General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 17, 1 November 1917 - 13 January 1918, Part 20

[*R L6
GOCs Copy*]
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
11th. January, 1918.
NOTES UPON CONFERENCE WITH MAJOR-GENERAL C. B. B. WHITE, C.B.,
C.M.G., D.S.O., B.G.G.S. AUSTRALIAN CORPS ON
JANUARY 10TH 1918.
The following matters were discussed by G. O.C. with
General WHITE with the conclusions noted in each case.
A. Question of interposing Support Division so as to have a Third
Division in the Line. –
1. I raised the question of Divisional boundaries on the
grounds of tactical considerations, density of troops.
preservation of existing Brigade frontages, existing communications,
etc., etc. –
After some discussion, the B.G.G.S. agreed in general terms
with my proposal that the southern boundary of the Centre
Division should be the RIVER DOUVE, and he said he would see
the Corps Commander and obtain his approval to this change. –
2. Action to be taken by Support Division.
I pointed out that it would be desirable at once to work
out all details for the determination of the Divisional back
areas, Brigade back areas, location of Reserve Brigade,
Defence Scheme, positions of ^all Headquarters with all artillery
arrangements in connection with the centre Division. –
The B.G.G.S. agreed and said that he would take this
matter in hand, and make out a precise aggenda list for
matters which the Support Division should takenin hand at once;
until such list is received, we need do nothing further. -
He agreed in principle that the whole organization of the
Centre Division should be brought to paper, although he
regretted regarded it as problematical whether it would ever have to be
(1).

(2).
11/1/1918.
put into force. –
I pointed out the desirability of a 'cut and dried'
scheme in the interests – not merely of the Centre Division
but also of its flank Divisions.
3. Position of Divisional Headquarters.
The B.G.G.S. definitely agreed to SHOVEL CAMP as the
best available site and agreed also that it would be an
advantage to connect WESTHOFF FARM with SHOVEL CAMP and
SHOVEL CAMP with the northern panel point by a cable bury
even if SHOVEL CAMP were never occupied as a Headquarters. –
I indicated that the 10th. Brigade was available and
could put on 1,000 men to do this bury, which would take them
not more than 4 days. –
The B.G.G.S. said in reply that in any case if the work
[*Done by
GSO 1
So act
11/1/18. [[Shq?]]*]
had to be done he would call upon a fewer number of men and
spread the work over a longer time. - I am, therefore, to
officially propose SHOVEL CAMP and he will communicate
Corps approval of same, and give the necessary instructions
about the cable bury.
4.  I asked the B.G.G.S. expressly to say whether there was were
any other "essentials" as referred to in his S/3809 of
December 31st., last para. page 1., and he said that all
"essentials" for immediate action had already been covered
by the matters discussed above. –
5. I pointed out that the terminology employed in this
memo in para.1 (i) did not agree with the terminology in
para. c. on page 2. - After the discussion the B.G.G.S.
agreed that the words "i.e. our forward zones" should not
have been inserted in the latter paragraph.
6. I also pointed out that the word 'group' had been
employed in the memo in different co-ordinations- connotations. – I said
that my understanding of an artillery group was a collection
of ^a variable number of batteries all under the one command

(3)
11/1/1918.
and control, and that it had not been the custom to describe
the whole of the Divisional artillery as one group. – It
was therefore not clear whether the word 'group' as used in
the 4th. and 5th. last lines of page 2 meant a Divisional
group or a Brigade Group.
The B.G.G.S. said he would note the point and
give a decision.
B. Draft Defence Scheme for Support Division.
1  The B.G.G.S. returned to me the draft scheme
forwarded to him under cover of my letter of Jany. 9th. –
This draft contained verbal alterations introduced by him
in consequence of further alterations in the description
of the various zones in a memo which was still to come to us
(memo since received viz:– S/38091 of Jany. 10th).
In all other respects, ho approved of the draft defence
scheme and stated that it might now be completed and issued.
He also said that a further amendment in the Corps scheme
was on the way to us showing the alterations consequential
upon the disappearance of the STEENWERCK Brigade.
2. The B.G.G.S. at first wished to lay down that the
Defence Scheme for the Support Division should contain as
one of the alternative actions of the Support Division the
statement that the Support Division might be employed to
take up the Centre Divisional sector of a three Division
Corps Front. –
I pointed out, however, that this was not the case seeing
that the moment the Support Division received orders to take
up the Centre sector it would cease to be a Support Division,
and would cease to function as such and that it would be a
Division in rear which would take over the role of the
Support Division. - Therefore, at no one moment of time
could the occupation of the centre Divisional sector become
the role of a Support Division.
The B.G.G.S. agreed with this view and withdrew his
suggestion. –

(4)
11/1/1918.
C. Platoon Competitions.
I explained my proposals within the Division and pointed
out the absence of ranges. – After discussion, the B.G.G.S.
agreed that while energetic steps should be taken during the
months of January and February to train all platoons for this
competition, the actual competitions themselves should be
postponed until after the end of February when it was hoped
that this Division would be withdrawn to an area where ranges
were plentiful.
D. CORPS SCHOOL.
I pointed out that Captain ARNOLD was still being held
back by XXII CORPS and was not yet available to me for the
Australian Corps School. – The B.G.G.S. made a note and
said he would make a further effort to procure his instant
release. –
E. I spoke very strongly and earnestly about the absence of
proper liaison between G.O.C.R.A. of Corps and Divisions and
gave strong reasons why the situation should be improved.
The B.G.G.S. took a note and said that he would bring about a
reform in this respect.
We discussed the idea of the 38th Division in organizing
a Divisional Sniping Coy. The result of the discussion was
that the B.G.G.S. left me a free hand but I rather gather the
conclusion that if this Division were to take up any action
of this kind it would be better to put it in the form of a
sharp-shooting coy trained for employment during offensives
and not for the purpose of training snipers during sedentary
defensive warfare.

A.D.C. for G.O.C.

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
Divisional Headquarters,
l1th. January, 1918.
*HEADQUARTERS*
No G26/597
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
9th. Aust. Inf. Bde.
l0th. Aust. Inf. Bde.
11th. Aust. Inf. Bde.
3rd. Aust. Pioneer Bn.
1. Special attention is directed to the printed pamphlet No.
O.B./1618/D. dated December, 1917., which has recently been issued
to all Units, and which describes in detail the regulations for
carrying out Platoon Competitions through formations in the
Army. –
2. The Divisional Commander desires that arrangements be
initiated at once within this Division for carrying out competitions
on these lines. –
3. The primary and underlying object of the whole scheme of
competitions is to improve training and efficiency throughout the
Infantry and Pioneers. – In order that this object may be achieved
and in order that the benefit may be spread as widely as possible
throughout the whole personnel, the Divisional Commander directs
that, in addition to the printed conditions in the pamphlet above
quoted, these competitions within this Division will be carried out
in strict accordance with the a series of special Divisional
regulations.
4. The full text of these Divisional regulations ere is annexed
to this circular. – Both the conditions laid down in the printed
pamphlet and these Divisional regulations are to be strictly
adhered to, both in letter and spirit throughout all Units of the
Division. –
5. The carrying out of the actual assault competitions is
contingent upon the availability of suitable ranges. – Such ranges
are not at present available within either the support or the Front
Line Divisional areas of this Corps. – It is intended, therefore,
that the actual competitions will be carried out in a back area
during the month of March, and, according to such programme, that
they may all be entirely completed by the end of March. –
6. There is available, therefore, a period of about seven (7)
weeks (i.e. – remainder of January and whole of February) during
which Platoons can be trained and exercised in the work of the
competition without the actual use of ball cartridge. – It is
hoped that, by taking full advantage of all periods when battalions
are in reserve or in support or not employed on working parties,
every Platoon in the Division can receive an adequate amount of
training to enable it to go into the competition with a definite
prospect of being able to obtain the minimum percentage of points
(1).

(2).
11/1/1918.
necessary to qualify under the Divisional regulations. - - -
If this does not prove practicable, the first week or two of
March, during xxxx ^which period it is hoped that the Division will be
in a back area, – will be ear-marked for the final training for
the competition. –
7. The Divisional Commander hopes that a groat deal of
energy will be shown by all Commanders to get Platoon training
on these lines started immediately, and that a spirit of
enthusiasm among the rank and file shall be worked up.
[[Geo.?]] F. Wieck
Major.
General Staff.

THIRD AUSTRLIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters
11th. January. 1918.
To accompany G.26/597 of the original Platoon Competition.
(Refrence pamphlet No. O.B./1618/D.)
DIVISIONAL REGULATIONS.
(To be read in conjunction with printed conditions
in pamphlet above quoted).
a. The eliminating competitions within the Division will be carried
out in stages. –
Stage 1. Best Platoon in a Company.
This is to be determined by the direct competition
of all four (4) Platoons of the Company, and
is to be carried out under the supervision
of the Battalion staff. – The total points
gained by each of the four Platoons are to
be definitely recorded. –
Stage 2. Best Platoon in a Battalion.
This is to be determined by direct competition
between the four (4) Platoons (irrespective
of the company to which they belong) which
have gained the highest points in Stage 1. –
Provided that no Platoons will be permitted
to compete in Stage 2. unless the company to
which it belongs is, as a whole, gained,
during stage 1., a total of 25% of the
highest possible points, i.e. 713 points for
the whole company. – If any Platoon is
disqualified on this latter account, the
Platoon next in order of merit within the
Battalion, which does comply with this
condition, will be permitted to compete in
stage 2. – This will be carried out
under the supervision of the Brigade staff. –
Stage 3. Best Platoon in a Brigade.
This is to be determined by direct competition
between the four (4) Platoons (irrespective
of the Battalion to which they belong) which
have gained the highest points for stages 1.
and 2. combined, and have competed in both
stages. – Provided that no Platoon will be
allowed to compete in stage 3. unless the
Battalion to which it belongs has gained
total of 25% of the highest possible points
in stage l. and stage 2. combined. –
Stage 3. is to be carried out under the
supervision of the Divisional staff. –
Stage 4. Best Platoon in the Division.
This will be determined by direct competition 

(2).
11/1/1918.
between the three Platoons, which are first 
in each Brigade in stage 3. taken alone. –
This stage will be carried out under the
supervision of the Divisional staff with
a the General Staff Officer of Corps to act
as Referee. –
b. The Pioneer Battalion, if competing, will be subject to the
whole of the conditions that are applicable to the
Infantry, and will be affiliated for this purpose to the
11th. Aust. Inf. Brigade. –
c. The Divisional Demonstration Platoon will not be eligible to
complete. –
d. Prizes and prize money For stage 1.
Money prizes may be arranged by Battalions at the
direction of the Brigade Commander. –
For stage 2.
It is suggested that a money prize of 10/- per head
for each member (except the officer) of the
winning Battalion team should be awarded. –
This will amount to a charge of £14/-/- on the
funds of each Battalion. –
For stage 3.
There will be a bronze medal to each member of the
two Brigade teams which do not win the silver
medal. - Each member of all three Brigade
teams, except the officers, will receive e
money prize of 10/- from Divisional funds, i.e.
three teams at £14/-/- each equals £42/-/-. –
For stage 4.
A silver medal will be awarded to each member of the
winning team. – There will be no money prizes
for this stage. –

THIRD AUSTRLIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters
11th. January. 1918.
Major-General C.B.B.WHITE, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.,
Headquarters,
AUSTRALIAN Corps.
[*not sent*]
I hate to even appear to be making myself
a nuisance to you, and I am afraid you will begin to think I am
hypercritical and on the lookout for "points". However, I honestly
feel some difficulty about the memo S.3809/2 of 11th instant in
the last sub-para of para.3.
Therein it is said that –
"For tactical purposes a Group of Field Artillery is
a combination of Batteries under the single command
directly under a C.R.A".
I am afraid that trouble may arise over the use of the word "directly".
I think you mean the same as I mean, that a "Group" is Commanded
by an Artillery Lieut-Colonel who is himself directly under the C.R.A. –
I am afraid, however, that some people may read the paragraph to mean
that the Group of Batteries itself is under the direct command of the
C.R.A.
You may smile at my suggesting such an
absurd interpretation, but in point of fact it was the very interpretation
which the Canadian Corps wished to introduce during the time
that I was under their Command from October l4th to October 22nd.
They wanted to create Artillery Groups, i.e., Groups of Batteries
of varying numbers which were to be commanded as Groups directly
by GRIMWADE and NAPIER-JOHNSON and not by Lieut-Colonels who normally

-2-.
11-1-18.
command Groups. This was, of course, resisted and successfully so,
and also fortunately so because C.R.As. as a rule deal with Artillery
policy questions, and they and their Staffs are not organised
for or experienced in detailing tasks to individual Batteries.
I suggest, therefore, that it might be well, unless
I have quite misread your meaning, to make it clear that the "Group
of Field Artillery" is a Lieut-Colonel's Command, who in turn will
be commanded by the C.R.A. of the Division under whom the Group
is placed.

13th. January, 1918.
M E N U.
"A" MESS.
D I N N E R.
Hors d'Ouvres:–
Olives.
Anges a' Cheval.
Crêmé de Tornate.
Carrelet Bouilli a la persil.
Poulet rôte.
Pommes de Terre - Petits Pois.
Asperges.
Crêpes.
Macaroni au gratin.
Dessert. Café.

John Monash                    }
G.H. Johnson                     } Jany. 13/18
Rob. E. Jackson              } Dinner at
Geo. F. Wieck                  } "A" Mess to
[[A. McKinnons?]]              } celebrate my
Dr Molesworth                   } recent Honor