Personal Files Book 2, 1 February - 23 February 1915, Part 7 (2024)

5.

6.

AW

APPENDIX "H".

Transport "A38",

At Sea, 24-1-15.

Principal Transport Officer,

Second Australian Convoy.

In view of the whole circ*mstances of the attached

report submitted to the Senior Medical Officer of the Convoy,

the present arrangement, whereby the Ship's Surgeon on Transport

"A32" is assisting the Military Medical Officer, should

continue, as far as can be seen, till port of disembarkation

is reached, and I would ask you to kindly arrange accordingly.

(Sgd.) John Monash, Colonel,

Senior Military Officer,

Second Australian Convoy.

FILE "A32".

AW

(COPY).

H.M.A.T. "Ulysses",

At Sea,

24th Jany., 1915

Naval Secretary,

Navy Office,

Melbourne.

With reference to Article 92 of the Transport Regulations,

I have the honour to report that it has been found necessary to

utilise the services of the Ship's Surgeon in "Themistocles" for

medical charge of troops, under the following circ*mstances :-

Captain Pigdon was the only Military Medical Officer

appointed to "Themistocles" where he had medical charge of some

1200 troops. On account of a serious epidemic of Pneumonia on

board, the services of a second medical officer were urgently

required and, on 14th January, Transport Officer, "Themistocles",

was directed to arrange for the services of the Ship's Surgeon to

be made available.

Subsequently, it was decided to transfer Lieutenant-Colonel

Bean, R.A.A.M.C., from "Borda" to "Themistocles" and this was

effected on 22nd January, the first favourable opportunity that

offered. In view, however, of the following signal from

"Themistocoles" : -

"Authority is requested to retain the services of ship's

surgeon after Colonel Bean joins observing that the former

has taken over control of all hospital cases as well as

generally assisting M.O. consequent on your No. 96. of 15th

instant and that the knowledge he has of these cases would

be of great value."

and of the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Beeston, Senior Medical

Officer of the Convoy, after inspecting the ship at Aden on 23rd

January, the following signal was made to Transport Officer,

"Themistocles", on the morning of 24th January:-

"In view of the severity of the epidemic of Pneumonia

the Senior Military Officer considers it desirable that the

services of the ship's surgeon of "Themistocles" should be

specially retained to assist Military Medical Officer.

Inform Colonel Bean. I concur and direct you to make

necessary arrangements with Master".

(Sgd.) C.R. Brewis,

Principle Transport Officer.

Convoy Staff Officer,

Referred for your information.

(Sgd.) W. Scotland,

Secretary to P.T.O.

25-1-15

AW

(COPY).

From -Senior Medical Officer,

2nd Australian Convoy.

To - Senior Military Officer,

2nd Australian Convoy.

In compliance with your order, I beg to

report having visited "A32" ("Themistocles"). I

found that during the voyage six deaths have occurred

on thisship, all of pneumonia consequent on measles.

The epidemic of pneumonia appears to have been a

particularly severe one and has entailed a great deal

of work on the Medical Officer of the ship. Some

days ago he applied for the assistance of another

medical officer. You detailed the ship's surgeon

to give him any assistance required as the weather

conditions would not permit of any communication by

open boat. On the 22nd Lt.-Colonel Bean was transferred

from the "Borda" to supervise the medical

arrangements. There is still a number of cases

of pneumonia on the ship seriously ill, and I

recommend that the services of the ship's surgeon

be retained as a special case until the end of the

voyage. Approximately, there are 1,200 troops

on this ship and the epidemic shows no sign of abating.

I therefore consider it is absolutely essential

that the medical arrangements at present obtaining

should continue until the end of the voyage.

(Sgd.) Joseph L. Beeston, Lt.-Col.,

Senior Medical Officer,

2nd Australian Convoy.

Transport "A38",

At Sea, 24-1-15.

APPENDIX "I".

COPIES OF CONVOY ORDERS NOS. 12 AND 13.

J.M.D.

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.

SECOND AUSTRALIAN CONVOY.

CONVOY ORDER NO. 12.

by

COLONEL. J. MONASH V.D.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICER OF THE CONVOY.

TRANSPORT "A.38".

AT SEA, 26 : 1 : 1915.

DEATHS.

(AT SEA.)

1. - The Senior Military Officer regrets to announce the
following deaths which occurred at sea, on the dates shown :-

Transport "A.34".

(a) No. 418, Pte. A.J Yates, 5th Light Horse Regiment,

enlisted 1st Military District (Measles and
Pneumonia). Date of death 16: 1: 15.

Transport "A.40".

(b) No. 1211, Pte. H.G. Robinson, 16th Battalion,

Fourth Infantry Brigade, enlisted 4th Military

District (measles and pneumonia). Date of
Death 20: 1: 1915.

(c) No. 421, Pte. P.E. Carlton, 15th Battalion,

Fourth Infantry Brigade, enlisted 1st Military

District (Pneumonia). Date of death 24-1-15.

CONVOY

DETACHMENT.

2. (a) Colonel G. de L. Pyrie, (Commanding 2nd Light
Horse Brigade, A.I.F) on Transport "A29" ("Suevic")
assumed command, as Senior Military Officer of the Convoy
Detachment consisting of Transports "A29", "A34" ("Persic")
and "A40" ("Ceramic") which left the Main Convoy at 8a.m.
on 12th instant and proceeded direct to Aden, arriving
there on the afternoon of the 20th idem

(b) The Senior Military Officer, Detached Convoy,
appointed Major T.J. Lynch, Brigade Major, 2nd Light Horse
Brigade, to act as Staff Officer.

(c) The Detachment rejoined the Main Convoy on arrival
of the latter at Aden, on 23rd instant.

CORRIGENDA.

(DEATH "A32")

3. - (a) Vide Convoy Order No. 10, para. 1, for "MoHerry"
read "Meharry".

Convoy Order No. 12 ( Sheet 2).

CORRIGENDA. (CTD.)

Discharges and

Transfers.

3. (b) With reference to the lists of "Discharges and
Transfers" issued with Convoy Order No. 6 in connection
with personnel landed from the Convoy at Albany, lists
are amended as follows :-
(c) Discharge List Sheet 1, 5 4th item :-
(Dvr. P.A MacIntosh, No.7 Coy. A.A.S.C.)
in last column, For "A.35" read "A.39".

(d) Transfer List Sheet 1, items 2 3 to 5 6 inclusive.

(L.cpl. Hoy, Dvrs. Walker, Pike and Stringer, No. 7
Coy. A.A.S.C.) in last column, for "A.35 read "A.39".

TRANSFERS TO
5TH MILITARY
DISTRICT,
ALBANY.

4. (a) Vide Convoy Order No. 6, para 2 and accompanying
Transfer List, No. 1222 L.Cpl. F.G Hoy, No. 7 Coy.
A.A.S.C (enlisted 2nd Military District) was landed at
Albany, transferred to the 5th Military District on 30th
ultimo, but on same date rejoined the Convoy aboard
Transport "A.38".
(b) L.Cpl Hoy was transferred from "A.38" to
Transport "A.39" on 13th inst.

TRANSFER
PERSONNEL.
SPECIAL

TRANSFER.

5. - Vide Convoy Order No. 8. para 2 (b), Privates
G.A. Howes and O.F. McCarthy returned to "A.32"
(Themistocles) at Aden on 23rd inst.

DISCHARGES.

6. - The undermentioned discharges were approved by the
Senior Military Officer, Detached Convoy (Colonel G.
de L. Ryrie) at Aden on 21st instant :-
* No. 51 Pte. C. Whitlock, 6th L.H .Regt ) Enlisted
* " 326 " J.W. Weekley, " ) 2nd M.D.
" 455 " M.C. Ridley, " ) Medically

* " 540 " E.J. Jones, " ) Unfit
* " 559 " G.R. Weekley, " ) *(Syphilis).

TRANSFER OF

PERSONNEL.
ADEN

7. - The following transfers to the Military Hospital,
Aden, for special hospital treatment , were confirmed
by the Senior Military Officer, Detached Convoy (Colonel
G. de. L. Ryrie) on the 21st instant :-
No. 283 Pte. C.E. Cox, 5th L.H. Regt. (enlisted 1st M.D.) Pneumonia
" 125 " A.A Mitchell, " (enlisted 1st M.D.) Emphyema, following on measles

ALBANY
TROOPS LANDED
AT -

8. - (a) With regard to the Landing of troops at Albany,
the following personnel was put ashore there without the
prescribed approval of the Senior Military Officer :-

(b) FROM TRANSPORT "A.32".
No. 1165, Sgt. C.H. Pugh, Ist Reinforcements, 11th
Battalion. (enlisted 5th Military District.)
Appendicitis. Landed 30 : 12 : 14.

Convoy Order No. 12. (Sheet 3.)

ALBANY

TROOPS LANDED

AT. (CTD.)

8. (Ctd.) -
(c) -

FROM TRANSPORT "A. 36".
1st Reinforcements, 3rd L.H. Regt.
Landed at Albany 28 : 12 : 14.

No. 604 Pte. W.N. Laurence, refusing to be inoculated.

" 609 " W.H. Wade, -do-

" 612 " David Johnston, -do-

" 613 " H.C. Goldsworthy, -do-

" 652 " F. Mortimer, -do-

" 616 " James Datson, refusing to be vaccinated.

" 619 " James Westbury, -do-

" 628 " Frederic Patterson, -do-

" 631 " R. O'Neill, -do-

" 634 " W.F. White, -do-

(d) FROM TRANSPORT "A. 37".
1st Reinforcements, Field Artillary
Brigade, landed at Albany, 29 : 12 : 14
Refusing to be inoculated.

No. 3156 Pte. J.W. Hoad, 1st Bde.

" 3107 " L.C. Bird, "

" 3115 " A.G. Ford, "

" 659 " W.C. Collier, "

" 3139 " George Black, "

" 3125 " H.G. Oliver, "

" 3131 " D.F. Regan, "

" 3226 " J. Grace, 2nd Bde.

" 3350 " Percy Hunt, 3rd Bde.

" 3337 " D.W. Egan, "

(e) FROM TRANSPORT "A .39".
Landed Albany 30 : 12 : 14

No. 1112 Dvr. D,C, Woodward, No. 6 Coy A.A.S.C.

Not likely to become an

efficient soldier.

" 1077 " W.C. Morris, No. 6 Coy. A.A. S.C.

Not Likely to become an

efficient soldier ; also

required medical treatment for

venereal.

" 1124 " J.C. Evans, Medically unfit. 6th A.S.C.

" 1269 " M.J. Ryan, No. 7 Coy. A.S.C.

Medically unfit. (Primary Syphilis).

(f) FROM TRANSPORT "A. 44".. Landed at Albany 31 : 12 : 14.
No. 3 Pte. W. Christie, 1st Mobile Section,
Army Veterinary Corps,
Medically Unfit.

COURT MARTIAL. 9. -

Vide Convoy Order No. 9, the District Court Martial
Convened therein is hereby dissolved.

(SGD.) J.P. McGLINN, Lt-Col.

Staff Officer, 2nd Australian Convoy.

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.

SECOND AUSTRALIAN CONVOY.

Transport "A38",

Port Said, 31-1-15.

CONVOY ORDER NO. 13

by

COLONEL J. MONASH V.D.

SENIOR MILITARY OFFICER OF 2ND CONVOY.

DEATHS.

("A40")

1. - The Senior Military Officer regrets to announce the following
deaths which occurred at sea on the dates shewn :-

TRANSPORT "A40".
(a) No. 870. Private Frederick Agutter, 15th
Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade; enlisted
1st Military District (sunstroke). Date of
death 27-1-15 (off Suez).
(b) No. 156. Private Roy Vernon Jenkin, 15th
Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade, enlisted
1st Military District (Meningitis). Date
of death 30-1-15 (off Ismailia, Suez Canal).

TRANSFER OF

PERSONNEL

PORT SAID.

2. - The following transfer to Port Said for special hospital
treatment was approved by the Senior Military Officer, Second
Australian Convoy at Port Said on January 30th:-
No. 507, James Alexander Stewart, 5th Light
Horse, Transport "A34" (enlisted 1st Military
District) Pneumonia.

ALBANY.

TROOPS

LANDED AT -

3. - With regard to the landing of troops at Albany, the following
personnel was put ashore there without the prescribed
approval of the Senior Military Officer :-

FROM TRANSPORT "A29"
6th Light Horse Regiment.
Enlisted 2nd Military District.

Landed at Albany 30-12-14.

Capt. Russell, M.D. Temporarily Medically Unfit

71 Tpr. Michael, R.S. Medically unfit.

234 " Bennett, J.A. " "

321 " Pierce, J. Under age.

466 " Smith, A.S. Medically unfit..

(Signed) J.P. McGLINN , Lieut.-Colonel,

Staff Officer, Second Australian Convoy).