General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 22, 1 February - 10 April 1919- Part 7

& not & after than the xxxxx period of time that he has been a soldier. - If this principle of

discrimination were conceded, it would involve xxx a much closer investigation

of each man's war service; and it could not be just as forcibly urgent that the

man's who first entry into a theatre of war, or the man who first came under fire a man's first participation in battle

should give him have precedence in repatriation. -  Here take in BB

A little reflection will show that, however desirable it might be to classify

men for repatriation in accordance with the character, quality & value of their

war service, it is clearly quite impracticable to do so, when seeing that the separate

claims of some 200,000 men would have to be considered

in detail. - On the other hand,

quantity total length of war services, as distinct from quality, is a simple standard,

which can be easily measured, ascertain and applied, and which, in

then broadest sense, is the a fair criterion of quality also

A.I.F. -                                                                                                   
(BB)  AS quality or length of service is therefore the only practicable standard

If then is clear conceded it only remains to justify, the policy of measuring the quality of service from data of enlistment, instead of from date of embarkment. 

Why should that portion of a man's war service which he spent in Australia

in training or other military duty be left out of the reckoning? - It would be

just as logical to leave out the time he spent, in comparative rest, on board

ship, or in the training camps in England, or in hospital.

(AA) Which is the greater hardship? To grant to the comparatively few men who

were Kept a longer time than the average on military duty

in Australia before embarkation a longer time

than the average, the same status as everyone else, or to deny to them

altogether any recognition whatever of the services rendered in Australia? - Those

who are inclined to favor the latter policy appear to forget that in all cases except

a negligible few, such Australians service prior to embarkation was not optional & in any case meant complete

withdrawal from civil life & from home & family. - There is, in any case, no general rule which

can be applied devised which that would not operate in some few cases too liberally, and

in others two harshly. I
 

[*RD            10/3/19*]

I.D. (Col Bruche.)-
1. In order that the Department of Repatriation in Melbourne may be
Kept fully informed of all that is being done, in Europe, in the direction

of assisting members of the A.I.F. in now military employment, covering

Education, in all its activities, & Industrial training & employment, it has become urgently necessary to consider the methods

by which this can be effectively & comprehensively carried out.

2. As a first step it will be necessary to ensure that a proper Register in

Kept, by Branch I.D, in regard to every individual, containing the

fullest particulars, from which Register all kinds of information can

be extracted & compiled, for future war & reference. -

3. It is suggested that this Register should consist, primarily, of a loose

leaf portfolio∧ course of pilot files containing a printed form one for each individual, arranged

Alphabetically, so that each individual name can be speedily turned

up & the leaf referring to him extracted. - It will probably be desirable

To keep such a register in duplicate, or even triplicate. -

4. The loose leaf will take the form of a printed sheet, the compilation

of which must be fully considered, but which will contain, at least,

the following essential particulars : -

Name, Rank Regt. No, Unit, Length of Service in A.I.F.

Pre-war occupation or employment.

Nature of training non-military employment arrange by this

Department, its duration & how availed of by the recipient

of these advantages.

Bases of grants, allowances, pay, fees &c makes in each case.

General remarks as to manner in which the privileges granted

have been used to advantage, from a 'Repatriation' point of

view

5. A printed form covering above (& any other desired) information, should

be drafted & submitted for approval. -

6. One copy of each form should be retained on Departmental Register,

one copy should be posted, in advance, to the Department of Repatriation

, as soon as each individual is launched upon his training,

& one copy (completed) should be sent to Melbourne either in advance

of, or with the individual when he embarks for Australia.

/ p.t.o
 

7. The above is merely an outline proposal, and must be carefully considered

in all its bearings, before final action; & the idea requires

to be developed to cover all requirements that can be foreseen. The

ultimate objects as are to ensure: -

(a) that the Department of Repatriation is Kept fully informed,

in advanced, of what is being done here

(b) that the Department should know, as to each man, what

expenditure has already been incurred & with the purpose.

(c) that the training of the individual is fully made use of in

any subsequent activities of the Department after his 

disembarkation in Australia. -

8. Please consider whole ∧ of above subject exhaustively & submit [[concrete]]
proposals for necessary machinery & procedure. -
Lt Gen.
 

[* RD  *]                 Draft reply                     10/3/19

Replying Cable Prime Minister Department March fourth all

instructions comprehended and xxxxx will be aaa Ask Defence show

Repatriation my General Instructions already carrying xxxxx most into effect these matters aaa

Reference Australian soldiers not members A.I.F. War office has agreed pay

passages for soldiers and dependents we finding accomodation on

our transports whenever required

 

 12 MAR 1919

Prime Minister of Australia

&c &c Paris

Have now embarked thirty seventhousand

five hundred soldiers excluding dependents and

munitioners being just over one quarter of total

personnel in Europe when I began demobilization on

December first aaa No appreciable improvement in 
outlook for increased accelerated sailings ∧ rate of embarkations for next six

weeks. - aaa Monash

Demobaust
Despatched 12 noon on 10/3/19

TTB

LtCol. Boswick

to send above

JM

11/3/19 

RLtC

12 /3/19
Conference (McGlinn)
Wednesday - March 12/19

‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
Crossing of Quota  15

        "                   "       16

        "                   "        17 & 18

Recommencing flow 19 et fol

Dates of ships Sailings.

Erronous reports in House of Commons

Permanent Ship's Staffs - notifying them

Credentials.

Crossing to Weymouth by night

Horse - Medical board procedure - in field.

 

RD                                           12/3/19

A.G.D Depot

Havre.

Nothing definite received here to show whether

Quota Fifteen is just now complete at Havre. aaa

Addressed AGBD Havre, repeated Demob ^Aust Liaison

G. N. Q. aaa

Demobaust

D54668

12/3/19
 

[*R.D                                        12/3/19*]

Q.M.G;G.H.Q.

For Demobaust Liaison aaa Delay quota sixteen

at Havre so that it reaches depots England not before

March twentieth Similarly delay quotas seventeen and

eighteen to reach England not before March twenty fourth aaa Issue

warning orders for eight additional quotas commencing with

Number nineteen but arrange entrainments so that Quota

nineteen reaches England on March thirty first or after aaa

Acknowledge aaa Addressed Demobaust Liaison G.H.Q,

repeated Australian Corps, Aust Base Depot Havre. Salaustra

and Searail

Demobaust

 

[*R.D                                       13/3/19*]
Dear Mr Campbell

I have just received your letter of January 24^th

and hasten to xxx end you these few lines of acknowledgement

and thanks

I esteem if a very high honor, and one which

I warmly appreciate, to be elected on Honorary Fellow of the

R.V.I.A., and I beg you to convey to your Council & to

the whole Insitute my earnest thanks for this xxxxxx mark of

their recognition and esteem.

I enclose herewith Form VIII nomination form duly signed -

Kindly convey to all members ^of the Insitute to whom I am personally

Known my kindest regards and good wishes

Yours very sincerely

 

[*RD                                          15/3/19*]

Q.M.G;G.H.Q.

For Demobaust Liaison aaa

Searail has definitely agreed increase cross channel shipping

to five thousand per week commencing April first aaa

you will therefore accelerate entrainments of Quotas from

number nineteen onwards aaa Acknowledge. Aaa

Addressed & Demob. Aust. Liaison repeated A.B.D. Havre xxxx

Australian Corps, Embarkaust Weymouth and Salaustra

Searail         Demobaust

Receipt held from Cables

dated 15/3 at 1 pm

GOAS

Acknowledged by

Dembo Liaison, Aust-Corps

ESO Weymouth. [GDS

17

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