General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 21, 25 November - 31 December 1918 - Part 4

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26-11-18.

AUSTRALIAN ARMY CORPS

FAREWELL ORDER
by

Lieut.-General Sir JOHN MONASH, K.C.B., V.D.

Upon relinquishing the command of the Australian Army Corps, in

order to take up the important and difficult work of the Repatriation

and Demobilization of the Australian Imperial Force, which has been

entrusted to me by the Commonwealth Government, I desire to offer to

all ranks of the Corps a heartfelt expression of my gratitude to all,

for the splendid and loyal support which they have rendered to me

during the past six months.

It has been the period during which the Corps has attained its

highest development, as a fighting organism, of cohesion and

efficiency.- This has been brought about alike by the valour of the

troops of all arms and services as by the splendid devotion of Commanders,

Staffs, and Regimental Officers; and has resulted in the series

of brilliant victories which have contributed in so high a measure to

the overthrow and utter collapse of our principal enemy.

For the remainder of the period during which the Corps will

continue to function as a military body, held in readiness for any

emergency that may arise during the peace negotiations, I am confident

that every man will strive to do all in his power to uphold the great

renown which the Corps has so worthily won.

But, having completed our task in the main object which brought

us from our distant homeland, and having thereby safeguarded the future

of our Nation by the conquest of our most formidable enemy, we are now

faced with another and an equally important task; namely, to prepare

ourselves to resume our duties of citizenship and to assist individually 

and collectively in the Reconstruction of the Australian Nation.

Our numbers and our prestige place this opportunity in our hands and

impose upon us this great responsibility. -

I feel sure that every man in the Corps will, in this also, worthily

respond to the call of duty, and will cooperate loyally and self-sacrificingly

in the realization of all plans and projects which will

be developed to so worthy an end.

Lieut.-General,

Commanding AUSTRALIAN CORPS.

"C" FORM.

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.

26/11/18  27

JM 0920 60 Received.
From  D???
By D??
[*ARMY
-AUO26.XI.18.
TELEGRAPHS*]

Service Instructions
Rectd fm GHQ

Handed in at War Office T 1940 of fortnight

Office 0920   Received 0955

[*HEADQUARTERS
AUSTRALIAN
CORPS
709
Date. . . . AAA*]
To Genl Monash

Aust Corps
97317 Telegram from Governor

of South Australia Begins

Message from my Government

and the people of

South Australia to General 

Chauvel  Monash Begins Please convey

to troops under your

Command expression of our

profound admiration and undying

gratitude for the glorious

part they have played

in securing victory for

the allied armies thus

freeing civilization from the

greatest peril that ever

beset it ends

FROM Troopers

A.D.C

G O C
 

26-11-18.
The following ^telegram has been received:

General MONASH, Australian Corps. 97317. Telegram from

Governor of SOUTH AUSTRALIA begins Message from my Government

and the people of SOUTH AUSTRALIA to General MONASH begins. 

Please convey to troops under your command expression of our

profound admiration and undying gratitude for the glorious part

they have played in securing victory for the Allied Armies, thus

freeing civilization from the greatest peril that ever beset it.

Ends.

Troopers.

AUSTRALIAN ARMY CORPS.

FAREWELL ORDER

by

Lieut.-General Sir JOHN MONASH, K.C.B., V.D.

26TH NOVEMBER,  1918.

Upon relinquishing the command of the Australian Army Corps, in order
to take up the important and difficult work of the Repatriation and Demobilization

of the Australian Imperial Force, which has been entrusted to me by the 
Commonwealth Government, I desire to offer to all ranks of the Corps a heartfelt
expression of my gratitude to all for the splendid and loyal support which they
have rendered to me during the past six months.

It has been the period during which the Corps has attained its highest
development, as a fighting organism, of cohesion and efficiency. This has been

brought about alike by the valour of the troops of all arms and services, as by
the splendid devotion of Commanders, Staffs, and Regimental Officers; and has
resulted in the series of brilliant victories which have contributed in so high a
measure to the overthrow and utter collapse of our principal enemy.

For the remainder of the period during which the Corps will continue to
function as a military body, held in readiness for any emergency that may arise

during the peace negotiations, I am confident that every man will strive to do all
in his power to uphold the great renown which the Corps has so worthily won.

But, having completed our task in the main object which brought us from
our distant homeland, and having thereby safeguarded the future of our Nation

by the conquest of our most formidable enemy, we are now faced with another
and an equally important task, namely, to prepare ourselves to resume our duties
of citizenship and to assist individually and collectively in the reconstruction of 

the Australian Nation. Our numbers and our prestige place this opportunity in
our hands and impose upon us this great responsibility.

I feel sure that every man in the Corps will, in this also, worthily respond
to the call of duty, and will co-operate loyally and self sacrificingly in the realization
of all plans and projects which will be developed to so worthy an end.

John Monash.

Lieut.-General,

Commanding AUSTRALIAN CORPS.
 

[*RLC*]
Dated 27/11/18.

CONFERENCE ON DEMOBILISATION OF A.I.F. IN EGYPT

Present:- Director General, Deputy Director General, Heads of 5 Branches
& Lieut. Col. F. G. Newton

Notes taken by Lieut. Col. Newton:-

1. Shipping Movements etc.,

(a) D.D.G. stated Ministry of Shipping can only supply shipping
for February & March, at 3,000 per month for Australia and 
New Zealand combined, applying to War Office for shipping
after that, for separate A I.F. allotment.

(b) D.D.G. informed no shipping can be provided to bring A.I.F., 
to England from Egypt for leave, as all Mesopotamia and
E.E.F. personnel to be returned before hot weather. 
D.G. pointed out that only alternative would be to take for this 

purpose, shipping required for repatriating
A.I.F., but that he will make further endeavour to secure

some space.

Asked that troops may be informed of exact situation in
this matter and in all similar matters.

(c) Ships are to be inspected and passed in Egypt, but a
preliminary inspection will be made here, of

ships proceeding from here, to take up their

compliment in Egypt.

(d) D.G. considered concentration camp necessary

Suez large enough to hold two quotas. He 

assumed that each quota would be there some

little time before embarkation.

(e) D.G. laid stress on getting efficient staff for 

 ships.

(See Gen. Monash's letter to O/C Ships.)

2. Administration

(a) All G.I's should be promulgated so that all troops may
know what is being done for them, especially on embarkation
D.G. will cable Egypt present position in regard to leave.

(b) Reference G.I. 11, para. 46., Inform D.D.M.S. that D.M.S. 
fully approved of the board proceedings which should apply
equally to Egypt.

(c) D.G. asks for cable of exact strength of A.I.F. in Egypt
and that he may be kept posted in all details of Demobilisation
in Egypt.

3. Pay

Director 5 D. stated that he was in close liaison  with the Pay
Dept. in Egypt, and is sending officer out in about 3 weeks to
finalise outstanding claims under Capitulation on agreements.

[*CF 29/1*]
 

CONFERENCE ON DEMOBILISATION OF A.I.F. IN EGYPT. Contd. 1.

4. Ordnance.

Director 1 D is arranging for Officer to go to Egypt to

supervise Ordnance Dept. there.

5. Records.

O/C Records Section stated he is in close liaison with O/C
Record Section in Egypt, and anticipated no difficulties.

6. D.G. asked Pay to draft order delegating authority to the

Assistant D.G. Egypt, in matters affecting  advances, pay etc.,

D.G., stated he would accept responsibility for similar
concessions to wives and dependents of soldiers from Egypt,
as granted to those from England.

D.G. asked 2 D to supply further particulars information
omitted from minute, particularly in regard to inspection
of Shipping.

R. Newton LT.Col.

29/1/19.

[*27/11/18*]

STATEMENT OF SERVICE OF CAPTAIN PAUL WILLIAM SIMONSON

(46TH BATTALION) ATTACHED AUSTRALIAN CORPS.

8-9-15   Joined A.I.F.

27-9-15 Embarked from MELBOURNE with 4th Reinforcements to 

              22nd Battalion, holding rank of sergeant.

28-10-15 Disembarked SUEZ.

8-1-16   Taken on strength of 22nd Battalion forrom Reinforcements, 
              relinquishing temporary rank.

15-1-16  Transferred to 14th Battalion.

15-1-16  Promoted Sergeant to complete establishment.

1-2-16   Appointed 2nd Lieutenant. A.I.F. List 21.

3-3-16  Transferred to 46th Battalion on reorganisation of A.I.F.

20-8-16  Appointed 1st Lieutenant. A.I.F. List 81.

22-11-16  Congratulated by Divisional Commander on having obtained
                especially good reports at Course, 2nd Army Central
                School (From 16-10-16 till 11-11-16). R.O.215.4 Div.

1-12-16  Promoted Captain A.I.F. List 125

1-9-17   Seconded for duty as A.D.C. to G.O.C., 3rd Aust. Division

1-6-18   Appointed A.D.C. to G.O.C., Australian Corps (Temp.)
              from A.D.C. to G.O.C. 3rd Aust. Division.