Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 15, 10 May - 9 June 1917, Part 9
FOURTH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE.
BOXING
Tuesday evening 29th May 1917 at 6.30.p.m.
On High Road through DOULIEU L.29.d.9.3.
----------------------
Heavyweight Championship.
L/Cpl GODFREY 15th Battalion A.I.F. V Sergt. WOODS 2nd Anzac Mounted
Troops
10 rounds of each 2 minutes with 1 minute rest between rounds.
Welterweights 10 stone 7 lbs.
Cpl. WOOLFE 13th Battalion A.I.F. V Q.M.S. CLAYTOR 2nd Anzac Mounted
Troops
4 rounds of each 2 minutes with 1 minute rest between rounds.
Featherweights.
Pte. BENT (8 stone 12 lbs) 16th Battalion A.I.F. V Tpr. RYLAND 2nd
Anzac Mounted Troops.
4 rounds of each 2 minutes with 1 minute rest between rounds.
Middleweights (Officers). 11 stone 7 bs.
Lieut. W.H. MERIFIELD 13th Battalion A.I.F. V Officer of New Zealand
Division.
3 rounds of each 2 minutes with 1 minute rest between rounds.
Lightweights.
Pte. WISHART (9 stone 6 lbs) 16th Battalion A.I.F. V Tpr. WESTON 2nd
Anzac Mounted Troops.
4 rounds of each 2 minutes with 1 minute rest between rounds.
Middleweights.
Pte. McDONALD 15th Battalion A.I.F. V Sergt. BUCHANAN 2nd Anzac
Mounted Troops.
4 rounds of each 2 minutes with
1 minute rest between rounds.
C.M. Johnston Major
for Secretary.
4th Aust. Inf. Brigade H.Q.
Magnum Opus Secret
G. Staff
C.R.E.
3 ^Canadian Tunnelling Co.
^Div. Sigs.
[Copy for G.O.C.]
Preparations for Offensive - Construction of Headquarters
-
This memo. is not intended to convey absolutely final decisions, but to lay down
the principles upon which the Headquarters are to be selected and prepared.
-
Data. The attack will be made by 8 Battalions, in two lines, i.e. 4 Battalions
in the first line, for the first "bound"; 4 Battalions in the second line, for the second
"bound". - These Battalions are to be numbered as follows, from right to left
viz :- First Line A, B, C, D Second Line E, F, G, H.
During the Assembly, the first line Battalions will form up in front of,
or^i.e. to thenortheast of the second line Battalions; but at the conclusion of the operation, the
second line Battalions will finish in front of i.e. to the ^north east of the first line
Battalions. -
Thus the actual relative positions of the Battalions will be as follows, (taking
the top of this sheet of paper as the ^North (EAST) viz :-
During Assembly D C B A }
H G F E } Figure 1
---------------
After Advance H G F E }
D C B A } Figure 2
-
Each of these 8 Battalions will require a convenient & reasonably safe head
quarters, within our own lines, & as close as possible to our present front line, from
which to superintend the assembly, and from which to control the advance. - It
may be assumed that the whole 8 stations will require to be occupied for at least
four days. -
-
It is proposed that the relative positions of the eight headquarters shall be as
per figure 2, in para 2 above; & not as per
fromfigure 1, that is to say, theHeadquarters will be arranged to correspond with the relative positions of the eight
Battalions after the advance, & not of those during Assembly. - The objects of this
arrangement are: -
(a) So that the H.Q. of A, B, C & D Battalions will not have to move
forward, after the advance
(b) So that the H.Q of E, F, G, H Battalions may, on vacation - when the
personnel moves forward to new positions within the captured territory -
be available for other purposes - inter alia for advanced
Brigade report centre. -
It will be seen that the reverse arrangement, viz: - that shown in Figure 1 wouldnecessarily -
Each Headquarters should ^be
where possible, bebehind the area in which itsBattalion is to operate, & as centrally placed as possible, - so as to reduce to a
minimum the distance to be traversed by runners &c. -
-
Our country N.E. of St. Ives post office ^ near our front line is much demolished, and there would be
great difficulty in carrying out underground construction therein.
-
There exist, in our front line, two stations, respectively at 14.b.9½.4 and
at 8.d.2½.1½ which are the adits to mining operations. These two stations will
also be the terminals of buried cables. - It is very probable that the former
will be untenable
for 24until at least 24 hours after zero hour, on accountof gas fumes, but the latter will be tenable throughout. - Both stations
will therefore be available as Advanced Brigade report centres, - after the
advance is completed; - but only the latter, or northern, station will
be available as a Battalion Headquarters.
-
As regards the front line (i.e. north-eastern line) of Battalion H.Q., it is
uncertain how soon they may be moved forward into captured enemy
territory; whether immediately after, ^at some 2 or 3 days after the advance
depends on whether suitable undamaged dugouts can be speedily found
and prepared in the captured ground. -
But, as regards the rear line of Battalion H.Q., it may be assumed that
these will be vacated very ^soon shortly after the advance, (if same is completely
successful and the consolidation of our new line proceeds satisfactorily),
by the withdrawal of the A, B, C, D Bns to positions in rear
where these Battalions will reorganize & provide working parties to help
the garrison of our new front lines. -
9. The above considerations point to the following approximate positions
as the most suitable for the eight Battalion and two H.Q., & the two
advanced Brigade report centres: - (The reference letters correspond to
the numbering of the Battalions as per para 2 above) : -
E |
15.c.9½.5 | St Ives Post Office. |
F |
15.a.6½.1½ | Toronto Avenue |
G |
8.d.2½.1½ |
Adit to Mine - Cable head - Available for Left Brigade report centre after advance |
H |
New point where the La Hutte - Messines Road crosses our front line | |
A |
15.c.6.6½ | |
B |
Prowse Point | |
C |
14.b. |
|
D |
8.c.3½.4 | |
14.b.9½.4 | ^ Cable head - Available for right Brigade report centre after advance |
10. Of the above locations A, B, G, E ^& F, are at points where underground accomodation
already exists, which will require to be adapted for occupation
by Bn H.Q. & Signal staff; but at the remaining 3 points entirely new
shell-proof accomodation will have to be constructed.
11. G Staff consultation with C.R.E. will now submit final proposals
in the light of above considerations. - After approval by me, all ^at present concerned
(i.e. C.R.E, Div. Sigs & Tunnelling Co) to be notified. -
M.G.
30/5/17
Letter from C.G.S.
Obvious Bosch evacuates front line -
go out of his front line &
fight us further back.
Cut off leading wave, & then deal
with them by Counter attacks.
______________
X methods supported (ever)
Questions to be answered by
8.30 tomorrow
(1) see notes
______________
After(Lord Loch)
Success with gas projectors
M.G. Barrage most effective. -
Time - 1 hr before dawn
Russel- daylight -
P.T.O.
Methods Suggested
(1) Occupy enemy front trench
(2) disclose his fire positions &
smash them -
(a) by firing our mines. on W day
(b) a sudden bombardment accompanied
by gas shell.
(3 or 4 days before zero)
Second time we will explode the
mines.
Spotting
CONFIDENTIAL.
(No. 3708/26.A)
CONFIDENTIAL REPORT ON OFFICERS
[*Headquarters II ANZAC
No. 3708/26A
Date 30-5-17*]
[*HEADQUARTERS
30 MAY 1917
No. Q104/26S
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION*]
Headquarters,
3RD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Will you please forward to this office as early as
possible, Confidential Reports (in duplicate) on the undernamed
Officers?
Should a report be of an adverse nature, it will
be communicated to, and initialled by, the Officer concerned.
A copy of the form to be adopted when forwarding
this report is attached.
Maj. (Tmp.Lt.Col.) H.M.Farmar, D.S.O., Lancashire Fusiliers.
Asst. Adjutant & Quartermaster-General, 3rd Aust. Division
Major R.E.Jackson, Australian Imperial Forces.
Deputy Asst. Adjutant-General, 3rd Aust. Division
Captain C.A.Pyke, Australian Imperial Forces.
Deputy Asst Quartermaster-General, 3rd Aust. Division.
Major T.F.Borwick, Australian Imperial Forces.
Brigade-Major 9th Australian Infantry Brigade.
Major G.F.Wootten, Australian Imperial Forces
Brigade-Major 11th Australian Infantry Brigade.
Headquarters,
30.5.1917.
H.H. Prideaux
Captain,
D.A.A.G., 2nd ANZAC Corps.
May 30th
My dear General
l am sending back the
correspondence for your official
remarks- The Corps Commander agrees
with your view & will, of course, do
as you suggest & apply for the best
man available to the GOC AIF.
I am sorry that this bother has arisen
when you & all of us are so busy.
Yrs sincerely
Alec Delavoye -
(COPY) 30/5/17.
From A.P.M.
3rd Australian Division.
To Officer-in-charge,
French Mission
3rd Aust. Division.
23/5/17.
I am instructed by Major General MONASH, Commanding
3rd Australian Division, to forward a request that all estaminets,
farms, and private houses situated in NIEPPE, PONT DE NIEPPE,
and Clef de HOLLANDE may be forbidden to sell or supply any
liquor to British Troops from June 1st to June 10th inclusive.
This is considered necessary for the good of the troops in view
of certain important operations during which it is essential that
the troops should have no chance of obtaining too much drink.
I trust you will be able to obtain the necessary
authority from your Chief.
(Sd) HENRY E. DERING, Major,
Assistant Provost Marshal,
3rd Australian Division.
-2-
MISSION MILITAIRE FRANCAISE,
3e Don Australienne,
23/5/17.
Transmis a Monsieur l'officer interprete attache an
2d ANZAC.
L'officier Interprete 3 cl
DE GAIL.
S.D.S.
2 Armee
No. 974 AL/4
-3-
? May, 1917.
MISSION MILITAIRE FRANCAISE,
No. 975/AL/4 attachee a
L'Armee Briiannique,
Sous-Direction de la 2e Armee.
to P.M.
2nd Army
The French regulations do not permit to put out of
bounds the estaminets of a whole area as long as there is nothing
to reprove. - The only way to meet your A.P.M's wishes, would
be to issue an order prohibiting all ranks the entrance in
the estaminets - But no notices will have to be posted on the
Page 2. (Copy) 30/5/17.
estaminets, neither any sanction taken against the owners
of the estaminets. - Men can only be punished for trespassing
a military order.
(Sd) ? MILLAND.
-4-
CONFIDENTIAL SECRET
Sec. Army No. A.P.19
28/5/17
A.
-
The attached memo signed by Major Sir HENRY DERING, A.P.M.
3rd Australian Division, has been handed to me by French Mission
Second Army.
-
I beg to draw attention to the mention of dates in connection
with operations and to the fact that the memo is not marked
secret
-
I have at different times received verbal reports from
A.P.M. II ANZAC commenting adversely on Major Sir H. DERING's
suitability for the appointment he holds.
-
I am of opinion that an officer who can commit such an
indiscretion at the present time is unsuited for employment
in the forward area.
-
(Sd) W.A. Trevor Lt.Col
P.M.
Second Army
27/5/17.
-5-
SECRET Second Army
A.P. 23.
Headquarters,
2nd ANZAC Corps.
Forwarded for your information.
The memorandum of the A.P.M. 3rd Australian Division
was a most indiscrete one to have written.
The Army Commander would be glad of your opinion as to
whether it is considered desirable to retain this officer in his
appointment
(Sd) G.S. BURDET
Lieut-Colonel,
A.A.G., Second Army.
28/5/17
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters.
30/5/17.
My dear General,
I return herewith the papers you shewed me. - I apologise
for the delay, but have not had a moment to myself since yesterday.
My hesitation in not immediately giving you my views
yesterday was due merely to my desire to search my memory as to
whether, by any possibility, I had inadvertently instigated this
egregious indiscretion, but I am now confident that this was not
the case, and that the writer of the original minute was wholely
responsible for its objectionable passages.
Whatever view might be taken of the gravity of this lapse,
I am certainly much incensed at such an incident, and am not
prepared to remain liable to a repetition of it. - If, therefore,
these papers are sent on to me officially, I am prepared to make
an adverse recommendation; or in the alternative to acquiesce in
a proposed change. -
Ifasked to name a substitute from this Division, that
would be difficult at the present juncture, as all of the few men
who are at all suitable for such a job already have their rôles
and work for the operations mapped out. - Doubtless, A.A.G., A.I.F.
has a much wider field of choice than I have, and it would, I think,
ensure my scouring the best man available if G.O.C., A.I.F. were
asked to make the nomination for this appointment.
Yours sincerely.
Brigadier-General A. Delavoys.
II A. & N. L . Army Corps.
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