Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 15, 10 May - 9 June 1917, Part 6

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG0000620
Difficulty:
3

Page 1 / 10

SEORLE 22327 PRECIS OF DETAILS WITH REGARD TO TASKS, ASSEIBLY POSITIONS, AND APPROACH MARCH OF THIRD AUSTRALLAN DIVISION. 1. The cattached tracing, to be fitted over the 1:10,000 Map, shews. (a). The allotment of tasks to Battalions up to the BLACK line. (D). Assembly Areas for Battalions. (e). Lines on which to consolidate. (d). Lines of Approach. (e). Boundaries between Brigades. Timings of creeping barrage on the Divisional boundary, also (E). timings of this barrage on the enemy front and support lines. Other timings of creeping barrage have been omitted, in order not to confuse the diagram. The 2t barrage 50 yards in front of the enemy's front line South of the DOUUE is with a view to dealing with the many listening saps which run out from this portion of his line. on our Right the conditions are not the same, inasmuch as there are not so many listening saps, and the distance be- tween the opposing lines is less, thus a barrage in front of the enemy'’s front line on our Right would be inadvisable. As regards (a) - The task and assembly position of Mr Battalion, and the time at which it moves forward, is still Indefinite. - Other Battalions have clearly defined tasks and will issue from our front line immediately after Lero hour. It is estimated that all assaulting Battalions except Nr will be clear of our front line inmediately not later than plus 6 minutes, and probably by: plus 4 minutes. Cr Battalion, when it has fulfilled its mission, will assemble and be available for employment as carriers, working parties, etc. pr Battalion, having squeesed Ct out, will be res- ponsible for consolidation. This arrangement has been rendered necessary owing to the direction of the DOUUE River. As regards (D) - It was intended that Hr Battalion should assemble well forward, but now seeing that the BLACK line will not be left until plus 10 hours, it is thought more advisable to keep Hr Battalion in the Subsidiary line, as shewn on tracing. - This position had formerly been allotted to one of the Battalions of the Reserve Brigade. The Reserve Brigade will be located as follows:- One Battalion in the CATACOMBS. One Battalion BUNHILL ROW. One Battalion along the Subsidiary line from ST. ANDRENS DRIVE towards the ADVANCED ESTAMINET. The Battalion of the Reserve Brigade which holds the front line during the last 6 or 8 days, will be withdrawn to a billeting area to be selected, probably behind our defensive front, but not more than half an hour's march from the front line on our offensive front. The exact position of assembly of Mr Battalion has yet to be determined. As regards (e) - The more Eastern of the BLACK lines will be reached and consolidated as one distinct operation, but the Western BLACK line will also be dug as a support to the other. - Thus when the GREEN line is taken there will be snce never closer than 200 yards to two complete lines of degenge 000
121. each other. This will necessitate the enemy using two distinct lots of guns if he attempts to barrage both lines at one and the same time. The probable result will be that we shall have two lines throughout; the weak places in the one being covered by the strong places in the other. As regards (4) - Each pair of Battalions will have a separate line of appreach from its billeting area forward. The whole of the Reserve Brigade, except one Battalion, will be in position prior to the approach march of the other two Brigades. The Battalion of the Reserve Brigade for BUHHLLL ROW will follow the assaulting Brigades. The action of the Heavy Artillery, 4.Sr Hows. standing barrage and gas and smoke activities have not been referred to, but as regards the last named, it is proposed to issue gas from the Defensive frent if wind conditions are suitable, and to put up a smoke barrage on our Right flank by means of 4 Stokes Mortars in all conditions of weather except a wind blowing from due South.
Magnum Opin Awailable Artillary I For Comy 9.2 Hows. 8 384 Copr. 156 4.5 Hows- 342 18 po. 1026 217 Morta 15th Hors 2013 12 Hows. 8 C Guns 16 COpi Grins Heavy F.M. 21/51 For Coops 28 24 116 54 36 108 324 48 + under Army 12 order
FN Moaurs Chawn as awaiting abooption on A.1.F. Depats inU.R. fomenae roee of Officers daked 33rd April 1917 A Bor Tranning S Dw Artyf W. Weover 3 Bn H. J Moore A. Cooke-Russell H Bir Major 3 Bir F.P. Carr Sor 35 H. Smythe 1o Franng Bir Sir Maxwell aoe Allerr Bors Eeast Bor Reet Gerry 59 Fterter mc 11 Bir do for Smith Bor callar off in Armfield Major Ber H. W. Cooper grut Duarty H. Lanfman grut Fraining Brr 12 for Major Clampbell telit 42 Ber 1.H. A M.Donnell e Bn 26 West 415 fer 2115 Wills 12 Bir Peterson 413 Sr Redmond lase 430 Por 2 Rice Jerac 21 2715
22// Magnum Opus Foovemonat tome take Halt in Barrage 14 to 27 a 30 East of La Derive Farm At Schwitzil position 45 to 14-53 At Bethlehemposition 120 t 245 to 3410 At 3 he 10 Barrage ceeps toward to "Uncanny truch" & stays on these till A he. 10 then field guns come under Dis Contral, while all heave remain on the goeen line system, till Ler & 10 h At Qus & 10han, all gins go outs Greenham take care to see that a full proportion of heaves & of Div. Arty. N.B. are left to be employed on my Defensive hire, as the period between Less & 3ho to Leist 10hn is the most critical.
22/7 Magnum Opus Agenda. Laos Sep Axt ap sam rccunt Barrage Mapr timet Commander as Conduct fye tresst emd consoledate Faaty Farm Crate Consident H. 2 to cooperate in repelling Counterattact ecial pioes ont party through teansnovong all mpation dising light special officers to di Hew parition in enemy to te s Bom stop Ling Frd M2 oder letter to Kund n Minaie Ciano prprse Seue ldimio, Reconmunmace Stiffy epiites & offficer adustet Dio Renene Briate appreciation & orders for attenation ort my frud Staff Lake Brgadies through theis quaries to Br Connr My 2e129 chanks tim shet ct to die wt the beaubl meat Couptioe Intemr Arrangements tre worting continuous narrative £2320th lon Arange wster of Cass, diwer, clerk, onderlie tnt aso bio sipate latters bg Do extr trtwt 12 Be of Rronsaction Seters fnt re his ptory 5
AU5 Rec. t Brank 29/5/1 Follewing received from ist ANLAC and forwarded for Your Infermation. AE TO SEN AUSTRREAN DALSTON TTELLEEENO SIAEN, 221 8 asOOODHDDoe Ne 826s pte. H Parpons, n Company, Loth pattanion and No. 8814 Pts. Stewart, PB. Company 16th pattalion, prisoners in the Germans hands escaped into our lines in U.29.a. at 4.50. a.m. this morning. Pte. E.G.Smith B. Company 16th Battalion and Corporal Job PB) Company l6th Battalion escaped also with the above and are still out and may be expected in tonight. Mernen or CArTy, the men were captured on the 11th Aprtl 1817. in the KIDDENBURG LLNE, In v.30.a. There were 756 taken to VILLERs to Regimental Readquarters and All their belongings were taken except, their pay-books, and searched. their gas respirators were hastily taken away. From UILLERS they were entrained and taken, as far as can be judged from what the men say, to Bury, and put in cellars where they were again searched and about 100 were bicked but for infornation purposes. They were then entrained for LE ESNOY where they were bathed, their clothes fumigated, and they were Four days later they entrained for LLLLE. then put into detention. on detraining they arriving there about 6.0. p.m. on the 16th April. marched from the station to an old fort or barracks and put into rooms,, sh about 50. x 20! and accommodating 120 men in each.; Here, they re- indined for 5 days and 6 nights.; Rations were 1 loaf of bread for 7 man) per day, stewed turnips and 2 cups of coffee per day. They were teld they could write home and tell their people they were prisoners, and say: what they liked, and state that they were being starved as a punishment, for the British Government working German prisoners under shell, firg.pr The men-were kept inside the rooms most of the day, and marched for five. minutes each day outside in a yard or barrack square..Even the latrines were in the rooms and consisted of a barrel.;; The day before they, left. LILLE all their numbers and names were again taken, and they were spiit,, up into various parties, their party being 240 strong., From LILLE, they entrained at 1.0.p.m. for MARAUION, arriving there at 5.0. a.m. next morne ing.) After two days they were put on as a werking party, unloadips, trains of engineer naterial to a dump...The men enly had one slige of yes bread from the time they left LILLE, until, 10.p.m. the following, night.11e Some of the Australlans weye put on to digging dugouts, etc. some, the men state, were put on, to constructing mines under the buiidings in MAReUTON, and explosives were seen to be carried to mines..c The firet day at MAReUION, they saw about 200 French prisoners. They left about a eek later. sportly after they errired there, 200 Britich seidiers arrired. The French prisoners teld our men that they (the French) had been carrying rations up to the, frent line and also working on wire, there. Nost of the French prisoners had been in Garmany recently and said they had been three days without rations, slept out in the open without eever, and ordered to work. It is, said that the Frenchmen had told the Germans they could turn their machine guns on then before they would work any mere without rations. There was a vis ditch, wired, pound the busiding where our hen According to the men, the compound would be FAUCOURT were in detention. FME. W.10.a. and the dump they worked at would be at W.9.c.9.7. According to the ments statenents there would probably be an exunition dueg in the sunken road, W.9.b.8.8. MEeta our men, it appears, took a pair of wire-cutters from the dump, and cut the wire in rear of the detention building at 12 mid- night last sunday (night 20th (21st May), and took their direction by the t 3ll day Monday in wood, and from what they say wenld Flares. They. spe probably be BOIS DE-DOUCHE. the road between EO7S DE LOISON and the read in v2is. ts naring &it ir dusouts constructed in it. on Monday night they crossed the procounte tho QUEANT, support, in about 7.21.s.,, then the trenches in V.20.c.,, then DROCOURE-QUEANT LINE in v.19.c., and finally into our trencnes in y at 4.0.a.m. this morning.
-2- stood to in UNITS SEEN. on Saturday night, a large bedy of troops KAREUION when a heavy British bombardment was heard. The men say they caw Cerman treeps working on a dump in W.8.6.8.8. with No. 112 on their choulder-strap. At VILLERS the men were asked, as they describe it, by SSS a bis German Officer who spore English well, what the Australians had to de with ENGLALD, and said volunteers, toot, and wanted to know what EMGLAND had to do with FRANCE, and what ENCLAMD would de for FRANOE after the war. The following questions were asked, and the fellowing replies siven, 9.1. What they thought of the yeboat system. we good A02. 2.2. Wich way they came from AUSTRAETA, Found the cape, or viz sirk. A.2. The answer was the contrary to the route they actually took. 9.3. If y-boats bothered our troopeships. A.3. We take no notice of themt. The German officer said he thought all troopeships had stopped going through SurL. 9.4 How ENGLAND was off for food. Act. Plenty of everything. 205. He asked questions re the attack, A.5. PDEd not know.& 9. 6. How much food men have in the trenches. 4.6. They had plenty; and more than the Cermans sot. KISCELLANEOUS: They were then told that it was just like the mad English trying to get through the wire the Germans were putting up. This English-speaking German officer gave a lecture to our wounded, and said that Ponly for LLOYD GEORGEt the war would have been ever last year and we would not accept the good peace tenms offered us. Our officers who fell into the hands of the Germans were seen at DURY when the men All the Sergeant- arrived there, but they have not been seen since. Majors were taken to LE QUESNOY, where R.F.C. officers were also seen. The men got chatting with an A.K.C: German soldier who had been a walter in ENGLAND and could speak English. He told them that there was nothing doing In RUSSIA. The RUSSLANS were walking out of their trenches and all the guns and troops were being brought over to the WESTERN front. ITALY had also become tired of the war. our men learned that crews captured from our TAlKS were taken away quickly, and were not seen asain by our troops: owing to our men tearing up a lot of their letters and papers, they were warned that they would be severely dealt with if this occurred again. MI Civilians were seen at VILLERS; but none at DURY or MAR- AUION, Between DURY and LE QUESNOY, some civilians were seen. The men say that the conditions in LILLE are bad. The civilians are not allowed to talk to the prisoners, but the men say that the civilians are always trying to help our prisoners and run great riaks to do so. A woman once tried to get some food to the prisoners, but was caught by the police, and after being knocked over the head by a German was taken away. A priest also tried to give cisarettes to the men, and nearly got into trouble in doing so. The large number of factories round LILLE appeared to be closed out of the large number of chimney stacks, none appeared to be down. They saw a lot in use. Our men thought that the mines were working. of young Frenchmen working round LLLLE under the Germans. Electrie trans are running in LILIE.. the streets are full of Cerman treops. SOMTTTONS IN GERAT The German A.M.C. seldier told our men that Tubber was very scarce in Germany, and that owing to the scarcity of Tubber, they could not use it for their gas respirators, thus making our respirators far superior to theirs. A German transport driver had said that he was taking wheat out of the chaff and sending back some of his rations. in a German canteen our men saw sausages marked up at 6 marks per half-kile.
3- FIENN ENITY DE. REAIRD. The men say that they saw a trench system in rear of MARGUION with two belts of barbed wire staked and ironed in frent of it. They had also heard that the dump that they were working on had to be They saw small light railway engines being en- clear by the 5th June. rained. Telegraph poles and wires were being cut down in LE QUESNOY. All meter transport had iron tyres, and no rubber ones. These two men looked very thin; CEREANTREATLERT OF PRISONERS OF WAR. hollow, and must have had a bad tine. They say what a really badf time They were kept they have had in the way of treatment and food supply. hard at work with extremely little food, and were kept at it by brutality. Some of the RUSSLAN prisoners there have been knocked about and some hit with the butt of a rifle. The whole of the time these men have been in German hands they have had no blankets whatever - merely straw to lie on. Some of our unfortunate en are getting 1l1 and are being evacuated daily. a lot of them are getting swollen legs and swollen faces. DISTRIBUTION OF ENERY TROOPS. The men say that they only saw small costs and seniries actually in the trenches over which they passed. The sunken road in U.23.d. and V.24.c. appeared to be well garrisoned. C.M. Johnswoy 2SOF. (Brisade-Najor. 4th Aust. Inf. Brisade.
X Papers re M.O. For C.O.C. 23rd May 1927 1. Billeting prior to 2070 McO.Circular No. 15 (A2) -d0- No. 12 (6) 2. Destructive bombardment Target map. 3. Infantry Dispositions and tasks Statement and map regarding tasks assembly positions etc 1/258/326 4. Holding line prior to 2er0 As for 3. 5. Approach march. Approach march map. 6. BSO As for 3. 7. Nethod of issue. old map. G.O.C. has copy. EanskaExtaEigadit. 8. Details pn organization Brigadiers plans. Artillery dispositions. old ANEAC Scheme. Intermediate Scheme. Latest Scheme with plans 10. Barrages and Time tables. 18 Pr Creeping Barrage map -do- -do- Standing Machine Cun barrages 11. Map shewing action of Smoke also herewith. 23/5/27.

 

[*See Point
A*]
S E C R E T.
21-5-17
PRECIS OF DETAILS WITH REGARD TO TASKS, ASSEMBLY POSITIONS,
AND APPROACH MARCH OF THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
--------------------
1. The attached tracing, to be fitted over the 1:10,000 Map, shews -

(a).  The allotment of tasks to Battalions up to BLACK line.

(b).  Assembly Areas for Battalions.

(c).  Lines on which to consolidate.

(d).  Lines of Approach.

(e).  Boundaries between Brigades.

(f)  Timings of creeping barrage on the Divisional boundary, also

timings of this barrage on the enemy front and support lines.

Other timings of creeping barrage have been omitted, in order

not to confuse the diagram.

The 2nd Barrage 50 yards in front of the enemy's front line

South of the DOUVE is with a view to dealing with the many 

listening saps which run out from this portion of his line.

On our Right the conditions are not the same, inasmuch as 

there are not so many listening saps, and the distance between

the opposing lines is less, thus a barrage in front of

the enemy's front line on our Right would be inadvisable.

 

As regards (a) - The task and assembly position of

"H" Battalion, and the time at which it moves forward, is still

indefinite.  - Other Battalions have clearly defined tasks and 

will issue from our front line immediately after Zero hour.

It is estimated that all assaulting Battalions except

"H" will be clear of our front line immediately not later than

plus 6 minutes, and probably by plus 4 minutes.

"C" Battalion, when it has fulfilled its mission, will

assemble and be available for employment as carriers, working

parties, etc.

"F" Battalion, having squeezed "C" out, will be responsible

for consolidation.

This arrangement has been rendered necessary owing to

the direction of the DOUVE River.

 

As regards (b) - It was intended that "H" Battalion 

should assemble well forward, but now seeing that the BLACK

line will not be left until plus 10 hours, it is thought more

advisable to keep "H" Battalion in the Subsidiary line, as

shewn on tracing.  -  This position formerly been allotted

to one of the Battalions of the Reserve Brigade.

The reserve Brigade will be located as follows:-

One Battalion in the CATACOMBS.

One Battalion BUNHILL ROW.

One Battalion along the Subsidiary line from

ST. ANDREW'S DRIVE towards the ADVANCED ESTAMINET.

The Battalion of the Reserve Brigade which holds the 

front line during the last 6 or 8 days, will be withdrawn

to a billeting area to be selected, probably behind our

defensive front, but not more than half an hour's march from

the front line on our offensive front.

The exact position of assembly of "E" Battalion has yet to determined.

 

As regards (c) - The more Eastern of the BLACK lines

will be reached and consolidated as one distinct operation, 

but the Western BLACK line will be dug as a support to

the other.  -  Thus when the GREEN line is taken there will be

two complete lines of defence never closer than 200 yards to

 

 

(2.)
each other.  This will necessitate the enemy using two

distinct lots of guns if he attempts to barrage both lines

at one and the same time.  -  The probable result will be

that we shall have two lines throughout; the weak places 

in the one being covered by the stong places in the other.

 

As regards (d)  -  Each pair of Battalions will have 

a separate line of approach from its billeting area forward.

The whole of the Reserve Brigade, except one Battalion,

will be in a position prior to the approach march of the other 

two Brigades.

The Battalion of the Reserve Brigade for BUNHILL ROW

will follow the assaulting Brigades.

 

2.  The section of the Heavy Artillery 4.5" Hows.  standing barrage

and gas and smoke activities have not been referred to, but

as regards the last named, it is proposed to issue gas from

the Defensive front if wind conditions are suitable, and to

put up a smoke barrage on our Right flank by means of 4"

Stokes Mortars in all conditions of weather except a wind 
blowing from due ^the South.
-------------
 

                                                                                                                                      

 

 

 

21/5/17

Magnum Opus 

 

Available Artillery

 

 

For Army

For Corps

9.2 Hows

 

28  )
8"   "

384 (

24  ) !! 6
6"   "

(

          64  )
6 Ops.

156

36
4.5 Hows

342

108
18 Prs

1026

324
2" T.Mortars

 

48
15" Hows

2 or 3

1
12" Hows

8

2
6" Guns

16

4 )
6 Oper Guns   12 ) Under Army Orders
Heavy T.M  

2

 

 

 

25-5-17
Officers shown as "awaiting absorption"

on A.I.F depots in U.K.  Nominal roll

of officers dated 23rd April 1917


9th Training Bn
Lt. F W Wegner                     3rd Div Arty.
Lt. H. J Moore                         33rd Bn.
Major A Cooke-Russell        36th Bn.
   "       H.V. Carr                       35th Bn.
Lt.    J. H. Smythe                   35th Bn.
10th Training Bn
Lieut  H. Maxwell                   38th Bn.
Capt   W. L. Allen                   37th Bn.
Lieut   C Kerry                         37th Bn.
    "        E. Fleiter   M.C.           39th Bn.
    "        V. C. Smith                  40th Bn.
2/Lt      C. J. Callan                   38th Bn.
Major   G.S. Armfield              39th Bn.
Lieut.    F.H.W. Cooper            37th Bn.
Lieut.    H. Kanfman                 3rd Div Arty
11th Training Bn.
Major    C.C. Campbell             42nd Bn.   
Lieut.    W.H.A. McDonnell      42nd Bn.   
2/Lt          G.S. West                      44th Bn.   
2/Lt           H. G. Wills                    41st Bn.   
 "              H. V. Peterson             42nd Bn.   
Capt       J Redmond                  41st Bn.   
Lt            T. F. Rice                         43rd Bn.   
 

Total 21

22/5/17

 

22/5/17

MAGNUM OPUS 

Provisional Time Table

 

Halts in Barrage :-

East of La Douve Farm                                    14 to 27 or 30

At Schnitzel position                                        45 to 113 1 hr - 53

At Bethlehem position                                    125 to 2 hr 5 to 3 hr 10

At 3 hr 10 Barrage creeps forward to "Uncanny Trench"

& stays on there till 4 hr. 10

then field guns come under Div. Control; - while all heavies

remain on the green line system; till zero + 10 hrs.

At Zero + 10hrs, all guns go onto Green Line.

 

N.B.  Take care to see that a full proportion of heavies & of Div. Arty

are left to be employed on my Defensive here, as

the period between Zero + 3 hrs to Zero + 10 hrs is the

most critical. -
 

 

 

22/5/17
MAGNUS OPUS
Agenda

 

Questions to ask Cob                                                                               Defensive Bgde
Issue accurate Barrage Maps - Timed                                                 H.Q. at Pt de Nieppe

Commanders as Conduit Pipes                                                            Prevent enemy consolidate
Consent with N.Z. to cooperate in repelling counterattack          Facty Farm Crater        

Special pioneer road party
Through transmission of all information during fight
Special officers to do it
New positions in enemy lines for forward H.Q.
J [[?}]] re Bomb stops
File of final M.O. orders
Letter to Russell re Masses liaisons

G.O. prepare scheme for Liaison, Reconnaissance Staff, Sprites & Officers attached to Divisions

[[??]] to my forward staff
Take Brigadiers through their queries for Bn Commrs  - May 28 & 29.
Tanks from no 15 section to deal with Unbearable Trench (see photos)
Arrangements for writing continuous narrative
Arrange roster of Cars, drivers, clerks, orderlies
Interviews
33 & 35th           39th & 40th              1st div
39 & 38              37th & 11th Bde      2nd "  
Wilson re Signals
Paterson re M.G. Barrage
C/R.E., 9th & 10th re works

11th Bde re Reserve action
Interview Russel re his story.

 

Rec from Brand 29/5/17

Following received from 1st ANZAC and forwarded for

your information.

 

ANNEXE TO 5th AUSTRALIAN DIVISION INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY, 22/5/1917.

 

No. 5163 Pte. H. Parsons, "B" Company, 16th Battalion and No.

6214 Pte. Stewart, "B" Company 16th Battalion, prisoners in the Germans'

hands escaped into our lines in U.29.a at 4.30.a.m. this morning.

Pte. E.G.Smith "B" Company 16th Battalion and Corporal Job "B"

Company 16th Battalion escaped also with the above and are still out and

may be expected in tonight.

 

METHOD OF CAPTURE.  The men were captured on the 11th April 1917 in the 

HINDENBURG LINE in U.30.a.

There were 756 taken to VILLERS to Regimental Headquarters and

searched.  All their belongings were taken except their pay-books, and

their gas respirators were hastily taken away.  From VILLERS they were

entrained and taken, as far as can be judged from what the men say, to

Dury, and put in cellars where they were again searched and about 100 were

picked out for information purposes.  They were then entrained for LE 
QUESNOY where they were bathed, their clothes fumigated, and they were

then put into detention.  Four days later they entrained for LILLE, 

arriving there about 6.0.p.m. on the 16th April.  On detraining they

marched from the station to an old fort or barracks and put into rooms,

each about 50' X 20' and accommodating 120 men in each.  Here they remained

for 5 days and 6 nights.  Rations were 1 loaf of bread for 7 men

per day, stewed turnips and 2 cups of coffee per day.  They were told

they would write home and tell their people they were prisoners, and say 
what they liked, and state that they were being starved as a punishment

for the British Government working German prisoners under shell fire.

The men kept inside the rooms most of the day, and marched for five

minutes each day outside in a yard or barrack square.  Even the latrines

were in the rooms and consisted of a barrel.  The day before they left

LILLE all their numbers and names were again taken, and they were split

up into various parties, their party being 240 strong.  From Lille they

entrained at 1.0.p.m. for MARQUION, arriving there at 5.0.a.m, next morning.  

After two days they were put on a working party, unloading

trains of engineer material to a dump.  The men only had one slice of

bread from the time they left LILLE until 10.p.m. the following night.

Some of the Australians were put on to digging dugouts, etc.

Some, the men state, were put on to constructing mines under the buildings

in MARQUION, and explosives were seen to be carried to mines.  The first

day at MARQUION, they saw about 200 French prisoners.  They left about a

week later.

Shortly after they arrived there, 200 British soldiers arrived.  

The French prisoners told our men that they (the French) had been

carrying rations up to the front line and also working on the wire there.

Most of the French prisoners had been in Germany recently and said they

had been three days without rations, slept out in the open without cover,

and ordered to work.  It is said that the Frenchmen had told the Germans

they could turn their machine guns on them before they would work any more

without rations.

There was a big ditch, wired, round the buildings where our men

were in detention.  According to the men the compound would be FAUCOURT

FME.  W.10.a. and the dump they worked at would be at W.9.c.9.7.

According to the men's statement there would probably be an

ammunition dump in the sunken road, W.9.b.8.8.

 

METHOD OF ESCAPE.  Our men, it appears, took a pair of wire cutters from

th e dump, and cut the wire in rear of the detention building at 12 midnight

last Sunday (night 20th / 21st May), and took their directions by the 

flares.  They spent all day Monday in wood, and from what they say would

probably be BOIS DE BOUCHE.

The road between BOIS DE LOISON and the road in V.21.b. is having a lot of 

dugouts constructed in it.  On Monday night they crossed the DROCOURT-

QUEANT support in about V.21.a, then the trenches in V.20.c., then the 

DROCOURT-QUEANT LINE in V.19.c., and finally into our trenches in U.29.a.

at 4.0.a.m. this morning.

 

 


- 2 -
UNITS SEEN.  On Saturday night, a large body of troops "stood to" in

MARQUION when a heavy British bombardment was heard.  The men say they

saw German troops working on a dump in W.9.b.8.8. with No. 112 on their shoulder-strap.

 

QUESTIONS ASKED.  At VILLERS the men were asked, as they described it, by

a big German Officer who spoke English well, what the Australians had to

do with ENGLAND, and said "volunteers, too", and wanted to  know what

ENGLAND had to do with FRANCE, and what ENGLAND would do for FRANCE 

after the war.

The following questions were asked, and the following replies given :-

Q.1. What they thought of the U-boat system.

A.1. "No good"

Q.2. Which way they came from AUSTRALIA, round Cape, or via SUEZ.

A.2. The answer was the contrary to the route they actually took.

Q.3. If U-boats bothered our troop-ships.

A.3. "We take no notice of them".

 

The German officer said he thought all troop-ships had stopped going

through SUEZ.

 

Q.4. How ENGLAND was off for food.

A.4. "Plenty of everything".

Q.5. He asked questions re the attack.

A.5.  "Did not know"

Q.6. How much food men have in the trenches.

A.6. "They had plenty, and more than the Germans got."

 

MISCELLANEOUS.  They were then told that it was just like the mad

English trying to get through the wire the Germans were putting up.

This English-speaking German officer gave a lecture to our wounded, and

said that "only for LLOYD GEORGE" the war would have been over last year

and we would not accept the good peace terms offered us.  Our officers

who fell into the hands of the Germans were seen at DURY when the men 

arrived there, but they have not been seen since.  All the Sergeant-Majors 

were taken to LE QUESNOY, where R.F.C. officers were also seen.

The men got chatting with an A.M.C. German soldier who had been a waiter

in ENGLAND and could speak English.  He told them that there was nothing

doing in RUSSIA.  The RUSSIANS were walking out of their trenches and

all the guns and troops were being brought over to the WESTERN front.

ITALY had also become tired of the war.  Our men learned that crews

captured from our TANKS were taken away quickly, and were not seen again

by our troops.

Owing to our men tearing up a lot of their letters and papers, they were 

warned that they would be severely dealt with if this occurred again.

 

CIVILIANS.  Civilians were seen at VILLERS, but none at DURY or MARQUION.

Between DURY and LE QUESNOY, some civilians were seen.

The men say that the conditions in LILLE are bad.  The civilians

are not allowed to talk to the prisoners, but the men say that the

civilians are always trying to help our prisioners and run great risks to

do so.  A woman once tried to get some food to the prisoners, but was

caught by the police, and after being knocked over the head by a German 

was taken away.  A priest also tried to give cigarettes to the men,

and nearly got into trouble in doing so.

The large number of factories round LILLE appeared to be closed

down.  Out of the large number of chimney stacks. none appeared to be 

in use.  Our men thought that the mines were working.  They saw a lot of

young Frenchmen working round LILLE under the Germans.  Electric

trams are running in LILLE.  The streets are full of German troops.

 

CONDITIONS IN GERMANY.  The German A.M.C soldier told our men that

rubber was very scarce in Germany, and that owing to the scarcity of 

rubber, they could not use it for their gas respirators, thus making our

respirators far superior to theirs.

A German transport driver had said that he was taking wheat out of the 

chaff and sending back some of his rations.  In a German canteen our

men saw sausages marked up at 6 marks per half-kilo.

 

 

 

 - 3 -

 

ENEMY DEFENCES.  The men say that they saw a trench system in rear of

MARQUION with two belts of barbed wire staked and ironed in front of it.

They had also heard that the dump they were working on had to be

clear by the 5th June.  They saw small light railway engines being entrained.

Telegraph poles and wires being cut down in LE QUESNOY.  All motor

transport had iron tyres, and not rubber ones.

 

GERMAN TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR.  These two men looking very thin,

hollow, and must have had a bad time.  They say what a really bade time

they have had in the way of treatment and food supply.  They were kept

hard at work with extremely little food, and were kept at it by brutality.

Some of the RUSSIAN prisoners there have been knocked about and some

hit with the butt of a rifle.

The whole of the time these men have been in German hands they have had

no blankets whatever - merely straw to lie on.  Some of our unfortunate

men are getting ill and are being evacuated daily.

A lot of them are getting swollen legs and swollen faces.

 

DISTRIBUTION OF ENEMY TROOPS.  The men say that they only saw small

posts and sentries actually in the trenches over which they passed.

The sunken road in U.23.d. and U.24.c. appeared to be well garrisoned.

 

C.M. Johnston

Major.

Brigade-Major.

4th Aust. Inf. Brigade.

 

 

 

Papers re M.O. for G.O.C. 23rd May 1917

 

  1. Billeting prior to zero

    M.O.Circular No 15 (AQ)

             -do-       No. 12 (G)

  2. Destructive bombardment

    Target map.

  3. Infantry Dispositions and tasks

Statement and map regarding tasks,

assembly positions etc  1/258/326

4. Holding line prior to zero

As for 3.

5. Approach march.

Approach march map.

6. Assembly

As for 3.

7.  Method of issue

Old map.  G.O.C. has copy

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

8. Details Bn organization

Brigadiers plans.

9. Artillery dispositions.

Old ANZAC Scheme.

Intermediate Scheme.

Latest Scheme with plans

10.  Barrages and Time tables.

18 Pr Creeping Barrage Map

   -do- Standing     -do-

11 .  Machine Gun barrages

 

 

Map shewing actions of Smoke also herewith.

 

23/5/1917. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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