General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 18, 25 May - 3 June 1918, Part 1

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION. 
Divisional Headquarters,
25th. May, 1918.
My dear General, -
Upon the question of the future relations
between the Corps and its Divisions with the D.A.G., A.I.F.,
I submit for your consideration, and that of Colonel DODDS,
the rough draft of an instruction to be issued to Divisions,
to regulate this matter.
I have put my views into this form merely in
order to facilitate consideration and discussion. -
Such an instruction would not, of course, apply
to the First Australian Division, so long as it remains detached
from the Corps. -
I understand that all medical personnel questions
are dealt with by D.M.S., A.I.F. at Horseferry Road, direct with
D.A.G. -
Correspondence which Divisions have heretofore
conducted direct with A.I.F. Depots, or with A.I.F.,H.Q. LONDON,
or with Third Echelon, would I apprehend, remain unaffected by
the change.
Attachment of Officers from outside the Corps
for Staff Training is, I think, a "G" matter, and D.A.G.,A.I.F.,
is not concerned.-
(1).

25/5/18.
(2)
There are other questions which will arise hereafter,
and which are not covered by my present proposals, such as :-
(a) Relations between A.P.M., Corps,
and C.O. Provost Corps.
(b) Relations between A.D.O.S. Corps
and A.D.O.S. A.I.F. now one
and the same official.
(c) S.M.T.O. of Corps is at present
also D.M.T.S. of A.I.F.
Yours sincerely,
General Sir W. R. Birdwood, K.C.B.,K.C.S.I., etc.
Commanding Australian Corps.

25th. May, 1918.
Draft Only.
In view of the fact that, from and after the (date) the
Department of the D.A.G., A.I.F. will no longer be closely associated
with Headquarters, Australian Corps, the following instructions are
promulgated as a guide to all concerned, in connection with correspondence,
etc., initiated by Australian Divisions (except First
Australian Division while detached from Australian Corps) :-
Category (1).
The following matters should be forwarded direct to
Corps Headquarters :-
(a) Appointments, promotions and transfers of all
Staff Officers, and of all regimental
Officers above the rank of Major - other
than Medical Officers.
(b) Appointments and seconding of Staff Trainees.
(c) Selections for Staff Courses in ENGLAND, or
for Staff Training in formations outside
of the Corps.
(d) Removal of Officers on grounds of inefficiency
or misconduct.
(e) Disciplinary questions of all kinds; - Courts
Martial.
(f) Honors and Awards.
(g) Casualties.
(h) Reorganisation of Brigades and disposal of
personnel, equipment and transport involved
therein.
Category (2).
The following should be forwarded direct to D.A.G.
A.I.F. as heretofore, viz :-
(a) Appointments, promotions and transfers of all
(1).

(2)

25/5/18.
Officers, not included in para.1 (a) above. -
(b) Selection and appointment of Candidates for
Cadetships in ENGLAND.
(c) Reduction or removal of Warrant and N.C.Os. on
the grounds of inefficiency and misconduct.
(d) Appointment of Warrant Officers Class 1.
(e) Applications for discharge from the A.I.F.
(f) Applications for leave to AUSTRALIA.
(g) All questions arising out of the application or
interpretation of A.I.F. regulations.
(h) Exercise of the powers of the G.O.C.,A.I.F. re
forfeitures and punishments and their remissions.
(i) Special notification of casualties among Senior
or Staff Officers.-
(j) Returns of Weekly effectives and of deserters
(for publication in AUSTRALIA-.
(k) Questions relating to Supply of Australian pattern
clothing, color patches, etc.
(l) Applications for the Seconding of Officers.
(m) All other matters not specifically enumerated in
Category (1) which have heretofore been referred
direct to D.A.G.,A.I.F. -

In cases of doubt as to which of the above categories any
question belongs, reference should be made to Corps Headquarters.-
In cases where the correspondence has been initiated by Corps
Headquarters, or has been passed down to Divisions or Corps Troops
(Australian Units) by Corps Headquarters, all further action should
pass through Corps Headquarters, even though the matter falls under
Category (2).-

(DRAFT)
1. Consequent upon the separation of the appointments
to command the A.I.F. and to command the Australian Corps the
following instructions are issued concerning the procedure
to be observed in the administration of the functions of the
G.O.C., A.I.F. regarding matters of A.I.F. policy, organization 

and administration.
2. The office of the D.A.G., A.I.F. will maintain a
close personal liaison with the G.O.C., Australian Corps.
3. (a)Divisions and other units serving in the Australian
Corps will forward recommendations and correspondence on
the following matters to Headquarters, Australian Corps -
[*With the exception of
those shown in attached para
list b.1. which are usually will ordinarily be
made recommended by Div. Gnl*]
(i) Appointments, promotions and transfers &c. of all
Staff Officers and all regimental officers above the
rank of Major;
(ii) Appointments, seconding, removal &c. of staff
trainees;
(iii) Removal of officers on grounds of inefficiency
or misconduct;
(iv) Organization, ^∧ establishment, disposal of personnel and other
matters affecting policy;

Final action on these matters will be taken by
the G.O.C., A.I.F. to whom the recommendations of the
G.O.C., Australian Corps will be submitted.
(b) Recommendations and correspondence concerning the
following will be submitted direct to G.O.C., [*D.A.G.*] A.I.F. by
Divisions and other units:-
(i) Appointments, promotions, transfers, seconding &c.
of all officers not included in para. (a) (i);above;
[*and Officers holding
the appts of GSO3 and
Staff Captain*]
(ii) Appointment of Warrant Officers, Class 1;
(iii) Selection and appointment of candidates for
cadetships in England;
(iv) Reduction or removal of Warrant and N.C.Os. on
the ground of inefficiency or misconduct;
(v) Applications for leave to Australia;
(vi) Applications for discharge from the A.I.F.
//

2.

(vii) Exercise of the powers of the G.O.C., A.I.F. re
forfeitures, punishments and their remissions;
(viii) All questions arising out of the application or
interpretation of A.I.F. Orders and Defence regulations;
(ix) Special notification of casualties among Commanders
and Staff Officers;
(x) weekly strength returns;
(xi) Returns of deserters for publication in Australia;
(xii) All other matters not specifically enumerated in
(a) or hereinafter provided for w hich have hitherto
been referred direct to the D.A.G., A.I.F.
(c) Divisions and other units not serving in the Australian
Corps will correspond direct with D.A.G., A.I.F. on all
matters mentioned above.
4. The following matters which do not normally come within
the functions of the G.O.C., A.I.F. will be submitted to and
dealt with by the Corps or other formation to which Australian
units belong -
(a) Disciplinary questions of all kinds, Courts martial,
Courts of Inquiry;
(b) Honours and rewards;
(c) Casualties;
(d) Leave (other than to Australia);
(e) Questions which by their nature are matters of B.E.F.
administration and/or are not connected with any special
system in force for the A.I.F. //
When by the nature of the case it is clearly desirable that
the G.O.C., A.I.F. should be informed of any matter which
comes under the ^∧ these headings the necessary action to that end will
be taken by H.Q., Aust. Corps in respect to units serving in
the corps and by Divisions or other units direct in the case of
units not serving in the Aust. Corps.   Provided that Divisions
or other units will invariably forward to the D.A.G., A.I.F.
a copy of any return submitted to the base containing particulars 
of Courts Martial held for the trial of officers.
[*No action upon
promulgation until
proceedings have been
received by J.A.G. -?*]
A copy of the consolidated daily casualty return will
be furnished to D.A.G., A.I.F. by H.Q., Aust. Corps and
direct by Divisions not serving in the Corps.
//

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5. When correspondence on any matter requiring the
final decision of the G.O.C., A.I.F. has been initiated by
Headquarters, Australian Corps, or has been xxx ^∧ passed down to
Divisions or Australian units of Corps Troops by Corps Headquarters
all further correspondence on that particular question will
pass through Corps Headquarters.
6. Transfers of "other ranks"   The following principles
will be observed -
(a) Transfers or exchanges of individuals between units
of the same arm within a Division may be approved by
Divisional Commanders.
(b) Transfers or exchanges of individuals between units of
the same arm between Divisions or other units within
the Corps may be approved by the Corps Commander.
[*narrowed*]
(c) All other transfers will be submitted to the D.A.G.,
A.I.F. for approval by the Divisions etc. concerned.
7. Relations with Australian Section, 3rd. Echelon.
(a) Australian Section, 3rd. Echelon will correspond
direct with units and Divisions on routine matters
as heretofore.
(b) On all matters of policy, including the posting of
reinforcements and disposal of personnel Australian
Section, 3rd. Echelon will communicate with the
D.A.G., A.I.F.
8. Relations with Administrative Headquarters, H.Q., A.I.F.
and H.Q., A.I.F. Depots in U.K.
(a) The channel of communication between units in the Field
and A.I.F. organizations in U.K. will be the office of xx
the D.A.G., A.I.F., except that -
(i) On minor matters concerning individuals and questions
of routine, correspondence may proceed direct with
Divisions and units as heretofore.

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(ii) Divisions may ^∧ will communicate direct with A.I.F. Depots
and vice versa concerning the details of reliefs between
units in the field and training units, the policy of
which has been settled by the G.O.C., A.I.F.
9. Relations with Officers holding special appointments in France.
The relations of the O.C., Australian Provost Corps,
France, O.C., A.A.O.C. France, and D.M.T.S., A.I.F., with the
office of the D.A.G., A.I.F. will continue as heretofore.
This of course will not affect the jurisdiction
of the Corps Commander over these officers in respect to matters
within their functions as A.P.M., Australian Corps, A.D.O.S.
Australian Corps and S.M.T.O. respectively.
10. Schools. Normally the attendance of officers and other ranks
at Schools of Instruction is not a matter which comes within
the functions of the G.O.C., A.I.F.
There are, however, certain Schools for which an
allotment is made to the A.I.F. as a whole, such as the Senior
Officers' School, Aldershot, and the Senior and Junior Staff
Courses, Cambridge.
Recommendations for attendance at these Schools
will be submitted through Headquarters, Australian Corps to
D.A.G., A.I.F. by Divisions and units serving in the Corps,
and direct by Divisions and units not so serving.
Similar action will be taken regarding any other
special Schools arranged by the office of the D.A.G., A.I.F.
When Candidates are sent to Schools in England
which have not been arranged by the D.A.G., A.I.F., a copy of the
Nominal Roll of candidates sent will be furnished to the D.A.G.,
A.I.F. by Headquarters, Australian Corps, or by the Division
or unit direct if not serving in the Australian Corps.

-5-
11. Q. matters. - Correspondence on "Q" matters of all kinds
will be submitted to Headquarters, Australian Corps by the formations and
units thereof.   When any reference to the G.O.C., A.I.F. regarding
such matters is necessary - e.g. the supply of Australian boots
and clothing, colour patches, financial adjustments for equipment
between the Imperial and the Australian Governments - the matter
will be referred to the D.A.G., A.I.F. by Headquarters, Australian
Corps.
Colonel.
D.A.G., A.I.F.