General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 19, 4 June - 24 June 1918, Part 12
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.
21/213
SECRET.
Headquarters, A.I.F.,
Attached Australian Corps,
22nd June, 1918.
Circ. Memo. 21/213.
1. In conformity with the system adopted for the B.E.F.
Infantry Battalions of the A.I.F. will not for the present
be maintained at a higher establishment than 900 other
ranks (vide G.H.Q. letter A.G/4176 ( 0 ) of 8th April and
O.B/1919 of 14.6.18).
2. Table A. attached shows the lower establishment drawn
up to meet the requirements of this temporary reduction.
The general organization at present existing will remain
unchanged, except that each platoon will consist of two
rifle sections and one Lewis Gun section of two guns.
3. The organization as explained in the attached memorandum
and detailed in Table A. will be put into force
in all A.I.F. Infantry Battalions forthwith.
4. Instructions will be issued very shortly with regard
to the transport of the additional Lewis Guns and ammunition.
In view of the increased number of weapons, Lewis
Gun ammunition will be reduced by about 1,000 rounds per
gun.
5. Special attention is drawn to the principles upon
which the organization of the double Lewis Gun section
has been based; (attached memorandum, para. 3).
6. The fighting strength of the Battalion will always
be based on the minimum strength laid down for rifle and
Lewis Gun Sections, and no more than the minimum.
H Duyuter Lt Col
aeg for Brig-General.
D.A.G., A.I.F.
Distribution -
Each Aust. Divn. - Copies for Bdes. & Bns.
Aust.Section, 3rd Echelon.
Admin. Headqrs., A.I.F.
H.Q., A.I.F. Depots in U.K.
Aust. Corps H.Q.
G
22 JUN Rec'd
ORGANIZATION OF THE INFANTRY BATTALION.
1. As a result of the fighting in March and the early part
of April, it became necessary arbitrarily to reduce the Battn.
from 966 other ranks to 900 other ranks. It is imperative
therefore, to revise the organization of the battalion, with
a view to laying down an establishment which will enable the
organization to be maintained on a tactically sound basis.
A reduced establishment has therefore been drawn up as
shown on the attached table A. (other ranks only) designed to
admit of battalions going into action with rifle and Lewis
gun sections complete at their minimum - that is to say, as
effective tactical units - while allowing a wide margin for
maintenance.
2. It is essential to allow a wide margin between the
maximum and the minimum of the rifle and Lewis gun sections
so as to ensure as far as possible that the normal deductions
from fighting strength can be met without reducing sections
below the minimum necessary fer tactical efficiency. The
maximum represents the War Establishment (as temporarily reduced
for the time boing). The minimum represents the actual
fighting strength at which a battalion will go into action;
the battalion should take into action that actual number of
men - no more and no less.
3. The minimum number necessary for tactical efficiency
in a rifle section is placed at one leader and six men.
The minimum number necessary for tactical efficiency in
a Lewis gun section of two guns is placed at one leader and
ten men. This latter is less than the number required to
fight the two guns separately. But the principles on which
the double Lewis gun section must be based are that the Lewis
guns must be fought in pairs if the utmost tactical /
efficiency is to be secured; that the section should be able to
ensure having one gun always in action; and that the possession
of the second gun may enable double fire power to be developed
when fleeting opportunities offer in specially favourable
circumstances.
4. In providing for the indicated increase in Lewis gun sections,
and in providing the necessary margin between the maximum
and minimum of both rifle and Lewis gun sections it is impossible
at present to maintain the existing number of rifle sections in
a platoon. It becomes necessary, therefore, to reduce the
platoon to two rifle sections and one double Lewis gun section.
5. The average number of men sick, and on brigade, divisional
and other employ, appears to amount normally to about 50 per
battalion. The average number of men absent from a battalion
at any one time at classes and courses, and, when normal leave
is open, on leave, appears to amount to about 90. Of the above
total of 140, about four-fifths may be assumed to be a drain on
the strength of the platoons.
The table shown below in para. 7 gives the re-allotment
of men left behind when the battalion goes into action. Of the
total of 100, it will be seen that 64 come from the platoons.
The total drain on the strength of the platoons may therefore
be placed at about 175 to 180.
No allowance is made for attachments to Field Companies,
which must not be permitted except as indicated in S.S.135,
Section XII, 7.i., and no allowance is made for attachments to
Light Trench Mortar Batteries, since the establishment of the
latter units is now under re-consideration.
A considerable proportion of the men left behind when the
battalion goes into action might actually be included among those
at classes and courses or on leave. In order, however, to make /
as ample provision as possible, it will be noted that the difference
in total strength between the maximum (reduced establishment)
and the minimum (strength on going into action) has been
placed at 192 other ranks.
6. The following are the principal alterations made in
battalion headquarters -
Five stretcher bearers are added, bringing the total of
Battalion headquarters up to 1 N.C.O. and 8 other ranks.
Four grooms are added (for eight mounted officers).
So long as it is necessary to keep battalions on the reduced
establishment (900 other ranks) it is considered desirable to
add one N.C.O. and 12 other ranks as personnel for the four Lewis
guns allotted to battalions as anti air-craft armament, thus
avoiding the necessity of drawing on the platoons for these men.
The principal alteration in company headquarters is the
addition of two runners; this is also designed to meet the need
for providing batmen for surplus officers.
7. The revision of the establishment necessitates a revision
of the allotment of other ranks to be left behind when the
battalion goes into action. The new allotment will therefore
be as follows -
(a) Each Battalion
C.S.M. 2
Signallers 4
Runner 1
Musketry instructor 1
Lewis gun instructor 2
Bombing instructor 1
Gas instructor 1
12. 12
(b) Each Company
Sergeant 1
Corporal 1
Lance-Corporal 1
Signaller 1
Runners 2 24
6 /
(c) Each Platoon
Rifleman (Rifle bomber) 1
Rifleman (Scout & Sniper) 1
Lewis gunners 2
4 64
Total 100
Table A.
BATTALION TEMPORARILY REDUCED TO LOWER ESTABLISHMENT.
(900 Other ranks).
Battalion H.Q.
Fighting portion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Sergeant Instructors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6(a)
A. A. Lewis Gun Section . . . . . . . . . . . . 13(b)
Administrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 152
4 Company H.Q.
Fighting portion @ 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Administrative @ 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 108
16 Platoon H.Q. @ 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
(c) (d) 308 308
32 Rifle Sections; minimum 7, maximum 11 . . . . . . . . . . . 224 352
(d)
16 Lewis gun sections; minimum 11, maximum 15 . . . . . . 176 240
708 900
Battalion H.Q. Company H.Q.
Fighting portion - Fighting portion -
Sergeant Major . . . . . . . . . . . 1 C.S.M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Orderly room clerks . . . . . . 1 Signallers . . . . . . . . . . 7
Sergeant Drummer . . . . . . 1 Stretcher bearers . . 4
Provost Sergt. & Police . . 5 Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Scout Sergt. & Corporal . . 2 Cooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Signallers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Runners . . . (e) . . . . . 4
Stretcher bearers . . . . . . . . 9 Drummers (f) . . . . . 2
Pioneers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Batmen (f) . . . . . . . . 2
M.C. Orderly . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 23.
Sergt. Cook & Cooks . . . . . . 3 Administrative -
Sanitary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 C.Q.M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Runners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Groom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Batmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Sanitary . . . . . . . . . . . 2
72 4.
Administrative -
Q.M.S. & Storemen . . . . . . . . 3
Orderly room clerks . . . . . . 2
Cooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Platoon H.Q.
M.0. Orderly . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Platoon Sergeant . . 1
Transport establishment . . 28 Runner . . . . . . . . . . . 1
C.O's Groom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Batmen (f) . . . . . . . . 1
Grooms for 8 Mtd. Officers 4 3.
Water duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Sanitary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Shoemakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Tailors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Butcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Postman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Batmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
61.
(a) 1 Musketry, 1 P & B.T., 1 Bombing, 2 Lewis guns, 1 gas.
(b) Separate provision made as a temporary measure only until
Battalions can be raised to higher establishment.
(c) When circumstances admit of raising Battalions to higher
establishment it is proposed to add a third rifle
section to each platoon, making 48 rifle sections
in all.
(d) If raised to higher establishment, with three rifle
sections and one double Lewis Gun Section per platoon,
the maximum of the rifle sections will be reduced to
10 and the maximum of the Lewis gun sections to 14.
(e) Includes batmen for surplus officers.
(f) Also act as runners.
22/6/18
5th Bde.
17 Sadler
18 Murphy
19 Beiers
20 Forbes.
Congratulate collectively
Personal
My previous associations
with Bgde - at Gallipoli
Brigade recent doings
Hangard & French
Daylight rounds
Changes in Commands
Standard & Soldierly behaviour
Public spirit -
every man pulling his weight
Rest period - hope enjoy & profit
Officers
Responsibility to Australia
Superior Officers
Troops.
22/6/18.
A&C.
for GOC.'s information.
Telephone from Col. Wynter.
He got back too late
to stop the circular
re news battalion establishments
from going out to divisions".
Gm Ross Lt Col
Ga
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