General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 21, 3 October - 24 November 1918 - Part 13

The conditions in 014 Army June 10 - June 30 1917
were 
3 Aust. Divns             total 63   average 21
22 remaining divns.          42                   1.9

in the Brig

In July 1918 the number of absentees were

AIF      414    4.76   per   1000

UK      697      .49    "         "

Other oversea

troops  84     .46    "         "

Tabe B is a chart showing absentees _

UK (British). Australian, other overseas _

for period March-November 1918 : this may

be shown to Mr HUGHES

Keith Officer

Major

DAAL

17

11

18.

[*"A"*] COMPARISON OF COURT - MARTIAL FIGURE

JANUARY TO OCTOBER 1918.

	CONVICTIONS.
Troops from  UNITED KINGDOM. Average number of Convictions per Division.	Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	Apr.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Aug.	Sep.	Oct.
	21	22	16	13	20	19	21	21	19	15
AUSTRALIAN TROOPS. 1st Division.	38	70	82	47	98	103	94	56	74	65
2nd Division.	64	34	50	44	74	69	90	87	115	64
3rd Division.	35	26	20	18	31	37	21	45	5	12
4th Division.	32	45	59	43	91	100	86	71	98	88
5th Division.	40	33	58	33	68	55	61	30	69	74
Average No. of convictions per Australian Division.	42	42	54	37	72	73	70	58	72	61
NEW ZEALAND DIVISION.	21	10	12	8	14	23	39	34	4	25

NOTE:- The figures from January to June inclusive represent the number of men convicted. In July a different system

was started, and the numbers represent the number of charges in respect of which convictions were obtained.

[*GWC*]

18/11/18

SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY

By FIELD-MARSHAL SIR DOUGLAS HAIG

K.T., G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.I.E

Commander-in -Chief, British Armies in France.

The following telegram from the Army Council and the Commander-in-Chief's reply thereto

are published for the information of all ranks :-

16-11-18.

The Army Council desire, on the occasion of the happy termination of hostilities,

to congratulate all ranks of His Majesty's Forces in France upon the magnificent

share taken by them in the series of brilliant actions which have contributed so

powerfully to the gradual wearing down and final submission of the enemy. Since

August, 1914, the British Expeditionary Force has grown from the small but highly

efficient contingent which acquitted itself with such renown at Mons, in the battles

of the Marne and the Aisne, and at Ypres, to a great Army. For the last four

months this Army has waged on a front of many miles an unceasing battle and has

every day won new glories for its standards. Through these four chequered years

of conflict the same spirit of cheerfulness, stoicism and gallantry, which our forefathers

so constantly displayed, has again been shown in the glorious tale of daily

achievements which is the Empire's pride and rejoicing to-day. To Field-Marshal

Sir Douglas Haig, the Commander who has led to a decisive victory over a formidable

and skilful foe, the mightiest Army ever sent forth to battle from England; to all

officers from the highest to the lowest; to all the rank and file who have borne the

burden of the Campaign undaunted by discomfort, wounds, sickness or death; and

also to those whose unceasing labour behind the lines has smoothed the working of

the machine of victory, the Army Council tender their tribute of admiration and

gratitude with the hope that, under God, the mighty work which has now been

brought to a victorious conclusion on the battlefield may ensure for Great Britain and

the Empire a future of honour, prosperity and peace.

REPLY :-

Your warm messages of gratitude and congratulations will give great pleasure to

all ranks of the Forces under my command, whose noble efforts through more than

four years of war it so generously recognizes. On their behalf and mine I thank you

for your telegram, and with them I share your hope that the spirit of duty and self-sacrifice

to which the war has given birth may, to the lasting good and prosperity of

our Empire, be perpetuated in peace.

D. Haig. F.lu.

Commander-in-Chief,

British Armies in France.

General Headquarters,

18th November, 1918.

'B'

Graph - see Original Document

ABSENTEES.

BRITISH, excluding all Overseas } 

                  Dominion Forces

AUSTRALIAN

CANADIAN, N.Z. and S.A.

TOTALS

PER THOUSAND.

Mr Hughes wishes to see

General Monash at "Carfax"

29 Elsworthy Road, Hampstead,

at 11.30 a.m. on Monday 18^th.

1 Seats arranged on staff train

on Tuesday.

2 Cabin arranged for on Tuesday's
boat.

Colonel Leane re Car -

London - Nov 17th 20/18

Special - reduced Kit.

Worn or Carried	Leather Holdall	Toilet Case	Suit Case	Despatch box	Agenda
Laced boots Thick socks Spurs Underpants (thick) Cholera belt Singlet warm Shirt Khaki Collar Tie Safety pins (2) Breeches corduroy Tunic Goer Cap Handkerchief Pocket Articles Cash Movement order Keys Overcoat Gloves Stick Cane	Address Tag Socks Thin - 1 pr. Socks thick - 1 pr. Underpants thick - 1 pr. Cholera belt 1 Singlet 1 Towel Handkerchiefs 6 string Collars - stiff 2 Slacks Ties Khaki Best Tunic Spare large Meds Tobacco Cutter Petrol & Rag Tobacco Supply Cigarette Supply Cxxx Belt Boot Clean Kit Brown gloves Evening shoes Sponge	Electric Torch Spectacles Bed sox Handkerchiefs 3 Tobacco pouch Toilet outfit Medicines Hairbrushes Manicure KIt Pyjamas Cigarette Supply Slippers Pipe Cleaners Spare watch	Civilian Kit Ankle boots Best Tunic       Holdall (contd) Decorations Calendar	Visiting Cards Diary Handkerchief London note book Address book Usual note book Cheque book pin cushion       Carry Cane  Stick Macintosh    _ Leather Holdall Suitcase Toilet Case Dispatch box Old Chair 2 map boxes	Cigarette supply

[*O.C. Troops No 17/18
Crossing Channel*]
ARMY COUNCIL INSTRUCTION NO.1033 OF 1917.
War Office,
1st. July, 1917.
1033. Precautions to be taken for the preservaiton of Life at Sea.
The following orders will be enforced on all transports, freight-ships,

packet boats, etc., irrespective of the length of the voyage.
1. LIFE BELTS. LIFE BELTS are always to be worn by all ranks at sea,
except when the men are turned in, when the belt or the jacket can be

hung on berth or hammock. This rule is only to be relaxed when
outside the danger zones, in accordance with the instructions issued

by the Admiralty to the Masters of Vessels.
In view of the importance of these jackets as a preventive

against unnecessary loss of life, every care should be taken to

keep them in a serviceable condition. It must be remembered that

Troops on subsequent voyages may otherwise suffer.
2. PLACES OF PARADE. (Alarm posts or boat stations). With reference
to Paras. 1571 and 1572 King's Regulations, the places where Troops

are to fall in for Parade (alarmposts or boat stations) will be

allotted by the O.C.Troops (senior combatant officer on board) in
consultation with the Master, and the Troops will be paraded at

them before the vessel sails or immediately afterwards, i.e. before

there is a possibility of attack by submarine, etc.
The above includes the position of all necessary boat and

raft sentries, etc., also any boat parties who may be detailed to

augment and assist the crew in lowering the boats. These parties
should at once be given instructions and practice in their duties.

The point aimed at is that all should know where to go in
an emergencey, what to do, and how to do it, before the danger zone

is entered.
3. OFFICER COMMANDING TROOPS AND SHIP'S ADJUTANT. In cases in which
no officer has been detailed as O.C.Troops on board by the
embarkation or other authorities, the senior combatant officer on

board will at once assume the position of O.C.Troops and will be

responsible that the duties above laid down, as well as other

necessary duties, are carried out. He will detail an officer to

act as Ship's Adjutant where he considers such is required.
(This instruction is intended to cover cases such as

short passages in packet boats, coastal services, etc., where no

officer is detailed as O.C.Troops).
120/Gen.No/7822 (S.R.I.).

By Command of the Army Council.

R.H.Brade.
 

 

120/Gen. No./7822 (Q.M.G.2)
WAR OFFICE;

LONDON, S.W.
4th. April 1918.
Sir,

1. I am directed to inform you that the life preservers issued for the
use of troops at sea should be constantly worn except when the men
are turned in, when the belts and jackets can be hung on the hammocks.

2. From a report received from the Director of Transports, Admiralty,
which shows that a very high percentage of defective life jackets
has been found on some transports after 3 or 4 months service, it
seems clear that a lack of care in the preservation of these jackets
exists, both in Cross Channel and long distance transports.
The principle defects were:-

(a) Tapes cut off.
(b) Rotten and dirty condition.
(c) Kapok jackets cut open and portions missing.
3. Inview of the importance of these jackets as a preventative against
unnecessary loss of life, it cannot be too strongly impressed upon

all Officers Commanding Troops on board Transports the necessity for
the strickest supervision in the care of these safeguards, by frequent

and careful inspections. in the case of wilful damage the men should

be held financially responsible for their belts and such disciplinary measures should be taken as will prove an offective deterrent.

4. I am, therefore, to request that you will kindly cause instructions

on this subject to be issued to all Commanding Officers of troops
embarking in your command. They should be requested to make use of
the voyage report (T.106) for bringing to notice any remarks ir

observations they have to make in this matter, in order that the

point may be taken up, and if necessary, remedied.

I am Sir,

Your Obedient Servant,
R. STUART WORTLEY.
Director of Movements.
A.B.
 

"P VICTORIA"