General Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 23, 24 September - 26 December 1919, Part 6

-,3-
9. The Department of Repatriation and Demobilisation
is to cease to function as a separate Department on Sept.
30. 
10. From and after Oct. 1 Brigadier General Jess is
to take over, from all existing authorities, full command of
all the A.I.F. remaining in Europe on that date, becoming
directly responsible to the Defence Department in Melbourne,
from and after the date of the departure of the Hon. the
Minister, or on such earlier date as the latter may determine.
11. The detailed procedure by which the several
branches of the Repatriation and Demobilisation will become
merged with the then existing organisation at Horseferry
Road - both as to personnel of staffs, and as to office locations, 
to be settled by direct conference between myself
and Brigadier-General Jess: subject to the proviso that all
officers who may be senior to Brig. Genl. Jess will cease
to function from and after Sept. 30, and all Demob.staff
will be reduced to the lowest point consistent with efficiency 
before the merger takes place.
12. At the request of the Minister I am to remain in
Europe till towards the end of October, being available if
required to supervise all A.I.F. matters in the interests of
the departments of Defence and Repatriation with authority
to intervene on my own initiative in any emergency of difficulty 
that may arise.
(Sgd.) JOHN MONASH. Lt. General.
Director General.
Repatriation & Demobilisation, A.I.F.
Genl. Monash's proposals are I think right and and what we
should now work to.
(Sgd.) W. R. BIRDWOOD.
25. 7. 19.
 

[*IM*]
29.1.19
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
CONFIDENTIAL
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE,
(IN CHARGE OF DEMOBILISATION)
AUSTRALIA HOUSE,
STRAND, LONDON, W. C. 2.
28th. July. 1919.
MEMORANDUM FOR:-
The Director-General,
Demobilization Department,
54, Victoria Street,
I approve generally of the terms of this
Minute on the understanding that every effort is to be made to
accelerate demobilization of the A.I.F. in the United Kingdom
with a view to considerably reducing the numbers that this
minute indicates are estimated will be available in U.K. on
September 30th. Also, that Paragraphs 5 and 6 are to be read
as not to apply after September 30th. in any case and that these
positions are to cease to function as soon as can be arranged
prior to that date.
G.F.Pearce
 

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION.
Divisional Headquarters,
4th. November, 1917.
Baron Francois de Gail, M.C.
attached French Mission.
My dear Baron,
Herewith you will find the paper which I promised
to send you. -
Trusting the same will give you the information
you require.
Yours sincerely,
 

4/11/1917.
Name :- Major-General JOHN MONASH.
Age :- 52 years; Born Melbourne, Australia, June 1865.
Academic qualifications :-
Bachelor of Arts.
Bachelor of Laws.
Master of Civil Engineering.
Member of Council of University of Melbourne; member of the

Faculty of Engineering.
Profession :- Civil Engineer; carried out very large public works,
comprising railways, roads, bridges, water supply, irrigation
and drainage. - Introduced into Victoria Reinforced Concrete
(BETON ARMÉ) and carried out works in this special construction
to the aggregate value of more than one million pounds sterling. -
President of the Victorian Institute of Engineers; Member of the
Institution of Civil Engineers, London (M.Inst.C.E.)
Military Service:
Before the war :- Served in the Australian Military Forces
since 1884 continuously. - At outbreak of war was Colonel
commanding the 13th Australian Infantry Brigade. -
Awarded Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officer’s decoration (V.D.)
in 1907. -
At outbreak of war was appointed Chief Censor for Australia.
Appointed Brigadier-General, commanding Fourth Australian
Infantry Brigade, of the Australian Imperial Force for
service abroad in September 1914. Served in that capacity
in the Canal War Zone (Egypt) until April 1915. Served
throughout the Gallipoli Campaign; present at the landing
on April 25th/15, captured Monash Valley, Pope's Hill,
Quinn's and Courtney's post; took part in the advance of
August 6th/15; the battle of Sari Bair and the capture of
Hill 60. Present at the evacuation of Gallipoli,
December 1915. - Served in the Canal Zone, Egypt, until
(1).
 

(2).    4/11/1917.
May 1916, being in command of the Canal defences from
Ismailia to the Bitter Lakes.
Served in France and Belgium since June 1916, at first in
command of the Fourth Australian Infantry Brigade, later
in July 1916 was appointed Major-General Commanding Third
Australian Division. - Held defensive sector East of
Armentieres and Erquinghem until April 1917. - Took part
in the Battle of Messines June 1917, the operations East of
Messines July and August 1917, the Battle of Broodseinde
and the first Battle of Passchendaele, October 1917.
Crested Companion of the Bath (C.B.) October 1915.
Five times mentioned in Despatches.
Is now Senior Australian Officer serving in France.

[*4/11/19*]

Article - Complimentary note re Armistice Day - see original document

[*4/11/19*]
Advertisement - The old Curiosity Shop - see original document
 

Greeting card to Gen Monash - see original document 
Gen MONASH
AUST IMP FORCE Hd Qrs
HORSEFERRY ROAD
LONDON

FROM AN EX
PASSENGER
Off
THE WAIMANA

JM/CH.
54. Victoria Street.
LONDON. S.W.1.
6.11.19.
The Commandant, 
A.I.F. Headquarters,
130, Horseferry Road, S.W.1.
SUBSISTENCE FOR  MARRIED A.I.F. PERSONNEL 
ON INDEFINITE LEAVE.
Upon representations made to me by yourself and the
Chief Paymaster as to the situation of married personnel of
the A.I.F. whose dependents are with them in England, and who
are awaiting  embarkation, I have carefully considered the
question of the allowance hitherto paid and to be paid to this
personnel to enable them to pay their way.
Since March last all married men who were prepared
to accept indefinite leave from A.I.F. Depots in U.K. in order
that  they might live with their wives and other dependents,
have received an allowance of 1/9d per day in lieu of rations
and camp accommodation.  - About 2,500 men who have hitherto
received such ration allowance remain in England at the present
date, but this number is subject to a steady reduction as
embarkations in family ships take place.
The saving  to the Commonwealth Funds through giving
indefinite leave to this personnel is of course considerably
in excess of the 1/9d per day ration money which has hitherto
been paid to them. The A.I.F. is saved, not only the cost of
their actual rations, but also all charges in connection with
quarters, and the cost of maintaining camp accommodation in
which to house them.
The delay in embarking all this personnel is no
fault of the men themselves, and an obligation rests upon the
Commonwealth either to quarter them and their families, or to
see that they receive a sum reasonably adequate for their needs
while waiting for ships.
Careful investigation has shown that the allowance
hitherto made of 1/9d per day is quite inadequate for the needs
of these men.- Many of them have been compelled to draw upon
their accumulated Deferred Pay and, owing  to the high cost of
living, their total income, comprising pay at the drawing rate,
allotment to wife, separation allowance and ration allowance,
amounting in all to 8/9d per day in the maximum case, is clearly
not adequate for the decent maintenance of two adults.
There are only two courses open to meet this situation.
Either  to increase the ration allowance or to provide quarters
and rations for this personnel at Government expense.- Upon
expert advice I have come to the conclusion that even if camp
accommodation - could be immediately made available, with proper
camp equipment and adequate staff to run the camp, it would
cost the Commonwealth more than 2/- per adult to maintain these
troops and their dependents in reasonable comfort until they can
be embarked.
Under these circumstances I have decided that from and
after November 6th, the ration allowance of 1/9d per day
hitherto paid to this personnel shall be increased to 4/- per
day, and shall continue until the date of embarkation.