General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 19, 23 June - 7 July 1918 - Part 12

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APPENDIX II

SUPPLIES FOR INFANTRY

Four Tanks were Detailed for this Duty.

1. LOAD PER TANK
Stores	G.C. Tank No.105	G.C. Tank No.107	G.C. Tank No.115	G.C. Tank No.123
Barbed Wire, coils	124	96	124	120
Scew Picquets, short	800	800	800	240
“             “          long	130	150	150	120
Corrugated Iron, sheets	45	80	26	52
Bombs, Stokes T.M. bomb (8 in each box)	150	150	150	150
“        Mills bombs (12 in each box)	240	-	-	-
S.A.A., rounds	10,000	10,000	10,000	10,000
Water, Drinking, galls.	100	100	126	100
2. Approximate weight of each load 12,500 lbs., total weight, 50,000 lbs., which at 40 lbs. Per man represents the loads of 1,250 men.

Map - see original document

 

APPENDIX II

SUPPLIES FOR INFANTRY

Four Tanks were Detailed for this Duty.

1. LOAD PER TANK
Stores	G.C. Tank No.105	G.C. Tank No.107	G.C. Tank No.115	G.C. Tank No.123
Barbed Wire, coils	124	96	124	120
Scew Picquets, short	800	800	800	240
“             “          long	130	150	150	120
Corrugated Iron, sheets	45	80	26	52
Bombs, Stokes T.M. bomb (8 in each box)	150	150	150	150
“        Mills bombs (12 in each box)	240	-	-	-
S.A.A., rounds	10,000	10,000	10,000	10,000
Water, Drinking, galls.	100	100	126	100
2. Approximate weight of each load 12,500 lbs., total weight, 50,000 lbs., which at 40 lbs. Per man represents the loads of 1,250 men.

Hamel Offensive
July, 1918.
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[*GOC Copy*]

SECRET.

[*STAMP

HEADQUARTERS

AUSTRALIAN CORPS

No S14742

Date*]

AUSTRALIAN CORPS.

Corps Headquarters,

4th July, 1918.

Maj.-Gen. Sir J. J. TALBOT HOBBS, KCB., VD.,

Commanding 5th Australian Division.

Maj.-Gen. E. G. SINCLAIR-MACLAGAN, C B., DSO.,

Commanding 4th Australian Division

I should like you to take into immediate consideration

the question of getting rid of the re-entrant at present existing

in our Front Line across the Valley of the SOMME.

The attached map shows in black our approximate Front 

Line, while the green line shows, approximately, a desirable

method of straightening our front, gaining ground, and disposing

of this re-entrant.

I am opposed, at the present juncture, to undertaking

any organised operation to achieve this purpose, but I am convinced

that it will be comparatively easy to do so by a process

of "nibbling" or sneaking ground.- A precedent for such a

procedure is furnished by the gradual advances achieved between

MARETT WOOD and the village of VILLE sur ANCRE with practically

no loss to us.

In view of the disorganised state of the enemy forces

South of the SOMME, it is quite probable that the ground in

/Square

 

-2-

Square P.B. could be taken, occupied by standing patrols, and

denied to any enemy, without any fighting at all,- provided we

set vigorously, and seize the opportunity before the enemy can

re-establish himself in this vicinity.

If the spur in P.11 and P.5 thus comes under our control,

it should not be a difficult matter, by a process of offensive

patrolling by night or in the early dawn, to gradually force the

enemy out of any trenches or shell-hole defences which he may be

occupying in Squares K.55.d. and K.36.- The use of  converging

machine gun fire, from the South of the SOMME as well as from the

direction of SAILLY LE SEC, and also the use of light trench

mortars, should succeed in rooting out any machine gun positions

which he may have established in this neighbourhood.- This

process, so far as concerns the ground North of the SOMME, could

be gradual one and spread over a series of successive nights.

In the present definitely known very weak condition of 

the enemy division now astride of the SOMME Valley, it is quite

safe to speculate upon the probability that it is impossible for

him to undertake anything like a determined attack down the valley

in the early future. - Consequently, there would seem to be very

little risk in slightly weakening those battalions which are holding

our ground astride of the SOMME, in order to provide the necessary

patrols and small offensive parties,which would be requisite to

/carry

 

-3-

carry out these operations on the lines indicated.

At, or near the new inter-divisional boundary, it

will be necessary for the "B" and the "C" Divisions to confer

and work in collaboration.

Sgts John Monash

Lieut.-General,

Commanding Australian Corps.

 

5/7/18

Heading
Special Order
Date

Congratulations 

by Lt. General Sr John Monash  KCBVD   

Commanding 1^st Aust Corps

I feel the greatest pleasure in promulgating to all

the troops of the Corps, and to those Arms & Services which

cooperated, the messages of Congratulations received by me. -

I wish ^also on my own behalf, to express my heartiest

appreciation and thanks to all Commanders, Staffs, and 

Troops who took part in this day's brilliant victory.- Their

fine success was due as much to the fine spirit of cooperation

which animated all concerned, as to the gallantry of the

troops. - The operation is a striking example of the success

which inevitably invariably results from careful preparations and

the coordinated action, and will sure as a model and

standard of the fighting efficiency of the Australian Corps.

On Behalf of the Artillery, Engineers & Infantry of the Corps I

desire to convey out thanks to the Royal Air Force, the Tank

Corps, and the Special Brigade R.E. for their most valuable

assistance; and especially to the United States Infantry 

whose participation ^for the first time in this battle with ^shoulder to shoulder with Australians has made

of this ^day an occasion of rare historic significance. -

Lieut. General

 

[*(Copy)*]

AUSTRALIAN CORPS

Corps Headquarters,

5th July, 1918.

My dear General,

I desire to take the opportunity of tendering to

you, as their immediate Commander, my earnest thanks for the

assistance and services of the four Companies of Infantry

who participated in yesterday's brilliant operations. -

The dash, gallantry and efficiency of these American Troops

left nothing to be desired and my Australian Soldiers speak

in the very highest terms of praise of them. - That Soldiers

of the UNITED STATES and of AUSTRALIA should have thus been

assisted the first time, in such close co-operation on

the battlefield, is an historic event of such significance 

that it will live forever in the annals of our respective

Nations.

Yours very sincerely,

(Sgd.) JOHN MONASH

Lieut.-General,

Commanding Australian Corps.

Maj.-General BELL,
Commanding 33rd American Division.