Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/274B/1 - 1918 - 1939 - Part 6

2.
xxx
sentenced but Monash would not act. They
were kept under arrest for 6 weeks. xxxx
& the brigade had to carry them about xxx
with it - a great inconvenience, & a highly
undesirable circumstance from the point of view
of discipline. At the end, when the Armistice
was arranged, Monash & Hobbs led Glasgow
aside after before a conference, & Monash
asked him whether, in view of the armistice,
he did not think he ^(Glasgow) could recommend the release
of these men.
Glasgow, whose first principle in
discipline was that every man must stand
up to the consequences of his own acts,
refused. Monash said "Oh, very well, General,
quite so" & they went back to the Conference,
& the men were sent to prison. Monash, if
he thought it right, could have made the
recommendation, but he would not take the
responsibility. Glasgow says that he showed
 

3
similar weakness in splitting up the battalions.
In the 13 Bde there was no sign of refusal
to obey. Glasgow let the officers know that,
come what might, they would have to be
taken by the units they were posted to, &
he told those unit commanders that they
must treat them fairly in the matter of
appointment & seniority. he had one
slight difficulty with Col. Christie ^[[(S1)?]], but after
he had spoken to Christie there was
no sign of trouble.
 

4
Coming back from England, Cam Robertson
who commanded the 2nd Div., asked Glasgow
if he would not agree to the transfer of a
party which showed itself mutinous &
wanted to join the 2nd Div.
"Not on your life" said Glasgow, &
gave order for the arrest of the party.
As soon as they heard what his
attitude was, the party at once gave in.
Glasgow says tt Rosenthal was
a good divl. cdr in the line, but
was inclined to go on leave as soon as
the division was out o / line, & leave
/ responsibility for training to others.
 

HISTORICAL NOTES
Extract from 21st Battalion History - Disbandment of Battalion.
This sudden and unexpected blow caused great dismay amongst
all concerned. During the afternoon the C.O. attended another
conference at Bde. Hqrs., and, in his absence the situation was keenly
discussed by the members of the Unit. On his return a deputation
from the Officers and also one from the Other Ranks waited on him.
These deputations put forward the views of the members of the BN. on
the subject. Our seniority, our services, our record, our decorations,
were all brought forward as arguments against this action, which was
distasteful to all, on account of the pride we had in our Unit. The
C/O/ arranged by telephone for these deputations to wait on the
Brigadier next day. At 10.30 a.m. a special parade was called, but
owing to the unexpected length of time taken by the deputations whilst
waiting on the Brigadier, the C.O. was unable to address the men.
At 9.30 a.m. the C.O. waited on the Brigadier and placed
the views of the Unit before him. The Dpeutation waited on the
Brigadier at 21st BN. Hqrs. at 10.30 a.m. The views put forward by
the Deputations were reduced to writing and a copy of this was handed
to the Brigadier. Nothing definite was obtained from this interview.
After Church Parade the Bn. formed up in the rear of Hqrs, and was addressed
by the C.O. He informed them that the disbandment had been definitely
decided upon by the authorities and exhorted the Bn. to render full
obedience to any orders they might receive. He also stated that the
date of disbandment would not definitely be decided upon until the
return of the Divisional Commander, and that the Brigadier would then
place the views of the Unit before the Divisional Commander before
the disbandment took place.
In the afternoon Lt.G.R. Dearden proceeded to 2nd Aust. Div.
Rft. Camp, en route for Australia on 1914 furlough.
Administrative notes on the disbandment of an Infantry
battalion were received. The following day passed quietly although
everybody was very anxious to know what action would happen.
Training was carried out according to the syllabus laid down.
Lt. J.A. Gray, M.C. was detached for duty with the 6th A.L.T.W.
Battery, and on the following day Lt. L.J.A. Buchanan was evacuated
to Field Ambulance, and 2/Lts. G.F.V. Grenness and C.W. Stewart joined
us from Off.Cadet Bn.
At noon on the 24th Sept., the Divisional Commander received
the deputations representing the Officers and Other Ranks of the
Battalion. They put before him the views of the Unit on the subject
on disbandment, in writing.
The Unit was informed through them, by the G.O.C. that the orders of
the Higher Command would be put into force immediately.
At 3.30 p.m. a special Bn. Parade was held at which the
Divisional & Brigade Commanders addressed the men. The Unit then
marched back to Bn. Hqrs., where the C.O. spoke to the men and told
them that the decision of the Higher Authorities was final and definite,
and that the orders were expected that evening.
During the evening it came to the knowledge of the C.O. that
the men had decided to carry out all duties required of them, with the
exception of falling in in marching order to proceed to another Unit.
The C.O. immediately notified the Brigadier of this and, after a
personal interview withboth the Divisional & Bde Commanders, the C.O.
again addressed the officers at 10 p.m.

Written orders for the disbandment of the Unit were received
at 10.10 p.m. These were in turn issued to Companies and Hqrs.
The Divisional Concert Party tended a special invitation to
the Unit for the evening of the 24th, but, owing to the situation, this
was not attended, though it had been accepted some days previously.
A Bn. Parade was ordered for 9.30 a.m., 25th, when Companies were to
fall in in marching order ready to move off to their new Units. At
9.30 Coy. Commanders reported to the C.O. that the men refused to fall
in in marching order, but would fall in in drill order, and were
prepared to carry out the training syllabus, and carry out the training
 

-2-
regular routine. The C.O. then ordered the Companies to be
paraded in drill order at 10 a.m.
On this parade he addressed the companies in the following order
(1) "A" (2) "B" & "D", (3) "C" & HQ.
Verbal orders were then given to the Coy. Commanders to fall
their men in in marching order and to move them off top the
respective Battalions to which they had been allocated, by noon.
At 11.30 a.m. Coy. Commanders reported that the men did not
intend to obey this order. The Officers were then instructed
to personally report themselves to their new Units. This was
done after they held a meeting and decided that the men
would stand a better chance of making good with them out of the
way. The C.O. then personally reported the situation to the
Brigadier.
After dinner, the men, who were now without Officers, and were
not officially recognised, held a meeting and decided to maintain
order, to carry out all ordinary routines, and to obey every
order received with the exception of marching to another Unit.
At the same meeting it was decided that any man who gave offence
or went absent without leave would be drastically dealt with by
the men themselves.
In furtherance of this policy the companies, without orders,
changed over the existing guards and duties, and, at parade time,
fell in in a methodical manner and marched to the Sports Ground.
Organised games had for the last week been the general xx afternoon
routine.
At the ground a football match was played, after which the men
returned to billets in an orderly manner. Throughout the
afternoon there was an entire absence of any disorder. All
complimentswere paid to Officers, and general discipline was
maintained. During the evening the band played as usual and
rations, which had been drawn for the following day, were issued
to the Companies by the R.Q.M. Staff in the usual manner. This
was done on the authority of the men themselves. At 6.30 p.m.
the C.O. was informed by the Brigadier, who had just attended a
conference, that for the present the disbandment would be in
abeyance, and that, in the meanwhile, the Battalions in the
Brigade would be reorganised on a three-Company basis. This
news was communicated by the C.O. to the Officers and men at
Bn. Hqrs. where it was received with deafening cheers.
On the following day it was announced officially
on parade. After this parade the Bn. marched to Herleville
to witness a practice attack with tanks. On return the Bn.
was divided into three Companies. "C" Coy. was divided into
three Platoons one of which went to each of the other three
Companies.
 

Nov. 1918.
HN.
Glasgow.
Mutinies. Monash arranged that the
men of other disbanded divisional bns who were
away casualties etc shd be sent back to 1st Div.
Glasgow didn't like it but accepted obeyed. When
some ^2 or 3 men went back to one of Cam Robertson's
bns (2 Div cdr vice Rosenthal on leave)
Glasgow sent for the police, & the men were returned
at once without escort.
The Yates Meeting
After the Armistice Anderson ^C.RA !st Div told
Glasgow that he was anxious to get back to
the Brit Army. ("He saw trouble coming," sd
Glasgow.) Glasgow saw Hobbs who told him
he didn't know what to do with Lloyd.
"Give him to me", said G. "I'll take
him". (Lloyd told Glasgow 12 years later
that he overheard this).
Lloyd came to ? Prisle & Glasgow
asked A. in his presence if he wished to give
him a statement as to the present condition
of the artillery. Lloyd said he was
satisfied without it, & Glasgow said
dispensed goodby at once with to Anderson.
Glasgow then turned to Lloyd,
"The 3rd Div^l Artillery have mutinied,"
he sd," and before you know where
you are you will have delegates, or
 

2
whatever they are called, over from
them among your men, & you are
certain of trouble unless you get
in first.