General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 18, 21 April - 8 May 1918, Part 10

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
WAITING LIST - STAFF TRAINEES.
DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS.
Major.   W.W. BERRY.             3rd.Pion.Battn.        "Q" Branch.
Lieut.     S. IRWIN.                    36th.Battalion.        "Q" Branch.
3rd.AUST. DIVL. ARTILLERY:           N I L.
9th.AUST. INFANTRY BDE.
Captain S.W. HAWKINS,        35th.Battalion.         Brigade Major. ✓
Captain A.E. YATES.                         do                       Staff-Captain.

10th.AUST. INFANTRY BDE.
Lieut. C.C. GALE.                      38th.Battalion.         Staff Captain.  B.M. ✓
(Seconded as Intell.Officer 10th.Brigade)

Captain A.J. MURRAY, (MC)  39th. Battalion.        Brigade Major or Staff Captain.
(Seconded for Staff Training with British Formation
24/2/1918).

11th.AUST. INFANTRY BDE.
Lieut. W.G. HARRINGTON.     43rd.Battalion.        Staff Captain.
(Seconded Sick 7/4/1918).
Divisional Headquarters,
30th. April, 1918.
G.O.C.
(W.E.B). 

30/4/18
Gen White will not be able to come to
lunch.  Has gone to 4^th Divn 
Tank officer called - Gave him 
your ideas - Will put into
a memo to Bdes

Tonight there will be  2 males

2 females
at Jqb

1 male

1 female

at I24C

Headquarters,
Australian Corps,
30th April, 1918.
My dear General,
You have probably noticed, as I have done, the great
tendency there is nowadays for a certain number of officers and
men to criticize and make disparaging comparisons between their
own units and others that may be serving alongside of them.  I
have so often heard this done - very frequently in a friendly
spirit, such as jasts about "the neutrals", etc., but on many
occasions I am sorry to say in one much to the contrary, and
I do hope that you will do everything in your power to see that
this practice is stopped.  I, of course, fully realize the
extreme difficulty there is in the matter, as human nature, when
not in its best of moods, is liable to side-track any of us from
the ideals, which ∧when in good health and high spirits I hope we most
of us manage to keep before us.

More particularly would I urge the restriction of comparison
between Dominion and English troops.  The Dominion soldier
has so established his merits that depreciation of his kith and kin
is not necessary for the full acknowledgment of the great work
Dominion troops are doing.  We are of the same blood, and the
creation of friction by criticism is only playing the German's
game.
I am sure, though, you will at once agree how essential
it is that we should, everyone of us, pull together with the one
determination to defeat the Germans, and it must help enormously
to do this if we make up our minds to refrain from unkind criticism
of others, and to do all in our power not only to make our own men
refrain from such, but to try to show all by our example how we
are out to help our neighbours whoever they may be, remembering
that the trials and difficulties they have been through may often
be unknown even to units alongside of them.
As a matter of fact, I think that such criticism is very
often much less heard from officers and men of units which are
fighting hard at the front, than from those in rear of the line who
cannot be in a good position to really appreciate the facts.
I know I need not say more, and I can so fully rely
upon your doing your best with every officer and man in your command.
Yours very sincerely,
W. R Birdwood.
Major. General
Sir J. Monash, K.C.B., V.D.,
Commdg. 3^rd Aust. Division 

SECRET

G.

Australian Corps,
1st May, 1918.
HEADQUARTERS,
AUSTRALIAN CORPS.
No  S/4372.
Date
Major- General N.M. SMYTH, V.C., C.B.,
Commanding 2nd Australian Division.
Major-General Sir J. MONASH, K.C.B., V.D.,
Commanding 3rd Australian Division.
Major- General N.D. SINCLAIR- MACLAGAN, C.B., D.S.O.,
Commanding 4th Australian Division.
Major-General Sir J.J.T. HOBBS, K.C.B., V.D.,
Commanding 5th Australian Division.
Major- General Sir G.F. GORRINGE, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O.
Commanding 47th Australian Division.
I am to enclose for your personal information
copy of a letter addressed by the C.G.S. to Army Commanders.
The Corps Commander wishes you closely to scrutinize
all employments not authorised by establishment and to take all
possible steps to prevent any waste of power.
As you are aware the provision of reinforcements
for the A.I.F. is far short of needs.
CBB White
Brigadier-General,
General Staff,
Australian Corps. 

SECRET

G.H.Q. No. O.B./2021.

Addressed to Army Commanders by name.
Throughout the army there are still large numbers of
officers and men employed away from their units supernumerary to
authorised establishments.  This evil is traceable to a variety of
causes, but principally to the following:-

(a)  The abnormal development of headquarter units from the
brigade headquarters upwards, owing to the tendency of commanders 
of formations to concern themselves with details
which are the proper province of subordinate commanders.

(b)  The abnormal development of luxurious institutions behind
the line.
(c)  The production of non-essential statistics, returns,
summaries, pamphlets and other literature.

The result is the depletion of the platoon, which being
the ultimate unit has no lower source to which it can go for compensation. 

The Field-Marshal Commander-in-Chief wishes to emphasise
the fact in unmistakable terms that the present state of the manpower 
situation is critical.   He wishes it to be clearly understood
that there can be no justification on any ground whatsoever for anything 
which results in keeping a single officer or man out of the
fighting units for non-essential employment; and he will consider no
employment essential which is not provided for by establishment or
directly sanctioned by G. H. Q.

The Commander-in-Chief looks to commanders of all
formations to subject all the establishments for which they are
responsible to the closest scrutiny, and desires to make it quite
clear that any cases of the unauthorised employment of personnel
will be severely dealt with.  Formations must discard the elaborate
system of minute direction and supervision which has grown up as the
result of years of trench warfare, and return to a proper delegation
of responsibility and chain of command.  Impediments, as well as
personnel, must be reduced to the authorised scales.  The Army must
be freed from the accumulation caused by three years of immobility
and over-centralisation.

(Sgd.) H. A. LAWRENCE,
Lieutenant-General,

C. G. S.
General Headquarters,
28th April, 1918. 

May. 1. 1918.

The National Council,
Australian Y.M.C.A.
Elizabeth House,
Elizabeth Street,
Melbourne.

Gentlemen,
I beg to submit to you report covering the operations
of my department during the past four months.

During this period I have continued my concentrated
attention to Salisbury Plain with a few visits to other areas
including London and Weymouth.
I am able to say that the effectiveness of the department 
has grown increasingly, and I believe forms a very important
factor in the life of the Australian Jewish troops stationed in
England, so much so that the idea of my transfer to France has
become a matter of the future.   Although my personal desire is
to effectively serve my men in France, yet I realise that to in
any way reduce the amount of service rendered at this end would
be a thousand pities, and I am prepared to continue here pending
the development of any movement which may compel a change.

Divine Services.
Three regular services are held weekly.  One at Warminster
at 2-30 on Saturday afternoons and two on Sunday mornings, at
Durrington and Bulford, at which the Jewish Chaplin officiates.

Other services are held by him at regular intervals in
other Camps, and I have attended Weymouth on several occasions and
there held services for the men in the Convalescent Depot awaiting
return to Australia.

These services are regularly announced in Orders through
out all Commands concerned. 

(2)
Passover.
During the period under review, the Festival of Passover
occurred, and the Army Council issued an instruction granting
Jewish troops in the United Kingdom leave from the 27th to
the 3lst March inclusive.   It immediately placed myself
in touch with the G.O.C. commanding A.I.F. in the United
Kingdom, and was fortunately able to extend this to include
the 1st April.  The direction and control of the whole matter
of granting this leave was again graciously left in my hands
by Headquarters.
A special Nominal Roll was called for showing approximately 
200 men affected by this order.   I was able to secure
certain privileges which made the leave easier for the men.
Attached circular letter was sent to each man, and I personally 
met the great bulk of them prior to their departure
and assisted them with advice and guidance respecting their
leave.
I was also able, by means of a small private fund
referred to elsewhere, to assist many men financially.  I
had made up my mind that no man should be denied his leave
for want of his fare and accommodation whilst in London.
I was able to, through the Jewish Naval and Military Club,
find accommodation for a number of men in financial difficulties.
This Club proved a great boon to these men without
relatives or friends in London; and the splendid services
of Mr Mocatta, Chairman, and Mrs Brighton, Leader of the
Lady Workers, is worthy of the sincerest thanks of Australian
Jewery.   Provision had been made for Seder services and meals
on both nights.   I personally was present the first night,
and about 45 men sat down to Seder and supper.

A correspondent to the "Jewish Chronicle." refers to the
occasion as follows:-
"Many a Jewish home in the provinces, colonies, and America
will be gladdened when they learn from their soldier sons, and
brothers of the Seder services they attended at the Jewish
Naval & Military Association Hostel, 113a Tottenham Court Road, 

(3).
for the large number of provincial and overseas men who
participated in the ceremony, and the bountiful repast provided, 
will assuredly mention this in their letters.  No
gathering this Passover could have been more impressive than
this party of khaki men from various parts of the globe.   Most
of the guests were accommodated throughout their short leave
in homely fashion on the premises;  but as the limited space
did not permit of all sleeping at the club, arrangements
were made for their comfort near by, whilst some of the
Committee managed to obtain private hospitality for the some
of the visitors.  This ∧is the third Pesach that has been celebrated 
at this hostel, and nothing could have been more completely
satisfactory nor anything more fully appreciated.   This must
be of immense gratification to the Committee and helpers of
the only Society working for the benefit of Jewish soldiers,
while not forgetting the claims of their Christian comrades
excepting at Festival periods."

During the whole of the leave I was in constant attendance, 
both at this Club and at my own Headquarters, where I
was able to meet and assist a great number of men.   I was
able to direct and accompany them to synagogues and services.
The whole 'stunt' worked smoothly and satisfactorily, and gave
general satisfaction to all concerned.
These services were rendered equally to New Zealand
troops.

I have every reason to be gratified at the result, and
thankful to the military authorities for the consideration
which was given to these special Jewish requirements particularly 
as the leave coincided with the German offensive in France.
Fellowship Meetings.
These have been continued regularly on the following
programme:-
Mondays         3 meetings, Longbridge Deverill, Sutton Veny,

Heytesbury.
Tuesdays         Hurdcott.
Wednesdays  Codford.
Thursdays       2 meetings. Sling (N.(Z.Forces) & Parkhouse.
Friday.              Fovant. 

These with the Saturday and Sunday services enable me
to cover the whole Camps on the Plain having A.I.F. Forces,
once a week.
The meetings are well attended, and a pleasant hour
or two is spent, and in most cases refreshments provided.   All
are held in the Y.M.C.A. Huts and every facility is granted me
for holding them in comfort.  These meetings are fairly permanently 
fixed on the above basis, and most of the men know of the 

(4)
times and places, and the variations caused by the frequent
changes of Camps does not now affect these meetings as previously. 
It is quite a usual thing for new men in Camp to
attend these meetings without being notified as they are now
generally known over the whole area.
The value of these meetings is undoubted and form a
special point of contact between me and the men.

Personal Service.
The close personal touch which enables me to act as Guide,
Philosopher, and Friend to all the men with whom I come in
contact, is the chief value of the service I render.
The need of the sympathetic touch is so great in these
troops, that this department of my work is to me the most
important and I create every opportuinity of the seeing the
men personally.

Hospitals and Casualties.
I still visit all Jewish men in Hospital in Camp, and
write constantly to men in Hospital in other areas.   I am
advised each week from France of the Jewish Casualties and
each week from the Jewish War Services of the arrivals in
hospital in the United Kingdom.

I immediately communicate with the men concerned, and
where necessary supply them with cigarettes and other comforts
and with reading matter.

Hospitality.
I have been able to considerably extend my activities in
this direction through the very generous financial assistance
voluntarily given me by my good friends in Australia and
England.
In appreciation of the efforts of the Australian Y.M.C.A.
in the direction of my department, a few Australian Jewish
residents in London subscribed the sum of £240: 10:, mainly to 

(5)
place a motor at my disposal to facilitate my work travelling
over the very large area occupied by Australian troops.
The following is a list of subscribers, and I cannot express
my adequate thanks to Mr and Mrs Edward Michaelis and Mr and
Mrs Louis Jacobs, all of St Kilda, for their generous and
whole-hearted sympathy and assistance which they have rendered
to me in connection with my work generally.
                                                              £              s             d
Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co.          50     -      0     -      0
Mr & Mrs Louis Jacobs.                   50     -      0     -      0
Mrs Edward Michaelis.                   25     -       0     -      0
Mr & Mrs B.D. Cohen.                      20     -      0     -      0  
Mr Woolf Harris.                                15     -      0     -       0
Mr & Mrs Nevill B.Cohen.                10     -     10     -      0
Mrs Baruch.                                       10     -     10     -       0
Mr & Mrs J.D.Marks.                           5     -      5      -      0
Mr A.Kaye.                                            5     -      5      -      0
Mr Moss Davis.                                    5     -      5     -       0
Mr Isaacs.                                              5     -      5     -       0
Mr Walter Gollin.                                 5     -      0     -      0
Mr Leslie Harris.                                   5     -     0     -       0
Lieutenant A.L.Michaelis.                  5     -     0     -       0
Mr L.H.Nathan.                                     5     -     0     -       0
Mr G.R.Levy.                                           5     -     0     -       0
Mr H.D.Cohen.                                      3     -      3     -       0
Mr O .Levy.                                             3     -      0     -       0
Mrs Gerald Joseph.                             2      -      2     -       0
Mrs B.W.Levy.                                       2      -      2     -       0
Mr Manney Jacobs.                             1      -       1     -       0
Mr Percy Phillips.                                 1      -       1     -       0
A Friend.                                                 1      -       1     -       0
                                                           £ 240   -      10    -       0
Cheque for this amount paid to Headquarters.  Amounts
received other than above and retained by me:-
                                                                £             s          d
Mrs P.H.Moses.                                   10     -     0     -    0
New Zealand Soldier.                        10    -     0    -     0
Mrs Shunshine.                                     1    -     0    -     0
                                                              £21   -      0    -     0
 I have already spent over this amount £2-14-8 making
£23-14-8 advanced in various directions.

A good deal of this money comes back and is sent out in
other directions.

£200 of the above amount was paid to the Accountant
towards the cost of a car and the balance remains as a Hospitality
Fund for the purpose of assistance to distressed soldiers,
hospital comforts, and assistance to impecunious men at times of
High Festival leave.

Over and above this amount I have received £10:  from

friends in Australia, and have ∧been further advised by Mrs P.H.Moses