General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 21, 25 November - 31 December 1918 - Part 13

(b) Employment on full, or partial, salary or wages, in all classes
of Commerce and Industries (including Land pursuits)
(c) Studentship at Schools, Universities, Technical and Agricultural
Colleges and Laboratories, in all grades from beginners to
post-graduate courses. -
8. The numbers of soldiers which can be withdrawn ^from Units of the A.I.F. will be governed only by
the situations at the considerations if any at the time, on the one hand of the requirements of the military
situation, and on the other hand of the openings which can be provided by this Department. - 
9. Inasmuch as openings for the employment of Australian soldiers will
depend to a large extent upon the good will of employers and industrial
organizations in the United Kingdom, it is important that the soldiers
selected for this purpose should be of good character and likely to create
a favorable impression. Commanding officers must therefore, especially
in the early initial stages, exercise care in the selection of men to be recommended
for ^this employment. 
10. As the repatriation of 1915 men is now in progress, the opportunities
now offered will be applicable more particularly to men of later enlistment
than 1915; but any 1915 soldier who is desirous of delaying his
return to Australia for the sake of future benefits to be gained under
this scheme is not to be excluded from the field of selection. 
11. In some classes of studentship and training it will be necessary

for the applicant, in his own interests, to undertake bind himself

to a definite term of training ^in order to complete a course not ^but in any case exceeding 9 months. As no soldier

will is to be deprived, without his own consent, of his right to repatriation in his

due order, according to his place on the Repatriation Precedence Rolls,

every soldier  applicant for employment of this nature must state, in

his application his willingness or otherwise to forego  forfeit his place for

a stated term period ^the length of which he must  should indicate.-

12. Every applicant will be given the opportunity of applying for two

different forms of employment, in his own order of preference, so

that he may be selected for his second choice, if ^in case there ^should prove to be

no opening in his first choice. - 

13 The financial terms which will be applicable are as follows:- 

(a) Every man to be entitled to retain for himself all salary, wages
or other earnings which he is able to command, and to receive,

in addition, the full military pay of his rank.

(b) Where such earnings do not amount to a 'Minimum Subsistence',
he will receive, over and above his military pay

such amount as will, together with his earnings, make up
such 'Minimum Subsistence'.
(c) The present rate of Subsistence ^Allowance in England is ^based on 4/- per diem ^for a private. This
^rate will be treated for the purposes of this Instruction as the minimum subsistence" &

will_x in no case, be reduced; but the Director General is empowered 
to increase same in individual cases, where the

circumstances seem to him to justify an increase.
(d) Working clothes, and ^necessary tools of trade will be provided for the soldier
free of charge, he being responsible for their return to Ordnance
at termination of his employment, or to be debited with the
cost of same. xx
(e) Scholarships gained to remain the property of the student.
(f) Payment of College or University fees may be approved, in
suitable cases, by the Director-General, upon the recommendation
of the Director of Education.

14. Men who from any cause, other than their own default, fall out of employment 
will receive ^full subsistence as above for 14 days to enable them to

such fresh employment ^to be found. - After that term, they must report to a Depôt Camp

for quarters and rations, and such subsistence ^allowance will cease, until fresh

'employment' is found. - 

15. The whole of the benefits of this Scheme ^are conditional upon the satisfactory conduct
and diligence of the soldier. - ^and failing this may be withdrawn, at any time,

xx at the ^discretion of the Director-General;x and

the soldier being returned to a depot camp, or to his Unit, to resume

military training. -

16.  Applications ^for non-military employment will be made upon A.I.F. Form N^o annexed

hereto, which will be issued in bulk to all Units of the A.I.F.

Where soldiers have already previously applied by letter, they

should renew their application upon this form, giving the

additional particulars called for. - The Education Officers of

Units, where available, should be referred to for advice, both on

the method of filling up the Form, and upon the exercise of the

various options offered to the soldier. - The Form, when completed

should will be forwarded ,through the usual A.I.F. channels,  ^stat

to this Department.

21/12/18

Agenda Lists
Staff Agenda

21/12/18
Bournemouth 24 to 26/12/18
Worn and Carried
Plain Clothes, overcoat, stick, hat.
coupons, Cash, warm gloves.
Woolen Comforter, ring.

 Leather Holdall
Pyjamas
Bedsocks
Electric Torch
Matches supply
Slippers
Razor, soap & brush
Toothbrush & past
Manicure Kit & Glucol.
Selection of Toilet & Meds. 
Spare Hankies
Hairbrushes
Clothes brush
Tob. supply
Cigarette supply
Matches supply
Spare pipe
Children's presents
Coat of Arms
Military Report
Hamel Report.
Mirror
Notepaper
Rail Time Table
Petrol & rag.
Cheque book.
 

R
Original
Draft

21/12/18

Demob of  HQter  etc
 52 Victoria St
19th Dec, 1918.
To the Men of the A.I.F.,
The Australian Y.M.C.A. Overseas has asked me if I can will
give them a Christmas message for the men of the Australian
Corps in the field. At this period of unsettlement owing to
the circumstances and conditions produced by the exigencies
of the moment - the establishment of two composite divisions
of Australians for the Army of Occupation, and the scarcity of
shipping accommodation for returning troops to Australia, I
would ask you, as the fighting men of our great Commonwealth,
to exert the utmost patience under your present conditions.
Everything is being done to facilitate the departure of Australian
troops back to their homes. The splendid gallantry and endurance
you have displayed in the field has demonstrated you to be soldiers
of the very highest order and worthy of every consideration on the
part of the Authorities. This consideration you are receiving,
and until shipping accommodation is definitely secured I would ask
you to exert patience and forbearance.
-------------------------------------
My close association with them since May last in their
mighty and decisive performances is a proud memory.
At this, the first Christmas season after the cessation of
hostilities I feel that the my earnest wish for their happiness
in the coming year is not a vain one. - We must all
 now turn our thoughts homewards, while bearing patiently
the delays and difficulties which may confront our efforts
to realize quickly and hopes for a speedy return. - We cannot
all go home together, and those of us whose turn will
come later must seek to spend the time of waiting in
worthily preparing for our future life in Australia. Steps are being
taken to keep the men in during this, but the men themselves
must also help. -
 

R xx
Draft
AM Major
Melb
General Monash ^ on behalf of Australian Army Corps conveys warmest
thanks ^for Congratulations. to Lord Major Melbourne and Comforts
Fund
4304/10/69
Despatched
24/12/18
 

R
Informal Draft
30/12/18
I.D.
D.D.G. (for information)
3.D                do.
Mr Agricultural Tranining

The proposal for establishing an Agricultural Training Depôt
at Sutton Veney is approved, subject to some further detailed
information which you may be asked to furnish. -
An expenditure not exceeding £4000 is authorized. -
Pending further notification, you may now proceed commence forthwith
with the organization of the Depôt, and enter into  xxxxx repatriation
and Contracts for the purchase of the ^Plant Stock-in-trade &c.
If you will submit, immediately, draft of a Prospectus, suitable
for promulgation in 'General Instructions' as an 'Annexure', I shall
have same published. - This prospectus should contain everything
that the applicant would wish to know about the matter project, &
should instruct him how to proceed to enter upon a course. -
I am anxious that this Depôt should be got going into full
[[??]] as soon as possible up its maximum capacity of students.
Teaching ^& Administrative Staffs can be withdrawn from Units, at once, through the
agency of Branch 3.7. -
Lt Gen.
 

31/12/18
For Senator Pearce.
From Monash. - Your WQ 300. - Am in closest
daily touch with ^General Birdwood and Mr Hughes, also Shipping
authorities. - Mr Hughes has directed that all cables from
me shall decided Demobilization Department may not cable
you direct, am therefore submitting all reports to him. -
Above is a copy of Telegram to Defence sent at
my request by Adminanst on 31/12/18

31.12.18
[*G.C.M.G. = Knight Grand Cross ofthe Most Distinguished
order of St. Michael & St. George. -*]
The insignia of the Order is as follows:-
THE COLLAR of gold, formed alternately of lions
of England, of Maltese crosses in white enamel, and of the
cyphers S.M. and S.G., with, in the centre, two winged
lions, each holding a book and seven arrows.
THE BADGE is a gold seven-pointed star with V-shaped
extremities, enamelled white and edged gold, surmounted by
the Imperial Crown. In the centre, on one side is a representation
in enamel of St. Michael encountering Satan, and,
on the other, St. George on horseback fighting the dragon.
This device is surrounded by a circle of blue enamel, bearing
the motto, "Auspicium Melioris AEvi," in gold.
THE MANTLE is of Saxon Blue, lined with scarlet silk,
tied with cords of blue and scarlet silk and gold, and having
on the left side the star of the Order.
THE CHAPEAU, or Hat, is of blue satin, lined with
scarlet, and surmounted by black and white ostrich feathers.