General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 17, 1 November 1917 - 13 January 1918, Part 10
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COMPOSITION
OF
PARTIES
(Cont'd) 5.
Right 1 N.C.O.
Blocking 2 Bayonet men
Party 1 bomber
1 carrier
LEFT PARTY - O.C. 2/Lieut. J.S. Beavis, 39th Bn.
Storming 1 N.C.O.
Party 2 Bayonet men
2 Bombers
1 carrier
1 spare man.
Left 1 N.C.O
Blocking 1 bayonet man
Party 1 thrower
1 carrier
Left rear 1 N.C.O
Blocking 1 bayonet man
Party 1 Bomber
1 carrier
Demolition 1 N.C.O
Party 2 searchers
2 demolition men.
SPECIAL LEFT 1 N.C.O
PARTY FOR 2 bayonet men
MACHINE GUN 1 bomber
1 carrier
1 spare man
PARTY No.2
O.C. RAID - Lieut. H.L. FOSTER. 40th Battn, who will
have with him-
2 Signallers
3 runners
4 runners (attached from Battalion")
PARAPET
PARTY - O.C.- 2/Lt.G.E.H. MOON, 40th Battn
2 Signallers
3 Scouts
4 runners.
RIGHT
PARTY - O.C. 2/Lt. R.A.SWAN, 40th Battn
2 runners
Storming 1 N.C.O
Party 4 Bayonet men
2 Bombers
2 Carriers
Demolition 4 Searchers
Party 3 Demolition men.
Blocking 1 N.C.O
Party 4 men.
Left 1 N.C.O
fighting 4 men (to mop up
Party front line between
points of entry)
COMPOSITION
OF
PARTIES
(Cont'd) 5.
LEFT
PARTY - O.C. - 2/Lt. A.P. BROWN, 40th Battn
2 runners
Storming
Party 1 N.C.O.
4 Bayonet men
2 Bombers
2 carriers
Demolition
Party 4 Searchers
3 demolition men.
Right 1 N.C.O.
Blocking 4 men.
Party
Left
Blocking 1 N.C.O.
Party 3 men.
WIRE 6. At least two gaps will be out in enemy
wire by Artillery using 106 Fuze, on day of the raid.
Gaps will be in vicinity of U.11.d.85.68 and U.11.d.85.50
Our Front Line will be cleared between limits to be
notified later, during progress of this shoot.
[[O?.C.?]] Raids will arrange for observation
of the results.
ASSEMBLY 7. At ZERO MINUS 10 MINUTES raids will enter
NO MAN'S LAND and will [[?]] up clear of our wire at
point of assembly - U.11.d.45.80.
DETAILS 8. At ZERO Artillery will put down a barrage
of lines laid down in Artillery Order 34.
At ZERO MINUS 5 MINUTES barrage lifts and
forms a box 100 yards of flanks of Front Line objectives
and 200 yards in rear of furthest objectives.
At ZERO assaulting troops will move out from
assembly position and get as close as possible to the
barrage. On the lift of barrage, parties will rush
forward through gaps in enemy wire.
39th Battalion Party
In the first raid. Special Left Party will attack
Machine Gun at U.11.d.85.87.
On entering trenches Right Party will move
to right to dugout - U.11.d.90.35 - where block will be
left. Right Party will then move along trench running
N.E. along railway embankment to furthest point of objective.
Demolition Party will deal with dugouts and Machine
Gun emplacements. Left Party will move N. to trench
junction at U.11.d.97.72; Blocking party will form a
block 25 yards along trench to North of this junction.
Remainder of Party move Eastward along communication
1 month to dugout U..12.c.21.70, leaving a block at
U.12.c.10.75. Demolition Party deals with dugouts and
emplacement
DETAILS 8.39th Battn Party
Parapet Party will move to enemy front line and
establish telephone communication with O:C.RAID
Mopping up Party will deal with enemy front line
trench between points of entry of Right and Left
Parties.
Flanking Parties will take up suitable positions on
flanks of assembly positions and cover advance of
remaining parties by Lewis Gun fire.
At ZERO PLUS 23 MINUTES withdrawal will
commence on command "OUT" shouted by O.C. Parapet
Party and repeated by all who hear. Watches will
have to be relied on very largely to decide time
of withdrawal.
At ZERO PLUS 40 MINUTES barrage will commence to slackon
At ZERO PLUS 45 MINUTES barrage ceases.
Counter battery will cease at ZERO PLUS 50
MINUTES.
40th Battalion Party
In second raid, it will be assumed , unless 1st
Party have failed to deal with it, that Machine Gun
at U.11.d.85.87 requires no attention.
Right Party on entering trenches will detach
1 N.C.O. and 4 men (Left Fighting Party) to mop up
enemy front line between two points of entry.
Remainder of Right Party will move Southwards
along front line trench to U.11.d.90.35,where a
block will be placed, thence along trench running
N.E. along railway embankment to furthest point
of objective.
Demolition Party and Searchers will deal with dugouts.
Left Party will move Northwards to trench
junction U.11.d.97.72, 25 yards along trench to
North of this junction a block will be placed.
Remainder of party will move Eastwards along
communication trench to dugout U.12.c.21.70 leaving
a block at U.12.c.10.75.
Demolition Party and searchers will deal with
dugouts.
Parapet Party will move to enemy parapet;
signallers carrying out wires and telephone so that
O.C. Raid may keep in touch by phone as long as
possible.
At ZERO PLUS 23 MNUTES withdrawal will
commence on command "OUT" shouted by O.C. Parapet Party
and repeated by all who hear.
At ZERO PLUS 40 MINUTES barrage will commence to slacken.
At ZERO PLUS 45 MINUTES barrage ceases.
Counter Battery will cease at ZERO PLUS 50
MINUTES.
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MACHINE Divisional Machine Gun Officer will
GUNS 9. arrange for Machine Gun barrage firing 250 rounds per
minute as under:-
ZERO PLUS 3 MINUTES to PLUS 10 Fire
ZERO PLUS 10 MINUTES to PLUS 13 stop
ZERO PLUS 13 MINUTES to PLUS 20 fire
ZERO PLUS 20 MINUTES to PLUS 23 stop
ZERO PLUS 23 MINUTES to PLUS 30 fire
At ZERO PLUS 30 MINUTES Machine Guns will cease.
STOKES
MORTARS 10. 10th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery
will engage the following targets. Details to be
arranged by Captain R.C.R.ANDERSON and Lieut.
R. VARLEY
of the 9th Aust. L.T.M. Battery.
Emplacements about U.17.b.80.60
Machine Guns " U.18.a.05.65
Machine guns &c., about IN DEN ROOSTER CABT.
Smoke from ZERO TO ZERO PLUS 3 MINUTES will,
if weather conditions allow, be used against Machine Gun
near U.11.d.90.35 but smoke bombs must be xxxx
of such a
nature that smoke must have cleared before ZERO PLUS 3.
Smoke screen will be maintained along the
line from SPINNEY along WARNETON ROAD to
U.12.c.6.2.
from ZERO PLUS 3 to ZERO PLUS 30.
EQUIPMENT 11. No web equipment except belts to be worn.
Steel helmets will be worn. Respirators at the alert.
No identifications, colour patches,maps papers, diaries
&c., will be carried by any member of the raiding
parties.
Nos. 1 Lewis Guns, Scouts, Searchers,
Demolition men, signallers, bombers, will carry
revolvers. Bayonet men, searchers, and demolition men
carry electric torches. All men not armed with a
rifle
carry a nut cracker.
DISCS 12. Each member of the raiding parties will wear
a special disc, containing only letters and numbers.
No. 1 Party (39th Battn) will have discs
allotted with numbers H H
40001 to 40075
K K
No. 2 Party (40th Battn),
numbers H H
40076 to 40150
K K
The 2 ordinary discs of each member will be
collected prior to leaving billets and special disc
given
in exchange. The duplicate special disc will be tied to the 2 ordinary discs and retained at billets.
On returning from the raid the two ordinary
discs will be handed back to the owner in exchange for
his special disc.
Instructions re disposal of discs of missing
will be issued to O[[?]]C. Raids in a separate memo.
CHECKING 13. Lieut. J. R. FRYER, 39th Battn will check
39th Battn raiders on return at junction EGMONT AVENUE
and Support Line. A second check will be made at
CATACOMBS by an Officer detailed by 39th Battn.
Lieut. L.K. SWAN, 40th Battn will check 40th
Battn party at same places as above.
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ARM BANDS 14. Every member of raiding parties will
wear a white arm band on left arm. This will be
kept covered by a piece of sand bagging till
ZERO HOUR.
PRISONERS 15. Prisoners who may be taken will be
disarmed and will be sent under escort to
CATACOMBS
where A.P.M. will take charge. Care is to be
taken that they do not converse with each other nor
dispose of any papers &c., which should be collected
by searchers.
C.O. 38th Battn will provide necessary
escort at request of O.C. RAID.
TRANSPORT 16. 39th Battalion will be transported by
train from CONNAUGHT SIDING, to HYDE PARK
CORNER, and
will return by the same means after raid.
40th Battalion will be carried to end
of DOUVE WALK by motir lorries from billets and will
return by the same means.
HOT Hot drinks and food will be provided
DRINKS 17. at CATACOMBS Soup Kitchen for each party on return.
TAPES 18. Tapes will be laid by 1st Raiding Party
from our trenches to point of entrance in enemy
line so as to facilitate passage of second party.
First Party will also try and improve gaps in
enemy wire.
SYNCHRONI- 19. Watches will be synchronised by an
SATION Officer of Raiders at Brigade Headquarters at 1 p.m.
on day of the raid.
COMMUNI- Brigade Signal Officer has arranged to
FATIONS lay a duplicate line direct to position of AND O.C.RAID
SIGNALS 20. in front line.
The following ∧code of signals will be used by
raiding parties :-
B B B - ready at assembly point
R.I. - Right Party in
L.I. - Left Party in.
O.K. - All out.
BIRDS - Prisoners
Sick - Casualties..
MEDICAL 21. C.O. 39th Battalion will arrange for
R.M.O. 39th Battn in consultation with Captain N. G.
BOOTH to carry out all arrangements for treatment
of wounded of 1st Party.
C.O. 40th will make similar arrangements
for R.A.P. to end of DOUVE WALK and MESSINES- HYDE
PARK CORNER Road and for ambulances to clear from this spot.
S.O.S. 22. The S.O.S. Signal will be inoperative on
10th Aus. Inf. Bde. front from ZERO MINUS 15 MINUTES to
ZERO PLUS 45 MINUTES in each raid.
On 9th Aus. Inf. Bde. front it will be
operative throughout.
DIVERSIONS .23. Diversions will be arranged by Artillery
and Trench Mortars on both 9th and 8th Brigade
fronts
-7-
RUNNERS 24. C.O. 36th Battn will arrange for 4 runners to
be with O.C. each raid to carry messages back to
Battalion Headquarters if required.
PRECAUTIONS This order will not be taken forward of
25. Battalion Headquarters.
POSSIBLE 26. If it is thought advisable to cancel the
CANCELL- second raid, the dode word "HOBART" will be
TION wired to
all concerned.
REPORTS 27. progress of raid to be reported by wire to
Brigade Headquarters. Further reports will be
collected at CATACOMBS where all members of
raiding
parties -/ Officers and other Ranks/prisoners, will report on returning from trenches.
28. A C K N O W L E D G E.
(Signed) P Lamble
Captain
A/Brigade Major
10th Australian Infantry Brigade.
DISTRIBUTION
Copy No. 1 G.O.C.
2 Bde. Major
3 Staff Captain
4)
5) 3rd Aus. Div. by D. R. at 9 p.m. on 29/11/17
6)
7 37th Battn )
8 38th Battn ) By runner at 8 a.m.
9 39th Battn ) 29/11/'17
10 40th Battn )
11 10th Aus. M.G. Coy. )
12 10th A.I.F.M.Battery )
13 10th F.Coy. Engnrs. )
14 10th Field Ambulance ) By D. R. at 9 a.m.
15 11th Field Ambulance ) 29/11/'17
16 8th Aus. Inf. Bde. )
17 9th Aus. Inf. Bde. )
18 Captain H.G. BOOTH ) by runner at 8 a.m.
19 Lieut.N.L. FOSTER ) 29/11/'17
20 11th Aus. Inf. Bde. ) )
21 C.R.A. )
22 C.R.E. ) By D. R. at 9 a.m.
23 8th Aus. F.A.Bde. ) 29/11/'17
24 A.P.M. )
25 23rd M.G.Coy. )
26 23rd Aus. Pioneer Battn)
27 FILED
28)
29) A R DIARY
30)
G.O.C.
S.G.45/292.
A.H.
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
SECRET.
Divisional Headquarters,
28th. November, 1917.
GENERAL STAFF CIRCULAR NO.64.A.
INTELLICENCE SYSTEM - ORGANIZATION AND POLICY.
1. MACHINERY The machinery for collecting information within
Division as follows :-
(a) Divisional O.P.
(b) Brigade O.Ps.
(c) Battalion O.Ps. -normally two per battalion.
(d) Battalion Sniper posts and Sentry posts.
(e) Patrols
(i) fighting.
(ii) reconnoitring.
2. PERSONNEL. Personnel consists of :-
(a) Brigade Intelligence Officer and Brigade
Observers (1 N.C.O. and 4 men per post).
(b) Battalion Intelligence Officer.
Battalion Observers - 4 per post.
Battalion Scout Officer and scouts. ∅∅
(Patrols organized into fighting and
reconnoitring patrols.)
In each Battalion, the intelligence personnel will be
organized into a definite intelligence section under the
Battalion Intelligence Officer With the exception of men
carrying out observation from the front line , who will necessarily
belong to the Coy. which is in the front line at the time,
members of this section will not be changed. The Battalion
Intelligence Officer should therefore keep a check of his whole
intelligence section and the Scout Officer should likewise
keep a roll of his scouts. German speakers within the battalion
should be included as intelligence personnel, and should be
distributed by him as he considers necessary. During sedentary
warfare, a certain number might be made use of to go out with
patrols, as experience has proved that a German speaking member
in a patrol has often saved his patrol from disaster and has
frequently been the means of bringing in prisoners under conditions
when these men, had they not understood that they were to be
taken prisoners, would have fought to the last.
At the same time, it must be remembered that these
German-speakers are invaluable during active operations for
examining prisoners on the spot (also the case in large raids),
and for searching dugouts.
During the winter, every opportunity will be taken to
prepare them for this work by brushing-up their knowledge of
German, instrumenting them in German army organization, and
teaching
them military terms such as are likely to be of use to them.
all German-speakers in the Battalion Intelligence Section should
(1) P.T.O.
∅∅ organized as directed by Brigade Commanders
-2-
28/11/1917.
be trained as observers on the brigade front in order that they
may learn the lie of the country, and have detailed knowledge
of enemy positions and dugouts. They should also study
aeroplane photographs.
N.C.O.s, whom it is intended to place in chare of dugout
searching in active operations, should now be in charge of
battalion O.Ps.
It may be found advisable also to interchange scouts and
observers in order :-
(i) to rest the scouts
(ii) to let scouts gain a thorough knowledge of the
country from a position where they can obtain
a larger view, and to let observers gain a more
intimate knowledge of the ground over which
they are observing.
(iii) Also, observers frequently pick out spots which
they consider should be searched and, from
their points of vantage, may be able to decide
the direction from which they can best be
approached.
From the above, it will be seen that this free interchange
between observers and scouts will be of great service.
3. TRAINING
Arrangements will be made for courses for the training
of intelligence personnel; these courses to take the form of :-
(a) study of German military terms and German army
organization.
(b) lectures on intelligence duties, observation and
scouting.
(c) actual observation under a trained N.C.O. from
Divisional O.P.
(d) short period to be spent in each brigade O.P.
on the front.
4. SYSTEM OF WORKING.
The whole of the above organization will simply go to
waste unless the work itself is carried out on a definite system.
(a).
(i) Trained observers will, themselves know how to
work a sector of country, and each N.C.O.
in charge of a post will work to some extent
on a system ∧built up by himself. at the same time,
it must be remembered that, though the N.CO.
does his best, it is practically impossible
for him to prevent this work becoming
monotonous, and in the end useless. The
P.T.O.
-3- 28/11/1917.
Battalion Intelligence Officer should, therefore,
as frequently as possible, set definite tasks
for each observation post; for example :-
"Brigade on our right says that it has seen men
moving about and disappearing just beyond the
corner of that broken down white building
(Describe this building definitely and make
certain that the whole of the observers know
it well). Scouts out last night heard digging
coming from that direction. We have to get
this position cleared up, and I want you to
watch this track and see if you notice any
movement; also keep an eye open about these
spots, (Show two or three spots) and see if
there is any sign of digging at all : then
report what you think of the position and what
the enemy is doing there."
(ii) Now take the case of the scouts on first going into
a sector. The Scout Officer will have the
information handed over by the previous Scout
Officer, and he will then himself set to work
to get completely in touch with NO MAN'S LAND.
After that, he must give direct lines on which
to work. The Battalion Intelligence Officer
will keep him informed of the situation, and
will instruct him as to what points the
Battalion Commander wishes cleared up. He
should also be able to say which parts of the
line require most systematic patrolling, and
which parts can be left practically alone.
(iii) The same principle will also apply in the case of
the Brigade Intelligence Officer, who should
try to make the work for the battalions as
varied and interesting as possible by constant-
ly sending down instructions asking for inform-
ation with regard to various points.
(iv) Both Brigade and Battalion Intelligence Officers
should be impressed with the fact that they are at the nerve-centre of their unit or formation,
and that their alertness in procuring inform-
ation is seriously discounted by any lack of
promptness in forwarding that information.
The test of the organization is the speedy
transmission as well as the accuracy of inform-
ation gathered.
(b) The procedure to be adopted may be summed up briefly
as follows :-
(i) The responsible officer will keep all those under him fully informed of anything he can find out which affects them.
P.T.O.
-3- 28/11/1917.
Battalion Intelligence Officer should, therefore,
as frequently as possible, set definite tasks
for each observation post; for example :-
"Brigade on our right says that it has seen men
moving about and disappearing just beyond the
corner of that broken down white building
(Describe this building definitely and make
certain that the whole of the observers know
it well). Scouts out last night heard digging
coming from that direction. We have to get
this position cleared up, and I want you to
watch this track and see if you notice any
movement; also keep an eye open about these
spots, (Show two or three spots) and see if
there is any sign of digging at all : then
report what you think of the position and what
the enemy is doing there."
(ii) Now take the case of the scouts on first going into
a sector. The Scout Officer will have the
information handed over by the previous Scout
Officer, and he will then himself set to work
to get completely in touch with NO MAN'S LAND.
After that, he must give direct lines on which
to work. The Battalion Intelligence Officer
will keep him informed of the situation, and
will instruct him as to what points the
Battalion Commander wishes cleared up. He
should also be able to say which parts of the
line require most systematic patrolling, and
which parts can be left practically alone.
(iii) The same principle will also apply in the case of
the Brigade Intelligence Officer, who should
try to make the work for the battalions as
varied and interesting as possible by constant-
ly sending down instructions asking for inform-
ation with regard to various points.
(iv) Both Brigade and Battalion Intelligence Officers
should be impressed with the fact that they are at the nerve-centre of their unit or formation,
and that their alertness in procuring inform-
ation is seriously discounted by any lack of
promptness in forwarding that information.
The test of the organization is the speedy
transmission as well as the accuracy of inform-
ation gathered.
(b) The procedure to be adopted may be summed up briefly
as follows :-
(i) The responsible officer will keep all those under him fully informed of anything he can find out which affects them.
P.T.O.
-4- 28/11/1917.
(ii) He will see that those under him are working on
a definite live system.
(
(iii) He will vary the work as much as possible by
frequently asking for information on special
points, which points he has definietly
considered himself.
(iv) He will consistently visit every branch of his system
and will discuss the situation with those on
the spot with the idea of finding out where the
system can be improved, where there are any
difficulties, and where he can help.
5. INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS.
The Divisional Commander has definitely laid down that, in order to allow them to carry out their work thoroughly, Intelli-
gence Officers may not be used on any but intelligence duties.
6. GENERAL
It is not expected that this scheme can be perfected at
once, and it will depend upon the energy displayed by those who are doing the actual spade work as to whether it is going to be successful or not. Brigade and battalions are aske to criti-
cise the scheme offering at the same time suggestions for its improvement.
When the Division withdraws from the line, it is proposed
to hold a conference of all Intelligence Officers and discuss
the scheme thoroughly with a view to its improvement in any way
which may be considered advisable. Brigade and Battalion Intel
Officers should, therefore, keep a note of any points which may
occur to them at various times in order that at this conference
it may be possible to make a thorough review of the situation.
(Signed) S.H. Jackson Capt.
Lieut-Colonel.
for General Staff.
DISTRIBUTION.
A.D.C. for G.O.C. 1.
C.R.A. 4.
C.R.E. 4.
9th . Aust. Inf. Bde. 7.
10th. Aust. Inf. Bde. 7.
11th. Aust. Inf. Bde. 7.
3rd. Aust. Pioneer Bn. 1.
3rd. Aust. Divnl. Signal Coy. 1
A. D. M. S. 1.
Divnl. Train. 1.
D. M. G. C. 1.
War Diary 3.
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