Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/257/1 - 1916 - 1927 - Part 19

D.A.G. 25/139.
(COPY)
”ADVANCE COPY”.
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.
C.I.G.S.
D.C.I.C.S.  Q.M.G.
D.M.O.      M.G.O.
M.O.1.        D.G.M.A.
D.S.D.        D.O.
S.D.2         A.G.1.
S.D.2.b.     A.G.2.
A.G.           D.R.

D.A.G. 25/139
A.I.F.
"ADVANCE COPY".
(COPY)
PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Governor General of the Commonwealth of
Australia to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
(Received Colonial Office 7.16 8.55 p.m. 15th February, 1917.)
Prime Minister sends following begins:-
Your telegrams of February 1st February 6th and February 8th
emphasizing necessity for men and asking Commonwealth Government to
consider formation at once of a sixth Australian Division and pointing
out that even if this be done at once several months must elapse before
men could be transported that your advisers consider that it would be
more advantageous to raise additional fighting units than to build up
reinforcements for indefinite period and that if the Commonwealth
Government could not raise entire divisions it might raise three infantry

brigades and that at worst such units as were thus raised could be used as
reinforcements. Commonwealth Government is ready and anxious to do all

things necessary to assist to win the war. Certain limits are however
imposed by circumstances on our efforts to raise further divisions or to
maintain at full strength divisions already, there.
I append following figures which show what Australia has done
and is doing in order that you may know precisely present position and
prospects of Government being able to maintain reinforcements for five
and, or, six divisions.
(1) Total number of men despatched from Australia to date 286,950,
(2) Apart from those actually at front those on furlough in hospitals
or waiting return to Australia there are in England, Egypt, Australia
and at sea about 108,000 men. As to reinforcements from the above it
will be seen that on basis of 16,500 reinforcements per month six
divisions can be maintained at full strength for four months or longer
taking lessened casualties during four months The forces at present
available then are sufficient to (1) enable formation of sixth division
at once, (2) maintain at full strength six divisions for four months on
basis of 16,500 casualties a month.
Recruiting. Recruits are now coming in at the rate of about
5,000 a month. It is hoped though it is not likely that this may be
improved upon.
It will be seen from the above that a sixth division can be formed
at once from the forces already available. The Commonwealth Government
agrees to your request that this should be done but considers that one
to three infantry brigades should be formed first.
Final summary of position then is (1) that with ?forces now in
hand a sixth division can be formed. (2) The sixth divisions can be
maintained at their full strength for four months from forces now
available and for three additional months further from reinforcements
now being recruited at rate of 5,000 per month. (3) The Commonwealth
Government approves formation of sixth division. Commonwealth Government
approves General Birdwood beginning to form sixth division by forming
one infantry brigade forthwith. Ends.
C.I.G.S.           A.G.
D.C.I.G.S.       D.O.
D.M.O.           A.G.1.
M.O.1.             A.G.2
M.O.l.c.          Q.M.G.
D.S.D.            M.G.O.
S.D.2              D.G.M.A.
S.D.2.b.          D.R.

(COPY)
D.A.G. 25/139
25th February, 1917.
My dear Birdwood,
We have now received a reply from the Commonwealth 
Government as to raising a sixth division or at any rate
additional infantry brigades corresponding to a sixth division.
We are taking the matter up with Anderson and a copy of instructions
issued to him will be sent to you through G.H.Q. France as soon as
they are officially approved. The general idea is to proceed with
the formation of one infantry brigade at once including brigade
signalling section and machine gun company and, as far as personnel
may be available, the necessary proportion of men for divisional
train, medical units, and engineer companies. I have discussed the
matter with Anderson and explained to him that the principle on which
I think he should work is to arrange that Category "A” personnel not
likely to be required for drafts in normal circumstances should form
the nucleus of the new units, which can then be completed as and when
increased reinforcements arrive from Australia. Our first care
must of course be to maintain the divisions already at the front.
As regards artillery I do not anticipate any possibility of raising
a sixth Australian artillery but even without it additional infantry
brigades may be of incalculable value towards the end of the summer.
I enclose for your personal and confidential information copies of
telegrams which have passed between the Commonwealth and Imperial
Governments on the matter.
Yours ever,
(Sgd) R. D. WHIGHAM

D.A.G. 25/139.
(COPY)
1st Anzac Corps, France,
3rd March, 1917.
Major General Sir R. D. Whigham, K.C.B., D.S.O.
D.C.I.G.S.
My dear Bob,
Many thanks for yours of the 25th February which I
have only just received, as I have been away sick for a few days.
I am going over to England immediately, but only for a day or two
to give evidence before this wretched Dardanelles Commission. While
there, I will fix up all I possibly can about commencing to raise the
new division. Anderson, as a matter of fact will have nothing to
do with this, beyond receiving your instructions, for I will have to
settle up everything with Sir Newton Moore and my officers on 
Salisbury Plain. I see that the Commonwealth apparently approve of raising
only one infantry brigade to start with, and I will therefore confine
myself to this - or rather to a complete brigade group.. I shall have
to send practically all the officers over from here, and this
I will do gradually, commencing with C.O's etc. as soon as I can.
As you probably know, we have at present five machine
gun companies training at Grantham, i.e., one per division in France,
which are to come to us in addition to the brigade machine gun
companies. Two of these are almost ready, and expected out here
shortly, but the remaining three have not yet received any Orders.
I would suggest that these three should be retained in England, and
earmarked as brigade machine gun companies for the three new brigades
that have to be formed. Personally, I feel that our divisions here
can get on quite well without these new companies, while the fact
that they are already formed would be of enormous advantage to the
new brigades, and, as you will realise, of the greatest assistance to
us, when we know how hardpressed we must be for men. It will of
course mean that three of our divisions out here will be short of the
additional company, but that seems to me by far the lesser evil of the
two, if my suggestion is adopted.
As regards artillery, there should be no difficulty
at all, for we have here three spare "Army" artillery brigades, two
of which can eventually be allotted to the new 6th Division, leaving
us still one spare "Army" brigade.
I will make all necessary arrangements regarding trains
medical units, engineer companies, etc., and do not think you will
have any bother whatever in the matter.
Yours ever,
(Sgd) W. R. BIRDWOOD.

No. 4311/4/1.

(COPY)
COPY OF CABLEGRAM
No. A.5468.
From Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F., LONDON
To Defence, MELBOURNE. (Despatched 8.3.17, 11.15 p.m.)
A. 5468 Am now raising Sixteenth Brigade under
ANTILL Field Ambulance, Engineers, and Supply Companies also
being raised with Brigade.
Stralis, London.

4311/4/1.

(COPY.)
SECRET.
DECIPHER OF CABLEGRAM FROM DEFENCE, MELBOURNE,
ADDRESSED TO ANDERSON, STRALIS, DATED 10-3-17.
W.Y. 483. Your telegram March 8th A 5468
regarding 16th Brigade noted. Please treat this
matter as SECRET and arrange for any further references
to be sent in War Office cipher. 

No. 4311/4/1

(COPY)
SECRET .
P. From Defence, Melbourne, to General Anderson.
March 31st, 1917.
W.Y.548. There are Press messages arriving here
indicating the formation of new brigades. As it is
desired that this information should not at present be made
public here, please arrange that no reference thereto be
telegraphed to Australia for public information, pending
further advice. Your telegram on the subject should, as
previously requested, be in War Office cipher.
(Copy to Gen. Anderson. 

(COPY)
A.A.G.
25/68
A.I.F.
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.
A.I.F. Headquarters,
1st Anzac Corps
5th June, 1917.
General Headquarters
British Armies in France.
In accordance with the proposals of the War
Office which were the subject of the telegraphic despatches between
the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Australian Government
which were forwarded to me for perusal with your O.B.1997 of 1st
March, 1917, two new Australian Infantry Brigades, the 16th and 17th,
are now practically ready and completed towards the formation of the
new 6th Australian Division.
2.  With each of these Brigades, there are already
organised, or in process of organisation, one Field Company Engineers,
one Brigade Section Signal Company, one Company A.A.S.C., and one
Field Ambulance. Two of the three Australian Army Field Artillery
Brigades now in France could be utilised as the Divisional Artillery
of this Division. Machine Gun Companies will also be made available.
3. As difficulties are anticipated in obtaining
reinforcements in time, and further difficulties are likely to arise in
the maintenance of the strength of six Australian Divisions, it is
suggested for consideration that this Division be completed by the
incorporation in it of the newly formed 4th New Zealand Brigade.
This is the procedure I adopted in Egypt and Gallipoli when I formed
the mixed New Zealand and Australian Division by incorporating with
the New Zealand troops the 4th Australian Brigade. This Division
proved a complete success for a period of over fourteen months. The
formation of a Division on these lines would meet with the approval
of the Commonwealth Government.
Lieutenant-General
Commanding Australian Imperial Force.

No. 4311/4/1.

(COPY)
COPY OF CABLEGRAM.
From Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F. LONDON
To D.A.G., 1st ANZAC, B.E.F. (Despatched 11.6.17
Ca. 9937 Melbourne wire begins WY 893
Your T.3366 June 8th Approve of your
recommendation regarding 6th Division ends
General BIRDWOOD informed.
ADMINAUST.

(COPY)

SECRET.
(3rd Army No. G.29/84.)
THIRD ARMY
OB 2036.
Please inform the G.O.C. 1st Anzac Corps that the proposals
contained in his letter No. A.A.G. 25/68 A.I.F. of the 5th inst.,
addressed to G.H.Q. are noted.
Information has, however, recently been received from the
Home Authorities to the effect that the state of Australian
Reinforcements will not admit of the two Australian Brigades being
sent to France at present, and it is understood that, on present
indications, the drafts likely to be available from Australia will
be insufficient to maintain more than the five divisions now in the
field.
(Sgd) R.H. BUTLER, Major-Gen.
for Lieut.-General
C.G.S.
G.H.Q.
10th June, 1917.
1st Anzac Corps.
Attached copy of letter received from G.H.Q. is
forwarded for information.
(Sgd) C.J.G. Grant, Lt-Col.
for Major-General
General Staff Third Army.
12th June, 1917.