General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 20, 31 July - 15 August - 1918 - Part 16










SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
By FIELD-MARSHAL SIR DOUGLAS HAIG
K.T., G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.I.E
Commander in-Chief, British Armies in France.
The following letter from His Majesty the King is published for the information of all ranks:—
13th August 1918.
MY DEAR FIELD-MARSHAL,
At the beginning of the fifth year of the war I again have had the pleasure of being
with my Armies.
Writing to you after my last visit on the 30th March, and alluding to the then
necessary withdrawal from certain of our positions, I dwelt upon the impression made
upon me by the splendid spirit of the troops which I saw during those days. Subsequent
events have given ample proof that this was a true impression. For never since that
time has the spirit of the Army faltered. We have seen it reasserting itself and carrying
to a triumphant issue the operations of the past week.
On these happy results I most warmly congratulate you and the troops that have fought
so magnificently under your command.
I gratefully recognise that this high morale is in part the outcome of a hearty
co-operation between the fighting Army and the great organisations behind the line; the
transport service by land and sea; and those vast industries in which the men and women
at home maintain the supplies of food and munitions of war.
I have heard on all sides of the inestimable value of the Machine Gun Corps in the
fighting line, and this was brought home to me by the fine appearance of detachments which
I saw in the different areas.
I have inspected detachments of the Royal Air Force. Its prowess and established
superiority over the enemy makes me proud to be the General-in-Chief of this last creation
in the fighting forces of the world.
It was specially satisfactory that I was able to see the work of the Tank Corps, and
thus to form some slight idea of the part which this wondrous and steadily developing
invention has played in the present victorious battle.
I gained for the first time an insight into the thorough and practical manner in which
the Forestry Department is carrying out its varied duties.
It was a pleasure to me to find from the admirable condition of the horses and mules of
the various units I inspected that the New Armies fully uphold our national reputation
as good horse-masters.
During my visit I have conferred a number of Victoria Crosses for deeds of valour and
self-sacrifice, the records of which fill my heart with pride and veneration.
Of the hospitals, their efficiency, skill, devotion and untiring efforts of the staffs, I
cannot speak in too high praise.
I realise with thankfulness all that is done for the spiritual welfare of the troops by
the chaplains of the different denominations.
I am glad to find that the Army Commanders appreciate the importance of affording
means for the amusement and diversion of the troops in their leisure time, and that
every effort to this end is undertaken by the authorities and by private help.
I return home with feelings of profound admiration of our Armies, convinced that
in union with those of the Allied Nations we shall, with Gods help, secure a victorious
peace worthy of the noble sacrifices made ; a peace which must be a surety to coming
generations against sufferings such as the present world has endured throughout [[these]]
years of relentless war.
Believe me, very sincerely yours,
GEORGE, R.I.
D. Haig. F.Lu.
Commander-in-Chief,
British Armies in France.
General Headquarters,
August 15th. 1918.
PRINTED IN FRANCE BY ARMY PRINTING AND STATIONERY SERVICES. PREFS A-8/18
AUSTRALIAN CORPS
Wounded Admitted to Field Ambulances – Operations
Formation | From 6pm 12-8-18 To 6pm 13-8-18 |
From Zero 8-8-18 To 6pm 13-8-18 |
||
Officers | O/Ranks | Officers | LO/Ranks | |
1st Australian Division |
3 |
37 |
71 |
1292 |
2nd Australian Division |
1 |
23 |
47 |
1039 |
3rd Australian Division |
1 |
68 |
29 |
739 |
4th Australian Division |
- |
1 |
29 |
696 |
5th Australian Division |
1 |
- |
32 |
598 |
Corps Troops |
1 |
9 |
40 |
493 |
Other Formations |
4 |
127 |
24 |
937 |
Australian Total |
6 |
139 |
208 |
4364 |
Grand Total |
11 |
265 |
272 |
5794 |
P ris oners of War |
1 |
3 |
25 |
779 |
[[?signature]]
COLONEL
D.D.M.S. Australian Corps
Headquarters
13th August 1918
Copies to :- A.C.C.
B.G.G.S.
[*JM
14/8/18*]
AUSTRALIAN CORPS
Wounded Admitted to Field Ambulances – Operations
Formation | From 6pm 12-8-18 To 12 nn 13-8-18 |
From Zero 8-8-18 To 12nn 13-8-18 |
||
Officers | O/Ranks | Officers | O/Ranks | |
1st Australian Division |
3 |
26 |
71 |
1281 |
2nd Australian Division |
1 |
12 |
47 |
1030 |
3rd Australian Division |
1 |
55 |
29 |
726 |
4th Australian Division |
- |
- |
29 |
695 |
5th Australian Division |
- |
- |
31 |
597 |
Corps Troops |
- |
2 |
39 |
486 |
Other Formations |
4 |
44 |
24 |
854 |
Australian Total | 5 | 93 | 207 | 4329 |
Grand Total | 9 | 139 | 270 | 5669 |
Prisoners of War | 1 | 2 | 26 | 778 |
[[?signature]]
COLONEL
D.D.M.S. Australian Corps.
Headquarters
13th August 1918
Copies to A.C.C.
A.G.G.S.
COPY.
FRANCE,
14-8-18.
My dear Father,
Warm congratulations on the winning of the G.C.M.G.
Everyone here expresses pleasure at the preferment. I read of it
very casually in the paper early one morning. At mess that night
the Colonel proposed your health and asked that I should convey the
compliments and congratulations of the Battalion to you. Some very
nice speeches were made and on all hands I am being congratulated.
As you see we are in the thick of it. My Battalion is in the
front line with the Colonel. We take it in turn to take the
Battalion in. I was appointed Liaison Officer with the Brigade
which took the Final Objective on the first day and with Will
Stewart went up to the front line posts. An Australian Machine
Gunner would have ensured us staying there, but this particular Hun
has lost his punch and his skill and, tho' sniped at by a Machine
Gun at less than 200x range neither of us were hit. I am back now
with the Battle Surplus, my duties being finished.
There was no sign of fight in the 10,000 yards I covered. The
Hun surrendered freely and as it was a picnic compared with the
Landing or Lone Pine. Very few casualties quite a walk over.
In the last sector I took the Battalion in and we were getting
Huns in broad daylight. The position seems to be that the Huns
puts rubbish and troops who won’t fight in his front line and keeps
-2-
his picked troops in reserve. We have been mopping up this rubbish
day after day for months. No we can see that his picked troops are
being brought in; so that he must be tapping his reserves.
The organization of the show was wonderful. Monash seems to
be making good. I have seen nothing to equal it. It puts fresh
heart into one to see the evidences of the master hand.
We are in dug-outs in a hillside which remind one of Gallipoli.
Lights have to be dispensed with at night. The planes are unfailing
in their regularity.
I suppose the Hun will turn round and make another big attempt
to secure the initiative. In the meantime he is losing very
valuable time which I think is the direction along which this success
is to be measured. The country seems to me worthless and the
prisoners are mostly poor stuff and his losses in booty negligible
I think.
Very warm congratulations.
Affectionately Yours,
(Sgd) SYD. (Cook)
G. S. COOK.
P.S. What is the correct form of address?
14/8/18
Conference
at Red Chateau, Villers-Bretonneaux - Aug 15th/18
1. Operations postpones sine die. —
Thanks to Div. Commanders, Staffs & Artillery.
2. Secrecy. — Breaches of.—. Case under notice. —
3. Reasons: — (a) Difficulties of our terrain
(b) Drawing reserves to us
(c) Hit him somewhere else
(d) Then, when again disorganized, we hit him.
Our operation, therefore, only postponed — probably 7 or 8 days at least
Owing postponement — (a) necessary to rest troops in line
(b) impossible definitely to foreshadow battle divisions
probably 72 or only 48 hrs notice. —
4. Moves: — 17th Div. to go; 32nd to come. —
(a) 4th Div. relieves 1st, on night 15/16 - 1st to rest & refit
(b) 5th Div. relieves 17th, on or after night 16/17 —
(c) 32nd Div. relieves 2nd, on narrow front, — when available.
(d) Liason Force, - stands fast.
(e) 3rd Div. stands fast, but moves Hamelet Bgde to N. of River.
5. Policy:- The objection give enemy notice we keep battle front alive. —
(a) Liason Force stands fast — reconnoitring Bray Valley
(b) 4th Div. stands fast — no exploitation — by ground gains
- but wire cutting [[ch?]] map - by 6" Hows.
aggressive patrolling
energetic artillery offensive & gas. —
put in Americans.
Keep touch with enemy. —
(c) 5th Div.— Active exploitation — map
Reasons: —E nemy disorganisation here
Pushing back enemy guns
Pivoting on Somme
Close contact with Liaison Force
Difficulties of [[Sugamme ?]] Spur
Ultimate red line
17th Div. to play up to this programme until relieved
(d) 2nd Div. exploitation to green line until relieved
(e) Later 32nd & 4th flatten out re-entrant, to brown line.
(f) Battle [[D?]], probably 3 & 1 , or 3 & 2. —6. Administrative (g) Corps: — Sound ranging & Counterbattery
Artillery Preparation
Photography.- (esp. Proyart Front)
Perfecting Signal Communications.
6. Administrative:- (a) Organization of area
(b) Systematic Salvage, Collection of Trophies,
Burying enemy dead & horses-, &c &c
(c) Resting, bathing, re-organization & training.
(1 & 3)
(d) Honors & Awards.
(e) Leave to tired leaders & staffs.
7. 4th Div. Prisoners.
8 Show Anzac ribbon.
AUSTRALIAN CORPS.
Wounded Admitted to Field Ambulances – Operations
Formation | From 6pm. 13th.-8-18 To 6pm. 14th.-8-18 |
From Zero 8-8-18 To 6pm. 14-8-18 |
||
Officers | O/Ranks | Officers | O/Ranks | |
1stAustralian Div. |
- |
32 |
71 |
1324 |
2ndAustralian Div. |
1 |
17 |
48 |
1056 |
3rdAustralian Div. |
- |
3 |
29 |
742 |
4th Australian Div. |
- |
16 |
29 |
712 |
5th Australian Div. |
- |
- |
32 |
598 |
Corps Troops. |
- |
17 |
40 |
510 |
Other Formations. |
2 |
101 |
26 |
1038 |
17th. Div. |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Australian Total |
1 |
68 |
209 |
4432 |
Grand Total |
4 |
188 |
276 |
5982 |
Prisoners of War |
- |
5 |
26 |
784 |
C L Chapman Major COLONEL.
D.D.M.S. Australian Corps
Headquarters
14th August 1918
Copies to :- A.C.C.
B.G.,G.S.
Inf. Bureau.
A.
AUSTRALIAN CORPS.
Wounded Admitted to Field Ambulances – Operations
Formation | From 6pm. 13th-8-18. To 12noon. 14th-8-18. |
From Zero 8-8-18. To 12noon14-8-18. |
||
Officers | O/Ranks. | Officers | O/Ranks. | |
1st Australian Div. |
- |
25 |
71 |
1317 |
2nd Australian Div. |
- |
9 |
47 |
1048 |
3rd Australian Div. |
- |
3 |
29 |
742 |
4th Australian Div. |
- |
13 |
29 |
709 |
5th Australian Div. |
- |
- |
32 |
598 |
Corps Troops. |
- |
17 |
40 |
510 |
Other Formations. |
2 |
92 |
26 |
1029 |
17th Div. |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
Australian Total |
- |
50 |
208 |
4414 |
|
|
|
|
|
Grand Total |
3 |
161 |
275 |
5955 |
Prisoners of War |
- |
4 |
26 |
783 |
C L Chapman Major COLONEL.
D.D.M.S. Australian Corps
Headquarters
14th August 1918.
Copies to ;- A.C.C.
B.G.G.S.
AUSTRALIAN CORPS.
Wounded Admitted to Field Ambulances – Operations
Formation | From 6pm 13th-8-18 To 6am 14th-8-18 |
From Zero 8-8-18 To 6am 14-8-18 |
||
Officers | O/Ranks. | Officers | O/Ranks. | |
1st Australian Division |
- |
17 |
71 |
1309 |
2nd Australian Division |
- |
3 |
47 |
1042 |
3rd Australian Division |
- |
1 |
29 |
740 |
4th Australian Division |
- |
10 |
29 |
706 |
5th Australian Division |
- |
- |
32 |
598 |
Corps Troops |
- |
10 |
40 |
503 |
Other Formations |
2 |
61 |
26 |
998 |
Australian Total |
- |
31 |
208 |
4395 |
Grand Total |
2 |
102 |
274 |
5896 |
Prisoners of War |
- |
3 |
26 |
782 |
Clement Chapman Major COLONEL
D.D.M.S. Australian Corps
Headquarters
14th Aug.1918
Copies to :- A.C.C.
B.G.,G.S.
[*JM
14/8/18*]

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