Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/257/1 - 1916 - 1927 - Part 18

Re.
6th Division Query 3
(From Heyes in reply to my letter of 15 Aug 1925.)
"ADVANCE COPY"

PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM. From the Secretary of State for the Colonies
to the Governor General of the Commonwealth of
Australia.
(Sent 6.45 p.m. 6th February 1917.)
My telegram of 1st February. It is suggested by
Army Council now formations should be raised in England
gradually as was done last year in Egypt beginning with
one infantry brigade and that details should be arranged
by Birdwood with War Office direct subject as regards
high commands to Ministers' approval. This would greatly
expedite formation and training of new units and as
regards transportation from Australia would be more
advantageous the additional men required being sent over
in the form of increased reinforcements.

Query 3
Telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to
the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
(Sent 10.40 p.m. 8th February, 1917).
-------------------
Following from Sir William Robertson to your Prime
Minister begins:- Operations of current year will be of
supreme importance to ultimate issue of war. Enemy knows
this and is sparing no effort to increase his forces by
raising new divisions. To meet this and exploit the supremacy
which the troops of the British Empire have acquired over him
in the fighting of the past year we must have sufficient men
not only to feed existing divisions with reinforcements to
make good wastage, but also to augment them by other divisions.
A sixth Australian Division, with or without its artillery,
ready to take the field during July would be invaluable addition
to fighting strength of Imperial Army on Western front. If
additional men are forthcoming the brigades can be formed
and trained in England. The people of Australia have in the
past responded nobly to the call for men and I am convinced
that once they know the urgency of the moment they will send
the men the Empire needs. Time is a vital factor in war,
and there is no time to lose. Hope Australia will begin
sending more men now and so enable us to finish rapidly and
effectively the business in hand. Ends.
 

TEL. NO. CITY 1740  EXT .......
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS:
"CROTONATE. ESTRAND, LONDON"
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
ADRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO
THE OFFICIAL SECRETARY
AND QUOTE
NO...........
Audit House (Historical Sect.)
Victoria Embankment, E.C.4.
STRAND, LONDON, W.C.2.
29th October, 1925.
Dear Mr. Bean,
The following information is additional to that supplied
in my letter of the 15th October in connection with the three
queries raised in your letter, of the 15th August 1925.
Query 1. I am attaching hereto a copy of a cablegram dated 
the 17th June 1915 from Mr. Bonar Law to the Governor
General of the Commonwealth, containing the
information that "every available man that can be
recruited in Australia is wanted".
I have not been able to secure a copy of the
Governor General's telegram of the 7th June referred
to in the above cablegram, but perhaps with the above
information this can be traced in Australia. If not,
and you require it, will you inform me and I will have
another try.
Query 2. I am attaching hereto a copy of a telegram which
was sent to the Minister of Defence, New Zealand,
and was also repeated to the Minister of Defence,
Australia, and which is a copy of the one you mention
in your query and also possibly have.
The Historical Section inform me that Sir Ian
Hamilton and General Birdwood were, of course,
at Gallipoli on date of above mentioned wire, and
further, the evacuation of the Dardanelles had not
at that time been settled. It is obvious, they
reason, that their estimate of reinforcements required
was based on requirements for the Eastern Theatre of
War only. I am also informed, on their authority, that
there was no general increase in the reinforcement
rates in the Western Theatre. Nor were the casualties
at Loos the reason for the recommendations contained
in the telegram of October 5th. In this connection
the War Office had been warned on 22nd September
(i.e.
 

- 2 -
i.e. before the Battle of Loos) of the number of
casualties to be expected (35,000, I am told) and by
the 28th September had commenced to send out all
reinforcements required to replace the casualties
incurred in that battle.
Query 3. The information given in my letter of the 15th
October answers this question, I think. Attached
hereto you will find copies of two further cablegrams
referring to the request for a sixth Australian
Division, which I am forwarding in case you have not
seen the originals in Australia.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
T H E Heyes
C.E.W. Bean, Esq.,
 

Query 1
PARAPHRASE
TELEGRAM. The Secretary of State for the Colonies
to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
(sent 4.55pm. 17th June 1915)
------------
With reference to your telegram 7th June Secret
I learn from Army Council that every available man that can
be recruited in Australia is wanted. Unfortunately present
output of rifles here not sufficient to arm men already
trained in this country but when deliveries begin to come
in from new sources of supply, every endeavour will be made
to meet your Government's requirements.
BONAR LAW.
 

Query 2
THE FULL TEXT OF TELEGRAM READS :-
FROM WAR OFFICE to MINISTER OF DEFENCE,
NEW ZEALAND.
-----------------
5th October, 1915.
8 p.m.
With reference to your G.135, and our No.8089,
cipher, (dated 20th and 21st September; refer to reinforcement 
question generally). General Sir Ian Hamilton
and General Birdwood have considered the question of the
reinforcements that are likely to be required in 1916 to
replace wastage, and we recommend that the following
monthly reinforcements be sent in advance. Infantry,
Mounted Rifles, Artillery (gunners only), Engineers,
20 per cent., Medical units 7 per cent, the remainder as
laid down in Section 28, Part 2, of Field Service
Regulations.
The above is calculated to meet normal requirements
only. In order that exceptional requirements may be
met without drawing on partially trained men, it would
be necessary to keep a further reserve of 10 per cent
in New Zealand in order to meet special emergencies.
We should have hesitated to put forward a request for so
large an increase had it not been for the generous offer
of the New Zealand Government. We shall be extremely
grateful for whatever the New Zealand Government is in
a position to do towards meeting our requirements.
Repeated to Minister of Defence, Australia, as No.8568,
cipher.
____________________________________
 

COPY.
6th Divn

PARAPHRASE
TELEGRAM. The Secretary of State for the Colonies
to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of
Australia.
(Sent, 7.0 p.m., 1st February. 1917.)
------
The possibility of raising further troops is
being anxiously considered by His Majesty's Government
and after passing in review man power of this country
steps are being taken to secure still more men for
the Army. Ministers may be interested to know that
England, Scotland and Wales to 2nd December had
already each furnished to Army over 17 per cent of
male population. His Majesty's Government are aware
that last November your Government were doubtful
whether under conditions then obtaining it would be
possible to maintain five Australian divisions in the
field. Nevertheless in view of the urgent need for
men they ask your Ministers to consider earnestly
once more possibility of forming at once a Sixth
Australian Division. It is true that if this is done
it will be several months before the new Division
could be formed and transported to Europe but as it is
by no means unlikely that the climax of the war will
by that time be imminent if indeed it has not been
reached the opinion of our military advisers is that
it will be more to our advantage after making due
provision for the forces already in the field to
raise additional fighting units than to build up
further reinforcements for an indefinite period.
These
 

These additional units could at the worst be used
as reinforcements.
Though we have not accurate figures, it
appears on information available that there are
still over 350,000 men in Australia fit for General
service. Reinforcements for existing five
divisions and Mounted Brigade in Egypt for 12
months amount to say 140,000 towards which a
considerable number of convalescents who have once
more become fit for General service should be
available.
Even if your Government should not see
their way to raising a Sixth division complete in
all respects three additional infantry brigades
with or without a proportion of the normal
complement of the other arms and services would
constitute a most valuable addition to the fighting
strength of the Imperial Army on the Western front.
It is of vital importance that no time should be
lost in forming whatever new units your Ministers
may consider it possible to raise in order that
they may reach this country during July at latest.
An early and favourable reply is hoped
for by His Majesty's Government.
LONG.
 

(COPY) 7  D.A.G., A.I.F 25/139
"ADVANCE COPY"
 PARAPHRASE.
TELEGRAM. The Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor.
General of the Commonwealth of Australia. (Sent 7 p.m. 1st Feb.1917).
-------------
The possibility of raising further troops is being anxiously
considered by His Majesty's Government and after passing in review man
power of this country steps are being taken to secure still more men
for the Army. Ministers may be interested to know that England, Scotland
and Wales to 2nd December had already each furnished to Army over 17 per
cent of male population. His Majesty's Government are aware that last
November your Government were doubtful whether under conditions then
obtaining it would be possible to maintain five Australian divisions in
the field. Nevertheless in view of the urgent need for men they ask
your Ministers to consider earnestly once more possibility of forming
at once a Sixth Australian Division. It is true that if this is done
it will be several months before the new Division could be formed and
transported to Europe but as it is by no means unlikely that the climax
of the war will by that time be imminent if indeed it has not been
reached the opinion of our military advisers is that it will be more to
our advantage after making due provision for the forces already in the
field to raise additional fighting units than to build up further
reinforcements for an indefinite period. These additional units could
at the worst be used as reinforcements.
Though we have not accurate figures, it appears on information
available that there are still over 350,000 men in Australia fit for
general service. Reinforcements for existing five divisions and Mounted
Brigade in Egypt for 12 months amount to say 140,000 towards which a
considerable number of convalescents who have once more become fit for
General service should be available.
Even if your Government should not see their way to raising a
Sixth Division complete in all respects three additional infantry
brigades with or without a proportion of the normal complement of the
other arms and services would constitute a most valuable addition to
the fighting strength of the Imperial Army on the Western front. It is
of vital importance that no time should be lost in forming whatever new
units your Ministers may consider it possible to raise in order that they
may reach this country during July at latest.
An early and favourable reply is hoped for by His Majesty's
Government.
C.I.G.S.
D.C.I.G.S.
D.M.O.
M.O.1.
M.O.1.c.
D.S.D.
S.D.2
S.D.2.b.
A.G.
D.O.
A.G.1
A.G.2
Q.M.G.
M.G.O.
D.G.M.A.
D.R.
 

(COPY)
 

D.A.G. 25/139.
"ADVANCE COPY."
PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM. From the Secretary of State for the Colonies
to the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
(Sent 6.45 p.m. 6th February, 1917).
-----------
My telegram of 1st February. It is suggested by Army
Council now formations should be raised in England gradually as was
done last year in Egypt beginning with one infantry brigade and that
details should be arranged by Birdwood with War Office direct subject
as regards higher commands to Ministers' approval. This would greatly
expedite formation and training of new units and as regards transportation
from Australia would be more advantageous the additional men
required being sent over in the form of increased reinforcements.