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Thread: 100 Years Ago Today

  1. #551

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    28th May 1915.
    Colonial unrest: In Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) against a backdrop of the recent imposition of martial law by the (British) authorities, A Buddhist procession celebrating Vesak Poya Day defies orders to stop drum beating while passing a mosque in Gampola town. Violence follows, including Buddhists attacks on a mosque, and on muslim businesses, escalating to 63 deaths across the island.

    Rob.
    Boy, some things really haven't changed, have they.
    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  2. #552

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    29th May 1915.


    Western Front.

    French take Ablain (Souchez).

    Eastern Front.

    Russian counter-offensive forces Austrians to retreat in east Galicia.

    Southern Front.

    Dardanelles: Turkish success at Gaba Tepe.

    The Turks attacked and broke into Quinn's Post after exploding a mine close to the Australian front line. After heavy fighting the enemy was driven out and the position restored. During the fighting Major Hugh Quinn, 15th Battalion (Queensland, Tasmania), of Charters Towers and Townsville, Queensland, after whom the post was named, was killed.

    Italians occupy Valona.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    The U41 commanded by Claus Hansen sank the Portuguese Steamer Cysne, and British Steamers, Dixana and Glenlee off Ushant and the Wolf rock respectively.

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    U12 commanded by Egon Lerch sank the Greek ship Virginia in the Northern Adriatic.

    Anglo-French take Njok (Cameroons).

    Political, etc.

    The Parliamentary Labour Party's decision to accept office in the coalition government of Asquith in 1915 caused widespread anger within Labour ranks. Many within the party were opposed to the party assuming a role in the war time government given the strength of opposition amongst many ILP and Labour party members to Britain's involvement in the war.
    In addition many Labour activists seen the decision of the party to accept cabinet positions within Asquith's coalition government as a sell out to the principle of Labour independence within Westminister. Many socialists voiced their concern that the parliamentary representatives of Britain's working classes had been silenced, or bought for a seat in government, thus ensuring that the working class would be left without any party protection at Westminster.
    In May 1915 Arthur Henderson became the first member of the Labour Party to hold a Cabinet post when Herbert Asquith invited him to join his coalition government. Henderson was President of the Board of Education between May 1915 and October 1916 and Paymaster General in Lloyd-George's war cabinet between October 1916 and August 1917. Henderson resigned as a result of Lloyd-George and the war Cabinet voting against his proposal for an International Conference on the war in Stockholm.

    Dr. Braga elected President of Portugal.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  3. #553

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    30th May 1915.

    Western Front.

    Germans attack at Hooge.

    Germans attack at Hooge. While in command of Hooge Fort and adjoining trenches Major Philip Granville Mason (Dragoon Guards) will show conspicuous gallantry and ability in holding the village and the defense line allotted to him for the next four days notwithstanding a terrific bombardment for several hours every day until 2nd June. During this time practically all his trenches and dug-outs will be blow in. For his actions Major Mason will be awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

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    French success near Souchez.


    Home Front.

    The garden of the Nevill Arms public house in Hackney, London, becomes the first London recipient of a Zeppelin carried German bomb.


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    Eastern Front.

    Austro-Germans attack forts of Przemsyl.
    Russian success on the San.

    Southern Front.

    Dardanelles: British repulsed at Quinn's Post.
    Italians make progress in Trentino.
    Italian air raid on Pola.

    Galopoli.


    Trooper Harry Hickman Binyon. Originally from Grover Road, Oxhey, An Old Boy of Watford Boys’ Grammar School. He emigrated to Australia, enlisted with the Australian Light Horse Regiment during the war and was killed on 30 May 1915, aged 41.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    Severe fighting in Cameroons.

    British take Sphinxhaven (on Lake Nyassa, German East Africa).


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    The 1915 log book of Chauncy Maples describes the events of May 30th. Before dawn, in pouring rain, KAR troops disembarked three miles south of Sphinxhaven, guided by Jimmy Sutherland, an elephant hunter. At first light the Gwendolen and the Chauncy Maples steamed slowly into the bay
    and were fired on from the shore. The KAR troops charged up the slope towards the German trenches. ‘They were found to be deserted,’ recalled
    Dennistoun, ‘except for a German dachshund which we had on Chauncy Maples for some time afterwards.’
    Once the military gave the all-clear, Engineer Haynes went ashore to examine the von Wissmann. Several hull plates were damaged and Dennistoun decided that, with German troops in the vicinity, there was not enough time to repair the ship. Haynes replaced the fishing nets he found
    in the hull with explosives. At noon the Gwendolen opened fire and the
    von Wissmann blew up. Just as the last of the troops clambered back on board, the Germans returned and retaliated. ‘Two Maxims and troops opened fire from deck of “CM”, reported the logbook. Gwendolen shelling. Took all [life] boats in safely without casualties. Crew behaved admirably under heavy fire from Germans on shore.’ The British had got out just in time.
    For background story see here:-

    http://www.janiehampton.co.uk/_asset...tory-today.pdf

    Political.

    German Note to U.S.A. on the "Lusitania".

    John Gulland Liberal, and Lord Edmund Talbot Conservative, are appointed Joint government Chief Whips in the House of Commons.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  4. #554

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    31st May 1915.
    Western Front.


    Fighting continues at Hooge.


    French take Souchez refinery and advance in the "Labyrinth" (north of Arras).

    Home Front.


    Zeppelin raid on London.


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    On the evening of 31 May 1915 Linnarz made his fifth raid on England in LZ.38. Relenting in the face of increasing pressure, the Kaiser had finally given approval for air raids on London – although at this stage they were limited to a line east of the Tower of London.

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    Linnarz followed his now familiar route over Southend and, adhering to the Kaiser’s restriction with impressive accuracy, appeared over Stoke Newington in north London around 11.00pm. Here, Linnarz dropped his first bomb, an incendiary, on 16 Alkham Road. Heading south, LZ.38 continued to drop bombs, with the first fatalities occurring at 33 Cowper Road, Stoke Newington. An incendiary set the house on fire and claimed the life of 3-year-old Elsie Leggatt and fatally injured her 11-year-old sister, Elizabeth May. Moments later another incendiary set fire to 187 Balls Pond Road, burning to death a married couple, Henry and Caroline Good. Over Shoreditch LZ.38 steered away from the Tower of London, and, over Whitechapel an explosive bomb claimed two more lives in Christian Street: 8-year-old Samuel Reuben and 16-year-old Leah Lehrman, who died in hospital two days later from her injuries. The seventh and final victim of the raid, Eleanor Willis, 67, also died two days later, as a result of shock caused by the raid.


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    From Whitechapel LZ.38 continued to bomb, attacking Stepney before flying over Bow and dropping a single incendiary on Stratford, then releasing its final five bombs on Leytonstone. In total LZ.38 dropped 91 incendiary, 28 explosive bombs and two grenades. The defences, however, were caught out by this first London raid. LZ.38 escaped detection by any searchlights, while no anti-aircraft guns opened fire as it passed over the capital. The only ground opposition came from machine gun fire at Burnham and an AA-gun at Southminster, both in Essex. The RNAS flew 15 defence sorties but only one pilot saw LZ.38, engine problems forcing him to abandon the chase.

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    The home defence aircraft suffered their first loss when Sopwith Gunbus 802 flying from Hendon crashed while trying to land, killing the pilot, Flight-Lieutenant Douglas Barnes.


    Eastern Front.

    Austro-Germans capture Stryj and the three northern fronts of Przemsyl.

    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

    British defeat Turks at Kurna (Tigris).

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    The Finnish barque Montrosa sank in the North Sea off the coast of Yorkshire, following an explosion. She probably struck a naval mine. Her fourteen crew were rescued by the Sweedish vessel Brunia.

    Germans capitulate to Anglo-French at Monso (Cameroons).
    Italians attack Pola.

    Political, etc.

    Dissatisfaction in U.S.A. at German Note on the "Lusitania".

    Riots continue in Ceylon.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  5. #555

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    Pity there wasn't anyone around in an F2B to shoot the Zep down wasn't it?

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  6. #556

    Rabbit 3's Avatar Squadron Leader Scotland.
    Captain

    Users Country Flag


    Name
    Robert
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    Lothian
    Sorties Flown
    918
    Join Date
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    Still a bit early, we`re talking about mainly BE2`s at this point as well as odballs like the Sopwith Gunbus
    http://flyingmachines.ru/Images7/GT/GT-0/290-3.jpg.
    Not to be confused with the more familiar Vickers FB5 `Gunbus` thats doing a good job on the Western Front at the moment.

  7. #557

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    Be fair Robert.
    At least he didn't mention a "Biff".
    Captain Von Kytel.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  8. #558

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    1st June 1915.

    Western Front.

    Continued fighting in the "Labyrinth" (north of Arras).


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    French capture trenches at Souchez.


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    Eastern Front.

    Unsuccessful German gas attack west of Warsaw.

    Southern Front.

    Austrian aircraft bomb Bari and Brindisi.

    Italians hold slopes of Monte Nero (across Isonzo), and advance in Adige Valley.


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    Galipoli.


    During 31st May close fighting had continued in front of Quinn's Post.
    On 1st June, an hour after dark, two sappers of the New Zealand Engineers courageously crept out and laid a charge of guncotton against a timber and sandbag bomb-proof. The structure was completely demolished.

    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

    Turkish retreat on the Tigris, pursued by naval flotilla.
    “Townsend’s Regatta”, a mixed flotilla of Allied craft, is chasing the Turkish gunboats Marmaris and Mosul north on the River Tigris.
    Townsend’s 6th Division was saddled with the task of conducting offensive operations aimed at extending British control from Qurna to Amara. Due to flooding along the banks of the Tigris in late May,Townsend had to move the preponderance of his forces north in a variety of vessels that became
    known as “Townsend’s Regatta.” The main British forces in theatre were subsequently disposed at four main locations:

    Amara, Qurna, Ahwaz, and Basra.

    British naval guns and shore artillery allowed for quick reduction of the Turkish positions to the north of Qurna, and a subsequent naval chase up the river ended with Amara’s disorganized Turkish forces surrendering to Townsend on 3 June.

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    MG Townsend.


    Naval and Overseas.

    U34 Captain Claus Rucker, Shells and sinks the British Fishing Vessel Victoria after it refuses to stop off the Scilly Isles. 6 crew are lost.

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    Cpt. Claus Rucker.

    Ub6, Captain Eric Haecker, sinks the British steamer Saidieh in the Mouth of the Thames.

    UC11, Captain Walter Gottfried Schmidt, damaged the Destroyer HMS. Mohawk at the entrance to the Downs, with the loss of 5 crew members.

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    HMS Mohawk.

    Political, etc.

    Lord Kitchener made a K.G.

    Rob.
    Last edited by Flying Officer Kyte; 06-01-2015 at 06:12.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  9. #559

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    2nd June 1915.

    All quiet on the Western front.

    Eastern Front.

    Austro-German attack on Przemsyl.
    Austrians beaten on the Dniester at Mikolajow.

    Galopoli.

    Major-General Alexander Godley, commander of the Australian and New Zealand Division, addressed the Australian 4th Brigade — 13th (New South Wales), 14th (Victoria), 15th (Queensland, Tasmania) and 16th (Western Australia, South Australia) Battalions — in Reserve Gully. The brigade had been in action since the landing of 25 April and Godley said to them:
    "I have come here today to tell you with what great pride and satisfaction I have watched your performances during the last five weeks … Yours is a fine record and one which you yourselves and Australia should be proud of."

    Sergeant Cyril Lawrence, 2nd Field Company Engineers, arrived on Gallipoli as a reinforcement for his unit. For the remainder of his time on Gallipoli he kept a diary. This was his first impression of the Anzac Cove area:
    But above all the thing that meets, or rather hits, the eye is the number of ‘dugouts’ … The whole landscape is covered with them. It looks for all the world like a mining camp.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    U14, captained by Max Hammerle sank the Norwegian Steamer Cyrus in the North Sea. There were no casualties.


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    U19, captain Constintin Kolbe sank the Norwegian sailing vessel Salvador 8 miles off Sumbrough Head, also with no casualties.
    U34,Captain Claus Rucker sank Danish Trawler Delta B by gunfire off the Scilly's, also with no casualties..
    Also the British Trawler Hirose which was scuttled about 32 miles west of the Scilly's.

    U35, Captain Waldemar Kophamel sank the Norwegian Steamer Cubano, 15 miles NE of Flannan Isle. No casualties.

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    Captain Waldemar Kophamel


    British submarine sinks a German transport in Sea of Marmora.

    Political.

    Blockade of coast of Asia Minor announced by British Government.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  10. #560

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    Well as the Wing commander is off reconnoitering foreign fields, the daily report from the front falls to me once again...

    So June 3rd 1915...

    Western Front

    Not quite all quiet but most of the action seems to have been elsewhere today

    British take trenches at Givenchy.

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    The war at Sea

    Talking of busy the German U-Boat U-19 was certainly busy

    Ena May ( United Kingdom): World War I: The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 66 nautical miles (122 km) south west by south of Sumburgh Head, Aberdeenshire by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
    Iona (United Kingdom): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 22 nautical miles (41 km) south east of Fair Isle (59°13′N 1°12′W) by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
    Chrysoprasus (United Kingdom): The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) east north east of Papa Westray, Orkney Islands by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
    Dogberry ( United Kingdom): World War I: The trawler was stopped and scuttled in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) east of Fair Isle by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
    Kathleen ( United Kingdom): World War I: The drifter was captured and scuttled in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east south east of Papa Stronsay Orkney Islands by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
    Strathbran ( United Kingdom): World War I: The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) east south east of the Pentland Skerries by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.


    Eastern Front


    Austro-Germans retake Przemsyl. (see March 22nd and May 24th)
    San Marino (yes you did read that correctly) declares war on Austro-Hungary - well that was plucky !

    Southern Front

    Dardanelles: Turkish attack repulsed at Gallipoli.
    Amara (Mesopotamia) captured by British forces.
    The Capture of the important Turkish administrative base of Amara in late May 1915 was a remarkable triumph for both the British and its commander of the Amara expedition, Sir Charles Townshend.

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    Also an important commercial centre Amara was sited on the Tigris river, and some 160km north of Qurna which British forces had captured in December 1914. Travel between Qurna and Amara was made difficult by land flooding - to a depth of three feet - and thus was only feasible by shallow draught boat.

    Nevertheless the freshly-arrived regional British Commander-in-Chief, Sir John Nixon, was determined to continue the Indian administration's policy of 'forward defence'.

    In this Nixon and the Indian government were in conflict with the wishes of the London War Office; the former intended to pursue an aggressive strategy, while the latter favoured a more cautious approach designed simply to protect critical British oil interests in the region.

    However Nixon, buoyed by success in repulsing a Turkish offensive at Shaiba in April 1915, argued persuasively that unless Amara itself was seized the British HQ at Basra lay under potential threat. The Indian administration was quick to agree; the government in London more reluctantly so.

    Thus, in spite of a definite shortage of equipment and supplies - notably medical supplies - Nixon, who remained at Basra, authorised newly-arrived Sir Charles Townshend (in charge of the 6th (Poona) Division) to begin operations.

    Consequently a haphazard fleet of some 500 flat-bottomed boats was assembled in readiness for an expedition to Amara. Each craft bore as much artillery as it could safely bear, machine guns and mountain guns among them.

    Commencing on 31 May 1915 Townshend's operation quickly secured Turkish outposts. News from reconnaissance aircraft reached Townshend the following day indicating that the main Turkish force at Ruta had opted to move north towards Amara.

    Townshend promptly decided to pursue them, boarding the Espeigle and designating it his HQ. With Royal Navy support Townshend's 'regatta' (as it subsequently became known) set off quickly in pursuit.

    Remarkably leaving his supporting infantry far behind - some 80km in his wake - Townshend paused on the evening of 1 June when his force sighted the rear of the Turkish force. Continuing the next day with Amara still some 80km ahead Townshend passed abandoned Turkish shipping. This augured well and he took the decision to proceed.

    Arriving in Amara on the afternoon of 3 June, Townshend's tiny advance force of 100 British sailors and soldiers nevertheless persuaded the garrison of 2,000 there to surrender, the latter convinced that a hefty British army was shortly to arrive. Maintaining the bluff throughout the day Townshend was joined by the arrival of his main force the following day.

    Townshend's reputation soared as news of the spectacular capture of Amara spread. More ominously it encouraged Nixon to aggressively push further up the Tigris, in spite of tightly stretched supply lines and extreme shortages of equipment.



    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres


    Capitulation of Amara (Mesopotamia) to the British.

    Political, etc.

    Bill to create Ministry of Munitions introduced.
    First meeting in Paris of Allied Conference on Economic War (see February 5th, 1915 and June 14th, 1916).
    Act Passed in British Parliament empowering Customs to compel all exports to Holland to be consigned to the Netherlands Oversea Trust (see November 23rd, 1914 and December 7th, 1915)

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  11. #561

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    JUNE 4th 1915



    Western Front


    Fighting continues north of Arras.

    German counter-attacks on French east of Lorette Ridge repulsed.

    Even as I type this I find it so hard to comprehend: Private Oliver W. Hodgetts (8662) 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, having recently been found guilty of cowardice, is shot by firing squad at dawn. Private Hodgetts is 20 years old.
    Private Oliver W. Hodgetts (8662) 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment

    He was serving with the 1st Battalion when they arrived in Western Front on the 8th November 1914 fresh from Egypt. Some 5 days later the Battalion took up a defensive position in trenches facing Neuve Chapelle and came under heavy bombardment from the enemy during which 7 men were killed and 25 wounded. During the next 3 days (16th to 19th November 1914) a further 13 men were killed and 27 wounded. During this period Private Hodgetts went missing but on this occasion no action was taken against him.

    On the 19th November 1914 the men of the 1st Battalion exhausted climbed out of the trenches frozen and in heavy snow fall made their way back to billets at La Gorgue, six miles away. Next day one man in four suffered with frost-bitten hands or feet and in many cases feet or toes had to be amputated.

    On the 9th May 1915 just prior to the attack on Festubert, Hodgetts went missing yet again just as the Battalion prepared to go into action. On the 12th May he reported to a nearby unit and claimed he had sprained his ankle, but when he was examined by the medical officer no injury was discovered. On the 22nd May 1915 he was brought to trial where he was undefended. Hodgetts conduct sheet showed that he had been sentenced to 90 days field punishment on the 1st March 1915. His commanding officer Major George W. St. G. Grogan at the trial described Hodgetts as a worthless fighting soldier who was only intent on saving his own skin. At his court martial Private Hodgetts was found guilty of cowardice. Field Marshal Sir John French confirmed the sentence and Private Hodgetts was shot by firing squad on the 4th June 1915. He was only 20 years of age.

    He is buried at Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, Laventie, Pas de Calais, France (Grave number IV.D.2).


    Naval and Overseas Operations

    Italian fleet bombards lighthouses and stations on the islands of the Dalmatian Archipelago, and Monfalcone.

    Casabianca ( French Navy): World War I: The D'Iberville-class cruiser was sunk by the explosion of one of her mines in the Gulf of Smyrna.[24] There are 86 killed and 66 survivors.

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    Third Battle of Krithia (Dardanelles).
    The attack began at noon on 4 June, when the last bombardment ended. There was pause in bombardment to pull Ottomans back into trenches who were further decimated there by the renewal of the bombardment. Ottoman losses were around 6,000 on that first day.

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    On the left, the attack of the Indian Brigade was quickly halted except along the Aegean shore where the 1/6th Battalion of the Gurkha Rifles managed to advance. The 14th Battalion of King George's Own Ferozepore Sikhs Regiment, advancing along the floor of Gully Ravine, were almost wiped out, losing 380 men out of 514 and 80% of their officers.

    The 2nd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment from the 29th Division, advancing along Fir Tree Spur alongside Gully Ravine, managed to advance but having lost contact with the Sikhs on their left were forced to defend along the bank of the ravine as well as to their front. Elsewhere, the 29th Division advance was held up with heavy casualties by Ottoman strongpoints that had survived the bombardment unscratched.

    The advance of the 42nd Division was, by Gallipoli standards, very successful, quickly reaching the first objective of the Ottoman trenches and moving beyond to advance a total of 1,000 yd (910 m). This attack was made by the 127th (Manchester) Brigade which broke through the Ottoman 9th Division's defences and captured 217 prisoners.

    The Royal Naval Division's advance was led by the 2nd Naval Brigade which managed to reach and capture the Ottoman trenches. When the second wave—the Collingwood Battalion—attempted to continue the advance, they were caught in enfilade fire from Kereves Dere to the right where the French advance had failed. The battalion, one of the newly arrived reinforcements, was utterly annihilated and was never reformed. Further attempts to reach the second objective were successful, but the position was untenable, so within a couple of hours the RND units had retreated to their starting positions.

    With the main attack decided—success for the 42nd Division in the centre, failure everywhere else—Hunter-Weston considered how to deploy his reserves. If he was to exploit the success in the centre, there was the potential to set the Ottoman flanks to flight but also the danger of creating a vulnerable salient. He decided to reinforce the flanks and renew that attack; however, the French insisted they were unable to continue the offensive so any further advances by the Royal Naval Division in Achi Baba Nullah were abandoned. Further attacks along Gully Spur and Gully Ravine failed.

    At 16:00, Hunter-Weston ordered for the troops to dig in and consolidate their positions; however, this coincided with the Ottoman reserves counter-attacking against the Manchester Brigade in the centre. Within one hour, the brigade was under attack from three sides so was eventually ordered to withdraw. By the end of the battle, their new front line was a mere 200–250 yd (180–230 m) in front of their start line, passing through a patch of vines that earned the area the name of 'The Vineyard' which was to be the site of heavy fighting in August

    Political, etc.

    Mr. Winston Churchill speaks at Dundee on the Dardanelles expedition.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  12. #562

    Default

    June 5th 1915

    Its a bit of a quiet one today - probably not for the poor blighters on either side of the trench lines or roasting in the Dardanelles heat, but certainly from a modern news gathering perspective.


    Western Front

    Fighting continues north of Arras.

    German counter-attacks on French east of Lorette Ridge repulsed.

    Naval and Overseas Operations

    On what appear to have been a quiet day elsewhere - good to see U-19 is still giving me something to write about - boy they were busy...

    Adolf ( Russia): World War I: The schooner was sunk in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her six crew.
    Bardolph ( United Kingdom): World War I: The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 115 nautical miles (213 km) south by west of Sumburgh Head, Shetland Islands by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
    Curlew ( United Kingdom): World War I: The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
    Gazehound ( United Kingdom): World War I: The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Peterhead by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
    Japonica ( United Kingdom): World War I: The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) east of Kinnaird Head, Aberdeenshire by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived
    Persimon ( United Kingdom): World War I: The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) east north east of Peterhead by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

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    But - just to show the U-Boats weren't having it all their own way..

    SM U-14 ( Kaiserliche Marine): World War I: The Type U 13 submarine was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off Peterhead, United Kingdom by HMT Oceanic II ( Royal Navy) with the loss of one of her 28 crew.

    Italian fleet bombards lighthouses and stations on the islands of the Dalmatian Archipelago, and Monfalcone.

    Political, etc.

    Mr. Winston Churchill speaks at Dundee on the Dardanelles expedition.
    First Conference of British and French Ministers to co-ordinate war policy and strategy held at Calais.

    Meanwhile across the pond the Americans were luckily for them, still able to focus on their baseball as the Yankees lost to Ty Cobb‘s Tigers by a score of 11-2.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  13. #563

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    June 6th 1915

    Looks like we have some proper aerial action today - Zeppelin raid on Hull and the downing of LZ-37

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    One of Neil's many machine gun positions that cause so much havoc whenever we try to attack one of these leviathans

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    On 6 June 1915, naval Zeppelin L.9, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Mathy, set out to attack London ‘if possible, otherwise a coastal town according to choice.’ Weather conditions did not favour London so Mathy targeted Hull. Delayed by ground mist, Mathy finally located Hull and began his attack shortly before midnight, coming in over the King George V dock. Hull had no AA-guns for defence but the guns of HMS Adventure, under repair in Earle’s Yard, ineffectively engaged L.9. The route taken by L.9 is a little confused as it initially attacked from east to west, then turned and dropped more bombs as it flew back in the opposite direction. According to a newspaper report, the first bomb to cause serious damage fell on Walter’s Terrace, Waller Street, demolishing 14 houses and killing four people. Another bomb, in East Street off Clarence Street, killed three. L.9 continued dropping bombs; crossing the River Hull bombs burnt out the well-known Edwin Davis’ drapers store, narrowly missing Holy Trinity church. Other fatalities occurred at Blanket Row (3) and Edwins Place, off Porter Street (3). In South Parade and St. Thomas’s Terrace, off Campbell Street, bombs claimed five more lives. Other bombs took the total fatalities up to 26 with 40 injured. The official reports traced a total 13 high explosive (HE) and 39 incendiary bombs, which destroyed about forty houses and shops. The raid was the costliest of the war to date.

    After leaving Hull, Mathy took L.9 out over Grimsby where he released at least six incendiary bombs. One landed in a railway siding setting fire to two empty goods trucks, two in the Royal Dock, one in Fish Dock Road, another near a railway crossing and one in Freeman Street, near St. Andrew’s Church. Damage was negligible.

    Hull market place after the attack

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    Only one defence aircraft, a BE2c from RNAS Yarmouth, was in the air during the approach of L.9, but failed to locate it.

    There was significant success elsewhere that night though. In Belgium, RNAS pilots J.P Wilson and J.S. Mills bombed the Zeppelin shed at Evčre, destroying Linnarz’s LZ.38 inside, which had bombed London just six days earlier. Meanwhile, Flight sub-Lieutenant R.A.J. Warneford destroyed LZ.37 in the air over Ghent. Both Zeppelins had flown aborted missions against England that night.


    Eastern Front

    Enemy cross the Dniester at Zurawno, and continue their advance east of Przemsyl.

    Other and Political

    Meanwhile the government in Berlin orders U-boat commanders not to torpedo large passenger ships
    IMMINGHAM, Admiralty store carrier, ex-passenger steamer, 2,083/1906, Grimsby-reg, Great Central Railway, hired as accommodation ship 10/14, RFA store carrier from 4/15, Pennant No.Y8.50, described as "errand boy" between Imbros island and Mudros during Gallipoli campaign. In collision with hired screw minesweeper Reindeer 1,101grt, sank off Mudros, Lemnos island. Owners claimed Ł100,000 compensation but only awarded Ł45,000 by the Admiralty (+Lr/C/Cn/D/ns

    Roll of Fallen Airmen (a reminder that for us it is a game, for the airmen of the day is wasn't)

    Initials J.
    First names Jesse
    Surname Everitt

    Rank PO Mech
    Organisation Royal Naval Air Service
    Unit Armoured Car Division, Dardanelles

    Prisoner of war No
    Death date June 6th 1915
    Place Dardanelles
    Death details Died of Wounds 6 June 1915 aged 26

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  14. #564

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    JUNE 7TH 1915

    The R.A.F Daily Roll of Honour records that NO DEATHS ARE RECORDED FOR MONDAY JUNE 7TH 1915.

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    The Victoria Cross is awarded to Flight Sub-Lieutenant R.A.J. Warneford of No.1 Wing, Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), for downing Zeppelin LZ37 (Oberleutnant von der Haegen) near Bruges in Belgium.
    He dropped six 9 kilo (20 pound) Hales bombs onto it from above in a Morane Saulnier Type L3253. See yesterday for more details of the event itself. Hmm that's the 2nd VC for shooting down a Zeppelin - must have a chat with the Wing Commander upon his return

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    Western Front

    French offensive near Hebuterne.

    French progress north of Africa.

    Repeated German counter-attacks repulsed north of the Aisne.

    and at sea the U-boats (U-25 and U-35) continue to wreak havoc with trawlers and small merchant ships sinking eight British, Belgian and Norwegian ships

    Politics & Diplomacy

    Russian and Chinese Governments conclude agreement respecting Mongolia (see May 25th).
    First meeting of Dardanelles Committee of the British Cabinet [Under this title the War Council (see August 5th, 1914, and May 14th, 1915) exercised its functions during the critical period of the Dardanelles campaign.] (see May 14th and October 30th).
    Allied Commander-in-Chief in the Cameroons decides to abandon the advance on Yaunde (see 28th and April 12th)

    The Home Front

    On the (English) Home Front: The “Times” of London reports on the first all-female staff tube (underground railway) station. All female “for the time [being] at any rate”. [www.ianvisits.co.uk].

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  15. #565

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    June 8th 1915

    The R.A.F Daily Roll of Honour records that NO DEATHS ARE RECORDED FOR TUESDAY JUNE 8th 1915.

    In fact a quiet(ish) day all round. Certainly one short of recorded news (i.e. am having a hell of a time finding anything)

    Fortunately for those wishing something to read (not so fortunate for the mariners involved) U-35 was keeping very busy

    Express ( United Kingdom): World War I: The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 44 nautical miles (81 km)south west of the Smalls Lighthouse by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.[56]
    La Liberté ( France): World War I: The schooner was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) west of Lundy Island, Devon, United Kingdom by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.[57]
    Strathcarron ( United Kingdom): World War I: The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) west of Lundy Island (51°50′N 6°10′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.[58][59]
    Susannah ( United Kingdom): World War I: The schooner was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 40 nautical miles (74 km) south south west of the Smalls Lighthouse (50°55′N 5°35′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.[4][60]

    Western Front

    French hold all Neuville St. Vaast, and make progress in the "Labyrinth" at at Hebuterne.

    Eastern Front

    Stanislau recaptured by Austrian forces (see March 4th, 1915, and August 10th, 1916).


    Political, etc.

    Ministry of Munitions Bill amended.

    Mr. Bryan, U.S. Secretary of State, resigns. Mr. Lansing succeeds.

    Well really have struggled today so to cheer everyone up here is a picture of a burning Zeppelin

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  16. #566

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    Thanks Chris for carrying on the Rob's task.
    Your post made me recall two points.
    1. No deaths recorded on that day... I have just finished reading a huge book about WWI by one of our historians. Who knows what was an avarage day death toll during the Great War? 6300 men.
    2. Stanisławów, former Polish city, now Ukrainian Ivanofrankowsk. My grandpa served there when the Second War started as a soldier of the Border Guards.
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  17. #567

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    When I said no deaths I was referring alas only to the RFC, unfortunately I am confident that thousands of poor souls fell on that day, much like any other.
    Thanks for letting me know that someone is still reading the posts.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  18. #568

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    June 9th 1915

    RFC - roll of fallen airmen indicates that NO DEATHS ARE RECORDED FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 9TH 1915

    Eastern Front

    German attacks repulsed in the Shavli district.

    Austro-Germans pressed back to right of the Dniester.

    Southern Front

    Italians occupy Monfalcone (Isonzo front).

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    Monfalcone

    The Italian Third Army has finally crossed the River Isonzo, cleared the flooded land beyond, and reached Monfalcone, about 17 days behind schedule. The Austro-Hungarian army has chosen not to defend the town. They’ve left an outpost garrison on the Rocca, at the peak of a hill just behind the town square. There’s sharp fighting for a few hours, and then the garrison withdraws in good order.

    Monfalcone is almost a ghost town. There’s no point in sticking around. And so the Third Army passes quickly through and enters the Carso. The ground drops quickly away from the back side of the Rocca on the outskirts of town, then descending into a valley. It then rises sharply to a hill by the name of Cosich.

    Cosich had been quickly identified at the start of the planning process as an ideal keystone for defence. Its trenches were designed and excavated first, its barbed wire some of the most extensive on the front. The defenders also have plenty of guns. The Italian guns are still moving forward. The enemy guns fire briefly and then withdraw in plain sight to more defensible locations.

    The men are 18 miles from Trieste. One hard day’s march would have got them there. But the road ahead is now well and truly blocked. Apparently, an Austrian journalist, when seeing the positions, called them the “Hotel Cosich”. We’ll see how long it takes the Italians to turn the Hotel Cosich into Fawlty Towers.

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    Gorizia

    Away to the north, the Italians are trying to cross the Isonzo. They attack in three different places, at Podgora (west of Gorizia), Mount Sabotino (north of Gorizia), and Sagrado (south of Gorizia). The Podgora and Mount Sabotino attacks only fail miserably. They aren’t complete disasters like the one at Sagrado.

    At Sagrado, the Austro-Hungarian defensive positions have, unusually, been pushed far enough forward to allow them to overlook the Isonzo. The Italians have built pontoon bridges across the river at a point where there’s a helpful sandy islet in midstream. A battalion crosses before dawn and prepares to assault the enemy positions. They’ve got reinforcements all ready to come across after them.

    At which point, the enemy artillery opens up. And it doesn’t target the infantry, yet. Nobody seems to have realised that the islet is an ideal ranging mark for guns. A thunderous crash of shells falls on the pontoon bridge, which simply disappears under the weight of fire.

    And then the guns turn on the infantry. By afternoon, the Italians are fixing bayonets, as they’re starting to run out of ammunition. The enemy responds with hand grenades. As night falls, some of the more enterprising attackers wade back through the Isonzo, which at this point is wide but only slightly less than head high, and attempt to dig foxholes on the islet. Once the guns fall silent, they continue back to the west bank and safety.

    Naval and Overseas Operations

    German submarine sinks two British t.b.'s. and...
    HMS Dublin ( Royal Navy): World War I: The Town-class cruiser was torpedoed and damaged in the Adriatic Sea off Cape Pali, Albania by SM U-4 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of twelve of her 440 crew. HMS Dublin was subsequently repaired and returned to service.[65]

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    Political, etc.

    Second American Note on the "Lusitania" despatched.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  19. #569

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    June 10th 1915

    There must have been a real lull on the Western Front Aerial War as for the 4th consecutive day NO DEATHS ARE RECORDED FOR THURSDAY JUNE 10TH 1915.

    In an effort to expand aircraft production, the French government orders that skilled workers from aircraft factories who had enlisted or been conscripted into the army after August 1st be allowed to return to civilian life and re-enter their prior occupation. This is a recognition that while this is a war of mass armies, some men, given their skills, are more valuable out of uniform, given that the effectiveness of these mass armies are not only dependent on their size but also on the amount of material available for them to use.

    Eastern Front

    Austro-Germans driven back near the Dniester at Zurawno.

    Naval and Overseas Operations

    Anglo-French take Garua (Cameroons) For several months Frederick Lugard, the British governor of Nigeria, has desired an attack against the fort at Garua in northwestern German Kamerun, especially after the German thrust of April to the Benue River undermined British prestige in northern Nigeria. A combined Franco-British force of fourteen companies, accompanied by two heavy artillery pieces, has advanced to Garua, and by yesterday had closed to within a kilometre of the German positions. The goal of the operation was not only to seize Garua but also cut off the garrison's line of retreat and force their surrender. The first rounds fired by the artillery, however, panicked the askaris of the garrison, half of whom promptly fled by swimming down the Benue River towards Banyo. Greatly weakened, the three hundred men remaining in Garua surrender the fort today before the British and French can launch an attack on the German line.

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    For the British and the French, the operation against Garua has been a subsidiary one, designed to restore British prestige and pre-empt further incursions into Nigeria. They believe that the Germans are focusing their defensive efforts in the south of the colony, in the region surrounding Jaunde, which is where the British and French have directed their main attacks. In fact, the Germans have based their defense of Kamerun on the broad northern uplands around Ngaundere, and Garua was the key to holding this territory. Thus the Germans are greatly concerned about the fall of Garua, which calls into question their entire focus on the north, while the British and French have no idea of the significance of what they have actually managed to accomplish.

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    Battle of Zydaczow begins (see 22nd).

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  20. #570

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    June 11th 1915

    Right chaps last one from me for a while as the Wing Commander is back to take his rightful place. Welcome back Rob.

    One airman died on this day: Flight Lieutenant Collyns Price Pizey RNAS - attached to the Greek Royal Navy

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    Died of dysentery at Edipos 11 June 1915 aged 32. Marine Royale Hellenique / Royal Greek Navy (Act Commander) acting as Chief Instructor at the Flying School there.

    Flight Lieutenant Pizey , born 1st April 1883, at Clevedon, was one of the early pioneers of flying, having gained his certificate No 61, in a Bristol Box-Kite, on Salisbury Plain, 14th February 1911, that same year he took part in the Daily Mail Air Race. He was educated as an engineer, and passed through all the shops of the Bristol Tramway Company, where he gained the attention of Sir George White, who detailed him to assist Mr Sidney Smith when the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company was formed in late 1909 early 1910. He later took charge of the flying schools at Salisbury Plain and Brooklands, where he and his assistant Harry Fleming were known as "Little Appy" and "Big Appy". They were masters at the art of flying training, and in September 1913 Pizey was appointed by the Admiralty as Flying Officer to the British Naval Mission to Greece, to carry out experimental and instructional work to organise the Greek Naval Air Service.

    Western Front

    French advance five furlongs on a front of 1.25 miles and repulse a strong counter-attack south of Hebuterne (south of Arras).

    Eastern Front

    Austrians lose 16,000 prisoners at Zurawno.
    Battle of Przemysl ends (see 3rd and May 24th).
    Battle of the Stryj ends (see May 24th).

    Naval and Overseas Operations

    U-19 back in the headlines with yet another three victims:
    Otago ( Sweden): World War I: The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east by north of Coquet Island, Northumberland, United Kingdom by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
    Plymouth ( United Kingdom): World War I: The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 67 nautical miles (124 km) north east of Spurn Head, Yorkshire by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
    Waago ( United Kingdom): World War I: The trawler was scuttled in the North Sea 80 nautical miles (150 km) north east by north of Spurn Point by SM U-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

    Second American Note on the "Lusitania" published.

    Political, etc.

    Mr. Lloyd George speaks at Bristol on munitions.

    Italy’s price for joining the Triple Alliance:
    After a long delay the Allies respond to Italy’s terms that they cannot accept complete Italian control of the Adriatic (because of Russia’s continuing support for Serbia). As the wrangling continues, the British political class confide in each other their private opinions of Italy and its people: “greedy and slippery” (Prime Minister Asquith); “the harlot of Europe” (Navy Minister Winston Churchill); “mere organ grinders” (Admiral Fisher); and “the most contemptible nation” (David Lloyd George). All obviously extremely helpful opinions and not the way to talk about one's allies. Unfortunately British xenophobia seems to have changed little in the past 100 years.

    Britain’s price for a Russian Bosphorous: Meanwhile, also today, Britain and Russia sign a separate agreement where Britain will take control of oil rich Ottoman provinces in Mesopotamia in return for Russia taking control of its Black Sea route to the Mediterranean through the Bosphorous and the Dardanelles.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  21. #571

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    Thanks for holding the Fort so admirably Chris. i will post today' bulletin when I've been food shopping and got a few replacement G&Ts in stock.
    Found a new drink to my taste in the Colonies. Mint Julep anyone?

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    Kyte.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  22. #572

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    12th June 1915.


    Once again a bit of a slow news day on the Western Front.

    Eastern Front.

    Austro-Germans cross the Dniester at Kolomea.
    Germans attack north of Shavli, north of Przasnysz, on the Bzura and at Mosciska (Galicia) and Lubaczow.

    Southern Front.

    Italians make progress in the Carnic Alps.
    Malborghetto bombarded.

    Naval.

    The SS Desabla was built by Hawthorn Leslie & Co. Ltd at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1913 for Bank Line, Glasgow (Andrew Weir Shipping & Trading Co. Ltd). She was the first oil tanker to join the Bank Line fleet and was chartered and operated for approximately one year by General Petroleum Company along the Pacific coast of the United States, Chile and Canada. In 1914 she was re-chartered to the British Government to transport oil from Texas to the United Kingdom. In 1915 she was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-17 off the coast of Scotland
    On 12 June 1915 she was carrying a cargo of linseed oil from Port Arthur, Texas bound for Hull under the command of Mr. Fred S. Cowley. She was chased and intercepted by German submarine U-17. While the crew escaped in lifeboats, she was shelled, torpedoed and finally had to be scuttled with charges placed in the hull to sink her.[3]
    Excerpt from the Admiralty Report into the sinking:
    "This Admiralty Oiler Transport No.63 was steaming on course when the German Submarine U-17 was seen right astern, gaining rapidly on the Steamship. The Master endeavoured to keep the vessel astern making various violent changes of course, but the submarine was much faster and rapidly took up a position close to the ship. The Enemy commenced to shell the Desabla at 07:20 am and kept up a continual fire at her from a Deck Gun. Realising that escape was impossible, the master stopped his Engine and ordered all hands into the Boats, which were successfully lowered at 08:20 am, allowing all the Crew to escape safely. Shortly after the enemy fired a Torpedo into the Ship at 08:30 am, but as she did not sink immediately some members of the crew went aboard her, presumably to place explosive charges and to loot her. When last seen by the Master at 12:30 pm, his ship was sinking fast and the Submarine had submerged out of sight. The survivors were picked up by the Armed Trawlers at 3:30 pm and taken ashore."


    Political, etc.

    Great Britain informs Germany through the U.S. Ambassador that submarine prisoners are now treated as ordinary prisoners.

    Letter from the Tsar to Tsarina Alexandra.
    BELOVED WIFY MINE,
    I thank you most warmly for both your sweet letters - they have refreshed me. This time I left with such a heavy heart! I thought of all the various and difficult questions - of the change of Ministers, of the Duma, of the 2nd Category, and so on. When I arrived I found N. grave, but quite calm. He told me that he understood the seriousness of the moment, and that he had received a letter to that effect from Goremykin. I asked him whom he would recommend in Soukhomlinov's place. He answered - Polivanov.
    Having looked over the list of Generals' names, I have come to the conclusion that, at the present juncture, he might prove a suitable man. He has been sent for, and arrived this afternoon. I spoke absolutely frankly with him, and told him why I had been dissatisfied with him before-A. Goutcbkov, etc. He replied that he knew it, and that already, for three years, he had been carrying the burden of my displeasure. He has lost his son during the war, and has greatly and efficiently helped Alek.
    I hope, therefore, that his appointment will turn out to be successful. To-day I saw Krivoshein as well, and bad a long conversation with him. He was less nervous, and consequently more judicious. I sent for Goremykin and several of the older Ministers; to-morrow we shall discuss some of these questions and shall pass over nothing in silence. Yes, my own darling, I am beginning to feel my old heart. The first time it was in August of last year, after the Samsonov catastrophe, and again now - it feels so heavy in the left side when I breathe. But what can one do!
    Alas! I must finish; they are all gathering for dinner at the big tent. God bless you, my treasure, my consolation and happiness! [Literally, "treasure, consolation and happiness mine!"] I kiss you all warmly.
    Always your hubby
    The weather is divine.
    Nicky.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  23. #573

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    Welcome back Rob

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  24. #574

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    13th June 1915.

    Western Front.

    French repulsed at Souchez.
    Success of the French south-east of Hebuterne.

    Eastern Front.

    Austro-Germans attack successfully from the San to Mosciska.
    Russian counter-attack on the Styr and Tysmienice.

    Galopoli.

    Diary of an Anzac.

    About 10 wounded during the night, none serious. About 4 a.m. a large battle
    cruiser and a light cruiser of the town class appeared from round the island of
    "Embros" escorted by a number of destroyers. The light cruiser steamed to our left
    flank, or what is known as "Anzac Cove" and the battle cruiser took our right flank
    and for a couple of hours they poured shells into enemy, afterwards steaming
    towards Cape Helles. This afternoon our aeroplane flew over enemy's trenches and
    I distinctly saw three bombs dropped, which went off with loud explosion. Enemy
    tried to bring aeroplane down, three shots going very close, but he got away safely.
    On duty 7.30 p.m. Up to midnight four wounded men were brought in to be fixed up.

    Political, etc.

    Greece: General election; Venizelists win 193 out of 316 seats.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  25. #575

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    14th June 1915.

    Not much news again today, but things will hot up a bit tomorrow.

    Eastern Front.

    Russians fall back towards Grodek line (Lemberg).

    Turkish Attack on Perim.

    Gallipoli.

    Australian soldier Herbert Reynolds from Victoria records in his diary one of war’s quieter days, for him at least:
    “A T.B.Destroyer went in close to Kaba Tepe this morning and shelled the enemy tranches from a while, she returned again this afternoon and shelled the enemy away inland, on this occasion the enemy fired at her with their field gun from behind Kaba Tepe but did not succeed in hitting her. I managed to buy 3 tins of milk one shilling each from some sailors on the beach, we get very little here other than our rations which are bully beef, biscuits, cheese and bacon, so anything is very welcome as change. The sea has been rather rough today. At about 11pm some of us sat and watched heavy action down at Cape Helles from the top of the ridge above our camp, the flash of guns and explosion of the shells proved that the artillery on both sides was very heavily engaged and the start shells and flares illuminated the whole ridgefrom Achi Baba to the Cape”.

    Naval.

    U33 captained by Konrad Gansser captured and sank by gunnery the Norwegian steamer Davanger, carrying a general cargo, 16 miles WNW of the Flannan Isles.

    Political, etc.

    Second reading of the Finance Bill.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  26. #576

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    Must admit Rob, 15th June did look like a good one - my breath is well and truly baited....

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  27. #577

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    15th June 1915.

    Western Front.

    British take, but fail to hold, German front line trench east of Festubert.


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    After Neuve Chapelle, the French high command came to believe that the British could undertake an offensive action, not just fight a dogged defence. The prestige of the British in that operation, which was judged by all to have been a success even though it fell far short of the strategic goal of breaking through to Lille, rose considerably. It led to increased French pressure for the British army, still small and woefully under-gunned, to play an increasing part in offensive warfare.
    The 7th Division moved into the Givenchy sector shortly after their costly involvement in the Aubers Ridge and Festubert assaults. It proved to be a very difficult line to hold, being subject to constant mining, sniping and trench mortar activity. A decision was taken to make a large-scale attack on the German front between a point East of Givenchy to just South of Rue d'Ouvert, to capture some key points. 21st Brigade was selected to lead the attack, with two battalions in the front wave. On their right, the Canadians were to attack a strong point called 'Dorchester' and forming a defensive flank near the Canal; on their left, the 51st (Highland) Division would move on Rue d'Ouvert from the north. To maintain contact between the main thrusts, the 1st Grenadier Guards of 20th Brigade would advance over the flat ground towards the village. After several postponements, the attack was fixed for the evening of 15 June 1915.
    A complete and costly failure
    The infantry assault was preceded by 48 hours slow bombardment, aimed at destroying trenches and wire; a heavier 12-hour fire would precede the actual attack. Great attention was paid to air co-operation and observation, largely to ensure economy of use of ammunition. The infantry advanced at 5.58pm, just after the miners of the 176th Tunnelling Company RE had blown a 3000-lb mine under the Duck's Bill position.
    The German line in this area was formidable, with very deep trenches and dugouts that the weak British bombardment (not helped by poor observation through long grass and poor light) barely touched. Even before the artillery fire lifted, once the Germans saw the 2nd Yorkshires and 2nd Wiltshires advancing they manned the parapets. Machine gun and rifle fire cut down most of the attacking troops. The attack was a complete failure, despite the enormous bravery and dash of the 21st Brigade. The 2nd Yorks, on the right in front of Givenchy, lost heavily in the crossing of no man's land: of A Company's 5 officers and 170 men who attacked, only 40 were not hit. Of B Company, 1 officer and 31 men escaped, of 5 and 180 who went over. Even so, some men of A Coy under 2/Lt. Belcher got into the German front line, but without support could not hold on. Captain Raley and most of his B Coy were hit before they got away from their own parapet. On the left of the Yorks advance, a small party under 2/Lt. Lloyd Jones bombed their way towards the mine crater down a sunken lane, but eventually every one of this party became a casualty. The 2nd Wiltshires did not even get as far as the Yorks, only a few men getting even as far as 50 yards from the German line in front of Chapelle St. Roch. The Canadians and Highlanders suffered similarly.
    7th Divisional HQ initially ordered 21st Brigade to renew the attack, with the 2nd Bedfords to strengthen the Wilts and Yorks. However, once it was realised that these battalions were in no condition to continue, they were relieved by the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers and Bedfords respectively. The relief took a long time due to congestion in the communication, support and front trenches, and new attack was postponed from 1.30am to 5.30am and then to the afternoon of the 16 June.
    If at first you don't succeed ...
    The pattern of the second attack was similar. The Canadians would once again go for 'Dorchester', the RSF on the Brigade right and the Bedfords on the left. Brigade machine guns at Windy Corner and Le Plantin would give supporting indirect fire. The attack began at 4.45pm, after a thin British barrage throughout the day which ceased two minutes before the infantry attack, giving the Germans plenty of time once again to man the parapet. The results were the same: more than half of the attacking companies of the RSF were down before they even got through their own wire. In one section, five out of thirteen men were hit while still in their own trench. The CO, Major J.H.W.Pollard, called off the attack immediately. The Bedfords did slightly better, some men getting into the crater and inflicted heavy losses on the Germans there. Those would could do so crawled back during the night, and reported that during the attack the Germans had been two or three deep in their front trench, with those at the back acting as loaders for those firing.


    Air War.
    The first Fokker M5K/MG, factory number 191 (probably E.1/15), leaves the factory. The date on which Idflieg gave the aircraft the military designation E.I is unknown. Otto Parschau's plane, deliverd May 30, was still designated A.III and numbered A.16/15.

    Zeppelin raid on north-east coast.


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    On the night of 15 June, Kapitänleutnant Klaus Hirsch brought Zeppelin L.10 inland north of Blyth at around 11.25pm then set course for the Tyne.


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    His first bombs dropped on Wallsend at around 11.40pm. Six incendiary and two high explosive (HE) bombs caused damage estimated at Ł30,000 on the North Eastern Engineering Company works. Others fell close to the Infectious Hospital and the new Secondary Schools, with one also falling near Holy Cross church and another in the Burn Closes.
    L.10 next crossed the Tyne, dropping bombs on the Hebburn Colliery, the Ordnance Works football field and Blackett Street, before approaching the Jarrow shipyards. Unfortunately, word of the impending raid had not reached the shipyards and all lights were still burning, providing an easy aiming point. Palmer’s shipyard took the brunt of the attack with seven HE and five incendiary bombs killing 17 and injuring 72 in the Engine Construction Department.
    L.10 crossed back over the Tyne, bombing Willington Quay. There, three (one HE and two incendiary) bombs fell on Cookson’s Antimony Works, two at the east end of Stephenson’s Street and one at Pochin’s Chemical Works, one near the Tyne Commissioner’s Yard, one at Coach Open – killing P.C. Robert Telfer - two in Tyne View Terrace and one in Dock Street. Hirsch then dropped a single bomb on Bewicke Street, East Howden, as he headed towards South Shields where he dropped the last four bombs.
    The first of these landed in the Tyne but the second hit a fairground close to the river where considerable damage took place. The force of this blast smashed windows in Ferry Street, Church Row, Market Place, Coronation Street, King Street, East Holborn, Mill Dam, Spring Lane and Thrift Street. A third bomb, dropped on Bents Ground, caused minor damage before a final one on the beach failed to explode. L.10 departed at about 11.52pm.


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    More info:- http://www.strong-family.org/lane/chapter_7.html


    French airmen bomb Karlsruhe killing 29 civilians and wounding 58.

    Maxime Lenoir of France, flying a Caudron with an unnamed observer, is credited with shooting down a German balloon. This is Lenoir's second aerial victory.

    Eastern Front.

    German advance on right bank of San.
    Austrian and German armies capture Mostyska from Russian forces on their advance towards Lviv.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    Celtic Sea: Bruno Hoppe, commanding U-22, begins his second war patrol by torpedoing British freighter SS Strathnairn, 4,336 tons, bound from Penarth to Archangelsk with a cargo of coal. Hoppe's score is now 3 ships and 5,389 tons.

    Germans lose submarine U.14.

    German East Africa:

    The log of HMS Weymouth notes that at 0400 Bosun James Flynn was cautioned for coming on board drunk the previous night.

    At 0915 HMS Severn receives two maxim machine guns from the cruiser Hyacinth, plus five gun stands and spare parts. At 1015 she sets out for anchoring and mooring trials, then at 1405 puts out to sea, drops off a target and begins gun trials. She drops anchor back in port at 1755.

    At 1115 HMS Mersey receives a visit from Admiral King-Hall and his staff, who leave the monitor at 1220. At 1630 Mersey puts out for a trial run. The starboard rudder is found to be out of alignment, and the ship stops to make adjustments, returning to port at 1830.


    Political, etc.

    Vote of credit for Ł250,000,000.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  28. #578

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    16th June 1915.

    Western Front.

    British advance north of Hooge, and east of Festubert.


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    An area that was fought over for many years, which saw the first fighting take place between 24-25 May 1915, which was the last engagement of The Second Battle of Ypres, leaving the German trenches between the Menin Road and the Ypres-Roulers railway to form a salient. Behind the German front lines lay the Bellewaarde Ridge and the lake, the former giving the enemy good observation over the British lines. Hooge, at the southern point of this salient, lay battered and ruined between the opposing lines; while just south of the Ypres-Roulers railway the eastern edges of Railway Wood were held by the enemy, and the western edges by British troops of the 3rd Division. The British line from opposite Hooge ran along just south of the Menin Road to just east of Birr X Road, then turned sharply northwards skirting the eastern edges of the Cambridge Road to the angle formed by the latter and the railway, where, for some 300 yards, it followed the latter eastwards, turning again sharply north-west.
    The decision had been made to attack the salient to stop the Germans reinforcing their lines some 50km south at Givenchy, and gain possession of the ridge; the attack was to be carried out by the 9th Brigade of the 3rd Division on the 16th June 1915. One fact, however, should be clearly noted that, at this period there was a severe shortage of hand-grenades, the use of which in trench warfare was only just being recognised. There was also a serious shortage of shells which would mean strict rationing and accurate positioning by the artillery. This would become the 1st Battle of Bellewaarde.
    There were three phases in the attack, in The first the objective was the eastern edge of a narrow strip of wood (Y.16 and Y.15), and the German front-line trenches as far as the north-east corner of Railway Wood; in the second the objective was the line of the road from a house 100 yards south of Y.17, through Y.17 to Bellewaarde Farm, then through. Y.14 and Y.11 to Y.7; the objective in the third phase was the south-western corner of Bellewaarde Lake, Y.18 - Y.12 - Y.7.




    The attacking troops for the first phase were, from the right to left, the 4th Royal Fusiliers, the 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers and the 5th (1st Northumberland) Fusiliers. As soon as the German front was taken the Royal Fusiliers were to bomb down the trench from Y.16 to Y.17, while the Royal Scots Fusiliers, in conjunction with the 5th Fusiliers, were to seize the hostile German trench lying between Y.13 and Y.15 and the second objective, the 5th Fusiliers were to push their bombing parties on towards Y.7.
    As soon as the first objective had been gained the guns were to bombard the second objective, i.e., from the house 100 yards south of Y.17 to Y.11; about the centre of this line lay Bellewaarde Farm. The 1st Lincolns and the Scottish (1/10th King's Regiment), who during the first phase, were to move up to the front line which had been vacated by the troops of the first phase, and were to capture the third objective. In later years this was known as leap-frogging.
    The 7th Brigade was to support the 9th, and the 8th was in reserve. On the right of the 3rd Division troops of the 7th were to support the 9th Brigade by seizing the German trenches from Y.20 to Y.16, and by covering rifle and machine-gun fire from the Menin Road. On the left the 6th Division was to assist the 3rd by opening covering fire with rifles and machine guns.
    From 2.50 a.m. with three pauses at 3.10 a.m., 3.40 a.m. and 4 a.m., until 4.15 a.m., the Divisional Artillery was to bombard the enemy trenches. At 4.15 a.m. the infantry were to advance to the assault.


    French gain ground in severe fighting north of Arras.
    French offensive from 15 May – 16 June was concentrated on the flanks, to create jumping-off points for a second general offensive, which began on 16 June.
    French advance in the Vosges.

    Home Front.

    Bombing of Hull.

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    The attack by the L.9 only happened because the wind prevented Kapitänleutnant Mathey from reaching London. After following the railway lines from Bridlington to Hull, he dropped flares to light up the docks. Their were no defences other than the guns of HMS Adventure which was being repaired in Earl's Yard.

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    Thirteen high-explosive and fifty incendiaries resulted in the destruction of forty houses and shops, killing a total of twenty-four people.


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    Mobs retaliated on the ground by sacking shops, such as Kress and Wagner, believed to belong to Germans.

    Eastern Front.

    Continued fighting east of the San.

    Political, etc.

    Mr. Lloyd George takes the oath as Minister of Munitions.

    Another letter from the Tsar.
    Stavka. 16 June, 1915.
    MY BELOVED SUNNY,
    I thank you with all my heart for your sweet, long letter, in which you give me an account of your conversation with Paul. You gave perfectly correct answers on the questions of peace. That is precisely the chief point of my rescript to old Goremykin, which will be published.
    With regard to Danilov, I think that the idea of his being a spy is not worth an empty eggshell. I am quite aware, too, that he is not liked, that he is even hated in the army, beginning with Ivanov and ending with the last officer. He has a terrible character, and is very harsh with his subordinates.
    N. knows this, and from time to time puts him in his place; but he considers it impossible to dismiss him after 11 months of hard work - so well does this man know his duties.
    Even Krivoshein spoke to me on this subject - he thinks, for instance, that N. ought to make alterations among his Staff, and choose other men in place of Yanoushkevitch and Danilov. I advised him to tell N. of it, which he didfrom his own point of view, naturally. He told me later that N. had obviously not liked his frankness.
    The conference, which was held some days ago, dealt with three problems: the regime for the German and Austrian nationals who are still domiciled in Russia; the prisoners Of war; the text of the above-mentioned rescript; and finally the soldiers of the Second Category. When I told them of my wish, that the men of 1917 should be called up, all the Ministers heaved a sigh of relief. N. agreed at once. Yanoushkevitch only asked that he might be allowed to work out the preparatory measures in case of necessity.
    Of course, should the war continue for another year, we shall be obliged to call up some of the younger ages of the Second Category, but now it is not required. Yussoupov, whom I sent for, was present at the conference on the first question; we cooled his ardour slightly, and gave him some clear instructions. He caused some amusing moments when he was reading his reports of the Moscow riots - he became excited, shook his fists and banged them on the table.
    I hope soon to go to Beloveje by car for a whole day, and to do it quite unexpectedly. The old man and Voeikov thank you very much. Well, I must break off this letter. God bless you, my darling Wify. Fondly I kiss you and the dear children.
    Your
    Nicky.

    NOTES: YUSSOUPOV: General Prince F. F. Yussoupov, Chief of the Moscow Military District. Father of Prince Felix Yussoupov, who took an active part in the murder of Rasputin. He was obliged to relinquish his post, about this time, in consequence of anti-German pogroms in his district. The Moscow riots were the outcome of a popular demand for the removal of Soukhomlinov, Maklakov (Minister of the Interior) and Shcheglovitov (Minister of Justice). Beloveje: one of the Royal Preserves in Poland, where deer and big game were kept on a large scale.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  29. #579

    Default

    Being a regular visitor to Hull, doesn't look like they ever got round to fixing half the damage, lol

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  30. #580

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Hedeby View Post
    Being a regular visitor to Hull, doesn't look like they ever got round to fixing half the damage, lol
    Oh! but that is with the damage fixed Chris!
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  31. #581

    Default

    17th June 1915.

    Western Front.

    French carry Buval Bottom (north of Arras).

    Germans set fire to and evacuate Metzeral (Alsace).

    Flight Sub-Lieutenant R.A.J. Warneford VC of No.1 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), is killed with his passenger, American journalist H.A. Needham, when his Henri Farman F27 two-seat reconnaissance bomber of rolled over during a steep turn near Paris.

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    Eastern Front.

    Third Battle of Lemberg begins.

    Russians announce enemy loss of 120,000 on Dniester during the last month.

    Southern Front.

    Italians complete capture of heights on left bank of the Isonzo, dominating Plava.

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    Italian Attack on Monte Nero: The first offensive: about 20,000 Italian soldiers died.


    The Austrians locked themselves in Monte Nero, and the Italian army needed to attack this place of greatstrategic importance because of Monte Nero provided a bird’s-eye vision of every enemy advance night and day and round the clock. The Italian troops attempted numerous attacks on Monte Nero at the beginning ofJune, 1915, but they suffered severe losses from the Austrian defenders, who were in a very advantageous and fortifiedposition against theItalian soldiers.

    However, by June 16th the Austrians entrenched on Monte Nero were decisively beaten by the Italian Army. But the Austrianswerealso well entrenched on Mount Cucco,and they entirely controlledthe Isonzo Valley.The Italian soldiers conquered Mount Cuccobut the win was very difficult and costly, because, according to M. Thompson, theyreported 500 dead and about 1000 wounded.In the first month of the Isonzo Valley offensive,the Italians lost about 20,000 soldiers


    Political.

    Tsar's Telegram.

    Stavka. 17 June, 1915

    I am very grateful for letter and two telegrams. Thanks to Tatiana and Olga. It is very hot and windy. There are 22 degrees of heat in our carriages. Please do not worry, and see Goremykin, who will calm you. Fond kisses for all.
    Nicky
    .


    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  32. #582

    Default

    18th June 1915.


    Western Front.

    Second Battle of Artois ends.

    The second Battle of Artois is brought to an end when the French generals acknowledge that the German defences are too strong… after 40 days, 2 million shells, and 102,500 French casualties. The French have advanced approximately 3 kilometres.

    Home Front.

    First World War - Bristol Hippodrome, 18 June 1915.
    Artists and staff were involved in a special matinee for wounded soldiers held at the Bristol Hippodrome.

    The Route march of the 3rd Bttn. Devonshire Regt.
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    From Sir Robert Thesiger Watkin-Williams’ Diary – “A lovely hot day. The soldiers arrived at 4 pm (at Stockland). Col. Harding, Captain Vaughan, Major Gill, Lt. Larder and Miss Hake and Mr. Talbot all had tea here, (White House), then to the school room where the soldiers tea was given. Lt. Larder went to the stream and fished with me and afterwards Miss Rowan, Miss Hake, Capt. Vaughan, Major Gill, Lt. Larder and Mr. Talbot dined with us. Capt. Vaughan and Lt. Larder stayed the night and the troops left at 8.30 am the next morning for Upottery, Exeter and
    Plymouth”.

    Eastern Front.

    Official report issued on the Russian operations during the past month on the Dniester.

    Galipoli.

    At MEF Headquarters on Imbros island, Sir Ian Hamilton and his staff celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo with a special dinner of crayfish.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    The British steamer Ailsa was scuttled on 18th June 1915 by the German submarine U-17 (Hans Walther), 12 miles SE from Arbroath. Ailsa was on her way from Trondheim to Leith with a cargo of wood. There were no casualties.

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    Ailsa.

    Austrian warships raid the Adriatic coast of Italy.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  33. #583

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    19th June 1915.

    Western Front.

    French gain ground near Souchez.


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    French bombard Munster (Alsace).


    Captain Frederick William Campbell, VC


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    Date of Death: 19/06/1915

    Citation:-For most conspicuous bravery on 15th June, 1915, during the action at Givenchy. Lt. Campbell took two machine-guns over the parapet, arrived at the German first line with one gun, and maintained his position there, under very heavy rifle, machine-gun and bomb fire, notwithstanding the fact that almost the whole of his detachment had then been killed or wounded. When our supply of bombs had become exhausted, this Officer advanced his gun still further to an exposed position, and, by firing about 1,000 rounds, succeeded in holding back the enemy’s counter-attack. This very gallant Officer was subsequently wounded, and has since died.
    Frederick William Campbell was born in Mount Forest, Ontario in 1869. As a young man, he joined a unit of the Canadian Militia, and later served in during the South African War with a machine gun section of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. At the beginning of the First World War he was commissioned as an officer in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). It was as he withdrew during the action for which he won his VC that Captain Campbell received the mortal wound from which he died on 19 June 1915.

    Eastern Front.

    Austro-Germans attack the Grodek line (Galicia); Russians retreat.


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    Gallipoli.

    A pier was completed at Anzac Cove for landing stores and equipment. It was built by the 2nd Australian Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers, and called Watson’s Pier after Major S H Watson, 1st Division Signal Company, who supervised the construction.

    Naval and overseas.

    The British Steamer Dulcie was torpedoed by UB 13 commanded by Walther Gustav Becker, 6 miles E of Aldeburgh with one fatality.

    South African forces begin advance on Otavifontein.

    Political, etc.

    Conference at Boulogne between Mr. Lloyd George and M. Albert Thomas, French Under Secretary for War.

    Dr. José de Castro succeeds Senhor J. P. Chagas as Portuguese Premier.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  34. #584

    Default

    20th June 1915.

    Western Front.

    Further French advance near Souchez.

    German offensive in Argonne's.

    German counter-attacks on the heights of the Meuse repulsed.

    Eastern Front.

    At the Battle of Lemberg, German & Austro-Hungarian forces launch an attack to re-take the city and the Austrian fortress lost to the Russians in 1914 (later Lwów in Poland, now Lviv in Ukraine).
    The battle of Lemberg, 20-22 June 1915, was a short-lived Russian attempt to defend the great fortress of Lemberg against advancing German and Austrian troops during the aftermath of the great German victory at Gorlice-Tarnow. That battle had seen the Germans break through the Russian lines at the western end of the Carpathian front and advance east along the line of the mountains, forcing the Russians to abandon their attempt to invade Hungary.
    Lemberg was a great Austro-Hungarian fortress at the eastern end of that front. It had been captured by the Russians during the battles of Lemberg of 1914, which had seen the Austrians first forced back to the Carpathians. In June 1915 it was defended by two tired Russian corps (VIII and XVIII) under General Brusilov. His army had been fighting in the Carpathians since the winter and was significantly under strength.
    On 20 June the German XLI Reserve corps and Austrian VI corps launched an attack on Lemberg. These were relatively fresh units – the Germans in particular had been at close to full strength at the start of the Gorlice-Tarnow offensive and the Russians in Lemberg were outnumbered.
    The battle was short-lived. On 22 June the Germans and Austrians broke into the outskirts of Lemberg, and to avoid being trapped Brusilov pulled his corps out of the city. The Russian retreat would continue until mid-September, and their new front line would be fifty miles east of Lemberg.


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    General Brusilov

    Southern Front.

    Italians consolidated their positions in the Monte Nero region.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.


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    U38 Captain Max Valentiner torpedoed and damaged the Cruiser
    H.M.S. "Roxburgh" about 100 miles from the Firth of Forth.

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    U22 captained by Bruno Hoppe stopped and sank the British Trawler Premier 70 miles NNE of Cape Wrath or 75 miles NW of Troup Head.

    In St John’s on the Island of St. Pierre et Miquelon ( a vestige of the colony of New France off the Atlantic coast of Canada) 242 Canadian recruits of “F” company embark on HM Troopship Calgarian, bound for Liverpool and the war in Europe, including Inuit and Métis volunteers from Labrador.

    Political.

    The Tsar.

    Telegram. Stavka. 20 June, 1915.
    I thank you heartily for your sweet letter; also Mane and Alexey. The heat is terrific. I saw Samarin, who has accepted, but asked to postpone his appointment for a fortnight...

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  35. #585

    Default

    21st June 1915.

    Western Front.

    French repulse German counter-attacks north of Arras.

    French gain ground in Lorraine.

    The town of Metzeral in Alsace (formerly and more recently in France) is destroyed at the end of six days of intense fighting.
    The populations of the villages or Metzeral and Sondernach were evacuated on June 9th and the attack began on June 15th. The main action took place on 20th and 21st June, with heavy fighting street by street, building by building, hand against hand, bayonet against bayonet. The village was ruined beyond recognition, the tranquil river valley destroyed. By the 24th June, the French had secured Metzeral but the human cost was devastating. The French cemeteries of Chęne Millet and Sondernach, and the German cemetery of Breitenbach, are witness to the losses in the valley of the Fecht.

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    Home front.

    At Maidstone barracks, in Kent, a concert raises funds for wounded servicemen.

    Eastern Front.

    Austro-Germans take Zolkiew and Rawa Ruska.
    Austrians repulsed at Nizniow (Dniester).

    Southern Front.

    Dardanelles: French advance.
    At Helles, French forces launched an attack on the Turks at Haricot Redoubt and Kereves Dere. The French, for little progress, suffered more than 2,500 casualties and the Turks lost more than 6,000 killed and wounded.

    Naval and Overseas.

    The SS Carisbrook, a British merchant steamer carrying wheat from Montreal, Canada, to Leith in Scotland, is captured and sunk by German submarine U-38 captained by Max Valentiner off the north east coast of Scotland. Her crew survived.
    U33 captained by Konrad Gansser took as a prize the Norwegian ship Sigurd Hund bound for Glasgow with a cargo of Whale oil.
    Anti-British revolt in South Africa ends with arrest of General De Law.

    Political, etc.

    Christian De Wet found guilty of treason.

    Mr. McKenna announces Government proposals for a 4.5% War Loan.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  36. #586

    Default

    22nd June 1915.

    Western Front.

    German gains recovered by French on the heights of the Meuse.

    French occupy Sondernach (Lorraine).

    More info:-

    http://tim-slater.blogspot.co.uk/201...-metzeral.html

    Eastern Front.

    Third Battle of Lemberg ends: city retaken by the Austrian forces.
    The battle of Lemberg, 20-22 June 1915, was a short-lived Russian attempt to defend the great fortress of Lemberg against advancing German and Austrian troops during the aftermath of the great German victory at Gorlice-Tarnow. That battle had seen the Germans break through the Russian lines at the western end of the Carpathian front and advance east along the line of the mountains, forcing the Russians to abandon their attempt to invade Hungary.
    On 20 June the German XLI Reserve corps and Austrian VI corps launched an attack on Lemberg. These were relatively fresh units – the Germans in particular had been at close to full strength at the start of the Gorlice-Tarnow offensive and the Russians in Lemberg were outnumbered.
    The battle was short-lived. On 22 June the Germans and Austrians broke into the outskirts of Lemberg, and to avoid being trapped Brusilov pulled his corps out of the city. The Russian retreat would continue until mid-September, and their new front line would be fifty miles east of Lemberg.


    Battle of Zydaczow ends.

    Southern Front.

    Italians repulse Austrian attacks at Freikofel (Trentino).

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    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    The Admiralty trawler Quail III, hired in 1915 as a minesweeper, (Other sources – 23 June, perhaps because her loss was close to midnight on the 22nd) - In collision with tug Bulldog, sank at 2340, 7 miles SW of Portland Bill Dorset. No lives were lost.

    Swedish Steamer Kiew, Taken as a prize by U32, Captain Edgar von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim, then apparently released.

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    Edgar von Spiegel

    Sailing ship Leo sunk by U38 Max Valentiner strikes yet again. Position given as 58°55’N, 01°13’W per KTB.

    German submarine sunk at Borkum.

    On the shores of Lake Victoria in German East Africa, the British 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and others have launched an amphibious attack on Bukoba (“The Battle of Bukoba”) with the objective to destroy the German wireless station.

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    More info:-

    http://www.frontiersmenhistorian.info/bukoba.htm

    Political.

    However the world pretends to divide itself, there are only two divisions in the world today - human beings and Germans.

    Rudyard Kipling, head of the British War Propaganda Section, in the 'Morning Post', 22 June 1915 .

    N.B. The Editor does not necessarily share these views.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  37. #587

    Default

    I think the African campaign of WW1 is something I need to do some more reading on, sounds completely different to most other fronts and indeed markedly different to the WW2 actions.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  38. #588

    Default

    23rd June 1915.

    Despite no news on the Western Front, quite a big one today.

    Eastern Front.

    Austro-Germans checked on the Zurawno-Demeszknowiec line (Dniester front).

    Italian Front.
    First Battle of the Isonzo to 7 July.

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    Italians launch the first of what will become 11 battles to dislodge the Austrians from the Isonzo River, which keeps the Italians from Trieste.

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    Italian lines.

    On June 23, 1915, exactly one month after Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary, the Italian army attacks Austro-Hungarian positions near the Isonzo River, in the eastern section of the Italian front; it will become the first of twelve Battles of the Isonzo fought during World War I.
    Of all the fronts of the Great War, the Italian was the least well-suited not only for offensive operations but for any form of warfare at all. Four-fifths of Italy’s 600-kilometer-long border with Austria-Hungary was mountainous, with several peaks rising above 3,000 meters. Despite this, the Italian chief of staff, Luigi Cadorna, desperately wanted to satisfy the demands of his government–as well as the other Allies–by making substantial gains of territory against Austria-Hungary upon Italy’s declaration of war on May 23, 1915.
    For its part, Austria-Hungary was surprisingly unconcerned with the Italian entry into the war, despite the fact that it opened a third front for an army whose resources were already stretched dangerously thin. In the years before the war, the Austrian commander in chief, Conrad von Hotzendorff, had often suggested a pre-emptive strike against Italy, as well as against Serbia; in 1915, the prospect of confronting an inferior Italian army seemed to lend a new burst of energy to the Dual Monarchy. Germany, though, pressured Austria-Hungary to fight defensively in Italy and not to divert resources from the Eastern Front against Russia. As a result, while the Italians plotted ambitious offensive operations, including surprise attacks across the Isonzo River, the Austrians settled into their positions in the mountains along the rapid-flowing Isonzo and planned to mount a solid and spirited defense.
    After a series of preliminary operations on various sections of the front, Italian forces struck the Austrian positions at the Isonzo for the first time on June 23, 1915, after a one-week bombardment. Despite enjoying numerical superiority, the Italian forces were unable to break the Austro-Hungarian forces, Cadorna having failed to assemble adequate artillery protection to back up his infantry troops–a mistake similar to those made early in the war by commanders on the Western Front. Two Austro-Hungarian infantry divisions soon arrived to aid their comrades at the Isonzo and the Italians were prevented from crossing the river; Cadorna called off the attacks on July 7.
    In the four battles fought on the Isonzo in 1915 alone, Italy made no substantial progress and suffered 235,000 casualties, including 54,000 killed. Cadorna’s plans for a highly mobile Italian advance had definitively failed, and battle on the Italian front, as in the west, had settled into slow, excruciating trench warfare.

    Gallipoli.

    Orders were given for the construction of extensive new terraces on the hillsides above North Beach at Braund's Hill to accommodate reinforcements for the proposed August offensive. In general the troops hated this so-called ‘fatigue’ work.

    Naval and overseas.

    Valentiner strikes again.

    On the night of June 23rd/24th 1915, twenty British fishing vessels were attacked by the German submarine U38 (and perhaps a second unidentified U Boat ) while they were fishing Shetland grounds 30 miles East of Unst. The Commander of U38 at that time was Christian Valentiner, one of Germany’s most successful commanders of WW I. In the space of just six hours sixteen of them were sent to the bottom. The method of attack at that stage of the war was for the U Boat to approach the target and order the crew to abandon their ship and take to their lifeboats. Once they were clear the U Boat sank the target by gunfire or explosive charges.
    The result was that casualties at that stage of the war were mercifully few and in the case of this attack only one fisherman was injured, Robert Buchan of the Four, when the U Boat opened fire before they had had time to abandon ship. He died later of his injuries.

    Vessels Lost: Steam Drifters:
    PD 63. Ugie Brae
    PD 203. Elizabeth
    PD 475. Quiet Waters
    PD 82. Uffa
    PD 98. Research
    PD 17. Primrose
    PD 104. Four
    PD 191. J M & S
    PD 537. Star of Bethlehem
    PD 92. Monarda
    YH 297. Piscatorial
    YH 978. Josephine

    Vessels Lost: Steam Line Fishing Boats:
    A 441. Lebanon
    A 598, Viceroy
    A 12. Vine
    A 226. Commander

    Survivors
    PD 152. Nigella
    PD 424. Energy
    PD 208. Archimedes
    PD 492 A M Leask

    U.40 sunk by decoy combination trawler Taranaki/submarine C.24 off Aberdeen, first success by decoy ship against a U-boat.

    On the morning of 23 June 1915 U-40 stopped the trawler Taranaki in the North Sea. Taranaki was in fact a decoy vessel, or "Q-ship", and was connected to the submerged submarine HMS C24 by a combined tow line and telephone cable. When U-40 stopped the trawler, Taranaki telephoned the situation to C24. When C24 tried to slip the tow line, however, the release mechanism failed, and C24 had to manoeuvre into an attacking position with a hundred fathoms of chain hanging from her bow. Her commander, Lieutenant Frederick Henry Taylor, was able to adjust her trim and avoid fouling the chain in the propellers and fired a single torpedo that struck U-40 amidships. The U-boat sank instantly, only three men in the conning tower surviving to be picked up by the Taranaki.
    The Admiralty trawler Bush mounting 1-12pdr gun, skippered by G King, on patrol off the Hebrides about 8 miles NNW of Butt of Lewis, sighted two drifters fishing nearby," with the wind blowing hard, in considerable seas". Shell landed nearby and a submarine was sighted. Bush returned fire, third shot fell near the U-boat which submerged, The Bush was slightly damaged by the six shells fired at her; Admiralty awarded Ł60 to the crew.


    More news on Bukoba for Hedeby.


    Article in a Nottingham newspaper which might be of interest to those studying the campaign in German East Africa:

    “EAST AFRICAN FIGHTING.

    “NOTTINGHAM MEN IN THE BUKOBA EXPEDITION.

    “GERMAN STATION DESTROYED.


    “An official account of the successful British operations against Bukoba, the German base on the Victoria Nyanza, which included stores, fort, and wireless station, is furnished to the Daily Leader of British East Africa of June 29th, a copy of which journal has been sent to us by a correspondent. The proceedings are of special interest to Nottingham readers, as several men from this city and county took part in the fighting. The expedition in which a combined naval and military force was engaged and proceeded from Kisumu, one of the objects being to create native trouble for the Germans, and thus lessen their pressure on the Kagera River and the Southern Uganda frontier.

    “The British force was composed of small detachments of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Driscoll’s Scouts), 3rd King’s African Rifles, 29th Punjabis, East African Rifles, Maxims, and small complements of artillery and engineers. The members of the force from Nottingham and the county included Major R.B. Webb, of Newstead Abbey [1], Quartermaster-Sergeant T. Wright [2], Corporal Spedding [3], Lance Corporal J.L. Piggin [4], Private H. Butler, and Private C. Ashworth. The casualty list shows that Major Webb (25th Royal Fusiliers) and Lance Corporal Piggin were both wounded in the hand. Private “P.” Ashworth is reported killed. [5]

    “TRIUMPHANT ADVANCE.

    “From the start the expedition proved a great success, it being a general advance, for the whole of the two days fighting, took place 22nd and 23rd June. Bukoba lies on the western shore of the lake, about 30 miles south of the Anglo-German border, on a small marshy plain backed by grassy hills, covered with boulders, with scarps often merging into formidable crags. The town, which is divided into two by the Kanoni River, possess extensive Indian and African quarters, with Roman Catholic and Protestant Missions. Major von Sturmer was the German commandant, whose forces in the neighbourhood comprised some 350 rifles, a gun, and two machine guns.

    “The bulk of our forces, including mountain guns, landed about three miles north of Bukoba at dawn on the 22nd, a hostile piquet being surprised and driven off. The landing party, assisted by the ships’ guns, cleared the Karawsi Hill, covering the landing of the remainder of the force nearer the town. The enemy’s gun meanwhile was silenced by the fire of our lake steamers, H.M.S. Nyanza and Winifred. By noon the British force faced the enemy’s main position, with impenetrable marshes on the right, and crags and rocks on the centre and left, and was soon heavily engaged, well-concealed machine guns and sharpshooters holding us up for some considerable time. The enemy’s gun (continues the official account) again opened on our mountain guns from the northern exist of Bukoba, but was soon driven to take up a new position at the Protestant Mission to the south of the town, where its great distance made it comparatively harmless.

    “SHARP FIGTHING.

    “At 3 p.m. the fight was at its hottest, but we gradually gained superiority of fire, our mountain guns forcing the enemy’s machine-guns to evacuate their positions among the crags. The enemy behaved with the utmost gallantry under the heaviest fire and endeavoured to remove one of their machine guns, which was prevented by the splendid practice of our gunners, who sent shell after shell among the gun detachment, finally smashing it up completely.

    “The Lancashire on our right flank were now slowly working their way round the enemy’s left flank, and this, combined with a steady hail of bullets from our frontal attack closely supported by gun and Maxim fire, broke down the enemy’s resistance and forced him to commence retiring. The Royal Fusiliers now advanced across the open valley, fording a stream breast high, and were closely followed by the K.A.R., whose progress on our left had been held up by dense jungle and swamps.

    “The advance was now rapid, the enemy pouring in a final burst, before our victorious troops swept on to the crest of the enemy’s position a few minutes before sunset. The enemy’s artillery made one last effort, but in vain, for darkness finally put a stop to all resistance, and the K.A.R. put out piquets round our tired but eager troops. Except for some sniping the night passed quietly, and was mostly employed in bringing up reserves of ammunition and supplies.

    “HOW THE TOWN WAS TAKEN.

    “At daylight Bukoba was at our feet, some two miles distant. The Royal Fusiliers formed up in the plain on our left, the K.A.R. and guns were on the high ground in the centre, whilst the Lancs. and 29th Punjabis formed up on our right. Machine guns were distributed throughout the line.

    “The fight was opened by the enemy making an attack on our right centre, closely supported by machine gun fire, which gave us considerable trouble in the dense plantations, till our guns finally located it and silenced it for the remainder of the fight. The enemy’s gun now opened an accurate fore on our centre from the Protestant Mission, but did little damage, thanks to the excellent cover among the immense boulders and rocks. Meanwhile the Fusiliers were making good progress in the plain, and all was ready for a final advance when a drenching rainstorm, obscuring all view and depriving us of artillery support, held us up till 9.15 a.m., when once more the sun came out and instilled life again into our drenched troops.

    “The advance, over rocky and difficult country, was aided by the fire of our ships, which came close in shore, while our mountain guns finally silenced the enemy’s field gun by unerring fire at long range, and the deserted gun was afterwards placed on board one of the vessels, whence it eventually fell overboard in a storm. At 12.30 p.m. the enemy began to retire.

    “The Lancashires entered the town from the west. The German flag over the fort was hauled down by an officer of the Royal Fusiliers at about 1.20 p.m. and the hoisting of the Union Flag announced to all that Bukoba had been taken.

    “A DISORGNISED RABBLE.

    “The enemy, by now thoroughly demoralised after the loss of their gun and the rough handling they had experienced, broke and fled in a disorganised rabble and were not seen again. The rout was complete, and after two days’ stubborn fighting the enemy’s fortified base lay at our mercy. The enemy’s verified casualties were 16 killed and 20 wounded, but they are in all probability considerably higher. Our losses were much less than the enemy’s and our loss in material was nil.

    “Our engineers now turned their attention to the wireless station, fort, and [illegible] buildings, all of which were completely demolished by dynamite and fire. We destroyed or captured the following: One field gun, two machine guns, 32,000 rounds small arms ammunition, 144 rounds gun ammunition, 40 cases of petroleum, 35 cases lubricating oil, one motor launch, three small boats, several standards, including a Mohammedan flag, and a quantity of explosives.

    “As it was not intended to hold Bukoba, the force re-embarked on June 23rd, leaving the town “a sorry sight, and being plundered and looted by the local inhabitants who swarmed in to complete the enemy’s discomfiture.” Although the enemy selected his gun positions at mission stations it is believed that no shell touched a mission building. A feature of the fighting was the courage and initiative of the enemy’s Arab troops; it was not till the German officer commanding them was killed that they broke and fled.

    “WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED.

    “The official statement concludes:

    “Apart from destroying Bukoba, which the enemy had been using as a base and depot for his Kagera line, and ruining the wireless station which had played such an important part in his communications, the effect on the natives will be enormous. The enemy may expect considerable trouble in the future, from a population who have witnessed the destruction of the enemy’s fortified base, and the complete overthrow of the enemy’s forces. The fact that the natives were only too ready to loot Bukoba on our departure gives a good idea of their future attitude towards their Teuton masters.”

    ‘Nottingham Daily Guardian’, 19th August 1915.




    Political, etc.

    Munitions Bill introduced by Mr. Lloyd George.
    At 6.00AM in the “miniature rifle range” at the Tower of London, German spy Carl Muller is executed by a firing squad of 8 riflemen.

    More info:-

    http://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/carl_muller.htm

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  39. #589

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    24th June 1915.

    Western Front.

    Germans repulsed in an attack on the heights of the Meuse.

    After being missing from his regiment for nearly nine months Corporal Frederick Ives (12295) of the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, is arrested today, wearing civilian clothes, by an officer of the Army Veterinary Corps. Corporal Ives will be court-martialled on 7th July and executed by firing squad with four other deserters on 26th July.

    More info:-
    http://www.worcestershireregiment.co...c/shot_at_dawn

    Dardanelles.

    Three Turkish transports were sunk by a British submarine beyond Nagara.

    Reuter's correspondent gives a report on the Allies assault on Achi Baba (Dardanelles) after a tremendous bombardment of the British and French warships.

    The infantry charge carried as far as the fifth trench in the centre but Turkish reinforcements the next day compelled the Allies to abandon two of the trenches.

    Naval and overseas.

    Max Valentiner and U38 were involved in the fates of no less than 9 more British vessles on this day.
    Commander a Trawler stopped and sunk by gunfire 49 miles E of Balta sound Shetland. No casualties.
    JMS a Drifter Stopped and sunk by gunnery 42 miles ENE of the Outer Skerries. No casualties.
    Lebanon, Trawler. Stopped and sunk by gunnery about 40 miles ENE of Outer Skerries Light or 30 miles E1/2N from Muckle Flugga. No casualties.
    Monarda. Drifter. Stopped and sunk by gunnery 41 miles ENE fromm Out Skerries. No casualties.
    Primrose. Drifter. Stopped and sunk by gunnery 40 miles NExE from the Outer Skerries. No casualties.
    Quiet Waters. Drifter.Stopped and sunk 25 miles E of the Skerries Light. No casualties.
    Star of Bethlehem.Drifter. Stopped and sunk by gunnery 40 miles ENE of the Outer Skerries Light. No casualties.
    Viceroy. Trawler. Stopped and sunk by gunnery 50 miles ENE of the Outer Skerries Light. No casualties.
    Vine. Trawler. Stopped and sunk by gunnery 30 miles NExE of Outer Skerries Light. No casualties.


    Political, etc.

    British memorandum on neutral commerce handed to U.S. Ambassador.

    Mr. Asquith announces forthcoming bill on the registration and organisation of national resources.

    Mr. Lansing succeeds Mr Bryan as United States Secretary of State.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  40. #590

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    I would have thought that the fishermen would be very annoyed by then, protesting about all the sinkings and demanding armed escorts. However, this may have been the German's plan, to spread the Royal Navy's vessels thinly.

  41. #591

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    25th June 1915.

    Western Front.

    Continued fighting north of Arras and on the heights of the Meuse.

    French airmen bomb railway station at Douai.

    Eastern Front.

    Russians fight a rearguard action at Bobrka.

    Southern Front.

    Austrians repulsed in the Carnic Alps.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.


    E.12, submarine, E-class, 667/807t, 5/9/14, 1-6pdr/5-18in with 10 torpedoes, Lt-Cdr Bruce, penetrated Dardanelles and now operating in eastern part of Sea of Marmara after spending two days repairing main engines, entered Gulf of Mudania and came across two small steamers towing five sailing vessels, turned out to be decoy vessels. Only 10yds from first steamer when a bomb was thrown which failed to explode, fired on with rifles and small masked gun, two towed vessels joined in and tried to foul E.12's propellers. E.12 returned fire, got clear and sank the two steamers and two of the towed sailing vessels. Engine problems now returned; one rating slightly wounded.


    Bukoba (German port on L. Vict. Nyanza), destroyed by British column.

    Political.

    The German press publishes an official statement from the country’s war command addressing the German use of poison gas at the start of the Second Battle of Ypres two months earlier.
    The German firing of more than 150 tons of lethal chlorine gas against two French colonial divisions at Ypres in Belgium on April 22, 1915, had shocked and horrified their Allied opponents in World War I and provoked angry outbursts against what was seen as inexcusable barbarism, even in the context of warfare. As Sir John French, commander in chief of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), wrote heatedly of the German attacks at Ypres: “All the scientific resources of Germany have apparently been brought into play to produce a gas of so virulent and poisonous a nature that any human being brought into contact with it is first paralyzed and then meets with a lingering and agonizing death.”
    The German statement of June 25, 1915, was a response to this outraged reaction by the Allies; they considered it hypocritical, claiming that their opponents–namely the French–had been manufacturing and employing gas in battle well before the Second Battle of Ypres. “For every one who has kept an unbiased judgment,” the statement began, “the official assertions of the strictly accurate and truthful German military administration will be sufficient to prove the prior use of asphyxiating gases by our opponents.” It went on to quote from a memorandum issued by the French War Ministry on February 21, 1915, containing instructions for using “these so-called shells with stupefying gases that are being manufactured by our central factories?[that] contain a fluid which streams forth after the explosion, in the form of vapors that irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.”
    This memo, the Germans concluded, proved that “the French in their State workshops manufactured shells with asphyxiating gases fully half a year ago at least” and that they must have manufactured sufficient numbers for the War Ministry to issue directions on how to use the shells. “What hypocrisy when the same people grow indignant because the Germans much later followed them on the path they had pointed out!”
    Though the French were, in fact, the first to employ gas during World War I–in August 1914 they used tear-gas grenades containing xylyl bromide to confront the initial German advance in Belgium and northeastern France–Germany was undoubtedly the first belligerent nation during the war to put serious thought and work into the development of chemical weapons that were not merely irritants, like xylyl bromide, but could be used in large quantities to inflict a major defeat on the enemy. In addition to chlorine gas, first used to deadly effect by the Germans at Ypres, phosgene gas and mustard gas were also employed on the battlefields of World War I, mostly by Germany but also by Britain and France, who were forced to quickly catch up to the Germans in the realm of chemical-weapons technology. Though the psychological impact of poison gas was undoubtedly great, its actual impact on the war–like that of the tank–is debatable, due to the low rate of fatality associated with the gas attacks. In total, the war saw some 1.25 million gas casualties but only 91,000 deaths from gas poisoning, with over 50 percent of those fatalities suffered by the poorly equipped Russian army.


    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  42. #592

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    26th June 1915.


    Western Front.

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    Battle of the Argonne begins; Crown Prince attacks.

    Eastern Front.

    Russians repulse heavy German attacks on Bukaczowce-Halicz front (eastern Galicia), but retreat.

    Southern Front.

    San Giovanni de Medua (Albania) occupied by Montenegrin forces.

    Galipoli .

    THE NEK at ANZAC: The Turks are ordered by Kemal to attack the newly arrived Australian 3rd Light Horse.

    Naval and overseas.

    The British Trawler Campania was shelled and sunk by SM U39 60 nautical miles north of Hoy Head in the Orkneys. No casualties.
    Torpedinere 5 pn of the Regia Marina was sunk in the Gulf of Venice by SM UB 1.

    Political, etc.

    General Sukhomlinov, Russian Minister for War, resigns.

    The Minister of War is forced to resign because of the scandal surrounding the under supply of the Russian army. He is promptly arrested, suspected of “being involved in the gross corruption that afflicts the entire Russian armaments production and supply system”.
    General Polivanov succeeds him.

    Meanwhile the Tsar go blissfully on his way.

    Stavka. 26 June, 1915.
    MY PRECIOUS SUNNY,
    My warmest thanks for your three dear letters. I could not write before, as I was busy with my beastly papers, which I get at the most inconvenient hours. This was caused by great numbers of military trains going from Vilna to Bielostok.
    Yesterday I was glad to see the 5th Squadron of my hussars, which was passing through the station. The train was stopped for 15 minutes; all the men got out - and brought out the colours. I saw them settle down again and start off, gaily shouting "hurrah!" What a joyful, refreshing feeling!
    The Dragoons also went through here, but your Uhlans went past by another line. I agree with you, my darling, that my chief work is the inspection of troops. I have often spoken of this to Voeikov from the practical point of view it is very difficult to organize from here.
    From Beloveje it is, of course, easier. But not being here (so in the text: presumably he means "there."), I do not know what troops are where, and those which are behind the front line are constantly shifted backward and forward and are difficult to find. Travelling round in the train is now out of the question. It is like a blind alley, as the French say!
    I am very grateful to you for forwarding me Victoria's letter - she always writes so clearly and positively.
    During lunch to-day a thunderstorm passed over us; the downpour was heavy and lasted for an hour. It has freshened the air wonderfully, having lowered the temperature from 23 to 15 degrees.
    This is my last letter to you, my dear little Birdy - I am truly happy to be returning home to my family.
    I kiss you tenderly, tenderly, and the children too. I hope to arrive on Saturday at 5 o'clock in the evening. May God bless you, my beloved, darling Sunny! Always your old hubby
    Nicky.


    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  43. #593

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    27th June 1915.

    Western Front.

    French repulse German attacks on the heights of the Meuse and at Metzeral.
    Metzeral is a battlefield; the French victory in this battle is decisive in WW1. The town is just down to ruins. Most of the city is built after the armistice, under the authority of Mayor Jacques Immer.

    French aeroplane drops bombs on Zeppelin sheds at Friedrichshafen.

    Home Front.

    The Gazette was proud to announce that 2nd class Air Mechanic J E Prance of the Royal Flying Corps has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallant conduct and valuable service. He assisted in repairing an aeroplane, which had been forced to descend near the firing line whilst being heavily shelled. The repair was successful and the plane flew again the following morning. Newly promoted 1st class Air Mechanic Prance is the eldest of the four sons of Mr S. Prance, the Bideford Harbourmaster.

    Eastern Front.

    Germans occupy Halicz, and advance to the Bug.
    Russians retreat from the line of the Dniester to Gnila-Lipa line.
    Russian attacks break down north of Przasnysz.

    Southern Front.

    Flying a Lohner two-seater on 27 June 1915, Gottfried Freiherr von Banfield scored his first victory, downing an Italian balloon near the mouth of the Isonzo River.

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    Gottfried Freiherr von Banfield.



    Dardanelles: British carry four Turkish lines near Krithia.
    Serbians capture island of Michaiska (Danube).

    Egypt and the Middle East.

    British advance up the Euphrates begins.
    British and Indian forces attack the Turkish garrison at Nasiriyeh. The heat has reached 115 degrees Fahrenheit. In spite of the fact that the Turkish field guns keep up an unexpectedly steady and accurate fire. Nasiriyeh is captured. The Turkish forces withdraw, but quickly begin to prepare a new defensive position at Kut el Amara. As the British and Indians prepare to follow them, sickness begins to decimate the fighting capabilities of the troops.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    Coast of Asia Minor opposite Chios bombarded by H.M.S. "Hussar".
    The torpedo-gunboat , bombarded the ports of Tehesme, Lidia, and Aglelia in Asia Minor, opposite Chios; a petroleum depôt and various sailing craft were destroyed.



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    The Donaldson Line ship Indrani, hired 4/8/14 as a RFA, probably not commissioned, Pennant No.Y9.7, whilst sailing from Glasgow for Montreal with a general cargo was Captured by U.24 and sunk by torpedo 40 miles W of The Smalls, E of Milford Haven.

    The schooner Edith owned by Thomas Doyle and John Rooney. Sunk by U-24, 27 June 1915 off County Cork with a cargo of plaster of Paris. Crew saved.


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    The schooner Edith.

    Political.

    Dutch SDAP demonstrates against conscription.

    Last telegram from the Tsar before leaving the Front.
    Telegram. Stavka. 27 June, 1915.
    I thank you warmly for your dear letter with the papers; Olga and Alexey as well. I am leaving now with good impressions. The news, thanks be to God - is definitely better. I hope that you are feeling better. I kiss you tenderly.
    Nicky.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  44. #594

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    Couple of cracking days, thanks Rob - love the map on the 25th

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  45. #595

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    Don't know what I'm going to do now the Tsar has gone home Chris. He was always good for a filler on slow news days.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  46. #596

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Don't know what I'm going to do now the Tsar has gone home Chris. He was always good for a filler on slow news days.
    My God bless & keep the Tsar...far away from us!

  47. #597

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    Quote Originally Posted by zenlizard View Post
    My God bless & keep the Tsar...far away from us!



    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  48. #598

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    28th June 1915.

    One cataclysmic year has passed since the assassination in Sarajevo…


    Western Front.

    French advance at Souchez.

    Home Front.

    Churchill and
    Lloyd George watch Killen*-Strait barbed-wire cutter tractor, Wormwood Scrubs, London. They also see Stokes mortar demo there (on June 30). Lloyd George agrees to urge production of 1,000 units, thanks to Lieutenant FA Sutton.


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    Eastern Front.

    Continued Russian retreat in Galicia.

    Gallipoli.

    The Battle of Gully ravine.

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    After two days of heavy bombardment, battle began at 10.45 am on 28 June with a preliminary raid to capture the
    Boomerang Redoubt on Gully Spur.


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    The general advance commenced shortly afterwards. The artillery fire on Gully Spur was overwhelming and the 2/
    10th Gurkha Rifles and the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers advanced rapidly a distance of half a mile to a point named "Fusilier Bluff" which was to become the northern-most Allied position at Helles.
    In the ravine the 1st Battalion,
    Border Regiment did not advance as far as those troops on the spur since Ottomans there were somewhat sheltered from the deadly bombardment from the sea. Their final position was fortified with rocks and boulders and became known as "Border Barricade".
    On the right of the advance, along Fir Tree Spur, the battle did not go so well for the British. The inexperienced soldiers of the 156th Brigade lacked artillery support and were massacred by Ottoman
    machine guns and bayonet attacks. Despite the opposition, they were ordered to press the attack and so the support and reserve lines were sent forward but made no progress. By the time the attack was halted the Brigade was at half strength, having suffered 1,400 casualties of which 800 had been killed. Some
    battalions were so depleted they had to be merged into composite formations. When the rest of the 52nd Division landed, the commander,
    Major General Granville Egerton, was enraged at the manner in which his 156th Brigade had been sacrificed.
    Between 28 June and 5 July, Turkish forces at Helles attacked British positions at Gully Ravine. In eight days the Turks suffered more than 16,000 casualties, more than 10,000 of whom had been killed.

    Southern Front.

    On Sunday, 28 June 1915, criers were sent out through the two neighbouring East Anatolian towns of Mesereh (known today as Elazig) and Kharput, and they called upon all Armenians, who represented just under half of the population, to leave their homes within the next five days and go to Urfa. It was the beginning of the most severe phase of a genocide in which the Young Turks, who ruled the Ottoman Empire at that time, expelled or murdered their two million fellow Armenian countrymen.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    German warships bombard Windau (Baltic).
    German landing attempt at Windau (
    Courland) covered by old battleships, 4 cruisers and torpedo vessels ended by Russian destroyers who drive off ships.





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    SS Armenian.

    The horse transport SS Armenian was torpedoed by U-24 off the Cornish coast. Although the surviving crew were allowed to abandon ship, the vessel’s cargo of 1,400 horses and mules were not so lucky and all perished.

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    More info:-
    http://www.warmule.org/ss-armenian

    The Steamer Clan Macewen. embarked The Australian 1st Light Horse Regiment, 6th Reinforcement at Sydney.

    North Cameroons. 200 Nigerian troops from Garua capture Ngaundere until next day.

    Rhodesia. Anglo-Belgian Fort Saisi, a mile inside border, repels Germans.

    Mesopotamia.

    Nixon put in command of
    Bushire, Persia.

    Just when you thought it was safe to come out. I discovered this.


    From the diary of Major Sir John Hanbury Williams, Chief of Staff to the British Military Mission in Russia.


    28th June 1915.


    Returned from the front to Headquarters, and the Emperor took me off after lunch for a talk, and informed me of the manifesto he was going to issue to his people next day. He was much pleased with the' Lloyd George munition arrangements,' and expressed his confidence in the future of the munition supply.
    He was very distressed to hear of the sad loss which had fallen upon Lord and Lady Stamfordham by the death of their son in action.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  49. #599

    Default

    29th June 1915.

    All quiet on the Western Front.


    Eastern Front.

    Austro-Germans advance towards the Vistula and the Bug.
    Russians repulse an attack near Halicz.

    Southern Front.

    On the Italian Front the battle of the Gnila-Lipa ends.

    Dardanelles: Turkish counter-attacks repulsed with heavy loss.
    The Turks occasionally could not resist testing out the Anzac defences. The Nek was a particular focus of their interest as if they could just push forward a mere 300 yards they would burst through to Russell’s Top and crack open the whole ANZAC Corps position.
    The arrival of the 18th Regiment that was attached to Kemal’s 19th Division gave him the chance to try his luck with another night attack on 29 June. A thunderstorm added to the febrile atmosphere and both sides were nervy. The Anzacs noticed the stealthy final preparations for the Turkish attack and were full prepared when the Turks charged across The Nek in the darkness of the night at 00.15 on 30 June. The result was a dreadful slaughter as Trooper Ernie Mack of the 8th (Victoria) Light Horse could testify:-
    “They attacked by getting out of their trenches and trying to charge us with the bayonet. You ought to hear the roar of rifles during an attack it is something tremendous and you can hardly realise how anything can live through the hail of bullets, as for the machine guns it is something wonderful to hear them when a few get going properly. Our men sat right up on the parapets of our trenches and when not firing were all the time calling out for the Turks to come along and hooting and barracking them. In fact most of our chaps took the whole attack as a real good joke. As soon as they stopped the first rush they jumped out of the fire trench and sat up on the parapets and yelled and cursed at the top of their voices calling out to the Turks to come on they would finish them.”
    War had never seemed more pleasurable than it did to the men like Lieutenant Ted Henty, 8th (Victoria) Light Horse, as they shot down the attacking Turks that night.
    It was much more satisfactory than the infernal pot-shooting through loopholes though this is fair sport now as we are only about 60 yards apart at the widest and in some places much less than that. To drop so many in that narrow space is not bad is it and speaks rather well for the alertness of everyone concerned as it was a night attack.”
    When they had finished enjoying themselves there were some 260 Turkish corpses lying in the narrow strip of No Man’s Land. The Light Horse would be back at The Nek in early August.

    Naval and Overseas.

    The Norwegian ship Cambuskenneth was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 26 nautical miles (48 km) south west by south of Galley Head, County Cork, United Kingdom by SM U-39 Her crew survived.

    The Norwegian sailing ship Kotka was damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) south west by west of the Bull Rock Lighthouse, County Cork also by SM U-39. She was beached but was later refloated, repaired and returned to service.

    Political, etc.

    National Registration Bill introduced by Mr. Walter Long.

    As the War neared the end of its first year, the cost of fighting it continued to spiral placing a huge strain on the finances of the Government. The formation of the Coalition Government and increasing labour costs had led to even greater demands on expenditure. To pay for the war the Government had borrowed over Ł1,000,000,000 and interest alone was some Ł45,000,000 a year. On 29 June 1915 Asquith, the Prime Minister, and Andrew Bonar Law, the Conservative leader, spoke at the Guildhall in London promoting the idea of using thrift to raise the Ł20,000,000 needed in a war loan. They appealed to all classes to contribute to a war loan and pointed out that it was the patriotic duty of all citizens to play their part by saving through thrift. In the cartoon Staniforth shows Britannia beckoning a crowd of people to make contributions in the War Loan chest. He shows people from all classes in the crowd. On the floor is a poster with the words "pro patriae" which is from one of Horace's Odes and means "For your country" and highlights the patriotic role of the War Loan.


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    Foreign Minister Istvan von Burian of Austria-Hungary sends a note to the United States protesting the U.S. sale and shipment of munitions in enormous quantities to Britain and its allies for use against the Central Powers–Austria-Hungary and Germany–on the battlefields of World War I.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  50. #600

    Default

    30th June 1915.

    Western Front.

    Failure of German attacks at Bagatelle (Argonne) and Metzeral.

    Eastern Front.

    Germans cross Gnila Lipa line.
    Austro-German advance from Tomashov.
    Germans claim 150,650 prisoners in June.

    Southern Front.

    Dardanelles: French take six lines of Turkish trenches.
    General Gouraud wounded, succeeded by General Bailloud.


    Gallipoli.

    Australian soldiers, pinned to their positions for many weeks since the initial Gallipoli landing, are praying for rain. Herbert Reynolds records in his diary: “At about 9pm a thunder storm passed over but we got very little rain, a good fall of rain now would be welcome as we are depending on the water from the boats for our supply, the holes in the gullies are all dry and there is no water other than that in our vicinity except salt sea water.”

    Admiralty, 30th June, 1915.

    With reference to the list of awards to Officers and men of the Royal Naval Division in recognition of their services with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli), which appeared in the London Gazette of the 1st June, 1915, the following are statements of the services of the Officers and men therein mentioned:

    Commander Victor L. A. Campbell, Royal Navy. Displayed conspicuous ability and initiative during operations between May 5th and 10th, near Krithia, Cape Helles; owing to his judgment and skill as Officer Commanding the forward line, losses, though heavy, were less severe than they would otherwise have been.

    Lieutenant-Commander Bernard C. Freyberg, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Displayed conspicuous gallantry on April 25th during the landing operations in the Gulf of Xeros. He swam ashore towing rafts with flares, and although alone, reconnoitred the enemy's position and swam back; he was over two hours in the water.

    Lieutenant Ernest G. Boissier, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Behaved with gallantry in charge of a machine-gun on May 7th, during operations South of Achi Baba, and effected the destruction of an enemy machine-gun.

    Lieutenant James Cheetham, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Conducted himself .with gallantry on May 1st during operations South of Achi Baba. When the enemy, in strength of about a Battalion, attacked an outpost of 30 men, Lieutenant Cheetham called for two volunteers, and, dashing out to a flank under heavy fire into the open, brought rapid fire to bear on the enemy and thus checked the attack and saved the outpost line.

    Lieutenant George S. Davidson, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Displayed great courage and coolness in action on May 6th during operations South of Achi Baba.

    Chief Petty Officer Richard F. Toy, Royal Navy. Behaved with conspicuous gallantry on May 6th during operations South of Achi Baba, leading his platoon after his Company Commander had been wounded, and bringing in Lieutenant-Commander Ford (wounded) under heavy fire.

    Able Seaman George H. Doe, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Displayed conspicuous gallantry on May 7th during operations South of Achi Baba in continuing to work his machine-gun after the remainder of the crew had been wounded; this resulted in the enemy's shrapnel being turned from the advancing infantry on to himself.

    Private Charles J. Braddock, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Behaved with distinguished gallantry on May 1st during operations South of Achi Baba. When the enemy in greatly superior numbers attacked an outpost of 30 men he volunteered in company with Lieutenant Cheetham and one other man to counterattack the enemy on a flank in the open under heavy fire, thus assisting to save the outpost line.

    Bugler Ernest Sillence, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Behaved with distinguished gallantry on May 4th during operations South of Achi Baba in volunteering to throw back enemy bombs into enemy lines at great personal risk, thereby saving the lives of many of his comrades..

    Petty Officer Walter Mason, Royal Navy. On 9th May, during operations South of Achi Baba, volunteered to bring back two wounded men lying 200 yards in advance of the trenches. This he did, bringing them in one after the other under fire.

    Leading Seaman John Rogerson, Royal Navy. On May 7th, during operations South of Achi Baba, performed valuable work in making a reconnaissance under fire.

    Stoker Herbert H. Purnell, Royal Navy. On May 8th, during operations South of Achi Baba, did excellent work in bringing; up machine-guns under severe fire, and later bringing up ammunition under fire when wounded.
    Sergeant N. Roberts, Royal Marine Light. Infantry. On May 2nd, during operations South of Achi Baba, displayed coolness and gallantry in carrying men out of fire.

    Private George Stockham, Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve. During the night of May 9th-10th, in operations South of Achi Baba, worked splendidly under fire to recover wounded, until himself severely wounded.


    Naval and overseas.

    Off the coast of Kent, the British destroyer HMS Lightning strikes a mine, which splits it in half, sending its bow section and 15 of its crew to a watery grave.

    THISTLE IV HMT was an Admiralty drifter built in 1906 and registered in Inverness-reg INS163. She was hired in May 1915 as net tender, Admiralty No.2861. She was rammed and sunk by Elder-Dempster liner SS. Tarquah (3,859grt) in belief the vessel was a U-boat. She sank off Great Orme's Head.

    Political, etc.

    Welsh miners' dispute settled.

    Changes in Russian Cabinet.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

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