General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 22, 2 January - 1 February 1919- Part 10

RD
1
27-1-9
Draft
Draft for General Instructions
1. The following arrangements regarding Bands, Bandsmen and
Band Instruments are promulgated in order that, during Demoblization,
the Band Resources of the A.I.F. may be xxx ^utilized to the best advantage, 
and a large amount of valuable band property may be saved
from dispersion and loss.-
2. It is desired not to interfere with the freedom of action of those units
who possess Bands, and who ^may find themselves able to maintain them
to the last, with th adequate personnel, efficient players and instruments.
Such bands will not be subject to their, ^following instructions, but will be
repatriated, as complete bands, and as part of an Embarkation
Quota, as and when the Divisional Group Commander may decide,
provided that not more than one organized band will accompany
each any Embarkation Quota.
3. Individual bandsmen will not, under these instructions, forgo the
right to claim, for satisfactory reasons, early repatriation, discharge
or other demobilization benefits, nor the right to repatriation in
due order according to their date categorized places on the Repatriation Procedures Rolls unless such bandsmen
volunteer to remain as members of with their Unit Bands, for repatriations
as ^members of complete Bands, when their turn comes. -
4. As it is considered unlikely improbable that ^owing to wastage from any all courses more than a small number of existing
Bands can ^much longer be maintained intact and in an efficient condition,
it is suggested that each Divisional Group should, forthwith, out of its
own Bank resources ^(giving preference to later date Category Bandsmen) organize the following:-
One Divisional Band of 28 players (for Divisional troops)
Three Brigade Bands, each of 28 players. -
It would facilitate matters if such Bands were equipped as far as possible
with privately owned instruments; - leaving instruments which are gifts
or mess property & the like, to be dealt with as hereunder.-
5. All surplus Band resources, comprising players, instruments and
music, - not required for the purposes of para.4 ^and not maintained as complete Unit bank as per para 2
should be dispatched 

^as soon as possible) to A.I.F. Depôts in U.K., there to be ^added to by players collected in England & the whole reorganized & re-equipped into
a number of smaller bands - territorially grouped - ^and trbe placed, as
bands, upon the troopships. -
6. As regards all such Surplus Bandsmen & Instruments a register will
be prepared by this Department, upon data to be furnished by the Units
in the field, & in England (through Divisional & Depôt Headquarters 
7. A senior Bandmaster will be appointed ^by this Department for duty at the A.I.F.
depôts in U.K to ^collect & consolidate such surplus band resources & to carry out the re-organisations referred to in para 5.
8. All Bandsmen sent to England as surplus will be sent with a Draft,
not with a Quota, and will have the word, "Bandsman" endorsed
upon their Movement Cards, in addition to all other entries.-
8. All surplus instruments will be sent to England will either be sut in
charge of these surplus bandsmen, or ^else carefully xxxxx packed & properly marked, to
this head office of this Department. - 
9. The following particulars will be furnished ^through the usual channels to this Department ^by each Unit accordingly:-
(a) In respect of each surplus Bandsman:-
N^o. rank, name, Date of enlistment
What instrument playing at present
Australian port of destination
(b) In respect of each surplus instrument:-
Instrument, Maker, Number
Class. - Plated or Brass
Case or without
Approx. date purchased
Ownership - whether private owned, or gift, xx mess or
other trust property. -
How toren ^& when forwarded to England.-
 

RD Memo. Draft 27-1-19
Telegram to Corps, & then reproduce in
General Instructions.-
Send copies to [[Sala?]]
Havre
Demob. Liaision
& Divs
1.D.
2.D
3.D
In order to make  utilize to the utmost the the fullest use of such railway
facilities as can be ^ which are being provided between the Units in the
Field and  xxxxxxxxxxx Havre French ports each
Divisional Group will arrange to supplement the when despatching
its Embarkation Quota, ^ arrange to fill up ^as far as possible the spare capacity
of the railway train with members of Drafts ^ comprising the
"special cases" i enumerated in General Instructions) 
Annexure A para 2, and elsewhere.-
In making up such drafts, in the event of their
numbers available for despatch ^at anytime being in excess of
the space available on the trains, preference will be
given to all personnel ^(other than Embarkation Quotas) specially xxxxxx requisitioned
for by this Department to be despatched to England. 

Draft   27-1-19
Hughes
Prime Minister of Australia
Australian
Reference Deanes letter of twenty fourth attaching Cable from
Troops Nestor ton Colombo and your telegram of yesterday
repeating telegrams from Argyllshire xxx Somali beg submit
following in
one Above three ships left England early December before this
Departure you had dealt with questions of disembarkation
leave and ration allowance
regulations
two by legislation regulations upon these subjects were not published here
until January five having been based upon instructions
received from Government see my General Instructions Number Six
three Evidently therefore troops now reaching Colombo ignorant
of xxx liberal provisions already made therein
four These regulations w more liberal my regarding leave but
not quite ao leberet as syanes rtion allownc than wate
xxxxxxxxxxxx  requests now made from
five Colombo but not quite so liberal i regarding have rations.
five these regulations have been widely promulgated ^France & England ad
have met with no dissent or objection
six Matter in in any case one exclusively for Australian end
who have ^ upon representations made from here already twice reversed tnatio and increased xxxxx the promised leave and allowances
seven I am therefore precluded from varying Governments deliberate
decision except under your authority
eight. Whole question of War Gratuity is bound up in this matter
Government having to his declined consider same.-
nine Under circumstances I recommend no further action. 

27/1/19
Notes on Conference held 27-1-19.regarding Repatriation of
A.I.F. in EGYPT.
Present:-
Director General.
Director Deputy General.
Heads of all Branches.
Lieut. Col: Newton. Egypt.Liaison.
The Director General opened the Conference, and inquired
whether Lieut. Colonel Newton, had made himself acquainted with the
work of the various Branches. Lieut. Colonel Newton, said that
he had, and that he intended to continue so doing, leave for Egypt
probably being the end of the present week.
D.D.G.said that each Branch had furnished to Col: Newton,
a statement shewing constitution, and outlining the matter dealt with
by the Branch.
In the case of 2D., this statement shews insufficient detail
of the method of inspecting Troopships. The acting head of the
Branch was instructed to see that a statement on this point was
prepared, and handed to Colonel Newton.
D.D.G. stated that he had had no written reply from the
Ministry of Shipping, regarding transport of Troops from Egypt, or
the transport of leave personnel to England, that he had spoken to
the representative, of the Ministry of Shipping, and had been
informed as follows :-
(a) The Ministry of Shipping hoped that tonnage would be
available in February to transport approximately - 3.000
Australian and New Zealand Troops, and that similar
arrangements would probably be available in March.
No guarantee could be given as regards April : it would
depend on the number of Meat ships required between Australia
and Egypt, for the Armies then in Egypt.
(b) As to leave, the Ministry of Shipping stated that the
matter has already been referred to War Office for consideration
and that Shipping was unlikely to be available for this
purpose, as returning Liners would be required for the
repatriation of Troops from the Eastern Theatres of War.
(c) The representative of the Ministry of Shipping, also
stated that it would be very difficult to secure Berths in
passenger ships, as these would probably be entirely filled
by India, and Egypt passenger Trade.
The Director General asked whether suitable Camp accomodation
existed at Suez, for the Troops awaiting shipment at that Port, -
Colonel Newton.stated that suitable accomodation was available at
Suez. It was agreed that two Ship loads, or a total of 2.000 men
would be required to be accomodated.
D.D.G. mentioned 80% rule.
Major Plant. was instructed to give full details of this to
Colonel Newton.
Director General stated that Colonel Newton should secure a
quantity of all General Instructions, Circulars, etc, issued by this
department before his departure.
Director General laid down that A.I.F. Form 536. (Medical
Instruction Report) should apply to Troops in Egypt.
(Completion page 2)
 

(2)
It was arranged that Colonel Newton should cable to Egypt for the
actual strength of A.I.F. in that country, as at present, the various
statements regarding strength - did not agree.
Lieut. Col: Evans (Finance) stated that he would send a
representative to Egypt, as soon as Officer was available. Meanwhile,
he said that the Chief Paymaster in Egypt, could cope with the work
satisfactorily. The reason for sending another man to Egypt was stated
by Colonel Evans to be on account of the per Capita, which required
careful adjustment.
Director General stated that he would delegate his present
financial powers regarding Repatriation and Demobilisation to G.O.C.
A.I.F. Egypt.
Colonel Evans said that he thought this would be desirable to
arrange to draw up if necessary, delegation to Colonel Fulton.
Brig: General Coxen (Ordnance) stated that he was sending
Captain Down to Egypt as Ordnance representative as soon as he was 
ready. Captain Down would be provided with full instructions
regarding Ordnance matters in connection with Demobilization.
Col: Newton asked the cost of the passage for Wives and
Dependents from Egypt to Australia. 2D (Major Plant) agreed to
ascertain and inform Colonel Newton.
D.D.G. asked how many Wives of Officers, and other ranks of the
A.I.F. were at present in Egypt.  Lieut. Col: Newton could not give
this information, but said that he would inquire.
Director General stated that in all matters appertaining to
Demobilization, this Department would gladly act in this country, as the
Agent or representative of A.I.F. Egypt, obtaining for them, all necessary
Information on all points.
The Director General then discussed the matter of leave from
Egypt to England, and it was agreed that the matter should not be
allowed to rest, but that a further letter should be written the War
Office, asking for the necessary shipping accomodation.
The Director General stated that he would draft a cable to
Egypt, pointing out the difficulties, but assuring Egypt that the matter
was still being pressed by this Department.
The Conference then closed.
CHPoon
Brig: General.
Deputy Director General.
28. 1. 19.
 

RD
Draft
28/1/19
2.D. Please let me have before 12 noon or Wednesday Jany 29
(in time to study before weekly conference, with G.O.C. Depôts)
a brief statement of the ships definitely assured for February
shewing dates, & approx. capacities of each.
LtGen
&c &c 

RD.
28/1/19
Draft
For General Instructions :-
With & further reference to General Instructions No 7
Annexure A para 12 (b) difficulty is foreseen in some Formations
in retaining to service with the later Quotas to be demobilized, an adequate
proportion of officers.- This difficulty arises ^partly from the fact that
officers are applying ^for and receiving special demoblization benefits to an
extent out of proportion xxxx to their numbers relative to the number of
other ranks; - and partly from the withdrawal of officers for Demobilizations
duty. -
As it is imperative that, in the interests of discipline during the
voyage home, a proper ^unanimous complement of officers should accompany every
Quota, up to the last, the special attention of Divisional Group Commanders 
must be directed to the retention, with their Units, until such time
as they can be released, of a sufficient number of officers.
The minimum number of officer reported as the ^absolute minimum essential for
disciplinary control is one ^Major or Captain and four Lieutenants per 200 men
other ranks. - If the available supply of officers in any formation Unit is in
danger of falling below this minimum standard, owing to excessive
withdrawals detachments for education, other non-military employment, early repatriation
& the like, the Commanders of Divisional Groups must mark the
^remaining available offices as 'military indispensible & ^must withhold their concurrence
from such detachments, - they must also take any other steps, which will ensure the retention of sufficient officers.
All officers must be given to understand that their duties in connection
with these troops are paramount, and that they mush be prepared on that
of necessary
account, ^if necessary to forego personal privileges to which they would otherwise be
entitled. - 

RD
30/1/19
Austr. Base Depôt Havre
Replying your T244 of 23d aaa
Lieutenant S.H. Skipper of Adelaide
Barrister leaves here Monday February
third reporting to you as lecturer to
incoming Quotas. aaa Monash
Demobaust.
 

RD
30/1/19
Aust. Corps
Approval given for Third Division Artillery
to form part of Corps Group for Demobilization
purposes aaa Addssd Aust. Corps
repeated A.I.F. Demobaust Liaison G.H.Q.
Demobaust.