General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 23, 24 September - 26 December 1919, Part 4

-12-
and by Lieut.-Colonel W.R. Sanday, J.S.O., M.C., and Mr.
Burchell, M.H.R.. Brigadier-General E.A. Wisdon, C.B., C.M.G.,
D.S.O. was Director of Movements, Quartering and Supply.All
questions of Shipping, Depots, Ports, Embarkations and the physical
welfare of the troops were under his direct control. The
Administrative Branch of the Department was headed by Lieut.-
Colonel J.C.T. Ridley, D.S.O. who was responsible for the control
of the Staff and for all statistical and decumentary business
relating to Demobilisation. The Fourth Branch dealt with the
demobilisation of all war equipment, stores and animals, and
the acquisition of all post-bellum Army equipment. This branch
was organised and supervised by Brigadier-General W.A. Coxen,
C.S..C.N.G., D.S.0., assisted by Colonel J.T. Leans, C.S.Y. and
Major C. Speckman, M.C. The last, but by no means the least
important Branch dealt with financial policy, pay, allowances,
fees, accounts, audit and expenditure in every detail. It was
directed first by Lieut. Colonel K. Evans, C.M.G., and later by
Lieut.-Colonel T. J. Thomas.
The A.L.T. Depots at Havre were under the control of
Colonel C.H. Davis, C.B.E., D.S.O., V.D., while those on Sallsbury
Plain, England were ably commanded successively by
Major-General Sir J.W. McCay, K.C.M.G., C.S., V.D., and Major-
General Sir C. Rosenthal, K.C.S., C.M.G., D.S.O. Brigadier-
General J.P. McGlinn, C.M.G., C.B.x., V.D. performed most valuable
services as the Liason Officer of the Department to the
Depots in United Kingdon, while Lient.-Colonel J.L. Witham,
C.M.G.. D.S.O. performed similar functions at G.H.Q., in France.
Towards the end of March 1919, the Hon. the Minister
of Defence, Senator G.T. Pearce, arrived in England, and his
presence on the spot proved of inestimable value to the work
in hand. Not only was he able, by the weight of his authority,
to obtain prompt attention to the demands made upon Imperial
resourses in the direction of maintaining our embarkation
 

13.
pregrammes at a fall seale; but he could settle without delay
a great mass of administrative and financial questions which
were of a nature to require, the exercise of Ministerial
respensibility.
men the whole of theA.L.T. in Ferpt had been embarked,
and the residue remaining in England had, on September 30th,
1819, fallen to about 2 10,000 of all rants, this Deparmment was
merged with that of the Administrative Commandant, Brigadier-
General C.H. Jess, C.M.G., D.S.0., and all officers of the
Repatriation and Demobilisation Dept. semor to him relin-
mished the ir anties.
JORN MONASH.
Lieut.-General.
Director-General.
Repatriation & Demobilisation, ra.L.F.
 

Despatched
17.00
15.10.19
Lady Northcote
Kastwell Paok
Ashford
Kent
treatty regret unable accept your most kind
invitation too coming week end
Monash.
 

to be sent on Oct t
(to reach Mell. on Oct 17th
Miss Monash
Melbourne
Bisthday Congratulations
Yonash
 

Deputcha,
16:10.19
 

able
 

7710.19
$
19237 77797 $$$

121D 11D9
5795
ASD
7727N 7337
1339 732
SSIITIFT,CIS
hir in the tudge of the
Jordean
14
 

198)
 

16/10/09
Annumal
2 Alumumum powder
& Amnonum Nitrate
Trioual
above & T.N.To soaked
into the Entrate.
 

p
 

Lady Northcote
Kastwell Park
Ashford, Kent.
Proposing visiting you for lunch Thussday
coming by cat.
Monash
Despalched
10.5a.m
20:1019
Copy on file
RSB
 

MMIOR.
 

Table
use
54. Victoria Street,
LONDON. S.W.1.
23.10.19.
Dear Senater Pearce,
Yon will doubtless remember that General
Instructions Nc. 24 of this Department received your approval
in Nay last.- This is the General Instruction which pro-
vides for some consideration in the form of additional
disembarkation leave to those members of the staffs who,
while satisfying certain very specific conditions, were com-
pelled to remain on demobilisation or staff duty after
opecified dates.
in the General Instruction as it stands (copy of
which I enclose) the members of the Permanent Military Perces
of the Commonwealth were expressly excluded.
I have marked
the relevant passage, paragraph 2, sub-para. (e) in the
dociment enclosed.
This exclusion was not made wi thout some con-
sideration. I felt that the privilege would have to be
limited on financial grounds to as few people as possible,
and it seemed to me reasonable to say that permanent officers
could be called upon without hardship, to continue to serve
in furope or Egypt, seeing that their future employment was
assured to them and their professional prospects could not be
considered as liable to be prejudiced by a continued absence
from Anstralis.
For some time past, however, and particularly since
Your departure, very strong representations have been made
to me by and on behalf of a number of the Permanent Forces
atill in England, that their exclusion from the benefits
provided by General Instruction Nc. 24 is regarded as a
srievance.
To epitomise their point of view they say in offect
that there is no rational ground why the mere fact of being a
member of the Permanent Forces should debar such members from
benefits enjoyed by the A.L.F. generally. Those affected
feel that their exelusion creates an undesirable distinction
between themselves and other members of the A.I.F., and also
infliets a disability.—
Most, 1f not all, of the per-
manent officers who had to remain in England were detailed
for the duty, and this places them in a worse position than
other members of the A. I.F., many of whom volunteered to
remain at dnty.
In short, they urge that the same recompense is due
to those permanent officers and other ranks who remained on
duty at this end of the world as has been granted to the re-
mainder of the A.1.P.
I have been impressed by the above representations,
but as the original Regulation on the matter had your covering
approval, I am not prepared to mak any amendment in same
without your anthority.
I therefore submit the whole matter to you for your
Lavourable consideration, and should be glad if you will
kindly decide whether or not, the additional disembarkation
leave may be granted to members of the Permanent Military