Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 16, 3 September - 9 October 1917, Part 17

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
5th October 1917.-
"A. Q". REPORT.
1. Arrangements have been made for "B" Teams of Brigades to
return to their Brigades as follows :-
9th Brigade to march from MORBECQUE to WINNEZEELE
arriving at 4 p.m. Brigade has been informed.
10th & 11th Brigades. A Requests haves been made for
these details to report to Brigades to-morrow but
I have not yet heard whether it is possible to obtain 
the train for the purpose to-morrow.
The following Reinforcements have marched into the Details
Camp at MORBECQUE since "B" Teams went there:-
--------------------------------------------------------
Battalion                  Officers                    O.R's. 
---------------------------------------------------------
33rd. Battalion.               -                             23        
34th. Battalion                1                             23                 
35th. Battalion.               -                              16
36th. Battalion.               -                              12
9th. L.T.M. Battery.         -                                1             
37th. Battalion.               -                              22
38th. Battalion.               -                              22
39th. Battalion.               1                              13
40th. Battalion.              3                              11
10th. L.T.M. Battery.        -                               2
4lst. Battalion.                 2                               6
42nd. Battalion.              2                               8
43rd. Battalion.                -                              11
44th. Battalion.                -                               2
11th M. G. Coy.                   -                               2
11th. L.T.M. Battery.           -                               1
------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL.                             9                             175
------------------------------------------------------------
2. Strengths of "B" Teams of Brigades, at MORBECQUE, are as
follows: -
--------------------------------------------------------
Battalion                  Officers                    O.R's.
---------------------------------------------------------
33rd. Battalion.               3                          147
34th. Battalion.               6                          115
35th. Battalion.               6                          140
36th. Battalion.               6                          136 
9th. Machine Gun Coy.  1                            30
9th. L.T.M. Battery.          1                            10    23    578
                                             ____________________

"A.Q" REPORT             Sheet No. 2.            5th October 1917.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Battalion                                 Officers                           O.R's.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
37th. Battalion.                              11                                170
38th. Battalion.                              12                               230
39th. Battalion.                              13                               136
40th. Battalion.                              11                                100
10th. M. G. Coy.                                 5                                 31
10th. L.T.M. Battery.                         3                                 10   55   677
                                                         _______________________
4lst. Battalion.                                  1                                  12
42nd. Battalion.                               2                                   8
43rd. Battalion.                                2                                  12
44th. Battalion.                                -                                   10
1lth. M. G. Coy.                                   2                                  30    
1lth. L.T.M. Bty.                                   1                                   35   8   107 
                                                          ________________________
                                                                                                        38   457
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL.                                            124                               1819
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. MUNITIONS.  Arrangements have been made for the re-equipping
of Brigades with Trench Munitions to be carried on the men to be 
from dumped at Corps Dump at TAVISTOCK. We take over the dumps
again later.
It is proposed to leave Capt. OSWALD and his dump party
in the Area to keep in touch with the Dumps and supplies. He
will be attached to the 11th Brigade at BRANDHOEK.
4. BATHING.  Arrangements will be made for the use of a bath
at VLAMERTINGHE for the 10th Brigade. There is already a bath
in BRANDHOEK Area and one in WINNEZEELE Area, so that all Troops
would be able to have a bath during the next four days.
D.A.D.O.S. has a supply of clean underclothing. Clean
socks have been issued to Q.M's S.
5. D.A.D.O.S. reports that only one Lewis Gun has been lost.
6. Headquarters Signal Coy. horses and vehicles not required at
WINNEZEELE are remaining in BRANDHOEK Area close to these Headquarters.
It is proposed to leave Headquarters Divisional
Train for near Railhead to live with the Coys. of the Train till we
return.
Field Ambulances not undertaking Corps work are being 
relieved by incoming Division and will join their Brigade Groups.
Salvage Coy. remains in the Area.
Casualty statement attached.
Robt. E. Jackson
Lieut.-Colonel.
(REJ/PL).-
A.A. & Q.M.G., Third Australian Division.
 

3^rd Aust Div   5/10/17
Totals of Signal Traffic
Landed at 3^rd Aust Div Hqrs
& Advanced Report Centre for
 4/10/17.
Report Centre AYCR.

Telegrams (Forwarded     394

                      Received         388

                      Repeated        234

                                                _____

                                                1016

                                               ______

Sealed Packets                     418

Rear Office AYC

Telegrams (Forwarded     179

                      Received         224

                      Repeated        106

                                                _____

                                                509

                                               ______

Sealed Packets                    318

                                               ______

Grand Totals

Telegrams                           1525

Sealed Packets                    734

5/10/17  
J Watson

Major OC

3rd Aust Div Sig Co

28

2^nd Anzac

Total Captures so far counted

include fifty one Machine 
Guns ^& four Trench Mortars aaa

Enemy dead within Divisional 
areas well over a thousand

aaa many more visible east of 
our blue line aaa Addressed

2^nd Anzac repeated Flank Divisions.
G 44   2.41 PM
5/10/17                          
 

N.Z.
Y.M.C.A. 

OFFICERS' CLUB
IN THE FIELD,
FRANCE, .................191......
 

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
5th October, 1917.
G.386/368.
SPECIAL ORDER.
The Operations carried out by this Division, during the
period October 1st to 5th/17, have been brilliantly successful. -
We have captured a large territory, over 1,000 prisoners and
many machine guns, and have accounted for very many enemy killed
and wounded. -
This success has been due to the fine spirit and
devotion of the Troops, as well as to the high standard of performance, 
which all Commanders, Staffs, Services and Departments,
throughout the Division, have set themselves. -
I have received many congratulatory messages from the
Commander-in-Chief, the Army and Corps Commanders, and from other
Divisions. - In conveying these to the Division, I desire to add
an expression of my own thanks to all, for the splendid support
which they have rendered to me.
The blow inflicted yesterday upon the enemy is calculated 
to have a decisive influence upon final victory. - But
this can be achieved only if we vigorously follow up our success;
and we must prepare ourselves as rapidly as possible to repeat
our blow.
I look therefore to all Commanders and to the Troops,
to spare themselves no pains or sacrifices to prepare, by rapid
reorganization and re-equipment, for further immediate 
Operations.
John Monash
Major-General.
Commanding Third Australian Division.
T.C.
 

-2-.
DISTRIBUTION
"G" Staff.
A.Q. Staff.
C.R.A.
C.R.E.
3rd Aust. Div. Signal Coy.
9th Aust. Inf. Bde.
10th       "do"
11th         "do"
3rd Aust. Pioneer Bn.
A.D.M.S.
D.M.G.O.
23rd A.M.G. Coy.
D.A.C.
D.B.O.
D.G.O.
A.P.M.
3rd Aust .Div. Train.
Div. Supply Column.
Camp Commandant.
D.A.D.V.S.
D.A.D.O.S.
Div. Salvage Coy.

Sample of one of Aubrey's orders, showing incidentally also what a big
job it is to run a move of Divisional Headquarters.

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
Divisional Headquarters,
5th. October, 1917. 

MOVE OF THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS.
Third Australian Divisional Headquarters will move to WINNEZEELE on
6th. October, 1917, commencing at 8:30 a.m.
1. A1l Billets and Offices will be occupied as previously.
2. Personnel, Baggage and Office Equipment will move by Motor-Lorries.
3. Mid-day Meal will be carried in Haversacks.
4. (a) Only such firniture and Office gear which is absolutely
necessary will be moved to WINNEZEELE , all other material will
be stored in East end of the Pay Office and a Guard placed over it.
(b) All Material for storage must be clearly marked and stored
to-day.
5. (a) All Baggage, Kits etc., other than for storage, carefully
marked, will be dumped 40 yards North of "Q" Office and ready
for loading at 8:30 a.m.
(b) The Baggage and Equipment from each Office and Mess will be
dumped in separate lots, and a man placed in charge of each
pile.
(c) Officers Kits and Baggage must be dumped together in one pile.
6. (a) There are 8 Lorries available which will do two trips if
necessary, and are allotted as follows:-
No. 1 and 2 Lorry will report to Advanced Divisional Headguarters
and load up with baggage and personnel, and proceed direct to
WINNEZEELE .
 

"G" means General Staff (fighting) Branch

"Q" means Q.M.G Staff (administrative) Branch
P.T.O.

2. 

6. (b) The reminder of the baggage and personnel will be moved as
soon as lorries become available on the second trip. 

7. Horse Transport.  G.S. Wagon and Officers Chargers will move off 
at 8 a.m. under an Officer who will be detailed to take charge.
9. Motor Cars will be available from 9 a.m. as follows: -
No. 1, 3 and 6 Cars for Officers at Advanced D.H.Q.
No. 2, 4 and 5 Cars for Officers at Brandhoek Camp.
A.  MOSS.  Captain.
Camp Commandant, H.Q., 3rd. Aust. Division.
 

5-10-17
Army Form C.2123.
(in books of 100)
"C" Form.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.
No. of Message 240
Prefix [[SB?]] Code HA[[p?]] Words 16 
Received
From BGQ
By JH Richards

Office Stamp.
ARMY
AY 5x 17.CR
SIGNALS
Service Instructions.  PRIORITY
Handed in at BGQ  Office 3.5 p.m. Received 8 . 6 p.m.
TO AYCR
*Sender's Number    Day of Month     In reply to Number
249                                       5^th                                                            AAA
Wires gone to the front
consider Artillery cant stop[[s?]]
R 8 7 pm
Seen by
GO.C Btn Rd (Major Nicholls)
8 . 9 pm
JM
FROM  BGQ 11th Bde
PLACE & TIME 8pm
*This line should be erased if not required.