General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 19, 23 June - 7 July 1918 - Part 5

29/6/18

Battalion Strengths, 11th Aust. Inf. Bde
as at 22-6-18

(based on reduced establishment of

900 other ranks)
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29/6
 

30-6-18
Mobility Night 3/4^th July   
Evening twilight lasts from 8PM till 9 PM
Movement can be observed 9 PM
Movement cannot be observe9.30 PM
Movement can be observed 3 - 3.30 AM
the following morning
Balloons

Gun observation
 

30/6/18
Conference
[Copy of Agenda sheet
[Add my notes to do.
[Relief model & map to Conference
Object 1. 8o over all - settled
still to be settled.
2. Each to know what others going to do
∴ Each Commander states his plans.
3. Try settle point finally now.
4. No alterations- only confirmations
5. Secrecy - prime necessity

(a) Losing men who will talk
(b) Clumsiness in our preparations.
 

SECRET.
HAMEL OFFENSIVE.
AGENDA.      NOTES
GENERAL & PREPARATORY.
Allocation of Troops, Arms and
Services to G.0.C., 4th Division.
Observations of Dawn Light, in
order to settle zero hour.
Precautions to preserve normal
activity prior to zero of Artillery,
Machine Guns, Smoke and Gas, Air.
Precautions to prevent unusual
movement.
Identifications required - prior
to zero day.
No inter-brigade reliefs to clash
with zero day.
Cable buries. Are any in hand or
proposed ?.
Synchronisation of Watches.     at 1 p.m. @ 7 p.m. on Y day. -
Promulgation of Zero hour.     noon, on Y day.
Measures to deceive as to frontage
under attack.
Action by 'C' Div. at K.2.
Action by 'o' Div at K.25.
Action by 'A' Div.
Artillery attack on front of 3rd
Corps.
(Darkness conditions preceding     Sunset 9 p.m. Sunrise 4.42
(zero day.                                                Moon 12.40 to 4 - low -
                                                                  last phase           
                                                                  Darkness 9.30 to 3 or 3.15. = 
 

-2-
AGENDA     NOTES.
Clearing villages and localities
likely to draw enemy Artillery
fire.
INFANTRY.
Shall new Platoon organisation
be adopted?.
Allotment of Sectors and Tasks
to Brigades.
Dispositions of 6th Brigade.
Dispositions of 4th Brigade.
Dispositions of 11th Brigade.
Infantry Tactics.
Points of departure from
billets &c.
Approach march - reconnaissance
of routes.
    do.     marking routes.
    do     rate of.
Hour for completion of assembly.
Method of assembly on Start Line
Marking assembly positions.
Infantry to have right of way
during approach march.
Equipment of assaulting troops.
Mopping-up organisation.
Use of success signals.
Linking up, on blue line.
Joint Brigade posts.
Brigade battle H.Q.
 

-3-
AGENDA     NOTES.
ARTILLERY - FIELD.
Distribution And grouping of
brigades.
Action taken/to effect registration.
Barrage start line.
Barrage rates.
Barrage lifts.
Time-table.
Barrage - density and depth.
Intermediate halt line and
duration of halt.
Use of smoke to mark halts - method
of.
Percentage of smoke to be used.
Proportion of H.E. & Shrapnel.
Protective Barrage -
where placed:
Its duration:
rate of fire.
Issue of Barrage Maps - number,
and to whom.
Employment of Medium Trench
Mortars.
Our anti-tank guns - employment
and manning.
Communications - Alternative methods,
visual.
 

-4-
AGENDA     NOTES.
ARTILLERY - HEAVY.
Action taken to effect registration.
Counter-battery work by Aust Corps.    Guns available, targets -       
-do-     by 3rd Corps.
-do-     by French Corps.
Heavy Artillery in back barrages.
Special targets for bombardment.
Employment of 12" Railway Gun.
Employment of Gas on distant
targets.
Employment of heavy trench mortars.
ARTILLERY - GENERAL.
No Artillery traffic on last night,
on Infantry routes.
Harassing of Enemy Batteries -
after battle.
TANKS.
Selection of Training Area.
Organisation of joint Infantry
and Tank Training.
Tactics to be adopted.      Who Commands?
                                                [Read German orders]

Tank disposihtions for battle.      No to be used - No in Reserve.
Tank Brigade Orders.
Marking Tank start line.
Programme for tanks to enter
battle xzone.
 

-5-
AGENDA     NOTES.
Taping approach routes to Infantry
start line.
Time for Tanks to start.
Location of Tank H.Q.
Withdrawal of Tanks.      Counterattack
MACHINE GUNS.
Total M.G. Resources.
Dispositions - mobile guns allotted
to brigades.
- Barrage guns.
- Consolidation guns.
- Left flank enfilade
barrage.
Question of use of M.G.'s in
advancing barrage.
Question of use of M.G's in
protective barrage.
Ammunition supply.
Spare Barrels.
Will our smoke tactics interfere ?
SMOKE.
4" Stokes Mortar Smoke
- wind conditions.
- emplacement.
- application.
Artillery Smoke Screens
- North of SOMME.
- to screen WARFUSSEE.
- to screen MARCELCAVE.
 

-6-
AGENDA     NOTES.
AIR FORCE.
Contact planes - number.
- signals.
- dropping ground.
Counter-attackplanes  - number.
- signals.
Pilots to carry out prior Liaison.
Use of planes to carry up S.A.A. etc.
       do              do          Signals to.
Bombing planes - targets - times.
Use of planes to drown noise of
Tank Engines.
ADMINISTRATIVE.
Medical - Corps to supplement Div
resources.
Medical - Divisional arrangements.
Dumps - Munitions - locations.
do - Engineer stores for blue line
do - Spare Lewis guns.
Arrangements to feed and supply
blue line.
Use of pack transport -resources.
Supply of S.O.S. Signals to blue
line.
Polico - P. of W. reception.
do - Light Horse escorts.
do - Battle straggler posts.
Water Supply arrangements.