General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 17, 1 November 1917 - 13 January 1918, Part 4

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.

Divisional Headquarters,

5th. November, 1917.

 

Dear Walter,

In connection with the last two battles in which the

Division took part I have had prepared, for the purpose of historical

records, in each case, a complete and detailed narrative of the

operations including all the preparatory measures, plans, dispositions

and results. -

 

I have had copies made for my own record and, as it has

occurred to me that you might be interested in a careful examination

of the whole of the procedures involved in the conduct of a modern

battle on the scale of a Division in the field, I am sending you 

herewith two copies of each of these narratives. -

 

Of these, one copy of each is for your aretention and the

other copy of each is for transmission to MELBOURNE with a brief

covering note from you explaining the genesis, coupled with the request that, after perusal, these might be laid aside for my future records.

Yrs affectionately

HEADQUARTERS

10 NOV. 1917

No. Q7/94

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION

 

THIRD    AUSTRALIAN    DIVISION.

 

Unit.	Rank and	Name	Date of  Birth.	Date of  Sub.rank.	Present Appointment	REMARKS.
			BRIGADE	COMMANDS.
38th Battalion.	Lt.-Col.	DAVIS C.H.(DSO)	4.6.72	5.4.10.
40th. Battalion.	Lt.-Col.	LORD J.E.C. (DSO)	8.5.70	14.12.15.
42nd. Battalion	Lt.-Col.	WOOLCOCK A.R.	11.3.82	10.2.16.
33rd. Battalion	Lt.-Col.	MORSHEAD L.J. (DSO)	18.9.89	16.4.16.
			BATTALION	COMMANDS.
3rd. Battalion	Major.	WOOTTEN G.F. (DSO)	1.5.93	25.2.16.	Bds.Mjr.9th.Bdc.
38th. Battalion	Major.	HURRY G.	15.9.63	1.5.16.
42nd.  Battalion	Major.	FARRELL J.	20.3.83	1.5.16.
35th. Battalion	Major.	BLACKLOW A.C.	11.10.79	1.5.16.
33rd. Battalion	Major.	WHITE  H.F.	13.6.87	1.5.16.
34th. Battalion	Major.	FRY W.A. LeR.	29.11.86	1.5.16.
33rd. Battalion	Major.	MASSIE R.J.A.	8.7.90	1.5.16.
43rd. Battalion	Major.	KINNISH W.J.	14.8.81	3.1.17.
38th. Battalion	Major.	MAUDSLEY A.J.A.	22.10.81	14.4.17.
41st. Battalion	Major.	FERGUSON T.A.	8.5.77	1.11.16.

G.O.C'S COPY 

 

2.     8th. November,  1917.

Unit	Rank	and Name	Date of Birth.	Date of  Sub.Rank	Present Appointment	Remarks
			BRIGADE	MAJOR.
44th.  Battalion	Captain	JACKSON, S.H.	22-8-90	2-3-16	G.S.O. XII 3/Div.	Clare College 4/11/16- 12/12/1916.
2nd. Anzac Mtd. Regiment.	Captain	DUNLOP, W.A.S.	30-6-92	28-1-16	Bde.Major Trainee.
			STAFF	CAPTAINS.
36th. Battalion	Captain	MOLESWORTH, D.G.	14-3-95	28-5-17	Adm.Staff Trainee	Clare College 26/5/17-30/6/1917.
34th. Battalion	Captain	WOLSTENHOLME, R.	28-4-94	26-6-17	Staff Capt. Trainee	Clare College 14/7/17
3rd. Pioneer Bn.	Captain	FENNELLY, P.	4-3-72	15-3-17	Adjt.3rd.Pnr.Bn.	British Formations 10/5/17-15/7/17.
40th. Battalion	Captain	SUTER, S.I.   M.C.	26-1-96	14-5-17	Staff Capt.Trainee
37th. Battalion	Captain	LAMBDEN, J.A  M.C.	20-10-81	1-5-16	G.S.C. III Trainee
		DIVISIONAL	STAFF	APPOINTMENTS.
3rd. Battalion	Major	WOOTTEN, G.F., D.S.O.	1-5-93	25-2-16	Bde.Mjr.9th.Bde.	Recomd.for adv. in "G"

Divisional Headquarters,

5th. November, 1917.

(DD)

6/11/17

Pierrot Troupe

Manager	Sgt.T.S.Hewitt.
Stage Manager	Pte.A.H.Gates
Basso	Cpl.H.F.Williams
Leading Lady	L/Cpl F.J.Watsford
Reciter & 2nd Lady	Pte.N.McInnes
Scotch Artist	Pte.G.Harvey
Lady's Partner	Pte.F.D.Jones
Baritone	Pte.A.Brown
Special Turn	Pt.V.Brahams
Pianist	Pt.G.Pearce

6/11/17

Casualty Lists

Losses among Officers  October  1917

		Killed or D. of W.	Wounded & Sick	Missing
Majors	9th Bgde	1	-	-
	10th  ..	-	1	-
	11th   ..	-	3	-	5
Captains	9th  ..	5	7	-
	10th ..	3	11	-
	11th ..	3	7	-	36
Lieuts	9th	20	36	2
	10th	17	31	3
	11th	14	35	-	158
		63	131	5	199

GOC

162/330

First ANZAC Corps,

6th November 1917.

 

GENERAL STAFF CIRCULAR NO. 99

SUBJECT: Corps Reinforcement Camp.

In continuation of G.S. Circulars Nos. 88 and 95 the

following will be the organisation and establishment of the First

ANZAC Corps Reinforcement Camp:-

 

[See original diagram]

COMMANDANT.

             |

Headquarters.

     |          |                    |               |                |

Div.        Div.           Corps        Div.          Div.

Wing.    Wing.      Depot.      Wing.       Wing.

 

1. ORGANISATION.

The Corps Reinforcement Camp shall consist of -

(a) A Commandant and headquarters.

(b) Corps Depot.

(c) A Divisional Wing for each division of the Corps.

The Camps will be known as -

Corps Depot . . .  'X' Camp.

Wing Camps . . .  A. B. C. D.

 

A. The commandant will be responsible generally for the

administration, discipline, sanitation, supply of equipment,

rations, water.etc., but will not exercise power of summary

jurisdiction, except over such personnel as are allotted to

Camp Headquarters Staff, and will not interfere with the

interior economy or training of divisional wings.

 

He will be responsible for quartering of troops to the

best advantage and will therefore make such allotments of tentage,

camp equipment etc. as may be from time to time necessary to meet

excessive numbers of reinforcements or other personnel.

 

He will maintain, control and allot the use (as required)

of all general training grounds and facilities, such as rifle

ranges and bombing areas.

 

He will generally supervise the arrivals and draftings of

reinforcements and other personnel, and keep necessary records.

 

B. The CORPS DEPOT will -

(i) Receive and distribute to wings or units all 

reinforcements on arrival.

(ii) Be available as overflow camp for divisional wings

in case of sudden influx of reinforcements.

(iii) Generally inspect and complete the equipment of any

-2-

casualties rejoining from hospital or Rest Stations

etc. in FRANCE who may be incompletely equipped.

 

When excess personnel is authorised to be brought from

the Base for any purpose, such as work under C.E. of Corps etc.,

they shall be administered and their records kept at the Corps

Depot, on the same lines as the personnel of the late Entrenching

Battalion.

 

The inspection of gas equipment will be carried out

before reinforcements leave wings to join their units; the gas

staff of camp headquarters being available and authorised to

complete the inspection at divisional wing camps.

 

C. DIVISIONAL WINGS will receive, maintain and train

reinforcements for units of their own divisions, until such time

as they may be taken over by units.

 

They will also accommodate and administer any nucleus

personnel of their divisions which may be retained under S.S.135

(Training of Divisions for Offensive Action), and also such

personnel as schools, classes, and officers and other ranks

proceeding to and from leave, if required.

 

The officers commanding divisional wings will be

responsible for discipline, administration and interior economy

of their wings, irrespective of the fact that there may be from

time to time officers of senior rank present in the Wing Camp.

 

They will receive and carry out such orders for the

general welfare and discipline of the Reinforcement Camp as a

whole which may be issued by the Commandant, Reinforcement Camp, and will submit such returns and reports as may from time to

time be required.

 

Unless the officer commanding a divisional wing is

specifically appointed to be chief instructor, he shall not be

responsible for, nor interfere in the training of personnel.

This does not prevent the officer commanding from assisting in any

way which may be desired by the chief instructor. The instructional

personnel of divisional wings will be appointed to wings under

similar arrangements as when reinforcement training base was at

HAVRE, (i.e. for a period of two months), and may be added to

temporarily by divisional commanders when the number of reinforcements warrants an increase.

 

The chief instructors and assistant instructors on the

establishment of each wing will be responsible for the co-ordination,

continuity and system of training, and will work under the

General Staffs of divisions.

 

One assistant instructor should be a specialist in

Musketry, P.T. & B.F. and the other in general training, Lewis

gun and bombing.

 

2.- ESTABLISHMENTS.

All previously published establishments of Corps Reinforcement

Camps and Divisional Reinforcement Camps or Wings are

hereby cancelled.

 

The/

-3-

The establishments will be as shown in attached tables

A.  B.  and C.

Officers will be seconded from their units whilst holding

appointments.

Personnel, other ranks, will be transferred from their

units, and their places filled.

 

Substantive ranks held by N.C.Os. on transfer to the

Reinforcement Camp will continue to be held; but any subsequent

appointments or promotions will be made under A.I.F. Order 213.

 

Names of officers and other ranks selected for appointments

on Divisional Wing Staffs should be forwarded to Corps

Headquarters as soon as possible.

 

R.A.Joss Lieut Col

for Brigadier-General

General Staff,

First ANZAC Corps.

 

DISTRIBUTION. 

Second Army                  2 copies

1st Australian Division.  20    "

2nd Australian Division 20    "

3rd Australian Division  20    "

4th Australian Division  20    "

5th Australian Division  20    "

B.G.   H.A.

Corps Mounted Troops.   3    "

First ANZAC Corps Amm.Pk.

G.O.C.

AQ

A

Q

G.O.C.    R.A.

3rd Aust.(Army) F.A. Bde. )

6th                "                        ) thro' G.O.C.R.A.

12th               "                        )

C.E.

A.D. Signals.

A.D.O.S.

D.D.M.S.

D.A.D.P.S.

A.P.M.

C.M.G.O.

D.A.G/A.I.F.                                  3 copies.

Corps Reinforcement Camp 5     "

Corps School

Paymaster A.I.F.

C.O.File

Corr.File

War Diary                                     3 copies.

ANZAC Section, 3rd Echelon (G.H.Q.)

Retained                                      20 copies.

(A).  ESTABLISHMENT-HEADQUARTERS.CORPS REINFORCEMENT CAMP. (ISSUED WITH G.S.C.99)G

PERSONNEL |     HORSES|       TRANSPORT|

	Officers	W.O.	S/Sgts.	Rank & File	Total	R.D.	G.S.W.	Water carts	Bicycles.	REMARKS.
Lieutenant-Colonel	1	-	-	-	1	1   2	-	2	-	0 1 G.S.wagon and driver per division will be allotted from div. trains.
Adjutant & Q.M.(Captain)	1	-	-	-	1	1
Medical Officer(Major)	1	-	-	-	1	1
Camp Serjeant-Major	-	1	-	-	1
Camp Quartermaster Sjt.	-	1	-	-	1
Orderly Room Serjeant	-	-	1	-	1					(a)May be corporal.
Clerk	-	-	-	1(a)	1					(b)from Cyclist Bn.
Sanitary Corporal	-	-	-	1	1					(c)1 may be corporal
Batmen	-	-	-	3	3
Cook	-	-	-	1	1
Drivers	-	-	-	2	2
Groom	-	-	-	1	1
	3	2	1	9	15	3   2		2	-
ATTACHED.
Cyclist orderlies	--	-	-	2(b)	2(b)	-  -		-	2(b)
Drivers	-	-	-	4 0	4  0	- 8 0	4  0	-	-
Gas personnel	1	-	3	-	4
Postal orderlies	-	-	-	3(c)	3(c)
A.M.C.	-	-	-	4(c)	4(c)
Dental Section	1	-	2	1	4
TOTAL	5	2	6	23	36	3 10	4	2	2

(B.)  ESTABLISHMENT - CORPS DEPOT.

(ISSUED WITH G.S.C. 99)

DETAIL	Officers	S/Sjts. & Sjts.	Cpls.	Other ranks	Total	REMARKS
Officer Commanding (Major or Captain)	1	-	-	-	1
Adjt. & Quartermaster (Captain or Lieut.)	1	-	-	-	1
Quartermaster-Serjeant	-	1	-	-	1
Sanitary Personnel	-	-	-	1	1
Cooks	-	-	-	3	3
Q.M.S's assistants	-	-	-	2	2
Batmen	-	-	-	2	2
Total	2	1	-	8	11
ATTACHED:
Cyclist orderlies x	-	-	-	3	3
A.A.O.C. @	-	2	1	-	3
TOTAL (inc.attached)	2	3	1	11	17

x From 1st ANZAC Cyclist Battalion. (A.I.F. Order 485).

@ One R.Q.M.S.   W.O.II  (A.A.G./ A.I.F. 21/89).

---------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------

(C.)  ESTABLISHMENT - DIVISIONAL WING.CAMP.

DETAIL	Officers.	W.O.	S Sjts. & Sjts	Rank & File	Total	REMARKS.
Officer Commanding	1	-	-	-	1	x 1 for Musketry
Chief Instructor (Major or Captain)	1	-	-	-	1	P.T. & E.F.
Adjt. & Quartermaster (Capt. or Lieutenant)	1	-	-	-	1	1 general training, Lewis gun & bombing.
Medical Officer (Captain)	1	-	-	-	1
Company Serjeant-Major	-	1	-	-	1	Extra instructors may be provided
Comany Q.M.Serjeant	-	-	1	-	1	by division as required, number to be
Assistant Instructors	-	-	2x	-	2	dependent on number of
Clerk	-	-	1	-	1	reinforcements in the camp.
Cooks	-	-	-	3	3
Batmen	-	-	-	4	4
A.M.C.	-	-	-	2	2
Sanitary Orderly	-	-	-	1	1
TOTAL	4	1	4	10	19