General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 18, 8 May - 25 May 1918, Part 12

(2) 25/5/18.
been forced. -
A considerable amount of furniture was found stored in
an upstairs room, and this room was immediately placed out of
bounds by General CANNAN. - Any looting or wilful damage that
may have been done in this Chateau, or in the adjoining pavilion,
was, I am assured both by General CANNAN and by General McNICOLL,
done prior to the arrival of Australian troops. -
Subsequently, a shell burst in the dining room of the
Chateau and completely destroyed everything in it. - Apart
from this damage the Chateau and the Pavilion were left by the
troops of this Division in the same condition as they were in
when we first entered. -
Although much private property was collected from other
residences in HEILLY by the Town Major and his staff, and handed
over to the French Mission and receipts taken, it so happens
that no property was collected from either the Chateau or the
Pavilion. -
M' DEMARGUET, who is referred to in Madame FURSY's letter
as her representative, is known to have visited HEILLY, although
he did not live there. - He was not seen in the Chateau. -
His wife visited the grounds on one occasion in company with two
Corps Officers. -
Neither the antiquary mentioned in the letter or any

(3)  25/5/18.
other civilian were ever seen in the Chateau or the Pavilion,
during their occupancy by the two Brigade Headquarters of this
Division. -

I am afraid that, beyond this, I am not able to throw
any further light upon the cause of the damages of which Madame
FURSY complains. -
I may add that my Claims Officer, who is usually most
sympathetic towards the French population, informs me that, now
that all immediate danger to the surrounding villages has passed,
there is a decided tendency on the part of the French population
to magnify their losses, and to initiate exhorbitant claims
against the troops for alleged damages and pilfering, many of
which have been shown to be entirely without foundation. -
It is difficult to know what other action was open to
me to take in the villages of HEILLY, BUIRE, BONNAY, RIBEMONT,
etc., than to have the most valuable personal property, - clocks,
jewellry, etc., - methodically collected and handed over to the
French Mission. - This was mot scrupulously done; and also all
Live Stock was collected and sent to back areas into Concentration
Camps. -
Yours faithfully,
General Sir W. R. Birdwood, K.C.B., K.C.S.I.,etc.
Commanding Australian Corps.

ASSISTANT PROVOST MARSHAL
3rd AUSTRALIAN DIVN.
Date 25.5.18
No. M.P.N15
To
Major General Sir John Monash, K.C.B., V.D.
3^rd Aust. Div.
Reference
Damage done to Chateau at Heilly
Sir,
I have investigated the complaints made
by M. Fursy as to damage done to his
furniture and belongings in the Chateau
at Heilly.  The facts as disclosed by my
investigations are as follows: -
Captain Gard and M. Migus, interpreter,
11^th Aust. Inf. Bde. Hqtrs. arrived in Heilly
at about 4 a.m. on 27^th March, at least
1½ hours in advance of any Australian troops.
They went to the Chateau at once which
was then occupied by the Staff of Brigadier
General Cumming.  It was then in a very
neglected state.  Judging by appearances
it had been vacated by civilians and
used as a Headquarters for a very considerable
time.  Apparently very little care had been
taken of the Chateau and it was remarked
that every article of furniture which bore
a lock had been forced.
A considerable amount of furniture
was stored in an upstairs room and this
room was immediately placed "Out of Bounds"
by Capt. Gard.
Any looting or ^wilful damage that was done
in the Chateau or Pavillon was done prior
to the arrival of Australian Troops.
Subsequently a shell burst in the dining

room and completely destroyed everything
in it.
Apart from this damage, the contents
of the Chateau were left by the troops of this
Division in the same condition as they
were in when we first entered.  Nothing
was collected from it as salvage by the
Town Major or his staff.
The De'marquet is known to have visited
Heilly although he did not stay there.  He
was not seen in the Chateau.
Mlle. Demarquet only visited the
Chateau grounds on one occasion as far as
is known.  This was in company with two
Corps Officers who were looking for subterranean
passages.
Neither the antiquary mentioned in
M. Fursy's letter nor any other civilian were
ever in the Chateau
J.H.S. Lovelep Lt
[[ff?]] Assistant Provost Marshal,
3rd Australian Divn:

PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN MAY 25TH, 1918
Of
DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS STAFF, 3RD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION

[*front row
left to right*]
{1.  Major S. KING, DSO.  Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General.
{2.  Major L.E. McKENZIE, DSO.  Deputy Asst.Director of Veterinary Services.
{3.  Colonel F.A. MAGUIRE  Asst.Director of Medical Services.
{4.  Lt.-Colonel C.H. JESS, DSO.  Chief of Staff.
{5.  Maj.-General Sir John MONASH KCB., VD.  Commander.
{6.  Lt.-Colonel R.E.JACKSON, DSO.  Asst.Adjutant & Quartermaster General.
{7.  Major H. BACHTOLD, DSO., MC.  Commanding Engineer. 
{8.  Major E.W. CONNELLY, DSO.  General Staff Officer, 2nd Grade
{9.  Major C.A. PYKE, MC.  Deputy Asst.Adjutant General.
[*second row*]
{10.  Lieut. E.M. BRISSENDEN  Divisional Claims Officer.
{11.  Captain W. JACK  Deputy Asst.Director of Ordnance Services.
{12.  Major W. VICKERS  Deputy Asst.Director of Medical Services.
{15. 15 Captain A.M. MOSS ✓  A.D.C. & Camp Commandant.
{14. 16 Captain S.H. JACKSON  General Staff Officer, 3rd Grade.
{13. 13 Captain P.W. SIMONSON ✓  A.D.C.
{16. 14 Major R.G. HAMILTON, MC.  Divisional Signals Officer.
{17.  Lieut. J.H. LOVELESS  Assistant Provost Marshal.
{18.  Lieut. Baron de GAIL, MC.  Chief of the French Mission.

[*Third
row*]
{19.  Lieut. J. LONGSTAFF  Divisional Artist.
{20.  Lieut. L.H. BIDDULPH, MC.  Divisional Musketry Officer.
/21.

- 2 -
21.  Lieut. R.C. PHILLIPS  Field Cashier.
22.  Lieut. H.J. HARRISON, MC.  Divisional Gas Officer.
23.  Captain D.G. MOLESWORTH  Staff Trainee.
24.  2/Lieut. A.H. LEWIS  Divisional Courts-Martial Officer.
25.  Lieut. S. IRWIN  Divisional Canteens Officer.
26.  2/Lieut. C.H. FAWCETT  Divisional Intelligence Officer.
27.  Lieut. J.B. O'DONNELL  Divisional Anti-Aircraft Officer.

Commander in Chief  Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig
First Army  General Sir H.S. Horne
I Corps  Lt. Gen. Sir C.A. Anderson
6^th Division Maj. Gen C. Ross
21^st       "            "        "    D.G.M. Campbell
24^th     "            "        "     J. E. Capper
XI Corps  Lt. Gen Sir H.B. Haking
5^th Division Maj. Gen. R.B. Stephens
37^th      "           "       "      H.B. Williams
56^th      "           "       "      C.P.A. Hill
Canadian Corps Lt. Gen. Sir. J.H.G. Byng.
1^st Canadian Div. Maj. Gen. A.W. Currie
2^nd       "            "        "      "      H.E. Burstall
3^rd        "            "        "      "       L.J. Lipshutt
4^th       "            "         "      "       D. Watson
Second Army  General Sir. H.C.O. Plumer
IX Corps Lieut. Gen. Hamilton-Gordon
16^th Division Maj. Gen. W.B. Hickie
25^th      "             "       "      E.G.T. Bainbridge
36^th      "             "       "      O.S.W. Nugent
X Corps Lieut. Gen. Sir. T.L.N. Moreland
23^rd Division Maj. Gen. Sir. J.M.Babington
41^st        "           "          "      S..T.B. Lawford
47^th       "           "          "      Sir. G.F. Gorringe
II Anzac Lieut. General. Sir. A.J. Godley
34^th Division Maj. Gen. CL Nicholson
N.Z.        "             "       "     Sir. A.H. Russel
※3^rd Aust. Div.  "       "     J. Monash