Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 16, 1 August - 3 September 1917, Part 3

G.O.C., 3rd. Aust. Div.     -2-     3rd. August, 1917.

telephoned to me that the request which I had made in the
first instance would be met.
H. Farmar
Lieut-Colonel.
A.A. & Q.M.G., Third Australian Division.
(HMF/RM)
 

HEADQUARTERS
3^RD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION:
"A" MESS. 3^RD AUGUST 1917

MENU
SOUP.
TOMATO
FISH.
BAKED FISH
BUTTER PARSLEY
ENTREE.
ASPARAGUS
BUTTER SAUCE
JOINTS
ROAST BEEF
HORSE RADDISH SAUCE

VEGETABLES.
BAKED & BOILED POTATOES
CAULIFLOWER
WHITE SAUCE.
SWEETS.
PLUM PUDDING . BRANDY SAUCE.
SAVOURY CHEESE TARTLETS.
COLD YORK HAM.
FRUIT . COFFEE . CHAMPAGNE

John Monash                Div Commander
R O C Macdonald         42^nd Squadron Observer
J Baines                          Pilot
G. K. Jackson                 G.S.O. I
[[J James ?]]                   G.S.O. III
E  L Simonson               A.D.C
D G Holsworth              Q.Staff France
Geo. F. Wieck                G.S.O. II
H. M. Farmar                 A.A. & Q.M.G. 

4/8/17
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
By
FIELD-MARSHAL SIR DOUGLAS HAIG.
K.T., G.C.B.,  G.C.V.O.,  K.C.I.E.
Commander-in-Chief, British Armies in France.

To-day we stand at the beginning of the fourth year of the War.
Twelve months ago the power of the New Armies of the British Empire to
undertake offensive operations on a great scale, and carry them through to success,
was still on its first trial.
That power stands fully proved to-day; to the Armies themselves, to the enemy,
and to the world. We enter on the fourth year of the war with a steady faith and
confidence securely based on all that has already been achieved by ourselves and
our gallant Allies.
The record of the past three years leaves no room for doubt that the British
Armies in France, and the workers at home on whom they depend, have both the
power and the will to complete the task they have undertaken; and will press on
until their labour is crowned with ultimate and certain victory.
D. Haig. F.bn.
Commander- in-Chief,
British Armies in France.
General Headquarters,
4th August 1917.

ARMY PRINTING AND STATIONERY SERVICES  A- 847-S1325--11.250.
GOC
AQ FL

Aug 4/17
Corps Conference

Army Instructions [C C. refers to Army Circular of July 5/17]
Future operations: Reconnaissances eastward, especially Arty. positions
We push forward on right of 5^th Army to line Courtrai-Roulers, throwing
out a flank guard on the line of the Lys.-
III Division would probably go in on the right, especially if rest of Corps side steps
to the North.
1^st Stage: -   II Anzac takes line Warneton - Houthem.
2^nd    -           further north
3^rd    -            II   "           "       Comines 
4^th    -           further north

Reconnaissances will foster the idea of an advance on Lys Lille. -
LaBasse-Ville must be included in our front line.
Po[[?]] I to VIII are to be included in our front line.
Our original support will stand as Support Line.
Advanced Posts - not be be employed.

Operations of IX Corps at junction of 19 & 37 Div. not entirely successful.
They still have to take Bec Farm & Rifle Farm. -

4^th Div. Arty. will return, but probably not go into line.
Policy is that our Counterbattery work is to be knock-out shoots.
Explain to Brigades - so as to reduce appeals for Neutralizing Fire.
& explain that "retaliation" is going on all the time.

Talking on listening sets; - enemy's listening sets have been much improved.
Warn everybody.

Machine Guns:- Lectures to Divisions & Brigades in Reserve by C.M.G.O.
Discussion on M.G. barrage, its advantages.- 
Maintenance of a uniform policy regarding siting of M.Guns.
Applin mentions the B.S.A. tripod on the Lewis guns; we are to encourage
this - But, these are not yet available. - 
We musn't lose sight of shooting over sights.

Army Commander's Letter of Aug 1/17 - does not apply to III Anzac.
Corps. Circular N^o. 21 (not yet issued) referred to, - & discussed. -
Liaison in front, as well as behind.

Screening, - and dummy screenings. -
Salving material (engineering material) - to be done by Corp to be done by Corps

(2)
Anti aircraft defences - siting of Lewis Guns - in equilateral triangles
of firing ahead of the flame.
Mustard Gas - see that it has reached the men. -
Light Railways - do we get all the facilities we require?
General discussion on whole position & relationship with
Transportation Departments.
Bugle Calls - all in favor of it, & to be arranged - also Trumpets 

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
4th. August, 1917.
APPENDIX T0 3rd. AUSTRALIAN DIVISIONAL INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY.
AUGUST 4th 1917.
Extracts from a Diary picked up in NO MAN's LAND on night
August 3rd/'17 belonging to a Corporal of 4th. Company, 1st Battalion,
28th. I.R., l6th. Division.
The following extracts give an idea of the life of the enemy
shell-hole garrisons opposite this Divisional front and their privations.
It appears that the l6th. Division first came to this front
about June 24th, when the diary begins. The Artillery Guard-Position
mentioned has already been noticed and is situated about 1,000 - 1,500
yards behind the WARNETON Line. It was meant to give the guns time
to get away if we should break through the enemy's line.
The diary begins:-
June 24th "Evening. 8.30. march to support line, arrived there about
12.30. The weather is fine. We passed MENIN and French COMINES.
"Both places nearly shot to pieces by artillery fire.
It is noticeable that the houses of the rich are pretty well preserved.-
here, too, war on the proletariat. This seems to be the reserve
position. There is no trench, only holes with ground covered over
with boards and strewn with grass to hide them from the aeroplanes.
I lie alone in my hole; we dare not let ourselves be seen. We lie
here to guard the artillery against sudden attack. About 4 o'clock
there appears to be an attack. Our artillery shoots really splendidly
and appears to have the superiority.
"The day is quiet and I slept till 4 p.m. About 5 began a
light rain, but English artillery fire increases nevertheless. We
have at last come into the line after nearly two months rest. The
English out left shoot over the whole position with 18 c.m. shells.
The aeroplane activity is very lively. It seems as if RICHTHOFEN
is here with his squadron. It is quiet in front. About 8 o'clock
the English fire became altogether too mad, but only the Heavy
Artillery is shooting. They believe probably that they have
found one of our batteries. About 9 o'clock all the airmen are up
At 11.10 the English Heavy Artillery starts again.
"About 1 o'clock rations and coffee came up. I go to sleep
then till 4 and am awakened then by Heavy Artillery fire. About
5 it begins to rain. To-day is the 25th. I sleep till 11, and
am then awakened by water which has wet me through to the skin.
After I have had something to eat I write. The weather has cleared.
Artillery fire slack. About 2.30 it is quiet. The RICHTHOFEN
squadron almost grazes the trees it flies so low. The sky is
cloudy. It is weary sitting in a hole like this. I don't want to
sleep any more and don't know what the devil to do. 7 p.m. our
artillery opens. The aeroplanes are up again. 8.30 p.m. it
begins to rain. To the left there appears to be a strong attack;
the drumfire is heavy. On our front too the Artillery fire is more
lively, especially on our side. During the night, it is quieter.
Rain falls in streams. Everything is wet through in the hole.
About 1 come the rations, soup, coffee, bread, and sausage. From
2.30 we put out light wire entanglement, returned to the water-hole
and to sleep.
 

4/8/1917.
(2).
"About 9 I awoke and drank coffee .The sky is cloudy.
Artillery fire slack. To-day is June 27. I sleep till 3.  All is quiet.
The noise begins again. in the evening. About 7 Artillery fire is livelier
on the whole front, especially on the right. Aeroplane activity lively.
The sky is slightly clouded. If only no rain comes. I do not know
exactly where we are lying here.  About 7.15 p.m. we ate, then we depart;
on the right front there appears to be an attack. Quiet near us. We
arrive up forward without fire .The people lie in shell holes without
cover. Scarcely have we got to the holes than the English seem to have
seen us. A mad fire on us begins. We run a bit forward and get in
without loss. The Company has had till now no losses. Then it becomes
quieter.
"About evening I take my group to a crater hole lying about 20
metres back. It begins to rain. We can now go to sleep. - One man stays
on sentry. He can see right over the English lines.
"The rain still, does not stop. To-day is the 30th. June. About
11 we go again into defence shelters.  About 1.30 comes the rations,
coffee, bread and blood sausage. On the right about 3 is an attack and
again at 4.30.  It rains till night with intervals. At 4.30 we go into
the dugout.  At 5 an Englishman was brought in on the left. Opposite
us are Australians Regiment 43.
"Sunday 1 June (he means July) - Our artillery shot all day
uninterruptedly. The weather has cleared.  In the evening I exchange
position with the right flank group. About 1 comes the rations -
watered soup, bread, coffee, mineralwater, butter, jam, tobacco and
cigarettes. Night fairly quiet. In the morning we remain lying in
the LAKE CHAM trenches. Good weather all day. In the evening two
aeroplanes crashed - one enemy and one ours. At 1 a.m. comes the
rations - Rice-soup, bread, a little bit of sausage, coffee and schnapps.
About 3 a.m. after short artillery preparation our patrols go out. The
English reply with machine gun fire. We got no losses. It is light
about 4.  The posts are withdrawn. We camp again in LAKE CHAM trenches.
We received the news we are to be relieved on July 4th. The weather
is clear but windy. To-day is the 3rd. July. Artillery fire all day.
Aeroplane activity lively. At 1 a.m. come the rations - water soup with
vegetables and potatoes - at last potatoes again. - bread, jam, butter
and coffee and 4 cigarettes.
"I was busy making communication with the Left group, with the
M. G. - - and also with the right flank. Suddenly a VERY light was
fired. Nothing to be seen. Then some people came running. I though
first they were the English, but then I saw they were some of our own
people. The 2nd. and 1st. Companies have fallen back to the trenches.
Quickly to my own group and back to the trenches also. Then on the
right the first red VERY lights went up. - So it is an attack after all.
Quickly a message goes back to the Platoon Commander - messenger to bring
some light and signal cartridges. At last they come. A red one goes up
and immediately after a white. The artillery barrage comes down. - a mad
howling of shells and shrapnel. On the left the attack is beaten back.
The 1st and 3rd platoons come up to reinforce. The 1st platoon occupies
the position of the 2nd. Company till morning. We have 2 dead and 1
wounded.; the 2nd. Company has more. As it becomes dawn the other
platoons go back.
"We slept again at MUTTERGRUN in the CHAUSSIE trenches.
Raining. About 9 I woke. Our 21 c.m. Hows. were firing hard xxx on
the English posts. Our heavies falling again too short - once on the
 

4/8/'17.
(3).
right by the 2nd. Company, then by us at the WINDMILL, and finally
left by the 69th. I.R. English retaliation light, perhaps heavier
about evening; weather clear and windy. About 9 a few shrapnel
blew by us. At 2 came the relief. Quickly got up the posts,
then go back. We marched to BOUSBECQUE and arrived about 6 a.m."

Later the writer's Battalion is again in the front line,
"We lay in B position. At 12 midnight rations. Went out
with six of my men to try and bring an Englishman back. (Apparently
unsuccessful) Back again at 4 in dugout xx Our losses 6 dead
2 wounded xxxx   Chief complaint of the men is stomach pains.
The bread here is very bad. Our artillery shot again too short
xxxxx At 1 p.m. English shot the WINDMILL to pieces - 2
dead reported up to the present. At 11.28 p.m. I went with 8 men
to the WINDMILL. At the same moment English hurricane fire came
down - 3 men wounded. At 12 midnight another burst of fire
At 12.30 the 7th. Company came to relieve us. Our Company losses .
8 dead and 10 wounded. The Battalion marched back to BOUSBECQUE xxxxx 
21st 
July.
Morning 21st July we were alarmed: English attacked
but thrown back again. Marched to French COM INES and remained
there till 11, then back to BOUSBECQUE."
Writer then went to ROUBAIX for a few days "till Sunday
midday". On return found Company had gone to WERVICQ.
"When I reached it, Battalion had been alarmed. Marched
in fighting order to COM INES, remained till Tuesday, then back to
WERVICQ. Slept there and made ready for march up to the line.
25th
July
At 10.15 p.m. Tuesday (Apparently Tuesday 24th. July) we marched
off as Artillery - Guard for 5 days.On morning 25th. July heavy
drumfire on the right. The English shoot on the left front with
heavy calibres. We get also heavy fire from light and middle
calibres xxxx On 29th. went forward. Reports are about again
29th. concerning relief of the Division."
The remainder of the diary is a bare record of frequent
bursts of fire up to the day of our attack, very hurriedly written
and no details worth repeating.
J M Witock
Lieutenant. I.C.
for Lieut.-Colonel. G.S.

Dropped near 3rd Div H.Q
Aug 5/17
Vom deutschen Flieger-Corps
an das
Britische Flieger-Corps.