General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 17, 1 November 1917 - 13 January 1918, Part 12

'C' Form.          Army Form C.2123. [*filing folio number in pencil = 24*]
(In books of 100.)

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No of Message [* ARMY Office Stamp AYC - 1.X11.17 SIGNALS *]
 

Prefix SG Code JG Words 24
Received. 

From AyC

By P[[J or T?]] Smith
Sent, or sent out.

As....... m

To..........

By......

Office stamp. [*ARMY SIGNALS AYC - 1.XII.17*]

Charges to Collect

Service Instructions

Handed In at AyC Office 9.33am Received 9.36am

TO GOC 3rd Aus Div

*Sender’s number. ADC100

Day of Month. 1st

In employ to number.

AAA

Hearty congratulations to 
you and your division 
on fine success last night Gen Hobbs.

[*Time stamp on pencil - sent time? 9.40am*]

FROM 5th Aus Div

TIME & PLACE

*This line should be erased if not required.

 

”O” Form

[*folio number in pencil = 76*]

Army [[torn over words?]] 

(In books of 100)

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS  No of message.
Prefix. SM

Code. DC[[S?]]

Words. 28

Charges to collect

Service Instructions

Received.

From. GJ2

By Hercules

Sent, or sent out.

At…m

To.

By.

Office stamp ARMY SIGNALS AYC 1.XII.17

Handed in at GO2 Office [[417?]]m Received 431 m

To [[J?]]A2

*Sender’s Number MC2 

Day of Month 1st 

In reply to Number

AAA

Please convey to army 
Commander the thanks of 
the raiders and the 
Brigade for his kind 
message of congratulations x forwarded 
through [[Ryde?]]
[*x forwarded*]
R5.30PM

FROM GO2
PLACE & TIME 4.10

*This line should be erased if not required.

”O” Form

[*folio number in pencil = 77*]

Army Form C, 2123

(In books of 100)

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS. No of message.
Prefix. SM

Code. DC[[S?]]

Words. 37

Charges to collect

Service Instructions

Received.

From. GJ2

By Hercules

Sent, or sent out.

At…m

To.

By.

Office stamp ARMY SIGNALS AYC 1.XII.17

Handed in at GO2 Office 417pm Received 433pm

To General Monash GS2

*Sender’s Number MC3

Day of Month 1st 

In reply to Number. G46

AAA

Best thanks of all 
concerned for your kind 
congratulations the warm terms 
of appreciation are ample 
reward for the work 
done and an encouragement 
for the future 

R 5.30pm

FROM General McNicoll

PLACE & TIME 4.20

*This line should be erased if not required.
 

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION S.G.1/430. [*HEADQUARTERS THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION STAMP*]
S E C R E T.
Divisional Headquarters,
1st December, 1917.
Headquarters
lst A. &N. Z. Army Corps.
MINOR OFFENSIVES - NIGHT NOV. 30TH/DEC. 1ST, 1917.
1. I beg to supplement interim reports on Raids carried
out by this Division, during last night; -

2. PLAN (a). The general plan was to Raid the same objective
twice in succession on the same night, each by a separate
party trained on identical lines; with an interval of time
between the two raids to correspond with the time that it
would probably take the enemy to restore his situation and
gerrison. - This was estimeted at about 7 hours; the estimate
proved to have been correct. - Each Team consisted of 3
Officers and 70 others, the first being drawn from 39th
Battalion, the second from 40th Battalion; (10th A.I.Bde).
(b). In order to effect surprise no wire cutting
was attempted until the day of the Raid.
(c). In its details, the enterprise was planned
on normal lines which past experience has shown to be practicable
 and effective, the principal features being:-
(i) Artillery co-operation comprising a short
three minute bombardment followed by the formation of a
"box barrage" to enclose the whole objective. -
(ii) Infantry told off into one parapet, two
flanking and two storming parties, each sub-divided into
groups according to tasks allotted.
(iii) Artillery diversion by Artillery of
Flank Division.
(iv). Co-operation by Machine Guns, Stokes
Mortars, and "VARLEY” Smoke Bombs. -
(v). Aeroplane photos carefully studied, and
probable positions of enemy works and dugouts explained
to all ranks.
3. EXECUTION. 
(a). Wire Cutting. This was carried out on the
day of the Raid by two 4.5" Howitzers, with 106 fuzes.
This Shoot was "covered" by a general bombardment of the
locality by the remainder of four Batteries.- Three
satisfactory passages through enemy wire were cut. - The
"shoot” Artillery Observers were accompanied by the Raid
Commanders
(b). First Raid. This was launched at 5.15 p.m.
This hour was chosen to enable assault to be carried out
in complete darkness, and withdrawal to be effected after
the moon had risen. - The whole enterprise proceeded as
planned. - The enemy works were entered by all parties,
told off for that purpose. They found a number of enemy
killed and wounded by our Artillery. - The Raiders claim
to have killed a minimum of 30. - Two dugouts were set on
fire with"P" Bombs, and burned fiercely. - Twelve enemy

P. T. 0.
 

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were killed by bombs in another dugout and two more in
a fourth. - An Officer of 102nd I.R. was killed by revolver
and several others also. - Individual Raiders claim
to have bayoneted a number of others. - The Party remained
in enemy trenches for twenty minutes and claim to have
disposed of the whole enemy garrison. - Two unwounded
prisoners of 103rd I.R. (normal) were brought back. - A
quantity of booty was also brought in, including papers,
kit, and examples of paper lint. -
(c). Second Raid. This was launched at 1.0 a.m.
It took the enemy completely by surprise. He had cleared
up his trenches and had sent up a party of the 12th
Pioneers to repair his works He had also strongly re-garrisoned
the locality, and had a large wiring party at work;
some lengths of concertina wire having already been placed
in one of the gaps cut by us prior to the first raid.
Our Reiders again found that a number of enemy
had been wounded by our Artillery. The remainder were
engaged by bombs, rifles, revolvers and bayonets. Our
left assaulting party claim to have killed more than 50
in all; our right assaulting party claim 20. - An enemy
Officer led a counter-attack, strength about 9 or 10,
against us down a C.T. but he and his whole party were
shot one after the other. - Many new and full kits, valises
and packs were seen. - A quantity of booty, not yet examined
has been brought in. - We seoured three prisoners of 103rd
I.R. (Normal).
(d). Our Artillery. Our bombardment and barrages
are reported to have been excellent, accurate and punctual.
[&?] to time-table.
(e). Withdrawal. A new route for withdrawal had
been reconnoitred ani duck-boarded. This proved a wise precaution, 
as the enemy heavily engaged our normal routes
while the withdrawals were in progress. - The whole of both
our Raiding Teams have been accounted for and tallied in
correctly.
(f). Enemy Action. The enemy's answering barrage
was slow and feeble, but his bombardment of our Avenues was
heavy. - During the first raid there was a good deal of
enemy machine gun fire, during the second raid it was some-
what heavier
[g). Our Casualties. First Raid:-
1 Officer (Lieut. RAKSAY) Died of wounds.
2 Other Ranks killed.
2 Other Ranks severely wounded.
9 Other Ranks slightly wounded.
Second Raid.
2 Other Ranks slightly wounded.
4. Although the majority of the members of the
Raiding Teams had not previously taken part in any Raid of this nature,
and although some of them had not previously been under fire, the offensive 
spirit of all ranks was excellent, and the operations were carried
out with satisfactory spirit and dash. - The Staff work was good and the
transmission of information was rapid and satisfactory.
 

John Monash
Major-General.
Commanding Third Australian Division.
T.C.
 

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divizional Headquarters,
2nd December, 1917.
INSTRUCTIONS RE DIVISIONAL COMMANDER'S LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
----------
1. I shall proceed to BOULOGNE on the evening of December 
4th, crossing to ENGLAND if possible on December 5th, and
returning to BOULOGNE on December 19th, - unless delayed by cancellation 
of sailings.
2. My address in ENGLAND will be PRINCE'S Hotel, Jermyn
Street, Piccadilly, unless I notify to the contrary.
3. I wish the car to be in waiting for me at BOULOGNE
on arrival of the first boat from FOLKSTONE on the forenoon
of December 19th.
4. All letters, newspapers, parcels, packets, etc.,
arriving addressed to me by my official title may be opened by
the Staff and dealt with, if necessary being submitted to
Brigadier-General McNICOLL. - All letters, papers, packets, etc.,
etc., addressed to me personally are to be handed to Captain
MOSS who will deal with each according to instructions which I
have left with him.
5. During my absence Brigadier-General MCNICOLL will
Command the Division and his directions will be sought with
reference to any matter about which there may be any doubt as to
my wishes.
6. I should like the Head of each Branch of the Staff to
 

-2-
send me to my LONDON address a very brief note at intervals of
three or four days to keep me in touch with the most important
developments affecting the Division. These notes should be
shown to Erigadier-General McNICOLL. The latest of these
communication must arrive in LONDON not later than December 18th
in order to reach me.
7. Any news arriving after the last letter is sent
to me to LONDON may be sent to meet me at BOULOGNE by the Driver
who brings down my car.
 

JM
Major-General.
Commanding Third Australian Division.
 
 

G.

First ANZAC Corps.

1st December 1917

[*HEADQUARTERS ANZAC NOo. Date 130/197*]

Second Army. 
I enclose for your information a report on 
the raid carried out last night by the 3rd Australian Division. 
CBB White

Brigadier-General,

General Staff, 

First ANZAC Corps.

[*A very well planned and exceedingly well carried out enterprise which reflects high credit on all [[cur….d??]] in the 3rd Aust Divn.

[[JM?]]
2.12.19*]

”O” Form

[*folio number in pencil = 2/12/17 58]

Army Form C, 2123

(In books of 100)

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS No of message.
Prefix. [[TR?]]

Code. [[B-K?]]

Words. [[31?]]

Charges to collect

Service Instructions

Received.

From. GO2

By Hercules

Sent, or sent out.

At…m

To.

By.

Office stamp ARMY SIGNALS AYC [[2.XII.17?]]

Handed in at GJ2Office 220pm Received 2.54pm

To GT2

*Sender’s Number MC4

Day of Month 2

In reply to Number. G468.

AAA

Army Commanders kind message 
of congratulations and thanks 
has been conveyed to 
every member of the 
raiding teams and please
thank him for his
appreciatory remarks which were
very welcome

[*G.O.C to see*]

[*?? 2/12/17*]

FROM GJ2

PLACE & TIME 2.50

*This line should be erased if not required.
 

COPY.  S E C R E T.   G.
First ANZAC Corps,
3rd December, 1917.
S/3710/1.
3rd Australian Division.
I am to say with reference to your S.G.5/144,
of the lst instant, that the principle of retaliation in any form
is not concurred in. The policy of the Corps will be an offensive
one within the limits of the resources at our command and the
opportunities available. It is essential that with the means at
our disposal we should inflict all possible loss on the enemy
and effect all possible depreciation of his moral. For these
purposes the initiative must be retained by us.
(Sgd) C.B.B.WHITE.
Brigadier-General,
General Staff,
First ANZAC COrps.