General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 22, 2 January - 1 February 1919- Part 8

21/1/19
Demobaust Liaison GHO France                   

Your W  3  18   41267 gives six trains for

eight quotas aaa Please explain aaa Most desirable for each quota

have its own train, preventing splitting up of

quotas and allowing spare space ^in every train for drafts

which are coming in increasing numbers.

aaa Monash

Demobaust

[*RD 
Drafy *]
 Demobaust Liaison G. H Q France

Your W 3 x gives Six trains

for eight quotas aaa Please explain

aaa Most desirable for each

quota have its own train

preventing splitting up of quotas

and allowing spare space in

every train for drafts which

are crossing in increasing numbers

aaa Monash

[*Despatched

20/1/19*]
Demobaust
 

21/1/19.
Salaustra
Tidworth

Request General M^cCay prepare for Conference tomorrow

estimate total effective receiving capacity all your depots on

February thirteenth assuming one that all promised ships have

sailed and two that all troops for France have gone but disregarding
all anticipated arrivals from France in interim. -aaa

Monash

Demobaust

[*Sent 

21/1/19*]

GAS
 

[*RD*]

Q.M.G.

G.H.Q

For Demobaust Liaison aaa Issue warning

orders for following further quotas number

nine from third echelon and or Corps groups

excluding medical units number ten from

first Division number eleven from second

Division timing same leave Havre respectively

February twelve fourteen seventeen acknowledge.-

aaa Monash

[*Addressed QMG GHQ

Replied Searail War Office & Salaustra

Tidworth*]        
Demobaust

Despatched 25/1/19

X
 

 RDM

Australian Corps

Pending opportunity full compliance with detailed procedure for

Embarkation Quotas as per General Instructions number seven

it is essential you send an officer not below rank senior major

to command every quota or draft exceeding five hundred such
officer accompanying personnel to final destinationx England aaa

Large drafts have been arriving under command junior captains

with very unsatisfactory results aaa Monash aaa Addressed

Australian Corps repeated Salaustra

Demobaust

London.

[*22/1/29*]

[*Despatched

23-1-19*]

3 copies        Draft Cablegram          22/1/19

RD                     File as a draft

Defence Melbourne.

Your proposal demobilization by Units or half units been exhaustively

studied by all authorities concerned and strict realization considered

impracticable undesirable reasons follow one large combing of units

by withdrawal 1914-1915 men also for education and industrial training

also for early repatriation upon your requisition and for other bonfire

reasons, also for discharge here also for demobilization duty also

necessary retention xxxx large unit cadres for care animals stores has

tended largely destroy limit entity two would involve maintenance

whole administration technical supply medical services till all fighting

services had gone three would involve demobilization men only recently

joined in priority men long service four in any case inapplicable to over 

fourty  per cent Europe personnel detached from field units wounded sick

convalescing training five necessitates invidious priority precedence of units

among themselves causing much more competition dissatisfaction than

selection by date categories which simple fair an popular six would seriously

complicate methodical shrinkage Division as whole seven would be

theoritical only because of xxxx subsequent necessity splitting up units to adapt

quotas to train camp and ship accomodation eight before receipt your

proposals Prime Minister had authorized demobilization by date enlistment

categories and full machinery for same immediately organized and

promulgated nine latter procedure actually in force since end December

any fundamental change now would cause serious dislocation delay

discontent stress on troops aaa. My method actually in operation and

working most satisfactory is to draw Embarkation Quotas each one thousand

all ranks from each of five Divisional groupings is strict repetitive rotation

each Quota comprising largest practicable contributions approximating one third of Unit residues from selected individual units of Divisional

Group such unit contributions being themselves composed of men selected

by date categories aaa As fundamental reason your proposal appears be

provision disciplinary precautions please accept assurance my plans have

carefully provided for all unit contributions to Quota being accompanied by

mens own officers N. C. os whole Quota being thoroughly organized for

train camp and ship discipline and administration aaa Consider in

any case we now committed to present method for Europe except but for Egypt

demobilization where will adopt complete Unit system better which suits their conditions

aaa any change present Europe system in highest degree undesirable

aaa General Birdwood concurs aaa Monash

Demobaust.
 

Confidential  [* Draft 23/1/19*]

54 Victoria St

London S. W. I.

26/1/19

A personal letter to Officer Commanding Transport to Australia.

As I cannot come into personal contact with every who will be

charged with the grave responsibility of commanding a ship carrying

our troops or ^war workers or their dependents back to Australia, I adopt the next

best course of writing you this letter in the hope that it will help your

to ensure a successful and satisfactory discharge of your important 
duties. -

Having myself acted on numerous occasions, on the voyage from

Australia, and in the Aegean & the Mediterranean, as O.C. Troops, I

feel that I understand the difficulties which will confront you, especially 
under present conditions when your ship's complement are

no longer animated by a common purpose and stimulus, as they

were when hurrying into a theatre of war..-

The xxxx dangers which confront you are mainly of two kinds, namely

indiscipline, and sickness. - If you can safeguard both, you

will be sure to have a successful voyage. -

Indiscipline is nearly always the result of bad or weak administration. - 
Control must be strict, but must be confined to essentials.

The rules and regulations which govern the life of troop on board ship

are designed solely to secure the greatest good to the greatest number, to

secure a maximum of comfort to all, to reduce  the work which all

have to do, and to ensure the good health which results from order

and cleanliness. - If you can get the men to understand this, half

your trouble will be solved. - But, do confine yourselves to essentials

and Be strict ^from the very start about every thing that really matters, and indulgent 

about everything else. Don't fuss the men, and don't irritate them

with unnecessary restrictions about unessential trifles.-

The inevitable discomforts of a long tropical voyage can be greatly

mitigated by wise insistence upon personal and collective cleanliness, 

upon shaving and bathing, upon Keeping mess rooms, troops

decks, washing places and latrines sweet and clean. Men take 
the cue from their environment.-

As soon as possible after you sail, assemble every officer on
 

board, and make it perfectly clear to them firstly that all

officers must set a standard of good and punctual behaviour,

avoiding roysterous behaviour conduct, late hours, noise, or breaches of
orders regarding ship's routine, lights &c. -, and secondly that

every officer, whether told off for a particular permanent or daily duty

or not, must regard himself as on duty all the time so far as

concerns the well-being and good behaviour of the men.- For example,

if you can get all the officers belonging to any given Unit on board to

hold themselves answerable and responsible, in all things, for the men of their own

unit on board you will have achieved much, and, finally, make

it clear that you look to every officer to range himself by your side &

give you his loyal support in every question or trouble that may

crop up. - The officers on board are primarily responsible to act

as leaders of the men i n all shipboard activities designed to relieve

the monotony and tedium of the voyage.-

Be very particular about your daily ship inspections, in company

preferably with the Master, or failing him the Chief Officer, and set a

high standard of order and cleanliness right from the start. -

Insist upon all duty personnel for the day, such as ^ship's staff troop deck

and mess orderlies &c, being in their places, during your rounds, to answer

for any defects and to receive your instructions on the spot.

Ensure that the inspection of meals is not perfunctory and that

both the dietary scale, the cooking and the serving of meals are

satisfactory.- Have all complaints enquired into sympathetically

and if you cannot remedy them, at least let the men realize that

the ship's staff have done their best to do so.

Don't let the crew exploit the troops. I have met cases where

ship's stewards have reaped a fine harvest by selling to the men

the very articles of food which one Government have paid for, and which the

men ought to have had issued to them. The Master will help you in this. -

Take measures, in ample time, to prevent men breaking ship

at ports of call. I am personally in favor of trusting men to

behave, if given shore leave and put upon this honor to Keep sober

and report back at times ordered. - But if you do decide to forbid

men going ashore, take all sorts of care that your preventive

measures are effective, and don't forget the Anchor chains! -

 

Do everything you can to Keep the men interested. Apart from

educational work, games and sports, get officers, who have travelled,

to give the men talks about the places and countries ^reached or passed on the

voyage. You can get a lot of information from the Admiralty Sailing

Directions, which the Master will lend you. - Get him also to make

the fullest possible use of his Wireless, so as if possible to give the

troops a daily News Bulletin. -

Finally as to sickness. - Prevention is better than cure; and

cleanliness and ventilation and healthy exercise are the best

preventives. - But if you have the misfortune to strike some

kind of epidemic, don't let it catch you unawares. - As soon

as possible after you sail, talk this over with your medical officer,

and have detailed plans ready for allocating extra space for

hospital work, for cots and ^for nursing. - Your ship has 20 per

cent spare space deliberately left for some such emergency. -

Let it be your ambition to disembark your whole ship's company in the best of health and spirits, prepared to maintain

Before the eyes of the Australian people the high renown which

we have won in war, and zealous of the fair fame of the

Australian Imperial Force. -

Yours sincerely

Lieut General

Director General of Repatriation &

Demobilization.-