General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 21, 3 October - 24 November 1918 - Part 11

9/11/18

Kaiser has

abdicated &

_______________

Crown prince has

renounced all

claims

_______

Prince Max is 

running govt.

_________

9^th Corps.

1st Div have orders

not to go E. of

Bayewl Mazigheim (??)

area.

__________

4^th Div will 

be provided with

a new area

___________ 

9/11/18

We move on 11^th to

L.34.a.5.2 = Old xiii Corps H.Q.

____________________________

in Western outskirts of Le Cateau

a chateau where all Generals and A.D.C's will be together.

_______________________________

Amy is at P.29.d.3.4.

in a train.

____________________________

Divisions won't go in unless necessary. -

Corps docs not take over before 16^th. -

Bosch has cleared out rather in a hurry. -

Our cavalry is out, - we are forming a mobile

force to follow him up

All bridges blown up & craters everywhere. -

_________________________

Kaiser has abdicated & Crown Prince also.-

German envoy not yet got across, trying to get him

across by Aeroplane.

3^rd Army is on Western Outskirts of Mons.

Message received by Lt Kemsley from Major Steven

11pm 10/11/18 -

Army Troops Sunnellers still left at our

discretion

Aust. Troops O.K.

Re Armistice

Message from German SQ to Ersberger

stakes they must sign the armistice but the

attention of the Allies & America must be 

drawn to the fact that the confiscation

of supplies & transport within ccertain

areas will result in the German Government

being practically unable to feed the 

population in those areas, and, with 

the continuance of the blockade, the

matter is not any easier solved from

their point of view.

Mayor Sturm states that this is the 

only point they raise re the armistice

conditions.

(R.A.Snapy?)

 

	“A” Form.						Amy Form C. 2121
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.											No. of Message
Prefix ….. Code   m Office of Origin and Service Instructions  …………………………   …………………………			Words		Charge		This message is on a/c of   ……………. Service.   ………………………… (Signature of Franking Officer)				Recd. At ……m   Date………   From……….   By………….
TO	G.O.C.			AUST				CORPS
Sender’s Number Tick		Day of Month 4th				In reply to Number ADC17			AAA
				11/11/18

Message from 3rd Aust

Divn

Message from Marshall to ?? its Com C

Hostilities will cease on 

the whole front on 11th 

November at 11 o'clock

French time.

The Allied Troops will 

not cross until further orders the line reached

on that date and that 

time

Sigd To ch

0635

 

From
Place
Time
The above may be forwarded as now corrected ……………………………………………….. Censor		(Z) …………………………………………. Signature of addressor person authorised to telegraph in his name

* This line should be erased if not required. 

(632) – McC. & Co. Ltd., London. – W 11400/2045.  100,000  2/15.   Forms C2121/10.

12/11/18

Army Conference at Le Cateau

Armistices signed yesterday. Our terms agreed to by enemy.-

Couldn't have come at a better moment for the British Empire

Army of occupation = II & IV Armies

French Army = 4 Corps.-

Each Corps = 4 Divisions.

March of IV commences on 17^th. - on lines marked on maps.

2^nd Cavalry Division in front

6^th & 9^th Corps leading

March by insy staffs - 10 or 12 miles a day

Halt for 2 days on 19^th & 20^th

Reach Valley of Mense 22^nd & 23^rd

Two roads to each leading Corps, i.e. 2 Divisions on each road.

Difficulties on some roads.-

Foch's orders take us to German Frontier opposite St Vith

area between Merise & frontier is difficult - billets scarce. 

4th & Austr. - may march or may go by rail.

Valenciennes - Mons - Charlerois - ^ Namin railway

to the Belgian frontier

Transportation thinks will open to Charlerois by 25 or 26.

We Army will feed leading Corps as far as the Mense - by giving 

them double echelon of lorries - using an intermediate

dump. - 

Details of March - peace conditions - comfort of men.

March discipline - both Units and individuals.

Through a friendly country - inconc?ence to civil

population

strengthen police - both regimentally and divisionally.

staffing to be checked.

When we cross frontier - perhaps more difficulty.-

Use Brigade groups - but Artillery in one group - in rear 

of each Division

Corps artillery in rear of corps - under A.G.H.A.

No block to supply columns at night. 

After we start we can recomm? our roads & billets - 

cavalry will help us.

Horse transport delays - due to overloading transport wagons x

Battalion messes - extra transport for them.

Avoid irritating restrictions - use bands freely.

Battalion may carry their colors.

Medically examine units, & leave behind men who 

can't march.

There will be no further reinforcements - Leave goes on 

as usual; - but difficulties of getting leave people

back

No replacements of horses without much delay.

Ordinary echel? go full - trench mortars go - also 

pontoons

Communications - none - except mobile - use

aeroplanes by having landing grounds.

We can get blanket lorries.

We march in the southern zone

Corps Schools will be closed; all schools shut down. 

__________________

Signal Communication

Forward Liaison

Bringing towards II & V

B??" & Army (diagram) white

M.G.G.S.

Armistice Terms. -

Evacuation 15 days.

Reads Armistice Terms.

3rd Aust to XVII Corps. 

Cameras may be taken

Censorship now relaxed

Take tin hat, and box respirators

 

 

Conference at Perome.

13/11/18

Office Kit to be carried

forward.

___________________

1. Small folding table

2. Pigeon hole box - closed & locked - & contents

3. Iron stationery box, & contents

4. One long table with 2 Trestles

5. Oil cloth table cover

6. 4 wooden trays.                                     (car)

7. Leather dispatch case                          (car)

8. Waste paper basket

9. Blanket & cushions, - (on chair)

10. Current maps & walk papers 

11. Table Blotting pad

 

No other tables

No chairs

13/11/18

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

After more than four years of war, the enemy has been forced to ask for an

armistice and has accepted the terms dictated by the Allies. Hostilities have been 

suspended and we may look forward to the early conclusion of a just an honourable peace. 

At the moment of the definite triumph of those principles of liberty and right for

which we entered the war, I desire to thank all ranks of all services of the British

Armies under my command for the noble share they have taken in bringing about this

great and glorious result. 

My thanks are due to the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the

fighting forces (including the R.A.F.) who have served under my command in the 

prolonged struggle which has worn down and broken the strength of our opponents. 

Winter and summer the fierce strain has never ceased, has never for a moment been

relaxed. Long and trying periods of trench fighting, countless raids and minor

operations have bridged the gaps between the great battles on the Somme, at Arras, 

Missines, Ypre, Cambrai, and finally the tremendous conflicts of the present year,

now crowned by victory. 

In action you have been magnificent, equal to all changes of fortune, facing all

dangers and surmounting all difficulties, your gallantry never failing, your courage

most resolute, your devotion to duty unquestioning. Out of action, your time has

been devoted, with a cheerfulness and energy undiminished by dangers and hardships

undergone, to constant training and to the effort to make yourselves still more efficient.

On such occasions your consistent good conduct and soldier-like behaviour have won 

for the British Army the esteem and lasting goodwill of the Allied peoples amongst whom you have lived. 

To the non-combatant and auxiliary services, including the many thousands of

women who by devoted work in so many capacities have assisted in the victory of our

arms, I desire to express my deep gratitude for the essential service you have

rendered.

No General has been given more loyal and whole-heated support by all ranks of the Commanders, Staffs, Departments and Services under him. No General ever yet

commanded an Army of which he had greater reason to be proud. 

By your efforts and those of the gallant armies of our Allies, the nations of the 

world have been saved from a great danger. You have fought for the sanctity of your

homes, and for the liberties of those who will come after you. Generations of free

peoples, bot of your own race and of all countries, will thank you for what you have done. 

We do not forget those who have fallen, and by their sacrifice have made our 

triumph possible. The memory of those who fought in the early battles of the war,

few indeed in number but unconquerable in spirit, and the thought of all the brave

men who have since died, live in our hearts to-day.

Our task is not yet finished, thought the end is in sight. Until such time as the 

terms of armistice have been complied with and the conclusion of peace allows us to 

return once more to our homes, I rely confidently upon you to maintain on all 

occasions the same high standard of discipline, efficiency and good conduct which has 

always distinguished British Army. 

Signed D. Haig. Flu

General Headquarters,     Commander-in-Chief,

13th November, 1918.          British Armies in France.