Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 16, 1 August - 3 September 1917, Part 17

Divisional Headquarters,
2nd September, 1917.
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Lectures to be delivered to Units by Officers of Divisional Staff, week ending 8-9-17.

DATE.	OFFICER.	SUBJECT.	PLACE.	UNIT.	TIME.
Sept. 3rd.	Lieut-Colonel G.H.N.JACKSON,  C.M.G., D.S.O.	New German system  of Defence & Counter  Attack.	ASSINGHEM.   (H.Q.41st BN).	11th Bde.  Officers.	4.30 p.m.
Sept. 4th.	Lieut-Col. H.M. FARMAR, D.S.O	Court-Martial procedure (From Arrest to Sentence).	-do-	-do-	-do-

G.F.G Wieck 
Major

G.S. 

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
3rd September, 1917.
Brigadier-General C.ROSENTHAL, C.B.,
Commanding 9th Aust. Infantry Brigade.
Dear Rosenthal,—
I forward you herewith copy of a letter which I
have written to Major RODD, and I also return to you for your
use my own private file in regard to RODD which you have already
seen. - It may be that you would like to refer to this file
when interviewing RODD in ENGLAND.
Yours sincerely,
John Monash
(*Returned to me, under cover of Rosenthal's letter
of 18/9/17.  /  39/40.*)

(Copy)
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
3rd September, 1917.
Major T.B.RODD,
No.4 Battalion
Overseas Training Battalion,
Perham Downs,
SALISBURY PLAINS, ENGLAND.
My dear Rodd, -

Your letter of the 18th ult., reached me while the
whole Division was in the middle of a complicated and extensive
movement to a back Area where we are having a short rest from
fighting.
I am now free to let you know what you have probably
head from other sources, that Brigadier-General JOBSON has relinquished 

Command of the 9th Brigade, and that his place has been
taken by Brigadier-General ROSENTHAL.
I have conversed with the latter fully about your
case, and have shown him the correspondence in the matter.   General 

ROSENTHAL is shortly visiting ENGLAND, and sometime between September 

5th and 16th he will be paying a visit to see Lieut-Colonel 

LAMB at LARKHILL.   I have asked the latter to facilitate a meeting 

between you and General ROSENTHAL in whose hands I now propose to 

leave a definite recommendation as to your future disposal.
Yours sincerely
(Signed) John Monash

28.8.17
Dear General
I have read the enclosed correspondence 

and understand the position.
Yours.
Charles Rosenthal
Major General Monash CBV.D
GOC. 3^rd Aus Div

21/8/17
N^o. 4 Battalion
Overseas Training Bgde
Perham Down
18^th Aug. 1917
Major General John Monash
G.O.C. 3rd Div. A.I.F.
Dear General,
Your letter of the 4^th inst. reached 

me after some delay owing to faulty sorting here.
I thank you very much for writing and your 

confidential remarks are greatly appreciated by 

me - in fact they have cheered me up so much,
that I feel a fresh person.   The only thing I now 

ask is that, if you are making further inquiry 

into my case, you will allow me the opportunity
of giving my evidence, which has never yet been 

heard and I am positive a satisfactory explanation 

can be given in regard to any report that
has been made against me.   I trust you 

will allow me this opportunity;  for, from what 

Genl McCay said recently, it would appear
that the report made has caused you not to 

want you ^∧ me back in the division.  If it cannot 

be arranged for me to return now, would
you please detail me for the Senior Officers'
 

 

School at Aldershot, where I am informed there 

are always vacancies for the Commandant is 

invariably looking for more candidates as each
school commences.   Genl McCay tells me that 

the recommendation for this school must 

come from you.
You will be pleased to learn that, when 

the last draft left here, the platoon for the 

3rd Division was specially complimented for
their turn out when the Com^dt inspected them.
He stated they were by far the best out of 

the 5 Divisional Platoons.  In fact I can honestly 

say that the 3^rd Division shows as being more
thoroughly trained than the others especially the 

N.C.O's.   We have lectures each evening and, when 

I have laid out matter that was instilled into 

us at Lark Hill & brought into practice in France, 

I say in all humility that senior officers of the 

other divisions have been glad to listen, saying
that they had learned something on more 

than one occasion.   Some of my suggestions 

in regard to the training at this depot, have
been adopted here, but still there is room 

for much improvement, as I do not think 

the men get the benefit they ought to, under
the present organisation & administration

I should like to tell you more on this point 

but of course it is hard for you to spare any 

time for this side.   I have submitted suggestions 

which the other Battⁿ Com^rs fully agreed to, 

but it is doubtful if they will be adopted. X
Again thanking you for writing and 

hoping soon to hear that I may return 

to the firing line
I am, sir
Yours truly
Brent B. Rodd
※ I hope you will not think I am disloyal 

in criticising the present administration, 

but I feel in duty bound to our men, who 

are, when coming over here wounded, moved 

from depôt to depôt until arrival here 

when they are moved from Battⁿ. to Battⁿ. 

four times in the course of 7 or 8 days sometimes 

instead of being kept together in Divisions
under one command which, my scheme would 

allow for. BBR.

(*Recd  20/7/17*)
Private

Oveaseas Training Depot
Perham Downs
16th July 1917
Major General John Monash
G.O.C. 3^rd Aust. Division
France
Dear General,
I trust I may write you 

personally in regard to my being detailed 

for duty at this Depôt.  The position is 

quite ridiculous so far as I can see and 

Major Steele who is in charge states 

that I shall probably be here for some 

time - I can ascertain nothing further 

from A.I.F. Headquarters.   I have been 

given command of about 150 men
and as you are aware their training 

lasts for only 3 weeks, in fact my lot 

are only trained for the last week of 

the three.   There is nothing interesting 

nor instructive in this and I am writing 

to ask if you would kindly have me 

transferred as soon as possible either 

to the 9^th Training Batt^n. as mentioned by 

you unofficially or else overseas, or

perhaps to a C. O's school, as per my 

recent request which I trust reached you.
This depôt is a hotbed of trouble and 

I am sure I do not deserve the punishment 

of being left here.  The only way 

to get out of it, unless you ask for 

me, is for me to blunder in what 

small duty there is and this course 

is scarcely honorable; so sir you
will see the predicament I am placed 

in.
Trusting that you will arrange 

for me to be withdrawn at the earliest 

possible moment
I am, sir
Yours faithfully
Brent B. Rodd
P.S. Please forgive me if my letter appears 

to show too much feeling, but I came
to be in the fight and it is most 

disheartening to be on this ^∧ depôt duty when
I know I should be at the front.
BBR