Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 16, 9 October - 31 October 1917, Part 12

S.G. 32/168.
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
SECRET
Divisional Headquarters,
16th. October, 1917.
PROVISIONAL SCHEME FOR DEFENCE OF THE LINE AT PRESENT
HELD BY THE THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
1. PERIOD THE
DIVISION WILL
BE IN THE LINE.
As it is probable that the Division will be
required to hold the Line for several days longer
than at first anticipated, a better opportunity
will be afforded for thoroughly organising the
defence of the Sector.
2. FRONTAGE, AND
POSSIBILITY OF
ATTACK.
The total frontage to be held is roughly
1400 yards - the defensible portion being about
1000 yards. The remainder is so boggy that attack
by the enemy by night would by ^almost impossible, and if
he attempted to attack down the valley of the
RAVEBEEK by day, he would be taken, in flank. It is
essential to maintain our hold on ^the high ground.
3. ORGANISATION
OF DEFENCE.
The attached Diagram (No.1) shows :-
(1) The S.O.S. Line
(2) The line of Posts.
(3) The Front Line.
(4) The Front Line dug on the 4th. Oct.,
(5) The Support Line dug on the 4th. Oct.
Boundaries & positions of Battalions & Brigades,
are also shown on the attached diagram.. The position
of Reserve Brigade is at HUSSAR FARM near
POTIJZE.
4. DISTRIBUTION
OF TROOPS.
The defence is carried out by three Brigades,
known as the "Front Line Brigade, the "Supporting
Brigadier",  and the "Reserve Brigade."
Battalions of the Front Line Brigade are known
as A. B. C. and D. - those of the Support Line as
E.F. G. and H. The Front Line Brigade holds the
Front with two Battalions forward, viz., A. and B.
and two in support, viz., C. and D. - each Battalion
on a two-Company front organised in depth.
5. CONSTRUCTION
OF DEFENSIVE
LINES.
Front and Support Trenches will be continuous
and fire-bayed, and the line of posts will be joined
up laterally and from front to rear. Special attention
will be given to the establishment of good
Lewis Gun and Sniper posts.
Permanent locations will be selected for Company
Headquarters, latrines and ammunition stores.
6. MACHINE GUNS. The Front Line Brigade will have 8 Vickers
Guns of its own Machine Gun Coy. at its disposal
for direct fire. The remainder of this Machine
Gun Coy. will be able to rest. The other Machine
Gun Coys. of the Division will furnish 24 Vickers
guns for barrage work - the remainder will be at
rest and available for carrying out reliefs.
The positions of the 24 barrage guns and their
S.O.S. lines are shown on the attached Diagram No.2.
 

-2-
7. PATROLLING. Patrolling by night must be active in order
to prevent the enemy from establishing himself
during the hours of darkness within the limits
of our Artillery S.O.S. Line.
8. S.O.S. Signals. Relieving troops will always take a supply
of S.O.S. Signals up with them. They will also
take over any S.O.S. Signals of troops who are
vacating the line. The Artillery will arrange
for special lookouts for S.O.S. and, where necessary,
relay rocket stations.
9. PRECAUTIONS
AGAINST ATTACK.
Special vigilance will be insisted on for
one hour before and after dawn - also during any
enemy bombardment of our front system. Troops of
the Front Line Brigade will "stand to" from one
hour before dawn until the ground in front is
clearly visible for 500 yards.
10. TRENCH
ROUTINE.
A regular system of Trench Routine will be
inaugurated, introducing inspection of rifles,
Lewis Guns and anti-gas appliances, and ensuring
that a state of efficiency is maintained.
The Supporting Brigade will have Coy. alarm
posts and all routes to front trenches 
reconnoitred. Troops of the Supporting Brigade will
"stand to" on an S.O.S. signal being observed, and
will be in readiness to go forward immediately to
recapture any ground which may temporarily be lost.
They will not go forward to counter-attack until
the sanction of the Divisional Commander has been
obtained. Supporting troops of the Front Line
Brigade will at once counter-attack without waiting
for Divisional Commander’'s sanction.
11. TECHNICAL
TROOPS. 
The C.R.E. will retain command of the three
Field Coys. and will arrange for their employment,
together with that of the Pioneer Battalion.
Infantry Brigades in the line will, however, be
entitled to call on the C.R.E. for Engineer a
assistance not exceeding two Sections. The remainder
of the Technical personnel will be employed -
(a) To help the Artillery with roads and
gun platforms -
(b) To make and maintain roads, mule tracks
and duckboard routes for the Infantry.
Duckboarded routes should have a plain wire along
side them at the height of a man's hand so that
they may easily be found at night. The duckboards
must be double and covered with netting or expanded
metal.
Work will be concentrated on two main avenues
of approach
(1)  Along the Railway and thence past SEINE
to MANX CORNER
(2) "K"  Track
shown respectively in RED & GREEN on attached
Diagram No. 1.
Zones of responsibility for the Front Line and
Supporting Brigades with regard to
(a) The burial of dead;
(b) Salvage
are shown on Diagram No. 1
 

3-
12. FLANKING

TROOPS.

The Front Line at present held by Flank Divisions
is shown on Diagram No. 1. The positions of 
Head-quarters of the Flank Divisions and Flank Brigades is
as follows :-
Right Flank Brigade    D.26.c.1.3
Right Flank Division     I.8.d.00.10
Left Flank Brigade        OTTO FARM
Left Flank Division        D.1.6.6.8.
13. WORKING
PARTIES.
The Brigade in reserve will be ready to supply
working parties, not exceeding 200 other ranks, with
a proper proportion of officers, for employment under
the orders of the C.R.E.
14. ARTILLLERY Eighty-one 18-pdr guns are available for S.O.S.
barrage.
1S. SIGNAL
ARRANGEMENTS
Signal arrangements are shown on Diagram No.3
attached.
G.H. Jackson
Lieut.-Colonel
General Staff.

DISTRIBUTION
C.R.A.                                   1 copy
C.R.E.                                    1    "
9th Aust. Inf. Be                 5 copies
11th      -do-                           5     "
148th Brigade                     5     "           
4th Canadian Division      1 copy  (For information)
4th Australian Division     1   "            "              "
New Zealand Division       1   "            "              "       
II ANZAC                               1   "            "              "
War Diary                             3 copies
File                                         1 copy
 

G.O.C.
16/10/17
Spoken by the Chaptain G.T. Cuttriss

over the upen grave of

Re Late Major W. A. ADAMS, D.S.O., 3rd. Aust: Pioneer Bn.

Dearest of friends, sleep on; thy name will shall live
Long after ^ In sacred reverence they memory we shall keep this cruel war hath ceased.
No cannon's roar, no hurtling shell, no bomb,
Hath power to disturb waken this thy last long last rest sleep.
Down Here where you rest thou rest, there there is no sound of war
Nor any knowledge echo of the Hun's fierce hate,
These shell struck, crumbled blood-stained clods of Belgian soil,
Will open to thy soul the Pearly shining Gate.
There is no place No plot is there on this all Earth's troubled face,
so hallowed as this spot ^spot where then art laid,
Fit resting place for one so good and brave
Who for his faith, the fullest price hath paid.

I know no flower in all this wide. wide world,
So fair as that which soon shall deck thy grave,
Nor any plot in any hallowed ground
So sacred as the turf which shields they head.

Sleep on, sleep on, thy Long last sleep till God's great spirit comes,
To clothe thee with the life which that never ends,
and o'er this shell-swept, torn, bruised and bleeding land,
A victorious lasting and enduring victorious peace descends.
Chaplain G.P. CUTTRISS.
3rd. AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
 

Notes
1 Men are in good
fettle but tired.
2 Go slow with 
regard to Infantry
training. It was
not lack of Training
that caused failure.
We must guard
against men getting
stale. I suggest
a clear week for
Btns in disposal
of Btn Com^drs to
refit & get going.
3 Watch honours
list ensure officers
who stopped on
Red & blue lines
 

are not forgotten &
that honours are
not given merely
to officers because they
happen to be Senior.
Get names of 10^th
Bde down of
Augustus Wood.
Mens honours will be
O.K.
4 Casualties in officers

5 Map reading &
accuracy of statements
6 Officers & NCOs
to reconnoitre
approach routes.
7 Dont Carry out
reliefs too early
8. Senior officer to
go forward &

for C.R.E.
17/10/17
Diagram - see original document
                             FM.                                TO
JILL                JILL CROSSING             RAP                                      To be single 
                                                                                                                  bathmatted
K.                     Bd H.Q.                          HAMBURG                            To be  "      "
JACK                '''                                     SEINE                                     To be barked only
                                                                                                                   Troops can use
                                                                                                                    Barked track alongside
                                                                                                                    To be double
                                                                                                                    Batted.
                                                                                                                     for Stitchers.
                                                                                                                            

FIGHTING STRENGTH AS AT NOON SATURDAY, 20th Oct. 1917.
 

23-10-1917.- 
AQ