General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 23, 1 June - 23 September 1919- Part 4

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20/6/19
Oxford

Worn                    Carried                  Suit Case                         Dressing Case
Service Dress     Cane                     Oxford papers.                Boot brush
Slacks &                Suit Case             Cane                                  Kiwi
                               Dressing Case    Chape Book                    Toilet Kit
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                               Gloves                   Spare Cigs                        Spare pipe
                               Maps                     Patent leather shoes.    Spare specs
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Agenda                                                 Boots & Breeches           Reading Matter
Clean Shoes
Fill Pouch.

RD  21-6-19
A. N. Lee
Care Bingham, Sheffield
Your letter eighteenth only just received
Regret unable visit Sheffield next week end.

Writing
Monash.

RD 22/6/19
Bene

Melbourne
Bert, Gershon engaged, everybody
well
MONASH.
[*Despatched 23/6/19
full rate*]

[*RD  23/6/19*]
Minister for Defence  [Draft]
Precis of Position of Demobilization
1. The position on June 30 will be as follows (in round numbers) be as follows:-
(a) Total A.I.F. remaining in Europe is will be 51000
2. This total comprises is made up thus:-
comprising (b) Immediately available for Embarkation 21000
(c) "Immobile" i.e. ^those staffs which cannot      }
yet be dissolved, and ^those which are now only}
now in process of dissolution                                     }             30000
                                                                                 Total  }              51000
3. Item (c) is now fully accounted for, and is ^at present distributed as
follows:-
(d) Remaining in France Indefinitely                               1200
(e) A.I.F. depôts on Salisbury Plain                                   10500
(f) H.Q. London                                                                      8000
(g) Demob., ^being chiefly "Non-Mil. Employment"   9000
(h) Sundries                                                                             1300
                                                                                                 30000
N.B. The term "Staffs" cover all personnel under the jurisdiction of the formation concerned.
4. Item (d) will remain probably until October.- Items (e) & (f)
cannot be seriously reduced until item (b) has been disposed of.
The bulk of item (g) will disappear by Oct. 31; while item (h)
should disappear by July31. -
5. The expectations for July are that ^a total equivalent to the whole of the balance
of troops "available" with i.e. as per item (b) will be embarked,
leaving, in Europe, on July 31/19 say 30000. -
6. During July, the staffs of Salisbury Plain & London will
begin serious reduction, & should be able to yield up 4000
for embarkation in July and 8000 for embarkation in
August. This is what will be is being aimed at.-
7. The expectations for August are that we shall have available
for embarkation a total not exceeding 12000; leaving
in Europe in on Aug 31 a balance of 18000. -
8. The period after Aug 31 is too far ahead, & subject to too many
prior contingencies to justify a definitive forecast. - It is probable however
that the embarkation of the last 18000 will be spread over 3 or 4
months. - This 18000 includes residues of men A.W.L. and otherwise
unaccounted for, probably over 1000. -
Lt General
D.G. R & D. 

Proposed Programme: -
A. During July Salisbury Plain Depôts to be
apt  demobilised Group by Group until
by July 31 there will left only one
Group, under a Brigadier-General, the H.Q.
remaining at Tidworth, under Brig-Gen. McGlinn
Total "Staff" not to exceed 1000
B. London H.Q. to be steadily reduced during
July, August & September. The rate at which this
Can be done will depend upon the reduction ^in the volume of work
of some of the larger branches, such as Pay, Records,
Ordnance and Central Registry.
C Some have
C. Demobilization Department numbers a staff of about
700.- This cannot be seriously reduced until
October.- Its principal functions will continue in
full force till then, viz:-
(a) Administration of about 9000 N.M.E.
(b) Movements, Quartering & Shipping
D. By Oct. 31 it should be practicable to amalgamate
London H.Q. & Demob. Dept. under a
Brigadier-General;  and this combined Department
should continue to function, with a steadily reducing
staff until Dec31, when matters should be ripe
to close down finally.
E. It is suggested that a Military Branch of the High 
Commissioner's Office should be constituted, to commence
to function on Dec 31, & take over all incompleted
business then outstanding. -
Lt General
D.G, R & D.

[*24.6.19*]
AUSTRALIAN GRAVES DETACHNENT.
I9th. June I919.
[*BURIALS OFFICER
AUSTRALIAN CORPS
19/6/19
L. J.*]

Lieut.General Sir V. Monash D.C.M.G., K.C.B., V.D.,
54 Victoria Street,
London. S.W.I.
5009I Pte. Legge G. F. 22nd.Bn (K.I.A.4.I0.18)
Sir,
On my return to France I took immediate action
on your letter dated 6.6.19 seeking information as to the
grave location of Pte.Legge.
The area in which he is presumed to be buried was
yesterday searched intensively but I am sorry to say ^with negative
results.
The 6th. Brigade advanced northwards from Ramicourt beyond
Beaurevoir on the day in question and the approximate line of
the advance was followed in our search.Montbrehain was included.
Several kilos were traversed on a wide front but no
trace of the grave of Pte.Legge was discovered.
The area is remarkable for the paucity of isolated
graves.
My burial work has been well done hereabouts, and the
majority of the bodies concentrated into various-sized battle
cemeteries.
Several isolated graves of men of the 22nd. Bn. were encounted,
but there was nothing to show that a grave for Pte.Legge had
been constructed.
The excavation adjoining the grave of Cpl.Mc Coll at reference
sheet 62b.B17d.00.20 was closely inspected.
Possibly a body was removed therefrom at some date, but I
rather lean to the idea that/it is a partially constructed grave,
unfinished for some reason or other.
Of course there is a possibility that some of Pte.Legge's
comrades, subsequent to burial at this spot removed his body to
some other place--most probably a cemetery.
If this was not done unofficially soon after death,
while the Battalion was in the area, I can find no explanation
for, such action subsequently. No official work of the sort has
been undertaken in the area as yet.
Actually, Registrationn of graves has not been commenced
by the Imperial organisations.
Half a dozen cemeteries in the locality were inspected
but a grave for Pte.Legge could not be discovered.
It was not possibleto search every cemetery in which he
might possibly be buried, but the action will be taken later.
The fact that no graves have been Xaxxd registered
here shows, conclusively, that the report emanating from A.I.F.
Hrs, reference burial place ,was obtained from an unofficial
source.
The point on the Estrees-Geneve Road mentioned by Capt Miller
(2nd.Div.), was searched without result.
The grave of 3984 Pte.Gogoll C.H.22nd.Bn.(K.I.A.
4/I0/I8) was found about 20yds on the west sideof Road at
sheet 62b.B22.67-5. This is persumably that of the "second soldiers"
"Craine or "Crabbe" mentioned by Capt Miller.
No grave could be found on the south side of Road
for Pte. Legge.
I have no doubt that Pte.Legge was buried in the locality,
but the grave markings have disappeared. There are traces of
some shell fire ,and a cross may have been destroyed in this way.
Due to the growth of grass, thistles, etc which are knee-high, any
other indications of a grave is now temporarily lost.
Should at any subsequent time the body be discovered
I will communicate the information to you immediately.
F. V. [[?]]
Captain.

[* D.D.G. 29/6/19*]
Prepare, at your leisure, a detailed scheme for this
History, - It should consist of an Introduction & a series
of Chapters; ther first of which will be a brief history, another
of which will be Mr Nicolls treatise on the N.M.E. scheme &
what it has achieved, and other similar ^chapters. – Then appendices
referred to in the text. – I shall write the introduction
myself after I have seen the character of the rest of the matter.
The scheme asked for to be an outline only. – Will you 
write the Chapter in the History portion?
J.M.

29/6/19
[*Whitham on "Liaison"*]

[*RD.  30-6-19
xxxxx*]  3 copies.
Draft.
It is a very great pleasure privilege to me To have been requested asked
by the Compilers of this Volume to write a few words by way
of introduction to its pages ^is esteemed by me as a great privilege.- - In the stressful days years
through which the world has passed, and under the burdens
which the leaders ^& the men of our Armies have had to bear, it needed
strong impulses and great appeals to sustain the fortitude
and endurance of myself us all.- .- To me, as when during the course
of the War my responsibilities grew increased, one ^particular impetus became every
more paramount and dominating, and that was the recognition
of the fact that the ^a growing duty was cast devolved upon me of helping ^my co-religionists
to create ^the reason and ^to maintain the prestige, as worthy citizens, and
as devoted soldiers, of the Jews of the Empire.- The accident of
fortune of War, - in my case a happy fortune one - placed me in
the command of that splendid fighting instrument - The
Australian Army Corps;- and to the men of that Corps I
owe all that has come to me. - But ^not to them alone, for I owe much, also, to the
many thousands of Jewish soldiers, scattered throughout all
Our Imperial His Majesty's Armies, who by their valour, their fortitude, and
their devoted service sacrifice have combined to create achieve a story of
Jewish service to our country, which will still further enhance
the prestige of every British citizen of ^the Jewish faith, as second
to no other in patriotism and or in readiness ^& ability to bear all his full
share of all the burdens of the State.- In gratitude for the
services which they have ^been rendered ^by them all individually and collectively,
by those who have succumbed, and ^by those who have survived,-
I commend this to the public this Book of Honour, in
^the pages of which is enshrined the ^proud record of their performance. -
Lieut. General