Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/257/1 - 1916 - 1927 - Part 15

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG1066693
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

COPY. PARAPHRASE OF TELEAM. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor-"eneral of the Commonwealth of Australia. (Sent 5.20 p.m., 24th August 1916) It is desired by Army Council that your Government be informed that it will be necessary to draw on 3rd Division for reinforce- ments owing to heavy casualties recently suffered by Australian Divisions in France. They therefore recommend that in addition to the normal monthly reinforcements a special draft of 20,000 infantry be sent as soon as possible to make good present ceficit and so enable 3rd Division to be again brought up to strength. They recemmend further that for three months following despatch of this special draft the monthly reinforcements of infantry sent should be calculated at 25% of establishment, that is, about 16,500 per month for five divisions. This is the only means of retaining 3rd Division for service in field though the Army Council are aware that the provision of this additional personnel may greatly inconvenience your Government in training and other arrangements. BONAR LAW.
C68715 Fs/Dc. Ab., SE CRE T. 7th Soptember, A.A.G., A.I.F. Attached Headquarters ist ANZAC, I forward, for your information, a copy of a telegram received from the Department of Defence, Melbourne:- Begins - "W. 13463. Following cable was sent on August 31st to S. of S.:- With reference to your telegram of August 24th, which conveyed intimation from Army Council that it will draw on 3rd Division for reinforcements, on account of heavy casualties recently suffered in France by Australian Division and rocommended spocial draft of 20,000 Infantry said special draft of 20,000 Infantry will be sent immediately by Government as Transport comes to hand and 16,500 per month thereafter. Do not however understand position with regard to reinforcements last state you furnished of date August 29th shows 45,000 in Depots and Camps of whom 14,000 probabl ird Division. This leaves 31,000 reinforcemonts available with longer training than 3rd Division. Aro they not being absorbed in the field force? In addition, 15,000 at least are now at sea on passage. Despatch of normal reinforcements is taking place in September and October. Hope to despatch special draft of 20,000 middle of November if transport available but at present uncertain if full normal reinforcements can bè despatched November, but they will be December. The 16,500 reinforcements desired will be sent January also February and March. Ends. Lieutenant. Staff Captain. for D.A.A.G. Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F.
Fs/em C6815 - Ab 68. 1.15. August 31st. SRORRT. A.A.G., A.I.F. Attached Headquarters, lst Anzac. I forward for your information copies of cablegrams between the Minister of Defence and tho War Office:- From Minister of Defence Australia, War Office:- To 26th August 16. (No. C 173) "It is suggested by Commonwealth that 11th and 12th Light Horse, all dismounted double squadrons of Light Horse, all members Australia Imperial Force, with Camel Corps Companies, and all, excepting reinforcements oeyond 6 per cent for the nine regimonts in Light Horse Dicision should be sent as soon as posslble to England to meet requirements for infantry reinforcements for four divisions in France." From War Office Minister of Defence, Australia. To 28th August 1916. (No. 22115, cipher. S.D.2.) "Your No. C 173. The troops to which you refer are all fully employed in the defence of Egypt and it has been recently stated by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief that the Anzac troops are keystone of the defence of Egypt. Army Council there fore, greatly regret they cannot comply with your suggestion." Lieutenant Staff Captain, for D.A.A.G. Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F.
HIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION LARK HILL CAMP COPY. SALISBURY PLAIN. 19/9/16. Colonel Anderson, Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F., Horseferry Road, LONDON. My dear Colonel, General Birdwood has written instructing me to prepare careful statistics as to troops available from all sources so that, in consultation with Sir Newton Moore, I may, should the necessity arise, be able to go with him to the War Office to contest the necessity of withdrawing any furthe r troops from the Third Division. To this end Colonel Griffiths is going to send me from France definite and reliable statistics as to the defisiences to be good both in the four veteran divisions and in the depot at Etaples, and the authorities at Tidworth are going to supply me with full statistics as to all troops available in England, in depots, other than the Third Division.- In order to avoid mistakes arising from drafts en route, both these statistics will be related to one and the same date, namely September 25th. In order to complete the story and enable me to be in a position to present to the authorities a complete statement as to the whole available resources in men I should now like, in addition to the above, to have from you a precis of the very latest information at your disposal as regards troops on passage from Egypt or Australia on the date in question, namely September 25th. I am quite aware that your information on this point is sometimes incomplete and indefinite, but doubtless your Captain Donnelly will be in a position to supply a considerable amount of information as to the numbers of troops known for certain to be on the water and shortly to arrive. If there is definite information available about ships expected to report on definite or approximate dates after September 25th, it would be useful to have that information added to the statement. Will you be so kind therefore as to have such a state- ment prepared for my use and forwarded to me as soon as may be after September 25th. Yours faithfully, (sgd) John Monash. C68-1-15 27th September 1916. The GO.C. Headquarters 3rd Australian Division, Lark Hill Camp Salisbury Plain. With reference to your letter of the 19th instant, asking for a statement as to the whole available resources of troops on passage from Egypt and Australia. I am enclosing herewith a return showing reinforcements of units at present en route to England. This list contains the whole of the information asked for. I am also enclosing a copy of a cablegram from Defence which shows the reinforcements which are due to arrive monthly from Australia. The War Office has full information with regard to reinforcements arriving from Australia.
FIRST AUSTRALLAN AND NEW ZEALAND ARMY CORPS. Headquarter: 22nd September 1916. Headquarters A.I.F. Depots in England, Tidworth. I am to attach - (a) statement showing the number of reinforcements available in England and at Etaples for the Australian divisions; (b) state showing briefly how we stand with regard to rein- forcements other than infantry; 2. It will be seen that - in the artillery there are 268 engineers 238 pioneers 178 machine gun corps 469 A.A.S.C. 695 over and above requirements, who are available for transfer to infantry. In addition, probably another 100 volunteers for transfer to the infantry could be obtained from the A.A.M.C., and a communicat. ion is being addressed to the D.M.S., A.I.F., on the subject, from whom, no doubt, you will shortly hear. 4. In allocating the transferees under "2" to units, it should be borne in mind that, as far as practicable, they should be sent to a unit of the district to which they belong, i.e. the territorial organisation is to be adhered to: and, in addition, regard must be had to the fact that the infantry reinforcements available in some of the divisions already greatly exceed the numbers required to complete, as the following table will show Total strength Number required of infantry to complete infan¬ reinforcements try of division to in England and establishment. at Etaples Other ranks Other ranks lst Aust. Division 6,542 3: 180 2nd Aust. Division 7,083 3,802 4th Aust. Division 4,713 4,673 5th Aust. Division 4,171 4,502 22 303 16,157 iNote. To this number may be added 1,848 on account of the men referred to in "2", about to be transferred. It will therefore be necessary to transfer some of the rein¬ forcements of the lst and 2nd Divisions to the 4th and 5th Divisions - still adhering to the territorial basis - so as to equalise matters - not only in regard to the total number of reinforcements but, as far as practicable, so that each brigade will have an equal number of trained reinforcements available at the same dates. Lieut.-Colonel, A.A.G., A.I.F.
ARM Artillery and D.A.C. Engineers Signals Pioneers M.G. Coys A.A.M.C. A.A.S.C. GENERAL REINFORCEMENTS, England 15/9/16. B.213 of 16/9/16. Etaples 16/9/16. Gotal Etaples Rfots Short of Strength In England Total eresent eid. ARopd. .A. Div. 2 4. Div.3 A. Div, 4 A. Div. 5 A.Div. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off O.R. 1393 2 783 15 2176 1 63 1 37 - - - 385 5 - 7 138 1 574 541 3 19 158 2 55 22 699 2 8 2 51 - - - 22 - - 4 81 - 81 - - . - - 3 - 2 - 5 92 92 18 I 1124 154 1 52 14 1278 1 238 - 171 - - 2 191 1 -4 600 1 378 210 - 184 1 588 3 3 2 3 - - 5 18 - - 10 24 370 174 -93 31 544 2 15 - 15 - - - 19 1 7 3 56 31 15 658 259 - 185 15 917 - - - - 2 12 - - 2 12 £D.A.C. Div. Arty. not shown.
Unit Ist Aust, Division. ist En. 2nd Pn. 3rd Bn. 4th Bn. 5th Bn. 6th Bn. 7th Bn. 8th Bn. 9th Bn. 10th Bn. 11th Bn. 12th Bn. 2nd Aust, Division. 17th Bn. 18th Bn. 19th Bn. 20th Bn. 21st Bn.. 22nd Bn. 23rd Bn. 24th Bn. 25th Bn. 26th Bn. 27th Bn. 28th Bn. REINFORCEMENT STATEIENT, 16/9/16. Bt aples England Short of Strength Total Total Fed. 4 Eopd. Rfots. By Ddes. Total Bde. By Bdes. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. D.R. .O.R. Uff. O.R. 394 277 123 29 13 1748 1427 7 1204 311 123 445 12 137 280 l25 167 236 94 971 26 2761 23 2133 267 126 247 141 223 142 232 234 i 19 782 32 2033 25 1428 153 72 174 157 55 3180 71 6522 55 A765 Note: 2nd Infantry Brigade are short of 1 Brigade Major and 1 Chaplain in addition. 238 380 416 315 17 1226 26 2665 1501 18 233 279 339 50 231 431 181 408 161 1 49 21 2360 12 1556 e 345 159 372 177 233 161 198 147 25 1020 9 1403 13 2058 192 156 397 191 43 4586 50 7003 54 3802
Unit 4th Aust, Division. 13th Bn. 14th Bn. 15th Bn. 16th Bn. 45th Bn. 46th Bn. 47th Bn. 48th Bn. 49th Bn. 50th Bn. 51st Bn. 52nd Bn. 5th Aust, Division. 29th Bn. 30th Bn. 31st Bn. 32nd Bn. 53rd Bn. 54th Bn. 555h Bn. 56th Bn. 57th Bn. 58th Bn. 59th Bn. 60th Bn. England Bdes. Off. O.R. 5 1295 7970 11 1236 23 3501 19 983 7 1051 13 966 39 3000 ples Total Ftd. & Eopd. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. 109 88 156 137 -111 138 185 109 33 218 23 193 93 17 17 60 1 17 be an 123 82 I 13 84 Total Rfots. By Bdes. Off. O.R. 10 1640 11 1512 13 1561 34 4713 24 1596 9 1266 15 1309 48 4171 Short of strength Pdes. Off. Off. O.R. O.R. 397 17 1402 265 402 338 315 308 28 1576 412 541 15 362 13 362 49 1695 476 17 495 94 4673 13 1477 22 1346 28 1659 63 4482
ARTILLERY. Available Required ANoinandd. Available Required PIONEERS, Available Required Maonins Available Required A.A.S.C. Available Required A.A.M.C. Avaialble Required 15 2176 for divisions remaining to form extra batteries 500 -16 plus 1438 remaining 1170 7% reinforcements 360 svallable for transfer. 22 697 81 for divisions 1 618 380 10% 230 avallabls for transfer 18 14 1278 500 for divisions 678 500 10 176 available for transfer QUN GORPS. 588 54 for divisions (? 5th Div) - 9 plus 534 106 reinforcements say 469 available for transfer to infantry (should be noted in battalions for Lewis Gun sections) xx 15 917 1 reinforcements at 210 535 available for transfer 544 56 488 28 250 st 56 238 remaining, from whom say 100 volunteers might be called. Remainder could be "attached" (for div. baths etc.) to divisions.
November 1916. COPY. Defence to War Office - It is proposed C.188 Do you concur in the following. in future to give only a few weeks elementary training to Australian reinforcements before embarkation as it is under- stood that advanced training can be given more efficiently in England. War Office to Defence - 24967 cipher S.D.2 Your C.188 November 11th We concur.

COPY.

PARAPHRASE OF TELEGRAM. The Secretary of State for the Colonies 

to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. 

(Sent 5.20 p.m., 24th August 1916)

It is desired by Army Council that your Government be informed 

that it will be necessary to draw on 3rd Division for reinforcements 
owing to heavy casualties recently suffered by Australian 

Divisions in France. They therefore recommend that in addition

to the normal monthly reinforcements a special draft of 20,000

infantry be sent as soon as possible to make good present deficit 

and so enable 3rd Division to be again brought up to strength. 

They recommend further that for three months following despatch of

this special draft the monthly reinforcements of infantry sent

should be calculated at 25% of establishment, that is, about

16,500 per month for five divisions. This is the only means of 

retaining 3rd Division for service in field though the Army

Council are aware that the provision of this additional personnel

may greatly inconvenience your Government in training and other 

arrangements.

BONAR LAW. 

 

[*C68-1-15*]

FS/DC.     

Ab.,

SECRET.

7th September, 6

A.A.G., A.I.F.,

Attached Headquarters,

1st ANZAC.

I forward, for your information, a copy of a

telegram received from the Department of Defence, Melbourne:-

Begins - 

"W.13463. Following cable was sent on August 31st to

S. of S.:- With reference to your telegram of 

August 24th, which conveyed intimation from Army

Council that it will draw on 3rd Division for

reinforcements, on account of heavy casualties

recently suffered in France by Australia Division

and recommended special draft of 20,000 Infantry

said special draft of 20,000 Infantry will be sent

immediately by Government as Transport comes to

hand and 16,500 per month thereafter. Do not however

understand position with regard to reinforcements

last state you furnished of date August 29th shows

45,000 in Depots and Camps of whom 14,000 probably

3rd Division. This leaves 31,000 reinforcements 

available with longer training than 3rd Division.

Are they not being absorbed in the field by force? In

addition, 15,000 at least are now at sea on passage.

Despatch of normal reinforcements is taking place in

September and October. Hope to despatch special draft

of 20,000 middle of November if transport available,

but at present uncertain if full normal reinforcements

can be despatched November, but they will be December.

The 16,500 reinforcements desired will be sent 

January also February and March,

Ends.

Lieutenant.

Staff Captain.

for D.A.A.G.,

Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F.

 

[*C68-1-15*]

FS/MEM     

Ab 68. 1.15.

August 31st.    6

SECRET.

A.A.G., A.I.F.

Attached Headquarters,

1st Anzac.

I forward for your information copies of cablegrams

between the Minister of Defence and the War Office :-

From Minister of Defence Australia,

To War Office :-

26th August 16.

(No. C 173)

"It is suggested by Commonwealth that 11th 

and 12th Light Horse, all dismounted double

squadrons of Light Horse, all members Australia

Imperial Force, with Camel Corps Companies, and

all, excepting reinforcements beyond 6 per cent,

for the nine regiments in Light Horse Division

should be sent as soon as possible to England

to meet requirements for infantry reinforcements

for four divisions in France."

From War Office

To Minister of Defence, Australia.

28th August 1916.

(No. 22115, cipher. S.D.2.)

"Your No. C 173. The troops to which you refer

are all fully employed in the defence of Egypt

and it has been recently stated by the General

Officer Commanding-in-Chief that the Anzac troops

are keystone to the defence of Egypt. Army Council

therefore, greatly regret they cannot comply with

your suggestion."

Lieutenant,

Staff Captain,

for D.A.A.G.,

Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F.

 

THIRD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION,

LARK HILL CAMP,

SALISBURY PLAIN.

19/9/16.

COPY.

Colonel Anderson,

Administrative Headquarters,

A.I.F., Horseferry Road,

LONDON.

My dear Colonel,

General Birdwood has written instructing me to prepare

careful statistics as to troops available from all sources so that, in

consultation with Sir Newton Moore, I may, should the necessity arise,

be able to go with him to the War Office to contest the necessity of

withdrawing any furthe r troops from the Third Division.

To this end Colonel Griffiths is going to send me from

France definite and reliable statistics as to the deficiences to be

good both in the four veteran divisions and in the depot at Etaples,

and the authorities at Tidworth are going to supply me with full

statistics xxxxxxxxxxxxx as to all troops available in England, in

deopts, other than the Third Division.- In order to avoid mistakes

arising from drafts en route, both these statistics will be related to

one and the same date, namely September 25th. 

In order to complete the story and enable me to be in a 

position to present to the authorities a complete statement as to the

whole available resources in men I should now like, in addition to the

above, to have from you a precis of the very latest information at your 

disposal as regards troops on passage from Egypt or Australia on the

date in question, namely September 25th. I am quite aware that your

information on this point is sometimes incomplete and indefinite, but

doubtless your Captain Donnelly will be in a position to supply a

considerable amount of information as to the numbers of troops known

for certain to be on the water and shortly to arrive. If there is 

definite information available about ships expected to report on

definite or approximate dates after September 25th, it would be useful

to have that information added to the statement.

Will you be so kind therefore as to have such a statement 

prepared for my use and forwarded to me as soon as may be after

September 25th.

Yours Faithfully,

(sgd) John Monash.

C68-1-15

27th September 1916.

The GO.C.,

Headquarters,

3rd Australian Division,

Lark Hill Camp,

Salisbury Plain.

With reference to your letter of the 19th instant, asking for

a statement as to the whole available xxxxxxx resources of troops on

passage from Egypt to Australia.

I am enclosing herewith a return showing reinforcements of

units at present en route to England. This list contains the whole of

the information asked for.

I am also enclosing a copy of a cablegram from Defence which

shows the reinforcements which are due to arrive monthly from

Australia. The War Office has full information with regard to

reinforcements arriving from Australia.

 

FIRST AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ARMY CORPS.

Headquarters,

22nd September 1916.

Headquarters,

A.I.F. Depots in England,

Tidworth.

I am to attach -

(a) statement showing the number of reinforcements available

in England and at Etaples for the Australian divisions;

(b) state showing briefly how we stand with regard to 

reinforcements other than infantry;

2. It will be seen that - 

in the artillery               there are    -    268

"   engineers                     "         "            238

"   pioneers                        "         "            178

"   machine gun corps    "         "           469

"   A.A.S.C.                           "         "            695

                                                                   ______

                                                                     1848

over and above requirements, who are available for transfer to

infantry.

3. In addition, probably another 100 volunteers for transfer to

the infantry could be obtained from the A.A.M.C., and a communication

is being addressed to the D.M.S., A.I.F., on the subject, from

whom, no doubt, you will shortly hear.

4. In allocating the transferees under "2" to units, it should be

borne in mind that, as far as practicable, they should be sent to a

unit of the district to which they belong, i.e., the territorial 

organisation is to be adhered to: and, in addition, regard must 

be had to the fact that infantry reinforcements available in

some of the divisions alreadly greatly exceed the numbers required

to complete, as the following table will show -

  Total strength
of infantry
reinforcements
in England and
at Etaples		 Number required
to complete
infantry of division to 
establishment
Other ranks Other ranks
1st Aust. Division

6,542

3,180
2nd Aust. Division

7,083

3,802
4th Aust. Division

4,713

4,693
5th Aust. Division

4,171

4,502
 

22,509x

16,157

XNote. To this number may be added 1,848 on account of the men

referred to in "2", about to be transferred.

It will be therefore be necessary to transfer some of the reinforcements 
of the 1st and 2nd Divisions to the 4th and 5th Divisions

- still adhering to the territorial basis - so as to equalise

matters - not only in regard to the total number of reinforcements,

but, as far as practicable, so that each brigade will have an equal

number of trained reinforcements available at the same dates.

Lieut.-Colonel,

A.A.A., A.I.F.

 

GENERAL REINFORCEMENTS.

B.213 of 16/9/16.      England  15/9/16.

                                  Etaples 16/9/16.

 

ARM In England Etaples Total 
Rfcts		 Short of Strength Total
    Present Etd. & Eqpd.   1.A Div 2.A Div 3.A.Div 4.A Div 5.A. Div.  
  Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off.  O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R.
Artillery
and D.A.C.

13

1393

3

783

1

574

15

2176

1

63

1

37

-

-

-

38x

5

-

7

136
Engineers

19

541

3

158

2

55

22

699

2

8

2

51

-

-

-

22

-

-

4

81
Signals

-

-

-

92

-

81

-

92

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3

-

2

-

5
Pioneers

13

1124

1

154

1

52

14

1278

1

238

-

171

-

-

2

191

1

X

4

600
M.G. Coys

1

378

-

210

-

184

1

588

3

3

2

3

-

-

5

18

-

-

10

24
A.A.M.C.

31

370

-

174

-

93

31

544

2

15

-

15

-

-

-

19

1

7

3

56
A.A.S.C.

15

658

-

259

-

185

15

917

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

12

-

-

2

12

xD.A.C.

Div. Arty. not shown.

 

REINFORCEMENT STATEMENT.  16/9/18

Unit

 England

Etaples

 Total
Rfcts.

Short of Strength
  By Bdes Total       Ftd. & Eqpd. By Bdes     Total Bde
  Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R.
1st Aust. Division.                        
1st Bn.

7

1204

1

161

 

 

13

1748

7

394

29

1427
2nd Bn.

1

123

 

40

1

277
3rd Bn.

4

123

1

1

9

311
4th Bn.

 

137

 

29

12

445
5th Bn.

23

2133

 

125

 

 

26

2761

3

290

7

971
6th Bn.

 

236

 

94

 

167
7th Bn.

1

126

 

 

 

267
8th Bn.

2

141

 

1

4

247
9th Bn.

25

1428

2

142

 

15

32

2033

6

223

19

782
10th Bn.

3

234

 

116

5

232
11th Bn.

2

72

 

 

3

153
12th Bn.

 

157

 

 

5

174
 

55

4765

 

 

 

 

71

6542

 

 

55

3180

Note: 2nd Infantry Brigade ar short of 1 Brigade Major and 1 Chaplain in addition.
2nd Aust. Division.                        
17th Bn.

18

1501

2

339

2

 

26

2665

 

238

17

1226
18th Bn.

2

315

1

 

11

416
19th Bn.

2

279

3

 

6

233
20th Bn.

1

231

1

50

 

339
21st Bn.

16

1682

1692

 

181

 

 

21

2360

 

431

12

1556
22nd Bn.

2

161

1

49

9

408
23rd Bn.

 

159

 

 

3

345
24th Bn.

3

171

1

 

 

372
25th Bn.

9

1403

 

161

 

8

13

2058

10

233

25

1020
26th Bn.

 

147

 

 

6

198
27th Bn.

2

156

1

 

 

192
28th Bn.

2

191

2

1

9

397
 

43

4586

 

 

 

 

50

7083

 

 

54

3802
 

 

Unit

 England

Etaples

 Total
Rfcts.

Short of Strength
  By Bdes Total       Ftd. & Eqpd. By Bdes     Total Bde
  Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R. Off. O.R.
4th Aust. Division.                        
13th Bn.

5

1295

1

83

 

 

10

1640

4

397

17

117

1402
14th Bn.

3

109

1

 

3

265
15th Bn.

 

63

 

 

1

402
16th Bn.

1

90

 

 

9

338
45th Bn.

7

970

1

156

 

 

11

1512

4

315

28

1576
46th Bn.

1

137

 

 

4

308
47th Bn.

1

111

 

 

5

412
48th Bn.

1

138

1

 

15

541
49th Bn.

11

1236

 

66

 

 

13

1561

13

362

49

1695
50th Bn.

 

102

 

 

5

362
51st Bn.

2

67

 

 

14

476
52nd Bn.

 

90

 

 

17

495
 

23

3501

 

 

 

 

34

4713

 

 

94

4673
5th Aust. Division.                        
29th Bn.

19

983

1

109

1

10

24

1596

 

 

13

1477
30th Bn.

 

218

 

33

 

 
31st Bn.

1

193

1

23

 

 
32nd Bn.

3

93

3

17

 

 
53rd Bn.

7

1051

 

35

 

13

9

1266

 

 

22

1346
54th Bn.

1

63

 

17

 

 
55th Bn.

57

 

 

6

 

 
56th Bn.

1

60

1

17

 

 
57th Bn.

13

966

1

54

1

6

15

1309

 

 

28

1659
58th Bn.

 

123

 

21

 

 
59th Bn.

 

82

 

12

 

 
60th Bn.

1

84

1

13

 

 
 

39

3000

 

 

 

 

48

4171

 

 

63

4482

 

 

 

ARTILLERY.

Available

15

2176

  
Required

7

138

 for divisions
 

8

2038

 remaining
 

24

600

 to form extra batteries
 

-16

plus

1438 

 remaining
      1170   7% reinforcements
     

268

 available for transfer

ENGINEERS.

 

Available

15

2176

  
Required

7

138

 for divisions
 

8

2038

 remaining
 

24

600

 to form extra batteries
 

-16

plus

1438 

 remaining
      1170   7% reinforcements
     

268

 available for transfer

PIONEERS.

Available

14

 1278  
Required

4

600

 for divisions
 

10

678

 remaining
 

 

500

 10%
    178 available for transfer

MACHINE GUN CORPS.

Available

1

588

  
Required

-10

54

 for divisions (? 5th Div)
 

-9

plus 534

  
 

 

65

 10% reinforcements, say
   

469

 available for transfer to infantry (should
be noted in battalions for Lewis Gun
sections_

A.A.S.C.

 

Available

XX 15

917

  
Required

2

12

  
 

13

905

  
 

 

210

 reinforcements at 7%
   

695

 available for transfer 

A.A.M.C.

 

Available

31

544

  
Required

3

56

  
 

28

488

  
 

 

250

 at 5%
   

238

remaining, from whom say 100 volunteers

might be called. Remainder could be 

"attached" (for div. baths etc.) to 
divisions.
 

COPY.

November 1916.

Defence to War Office - 

C.188 Do you concur in the following. It is proposed

in future to give only a few weeks elementary training to

Australian reinforcements before embarkation as it is understoon
that advanced training can be given more efficiently
in England.

War Office to Defence - 
24957 cipher S.D.2 Your C.188 November 11th. We concur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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