Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 16, 3 September - 9 October 1917, Part 6

16/9/17
Corps G.S. Circ. 23 of Sep. 13.-

Welcome Counterattacks.
Advance to meet Counterattack, rather than retire
Advance into shell holes during enemy's preliminary bombardment.
No excessive sensitiveness about flanks; never throw back a flank,
but send up troops to form a flank.
No "retire".
Never bring back barrage for a counterattack, - except to again advance it.
If counterattacks gets through our barrage, it continues, so as to box them in
Re-counterattack, up to limits of S.O.S. barrage.
If our local reserves fail, take time & arrange artillery support for
fresh attack by reserve troops.-
 

Be prepared for enemy flank Counterattacks, also ^∧ both by his infantry this June

My letter to Corps 11/9/17 - Position of protective barrage depends on visibility.
Patrols, during consolidation, are ground scouts, & moppers up.
These patrols should be few, & small., & should dig in.
Expedients for barraging a counterattack in depth
 

Fifth Army paper of Aug. 24. :-
Enemy tactics:- (a) Defence in depth (b) Immediate local attacks (c) Large Scale attack.
Our tactics:- Greater flexibility, by troops in small columns
Detail moppers - in small columns - to definite areas.
We must have two bodies (a) to ensure initial success (b) to meet counterattacks.
The "fresh" troops must be close up from outset, & must follow up.
Our reserves must be deployed, to re-counterattack as soon as they see
our leading troops being thrown back.
More frequent barrage halts. - Barrage to move more slowly.
Every attack exercise should produce Counterattacks at every stage
(Attached is a scheme for a Battalion attack, on a 2 C^o Front)
 

16/9/17
Corps S.G. 585 .of Sep. 5.   1500^x depth sufficient for a division for 1 day.
R.E. charges required to Pill boxes.
"Worm" formation
Mop up by "areas". -
Division bound to vet. all Artillery plans    X
Action of following troops in "support", to be strictly defined.
Difficulties of "file" formation;  men hesitate to deploy.

 

Agenda for C.C. Conference 5/9/17
 

C O N F I D E N T I A L. 
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
16th. September, 1917.
 

Headquarters,
2nd. A. & N. Z. Army Corps.
 

Herewith in duplicate confidential report called
for in your No.4016 A. of 13th. instant.
 

Major-General.
Commanding Third Australian Division.
 

OFFICERS RECOMMENDED FOR COMMAND AND STAFF APPOINTMENTS.
3^rd Australian DIVISION.
CONFIDENTIAL.   Officer Recommended for.
 

Rank, Initials, Name.	Unit.	Present Appointment.	Whether recommended for advancement	Appointment for which best fitted.
Brevet Lieutenant-             Colonel G. H. N. JACKSON, C.M.G., D.S.O.	1st. BORDER Regiment.	G.S.O.I.  Third Australian Division.	Yes	B.C.G.S of  Corps or Brigade Command

REMARKS.

Age: Service in years ; Whether P.S.C. : Services in present war. including mentions and rewards ; Previous Staff or Regimental Staff Experience ; General Ability. Manner in which duties have been performed, Special Qualifications and Characteristics.

 

Age  40 9/12 years.

Service  20 7/12 ".

P.S.C.  Yes.
   
Services in Present War.   GALLIPOLI and FRANCE.  Four times mentioned.

Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel dated June, 1916.

C.M.G. dated June, 1917.

 

Remarks of Reporting Officer.

A very able and helpful Staff Officer

possessing tactical and technical knowledge of 

a high order, also great industry and enthusiasm

which he has the power of inspiring in others. -

His judgement and tact are admirable, and are 

not affected by the stress of battle 

John Monash
Major General
Commanding 3rd Aust. Division.
Date. 16/9/17

 

17/9/17

 

P A C K    T R A N S P O R T.
 

Organization for 11th. Aust. Infantry Brigade Exercise 18/9/ 1917.
 

144 Pack animals, organized into 12 sections, each under
an N.C.O.
 

The 12 sections are divided into 3 groups, each group
consisting of 4 sections, under an Officer.
 

The following nominal loads will be carried in connection
with 11th. Brigade exercise:--
 

2 Sections (24 animals)        2880 Grenades.
4 Sections (48 animals)        96000 S.A.A.
4 Sections (48 animals)        576 gallons Water.
2 Sections (24 animals)         R.E. Stores or                                                                    Rations.
__

12

(CAP/DD)          Total for Division
17-9-1917.          4 Toops, as above =  576  animals
D.H.Q.                + spares                        74
                                                                 ____
                                                       Total 650

i.e. 1    for each Brigade under Bde Transport                   Officer & Bn T^r officer.

      1     for Div. Troops.
                   _____________________________
                                                                                  463

[[Repletion?]] packs in Div.       =  163.                  ‾‾
Issued to us on loan                   = 300.                113
Saddle attachments                    = 100.
                                                            ____
                                                             563
We now have 60 saddle attachments.
 

17/9/17
 

Take Maps

[Houl??] to be

present.)
 

Conference of Brigadiers (in field 18/9/17)
 

1. Reasons for Field Conference. -
Time for offensive approaching
No definite information, - until after Corps Conference this afternoon.
Another Conference afterwards
 

2. Our probable Role. - Refer to Map.-
Anzac objective
Order of Divisions
We follow 5^th
Advancing & protective barrages.
 

2^A My dispositions. - 10^th & 11^th Bgdes in front line, 9^th in Reserve. & to relieve
Engineer, Pioneers & M.G. C^os under Division with detachments to Bgdes.
11^th on right, 10^th on left.
Probable frontages 400^× to 600^× per Bgde.
Probable depth., 1000^× to 1500^× in 2 or 3 bounds - all on one day.
Possible right flank of 11^th Bde.-
 

3. Preparatory Measures .- for Brigadiers
1.  Settle on Commands, & B teams; - Keep B^ns less than 750.-
2. Careful study of all documents, & crystallize news, for a
later conference.-
3. Instruction of B^ns, C^o & platoon leaders - in conditions
& possibilities. -
4. Prepare Agenda lists, for yourselves, & B^ns.
5.  my former Interrogations. -
6. Settle equipment, loads, food, tools.
 

4. Tactical points & dispositions -
Objectives will be Areas i.e. frontage x depth.
Frontage 
(a) One Bⁿ frontage - Leapfrogging B^ns. } _Brigade
(b) Two B^ns frontage - Leapfrogging C^os}
 

(a) Two C^o frontage      } _Battalion 

(b) Three C^o frontage.  }
 

Platoon formations. - lines & Columns.- Dispositions for use of Reserves - in counterattack in support to fill gaps Use of following troops - as supports -must know what is going on Counterattack - Protective barrages. Counterattack at every stage. Consolidation - carrying parties - outposts

Liaison - Divisions Brigade Battalion Study of photos Moppers up told off to areas.

5. Training & Preparations
Battalion & Brigade exercises -
Pace of barrage - infantry follow lifts.
Practice counterattacks, & casualties.
Explain exercises to troops -
Teach platoons to think & act quickly – especially in dealing with strong points. -
Move slowly - act quickly.
Don't be over nervous about flanks - or gaps. - send up troops
Consolidate in depth - 2 lines
Action of Consolidating troops when bombarded.
Be prepared for flank Counterattacks.
Posts in front - few & small
Generally – greater flexibility – better liaison - more resource
limitation is our barrage.
 

18/9/17
 

Corps Conference
 

2^nd Army Attack on day fixed
Red, Buck & Green lines
then wait for 6 days
then to next leap.
Road is boundary.                                                    
(*Artillery
M. Gun Barrage*)
Failures on right ([Gugh says?]] were due to Reserves, & assaulting
troops not being up in time.
Alternative Barrage for 1^st Anzac will be slower if
it is wet - 
 

Read F.S. Regs. I
 

Put in demands for pack                576 -
  saddles. -                                            176
[[Lend/Send?]] a Q officer to 1^st Division

Clipping to be done by Nov. 15  x