Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 16, 9 October - 31 October 1917, Part 14

that his brother was an old friend &
fellow-officer of Lieut. Gen. Godley & asked my
permission to write to Gen. Godley. I told
him it could not be done officially, but that
I would not raise any objection to his
writing to Gen. Godley privately & unofficially
& on account of his brother's friendship
with the General. This he did.
If I can supply any further information
I shall be glad to do so.
I am, Sir,
Yours sincerely,
F.A. Maguire. 

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
21st. September, 1917.
Lieut-Colonel Maguire,
Commanding 9th. Field Ambulance. -
Kindly glance over attached correspondence and let
me have any information you can about Private RUTHERFORD. -
If, as he states, he has already applied through
you for a commission in the A.L.H., I hardly see how I can help
him, seeing that it does not rest with me to grant commissions. -
At any rate a sidelight on the facts of the case from you might
help my further action. -
Will you please return the enclosed correspondence
after perusal. -
Yours sincerely. -
John Monash 

HEADQUARTERS.
2ND ANZAC CORPS.
20th September, 1917.
My dear Monash,
The writer of enclosed has every excuse for
writing to me, as he is the brother of a very old friend and
brother-officer of mine, and for that reason of course I
would very much like to help him if I can.
If you can do anything for him, if he is a good
fellow, you would much oblige,
Yours sincerely,
Alex Godley

Major-General J. Monash, C.B., V.D.,
Commanding 3rd Australian Division. 

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
In the Field,
10th SEPTEMBER, 1917.
To Lieut.-General Sir A.J .GODLEY,
Commanding 2nd ARMY CORPS.
Sir,
As the brother of Major A.H. RUTHERFORD, Dublin Fusiliers, I
take the liberty of addressing you on a military subject, and trust
I may be excused for departing from the orthodox method of
communicating with a General Officer.
The matter which I beg leave to call your attention to is, that
about the 1st of May last I applied through the regular channels for
a Commission in the Australian Light Horse, which application
was duly forwarded on with my Commanding Officer’'s recommendation.
Since that time, however, I have heard nothing further on the subject
and this want of any definite action on my application for about
4 months is the reason for this letter.
I served in the Boer War with Lumsden's Horse (India) holding
the rank of Lance Sergeant and received the medal with three (3)
clasps and good conduct discharge, and also served 5 years in the
Behar Light Horse (Vol. Cavalry India) being Corporal in that Unit
and receiving good conduct discharge on resignation.
I have been acting as Stretcher Bearer in this Unit ^9th Aust. Field Ambulance since its
formation in Australia (February 1916) and besides work in the
trenches all winter last have taken part in the Battle of Messines
in June and again on July 31st, keeping thoroughly fit and well all
the time, and have had no crime against me since enlistment in
October 1915.
Should you have time to give my letter your kind attention
I would be greatly obliged.
No. 12059. B. D. Rutherford Private
9^th Field Ambulance
A.I.F. 

24/10/17
Conferences
Queries for Brigadier

723
O. C.,
1st. New Zealand Supply Column.
3rd. Australian Supply Column.
No. 49 Divisional Supply Column.
No. 66 Divisional Supply Column.
Officer i/c Workshops "Y" Supply Column.
Will you kindly arrange for an inspection of the
undermentioned Closed Cars and render a report by 8 p.m. 27th.
inst. as to the suitability of each of these for use of a General
Officer in higher formations :-

W.D.No.      Make       On charge of

19619            Daimler    3rd. Aust. Divisional Train.
19629           Daimler    3rd. Australian Supply Column
Kindly treat this matter as important, and note that S.M.T.O.
II Anzac may be calling to inspect any of these Cars on the
29th. inst.
(Signed) C.H. KEANE, Capt. & Adjt.
for Major, O.C., "Y" Supply Column.
25/10/17. 

26/10/17
Conference of Brigadiers
at Chateau Hervarre, 26/10/17
Tactical
Points brought up by Brigadiers - lessons. √
Plan of operations - criticize √
Story of right Flank - Harington's letter, √
Abandonment of red line - Army printed paper √
Dispersion of personnel - straggling. √
Improvement in Map reading. √
Senior Officers forward when things look ugly. √
Reconnaissance of approach routes. √
Parties - "chucking it" – Carriers, bearers, √
Administration
Casualty lists - delay - - Want of reconciliation (tables)√
Wrong preliminary estimates.
Divisional Canteen - collective buying√
Officer losses - list. 

Statement of Brigade Figured.

Straighten things
only when they
are looking ugly.
9 Reporting &
Employment - of
reserve Btn.
10 Thin barrage
11 Uncut wire.
12 Look to ground
beyond Tepe.
13 Got out own
reserve Bde on to
ground 4 days
before if we can.
14 [[Cruise?]] of whole
is down much
19/10/17
GM 

27th. October, 1917.
LINES
SPOKEN BY CHAPLAIN. THE REV. C.P. CUTTRISS
AT THE GRAVE OF MAJOR. W.A. ADAMS. THIRD AUST. PIONEER BATTALION.
Here where then liest, there is no sound of war
Nor any echo of the Huns’ fierce hate
These crumbling, bloodstained clods of Belgian soil
Will open to they soul the shining gate.
No spot is there on all Earth's troubled face
So hallowed as this plot where thou art laid
Fit resting place for one so good and brave
Who for his faith the fullest price hath paid.
Here shalt thou sleep till God's great spirit comes
To clothe thee with the life that never ends
and o'er this shell-torn bruised and bleeding land
A lasting and victorious peace descends.
Dearest of friends, - sleep on; thy name shall live;
In reverence thy memory we shall keep
No cannon's rear, no hurtling shell, no bomb
Hath power to waken this thy last long sleep. -