General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 17, 14 January - 11 February 1918, Part 1

14/1/18
Sir W. Osler B.
Regis Prof.  of Medicine
Oxford
 ____________________________________________
per Lt Col. Purdy

1
14/1/18
Lecture to
Intelligence Course .  (Shovel Camp)
A  Introduction. -
Principal theme:- Method of rendering reports.
also: - Finish with few words on ^^their own attitude
towards their work
X. Instructions to them; & instruction by them to their subordinates
_______________________________________________
B.   Method of rendering reports.
F.S.Regs : - Every precaution to be taken to assist recipient to
grasp intention & meaning of report, with a minimum
of trouble and delay. –
Clearness of Language : –
Very difficult
Axiom − if it can be misread, it will be
Cultivate by practice  –  by re-writing in different

words.
No inflection of voice,  or do
or emphasis)
or gesture)   to help.
Make up for lack, by proper choice of words.
Convey to mind of another exactly what is in
your mind.  –
Ambiguous  words : –  dawn
dusk
12 noon
left
right
front
rear
example : –  "Enemy Battery has opened fire 2000^x away on
my right front." –
Use of relative terms
vague terms  – "large numbers"
"much movement"
"considerable N^o of prisoners".
"All wires gone to forward Battalion." -
"Move off."

2
Accuracy as regards times, places, position, strength
"a large patrol"
"large numbers of enemy massing."
Definition of Localities.
Map – practice in the field
Compass bearing – & distance – & spot from which seen.
Brevity – Save signal service
Save typewriters & clerks.
No padding
Practice in – re-writing
business cablegrams, 2/6 a word.
Situation as seen by reader of message.
What will he be likely to want to know?
(a) Situation  (b) Action taken.
"Identification follows."
"Sending patrol to search for enemy
 casualties."
Patrol being sent tonight after dark to
investigate further."
What are you going to do about it?
Where are you going, yourself?
Rapidity of Transmission
in control of sender
Most information useless, if delayed
duplicate means of transmission.
Reliability
reliable if possible
surmises
Discriminate between what is certain
what is presumed or inferred.
Illustrative Sketches  – practice capacity to do.
Sense of Scale –
Panoramic Sketch
indicate place from which taken.

 3
Information
Purpose of information :–
Immediate: – Controlling Artillery Fire
Use of Reserves – when & where
Progress of own troops
Fresh objectives.
Not immediate: – for collation with other
information
Writing  —  Clear
pencil
not indelible
not hard HB
Tie pencil on
plain signatures
indicate appointment
time of message
place of message
x  Time of event x
Often to be read by light of a match, in the rain.
Capacity to convey by description .
not by pointing.
( say piece of mechanism
rifle)
Verbal reporting   —  same principles
no excitement

repeating from month to month

4
Functions of a Regimental Intelligence Officer
1.0. is to on Bn or Bde Commr – same as [[Vuiran ts?]]
Army Commr.
Sample :–   C.O. wants information for a
contemplated raid: –
? Several suitable spots:– method of holding, by enemy
Position of his M.G.'s
to dugouts
to T.M's
State of his wire
to our wire
Condition of N.M.Ld
ditches
hedges
dead ground
Not a mere clerk or recorder 
Nose not all day in patrol reports
therefore (a) Constant observation & study of enemy & 
of whole situation
i. all higher reports & summaries
analyse 
& memorise
ii air photos
iii artillery maps
iii relief table of enemy formations.
(b) Liaison with neighbours 
not confined to own front
(c) Liaison with Artillery observers.
Making Deductions  –   highest function of all
example of black trackers
Difficult to teach;   No rules of thumb
no royal road
For them to work out  –   patience
absence of bias
sifting evidence
________________________________
Change of attitude
patrolling Raid – Arty registration
Signs : –  working
Very light . Nervousness .  Attack – railways &

CONFIDENTIAL
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
14th. January, 1918.
Lieut. - Colonel H. A.  Goddard, D.S.O.
T/Commanding 9th. Aust.  Inf. Bde.
My dear Colonel.
I forward you herewith a file of papers relating
to Captain O. Tedder who has recently joined your 36th. Battalion. -
I think it right that you should be informed confidentially of all
the circumstances of the case. - They were known confidentially
to General ROSENTHALL, and it had been arranged between us that
nothing would be allowed to leak out in this officer's new unit as
regards his having left his old unit with any sort of a cloud. -
I think it would be fatal to the possibility of he recapitulating rehabilitating
himself, if his comrades should know the circumstances under which
he left the 54th.  Battalion,  - Will you, therefore, please,
after perusal of these papers,  return same to me addressed personally
by name, having noted them as having seen them.   -
Yours sincerely,
 John Monash
Major General Sir John Monash K.C.B.
Papers herein have been duly noted by me
Instructions will be complied with .
14. 1. 18     H. A Goddard Lt Col

G.O.C
3rd  Aus Divn
I have noted the attached file
Capt. Tedder will be posted to 36th Battalion as soon as he reports

and I will ensure  he is given any opportunity to make good.

and report furnished in due course.
Charles Rosenthall
Brg Gen,
G&c 9 Aus Inf Bde
28/12/17

Australian Imperial Force

D.A.G
47/5/12
A.I.F.
HEADQUARTERS
27 DEC. 1917
no104/411
THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
A.I.F. Headquarters,
Attached 1st Anzac Corps,
24th December, 1917.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Headquarters,
3rd Australian Division.
The attached correspondence relative to Captain
O.Tedder, 54th Battn. is forwarded for information.  It will be
noted that the services of this officer in his present Battn.
have been unsatisfactory.   The G.O.C. , A.I.F desires that as
far as possible all officers who are reported on this way
be given another opportunity of making good in another Brigade
instead of being at once sent home in disgrace.and directs that
Captain Tedder be posted to a Battn.  of the 9th Bde. for further 
trial.
The G.O.C. desires that on his reporting to you, you
will have Captain Tedder brought before you and told that it is expected 
he will do his utmost to prove worthy of the confidence
which is thus being reposed in him. 
It is asked that you will advise this office of
the Battn. to which you have decided to  post Capt. Tedder and
that a report on his work and conduct be submitted in three
months time.
H.D [[Hogater?]] LtCol
for Colonel.
D.A.G., A.I.F.
Confidential .
G.O.C. 9th Bde
Please note above , & return to me personally.
When Capt. Tedder reports to you, please arrange for
him to report to me. – Also, notify his posting by you. –
John Monash
M.G.
27/12/17

 D.A.G
47/5/12
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.
Headquarters Australian Imperial Force.
Attached  1st Anzac Corps.
24th December,  1917.
Headquarters,
5th Australian Division.
With reference to your A.52/3875 of 20th
inst.,  I am to inform you that the G.O.C., A.I.F. desires
that Capt.O. Tedder, 54th Battn. be given another chance
to make good and directs that he be posted to a Battn.
of the 9th Brigade for this purpose.
Please send him to report to Headquarters, 3rd
Australian Division for posting accordingly.
HDW   for 
Colonel.
D.A.G. , A.I.F.

Headquarters,
5th Aust. Div,
20.12.17.
5TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION
no A52/3875
20 DEC. 17
CENTRAL REGISTRY
D.A.G.
47/5/12
A.I.F.
D.A.G., A.I.F.,
1st A.N.Z.A.C.
----------------------
In view of the foregoing reports, and as Captain
TEDDER'S services are no longer required in this Division,
I recommend that he be returned to Australia.
J. T.Hobbs
Major - General,
Commanding 5th Australian Division.
21 DEC REC    Captain O.J.O. Tedder
Age   30 years Lieut 4 -8- 15
Capt.  30 -9- 16
From  2/Bn 12 - 3- 16
Wounded 20 -7 -16 Rej'd 27 -10- 16
Sick  28 - 10 16     Rej'd 14 - 4 - 17