Papers relating to James Murdoch Archer Durrant, 1916

Papers relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant-Colonel James Murdoch Archer Durrant, 1916.

This file contains official records collected by James Murdoch Archer Durrant during the second half of 1916. The papers provide an insight into the variety and volume of material Durrant reviewed in his role as commanding officer of the 13th Infantry Battalion, encompassing subjects such as the evolving use of gas on the Western Front, procedures relating to communications and signalling, the use of ciphers and code names, and training exercises undertaken by the battalion in preparation for planned operations.

This file contains:

Gas Circular No. 1 by Major R.S. [Roy Stanley] McGregor, Gas Officer, 4th Australian Division, 26 June 1916;
Gas Circular No. 2 by Major R.S. [Roy Stanley] McGregor, Gas Officer, 4th Australian Division, 27 June 1916;
Gas Circular No. 3 by R. Butler reissued by the 4th Australian Division, 27 June 1916;
Standing Orders for Inter-communication and Orders; Marches and March Discipline; Quarters and Billeting, 4th Australian Division, June 1916 [annotated];
General Staff Circular No. 34 by Major H.G. [Henry St. George] McRae, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 14 July 1916;
General Staff Circular No. 35 by Major [indecipherable], General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 16 July 1916;
List of 'Divisional Code' names for units comprising the 4th Australian Division, 18 July 1916 [three copies];
Notes on Bombing Sections including 'Extracts from Memorandum on Bombs in Offensive Scheme' by the Reserve Army reissued by the 4th Australian Division, 18-19 July 1916 [note attached];
Intelligence memorandum by Lieutenant-Colonel D.K. [Denis Kirwan] Bernard, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 19 July 1916;
Memorandum by Brigadier-General R.A. [Robert Alexander] Carruthers, 1st Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, with additional remark by Lieutenant-Colonel E. Armstrong, 4th Australian Division, 20 July 1916
'Q' Circular Memorandum No. 7 by Lieutenant-Colonel E. Armstrong, 4th Australian Division, 20 July 1916;
Message from 2nd Lieutenant B.S. [Basil Spence] Atkinson to the Commanding Officer, 15th Australian Infantry Battalion, 20 July 1916 [annotated];
General Staff Circular No. 37 by Lieutenant-Colonel D.K. [Denis Kirwan] Bernard, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 21 July 1916;
Memorandum by Major H.G. [Henry St. George] McRae, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 22 July 1916;
Extract of a letter from Chief of General Staff to 1st Australian and New Zealand Army Corps forwarded by Major H.G. [Henry St. George] McCrae, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 22 July 1916;
Copy of a letter from Reserve Army forwarded by Major H.G.M. [Henry St. George Murray] McRae, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 24 July 1916;
Memorandum from Brigadier-General C.B.B. [Cyril Brudenell Bingham] White, General Staff, 1st Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, 26 July 1916 [two copies];
Brigade Circular Memorandum No. 113 by Major J.M.A. [James Murdoch Archer] Durrant, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 26 July 1916;
General Staff Circular No. 38 by Lieutenant-Colonel D.K. [Denis Kirwan] Bernard, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 26 July 1916;
Notes on 'Employment of Light Trench Mortar Batteries' with message by Lieutenant-Colonel D.K. [Denis Kirwan] Bernard attached, 4th Australian Division, 27 July 1916;
Gas Circular No. 9 by Lieutenant-Colonel D.K. [Denis Kirwan] Bernard, 4th Australian Division, General Staff, 27 July 1916;
Memorandum by Lieutenant-Colonel D.K. [Denis Kirwan] Bernard, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 28 July 1916;
Memorandum by Major H.G. [Henry St. George] McRae, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 28 July 1916;
Memorandum by Major J.M.A. [James Murdoch Archer] Durrant, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 29 July 1916;
Copy of a letter from Reserve Army forwarded by Major H.G. [Henry St. George] McRae, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 29 July 1916;
'Q' Circular Memorandum No. 8 by Lieutenant-Colonel E. Armstrong, 4th Australian Division, 30 July 1916 [annotated];
Memorandum by Lieutenant-Colonel D.K. [Denis Kirwan] Bernard, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 30 July 1916;
Letter from Brigadier-General C.B.B. [Cyril Brudenell Bingham] White forwarded with additional remarks by Lieutenant-Colonel D.K. [Denis Kirwan] Bernard, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 30 July 1916;
General Staff Circular No. 14 by Captain [indecipherable], General Staff, 1st Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, 31 July 1916;
Gas Circular No. 10 by Brigadier-General J. [John] Burnett-Stuart, General Staff, Reserve Army, forwarded by 4th Australian Division, 1 August 1916;
Gas Circular No. 11 by Major H.G. [Henry St. George] McRae, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 1 August 1916;
Copy of letter from General Headquarters forwarded by Major H.G. [Henry St. George] McRae, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 1 August 1916;
Administrative memorandum by Brigadier-General R.A [Robert Alexander] Carruthers, 1st Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, 2 August 1916;
Notes titled 'Events to be noted for Attack Order' [relating to training exercises for the 13th Infantry Battalion], [c. 2 August 1916];
Sketch of 'Position for Attack Practices' relating to the 15th Infantry Battalion, [c. 2 August 1916];
Notes titled 'Points on Attack' [relating to training exercises for the 13th Infantry Battalion, c. 2 August 1916];
Copy of two letters from 1st Anzac to 4th Australian Division forwarded by Major H.G.M. [Henry St. George Murray] McRae, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 4 August 1916;
Correction to 2nd Australian Divisional Artillery Operation Order No. 51 by Major J. [James] Beasley, 2nd Australian Divisional Artillery, 4 August 1916;
Conscription referendum 'Preliminary Notice' by Lieutenant-Colonel T. [Thomas] Griffiths, 1st Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, 30 September 1916;
Conscription referendum leaflet titled 'Instructions for the Conduct of the Polling in France' by Lieutenant-Colonel T. [Thomas] Griffiths, [c. October 1916];
General Staff Circular No. 48 by Major H.G.M. [Henry St. George Murray] McRae, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 9 November 1916;
List of registered addresses and code names designated to units comprising the 4th Australian Division, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 9 November 1916;
List of code names of officers and appointments; units; company officers; battalion units, fatigues; ammunition and stores; patrols, artillery; casualty list; parties from other units, [4th Australian Infantry Brigade, c. 1916] [two copies];
List of '2nd Anzac - Code Names (4th Aust. Div. Arty.)', [4th Australian Division, c. 1916] [two copies];
Four tables with associated remarks relating to the composition and organisational structure of an infantry battalion; personnel, horses and mules; and transport, [c. 1916];
Report titled 'Notes on the Attack' [relating to the Battle of the Somme, c. 1916]; and
Folder covers for papers by [James Murdoch Archer Durrant, undated].