General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 18, 28 March - 20 April 1918, Part 1

7^th Corps.
The line which I am holding and have satisfactorily
organized runs at 6 p.m. today as
follows:-  From railway bridge over Somme
at Aubignxy, along whole River line to J.35.c
with pickets ^outposts on South bank outward opposite all crossings
aaa   From J.35.c line held runs through
J.35.b, 30.c, 30.a, 24.c, 18 central, 12 central
to TEUX just south of which I am in touch with
troops of 35^th Division. aaa I am pushing patrols
still further east of above line to establish contact
with enemy believed now to be 1500 yards West of
Merlancourt. aaa Added 7^th Corps repeated
35^th & 4^th Aust Divisions
GB 13 
7.30 pm  Sent CHJ
28/3/18  

Copy.

Commanding Officer
47th. Battalion, A.I.F.
I wish to bring under your notice the following acts of
4061 Sgt. Stanley Robert MacDOUGALL.
This morning (28th. inst.) the enemy made a determined attack
on our line near DERNANCOURT and succeeded in getting through
at a crossing.
I saw Sgt. MacDOUGALL rush at the enemy's second wave by himself with
a rifle and bayonet, killing several and capturing a German Machine Gun
which he turned on the enemy and caused their second wave to disperse.
I saw him then pick up a Lewis gun and singlehanded attack the
first wave firing from the hip as he ran towards the enemy, firing
until he was five or ten yards from them.   A German Officer rushed
at him with his revolver, but Sgt. MacDOUGALL bayonetted him.
By this time I was engaged on the opposite flank of the enemy with
a small party and Sgt. MacDOUGALL came round just in time to
bayonet a German who had moved up behind me and was about to fire at me.
28/3/18

(sgd) E.ROBINSON, Lieut.,
47th. Battalion, A.I.F.
This statement sworn to before me.
(sgd) A. P. IMLAY, Lieut. Colonel,
C.O. 47th. Battalion, A.I.F. 

7^th Corps. —
The line gained ^by me as the result of operations last
night now runs thus aaa from Somme at P.5.b.
central through J.36.a, J 30 c & a, J 24 c & a, 
J 18 c. & a, J 12 ^central & J 6 central joining with 35^th
Division just South of Treux aaa The copse in J 18 d 
is still held by enemy and is being dealt with aaa
Our Casualties ^during above advance about 300  aaa We had a number of ^numerous
successful xxxxx encounters capturing 4 prisoners and
killing a number a number of enemy aaa My position ^between the Ancre & Somme
is now organized in depth ^of 1000 to 2000 yards in three lines between the 

Ancre & the Somme   aaa They front now quiet.
aaa The line of the Somme between Sailly-le-Sec and
Aubigny is also held by my Third Brigade aaa I ^still have
two Battalions gd not yet committed aaa My front
quiet at 10.30 a.m.
GB Co 
CHJ Sent 11 am
29/3/18 

1/4/18
AUSTRALIAN
1st ANZAC   CORPS,
B.E.F., FRANCE.
29th March, 1918.
My dear Monash,
Just a line to thank you so much for
your most welcome and excellent letter of the 28th,
giving us all details regarding the Division. You
and your Division have indeed done quite splendidly
as I knew you would, and ^as I know you will do, in
whatever strain may come upon you.
I will not say more at present,
except again to wish you the best of good luck
and to tell you that I hope to be down with you
in the course of the next few days - please do
not mention this until you hear it officially, as
the matter is not yet definitely fixed up. It
will, however, be a great thing if as I hope we
have the whole Corps together again, when I am
sure we shall be able to give a real good account
of ourselves.
Yours ever,
W. R. Birdwood.

AQ
CRE
9^th Bde   }
10^th Bde  }
11^th Bde.  }   CHJ 43.    29^th.
C.R.A.
Necessary reconnaissances are to be immediately undertaken for
following redispositions which may possibly be ordered to be carried out
^during darkness tonight. aaa. 9^th Brigade to ^to extend to left and take over from 11^th Brigade the responsibility
for the line of the Somme between Sailly-le-Sec and Vaux.
aaa Left flank of 11^th Brigade to side-step to the left to ^about 1000 yards
north of Corbie-Bray Road relieving 10^th Brigade troops in that
1000 yards. aaa 10^th Brigade to side step to railway at D.30
central relieving troops of 35^th Division astride of Ancre Valley
and covering BUIRE aaa No movements of troops to take
place for above to take place unless these redispositions are
definitely ordered.
C.H.J 43   Sent at 11.40 am
CHJ  29/3/18 

Message from 7^th Corps "G"
at 1.55 PM
Refer our message GX 811
about relief tonight
This relief will not take
place tonight
It may take place tomorrow
night but there is a possibility
that it will not take place
tomorrow night either.
Arrangements for effecting
the  change are to be carried on
JM
CHJ 46     29^th
Reference my CHJ/43 the sidestepping referred to therein
will not take place tonight, but possibly tomorrow night
aaa The reconnaissances ordered are ^however to be gone on with
C.HJ
46
Sent at 2.15 p.m
CHJ
29/3/18 

7^th Corps . —
Copse in J.18.^d reported in my G.B. 60
of this morning as held by enemy has was
captured by us at 9 p.m. today, and my
line has now been pushed forward to East of
it aaa Details follow later . —
C.HJ 56      9.55 PM
29/3/18  

(9 23 21)  W 3707—598  500M  7/16 H W V  [E. 195.] Forms/W. 3121/3 Army Form W.3121

12th. Aust. Inf. Brigade.    4th. AUSTRALIAN Division.     VII Corps.    
29th. March, 1918.  Date of Recommendation. 

[*aeroplanes*] 

30/3/18
78 
"C" Form.       Army Form C. 2123. (in books of 100.)
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.    No. of Message....
Prefix    SM      Code    AL      Words    15
Received.
From Ayd
By A Yeoman
Office Stamp.
[*ARMY
AYC 30.11.18
TELEGRAPHS*]
Handed in at   AYD  Office    1.55 pm.   Received 1.58 pm.
TO   3  Aus  Div

Sender's Number.  9/53    
Day of Month.  30   
In reply to Number.   CHJ 66
AAA 
4 Aus Divn sincere
congratulations
[[R .. Opin?]]
2 pm
SDY
FROM     4th  Aus  Divn
TIME & PLACE