Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 16, 3 September - 9 October 1917, Part 8

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.

Divisional Headquarters,
20th September, 1917.-

NOTES ISSUED WITH SPECIAL DIVISIONAL ROUTINE ORDER 
NO. 1409 DATED 20TH SEPTEMBER 1917.

1. Para. 2 (A).

Each  Battalion will form up so that "A" and "C" Companies, in 
column of platoons, are in the front line. "B" and "D" Companies
in rear. 

Platoons should be equalised and sized.

2. Para. 2 (B).

Company Commanders will not be counted.

3. Para. 4.

All Officers, with the exception of Brigadiers and Staff 
Officers, will be dressed the same as the men.

4. Para. 7.

Dressing of the line of Officers will be taken up from the centre.

5. Para. 8.

When the Commander-in- Chief moves to the right of the line,
mounted officers will move forward 2 horse length in order 
to leave sufficient room for him to proceed in rear of them. 

6. Para. 9

Units will move to the right in fours and wheel to the left 
at Point I at the double. On reaching Point 2 on the line
of the saluting Base, they will advance to the Left in column
of Platoons or Sections by the Right as the case may be closed
up to 10 paces. 

The movement will commence as soon as the Commander-in= Chief 
has passed the 10th Brigade. 

Checking Posts at correct Platoon distance of 16 paces will be
placed at 150 yards from Saluting base and Platoon Commanders
should be careful not to pass first post until the
Platoon immediately in front has passed the second post.  

(P.T.O).-

 Page No. 2.  20th Septem

Officers falling out after passing the Saluting Base should
arrange to have their Horse-holders at the place of dismounting.
Those men should arrive there 10 a.m.

7. Para. 11.

The 30th Battalion will move to the rear when the Commander-
in-Chief has passed the 11th Brigade, in order to allow the
massed bands to pass through, and will then again take up
its position in the line.

8. Para. 12.

Saluting Points will be marked by Flags, and Officers Commanding
Platoons should be careful to give the order "Eyes
Right" when they themselves are passing the first flag, and
"Eyes Front" when their Platoon has passed the second flag.
Mon should be carefully instructed that when the order
"Eyes Right" is given, not only should the head be turned
smartly to the right, but the eyes should look straight
into the eyes of the Commander-in-Chief.

A Platoon Commander will not look round at his Platoon when
giving the order "Eyes Right" but will turn his head and
eyes right and come to the salute.

9. Para. 13.

Care should be taken that troops marching off through
DRIONVILLE keep to the right of the road in order to
leave a clear passage for the Commander-in-Chief's car.

Rob. E. Jackson
Major.-
A.A. & Q.M.G. Third Australian Division,

(PL).-

[*ADC. for GOI*]

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.

Divisional Headquarters,
21st. September, 1917.

NOTES FOR STAFF FOR COMMANDER-in-CHIEF's PARADE
10:30 a.m., 22nd. SEPTEMBER, 1917.

1. G.S.O. I., A.A. & Q.M.G., Lance-bearer and Trumpeter will meet
the G.O.C. at the following rendezvous:-

Cross-roads DRIONVILLE - THEIMBRONNE ROAD, 1500 yards South
of DRIONVILLE,

at 9:45 a.m.

Positions throughout Parade are shown on attached sketch. [*issues to 
those concerned*]

2. The D.A.A.G. will be responsible for the Parade lining-up and the
March Past. He will ensure that no delay occurs in the 
commencement of the March Past.

He will be assisted by the following Officers:--

Major S. KING,
Captain J.A. LAMBDEN,
Captain D.G. MOLESWORTH,
Lieutenant S. IRWIN.

Major KING will supervise the marching off of troops after the
March Past, and will be responsible that no check takes place
at the Saluting Base.

Captain LAMBDEN will supervise checking of distances at the
checking posts.

Captain MOLESWORTH will supervise the change of direction at
Point 2, and ensure that Platoons are kept closed up to 10 paces.

During the forming up of the Parade he will carry out such duries
as are allotted to him by the D.A.A.G.

Lieutenant IRWIN will take post in rear of the 38th. Battalion
to ensure that they move to the rear at the right time in order
to allow the Massed Bands to pass through.

During the forming up he will carry out such duties as are
allotted to him by the D.A.A.G.

3. Captain S.H. JACKSON will be at rendezvous for horses of
Commander-in-Chief, at the Pump, DRIONVILLE, at 10 a.m. and will
guide the Commander-in-Chief to the Saluting Base.

Rob. E. Jackson
Major.
A.A. & Q.M.G., Third Australian Division.

Distribution:-
A.D.C. for G.O.C.
G.a.
A.A. & Q.M.G.
D.A.A.G.
I.G.
Major S. KING,
Capt. J.A. LAMBDEN,
Capt. D.G. MOLESWORTH,
Lieut. S. IRWIN.

Positions on Parade

Diagram - see original document
Order of March of Staff during Inspection

Diagram - see original document
Position of Staff during "March Past"

Diagram - see original document
G.O.C. (accompanied by. G.S.D.I only) moves to saluting Base
after passing

[*22/9/17*]

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

The delays imposed on us by the persistent rain in August gave the enemy
ample time to bring up reinforcements and to perfect all his arrangements to
meet a renewal of our advance on the Ypres front, but the complete success of
the operations carried out on the 20th instant by the Second and Fifth Armies
has again shown that neither preparations nor reinforcements can stop the
determined and well combined advance of the troops of the British Empire.

Another important step forward to the final victory has been made.

I congratulate the Commanders, Staffs and Troops of the Second and
Fifth Armies on the splendid results gained by them in this last attack.

D. Haig.  F.M.
Commander-in-Chief.
British Armies in France.

General Headquarters,
22nd September, 1917.

[*GOC*]
[*AQ*]

ARMY PRINTING AND STATIONERY SERVICES A--9/17.

[*JM*]
[*26/9/17*]

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.

Divisional Headquarters,
23rd. September, 1917.

Captain T. MORELL,
Staff Captain,
3rd. Aust. Divisional Artillery.

My dear Morell,

I have been handed a letter from the Divisional
Commander written to him in a semi-official capacity by your
G.O.C. on the subject of Horses.

The C.R.A. seems to be under the impression that
the Returns rendered by you for demand of Remounts are in some
way altered in this office, the result being that the number of
horses we ask for for you are a considerable number short of
what you actually require.

I attach hereto a Statement shewing the number
of animals asked for by you in your three most recent Demands,
and the number demanded by Division to satisfy. You
will notice that no rides have been demanded except 4 Special
ones, on account of the number of surplus already held which
are to be replaced by Bicycles.

In addition to this Statement you will probably
remember the day before you were ordered to move from this Area,
I asked you to let me know the number of Light Draught animals
you required to complete, so that a special effort could be made
to get them in time to move with you.

I received a telephone message from your Office;
I forget whether it was from you or Irwin; stating that you
required 37 Light Draughts. These were immediately
demanded from Remounts, and arrangements made to collect the day
after you moved out. Some hours after receiving
the above telephone message a wire was received from your Office
stating that you required 49 Light Draught animals, but as the
37 had already been demanded and arrangements made for them, I
considered it was not good policy to submit a fresh demand,
thereby probably upsetting the arrangements already made by the
Director of Remounts which would cause delay in getting the
original 37.

My idea in pointing out these figures to you is
to show that we can only work on figures supplied by you. I
do not doubt for one moment that you are 58 Light Draught animals
short at the present time, taking into account the number of
casualties which you must have had since you left here, but at
the same time, I think that if the C.R.A. was made absolutely
conversant with the system of demanding Remounts he would
probably not worry out General unnecessarily on matters which
are merely normal.

He also states that you have approximately 30
Light Draught horses which are considered unsuitable as Gunners:
if this is the case the correct procedure is to advise me of this

   2.

and arrangements will be made for a Representative of the
Remount Staff (not Veterinary) to cast them. If this
state of thins is not reported through the proper channels
you must not allow your C.R.A. to be misled by him thinking
that your interests as regards Remounts are not being closely
watched from this .

Now, if you will let me know exactly:-

1. the number of Light Draught animals you require
   to complete,
2. the number you consider unsuitable as Gunners
   and should be cast,

I will arrange at once for the casting of the latter and you
to be completed up to establishment.

Hoping you are keeping fit, and not being worried
too much by bombs, etc.

Yours sincerely,
CA Pyke

(CAP/DD)

SUMMARY OF THREE MOST RECENT DEMANDS FROM 3rd. AUSTRALIAN DIVISIONAL ARTTILLERY FOR REMOUNTS.

DEMANDED BY ARTILLERY			DEMANDED BY DIVISION FOR ARTILLERY				REMARKS
	R.	L.D.		R.	L.D.	)	No rides demanded, because Artillery had a large number of surplus rides. (Approximately 60) which are to be exchanged for bicycles.
August 14th.	8	11	August 16th.	nil	11	)
? undated - end of August.	12	41	Septbr. 2nd.	nil	41	)
Septbr. 12.	19	68	Septbr. 16th.	4	43		Same re rides. 57 L.D. Horses were urgently demanded from BOULOGNE to complete the Artillery when they marched out from this Area. These were due to arrive at Wagon Lines on September 13th. (the day after the indent was submitted) 12 of these animals were cast en route by D.D. Remounts, which left 25 to be taken on charge by Artillery - this number was deducted from their demand.

Divisional Headquarters,
23rd. September, 1917.
(DD)

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.

Divisional Headquarters,
23rd. September, 1917.
G. 26/542.

GENERAL STAFF CIRCULAR NO. 59A.

The attached Diagrams "A" and "B", drawn to scale, shew
possible methodsof arranging a Battalion in order that it may attack
roughly on a 600 yard front with a platoon strength of 25 to 30..

Suggestion "A" is that the Battalion should have four
Companies deployed on this front, each Company having a frontage of 150
yards. The points about Diagram "A" are as follows :-

(a). The leading wave in one line consisting of one platoon on a
company frontage is strong enough to smother opposition, and shallow
enough to keep close up to the barrage and lot the moppers up be near the
work they will have to do. It also pieces the leading wave on the
Company front under the command of one man, whose one object is to keep
close to the barrage. -

(b). It allows for moppers up to be doubly as strong as the leading
wave; thus if it is decided to tell off areas, these moppers up can
leap-frog among themselves without interfering with the leading wave. -

(c). It allows of half the moppers up being taken to replace the leading
wave, and yet of these being sufficient moppers up handy to do the
work. -

(d). It allows for one platoon to act as reserve to each Company. -

Diagram "B" shows a Batallion front of 600 yards, divided
into three sections of 200 each, a Company being allotted to each of these
sections - the Company to attack with three platoons in front and one
platoon in reserve, the fourth company being in Battalion reserve.
It will be seen on referring to the Diagram -

(a). That the moppers up are only equal to the leading wave. -

(b). That the moppers up and leading wave are under the same Platoon
Commander, though they have different missions to perform. -

(c). That there is a platoon in reserve which could replace certain
moppers up if they had to fill vacancies in the leading wave. -

(d). That there is a Company in Battalion reserve. -

It is thought to be an undoubted advantage to have a
Company in Battalion reserve, but on the whole Scheme "B" does not appear
to be as flexible, or to have spare parts as handy to their work as in
Scheme "A". It has, however, the advantage already quoted, that there
is a whole Company in Battalion reserve instead of four different platoons
as in Scheme "A".

It will be seen that by either Scheme the Division could
attack on a 1,200 yard front with two Brigades in line and one in reserve.
Please let me have your opinions with regard to these two
Schemes. -

"A" has been evolved as the result of observations of the
Exercises carried out by the 10th. and 11th. Brigades,

P.T.O.

[*G.O.C.
for approval
prior to issue
[[? CM]]
23/7/17*]