Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/255/1 - 1916 - 1937 - Part 13

Cairo,
29 - 5- 15.
My dear Johnson,
I only ^duly received your private letter of yesterday enclosing
the copy of an official one you have sent to G.O.C. M.E.F. Base.
The correspondance certainly reveals a very serious and
unsatisfactory state of affairs. As you know I have no control
over affairs at the M.E.F. Base, and therefore hesitate to take any
hand in the question unless as a last resort, when I shall certainly
place the matter before Sir John Maxwell,
I feel sure however your letter to G.O.C. M.E.F. Base
is so strong that he will take some action in the matter. I think
too the arrangement which you discussed with Major Farr whereby our
men at Alexandria can obtain what they want in kind from an accredited
Agent will remove much of the dissatisfaction.
I consider therefore it would do more harm than good for
me to "butt in" at the present juncture. Wait the reply from
General McGregor to your letter and the affect of the system of
"chits" you refer to.
In the meantime I will ask Hd. Qrs. Egypt if they could
arrange with M.E.F. Base for you to come up here and discuss various
matters with me relative to Australian affairs.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
V.C.M. Sellheim.
Lt. Colonel C.A.K. Johnson,
Overseas Base,
1st. Australian Division.

Mustapha
10 - 6 - 15.
My Dear Colonel,
The bearer of this ^# can bring back those photos I asked you
to get (panorama of Mena Camp). I hope you got my note enclosing note
for P.T. 50 left with the hall porter at the Continental?
2. I am sending you correspondance etc. relating to the provision of
"comforts" for our sick and covalescents. Wee M'cGregor, I heard
from A.D.M.S. (Col. Sexton) was opposed to it, wanted "reports" from
the Hospitals, queried most of the provisions - a matter affecting our
own interests only - and as all this would mean delay, I took the
course of appointing the Y.M.C.A., whom I saw about it. as my representatives
and sent on the whole thing to G.O.C. "for his information".
The Y.M.C.A. hopes to have the whole thing in going order by Saturday
and are quite enthusiastic over it.
3. I also send you the file re convelescent Camp for transmission
to the Minister for Defence.
If you think it advisable I will send a copy of my covering
letter to G.O.C.
Yours sincerely,
C.A.K. Johnson.
#
Sergt. Ricketts.
Replied to 12/6/15.
V.C.M.S.

Mustapha,
13 - 6 - 15.
My Dear Colonel,
Thanks to your letter. I duly received the photos,
thank you very much for seeing to it. I also got your letter
of 8th. since last writing to you. As regards my letter the
Minister for Defence I selected you as the Channel as you are
the Australian Government Representative . It seems to me
that though the actual care of the sick and wounded - Australian
or other - is a matter for the Imperial Authorities yet one
sees them neglected as they have been ( and still are in the
Hospitals) it is our duty to interfere on their behalf and as
General McGregor, my immediate Superior, seems determined to
burst up the whole thing to save himself trouble, the only
course would appear to be to deal direct with our own Government
as General Maxwell is pretty sure to back up General McGregor -
they always do.
I have sent a copy to General McGregor so, if you think
that the right course would you please submit the letter to
General Maxwell before sending it on.
The whole question of Hospital management wants
cleaning up. Men are full of complaints as to neglect.
Nurses are wanted and the medical people won't have them though
numbers of amateurs are volunteering. Men on discharge from
Hospitals are improperly fitted out with clothing etc. Men
want things in Hospital and are unable to get them and some of
the Medical people object to the system of"Chits"we have instituted.
In short the attitude of some of them is purely and entirely
obstructive. They are objecting most strenuously here to a
Combatant Officer being appointed to the Convelescent Camp, though
it is sufficiently obvious that the present people cannot run it.
The wife and family leave here for England on Tuesday.
I think they have enjoyed their short stay in Egypt.
Hope you are fit,
Yours sincerely,
C.A.K. Johnson.

C
26th March, 1916.
My Dear General,
We are leaving - somewhat in a hurry. For some time we have
been carrying on correspondance with G.H.Q. on the subject of the future
administration of the A.I.F. Unfortunately the C in Cs views and ours
do not agree and general Birdwood is going to the W.O. to discuss the
matter with the C.G.S.
In the meantime you are probably thinking we have neglected
you. Such is not the case. The General concurs in the proposals
put forward by you and has sent them to G.H.Q. pointing out the
coincidence of your views and his and saying that he had not up to the
present apprised you of his plans or opinions.
The whole business will remain in a state of uncertainty for
some little time, and I am afraid that during this period you will not
be in a bed of roses. G.H.Q's tendency is to clip our wings and
bring us entirely subordinate to them - not from any malice aforethought
but in ignorance of our conditions and the factors involved. You are
however in a strong position, your functions being clearly defined; and
you are in possession of the expressed wishes of the Australian Government.
We are therefore relying on you with your tact and firmness
to maintain yourself steadfastly. We have no other desire than to
help by all means in our power but our Force is now too big to be
administered haphazard and without knowledge of our circumstances.
I hope it will all come out aright and that before long we will see you
in England in charge of the"principal Hd. Qrs. A.I.F."
My best wishes are with you
Yours very sincerely,
C.B.B. White.

Fr.

SECRET.  NOTES FOR SURGEON-GENERAL N.R.HOWSE, V.C., C.B.

DELAY IN REMOVAL OF HEADQUARTERS A.I.F. TO ENGLAND.
This has been strongly recommended by General Sir
William Birdwood, and the Commandant, Australian Imperial Force
Headquarters (Brigadier-General Sellheim). The Australian Government
also cabled the War Office on 1st April desiring this
should be done. Unless this is done immediately, Headquarters A.I.F.
will lose touch with our troops in France, and most serious and
irreparable injury will be done to the system of Records and
Enquiries, which has been built up from the beginning with so much
trouble and care to meet the wishes of the Australian Government.
If this system is neutralized by authorities who do not understand
the situation, the effect during the ^War way will be most serious, and
after the war, when questions regarding service and pension claims
have to be answered, simply disastrous.

2 COMMAND OF REINFORCEMENTS AND DETAILS IN EGYPT.
Present situation unsatisfactory. The Australian
Government desired that there should be an Australian G.O.C. these
troops in Egypt, to "co-ordinate training, organization and administration".
Negotiations were opened up with the War Office, who
agreed, and so informed the G.O.C.-in-Chief in Egypt (see attached
letter marked "A").

Brigadier-General Irving duly arrived with a Staff
for this purpose, but only acted for a few days. Brigadier-General
Sellheim succeeded him, and has carried on these duties since.

Now, however, the Reinforcements and Details have been
removed to Tel-el-kebir, and an Imperial G.O.C., with the rank of
Major-General has been appointed to command at that place, and to
train the troops there, under the plea that there will be troops
other than A.I.F. there sooner or later. At present there are only
a few New Zealanders. General Sellheim has personally represented
to General Headquarters the fact that it was desired by the
Australian Government he should command and train these troops, and
was informed that he would not be interfered with. The appointment
of an Imperial G.O.C. at Tel-el-Kebir superior to him in rank
(over)

-2-

will however, completely tie his hands, and appears to be only
another way of evading the wish of the Australian Government, and
agreed to by the War Office, that an Australian G.O.C. should take
hold of these troops. Tel-el-Kebir is only 2½ hours train journey
from Cairo, and General Sellheim had arranged with General
Birdwood's concurrence, to exercise his command over these troops
through his Camp Commandant, Colonel Spencer-Browne, C.B.

Urgent action is necessary to compel the authorities in
Egypt to give effect to the wishes of the Australian Government,
to which the War Office agreed, and have it laid down beyond
dispute that General Sellheim, or his successor, is to be directly
in command of these troops and responsible for their training,
administration, and organization. Unless this is done, the
unsatisfactory state of affairs which existed before the Australian
Government took action, to have an Australian G.O.C. appointed and
recognized will again obtain.

3.  AUSTRALIAN EMBARKATION OFFICER AT SUEZ. General
Sellheim many months ago specially appointed a member of his
Staff (Captain Clayton) as his Embarkation Officer at Suez, to
specially carry out his orders as regards the embarkation and
disembarkation of Australian troops at that port, and conserve
Australian interests there generally. Suddenly, without reference
to General Sellheim, Captain Clayton was gazetted to the Staff 
of the Imperial authorities, and General Sellheim's representations
in the matter have been in vain. It is considered essential
in Australian interests that this officer should be directly
under Australian control as hitherto, and not on the Staff of the
Imperial Authorities. He would of course, as he has always done,
be subject to the general direction of the Senior Embarkation
Officer at Suez.

4  THE MILITARY ATMOSPHERE IN EGYPT GENERALLY. There
are indications that the new regime in Egypt is intolerant and
unsympathetic of Australian ideals and aspirations, and inclined
to dominate and absorb where-ever possible.

This is highly undesirable for a variety of reasons,

-4-

and can only lead to inharmonious relations and constant friction.
Under the former tactful rule, the best results were achieved.

The situation might be relieved if it were
indicated in the proper quarter that Australia desired that her
troops should work out their own administrative Salvation, unhampered
by too much interference, but always of course, under
the general direction of the Imperial authorities.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE
MILITARY RECORDS OFFICE,
130. HORSEFERRY ROAD.
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS.
WESTMINSTER,
CROTONATE. SOWEST LONDON." LONDON S W
TELEPHONE: VICTORIA 8860

22nd May, 1916.

Dear Bean,

We expect Sellheim and his bunch some time
this afternoon. The ship arrived at 1 a.m. today. I
have been given the job of fixing up their accommodation.
I have arranged this by getting the L.C.C. school
adjacent to our buildings; by the erection of a temporary
building which will be complete in ten days, and by
moving certain of the work from here. I think General
Moore forwarded to General Birdwood the complete scheme
which I submitted to the High Commissioner.

I am looking forward to the scrap Moore versus
Sellheim. I know how the score stands at present, but I
wouldn't be a bit surprised if, in the end, Moore doesn't
come out on top.

General Howse is getting a good move on here.
His first stroke was a good one - he scrapped Williams. He
has also moved the Medical section from 72,Victoria Street
to Horseferry Road.

I am trying hard to induce the high Commissioner
to put up a temporary building on a central site which I
have already secured to sleep 600 men at a charge of 1/-
per night.

Captain C.E.Bean,
Headquarters,
1st A. & N.Z.Army Corps,

(2)

The men coming over on furlough from France
are receiving every attention here. They are met at the
station, marched to Horseferry Road, kits and rifles are
stored, and their French money is changed. Each day I
send round to the more suitable of the hotels and boarding
houses and have compiled a list of accommodation
available at prices ranging from 1/9 to 5/6 for bed and
breakfast. From these lists the furlough men pick out
the accommodation which suits their pockets. I then
send them all in vehicles to the places they choose.

Yours sincerely,
[[sig?]]

HISTORICAL NOTES.
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK - A.I.F.

Major Langslow, who went to Egypt in 1915 in connection
with pay matters and remained until 1920 in England settling
the financial arrangements with the British Government, said -

(1) EGYPT, 1915: INTERMEDIATE BASE. Anderson was sent
over as head of the Q.M's branch on Sellheim's staff to regularise
the buying, selling, and accounting of stock for A.S.C.
and Ordnance. In the Ordnance Department he found irregularities
obviously going on. For example, jackets with a slight cut
inside the lower portion were being set aside as discarded.
There appeared clearly to be dishonesty in this process, and
Anderson instituted a system by which it was avoided and Ordnance
knew at any time precisely what they had on hand, which
had not been the case before.

(2) SUPPLIES: There had been a contract board or purchasing
board, consisting of several members of Sellheim's staff,
but irregularities were proceeding at Maadi Camp, where large
stores of fodder were being bought from individuals with
European names, presumably white men, but actually some of the
Arab sheiks. A proper contract board and a system of purchasing
was established, which put an end to this.

(3) PAY: In the Pay Branch,under Colonel Farr, a great
muddle existed. Many men had probably been overpaid, and the
position was obscure. An audit system was at once installed
I think by Colonel Lang, who was sent from Australia. (Joliffe
came over as auditor; he was succeeded by Hogben). The reforms
in the Pay Branch were carried out largely by personnel
from outside the service(Evans, Grassick, &c.), since the
members of the A.P.C. who were in Egypt were not of a very
highly educated or capable type. Farr was also greatly
hampered by the fact that he was understaffed, there being
nothing like sufficient men to do the work.