The text of the post card reads:
16/1/15 Mena Camp
Everything A.1.
Everybody well & happy
Love AGA
Friday, 16 January 2015
Post card - 16 January 1915 - Mena Camp
The first post card written by A.G. Adams to his mother from the Mena Camp, Egypt. This is the last of the batch of post cards purchased in Colombo.
The text of the post card reads:
The text of the post card reads:
Sunday, 11 January 2015
Post card - January 1915 - Egypt
This post card was sent by A.G. Adams to his mother on his arrival in Egypt.
No date is given. It looks like it is one of the batch of post cards purchased in Ceylon.
The text of the post card reads:
No date is given. It looks like it is one of the batch of post cards purchased in Ceylon.
Stationed Egypt I think
All well writing later
Love AGA
Letter Card - 31 October 1914 - HMAT A3 Orvieto
This Letter Card was sent from A.G. Adams to his mother on the day of his departure from Melbourne on H.M.A.T Orvietto.
My apologies for the lateness of this post. I have only found this document in recent days.
You might note how the Letter Card was re-addressed from the Oriental Hotel, Melbourne, and on to the Huddart Parker firm in Wellington and then on to the Grand Hotel Rotorua, New Zealand.
My apologies for the lateness of this post. I have only found this document in recent days.
You might note how the Letter Card was re-addressed from the Oriental Hotel, Melbourne, and on to the Huddart Parker firm in Wellington and then on to the Grand Hotel Rotorua, New Zealand.
The text of the letter reads:
31.10.14 H.M.A.T. A3 Orvieto
Dear Mater,
Am quite well leaving tonight.
Love
Athol
Monday, 5 January 2015
Meanwhile
By the end of November 1914, Britian and France had suffered almost a million casualties. The western front was in deadlock. Trenches stretched from the Swiss border across 466 miles to the English Chanel at Nieuport. There was one soldier for every four inches of front. Enemy trenches were being taken at appalling cost. At one point 700 yards gain was taken at a cost of 26,000 men. Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, believe that if victory would be won it would be 'bought so dear as to be almost indistinguishable from defeat'. By December 30th the British and French were losing more men in the trenches than Germany.
The Russians had also suffered severe losses. They had lost a million men and crushing defeats at Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes. Their rifles and ammunition were in short supply. Trade through the Dardanelles was blocked. The Turks were threatening the Caucasus which prompted the Grand Duke Nicholas to consider wheeling his army south to meet the Turks thereby reducing numbers facing the German Army. This would free up more German soldiers to fight on the Western Front.
The Times newspaper called for another strategy with a 'touch of imagination'. The British cabinet strained to find another battleground. They considered an amphibious invasion of the German coast using the North Sea island of Borkum as a staging area. Violations of Dutch and Danish neutrality were debated. They looked at possibilities in northeastern Greece, Syria, Gallipoli and the Dardanelles where the Turkish empire was weak.
On 25 November 1914 Winston Churchill proposed to the War Council that an attack on the Gallipoli peninsular was the best of these options. If successful the allies would then have control of Constantinople, knocking Turkey out of the war. If successful this would also support Russia. Over 90% of Russia's grain and half its exports usually passed through the Dardanelles but were now blocked by the Turks. If success was achieved in this new theater, England might find new allies: Bulgaria, Romania and Montenegro. Perhaps a line of communication up the Danube into central Europe may also be opened up.
The Gallipoli peninsula was the key site which overlooks the Dardanelles. Taking control of Gallipoli would assist allied warships passing first through the Dardanelles, then the Narrows and across the Sea of Marmara to Constantinople. Kitchener supported a campaign in the Dardanelles if it didn't involve removing troops from France. At this stage, however, it was thought that an attack on the Dardanelles could be undertaken by ships alone. Churchill rejected this strategy believing both ground troops as well as a naval action would be required.
On 5 January, Admiral Carden (who was commander of the squadron blockading the Dardanelles and been in that area for a number of weeks) assessed the various possibilities which might lead to a successful re-opening of the shipping lanes through the Dardanelles. He reported that the Dardanelles could be rushed with a large number of ships. This information was positively received in London and Churchill asked Carden what he would need to successfully carry out such a plan.
On 11 January, Carden requested 12 battleships, 3 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers, 16 destroyers, 6 submarines, 4 seaplanes, 12 minesweepers and various support vessels. Admiral Carden estimated that it would take about a month to bombard the forts, clear the narrow sea passage of mines, destroy the nearby forts and break through to the Sea of Marmara. Churchill put these plans to the War Council on 12 January and the idea seemed like the breakthrough they were searching for. They agreed to go ahead with the plan. The decision was unanimous. The Admiralty should prepare for a naval expedition and take Gallipoli with Constantinople as its objective.
The French warmly greeted the plan and offered four battleships. The Russians too were supportive.
On 9 February the Greek island of Lemnos was handed over to the British. This was to be the staging post for the invasion of Turkey. Also in early February Jacky Fisher (the First Sea Lord), Asquith (Prime Minister) and others recommended that a strong military force should be ready to assist the naval operation, or at least follow up the naval action by taking the forts after they were silenced by naval bombardment. A British division, the 29th, became available, as well as a marine brigade, to support the naval attack on the Dardanelles.
Kitchener also had at his disposal the Australian and New Zealand troops stationed in Egypt.
The First Sea Lord was directed to have sufficient transports to carry a force of 50,000 men.
The Russians had also suffered severe losses. They had lost a million men and crushing defeats at Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes. Their rifles and ammunition were in short supply. Trade through the Dardanelles was blocked. The Turks were threatening the Caucasus which prompted the Grand Duke Nicholas to consider wheeling his army south to meet the Turks thereby reducing numbers facing the German Army. This would free up more German soldiers to fight on the Western Front.
The Times newspaper called for another strategy with a 'touch of imagination'. The British cabinet strained to find another battleground. They considered an amphibious invasion of the German coast using the North Sea island of Borkum as a staging area. Violations of Dutch and Danish neutrality were debated. They looked at possibilities in northeastern Greece, Syria, Gallipoli and the Dardanelles where the Turkish empire was weak.
On 25 November 1914 Winston Churchill proposed to the War Council that an attack on the Gallipoli peninsular was the best of these options. If successful the allies would then have control of Constantinople, knocking Turkey out of the war. If successful this would also support Russia. Over 90% of Russia's grain and half its exports usually passed through the Dardanelles but were now blocked by the Turks. If success was achieved in this new theater, England might find new allies: Bulgaria, Romania and Montenegro. Perhaps a line of communication up the Danube into central Europe may also be opened up.
The Gallipoli peninsula was the key site which overlooks the Dardanelles. Taking control of Gallipoli would assist allied warships passing first through the Dardanelles, then the Narrows and across the Sea of Marmara to Constantinople. Kitchener supported a campaign in the Dardanelles if it didn't involve removing troops from France. At this stage, however, it was thought that an attack on the Dardanelles could be undertaken by ships alone. Churchill rejected this strategy believing both ground troops as well as a naval action would be required.
On 5 January, Admiral Carden (who was commander of the squadron blockading the Dardanelles and been in that area for a number of weeks) assessed the various possibilities which might lead to a successful re-opening of the shipping lanes through the Dardanelles. He reported that the Dardanelles could be rushed with a large number of ships. This information was positively received in London and Churchill asked Carden what he would need to successfully carry out such a plan.
On 11 January, Carden requested 12 battleships, 3 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers, 16 destroyers, 6 submarines, 4 seaplanes, 12 minesweepers and various support vessels. Admiral Carden estimated that it would take about a month to bombard the forts, clear the narrow sea passage of mines, destroy the nearby forts and break through to the Sea of Marmara. Churchill put these plans to the War Council on 12 January and the idea seemed like the breakthrough they were searching for. They agreed to go ahead with the plan. The decision was unanimous. The Admiralty should prepare for a naval expedition and take Gallipoli with Constantinople as its objective.
The French warmly greeted the plan and offered four battleships. The Russians too were supportive.
On 9 February the Greek island of Lemnos was handed over to the British. This was to be the staging post for the invasion of Turkey. Also in early February Jacky Fisher (the First Sea Lord), Asquith (Prime Minister) and others recommended that a strong military force should be ready to assist the naval operation, or at least follow up the naval action by taking the forts after they were silenced by naval bombardment. A British division, the 29th, became available, as well as a marine brigade, to support the naval attack on the Dardanelles.
Kitchener also had at his disposal the Australian and New Zealand troops stationed in Egypt.
The First Sea Lord was directed to have sufficient transports to carry a force of 50,000 men.
Thursday, 1 January 2015
Letter - 3 January 1915 - Mena Camp, Egypt
This letter outlines the new Battalion system which came into place on 1st January 1915. Some of the desert training is detailed. Athol writes of his hopes for a commission and sends home chocolate to Mum for New Year.
As usual the letter has taken a circuitous route from Egypt via Melbourne to Wellington, New Zealand.
The letter is transcribed below.
As usual the letter has taken a circuitous route from Egypt via Melbourne to Wellington, New Zealand.
The letter is transcribed below.
Dear Mater,
Many thanks for your No1. It's the only Australian I've had so far. The postal arrangements are very rotten, we've only had about 100 letters all told in the Company. We have been doing the same old thing, leave camp 8.15am and return 3pm carrying one meal; doing mostly skirmishing, entrenching, and various forms of attack and defence. We have tea about 4.30, last post 10pm, lights out 10.15.
Last Tuesday-Wednesday night we did outpost work. We left camp 9.30am carrying one meal and took up day outpost positions. I had charge of 202 picquet and I got roared by the Major, and boomed up by the adjutant and Colonel also Capt. Carter so I did all right on the whole. Luckily we did not have to take up different positions for the night outpost as we had one that did for both night and day which saved us digging another trench. We stayed there all night and marched back to camp about 6am, just as it was getting light.
Since the 1st Jan 15 we have been re-organized. That is we are now working under what is called the double-company system. That means that each battalion is made up of four companies of 228 instead of 8 companies of 119, the difference being made up by having a larger Bn Headquarters. Old 'F' company is joined to 'H' company to form 'D' Company. Capt Carter (from old 'F' company) has command with Capt Walstab* as 2nd in command. The new 'D' Company consists of 4 platoons each of 4 sections and about 55 strong under a Lieutenant with a platoon Sgt as 2nd in command and each section under an N.C.O. I have become Company Sgt Major and the Col/Sgt of 'H' becomes Company Quartermaster Sgt. It will take us a little time to get settled but not very long I hope. They brought out a seniority list of N.C.Os in the Battalion a week or so ago and I was 2nd Col/Sgt on the list. The only N.C.Os in the Battalion above Colour Sgt are 4 of the A&I Sgt Majors who cam away with us, one as Regimental Sgt Major, on was Regimental 2 Sgt Major, and one as signaller Sgt, and one as machine gun Sgt.
I hear unofficially that I am next for a Commission. I have not heard anything at all of the other affair so I suppose its dropped. I expected to get a Commission here with a very short while but it is held over for some reason or another.
We have 'reveille' at 2.30am tomorrow in order to do an attack on an outpost position at dawn and next night at about 3.30, I expect, in order to defend the same trenches against the Company we attack tomorrow.
I got the pouch you sent me last night and also sox, shirts, scarf etc re-addressed from Victoria League, London for which many thanks.
Jim and Spery both send love. Jim only arrived from Alexandria today. I am sending you the tin of chocolate we had given us at New Year.
There doesn't seem to be much else and I'm pretty tired so I'll ring off.
My love to all enquiring friends. Regards to Pater.
Yours lovingly, Athol* Capt. Walstab. See http://anzaccentenary.vic.gov.au/remembrance/hmat-orvieto-embarkation/faces-orvieto/orvieto-stories/#john
Promotion to Company Sergeant Major - 1 January 1915
A.G. Adams' service records state that he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major on 1 January 1915.
The Unit Diary for 5th Battalion notes that the 1st AIF adopted the 4-Company system on 1st January. A.G. Adams was moved from 'F' company, known as the public schools' company, to 'D' company as a result of this change in Battalion formation.
This image is located at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
ID = H18405
A black and white silver gelatin image dated 1914.
The War Memorial state that it depicts an officers' or NCO class at the 5th Battalion.
It is likely that A.G. Adams is included in this group. If I was to pick one of them he would be in the front row fourth from the left.
The Unit Diary for 5th Battalion notes that the 1st AIF adopted the 4-Company system on 1st January. A.G. Adams was moved from 'F' company, known as the public schools' company, to 'D' company as a result of this change in Battalion formation.
This image is located at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
ID = H18405
A black and white silver gelatin image dated 1914.
The War Memorial state that it depicts an officers' or NCO class at the 5th Battalion.
It is likely that A.G. Adams is included in this group. If I was to pick one of them he would be in the front row fourth from the left.
Saturday, 13 December 2014
Next Christmas postcard - undated - probably December 1914
This is the final postcard sent home for Christmas.
This post card was also printed aboard the H.M.A.T. 'Orvieto'. The printed message on the reverse reads:
The front of the postcard depicts a young rubber plantation.
And the reverse reads:
This card was probably written whilst on board the H.M.A.T. Orvieto and then posted on arrival at Egypt.
This post card was also printed aboard the H.M.A.T. 'Orvieto'. The printed message on the reverse reads:
'Kind Thoughts and Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas and Prosperity in the Coming Year.' Athol G. Adams.A short verse is also included in the corner:
The wind blows cold, but hearts are warm And love smiles at the weather, For Yule is here, when those apart In spirit are together.This postcard is addressed to A.G.Adams' eldest brother, A.P. Adams (Arthur Parker Adams), who lived on his sheep farm 'Bidgemia', outside the town of Urana in the Riverina district of New South Wales, Australia.
The front of the postcard depicts a young rubber plantation.
And the reverse reads:
'Hot as Hades and raining a fair amount. Good trip not much excitement. AGA.'
This card was probably written whilst on board the H.M.A.T. Orvieto and then posted on arrival at Egypt.
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