Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/256/1 - 1915 - 1936 - Part 12

1st Copy
Reorganisation of the AIF.
From Lt Col. Wieck
1916.Jan.Reorganisation of A.I.F. When the 15th Bde was being formed Elliott
was informed that he was to have four battalion commanders chosen for
him by A.I.F.Headquarters (M'Cay hadnt then arrived) - Harris, and
three others. Cam Stewart he had temporarily, but Cam was to  be displaced
when the other chosen man became available. These were all
impossible men. Wieck was of the impression that A.I.F.Hqrs had nothing
up against t em and was anxious to try them in order to throw
them out if unsuitable.
Anyway Elliott wrote to White a very strong
letter in which he said that if xxxxxxxxx they wanted to have any
(some fairly strong adjective) brigade at all they must scrap the
lot and allow him to choose his own - or words to that effect. This
resulted in a snub from White or Hqrs which he never forgot. The
commanders chosen by AIF Hqrs all turned out complete failures and
very soon dropped out and Pompey then had his own men.
 

234.
August 3, 1925.
Dear White,
(1) In running through the files concerning the first half
of 1916 - a task which I have practically completed - I find no
reference to the manner in which the command of the 3rd Division
was determined. I know that Birdwood originally suggested M'Cay
for the position and Cox and Lawrence for the other two divisions,
and that Antill was brought over to England (according to Birdwood)
to fill a possible vacancy which might occur later in the year.
From another source I know that Monash, when in Egypt,
wrote to Holmes telling him that he was going to put forward his
claim to a division, and asking whether Holmes intended to do so.
Holmes said that he did not intend to put himself forward.
Shortly afterwards your name and Monash's were put
forward together by Dodds.
Have you any recollection of the events which led up
to Monash's appointment? Did he, as he foreshadowed, make
representations to Birdwood or to Australia?
It is only a small point, but an interesting one, and
I should be grateful if you could assist me with your memory.
(2) There is another matter on which I should also value
your opinion. I am aware that Gibbs assisted you in reorganising
the supply and administrative  services of the A.I.F. Would you
tell me whose assistance you found most valuable at that time?
Was Taylor then with you? What part of the work did Griffiths
have> Quite a short note would be sufficient.
Yours sincerely,
C. E. W. BEAN
Major-General Sir C.B.B. White, K.C.M.G.,K.C.V.C.,
Chairman,
Public Service Board of Commissioners,
Melbourne, Victoria.
 

Melbourne
7 Aug 1925
Dear Bean.
There were no particular events
- as far as I remember - leading up to Monashs
app^tt to the 3^rd Divⁿ. He was selected by
General Birdwood quite normally and Gen^l.
B. thought that Monashs admin^tive. & organizing
capacity w^d be better used there than in Com^dg
a brigade. Not to my knowledge did Monash
specially urge his claims to Genl B -
& I think it safe to say that he certainly
did not do so to Australia.
The Antill incident was a later
one & was due to my representations
to Genl B that we sh^d seek every
 

opportunity of selecting & trying out
potential div^l. com^drs. he didnt at
the time know how Antill was failing
- he thought otherwise in fact - And
our demand on Chauvel for him
arrived apparently at the time Chauvel
was seeking to remove him! He therefore
promptly acquiesced in our demand
& remained silent as to why!!
Gibbs assisted materially in the
[[?]] transport. Taylor was with
with me at the time. Griffiths was
of the greatest possible help & really deserves
far more credit than I do for anything
 

achieved. Not only did he with great
ability execute all that was put into his
hands but his suggestions [[re?]] respecting
adminis^tn. were invaluable. As a matter
of fact & whilst on the subject it is only
proper to say that from the early days
of Gallipoli the admin^tn. of the A.I.F.
on the basis on wh. it was conducted
was only rendered possible by Griffiths
and a great deal of what was done
was due, often wholly & almost [[?]]
in part, on to his advice & constructive
suggestion. He had exceptional knowledge as to
estab^ts, promotions transfers &c.
Your sincerely
CBBWhite
 

Note from Robett re formn of 4th Div Arty 12 Bn.

 

Robett   [[?]]

                5 offrs

               13 Artillery men (incl 6 bat men).

Of the 5 offrs 2 were Anzac [[?]]

                        3 were [[?]] who had been NCOs in

the militia arty in Aust.

4 Bty Commdr.

17 Offrs after chosen by [[?R?]] in 3 days at

[[?]]  mainly  from reserve regts 9LH

8PS boys.

He [[?]] then  they had [[?got to work?]] like 

hell & they agreed.

Put in 2hrs (4½ [[?]] 6½) each  [[?]] w 17 offrs

& then they put in 1 hr with men.

Then had 6 hours a day w these 

offrs,  [[?]] offrs 4 hrs as well - then abt 10.

Some of the offrs & NCOs were able [[?]]

(incd 13 RANBT & 10 Offrs ) 1st to teach [[?]]

drill other than Spec. arty drill.

Driving ws done

w 1 water cart per bty including 9 LH [[?]] ride.

The G at St [[?]] after Fromelles put the finish

touch - drove over / manoeuvre area taken ∧^up by

SHQ.

After a fortnight the 17 offrs were

suffly ahead of their men to 

teach them - but tg [[?]] from 4.30 as before.

Syllabus - had to be stuck to absolutely -

they worked on 8 wks syllabus.

Firing ws little more than getting / men used

to [[?]]. Within 10 wks the bties were in

/ line in Fr - [[?]] the btn captains had only

been LH NCOs 10 weeks before.

 

 

 

C.P. No. 136/78.

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND FORCES.

 

Headquarters,

ISMAILIA.

1/3/1916.

 

CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM No. 31

 

SUBJECT - Organisation of Divisional Australian A.O.C.

(1)    The formation of the Ordinance personnel of the 4th and 5th

Australian Division will be begun forthwith at TEL-EL-KEBIR by

the D.A.D.O.S., Provisional Formations under the direction of

Major-General Sir H.V. COX, K.C.M.G., G.B.C.S.I.

(2)    The personnel imediately available as a nucleus is as follows:-

            4th Divisional Headquarters -  Lieut. J. Tuckett) 2 rank & File

                                                                         D.A.D.O.S.

           12th Infantry Brigade    -              1 R.Q.R.S. (acting W.O.).

           8th Divisional Headquarters  -  1 W.O., 1 rank & file.

           18th Brigade Headquarters   -   1 W.O.

As a general practice the whole of the A.A.O.C. on active

service will be treated as one service an regards the seniority

and promotion of Officers and Senior N.C.O.'s.

War Establishments, Part (VII) 1915 will govern the formation

the Establishment of each Division being as follows -

        Headquarters     1 D.A.D.O.S., 2 Clerks, 3 rank and file

                                         which includes 1 W.O., 1 Sgt.

                                         clerk and 2 storemen (Corporals)

       Each Brigade (3)  2 clerks, 1 rank and file, including

                                          a R.Q.N.S. (A/W.O. who acts as repr-           

                                           :sentative of the D.A.D.O.S. of the 

                                          Division) 1 Srgt. 1 Corporal.

Lieutenant-Colonel Austin will arrange regarding the transfer

the transfer of N.C.O.'s and men to these appointments.

 

(sgd) Z.G. GIBBS, Major.

for Brigadier-General

D.A.&Q.H.G.

Australian and New Zealand Forces.

 

 

 

C.R. No. 136/90.

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND FORCES.

 

Head Quarters

ISMAILIA

4-3-1916.

CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM No. 22.

 

Subject :- Organisation - Divisional Mounted Troops.

 

1.  -  In accordance with War Office instructions the

Divisional mounted troops of all divisions will be formed

of one squadron Light Horse or Mounted Rifles instead of

one regiment as heretofore.

The divisional squadron will be of the establishment

laid down in War Establishments (British) 1915, Part VII.

(Yeomanry Squadron).

 

2.  -  The allotment of Light Horse and Mounted Rifle

Squadrons to divisions will accordingly be as follows : -

             1st Aust, Div.  -  one squadron   4th L.H. Regt.

           2nd Aust. Div.  -  one squadron    13th L.H. Regt.

             N.Z. Div.           -  one squadron   Otago Mtd. Rifles.

             3rd Aust. Div.  -  one squadron   to be detailed when

                                                                         necessary by G.O.C.

                                                                         Mounted Division.

            4th Aust. Div.  -  one squadron    13th L.H. Regt. 

            5th Aust. Div.  -  one squadron    13th L.H. Regt.

 

3.  -  Head Quarters and M.G. Section of the 13th L.H.

Regt. will after detachment of squadrons as above proceed

to ZEITOUN where it will form the depot of its divisional

squadrons and provide the cadre of the training regiment

for one L.H. Bde.

 

4.   -  The Otago Mounted Rifles less one squadron and any

detachments due to transfer of men to other units will be

attached to the N.Z.M.R.  Bde.

 

5.   -   The 4th, 11th and 12th L.H. Regts (less detached

squadrons) will be attached as additional regiments to

L.H. Bdes.  as follows  :-

            4th L.H. Regt.      to      1st A.L.H. Bde.

            11th L.H. Regt.      to      2nd A.L.H. Bde.

            12th L.H. Regt.      to      3rd A.L.H. Bde.

 

6.   -   For facility of administration and training of Light

Horse reinforcements in Egypt the O.C. 1st L.H. Bde. will

form a provisional squadron in the 4th L.H. Regt. to replace

the squadron detached to the 1st Australian Division.

 

(Signed) C.B.B. White

Brigadier-General,

D.A. & Q.W.

Australian and New Zealand Forces.

 

Copies to  :-

G.H.Q.

D,A.G., 3rd Echelon.

G.O.C., Cairo Dist.

H.Q., A.I.F.

H.Q., N.Z.E.F.                     N.Z. Div.                        11th L.H. Regt.

Aust. Prov. Form.             1st A.L.H. Bde.             12th L.H. Regt.

1st A. & N.Z. A.C.                2nd A.L.H. Bde.           13th L.H. Regt.

2nd A. & N.Z. A.C.             3rd A.L.H. Bde.             Otago Mtd. Rifles.

1st Aust. Div.                      N.Z.M.R. Bde.               D.M.S., A.I.F.

2nd Aust. Div.                   4th L.H. Regt.              D.D.O.S.,A & N.Z. F.

                                                                                     A.D.V.G., A.I.F.

 

 

C.R. No. 136/117.

 

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND FORCES.

 

Headquarters,

ISMAILIA

10-3-1916.

 

CICULAR MEMORANDUM No. 32.

 

Subject    :     Organisation -  Cyclist Companies, A.I.F.

 1      Approval is given for the organisation of a Cyclist

Company in each Australian Division. The Company will be of

the establishment laid down in Part VII War Establishments,

1915.

 

2.     The company will form a distinct organisation, but 

officers appointed to it will be seconded from units and their

promotion will be regulated accordingly.

3.     The personnel of the companies will be found by trans-

fers from existing units and from reinforcements.

4.     Divisions and G.O.C. Provisional Formations will submit

to this office as soon as possible lists showing extra personnel

required from ZEITOUN.

 

These lists will be sent from this office to H.Q., A.I.F.

Cairo, and Divisional Commanders and G.O.C. Provisional Formations will arrange direct with that office for the movement of the troops.

 

The movement of additional troops required by the 2nd

Aust. Div. will be given precedence.

 

(signed) CBB White

Brigadier-General,

D.A & Q.M.G.,

Australian and New Zealand Forces.

 

Copies to  :

G.H.Q                                                        N.Z.Div.

D.A.G., 3rd Echelon.                              1st. A.L.H.Bde.

G.O.C. Cairo Dist.                                   2nd. A.L.H.Bde.

H.Q., A.I.F.                                                3rd.  A.L.H.Bde.

H.Q., N.Z.E.F.                                           N.Z.M.R.Bde.

Aust. Prov. Formations                       D.M.S., A.I.F.

1st. A & N.Z.A.C.                                      D.D.O.S.

2nd. A. & N.Z.A.C.                                  A.D.V.S., A.I.F.

1st. Aust. Div.

2nd. Aust. Div.