General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 21, 3 October - 24 November 1918 - Part 1

3 Oct/1918
Adminaust
London
Inform Prime Minister Second Division
today captured Beaurevoir defences on a
frontage of over 6000 yards, taking over
1000 prisoners, several guns and xxxxxx numerous 
machine guns, over 800 enemy dead
counted aaa our total casualties about 700
aaa All divisions will be resting by sixth 
instant. - aaa General Monash  
 

"A" Form
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.
No. of Message......
[*Copy*]
TO{ ADMINAUST LONDON
Sender's Number
AB
Day of Month.
3rd/10/18
In reply to Number.
AAA
Inform Prime Minister Second Division
today captured BEAUREVOIR defences on a
frontage of over six thousand yards
taking over one thousand prisoners
several guns and numerous machine guns
over eight hundred enemy dead counted AAA
Our total casualties about seven hundred
AAA All divisions will be resting by
sixth instant AAA GENERAL MONASH
From AUSTRALIAN CORPS.
(Z)
(sgd). H.O. Townsend
Capt. 

Re. A.P.M.
IST ANZAC CORPS.
B.E.F., FRANCE.
Oct 4/18 191
G.OC
I think it important that the officers
selected to replace Lt. Col Smith as A.P.M
should be a picked man. The duties are
 very responsible, and will, in my opinion become
still more so when demobilisation commences.
I would suggest that a specially selected
Battalion Commander with an established
reputation should be selected. As the 1^st and 4^th 
Aust Divs are likely to be out of the line for
a long period, one of their C.O.S., a man of the [[Sla??]]
of Col. Wilden - Neligan might be given the post
2/10/18 R.a.e.
 

AUSTRALIAN CORPS.
Wounded admitted to Field Ambulances,--OPERATIONS.

Alphonsus a Court
Major
for Colonel
D.D.M.S. Australian Corps
Headquarters.
4-10-18
Copies to;- A.C.C.
B.G. G.S.
A.
Inf. Bureau.
[*JM
4/10/18 *]

AUSTRALIAN CORPS.
Wounded admitted to Field Ambulances,--OPERATIONS.

Alphonsus a Court
Major
for Colonel
D.D.M.S. Australian Corps
Headquarters.
4-10-18 //
Copies to; - A.C.C.
B.G. G.S.
A.
Inf. Bureau.
[*JM
4/10/18*]

AUSTRALIAN CORPS.
Wounded admitted to Field Ambulances,--OPERATIONS.

[[?]]
Colonel
D.D.M.S. Australian Corps
Headquarters.
4-10-18
Replies to:- A.C.C.
B.G. G.S.
A.
Inf. Bureau.
JM
 

(COPY TO GENERAL BLAMEY)
AUSTRALLAN CORPS
Corps Headquarters,
4th October, 1918.
Maj. Gen. T. W. GLASGOW, CB, CMG, DSO.,
Commanding 1st Aust. Division.
Maj. Gen. C. ROSENTHAL, CB, CMG, DSO.,
Commanding 2nd Aust. Division.
Maj. Gen. J. GELLIBRAND, CB, DSO.,
Commanding 3rd Aust. Division.
Maj. Gen. E. G. SINCLAIR-MACLAGLAAN, CB, DSO.,
Commanding 4th Aust. Division.
Maj. Gen. Sir J. J. TALBOT HOBBS, KCB, VD.,
Commanding 5th Aust. Division.
The whole 5 Divisions of the Corps will be relieved
from the Line in the very near future, and will be concentrated
in 5 contiguous areas near the coast.- Although there is at
present no definite indication that, this arrangement is the
beginning of a rest for the whole of the Corps throughout the
winter months, there is good reason for believing that, if the
Corps is again employed before the close of the campaigning season,
this employment will be confined to one, or, at most, two Divisions
at a time, and then only for comparatively short periods.- Under
these circumstances, at least 3, and possibly 4 Divisions, will be
assured long periods of rest from duty in the Line, during which
Divisional Commanders will be enabled to take in hand, on a
comprehensive scale, questions of reorganization and training. -
It should be the first concern of Divisional Commanders
to re-create a high standard of discipline and soldierly bearing,
giving the utmost attention to small matters such as clothing,
equipment, turn-out, saluting and deportment.- In this,
ceremonial drill plays a not unimportant part and it will be a good thing
occasionally to have a formal review of a complete Brigade Group
(less Artillery), if not of the Division as a whole.-
All matters of reorganization must be taken in hand at
once.- Problems arising from the depletion of our strengths
through the recent battle wastage and through the withdrawal of
men on furlough to AUSTRALIA, must be solved at once, and the
Battalions definitely reorganized on lines which will permit them
to absorb the steady recruitment from the Depots which may from
/now. . .
 

 - 2 -
now on be expected to ensue.- I am opposed to the breaking up of
cadres and prefer that the 4-company organization should be maintained
throughout, even though some Companies may, for the time being, be
able to furnish only two or three weak Platoons. -
Questions of the appointment and posting of officers, and of
the selection and appointment and promotion of non-commissioned officers
should be taken in hand early, so as to stabilise the organization of
Platoons and Companies.- All Battalion and Brigade Staffs should be
carefully overhauled with a view to consolidated recommendations as to
any moves or changes desired.- Suitable regimental officers should be
selected and earmarked for future absorption as Staff Trainees. -
In regard to Training,- this should be progressive, care
being taken that secure foundations are laid before advanced training
is undertaken.- Classes (by Brigade or Battalion) for n.c.o's or
aspirant n.c.o's, should be formed with a view to teaching command and
responsibility as well as capacity to instruct.- Lectures should be
arranged for officers, particularly in Map Reading, Message Writing,
and methods of Training.- Brigade Commanders should lecture to
junior officers on lines which will develop their sense of responsibility
both to the men and to their superiors.-
Special attention should be given to Arms Drill, Care of Arms,
and Musketry, and the personnel capable of handling Lewis Guns and
Rifle Grenades should be largely increased. -
In the later stages of the Training, much attention should be
given to Open Warfare Training and, for this, Platoon exercises should
form a basis so as to teach Platoons to work together intelligently,
and the Platoon Commander and his Sergeant to skilfully combine the use
of the various weapons at their disposal.- These Platoon exercises
should lead, by stages, to Battalion exercises in Semi-Open or Open
Warfare, so that Signal Communications can be exercised and tested in
the field on a full scale. -
As regards larger Open Warfare exercises, it will probably
not be possible, with the Training Areas available, to achieve more
than skeleton exercises, either by Brigades or by the Division as a
whole.- These exercises should be conceived on lines which will
enable all Commanders, Staffs, and the whole of the Signal service to
be turned out and be taught to work together in Reconnaissance, the
rapid making of Dispositions, the dealing with unexpected situations,
reading of maps and study of country, problems of time and space, flow
of information, and the exploitation of all available means of communication..
/It . . .
 

It remains to be seen whether the Areas allotted to
Divisions will permit of programmes of Training on the above
lines being carried out in their entirety; but I look to
Divisional Commanders to organize the Training on as comprehensive
lines as possible, so that we may have every guarantee
that the fighting efficiency of the Corps shall be in no way
impaired as the result of a long period of rest from line duty.
As many senior officers are likely to be given the
opportunity of benefitting by extended leave during the winter,
Divisional Commanders should ensure that there is a complete
continuity of policy and that there will be no interruption to
the realization of any Commander's policy owing to his temporary
absence on leave.
Lieut.-General,
Commanding Australian Corps.
 

22.8.19.
CASUALTIES SUSTAINED BY AUSTRALIAN CORPS DURING PERIOD 1.6.18 TO 5.10.18.

[*Omitting gas & accidental
above works out, for period
47 per Div. per day.
Now get it subdivided - from Aug 8 to Oct 5.*]