Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 15, 10 May - 9 June 1917, Part 8
Diagram - see original document
Mopping. -- √
Barrage- Study.- √
Counter Battery - √
No block troops forward. - √
Counter attack.- √
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
Divisional Headquarters
27/5/17.
9th Aust. Inf. Bde.
10th -do-
11th -do-
3rd Aust. Pioneer Bn.
Visit of Lieut - General Commanding Australian
Imperial Force.
The following are the proposed arrangements for this visit
to this Division of Lieut-General Sir W.R. BIRDWOOD, on Monday 29th
instant. -
The time of the General’s arrival has not yet been
ascertained, and, therefore, the hour of leaving Divisional
Headquarters at STEENWERCK cannot be fixed. This time will be
described in the following notes in “ZERO”Time, and as soon as
ascertained , zero time will be communicated to all concerned.
It is probable that Zero time will not be before 1 o’clock, and
not after 2 o’clock.
Time after
Zero
Hours min
0. O. Leave Divisional Headquarters at STEENWERCK.
O. 1O. Reach No.2 Hutments and see details of 33rd Bn. there.
Senior Company Commander to show the General around and
to introduce the officers.
O. 25. Arrive at 9th Inf. Bde. Transport line. Transport
officers of other Units to the vicinity to be in
attendance. Senior transport officer present to show
the General around and to present the officers present.
O. 45. Arrive at 11th Inf. Bde. Headquarters to meet the Brigadier
and staff.
O. 55. See troops of the 11th Inf. Bde. Quarters in the vicinity
of PONT DE NIEPPE . Those troops to be seen in groups
of not larger than about 1 company. Officers of other
Units of the Brigade, not employed, to be in attendance.
Not more than 30 minutes available for this inspection.
- 40. Arrive at COSTROVE FARM to be met by C.O. and Staff of
40th Battalion, and to see such troops as are in the vicinity. Time available - 30 minutes.
2. 10. Arrive at 9th. Inf. Brigade Headquarters in NIEPPE to
meet Brigadier and Staff and to see remainder of 33rd
Battalion. Any officers of 9th Inf. Bde. not on duty
to be available to be presented to the General. Time
allocated - 30 minutes.
2.45 Arrive at BRUNE GAYE, meet Brigadier and Staff and each
officers of the 10th Inf. Bde. As may be available.
Time available - 20 minutes.
3.10. Reach Contour Model. C.C. Pioneer Battalion with any
officers not employed, and any Pioneers who may be
there who were engaged on the model, to be in attendance.
Time allowed. - 20 minutes.
3.50. Arrive at Corps Headquarters at BAILLEUL.
SH
Captain. A.D.C.
10th A.I.B.
27-5-17
G.O.C 3rdA.D
Re General Birdwood’s visit on
Monday afternoon.
37th Bn Regina Camp
10 platoons from night
working parties will be
available. T 29 d.
40th Bn Oothove Farm
B11d
About 250 men and
the Bn Band will be available.
Officers not on duty will be
standing by if required.
I should like to be able
to tell Bn COs’ the approx te
times of visit.
W Ramsay McNicoll
B.G.
M.C.181
11th AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGA E.
Headquarters.
27th May, 1917.
Dear General MONASH,
The Units of this Brigade will be distributed on Monday
as follows.-
4lst and 44th Battalions in billets in PONT DE NIEPPE,
the larger proportion being along the
ARMENTIERES - BALLLEUL Road.
42nd Battalion in the line in the PLOEGSTEERT Sector.
43rd Battalion in the LE TOUQUET Sector.
Machine Gun Company and Trench Mortar Battery distributed
in the line.
1f General BIRDWOOD should wish to see on parade the
two Battalions billeted in PONT DE NIEPPE, this could be arranged
on a piece of ground in RUE de La LYS, B. 23.a.6.0. (Sheet 36 N.W.)
Following shows the numbers from these Battalions available
to parade at various hours during the day.-
9 a.m. - 11 a.m. - 3 Companies
12 Noon. - 1½ "
2.p.m. - 1½ “
3.p.m. - 5 “
4.p.m. - 4½ “
5.p.m. - 6½ “
Yours truly,
John H. Cannan.
SECRET
[*HEADQUARTERS
NINTH INFANTRY BRIGADE
27th May. 1917.
8M No 15/2
A.1.F*]
Headquarters,
Australian Infantry Brigade.
27th May, 1917.
Headquarters,
Third Australian Division.
The Battalions of this Brigade will be disposed,
at noon on the 28th instant as follows:-
(a) 34th Battalion in Front Line.
(b) 35th and 36th Battalions in PLOEGSTEERT WOOOD in shelters
and huts. These Units will be almost completely
employed on Front Line work and carrying parties.
(C) 33rd Battalion, Headquarters and 2 Companies at NIEPPE
2 Companies at Hutments (B.14.8.d c. 98.)
This Battalion will be training and exact locations of
training areas will be forwarded you tonight.
J. J. Borwick Major.
Brigade Major 9th Australian
Infantry Brigade. A.I.F.
J.McB.
28/5/17
Wilson is Altering Artillery system _
switchboard
re departing from Dodd’s scheme
Diagram - see original document
SECRET. (4)
(11)
S.O.S. (Cont)
All guns and Howitzers will be laid on their
S.O.S. lines by day and night. The S.O.S. signal
or message will be passed by the battery receiving it
to the battery on the other flank, and to Group Headquarters.
Group Headquarters will inform Divisional
Headquarters and the Groups on their flanks. Should
Groups require assistance they will ask for it as per
pre-arranged scheme, from tho Groups on their flanks.
Co-ordinates of night-lines are given in
Appendix IV.
(12)
GAS.
Should an enemy launch a gas attack, the message
will read : "GAS ATTACK, TRENCH ----- ." All
Howitzers should turn on to the enemy's trenches
from which the gas is being omitted, or in which
the enemy's infantry may be concentrated for the
assault, and a light barrage by 18 Pdrs., of 1 round
per gun per minute put on in "No Man’s Land" to
prevent hostile patrols following up the gas.
Should a subsequent message or S.O.S. signal be
received, the action of the Artillery will be as laid
down for an ordinary S.O.S.
(13)
HEAVY ARTILLERY.
Guns and Howitzers of the Heavy Artillery are laid
on certain night lines, and, on receipt of an S.O.S.
message, guns covering the Sector attacked should
open on their night lines, the remaining guns being
employed at counter-battery work. If action is
required over the whole Corps front the Hows only
will form the barrage, the guns boing used for
counter-battery work.
(14)
AEROPLANES.
The following selected squares have been allotted
to Groups for work with aeroplanes:
AEROPLANE TARGETS - RIGHT GROUP. - I.21,22,23,24,
27, 28, 29, 34,
CENTRE " - I.5, 11, 16, 17,
6, 12, 18.
LEFT " - O. 23. 24. 29. 30,
17, 18.
WIRELESSS STATIONS have been established at:
RIGHT GROUP - I.1.c.a0.62. Call X
CENTRE " - B.30.D.6.1. " U
LEFT " - C.23.24.29.30,
17, 18.
Aeroplanes, when practising zone calls with
batteries, will substitute a special prefix - "DD"
which will be followed by the co-ordinated of the
points to be engaged. Tho call will be repeated at
intervals of 3 minutes until the salvo is observed,
after which the aeroplane will send "C.I." and a
"Mostly" correction. Should the call not be answered
after 5 repetitions of the same, the aeroplane
will send"C. I." and return.
The battery to which is allotted the square in
which the point falls will open fire with one salvo
as soon as they receive an "LL" Call, and when waiting
for the signal to fire, from the aeroplane, will
fire a salvo as soon as possible after each repetition
of the call until an observation is received or
until 5 salvoes in all have been fired.
Diagram : See original document.
29/57
Conference at Corps
Would it be advantageous :—
(1) To fire mines?
(2) Occupy all or portions of enemy's front line previous to Z.
If not, do you consider any alteration of original plan
desirable to meet points raised in C.G.S' letter?
(3) If you recommend firing of mines previously, how long
before do you suggest?
Do you suggest they should be fired in combination with
smoke, etc., and with double dose of latter?
1. before the mines?
2. Together with them?
(4) What general modifications will be necessary on your front?
(a) As regards Artillery programme:
(b) other arrangements.
(5) Shepherding by Artillery fire for gas projectors.
(6) M.G. barrage very effective.
17) Minimum number of hows. 6" and upwards required for
back barrage in order to free remainder for C.B. work.
(8) Gas can be used before Z.
(9) Zero hour.
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