPY
Words Charge
Sent
At ...........m.
To ............
By ............
This message is on a/c of:
....................... Service.
(Signature of "Franking Officer.")
Recd. at ............m.
Date ....................
From ...................
By ..........................
(*B*)
TO 10 BHQ
Sender's Number Day of Month In reply to Number AAA
* S31 A 8th
sketch shewing new position
of "C" Coy herewith. They
have joined up with "A" Coy
of the left Batt.
URGENT
From 9.30 am
Place
Time
Sgd W O M Lt Col
CO 44th Bn
"A" Form
Army Form C. 2121.
(In pads of 100.)
No. of Message ..........
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.
Prefix ...... Code .......m.
Office of Origin and Service Instructions.
COPY
Words Charge
Sent
At ...........m.
To ............
By ............
This message is on a/c of:
....................... Service.
(Signature of "Franking Officer.")
Recd. at ............m.
Date ....................
From ...................
By ..........................
(*"C"*)
TO OC ABC & D Coy
Sender's Number Day of Month In reply to Number AAA
* S32 A 8th
Following from 10th Brigade HQ
"Best congratulations AAA. Have
detailed 37th to help AAA Try &
get to original Green Line at
UNCANNY TRENCH and OWL SUPPORTS
AAA"
Company Commanders will carry
on consolidations rapidly in their
present lines until thoroughly
secure. A supply of sandbags
will be available shortly.
C.O. sends best wishes
From 10/6 am
Place
Time
Sgd CC Hillary Capt
Adjt
"A" Form
Army Form C. 2121.
(In pads of 100.)
No. of Message ..........
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.
Prefix ...... Code .......m.
Office of Origin and Service Instructions.
COPY
Words Charge
Sent
At ...........m.
To ............
By ............
This message is on a/c of:
....................... Service.
(Signature of "Franking Officer.")
Recd. at ............m.
Date ....................
From ...................
By ..........................
(*"D"*)
TO OC ABC & D Coy
Sender's Number Day of Month In reply to Number AAA
* S27 A 8th
Your MC 278 replied to by runner
G. Sketch sent at 9.30 am shewing
present time. Uncanny support
not held because 4th Div do not
hold OWL SUPPORT. We are joined
to them at OWL TRENCH which
they hold. 37th Batt. should
not be withdrawn until 38th
arrive. This relief could take
place tonight. The point
mentioned B.4.a.58.18 could be
exploited and retained after
preparation and Trench Mortar fire
From 12.20 pm
Place
Time
Sd W O Mansbridge Lt Col
CO 44th Bn AIF.
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