Personal Files Book 11, 1 December - 25 December 1915

File of papers relating to the First World War service of Brigadier General John Monash, 4th Infantry Brigade. This file, originally part of Book 11, covers 1 December 1915 to 25 December 1915 and includes documents relating to the preparations for and eventual evacuation of Gallipoli as well as letters relating to Christmas. Of particular note are a set of extracts from Monash's diary describing the Gallipoli evacuation, which he describes as "a thunderbolt from a clear blue sky".
This file contains:
Special Army Corps Order containing parting letter from Lieutenant General Birdwood, 1 December 1915;
Letter from Monash to HQ, NZ and Australian Division, 2 December 1915;
Message from Major Dare to Brigade Major, 4th Infantry Brigade, 2 December 1915;
Copy of lyrics from a gramophone record, courtesy of Captain Locke, 2 December 1915;
Recipe for 'Rum Punch', 2 December 1915;
Urgent message from Monash to HQ NZ and Australian Division, 3 December 1915;
Description of the Maltese Cross award, 5 December 1915;
Correspondence between Major Griffiths, NZ and Australian Division and Monash, 8 December 1915;
Letter from Monash to 'The Moderator', Presbyterian Assembly, Melbourne, telling of his affection for Chaplain Gillison and condemning the 'slur' written in the Argus article of 2 October, 8 December 1915;
Agenda for Captain Craig for his time in Egypt, asking him to retrieve several items for 'the Brigadier' and to send a cable on his behalf, 9 December 1915;
Table titled 'Expectations of Parcels', 9 December 1915;
Message from No. 1 Subsection to Brigade Major, 4th Brigade, 9 December 1915;
Message from Lieutenant Opie, Durrant's Post to 4th Australian Brigade, 9 December 1915;
Message from O.C. No. 2 Subsection to 'Brigade Major', 9 December 1915;
List of men of 'Jewish Faith' by Battalion, 11 December 1915;
Message from Monash to HQ, NZ and Australian Division describing procedures for observation, 11 December 1915;
Detailed sketch of Aghyl Dere made by O.C. No. 2 Subsection, 11 December 1915;
Diagram of communications, 12 December 1915 [Draft];
Special Report by Major Margolin, 12 December 1915;
Small map of tunnels and position on Gallipoli, includes scale and legend, [date unknown];
Printed diagram of communications, 13 December 1915;
Monash's list for re-embarkation and packing for Mudros, 13 December 1915;
List of stores at Brigade Reserve for 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 14 December 1915;
Page of numbered 'A.C. Orders', 15 December 1915;
Document with 'Allotments to Parties', [date unknown];
Notes for Conference with C.O.s, 15 December 1915;
Divisional Operation Order No. 22, provides operational details to the evacuation and includes a set of Instructions to Brigadiers, 15 December 1915;
Message from NZ Infantry Brigade to 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 15 December 1915;
Message from O.C. No. 2 Subsection to 4th Brigade, 15 December 1915;
Message from O.C. No. 1 Subsection to Brigade Major 4th Brigade, 15 December 1915;
Report by C.O. No. 1 Subsection for 15 and 16 December, 15 December 1915;
Report for No. 2 Subsection, issued by Major Margolin, 15 December 1915;
Message from O.C. No. 2 Subsection to Brigade Major, 4th Brigade, 15 December 1915;
Memorandum issued by Major Pinwill, 15 December 1915;
Report for 16 December from Durrant's Post, 16 December 1915;
Special report issued by Major Margolin, 16 December 1915;
Report for No. 1 Subsection for 16 to 17 December, 16 December 1915;
Report for No. 1 Subsection for 16 to 17 December, containing addenda, 16 December 1915;
Report for No. 2 Subsection, issued by Major Margolin, 16 December 1915;
Message from Major Margolin to No. 1 Subsection, 16 December 1915;
Message from NZ Infantry Brigade to 4th Australian Brigade, 16 December 1915;
Message from O.C. No. 1 Subsection to 4th Brigade, 16 December 1915;
Message from O.C. No. 2 Subsection to Brigade Major 4th Brigade, 16 December 1915;
Message from O.C. No. 2 Subsection to Brigade Major 4th Brigade, 16 December 1915;
Amendment to Operational Order No. 22, includes an amendment to Appendix B and march tables for 'A' Parties, 16 December 1915;
Message from Monash to C.O.s 13th and 16th Battalions, marked 'secret', 16 December 1915;
Message from O.C. 16th Battalion to Brigade Major, 4th Brigade, 16 December 1915;
Message from 13th Battalion to 4th Brigade, 16 December 1915;
Message from C.O. 13th Battalion to G.O.C. 4th Brigade, 16 December 1915;
Message from O.C. 16th Battalion to Brigade Major, 4th Infantry Brigade, 16 December 1915;
Satirised instructions for 'C' Company, Rearguard Action during evacuation, 16 December 1915 [Draft];
Satirised instructions for 'C' Company, Rearguard Action during evacuation, 16 December 1915 [Copy];
Memorandum issued by Major Pinwill, 17 December 1915;
Memorandum issued by Brigadier General White, 17 December 1915 [Copy];
Report of Movements issued by Major Pinwill, 17 December 1915;
Operation Order No. 13 issued by Monash, detailing the role of the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade in the evacuation, including the order of embarkation and march organisation, 17 December 1915;
Memorandum for Recommendations for Honours Despatch, 17 December 1915;
Instructions to Commander of C or Rear Party, signed by Lieutenant Colonel McGlinn, 17 December 1915;
Message from Durrant's Post to 4th Brigade, 17 December 1915;
Report by Major Margolin, 17 December 1915;
Message from 'Signal Master' to Brigade Major, 4th Brigade, 17 December 1915;
Message from Durrant's Post to 4th Brigade, [date unknown];
Report by No. 1 Subsection for 17th to 18th December, 17 December 1915;
Message from No. 1 Subsection to 4th Brigade, 17 December 1915;
Message from NZ Infantry Brigade to 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 17 December 1915;
Message from O.C. No. 2 Subsection to Brigade Major, 4th Brigade, 17 December 1915;
Message from No. 1 Subsection to Brigade Major, 4th Brigade, 17 December 1915;
Report for No. 2 Subsection, issued by Major Margolin, 17 December 1915;
Message from Monash to C.O. 16th Battalion, 17 December 1915;
Message from C.O. 16th Battalion to Brigade Major, 4th Brigade, 17 December 1915;
Report from Durrant's Post for 18th December, 18 December 1915;
Report from Major Margolin for No. 2 Subsection, 18 December 1915;
Message from Col. Braithwaite to Monash, 18 December 1915;
Instructions to brigadiers issued by NZ and Australian Division, including a note from Monash to Lieutenant Colonel Herring with possible scenarios that could occur during the evacuation, 19 December 1915;
Diary extracts by Monash, dating from 12 to 20 December and detailing the evacuation, 20 December 1915;
Message from NZ and Australian Division to 4th Australian Infantry Brigade, 21 December 1915;
Special Order of the Day issued by Major General Bell, commending ANZAC battalions on their successful evacuation. Includes similar praise from King George, 21 December 1915;
Letter from the Australian Comforts Funds to Monash, listing the items being sent to the AIF, such as 'Billies', puddings and magazines, 22 December 1915;
Note from 13th Battalion to Monash, 22 December 1915;
Circular Memorandum from Lieutenant Colonel Blamey, stating that the items from the Australian Comforts Funds have been received and are to be distributed amongst the troops, 22 December 1915;
Notes by Monash from a meeting of C.Os, 22 December 1915;
Letter from Monash to 'Neil M. Wigg', 24 December 1915;
Note from Ronald M. Wigg to Monash, [date unknown];
Tag from items sent to Monash, addressed Neil M. Wigg on reverse, [date unknown];
Booklet containing words and musical score for 'The Song of Australia' and statistical information about Australia and the state of South Australia, [date unknown];
A.A.G. Force Memorandum, 25 December 1915;
Greeting card depicting a soldier standing on the shore of Gallipoli Peninsula, overshadowing a smaller Australia, calling out Coo-ee to his wife standing in Australia, [date unknown];
Greeting card from General Birdwood. The inside pages feature extracts from Sir Hamiltton and General Birdwood's dispatches, 25 December 1915;
Special Order of the Day, issued by General HQ, 25 December 1915;
Letter from Henry E. Budden to Monash, sent from S.T.D. Depot, Mudros, 25 December 1915.