General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 21, 10 September - 3 October 1918 - Part 12

-(2)-
As the men of every Battalion owe loyalty to their
Brigade next only to the loyalty which they owe to their
Battalion, it is a substantial concession to the men to do
everything possible to ensure that no man is removed from
his own Brigade.
In addition to this, it must not be forgotten that nothing
that can happen can destroy the place in history of the
Battalion, even though it may cease to exist as a separate
Unit, for the remainder of this  Campaign. Its number as a
Battalion will continue to be represented in its training
cadres in ENGLAND and will also be definitely preserved in
the reorganization after the war of the Commonwealth
Military Forces in AUSTRALIA.
Moreover, as far as possible, men will be transferred in
complete Company Units or Platoon Units, so that comradeship
will be preserved, and doubtless also, in many cases, concessions
can be made in the matter of wearing colour patches. Moreover,
efforts will be made (although this cannot be absolutely
guaranteed) to reassemble the officers and men of these

Battalions during the demobilization period, so that the
original Battalion, with its original number, may return to
AUSTRALIA as a separate unit.
The real and urgent question at the moment is to carry
on the war, with the available number of men, to the best
possible tactical advantage, and to achieve victory over the
enemy in the speediest time possible. This cannot be done
with Brigades having only four weak Battalions, as the fighting
power of four weak Battalions is, for tactical reasons, not to
be compared with the fighting power of three strong Battalions.
It is expected therefore, for the sake of the prestige

and renown of the Australian Imperial Force, that every man
affected by the present reorganization will be prepared loyally
to accept the situation and to do his best, in companionship
with the other men of his own Brigade, to continue, until the
end of the war, our glorious victories.
If, on the contrary, the men concerned were to raise
difficulties, based on sentimental grounds, while, on the one
hand, they would be powerless in any way to alter the decision
of the War Office and the A.I.F. Authorities, they would ,
on the other hand, incur, by a  refusal to  obey orders, the
danger of a scandal which would cast a deplorable slur upon
the great reputation and prestige of the Australian Corps.
This is a result which no man in the Corps would willingly
bring about.-
 

24/9/18
Braithwaite

at 8 a.m. Switch off all fire
WestNorth of Green Line
at  11 -              do WN of red line
11.30                do WN of red dotted line
117^th Regt
Re Marching up 2^nd Division
to 3^rd Div
MacLagan & Ridley
Ammunition Trains, 1 day behind
programme
[[?]] to keep clear of Estrees
Bombardment xxx to Armoured Cars
Carter to Conference.
 

[*HEADQUARTERS
AUSTRALIAN CORPS
47/204*]
SECRET
G.
Australian Corps
24th September 1918.
II American Corps.
27th American Division.
30th American Division.
Aust. Mission with II American Corps.
2nd Aust. Division.
3rd Aust. Division.
5th Aust. Division.
3rd Tank Brigade.
4th Tank Brigade.
5th Tank Brigade.
5th Cavalry Bde.
15th Wing R.A.F.
3rd Sqdn A.F.C.
G.O.C., R.A.
AQ.
CE.
D.D.M.S.
A.D. Signals.
1.-  There will be a Conference at Aust. Corps
Headquarters at 10-30 a.m. on 26th September.
The following will please attend:
II American Corps      )
27th American Div.    )        G.O's.C. & Chiefs of Staff.
30th American Div.    )
2nd Aust. Division    )
3rd Aust. Division     )           G.O's.C. & G.S.Os 1.
5th Aust. Division     )
Aust Mission with 2nd    )
American Corps                )       G.O.C. & Brigadiers General.
5th Cavalry Bde          )
3rd Tank Bde               )
4th Tank Bde              )          G.O's.C.
5th Tank Bde               )
15th Wing R.A.F.              )
3rd Sqdn A.F.C.                )    O's.C.
G.O.C., R.A. Aust. Corps.
AQ                       "
CE                        "
D.D.M.S.              "
A.D.Signals        "
2. Please ACKNOWLEDGE.
R A Casey Major
for Brigadier-General
General Staff
Australian Corps.
Copy to :A.D.C.^✓ for G.O.C.
Fourth Army.
 

325/9/18
With reference to instructions relating to the reorganization
of Certain Brigades on a 3-Battalion basis,
in view of representations which have been made, and
of the imminence of an important series of battle
operations, it has been decided to defer action
for the time being. -
The Battalions concerned must, however,
themselves be re-organized into three, or where
necessary two companies, so as to ensure
an adequate Company strength for the pending
operations. - This must be carried out as soon
as possible. -
[*Decided not to issue*]
 

25/9/18
Army Conference
25/9/18
1.  Arrangement with IX Corps (see Notes)
2.  III Corps Action on our left, on 27^th
3.  Ammn Trains 1 day behind programme.
4.  Zero Hour for 29^th
5.  Reduction of our frontages, after Battle.
Americans 25000 Infantry
We have 12000        do.
Montgomery to my Conference.
Photo to Army Commander.
 

25/9/18
Beaurevoir Offensive
Final Conference 26/9/18
Conference is, for Final Arrangements & Decisions
No Alterations after today
Preliminary Operation
Is all ready for the 27^th
Barrage Map
Mop up dug outs
Coxen - Neutralize 29.d.
Left Defensive flank - Fleceall Post
Crellin Avenue
Zero Hour - 5.30
Consolidation Machine Guns
Tanks & Tank Liaison
30^th Div. - Seize posts, under barrage, E of
Tape Line - or before.
Main Operation  Gas starts tonight.-
Phase I → Barrage - Map - ./ HALT.
When do battle troops go in
Readiness 1 hr before Zero -[4.30]
Are Heavies ready to meet Counterpreparation
Mopping up Bns - Frontage divided into sections
All Companies to have maps
16 Co Commdrs
Equipment P bombs.
Hum to speak in maps & photos
& other data
Front Line Bns - also mopping up parties
but - 2 leading Waves close to
Barrage
Machine Guns - Advancing Barrage
or Bands of Fire
Actions by III Corps on left, from Knoll
Action on right flank - within Corps boundary
 

Phase 1 (contd)
Flank Regts
North 27^th - action
don't pass green dotted before 11
Artillery for
Formation for Advance
Reserve Regt & its advance
& its reserve position.
30^th - Action
Liaison with IX Corps &
arranged programme.
Formation for advance
Artillery for - 2 Bdes.
Reserve Regt & its advance
& its reserve position
All stand fast till 11 a.m.
Making of Roads - Foott to explain
Maps.
Armoured Cars, & Whippets - where parked
Cross at 9, - or before
Routes
objectives - Ry at Busigny
& Bohain
3 Div. H.Q.
I Corps H.Q.
Get Bombardment map.
Phase II 3^rd & 5^th Aust.
Roads.
Timing start to cross at 9.
March to Green Line : - Broaden front to E.
(utmost pace) Artillery on roads
Deploy at Le Catelet
What Artillery. (mobile)
Open Battle to Red Line
Mop up dugouts
Second [[?]]ist
Tanks to arrive at Green Line by 11.
Reserve Brigades -
Outer roads
protect outer flanks
don't deploy or commit unless unavoidable.
 

Phase 2 (contd)
Allocation of Tanks & Whippets.
Tank Liaison

Action of Whippets. 8 per Div. -
Exploitation to flanks by Americans.
South Flank to IX Corps.

Tanks of IX Corps to have right of way.
Eastern flanks to get touch with Australians.
Heavy Artillery.
Timetable of Australian advance.
by grid lines. - 
H.A. Target Map.
106 [[?]] on roads
Counterbattery.
Tanks. - Training & Tapings IV Corps
appch march V Corps
Air Companys.
Air Contact - dropping ground.
Flares & Signals
Low Flying Scouts - 9 to 11, at flanks.
Cavalry. - Not to cross Start before 2 p.m.
Liaise with 8^th Aust. Inf. Bde. | before 2 p.m.
Use black or red road
Fight for objectives named, & hold

But must keep Touch with enemy
Div. H.Q. - Brancourt & Premont
Demolish Telegraph &c. - behind them.
 

Administrative
Advance Dumps.
Supply Tanks.
Medical Evacuation

Water Supply
Pack Transport

Prisoners - pooled.
Rapid interrogation, maps, &c
Final points
➀ Keep close to Barrage

➁ Mop up
➂ Rapid & ample information.