General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 20, 31 July - 15 August - 1918 - Part 4

G6C
AUSTRALIAN CORPS. A.C./14
Headquarters,
2nd August, 1918.
S E C R E T
2nd Australian Division,
3rd Australian Division,
4th Australian Division,
5th Australian Division,
D.A.Q.M.G.,
G.O.C., R.A.,
C.E.,
D.D.M.S.,
A.D. Signals,
G.O.C., 5th Tank Brigade,
B.G.H.A.,
A conference will be held at Australian Corps Headquarters
at 10 a.m. on the 4th instant.
As it is proposed that this will be the final conference
all Commanders will come prepared with details of plans for the
forthcoming operation.
The following will attend :-
[*4√*] G.O's.C., Divisions,
[*4√*] G.S.O's. I.,
[*4√*] C.R.A., all Divisions,
[*1*] D.A.Q.M.G.,
[*1*] G.O.C., R.A.,
[*1*] S.O.R.A.,
[*1*] C. E.,
[*1*] D.D.M.S.,
[*1*] A.D. Signals,
[*1*] G.O.C., 5th Tank Brigade,
[*1*] B.G.H.A.
[*2*]    "     "
[*2*]
T A Blamey
Brigadier-General
General Staff
Australian Corps

(1) 3/8/18
xxxxxxxx
Notes for Conference
A Tanks.-
1. Coordination of Times Tanks & Air Force Noise 9.30 p.m. to 12 noon
& from 1 hr before Zero.
2. Tank Time Table : - (a) To reach 100th Beyond Infantry tapes at zero + 3'
(b) To reach pass Green line at Zero + 4 hrs.
(c) To pass Red line at Zero & 5½ hrs. ?
3. Tank Organization and Distribution. -
2nd Bn & 1 Co of 13th Bn (under Bryce) for II & V Div.
13th Bn (Lyon) less 1 co to III Div.
8th Bn (Bryingham) less 1 Co to IV Div.
1 Co of 8th to advance, under Corps, on Div, Bdy
at second phase.
First Phase Tanks , to follow advance of II Phase - in Support.
Mark Vx - where assemble ? | Defective carrying power.
where pick up Inf. Cargo.
Route of advance to red line start.
XX Not to follow close behind Infantry.
4. Smoke Protection for Tanks. -
On Start line, for first 3 minutes
On reaching green line , - 3 rds per gun.
See
Battle Inst
No 9.
At Zero +4 hrs - Air Smoke bombs on Brown Line (Charrier) √
At Zero + 5 hrs                do          do  on  Red     Line                    √
At Zero + 5½ hrs            do          do  on  Blue    Line                    √
5. Loads on Tanks  - Pigeons, S.A.A.
Pigeons on Mark V (Star)
How many xxx am    div  convy? √
6. Tanks Bgde H.Q.   Touilloy - does this suit IV Div.

Arrangements prior to Battle.
1. Organizing ^approach Marches to reduce fatigue on men - halting
2. Avoidance of clashing or crossing of appet march routes.
Programme of II  Div (a) Locations.
III   "    (b) Times
IV "     (c) Routes
V   "   (d) Guides & Marching
3. Use of Main Longean Road - reserved for Cavalry 9.30 p.m. to 8 a.m.
(Carruthers?) & this traffic control)
4. Resting troops on Y day - no football, no wandering - but sleep.
Special officer per Battalion.
5. Movement to final positions may be at dusk on 5th instead
of by dawn on 5th. -
Air
Liaison with 4 separate Divisions.
as to (a) Contact Planes & dropping grounds.
(b) Ammunition planes & times
Question of Time of Flying after Zero.
X Read memo re Air Service. -

Notes on First Phase of Battle
Advance to green line : -
On Arrival at green line : -
Rapid transmissions of information to IV & V
IV & V to arrange for special observation of arrival
II & III incl reserve Brigades) must sit on green line
II & IIV - Reserve Brigades not to concentrate until
green line taken.||Corps Reserves for left &
right flanks.
II & III - Battle Brigades - (a) no retrograde movement
till after tail of IV & V in clear
Dig in at once on green line & continue
Reorganise on green line in depth.
Concentrate only after Corps order - given
after capture of ^Red &/or Blue line.
May be called on for working parties.
Positions of all 3 Bgde H.Q. after battle to be
notified to Corps & to twin Divisions.

Notes on Second Phase of Battle.
1. Vanguard Cross Green Line (Infantry) at Z + 4 hrs.
2. Advance to be as rapid as possible.
3. Each body of troops to receive definite orders to push on with
utmost energy, irrespective of troops on flanks.
Best way to help on neighbouring troops is to push on.
Use of Covering fire to facilitate movement.
4. Pushing forward, to green line, gives Sections or even single
guns to engage anti-tank guns - say 1 per Bgde front.
5. Lewis & Vickers Guns tactics , - taking valleys in enfilade.
6. Use Per Allot some Pioneers to assist forward the 
Mobile Brigades.
7. Signalling generally - visual & power buzzer.
Signals between Infantry & Artillery.
8. Cutting enemy signal wires - especially laterals.
Third Phase
Exploitation.
Programme for Mark V^x Tanks to approach.
Directing the 8 Tanks on each Brigade Front to
definite sectors of the blue line.
Subsequent distribution of M. Guns on the blue line.
Mark Vx to carry only Vickers guns. -
Time for Crossing red line.
Pigeons on Mark V^x Tanks.
Employment of Motor M. Guns.
Air Ammunition Supply to ^Red & Blue Line.
Personnel in Mark V^x Tanks to carry Rifle Smoke Grenades.
Infantry & M.G. & Lewis detachments to follow up - Mark V^x Tanks
to wait on blue line until relieved. -

xx
General
General. 1. Sunset Aug 7 8.20 p.m. Sunrise Aug 8 . 5.24 a.m.
2. Air Liaison - dropping grounds in respective phases.
3. Supply of maps.
4. Supply of Photos - obliques.
(Bayonvilles?)Oblique.
5. Enemy Gun map - 370 guns.
6. Cable  - forward -
decision re busying backwards.
Sap - airline from black to green line.
Labor for future buries.
7. Armoured Cars -(number?)
all to V
Utilize Hotchkiss guns on red & blue lines.
8. Promulgation of Zero Day & Hour
9. Synchronisation of watches.

3/8/18
My own Special Agenda
Mark up fighting map for C-in-C.
Mood of troops special message from me
Is there a Gap pack shell?
Brigadiers :-

Special office for publicity
Draft [[Process?]] Message
Note for a few weeks to Div Commanders after Conference.
Tank Bgde. 2^nd Bⁿ (Boyce) to II & V
8^th Bⁿ (Benjamin) to IV
13^th Bⁿ (Lyon) to II
Get copy Canadian & III Corps Maps. (5)
Settle whether defensive is ultimately 2 or 3 Divn Front.
Sort all my papers.
Army Troops  & A.G.H.A. & what for.
Canadian Corps to engage [[Huncourst?]] batteries, in 
Blamey n Ammunition at 2.30 after Zero.
 in H. E. in  [[B?]]
Covering letter to "Message"

4/8/18
First Draft - Superseded
To the soldiers of the Australian Army Corps:
For the first time in the history of this Australian Corps,
whole of ^all the five ^Australian Divisions will tomorrow  ^combine in the
^largest and ^most important battle operations ever undertaken by the Corps.
They will be supported by ^an exceptionally powerful artillery and by ^
 tanks and
xxx^the Air Service, on a scale never before  hitherto attempted. - The full resources
of the Corps of our sister Dominion of Canada will ^also be thrown in ^employed
upon our right, while two British Divisions will guard our left flank.
Both Because of the ^completeness of our preparation plans and preparations, & the magnitude of the operations, of the number
of troops employed, and of the depth to which we should ^ intend to penetrate
into the enemy's positions, this battle prove to be one of the most 
memorable of the whole war, and there can be no doubt that if we
succeed in ^by reaching all our objectives we shall inflict  blows
upon the enemy which will not only ^make him stagger, but will ^also bring the
end of the war appreciably nearer.—

The  many successful  offensives which the Brigades of this
Corps have so brilliantly carried out during the last four months
have been but the prelude to ^& the preparation from this greatest and culminating effort. ⁋ I entertain no kind of doubt that every Australian Soldier will ^worthily rise to
the ^so great ^an occasion, and that every ^imbued with the spirit of victory officer and man will be
animated by only [[?]] ^no other resolve than a firm determination to see ^to a clear finish through ^whatever the
job which ^work has been put ^given to him in spite of ^fatigue or of any unexpected difficulty
that may arise :—
The length of the advance to be undertaken ^work to be done tomorrow will ^very probably no doubt doubtless make heavy
demands upon the endurance & staying power of many of our troops ^you ; but
I am confident that, in spite of ^excitement fatigue and physical strain, every
man will carry on ^to the utmost of his powers until the ^his goal is won, for the sake of Australia,
for the Empire and our Cause.—
I fervently ^earnestly wish every one of you ^soldier in the Corps the best of good fortune and
a glorious ^and decisive victory, the story of which will ^shall re-echo throughout the
world, and [[?]] live forever in Australian history of our
home land.—
Lieut-General
Commanding Australian Corps 

4/8/18
Corps Headquarters
Final Draft
Aug 7/18
To the Soldiers of the Australian Army Corps.
For the first time in the history of this Corps all the five
Australian Divisions will tomorrow combine ^engage in the largest and most
important battle operation ever undertaken by the Corps.-
They will be supported by an exceptionally powerful Artillery,
and by Tanks and Aeroplanes on a scale never previously attempted
.— The full resources of our sister Dominion, The Canadian Corps,
will also operate on our right, while two British Divisions will guard
our left flank. ⁋ The many successful offensives which the Brigades of this Corps have
so brilliantly executed during the past four months have been but the
prelude to and the preparation for this greatest and culminating effort.—
Because of the completeness of our plans and preparations ^disposition,
of the magnitude of operation, of the number of troops employed,
and of the depth to which we intend to penetrate ^overrun the enemy’s positions,
this battle will be one of the most memorable of the whole war; and
there can be no doubt that, by reaching capturing our objectives, we shall
infict blows upon the enemy which will make him stagger, and
will bring the end of the war appreciably nearer. — The many
I entertain no sort of doubt that every Australian soldier will
worthily rise to so great an occasion, and that every man, imbued
with the spirit of victory, will, in spite of any unexpected ^every difficulty
that may confront him, be animated by no other resolve that a
grim determination to see through, to a clean finish, whatever his
task has been given to him may be.—
The work to be done tomorrow will very likely ^perhaps make heavy
demands upon the endurance and staying powers of many of
you; but I am confident that, in spite of excitement, fatigue
and physical strain, every man will carry on to the utmost
of this powers until his goal is won; for the sake of Australia
the Empire, & our cause.
I earnestly wish every soldier of the Corps the best of good
fortune and a glorious and decisive victory, the story of
which will re-echo throughout the world, and ^will live for ever in
the history of our home land.—
Lieutenant-General
Commanding Australian Corps 

4/8/18
D.R.L.S.
GOC
G.729 4th AAA
Following message received from acting Prime Minister
MELBOURNE, for transmission to Aust.Troops abroad begins-
On the commencement of the fifth year of the war people
of AUSTRALIA wish to assure troops of their unbounded
confidence in their valour and endurance which has been
tried and proved so well at GALLIPOLI, in EGYPT,
MESOPOTAMIA and on the historic battlefields of EUROFE.AAA
Australia is proud of her soldier sons and feels sure
that their gallant record will be maintained until peace
with victory rest with the allied arms signed WATT. -ends.
Australian Corps.
J Roydhouse Capt
/o- For B.G.G.S.
Australian Corps.