General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 23, 1 June - 23 September 1919- Part 8

CHF/FB 30th July 1919.
Director-General.
Would you please look over this draft, and
let me know whether it is in the "style" required.
It is capable of much expansion if you think necessary,
but I am anticipating that the history of each Branch
will give the minutiae.
It is by no means finished, and the paragraphing
requires amendment.
C H Foott
Brig.-General 
D/Director-General
 

(*?*)
Confidential 
31/7/19
3 copies (1 Lt Gen. Wisdom Confidential)
Minister of Defence.
I submit herewith extract from the "British - Australasian"
of July 24/19, & comments by thereon by Brig. Gen. Wisdom, Director
of Movements & Quartering. -
While I recognize that it is not fair, without enquiry, to
hold Mr Heitmann responsible for the statements attributed to him
in this Article, I feel bound, in justice to my officers, to enter a
strong protest against the statements made. - Their general tenor is
to suggest that Mr Heitmann has arrogated to himself a status
which he does not possess, and credit for work done which is not
his due. - Nothing could be more discouraging to a body of officers who
have labored unceasingly & with most praiseworthy efficiency ^∧ & at a great
personal sacrifice to ameliorate
the conditions under which the transportation of the troops &
their dependants is being carried out. -
I have nothing to say against the policy of appointing M^r
Heitmann to act as an independent critic of the worth of my
officers. - It is a policy of ^∧ in which I concurred when M^r Hughes made
the appointment. - Upon the whole, M^r Heitmann has carried
out his duties with consideration, but at the same time with only
little ^∧ a very partial Knowledge of the difficulties with which we have been
confronted, 
and without any responsibility, financial or otherwise, for such
criticisms as he saw fit to make from time to time. -
If he be really responsible for the statements made in this article
I can only take grave exception to his action in representing
himself as Chief Inspector, and as ^∧ having been chiefly responsible for the
improvement
of troopship conditions. -
Lt Gen.

3/8/19
3/8/19
Mr. Ernest H. Davies
Auckland
Invites me to N.Z. & 
will make all arrangements
for hotels, fêtes, receptions & all else
also Rotorua 
&c &c
 

RD 11/8/19
Walter.
Lou leaves ^∧ today by half past six train from
Waterloo all well.
Monash
Nancy
Many happy returns
Uncle Jack
Dr W Rosenhain
17 Suffolk Rd.
Bournemouth
Miss Nancy Rosenhain
 

OPF  RD    12/8/19
Rosenberg
Tollard Royal Hotel
Bournemouth
Please book accomodation according your
letter to M^rs Rosenhaim writing
Monash

18/8/19

FAREWELL  to  ANZAC.
Oh! hump your swag and leave lads,
The ships are in the bay,
We've got our marching orders now,
It's time to come away
And a long good-bye to Anzac beach,

Where blood has flowed in vain,
For we're leaving it, leaving it,

Game to fight again!
But some there are will never quit
This bleak and bloody shore,
And some that marched and fought with us
Will fight and march no more;
Their blood has bought till judgment day
The slopes they stormed so well,
And we're leaving them, leaving them,
Sleeping where they fell
(Leaving them, leaving them,
The bravest and the best!
Leaving them, leaving them,
And maybe glad to rest!

'We did our best with yesterday,

To-morrow's still our own,

But we're leaving them, leaving them,
Sleeping all alone!)
Ay, they are gone beyond it all,
The praising and the blame,
And many a man may win renown,

But none more fair a fame;
They showed the world Australia's lads
Knew well the way to die,
And we're leaving them, leaving them,
Quiet where they lie!

(Leaving them, leaving them,
Sleeping where they died!
Leaving them, leaving them,

In their glory and their pride;
Round them sea and barren land,
Over them the sky,

Oh, we're leaving them, leaving them,

Quiet where they lie!)

FAREWELL  to  GALLIPOLI.
"I hope that those fellows who lie buried along the 'dere'

will be soundly sleeping, and not hear us as we march away".
Not only muffled is our tread
To cheat the foe;
We fear to rouse our honoured dead

To hear us go.
Sleep sound, old friends - the keenest smart
Which, more than failure, wounds the heart,

Is thus to leave you - thus to part.
Comrades, farewell!
Together throbbed our hearts that night
When, through the foam,
Shone - flickered - faded from our sight

The lights of home.
From East, from West, we gathered here.
New friends we made, old grown more dear,

We leave you with the dying year.

Comrades, farewell!
To those of us not doomed to lie

On some new field,
Country and home will by and by
Their welcome yield.
In that glad hour our hearts will stray

Back to Anzac and Suvla Bay,

To you, whose absence clouds the day,

Comrades, farewell!
For you "a praise which grows not old"
Is more meet tomb
Than sepulchre, engraved with gold,
In stately gloom.
On hearts of men, O lonely dead!
For all time graven, may we read
How, for man's sake, you died, you bled.
Comrades, farewell!
 

[*Deserted Wives*]

CHF/FB   18.8.19.

NOTES  ON  CONFERENCE  HELD  AT  54 VICTORIA  STREET,  LONDON.

RE  QUESTION  OF  DESERTION  OF  WIVES  OF RETURNED  SOLDIERS.   

PRESENT: 
Brig.-General C.H.FOOTT, C.B., C.M.G.

Brig.-General J.P.McGlinn, C.M.G, C.B.E, V.D.

Colonel Buckley.

Major Ryan.

Lt.-Col R.Jackson, C.M.G, D.S.O. (A.A.G, A.I.F.Hqrs).

General Foott read letter from Director-General to Minister

regarding above subject and stated that it would not be possible

for this Department to do anything other than ship wives to

Australia according to any policy laid down, and asked opinion of

Conference re the Categories mentioned in letter.

Agreed by Conference that the 3 Categories mentioned would

cover subject of letter.

Major Ryan asked whether, in the case of men who return to

Australia and have made no arrangements for return of wife, would

they be repatriated on the wife making application.

General Foott stated that the Department is not allowed to

do so, except on authority from Australia, and that he wished to

deal solely with the question of wives who could not get their

names on a boatroll.

General McGlinn and Colonel Buckley quoted cases in regard

to wives whose husbands have returned to Australia - who are in

distressing circumstances, and stated that some of these cases

amount practically to desertion.

Major Ryan stated that when a man leaves England and returns

to Australia, if fit, his discharge is post-dated and no enquiries

are made as to whether he is married, as the Department is only

concerned with the discharge of the soldier.  He may go to the

Repatriation Department and be placed in a job.   It would not be

policy for the department to hunt him out of a job on account of

JM

21/8/19

(2)

him deserting his wife.   The wife's ultimate relief lay in redress

through the Civil Courts.  Suggested that all that could be done

would be to give facilities for transport to Australia, if the wife

so desires, and then give assistance to obtain redress through

Civil Channels.

Colonel Buckley said that he thought it might be advisable

to cable Australia asking that steps be taken to trace the Husbands:

General Foott suggested that joint cable might be

sent to Australia on the following lines:-

"Following names have been brought to light as cases

of Desertion of Wives.   What action are we to take."

Suggested by General Foott that cable be sent to Acting

Prime Minister through the Minister for Defence.

Suggestion approved by conference.

General Foott said that there were three steps to be taken

before cables regarding individual cases could be dispatched to

Australia -

(1) Receipt of application from Wife.

(2) Enquiry into the man's record which would have to be

carried out through A.I.F. Hq.

(3) Transfer of the case for police enquiry.

The A.A.G. stated that all records would be sent to

Australia at the end of September, except those of personnel still

in England.

The A.A.G, A.I.F. suggested that Australia House should

take up the matter of final enquiry into these matters as they will

eventually take over the whole of these matters.

General Foott suggested that H.Q, A.I.F. detail a Officer

to take over and assist Australia House in cases of this kind.   The

name of Capt. Fennelly, 3rd Pioneer Battalion being mentioned as

suitable for this position.

Major Ryan said that he did not know what form the new

organisation was going to take, but agreed that somebody should start

now and build the thing up.   Stated that he has no objection to what

form the organisation takes.

(3)

General Foott spoke as to the steps that should be taken

when application is received for assistance, from wife of

soldier.

Decided that H.Q, A.I.F. detail Officer to deal with the

question of applications from deserted wives and that all Departments

be instructed to refer applications or any information on the

subject, past and future, to that Officer.

General Foott asked whether High Commissioner had any fund

from which to assist any applicants.

Colonel Buckley replied that there was none, and that if

any funds did exist they were under A.I.F. control.

It was suggested that a phrase be added to cable to Acting

Prime Minister to the effect that it is necessary that High

Commissioner should have placed at his disposal a sum of money

for relief in necessitous cases.

Major Ryan said he thought that the most expeditious way

would be to get a straight Government grant for the relief of

necessitous cases. 

General McGlinn asked what he would do with the cases of

applications for assistance which he had in hand.

Instructed by General Foott as a preliminary step to forward

them to him.  In cases where any assistance given from G.O.Cs

Fund, particulars to be stated.

General Foott said he thought that the cases in hand at the

present time should stand over until replies were received from

Australia as to what was to be done with them, and also asked whether

it was thought advisable at this stage to make any publicity through

the press.

The Conference decided against this.

Colonel Buckley raised the question of unmarried Mothers.

Decided that Conference does not in any way touch the question

of unmarried Mother.

(4)

Conference decided that General Foott draft memorandum

to the Minister regarding the question before meeting.

C H Foott

Brig.-General.

D/Director-General.

Repatriation & Demobilisation Dept, A.I.F.