Papers relating to James Murdoch Archer Durrant, 1917-1923

Papers relating to the First World War and Interwar service of Lieutenant-Colonel James Murdoch Archer Durrant, 1917-1923.

This file primarily contains official records collected by James Murdoch Archer Durrant during 1917. They include standing orders and operational instructions pertaining to the Attack on Stormy Trench and the First Battle of Bullecourt as well as detailed post-operational reports relating to these offensives. More broadly, the file also contains papers relating to unit personnel, the defensive schemes on the Western Front, the construction of trenches, and the protective measures adopted against the use of gas.

This file contains:

Memorandum on 'Power Buzzers' by Captain R.H. [Rex Hamilton] Osborne forwarded by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 9 January 1917;
Memorandum on 'Fire Stepping Trenches' by Lieutenant-Colonel D.K. [Denis Kirwan] Bernard forwarded by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 13 January 1917;
Memorandum on 'Policy of Work to be carried out in the Front Area' by Lieutenant-Colonel D.K. [Denis Kirwan] Bernard, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 13 January 1917;
Memorandum on 'Gas Protective Measures' by Major H.G. [Henry St. George] McRae forwarded by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 14 January 1917;
Instruction on 'List of Returns Required from Battalion Intelligence Officers' by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 14 January 1917 [two copies];
Copy of a letter from 4th Australian Division forwarded by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 14 January 1917;
Copy of a letter from 1st Anzac to 4th Australian Division forwarded with additional instructions by Major H.S. [Henry St. George] McRae and reissued by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 15 January 1917;
Note by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 16 January 1917;
Memorandum by Lieutenant-Colonel D.K. [Denis Kirwan] Bernard forwarded by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 18 January 1917;
Extract of a letter from 1st Anzac forwarded Lieutenant-Colonel D.K. [Denis Kirwan] Bernard, General Staff, 4th Australian Division, 20 January 1917;
Memorandum relating to passwords by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 31 January 1917;
Memorandum on 'Reserve Rations and Ammunition' by Captain Alexander H. [Hugh] Fraser, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 1 February 1917;
Copy of a letter from 1st Anzac to 4th Australian Division forwarded by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 1 February 1917;
4th Australian Infantry Brigade Order No. 61 by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 3 February 1917;
13th Australian Infantry Battalion Order No. 12 by Captain A.W. [Algernon Wiseman] Davis, 13th Infantry Battalion, 4 February 1917;
Instruction from Brigadier-General [indecipherable], Commanding Officer, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 4 February 1917;
Memorandum by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 5 February 1917;
Intelligence Summary No. 191 titled 'Part 1 Information From Our Own Front' by [indecipherable], General Staff, 1st Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, 6 February 1917;
13th Infantry Battalion Order No. 13 by Captain A.W. [Algernon Wiseman] Davis, 13th Infantry Battalion, 9 February 1917;
Folder cover for report titled 'Attack on Stormy Trench N.E. of Gueudecourt, 13th Infantry Battalion, [c. February 1917];
Report titled 'Operation Carried Out by 13th Battalion, A.I.F., Stormy Trench, N.E. of Gueudecourt, Night of 4th/5th February 1917' by Lieutenant-Colonel J.M.A. [James Murdoch Archer] Durrant, 13th Infantry Battalion, [c. February 1917] [annotated];
Memorandum on 'Trench Blocking' [relating to the 13th Infantry Battalion at Stormy Trench near Gueudecourt, c. February 1917];
Memorandum relating to ammunition dumps by Captain [Alexander Hugh Fraser], 4th Infantry Brigade, 10 March 1917;
Intelligence report titled '14th and 16th Battalions on defences of the Hindenburg Line' issued by Captain A. [Albert] Jacka, 14th Infantry Battalion, and Lieutenant Frank Wadge, 16th Infantry Battalion, [1] April 1917;
4th Australian Infantry Brigade Order No. 74 by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 9 April 1917;
Addendum to 4th Australian Infantry Brigade Order No. 74 by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 9 April 1917;
4th Australian Infantry Brigade Order No. 75 by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 9 April 1917;
4th Australian Infantry Brigade Order No. 76 by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 10 April 1917;
Addendum to 4th Australian Infantry Brigade Order No. 76 by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 10 April 1917;
Instruction by Captain A.W. [Algernon Wiseman] Davis, 13th Infantry Battalion, 9 April 1917;
Letter from 4th Australian Division forwarded by Major C.M. [Charles Melbourne] Johnston, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 9 April 1917 [includes note and sketch];
Letter from 4th Australian Division forwarded by 2nd Lieutenant [indecipherable], 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 9 April 1917;
Summary narrative relating to the 13th Infantry Battalion at the First Battle of Bullecourt, 11 April 1917;
Nominal roll of 13th Infantry Battalion 'personnel staying out of the line', [c. April 1917] [annotated with additional handwritten nominal roll of 13th Infantry Battalion officers attached];
List of 13th Infantry Battalion officers 'who will not go into the line for the next stunt', [c. April 1917];
Report titled 'Operation Near Bullecourt, 11th April 1917' by Lieutenant-Colonel J.M.A. [James Murdoch Archer] Durrant], 13th Infantry Battalion, [c. April 1917];
4th Australian Infantry Brigade Order No. 86 by Major E. [Eric] Arundel Wilton, 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 12 July 1917 [annotated with appendices attached];
Table containing 'Register of First Line Transport', 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, [c. 1917];
Itemised list of companies, positions and numbers of personnel [comprising the 13th Australian Infantry Battalion, c. 1917];
Memorandum on 'Supply of Ammunition, Rations and R.E. Stores', 2nd Australian Division, 2 January 1918 [includes a French translation of memorandum];
Army Council Instructions relating to 'Wearing of Miniature Medals and Decorations with Mess Dress and Evening Dress', 12 July 1923; and
Folder covers for papers on various subjects by [James Murdoch Archer Durrant, [undated].