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










Demobaust Liaison GHO France 20/1/19
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 [[?]] 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 McCay 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 in interim. -aaa
Monash
Demobaust
Sent
[[?]]
21/1/19
RD
Q.M.G.
G.H.Q
For Demobaust Liaison aaa Issue warning
orders for following further quotas number
[[?]] 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
[[?]] several 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
large drafts have been arriving under command junior captains
with very unsatisfactory results aaa Monash aaa Addressed
Australian Corps repeated Salaustra
Demobaust
London
Despatched
23-1-19
3 copies| Draft Cable gram 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 [[?]] 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 string 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 batting, 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 [[?]] behaviour conduct, late hours, noise, or breaches of
orders regarding ship's routine, lights &c. -, and secondly that
very 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 [[?]]
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 men 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 tothe 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 od 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 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 [[preplay?]] the high renown which
we have won in war, and zealous of the fair fame of the
Australian Imperial Force. -
Your sincerely
Lieut General
Director General of Repatriation &
Demobilization

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