General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 17, 14 January - 11 February 1918, Part 3

-2-
No bugle call, nor cannon's roar
Can ^∧ NOW disturb them where they now rest.
They did their duty - played the game
And added to Australia's fame
Somewhere in France.
Long rows of graves - perhaps a cross,
Or maybe just a stone or two,
To mark the places where they fell
While fighting for the dear old flag
Somewhere in France.
In future years our thoughts will turn
To mateships of these years of woe,
And tears will start as memory
Recalls the price we paid for peace
Somewhere in France!
G W P Cuttriss.

Verse by Cuttress
16/1/18

"COBBERS."
Don't get the "wind up" matey, we're going to win today.
The Hun will learn the Third can fight, and also play the game.
We will drive him from his "possie" and we'1l keep him on the run
Till we get to our objective - then we'll stop and see the fun.
Do you see that long ridge yonder, where the shells are bursting
low.
Well, we mean to have it "digger" for ^∧ The General’s planned it so.
Have you put your things together, and written home to "Mum",
To tell her you're a "Dinkum", she'll be proud of you "by gum".
I can understand your feelings - like that I've often been
'Specially in our first big stunt - the battle of MESSINES.
When them blessed mines exploded and the guns began to roar,
I felt as if I'd like to drop right through the blimey floor.
What? you ain't been in a battle, and you feel a wee bit scared -
Why, we all feels like that cobber, and we gets the" wind up" bad.
But that’s only for the moment before we "hops the bags"
And then the fun commences, as we race ’cross "No Man’s Land",
Through the slush and mud and wire, till you gets to Fritz's line,
And you deal out "iron rations" just to pass away the time.
Now, don't give way to feelings - you will come through this
alright-
And some day in the dear old land - you'll tell about this fight.
Well, I guess we'd better "shake it" for it's just about the hour
That was read to us in orders - for our guns to open fire.
So, so-long pard’ and heaps of luck - I'll see you later on
When we've taken our objectives and the BROODSIENE RIDGE is won.
A thousand cannon seemed to leap - quite suddenly into flame.
That's 'er Bill shouted, so-long pard’ until we meet again.
And then they started from the "tape" and rushed 'cross No man's
WAY.'
And for the Bosche it proved to be - a most expensive day.
They fled before the Infantry - backed up by gun and 'plane,
And the history of MESSINES Stunt, was repeated once again.
We took all of our objectives - on the right and left as well -
And the prisoners that were taken said our Artillery gave them "HeIl"
Again we'd caught then napping - just on the tick of time -
And we pushed them back much nearer to the river called the Rhine.
It was not all easy goin', twas a "dinkum-ding-dong" go,
On the fourth day of OCTOBER - when we beat the German foe.
The day after we'd got settled - the news was noised around
That quite a number of our chaps, was no where to be found.
We searched the holes and dug-outs from the old line to the new,
Looking for the fellows whom these lines make known to you.
It was reported later - that both had stopped some lead.
One got it in the shoulder - the other in the head.
Some stretcher coves had found them, lying, side by side.
Just outside a "pill-box"- to take which they had tried.
And still they were together at a C. C. S.,
Where the story was related - how they got in such a mess.
It was told in simple language, the kind the soldiers use,
So if its not familiar - kind reader, please excuse.
Twas just when dawn was breakin' that we hopped the bags "toots
suite",
The ground was awful muddy and the rain came down a treat.
We hadnt got so very far - when bullets whizzed around
And I saw a number of our chaps - fall head-long to the ground.
That made we kind of wild you know - I lost me bloomin' head,
I thought that my young cobber here was numbered with the dead.

(2)
Just then I heard a shoutin' "I say mate - over here" -
And I sees me bloomin’ cobber - running like a deer.
He was headin' for a pill-box - just near the HAMBURG FARM,
And the Bosches that were in it, were doin’ a lot of harm.
I yells out "look here digger - I thought that you was dead"
But he just kept on a runnin' as if he hadn't heard.
He went up to that pill-box, just as calm as in a street
And I guess that them 'er Bosches got slithered up a treat.
"There aint no prisoners digger" he turns to me and said,
And I looked into the pill-box and saw a heap of dead.
I was pround of my young cobber - he’d played the game right
through,
Although before we hopped the bags - he was in a dreadful stew.
The shells like rain was fallin' - all 'round where we stood,
So we thought that we would make a try and get to BERLIN WOOD.
We’d just moved about ten paces when me cobber said "O Gawd",
And he fell into a shell-hole - Iike a bit of rotten board.
I was wonderin' what I'd do next - when I lost me blimey lid
And I remembers nearly nothing else - till I wakes up in bed.
Old digger here - he tells me - it was a piece of shell,
That made me pitch into that hole - just in the way he fell.
Though his right arm was useless - he rendered me First Aid,
And stopped the flow of bleeding - from the wound across me head,
Then he tried to drag me - from out the dirty mud,
When another landed, "quick Dick" ^∧ WHIZZ BANG landed, but it proved to be a "dud".
He pulls me up on to the top, and drags me 'long the ground,
To where, by those two stretcher coves - we eventully was found.
They wanted to take digger first,  'cause he was badly hurt,
And the blood from his hit shoulder was showin' thro' the dirt.
"O, no" says he "l'll stay right here, he's worser than I am,
And I aint got no kiddies and Bill's a married man.
They took me to the Aid Post and sent me right on here,
And they went back for digger - them chaps deserve a cheer.
They found him weak and fainting - he’d spilled a lot of blood,
And a shell had nearly buried him completely in the mud.
They sent him to this C.C.S., and puts him long side me,
And I guess it won't be very long - 'fore old "Blighty" we
shall see.
Tho' we both got nearly "stonkered" - we came thro’ quite alright
Thanks to me little cobber - who put up a "dinkum" fight.
We've got the Bosche quite beaten - on this 'ere Western Front.
And they've got cause to remember - the fourth of OCTOBER stunt.
We not only made our objectives - though the fightin' it was hard
But It made us "dinkum" cobbers - and my life I owes to "Pard".
G W P Cuttriss

4. H. THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
18th. January, 1918.
QUESTIONS.
Question No.1. No.1 Patrol reports heavy transport could be heard coming
from far side of DEULEMONT.   Machine Guns still active at DURIEZ FARM;  also
one from LAUNDRY firing into NO MAN'S LAND. Work could be heard going on
on the south side of the river near DURIEZ FARM, and sounds were heard from
SCREENED FARM.
No.2 Patrol reports at 11.0 p.m. two VERY Lights followed by
another RED one were fired from enemy trenches 500 yards South of SPINNING
MILL.   Enemy Trench Mortars at SPINNING MILL fired on our front line in
U.17.b.   Our artillery opened fire on this point.   One RED and one GREEN
enemy light went up.
On receipt of the above patrols’ reports what questions
would you ask the Scout Officer who has handed them in ?.
Question No.2. On the reports supplied separately, compile a Battalion
Daily Summary for submission to Brigade. ?
Question No.3. What information should a Brigade I.O. attempt to obtain for
his Brigade concerning a new front which is about to be taken over ?.
Question No.4. Outline operations in NO MAN'S LAND during the first week after taking over a new front ?. (Battalion)
Question No.5.  What points are essential in a message concerning :-
(a) Hostile artillery fire.
(b) enemy transport or tramway activity.
(c) enemy lights other than signalling lights.
Question No.6. What are the main points to be remembered in ^∧ when compiling a
message ?.
Question No.7. Outline system organized by a Brigade I.O. for use during an
offensive ?.
Question.No.8. What uses can a Battalion I.O. make of aeroplane photographs ?
Question No.9. Outline rules of procedure to be followed by Brigade I.O.
in directing intelligence within battalions and machine gun coys., and
Battalion I.O. directing observers, scouts, etc.

1                     18/1/18
9^th Bgde    Jany 22        2.30     [[Miteren?]]
10^th Bgde   Jany 20       3.00     [[N.Eglis?]]
11^th Bgde    Jany 28        3.30     [[Loere?]]
Introduction
Opportunities of meeting rare
Used to see Candidates
Heart-to-heart talk - to officers.
Particularly to Juniors - platoon
^∧ But want seniors to enforce.
Why? - Microcosm
               Looking glass
               30 to 50 men- list
               all about them.
                Friend & protector.
                Aim at best platoon
                Emulation & Comradeship
Not technicalities - but - psychology.
talk on Responsibility.
≡ Doing whole duty, at all times,
even when Control relaxed.
Headings: - Superiors
                        Troops
                        Australia
                         Cause

2
Responsibility
To Superiors. -
Trust & Confidence
Requires support - he responsible.
Loyalty- when wrong.
Don't discuss Seniors
Don't discuss Orders.

No criticism - pernicious.
point of honor
See orders carried out
turnout -trotting
riding in Vehicles
Respirators - Saluting
No eye-wash - inspections

3

To Troops
Material & Moral Welfare
Material- they helpless
not humanitarian - but
expediency.
Food - As much as possible out of
ration.
Rest
Shelter
Clothing
No bucketing about.
Moral -
uplift
demoralization - if unsoldierly men.
Cheerfulness & optimism.
Friction of War - weather
fatigue
mud
incompatibility
Tries temper
& endurance.
our object to lessen
Never grouse - never betray yourself
"Time we were relieved"
Reconcile them to disagreeable things
Comfort them - low flying planes

4

(Troops - moral-cont^d)
^∧ Skillful & Intelligent Leadership - Custodian of Safety & honor.
Build up & maintain offensive spirit
object in life - to Kill.
Training - eliminating mistakes
= Knowledge & practice.
Determination
Resolve to carry task through
No difficulties
Driving power
Attitude towards men
Constructive criticism.

Weak, stupid men
Affability - not fraternize
dignity & respect.
Firmness - Stand no nonsense
but don't threaten.
Impartiality - Square deal.
Uniformity of attitude
Uphold orders
Uphold N.C.O'S.

5

Australia
Its immense effort
Committed to a small handful
Avoidance of Waste
Salvage
Salvage of man-power.
Our Cause
Won't achieve - unless we deserve.
Can't fluke
Utmost effort necessary
Everybody talking peace - not yet.

6
The ideals of efficiency
Strive for highest Standard.
Nothing good enough.
Every organism - decays, if stopped.
∴ Constant vigilance & supervision
No standing still.

These are the ideals ; - call on each & all
to join me & Commanders to
Maintain Division, as one
of the best in the Imperial
Armies.