100 Years Ago Today

[Hedeby]

Thanks Chris,

Yes indeed. Both of my grandfathers were gassed in this way. Both survived, one with no apparent lasting effects, the other never quite got full health back
Cheers
Mike

One of the least savoury elements of the Great War and unfortunately a legacy we still see today in places like Syria.

[Hedeby]

11th July 1917

The 3rd Battle of Ypres - Passchendaele

On the day the British started their preliminary artillery bombardment we will start to look at the background to and preparation of one of the most (in) famous battles of the entire war, the 3rd Battle of Ypres or as it is better known Passchendale.

The Battle of Passchendaele (Third Battle of Ypres, Flandernschlacht and Deuxième Bataille des Flandres) was a campaign of the First World War, fought by the Allies against the German Empire. The battle took place on the Western Front, from July to November 1917, for control of the ridges south and east of the Belgian city of Ypres in West Flanders, as part of a strategy decided by the Allies at conferences in November 1916 and May 1917. Passchendaele lay on the last ridge east of Ypres, 5 miles (8.0 km) from a railway junction at Roulers, which was vital to the supply system of the German 4th Army. The next stage of the Allied plan was an advance to Thourout–Couckelaere, to close the German-controlled railway running through Roulers and Thourout. Further operations and a British supporting attack along the Belgian coast from Nieuwpoort, combined with Operation Hush (an amphibious landing), were to have reached Bruges and then the Dutch frontier. The resistance of the 4th Army, unusually wet weather, the onset of winter and the diversion of British and French resources to Italy, following the Austro-German victory at the Battle of Caporetto (24 October – 19 November), enabled the Germans to avoid a general withdrawal, which had seemed inevitable in early October. The campaign ended in November, when the Canadian Corps captured Passchendaele, apart from local attacks in December and the new year. In 1918, the Battle of the Lys and the Fifth Battle of Ypres were fought before the Allies occupied the Belgian coast and reached the Dutch frontier.

A campaign in Flanders was controversial in 1917 and has remained so. The British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, opposed the offensive, as did General Ferdinand Foch the French Chief of the General Staff. Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, commanding the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), did not receive approval for the Flanders operation from the War Cabinet until 25 July. Matters of dispute by the participants, writers and historians since the war, have included the wisdom of pursuing an offensive strategy in the wake of the Nivelle Offensive, rather than waiting for the arrival of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in France. The choice of Flanders over areas further south or the Italian front, the climate and weather in Flanders, the choice of General Hubert Gough and the Fifth Army to conduct the offensive, debates over the nature of the opening attack and between advocates of shallow and deeper objectives, have also been controversial. The passage of time between the Battle of Messines (7–14 June) and the Battle of Pilckem Ridge (31 July, the opening move of the Third Battle of Ypres), the extent to which the internal troubles of the French armies motivated British persistence with the offensive, the effect of the weather, the decision to continue the offensive in October and the human cost of the campaign on the soldiers of the German and British armies, have also been argued over ever since.



Background to the Battle

1914
Belgian independence had been recognised in the Treaty of London (1839) which created a sovereign and neutral state. The German invasion of Belgium on 4 August 1914, in violation of Article VII of the treaty, was the reason given by the British government for declaring war on Germany. British military operations in Belgium began with the arrival of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) at Mons on 22 August. Operations in Flanders began after reciprocal attempts by the French and German armies to turn their opponents' northern flank through Picardy, Artois and Flanders, known as the Race to the Sea, reached Ypres. On 10 October, Lieutenant-General Erich von Falkenhayn, the Chief of the German General Staff, ordered an attack towards Dunkirk and Calais, followed by a turn south to gain a decisive victory.On 16 October, the Belgians and some French reinforcements began the defence of western Belgium and the French Channel ports at the Battle of the Yser. When the offensive failed, Falkenhayn ordered the capture of Ypres to gain a local advantage. By 18 November, the First Battle of Ypres ended in failure, at a cost of 160,000 German casualties. In December 1914, the British Admiralty began discussions with the War Office, for a combined operation to re-occupy the Belgian coast but eventually the British were obliged to participate in French offensives further south.

1915
Large British offensive operations in Flanders were not possible in 1915, due to the consequent lack of resources.[8] The Germans conducted their own Flanders offensive at the Second Battle of Ypres (22 April – 15 May 1915), making the Ypres salient more costly to defend. Sir Douglas Haig succeeded Sir John French as Commander-in-Chief of the BEF on 19 December 1915. A week after his appointment, Haig met Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald Bacon, who emphasised the importance of obtaining control of the Belgian coast, to end the threat posed by German U-boats. Haig was sceptical of a coastal operation, believing that a landing from the sea would be far more difficult than anticipated and that an advance along the coast would require so much preparation, that the Germans would have ample warning. Haig preferred an advance from Ypres, to bypass the flooded area around the Yser and the coast, before a coastal attack (Operation Hush) was attempted, to clear the coast to the Dutch border.

1916
Minor operations took place in the Ypres salient in 1916, some being German initiatives to distract the Allies from the preparations for the offensive at Verdun and later attempts to divert Allied resources from the Battle of the Somme. Other operations were begun by the British to regain territory or to evict the Germans from ground overlooking their positions. Engagements took place on 12 February at Boesinghe and on 14 February at Hooge and Sanctuary Wood. There were actions from 14–15 February and 1–4 March at The Bluff, 27 March – 16 April at the St. Eloi Craters and the Battle of Mont Sorrel from 2–13 June. In January 1917, the Second Army (II Anzac, IX, X and VIII corps) held the line in Flanders from Laventie to Boesinghe with eleven divisions and up to two in reserve. There was much trench mortaring, mining and raiding by both sides and from January to May, the Second Army had 20,000 casualties. In May, reinforcements began moving to Flanders from the south; the II Corps headquarters and 17 divisions had arrived by the end of the month. In January 1916, General Herbert Plumer, the Second Army commander, began to plan offensives against Messines Ridge, Lille and Houthulst Forest.General Henry Rawlinson was also ordered to plan an attack from the Ypres Salient on 4 February; planning continued but the Battle of Verdun and the Battle of the Somme took up the rest of the year. At meetings in November 1916, Haig, the French commander-in-chief Joseph Joffre and the other Allies met at Chantilly. The commanders agreed on a strategy of simultaneous attacks to overwhelm the Central Powers on the Western, Eastern and Italian fronts, by the first fortnight of February 1917. A meeting in London of the Admiralty and the General Staff urged that the Flanders operation be undertaken in 1917 and Joffre replied on 8 December, agreeing to a Flanders campaign after the spring offensive.The plan for a year of attrition offensives on the Western Front, with the main effort to be made in the summer by the BEF, was scrapped by the new French Commander-in-Chief Robert Nivelle.



Strategic Background

Nivelle planned an operation in three parts, with preliminary offensives to pin German reserves by the British at Arras and the French between the Somme and the Oise, then a French breakthrough offensive on the Aisne, followed by pursuit and exploitation. The plan was welcomed by Haig with reservations, which he addressed on 6 January. Nivelle agreed to a proviso that if the first two parts of the operation failed to lead to a breakthrough, they would be stopped so that the British could move their main forces north for the Flanders offensive, which Haig argued was of great importance to the British government.Haig wrote on 23 January that it would take six weeks to move British troops and equipment from the Arras front to Flanders and on 14 March he noted that the attack on Messines Ridge could be made in May. On 21 March, he wrote to Nivelle that it would take two months to prepare the attacks from Messines to Steenstraat but that the Messines attack could be ready in 5–6 weeks. On 16 May, Haig wrote that he had divided the Flanders operation into two phases, one to take Messines Ridge and the main attack several weeks later. British determination to clear the Belgian coast took on more urgency after the Germans resumed unrestricted submarine warfare on 1 February 1917. On 1 May 1917, Haig wrote that the Nivelle Offensive had weakened the German army but that an attempt at a decisive blow would be premature.An offensive at Ypres would continue the wearing-out process, on a front where the Germans could not refuse to fight. Even a partial success would improve the tactical situation in the Ypres salient, reducing the exceptional "wastage" which occurred even in quiet periods.In early May, Haig set the timetable for the Flanders offensive, with 7 June the date for the preliminary attack on Messines Ridge.

Ypres is overlooked by Kemmel Hill in the south-west and from the east by a line of low hills running south-west to north-east. Wytschaete (Wijtschate) and Hill 60 are to the east of Verbrandenmolen, Hooge, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele (Passendale). The high point of the ridge is at Wytschaete, 7,000 yd (6,400 m) from Ypres, while at Hollebeke the ridge is 4,000 yd (3,700 m) distant and recedes to 7,000 yd (6,400 m) at Polygon Wood. Wytschaete is about 150 ft (46 m) above the plain; on the Ypres–Menin road at Hooge, the elevation is about 100 ft (30 m) and 70 ft (21 m) at Passchendaele. The rises are slight apart from the vicinity of Zonnebeke which has a 1:33 gradient. From Hooge and to the east, the slope is 1:60 and near Hollebeke, it is 1:75; the heights are subtle and resemble a saucer lip around the city. The main ridge has spurs sloping east and one is particularly noticeable at Wytschaete, which runs 2 mi (3.2 km) south-east to Messines (Mesen) with a gentle slope to the east and a 1:10 decline to the west. Further south is the muddy valley of the Douve river, Ploegsteert Wood (Plugstreet to the British) and Hill 63. West of Messines Ridge is the parallel Wulverghem (Spanbroekmolen) Spur and the Oosttaverne Spur, also parallel, lies further east. The general aspect south and east of Ypres is one of low ridges and dips, gradually flattening northwards beyond Passchendaele into a featureless plain.

Possession of the higher ground to the south and east of Ypres gives ample scope for ground observation, enfilade fire and converging artillery bombardments. An occupier also has the advantage that artillery deployments and the movement of reinforcements, supplies and stores can be screened from view. The ridge had woods from Wytschaete to Zonnebeke giving good cover, some being of notable size like Polygon Wood and those later named Battle Wood, Shrewsbury Forest and Sanctuary Wood. In 1914, the woods usually had undergrowth but by 1917, artillery bombardments had reduced the woods to tree stumps, shattered tree trunks and barbed wire tangled on the ground and shell-holes; the fields in gaps between the woods were 800–1,000 yd (730–910 m) wide and devoid of cover. Roads in this area were usually unpaved, except for the main ones from Ypres, with occasional villages and houses. The lowland west of the ridge was a mixture of meadow and fields, with high hedgerows dotted with trees, cut by streams and ditches emptying into canals. The main road to Ypres from Poperinge to Vlamertinge is in a defile, easily observed from the ridge.



More tomorrow...

On this day 577 British lives were lost

No. 7 Squadron (Royal Naval Air Service) drops bombs on enemy railway lines and ammunition dumps.

An abortive attack on the town of Ramadi, Mesopotamia is made but the British forces are driven off and retreated to Dhibban at a cost of 566 casualties.

Today’s highlighted casualties include:

Lieutenant Commander Albert Charles Henderson Duke (HMS Vanguard, Royal Navy) dies of injuries received when his ship exploded two days ago His brother was killed in action one year and one day earlier on the Somme.
Second Lieutenant Ion Mordaunt Tatham (Royal Flying Corps) is accidentally killed at home at age 19. He is the son of Charles Tatham JP.
Company Quartermaster Sergeant Laurie Stonecliffe Whitney (Huntingdonshire Cyclists) dies at home at age 24. His brother was killed in September 1916.
Quarter Master Sergeant George Frederick Stevens (Royal Engineers) is killed at age 33. His son will be killed serving in the Royal Air Force in the first month of the Second World War.
Private the Reverend John Badenoch (Royal Army Medical Corps) dies of heat stroke in Mesopotamia at age 40.
Private Albert Edward Stuart (Dorsetshire Regiment) is killed at age 19 in Mesopotamia. He is the last of three brothers who are killed in the Great War

6 AIRMEN HAVE FALLEN ON WEDNESDAY JULY 11TH 1917

2nd Lt. Cathie, A.J. (Archibald James) 38 Training Squadron
2nd Lt. Knowlson williams, H.W. (Henry William) 38 Training Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Tatham, I.M. (Ion Mordaunt) 16 Training Squadron RFC
Capt. Van Goethem, H.E. (Henry Edward) RFC
2nd Lt. Venn, B.J. (Bertram Joseph) RFC
2nd. Lt. Williams, H.W.K. (Henry William Knowlson) 38 Training Squadron RFC

The folowing aerial victory claims were made on this day...

Arthur Coningham Australia #2
William Alexander Canada #6
Raymond Collishaw Canada #32



John Andrews England #12
Eric Broadberry England #8
Douglas Cunnell England #9
Philip Fletcher Fullard England #9 #10
Frank Hudson England #6
Reginald Soar England #9
St. Cyprian Tayler England #2
Walter Blume Germany #3
Heinrich Bongartz Germany #10
Julius Buckler Germany #8

Otto Creutzmann Germany #1

Flying for Jasta 20 he shot down a DH.4 over the Western Front

Hans Klein Germany #15 #16
Eberhard Mohnicke Germany #3
Theodor Osterkamp Germany #4
Richard Runge Germany #3
Adolf von Tutschek Germany #12 #13
Kurt Wüsthoff Germany #3
William Molesworth Ireland #4
Cosimo Rizzotto Italy #3
Donat Makeenok Russia #7
Vasili Yanchenko Russia #10
James Fitz Morris Scotland #2

Other news...

Western Front

Great aerial activity on British front.

Eastern Front

Capture of Kalusz (western Stanislau, Galicia) by Russians.

Southern Front

Statistics of health of British army at Salonika published.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British column from Feluja (Euphrates) engages Turkish force up the river and inflicts considerable loss.

Despatch on operations in Mesopotamia published.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Report of British operations in East Africa published.

Conflicting reports show the loss of the German Submarine SMU-69


SM U-69 was a Type U 66 submarine or U-boat for the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during the First World War. She had been laid down in February 1914 as U-10 the fourth boat of the U-7 class for the Austro-Hungarian Navy (German: Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine or K.u.K. Kriegsmarine) but was sold to Germany, along with the others in her class, in November 1914.

The submarine was ordered as U-10 from Germaniawerft of Kiel as the first of five boats of the U-7 class for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. After the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Navy became convinced that none of the submarines of the class could be delivered to the Adriatic via Gibraltar. As a consequence, the entire class, including U-10, was sold to the German Imperial Navy in November 1914. Under German control, the class became known as the U 66 type and the boats were renumbered; U-10 became U-69, and all were redesigned and reconstructed to German specifications. U-69 was launched in June 1915 and commissioned in September. As completed, she displaced 791 tonnes (779 long tons), surfaced, and 933 tonnes (918 long tons), submerged. The boat was 69.50 metres (228 ft) long and was armed with five torpedo tubes and a deck gun.

As a part of the 4th Flotilla, U-69 sank 31 ships with a combined gross register tonnage of 102,875 in five war patrols. U-69 left Emden on her sixth patrol on 9 July 1917 for operations off Ireland. On 11 July, U-69 reported her position off Norway but neither she nor any of her crew were ever heard from again. British records say that U-69 was sunk by destroyer HMS Patriot on 12 July, but a German postwar study cast doubt on this. U-69's fate is officially unknown.



Political, etc.

Announcement of judicial enquiry into the conduct of all persons affected by Mesopotamia Reported.

Prussian Reform: Kaiser promises an equal franchise in the next elections to the Prussian Diet.

Sinn Fein candidate defeats Nationalist in East Clare election.

[Flying Helmut]

Thanks Chris, but your pictures are showing only as "Attachment" codes.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Yes I am getting the same.
Rob.

[Hedeby]

Bloody hell they were definitely there when I posted them last night, I will add them in again now

[Hedeby]

12th July 1917

Prelude to Passchendaele part two...

The German Defences:

The 4th Army held a front of 25 miles (40 km) with three Gruppen, composed of a corps headquarters and a varying complement of divisions; Group Staden, based on the headquarters of the Guards Reserve Corps was added later. Group Dixmude held 12 miles (19 km) with four front divisions and two Eingreif divisions, Group Ypres held 6 miles (9.7 km) from Pilckem to Menin Road with three front divisions and two Eingreif divisions and Group Wijtschate held a similar length of front south of the Menin road, with three front divisions and three Eingreif divisions. The Eingreif divisions were stationed behind the Menin and Passchendaele ridges. About 5 miles (8.0 km) further back, were four more Eingreif divisions and 7 miles (11 km) beyond them, another two in Oberste Heeresleitung (OHL) reserve.[38]

The Germans were anxious that the British would attempt to exploit the victory of the Battle of Messines, with an advance to the Tower Hamlets spur beyond the north end of Messines Ridge. On 9 June, Crown Prince Rupprecht proposed a withdrawal to the Flandern line east of Messines. Construction of defences began but was terminated after Fritz von Loßberg was appointed Chief of Staff of the 4th Army.[39] Loßberg rejected the proposed withdrawal to the Flandern line and ordered that the front line east of the Oosttaverne line be held rigidly. The Flandern Stellung (Flanders Position) along Passchendaele Ridge, in front of the Flandern line, would become Flandern I Stellung and a new position, Flandern II Stellung, would run west of Menin, northwards to Passchendaele. Construction of a Flandern III Stellung east of Menin northwards to Moorslede was also begun. From July 1917, the area east of Ypres was defended by the front position, the Albrecht Stellung (second position), Wilhelm Stellung (third position), Flandern I Stellung (fourth position), Flandern II Stellung (fifth position) and Flandern III Stellung, the sixth position (incomplete); between the German defences lay villages such as Zonnebeke and Passchendaele which were fortified and prepared for all-round defence.[40]

On 25 June, Erich Ludendorff, the First Quartermaster General, suggested to Crown Prince Rupprecht that Group Ypres should withdraw to the Wilhelm Stellung, leaving only outposts in the Albrecht Stellung. On 30 June, the army group Chief of Staff, General von Kuhl, suggested a withdrawal to the Flandern I Stellung along Passchendaele ridge, meeting the old front line in the north near Langemarck and Armentières in the south. Such a withdrawal would avoid a hasty retreat from Pilckem Ridge and force the British into a time-consuming redeployment. Lossberg disagreed, believing that the British would launch a broad front offensive, that the ground east of the Sehnen line was easy to defend and that the Menin road ridge could be held if it was made the Schwerpunkt (point of main effort) of the German defensive system. Pilckem Ridge deprived the British of ground observation over the Steenbeek Valley, while the Germans could see the area from Passchendaele Ridge, allowing German infantry to be supported by observed artillery fire. Lossberg's judgement was accepted and no withdrawal was made.



Messines Ridge (see previous posts)

The first stage in the British plan was a preparatory attack on the German positions south of Ypres at Messines Ridge. The German positions had observation over Ypres and unless captured, would enable observed enfilade artillery-fire against a British attack eastwards from the salient. Since mid-1915, the British had been covertly digging mines under the German positions on the ridge. By June 1917, 21 mines had been filled with nearly 1,000,000 long tons (1,000,000 t) of explosives. The Germans knew the British were mining and had taken some counter-measures but they were taken by surprise at the extent of the British effort. Two of the mines failed to detonate but 19 went off on 7 June, at 3:10 a.m. British Summer Time. The final objectives were largely gained before dark and the British had fewer losses than expected, the plan having provided for up to 50 percent in the initial attack. As the infantry advanced over the far edge of the ridge, German artillery and machine-guns east of the ridge began to fire and the British artillery was less able to suppress them.Fighting continued on the lower slopes on the east side of the ridge until 14 June. The offensive removed the Germans from the dominating ground on the southern face of the Ypres salient, which the 4th Army had held since the First Battle of Ypres (19 October – 22 November 1914)


British 18 Pounder battery - July 1917

Kerensky offensive

The Russian army launched the Kerensky Offensive to honour the agreement struck with its allies, at the Chantilly meeting of 15–16 November 1916. After a brief period of success from 1–19 July, the German strategic reserve of six divisions, captured Riga from 1–5 September 1917. In Operation Albion (September–October 1917), the Germans took the islands at the mouth of the Gulf of Riga and the British and French commanders on the Western Front, had to reckon on the German western army (Westheer) being strengthened by reinforcements from the Eastern Front, in late 1917. Haig wished to exploit the diversion of German forces in Russia for as long as it continued and urged that the maximum amount of manpower and munitions be committed to the battle in Flanders.

More to come later in the month...

The First Mustard Gas Bombardment, 12-13 July 1917

The new shells were marked with a yellow cross to indicate their persistency. The first bombardments which the Germans carried out at Ypres were clearly intended to forestall the British offensive. From the start, mustard was a defensive agent, used to poison areas of ground over which the Germans had no intention of attacking over in the foreseeable future. Some 50,000 shells containing 125 tonnes of mustard were used on this first night. The bombardment, with 77mm and 105mm shells, was in three phases apparently reflecting the way that non-persistent gas clouds were created and topped up using shells: starting at 10.10pm for twenty minutes, it resumed at 1230, again for twenty minutes, followed by a third phase at 1.55am for twenty-five minutes.



On detonation the shells, bursting with a dull plop, sprayed the liquid in a seven metre radius in the case of the 77mm and about 10 metres in the case of the 105mm. Contact with either the liquid or the vapour, which evaporated in sunlight, caused injury. However, the lack of any immediate symptoms meant that troops did not keep their masks on and did not appreciate the danger of being present in the vicinity of the shells. At first those in the bombardment suffered only slight irritation of the nose which caused some sneezing (perhaps the result of Blue Cross shells). However, in an hour or two they suffered painful inflammation of the eyes, vomiting, followed by reddening of the skin and blistering. Large numbers of casualties began to report to medical units. The first were admitted to Numbers 47 and 61 Casualty Clearing Stations at Dozinghem (near Poperinge) and Numbers 46 and 64 at Mendinghem (near Proven) and on 13-14 July a total of 2,143 were admitted to these four units. By the time they reached the Casualty Clearing Station the conjunctivitis had developed so rapidly that they were virtually blind and had to be led in files, each man holding on to the man in front, guided by an orderly or lightly wounded man. In the first few hours the symptoms were in strong contrast to those usually found in gas cases, with only one or two casualties suffering from symptoms of acute pulmonary oedema (again this was possibly caused by Green Cross shells mixed with the new shells). The majority suffered little distress to their breathing, although some exhibited a husky voice and a hard cough. After a few more hours symptoms of laryngitis, tracheitis and bronchitis became more definite in a large number of the cases and some developed grave or fatal broncho-pneumonia



Men developed blisters on their buttocks, genitals and armpits. Within two days many were suffering from bronchitis and some had died from inflammation of the lungs. By the sixth day the conjunctivitis which caused the blindness had disappeared but the breathing difficulties were still severe and the blistering had been replaced by skin rashes.

Of the 2,143 cases admitted to the four Casualty Clearing Stations, a comparatively small number, 95, or 4.4%, died. German unit histories report that the British guns were all but silenced for up to two days.

493 British lives were lsot on this day

Today’s highlighted casualties include:

Major Addrian Drew (Royal Garrison Artillery) is killed at age 26. He is the grandson of the Reverend George Smith Drew.
Major Reginald Carlyon Tweedy (Royal Army Medical Corps) dies on service at Newquay. He is a general practitioner at Kenilworth and his son was killed in action last September.
Captain Donald Charles Cunnell (Royal Flying Corps) is killed at age 23. He is a nine victory ace who is known for shooting down and wounding Baron Manfred von Richtofen on the 6th of this month.

After being commissioned in the Hampshire Regiment, Donald Charles Cunnell transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in late 1915. As a flight commander with 20 Squadron in 1917, he scored 9 victories flying the F.E.2d. Near Wervicq on 6 July 1917, Cunnell and his observer fought Jasta 11 and claimed four Albatros D.Vs out of control. A fifth Albatros, flown by Manfred von Richthofen, was also hit but not claimed. Killed in action on 12 July 1917, Cunnell's observer flew the F.E.2d back to base.



Lieutenant Alexander Guthrie (Royal Field Artillery) is killed in action at age 23. His brother was killed in the previous July and they are sons of the Reverend W G Guthrie.
Second Lieutenant Norman Otto Frederick Gunther MC (East Kent Yeomanry attached East Kent Regiment) is killed at age 19. His brother will be killed in September 1918.
Second Lieutenant Montagu Frank Peyton (Northumberland Fusiliers) is killed in action at age 19. His older brother will be killed in a little over one year.
Flight Sub Lieutenant Sidney Emerson Ellis (Royal Naval Air Service) is killed in a flying accident while serving on the Western Front at age 21. He is the son of the Reverend John D Ellis and is a 5-victory ace.
Private William MacLeod (Seaforth Highlanders) is killed. His brother was killed in May 1915.
Private James Towers (Border Regiment) is killed at age 30. His brother was killed last November.

15 airmen were lost on this day

Lt. Binkley, B.W. (Basil Ward) 53 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Bishop, F.E. (Frank Ernest) 57 Squadron RFC
Sergeant Carr, J.F. (John Frasier) 11 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Cruickshank, K.G. (Kenneth George) 32 Squadron RFC
Capt. Cunnell, D.C. (Donald Charles) 20 Squadron RFC
2nd. Lt. Ellis, G.S. (Guy Stuart) 57 Squadron RFC
Flt. Sub Lt. Ellis, S.E. (Sidney Emerson) 4(N) Squadron RNAS
2nd Lt. J.W. (James Wellington) 29 Squadron RFC
Air Mech 2 Hall, H.F. (Harold Francis) 52 Squadron RFC
Flt. Sub Lt. Kendall, E.H. (Edward Hext) 6 (N) Squadron RNAS
Air Mech 1 McNicoll, A. (Arthur) RFC
Flt. Sub Lt. Morrison, R.B. (Ronald Becket) RNAS
Flt. Sub Lt. Pegler, C.R. (Charles Richard) 10 (N) Squadron RNAS
Cadet Teasdall, R.C. (Robert C.) RFC
2nd Lt. Whytehead, H.H. (Hugh Holtom) 29 Squadron RFC

There was the following (very long) list of aerial victories on this day...

Deaths:

Sidney Ellis Canada

The son of Reverend and Mrs. John D. Ellis, Sidney Emerson Ellis joined the Royal Naval Air Service in August 1916. Posted to 4 Naval Squadron, he scored his first two victories in the spring of 1917 flying the Sopwith Pup. In July 1917, Ellis scored three more victories flying the Sopwith Camel. He was one of the first two pilots to score a victory with this aircraft, shooting down a Gotha bomber northwest of Ostende on the morning of 4 July 1917. Five days later, he was killed when his Camel went into a spin and crashed. Listed in some sources as Sydney Emerson Ellis.

Douglas Cunnell England (See above)

Claims

Arthur Coningham Australia #3
Robert Little Australia #29
Richard Minifie Australia #6
William Bishop Canada #33
Raymond Collishaw Canada #33
Reginald Hoidge Canada #11 #12
Ellis Reid Canada #11 #12

William Rogers Canada #1



The son of Frederick and Florence Rogers, William Wendell Rogers joined the Royal Flying Corps in December 1916. Posted to 1 Squadron on 18 May 1917, he scored nine victories flying Nieuport scouts. Scoring his seventh victory on the afternoon of 12 December 1917, he shot down a Gotha bomber north of Frelinghien

Geoffrey Bowman England #9

John Firth MC England #1

T./Lt. (T./Capt.) John Charles Bradley Firth, Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has on various occasions, during a period of two months, completely destroyed two enemy planes and shot down out of control seven others. The latter, by reason of the manner in which they were observed to go to earth, were probably all rendered useless for further service. He has set a very fine example as a patrol leader, and has displayed much skill and courage.

Kenneth Lloyd Gopsill England #5
Roger Bolton Hay England #5

Thomas Vicars Hunter England #1



Thomas Vicars Hunter attended Eton and Sandhurst before joining the Rifle Brigade. He lost a leg in France when he was badly wounded in January 1915. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 4516 on 18 April 1917. Posted to 66 Squadron, he scored five victories before he was killed in a flying accident.

John Milne England #3
Arthur Percival Foley Rhys Davids England #9 #10
St. Cyprian Tayler England #3
Richard Trevethan England #5

Gustave Naudin France #1

"Pilot who through his spirit, ability, courage and contempt for danger, won everyone's admiration. On 12 July 1917, he resolutely attacked a group of three enemy aircraft which were flying over their lines and downed one of them. Taking off a second time the same day, to carry out aircraft spotting, he was wounded by shrapnel but he completed his mission in spite of a violent bombardment. Already cited in orders." Médaille Militaire citation, 13 August 1917

Hans von Adam Germany #4
Friedrich Altemeier Germany #3

Paul Bäumer Germany #1



A dental assistant before the war, "The Iron Eagle" (Der Eiserne Adler) had his pilot's license when he entered the army. Bäumer served in an infantry regiment before his transfer to the German Air Service. He was injured in a crash at Vivaise airfield on 29 May 1918. Bäumer was one of only five recipients to be awarded both the Blue Max and the Golden Military Merit Cross. After the war, he became a dentist and continued flying. He was killed while performing an aerobatic display.

Interestingly Paul Baumer is also the name of the main character in the seminal WW1 Novel "All quiet on the Western front"



Heinrich Bongartz Germany #11
Eduard von Dostler Germany #15 #16

Siegfried Gussmann Germany #1



Wolfgang Güttler Germany #3
Ludwig Hanstein Germany #5
Ernst Hess Germany u/c
Kurt Küppers Germany #4
Theodor Osterkamp Germany #5
Eduard von Schleich Germany #5
Adolf von Tutschek Germany #14
John Cowell Ireland #9 #10
Tom Hazell Ireland #10 #11
Ian Henderson Scotland #4

William MacLanachan Scotland #1



Assigned to 40 Squadron in 1917, William MacLanachan often flew with his friend Edward Mannock. After the war, he became a journalist and often used the pen name "McScotch." He received no medals or decorations during the war.

Archibald Miller Scotland #5 #6
Arthur Jones-Williams Wales #6
Richard Maybery Wales #2

Elsewhere in the war...

Meanwhile back with Capt. Tunstill's men: It was a very hot day... Shortly after 2.30pm the Battalion marched to Godawaersvelde Station and thence by train at 4.30pm to Ouderdom, arriving at 5.40pm, before marching back to Micmac Camp, between ****ebusch and Ouderdom.

Western Front

British air raid into Belgium.

Eastern Front

Russian progress towards Dolina (Galicia).

General Kornilov crosses the Lomnica river.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Announced that Turks have been routed by King of Hejaz in northern Arabia, 700 killed, 600 prisoners.

Political, etc.

Mesopotamia Debate: Mr. A. Chamberlain, Secretary of State for India, resigns.

Chinese Republicans enter Pekin; Tuan Chi Jui, P.M.; Fen Kwo Chang, President.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Thanks Chris.
Rob.

[Hedeby]

13th July 1917

I know the golden rules of such threads are no religion or politics however today is the 100th anniversary of an event profound in the Catholic church and it would be remiss of this publication not to mention it here today.

The Three Secrets of Fátima consist of a series of apocalyptic visions and prophecies which were given to three young Portuguese shepherds, Lúcia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto, by a Marian apparition, starting on May 13, 1917. The three children were visited by the Virgin Mary six times between May and October 1917. The apparition is now popularly known as Our Lady of Fátima.

According to Lucia, on July 13, 1917, around noon, the Virgin Mary entrusted the children with three secrets. Two of the secrets were revealed in 1941 in a document written by Lúcia, at the request of José Alves Correia da Silva, Bishop of Leiria, to assist with the publication of a new edition of a book on Jacinta.[1] When asked by the Bishop in 1943 to reveal the third secret, Lúcia struggled for a short period, being "not yet convinced that God had clearly authorized her to act." However, in October 1943 the Bishop ordered her to put it in writing. Lúcia then wrote the secret down and sealed it in an envelope not to be opened until 1960, when "it will appear clearer."The text of the third secret was officially released by Pope John Paul II in 2000, although some claim that it was not the entire secret revealed by Lúcia, despite repeated assertions from the Vatican to the contrary.

According to various Catholic interpretations, the three secrets involve Hell, World War I and World War II, and 20th century persecutions of Christians

The Third Secret

Sister Lúcia chose not to disclose the third secret in her memoir of August 1941. In 1943, Lúcia fell seriously ill with influenza and pleurisy. Bishop Silva, visiting her on 15 September 1943, suggested that she write the third secret down to ensure that it would be recorded in the event of her death. Lúcia was hesitant to do so, however. At the time she received the secret, she had heard Mary say not to reveal it, but because Carmelite obedience requires that orders from superiors be regarded as coming directly from God, she was in a quandary as to whose orders took precedence. Finally, in mid-October, Bishop Silva sent her a letter containing a direct order to record the secret, and Lúcia obeyed.

The third part of the secret was written down "by order of His Excellency the Bishop of Leiria and the Most Holy Mother" on January 3, 1944. In June 1944, the sealed envelope containing the third secret was delivered to Silva, where it stayed until 1957, when it was finally delivered to Rome. It was announced by Cardinal Angelo Sodano on May 13, 2000, 83 years after the first apparition of the Lady to the children in the Cova da Iria, that the Third Secret would finally be released. In his announcement, Cardinal Sodano implied that the secret was about the 20th century persecution of Christians that culminated in the failed Pope John Paul II assassination attempt on May 13, 1981, the 64th anniversary of the first apparition of the Lady at Fátima.

The text of the Third Secret, according to the Vatican, was published on June 26, 2000:

The third part of the secret revealed at the Cova da Iria-Fátima, on 13 July 1917.
I write in obedience to you, my God, who command me to do so through his Excellency the Bishop of Leiria and through your Most Holy Mother and mine.
After the two parts which I have already explained, at the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendour that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: 'Penance, Penance, Penance!'. And we saw in an immense light that is God: 'something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it' a Bishop dressed in White 'we had the impression that it was the Holy Father'. Other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious going up a steep mountain, at the top of which there was a big Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with the bark; before reaching there the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way; having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another the other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions. Beneath the two arms of the Cross there were two Angels each with a crystal aspersorium in his hand, in which they gathered up the blood of the Martyrs and with it sprinkled the souls that were making their way to God.

The War in the Air



Lieutenant Archibald William Buchanan Miller (King’s Own Scottish Borderers attached Royal Flying Corps) a 6-victory ace is killed in action in a combat over Gheluvelt at age 21. He is the grandnephew of the late General ‘Sir’ Archibald Galloway. He had two victory claims the previous night over Zonnebeke and his brother was killed in April 1915 at the Dardanelles. The son of Rev. Thomas Duncan Miller, M.A., and Margaret Julia (Grant) Miller of Inveraven, Bridgen, Perth, Archibald William Buchanan Miller served with the 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers before joining the Royal Flying Corps. He was killed in action when his Nieuport Scout was shot down by Hans von Adam of Jasta 6. Listed in the 1901 Scotland Census; 1901 residence was Kirkurd, Peeblesshire.


Todays Claims

Phillip Johnston Australia #4 #5
Robert Little Australia #30 #31
Josef Kiss Austro-Hungarian Empire #6
Douglas McGregor Canada #5
Andrew McKeever Canada #7 #8
Anthony Spence Canada #2
Leonard Barlow England #4
Reginald Charley England #2

Robert Coath England #1 48 Squadron RFC

The son of David Decimus Coath, Robert David Coath served with the Scottish Horse Yeomanry and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in 1914. After he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, he scored eight victories flying the Bristol Fighter before he was wounded in action on 23 November 1917. Post-war, Coath traveled to Canada and the United States, working as a flying instructor for Bill Purcell at Curtiss field, New York in 1929. He returned to England in 1932 and served with Royal Air Force during World War II.


upgunned verion of course

Geoffrey Cock England #12
Philip Fletcher Fullard England #11
Gilbert Ware Murlis Green England #8
Valentine Reed England #4
Arthur Percival Foley Rhys Davids England #11
Herbert Rowley England #2
William Douglas Stock Sanday England #5
Owen John Frederick Scholte England #5
Reginald Soar England #10
Frederick Sowrey England #3
Maurice Boyau France #6
Hans von Adam Germany #5
Paul Bäumer Germany #2
Julius Buckler Germany #9
Karl Deilmann Germany #5
Eduard von Dostler Germany #17 #18
Heinrich Geigl Germany #2
Ernst Hess Germany #3
Fritz Krebs Germany #7 #8
Eduard von Schleich Germany #6
Emil Thuy Germany #4
Adolf von Tutschek Germany #15
Michele Allasia Italy u/c
Forster Maynard New Zealand #3

William Jordan DSC South Africa #1



An air mechanic in the Royal Naval Air Service, William Lancelot Jordan flew as an observer before receiving pilot training in 1917. Flying the Sopwith Camel, he scored 39 victories before being rested in 1918. On 5 September 1919, Captain Jordan received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 7784. He was killed in an automobile accident in late 1931.

Flt. Sub-Lieut. William Lancelot Jordan, R.N.A.S.
In recognition of the courage and initiative displayed by him in aerial combats.
On the 13th July, 1917, in company with another pilot, he attacked an enemy two-seater machine. After bursts of fire from both of our machines, the enemy observer was seen to collapse in the cock-pit, and the enemy aircraft was last seen disappearing among some houses. On the 6th December, 1917, whilst patrolling at 15,000 feet, he saw a two-seater enemy aircraft at 10,500 feet, aud dived on him, firing about thirty rounds. After falling over to the left, enemy aircraft went down vertically. He has also been instrumental in bringing down other enemy machines.

Ian Henderson Scotland #5
Alexander Merchant Scotland #7
Clive Wilson Warman USA #


Eight airmen were killed on this day

2nd Lt. Baumann, M.O. (Maximilian Otto) 70 Squadron RFC
Corporal Brett, S. (Samuel) 11 Squadron RFC
Bombadier Fletcher, E. (Eric) 70 Squadron RFC
Lt. Matheson, A.P. (Alexander Perceval) 55 Squadron RFC
Lt. Miller, A.W.B. (Archibald William Buchanan) 29 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Oliver, F.L. (Frank Lambton) 55 Squadron RFC
Lt. Paget, G.L. (Gerald Lewis) 14 Squadron attached 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
2nd Lt. Searle, A.H. (Archibald Henry) 1 Squadron attached 14 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps

522 British lives were lost

Today’s highlighted casualties include:

Lieutenant Alexander Perceval Matheson (General List attached Royal Flying Corps) is killed in action at age 22. He is the son of the 3rd Baronet ‘Sir’ Alexander Perceval Matheson. His two brothers and a brother-in-law have already been killed in the War.
Lance Corporal Frederick Hunter (Suffolk Regiment) dies after being repatriated from being a prisoner of war with tuberculosis. His brother was killed in July 1916.
Private Willie Lumb (Northumberland Fusiliers) dies of wounds received in action at age 30. His brother will be killed in November of this year.
Private Frederick Charles Cannon (Scots Guards) dies of wounds at age 22. His brother died of wounds last December.
Private J Wharton (North Lancashire Regiment) dies of wounds at age 30. His brother was killed in April 1915.
Private William Reid (Gordon Highlanders) is killed at age 26. He is the third of four brothers who will lose their lives in the Great War.

Captain Tunstill's Men: Another fine day, which was spent in final preparations for a return to the trenches. Overnight, 13th-14th, the Battalion moved into support trenches in the left sector of the Divisional front near Observatory Ridge, a few hundred yards north of their former positions around Hill 60 and the Caterpillar. They relieved two companies of 8Yorks. and two companies of 9Yorks.. Battalion HQ and one Company were positioned in Hedge Street Tunells about I.24.d.5.1; one Company in Canada dugouts about I.30.a.9.4; one Company at Rudkin House Tunnels about I.24.a.0.1; and one Company in Metropolitan Left about I.29.a.8.2. The trenches here were in a very poor state, being, in fact, a series of isolated posts rather than formal defences.

[Hedeby]

14th July 1917

I would like to start by wishing all out friends in France a very Happy Bastille Day !



France has a national holiday every year on 14 July to celebrate a mob breaking into a 18th century Parisian prison. Akin to the United State's 4th of July, the date marks the beginning of republican democracy and the end of tyrannical rule. Here's everything you need to know about France's national day and why it is still celebrated.

What was the Storming of the Bastille?

It took place on July 14 1789 amid a deep economic and political crisis, with an out-of-touch Louis XVI increasingly unable to manage anti-monarchist forces. The Bastille, a medieval fortress and prison, was a symbol of tyrannical Bourbon authority in central Paris and had held many political dissidents.

Following the king's dismissal of the progressive minister of finance, Jacques Necker, and the concentration of Royalist troops in the capital, liberal Parisians feared a coup against the National Constitutional Assembly. As a result, violent conflict between Royalist and anti-Monarchist elements broke out across Paris, with the Bastille's garrison eventually finding themselves surrounded by an armed mob on the morning of 14 July. After hours of negotiation and increasing frustration, the mob numbering just under 1,000 broke into the fortress. Following hours of fighting, they took the castle at the cost of nearly 100 assailants' lives and one defender's. Nearby Royalist troops had chosen not to intervene and disperse the mob. Ironically, at the time the prison was stormed, there were only seven elderly prisoners left inside.

What is its significance?

While there are key events in the lead up to 14 July, the storming of the Bastille proved to revolutionaries across Paris and France that the power of King Louis and his control over his armed forces was nominal at best. It became the flash point for the revolution to spread and eventually lead to the overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy and the execution of Louis XVI and his wife Queen Marie Antoinette. The prison was completely destroyed within five months and only a monument now stands on the site in the middle of a cobbled square.

Why do French people celebrate it today?

Like Independence Day in the United States, the French celebrate all things that symbolise France, such the tricolore flag and La Marseillaise - both of which originate from the revolution. Rather than commemorating the storming of the Bastille itself, it is a day to celebrate the three tenets of the republican national motto: "liberty, equality and fraternity". Patriotic pride rather than political history is the order of the day.



Meanwhile back in the Great War...

We saw a much quieter day in the skies above the Western Front

The following claims were made....

Raoul Stojsavljevic Austro-Hungarian Empire #7
Albert Enstone England #6
Harold Bolton Redler England #3
Erwin Böhme Germany #13
Julius Buckler Germany #10
Robert von Greim Germany #3
Ludwig Hanstein Germany #6
Julius Schmidt Germany #6 #7
Fulco Ruffo di Calabria Italy #10
Mikhail Safonov Russia #2

One air ace was lost on this day



Kurt Schneider was born in Wurzen, Kingdom of Saxony, the German Empire on 4 October 1888. He began his World War I military service in Germany's land forces, winning an Iron Cross Second Class on 15 March 1915. Later in 1915 he joined the Luftstreitkräfte and was a founding member of Jasta 5 upon its establishment in August 1916. Schneider's exploits earned him an Albert Order on 13 January 1917. He scored his first aerial victory on 17 March 1917; by 29 April his tally was at 12, including three observation balloons. He ascended to temporary command of the squadron on 6 May 1917. By the time he was wounded and forced to land on 5 June, his victory total was 15 confirmed, and one unverified. After his return to action, he was again forced to land with wounds on 14 July 1917. He did not survive. He was awarded the Military Order of St. Henry ten days after his death.

Despite the lack of claims there were still 14 airmen lost on this day

Air Mech Burlinson, F. (Frederick) 23 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Churcher, E. (Edgar) 32 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Creasey, A.A. (Arthur Andrew) 22 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. De Rochie, C.M. (Curtis Matthew) 27 Squadron RFC
Lt. Hanson, J.C. (John Clarence) 55 Squadron RFC
PO Mech Lindsay, J. Royal Naval Air Service, H.M.S. 'President II'
2nd. Lt. MacFarlane, H.E. (Harold Embleton) 55 Squadron RFC
Air Mech 2 McVie, W. (William) 31st BAlloon Section RFC
Air Mech 2 Mee, J. (Joseph) 43 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt.Samuels, W.T. (Wilfred Templeton) 47th BAlloon Section RFC
2nd. Lt Smith, T.E. (Thomas Edmund) 27 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Stevens, J.M.S.G. (John Michael Stanislaus Gregory) 1 Squadron RFC
Capt. Thompson, W.G. (William George) 41 Squadron RFC
Air Mech 2 Wykes, A.V. (Alfred Vincent) Royal Naval Air Service, H.M.S. 'President II' Pulham Royal Naval Airship Station

King George 5th and Queen Mary Vist France 3rd - 14th July 1917

The King and Queen arrive in Calais to start the visit. The King inspects war trophies at Bailleul with General Sir Herbert Plumer, then goes on to watch a tank demonstration and talk with a group of French officers. The Queen watches a flamethrower demonstration at Helfaut. The King and Prince of Wales meet the King of Belgium at La Panne then go on to inspect aircraft at Bray Dunes with General Sir Henry Rawlinson. The Queen inspects aircraft with Brigadier-General Sir Hugh Trenchard, commander of the RFC, and goes on to meet briefly with Sir Douglas Haig, and later to visit an American hospital. The King visits an RNAS base. The Queen visits a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) and the Tank Corps central stores and tank park. The King and Prince arrive at Tramecourt Château and are joined by the Queen, along with the King and Queen of Belgium. On the following day they go their various ways, the King to St-Sixte Monastery (used as a CCS) and on to an aerodrome and the Gas School at Helfaut. Haig meets with the King, the Queen, and President and Madame Poincaré at Abbéville. The Queen and Prince visit the Asiatic Petrol Company factories near Rouen. The King tours Vimy Ridge and the Somme battlefield. At Albert the King knights two Corps commanders, General Currie of the Canadian Corps and General Fanshawe, and decorates a number of French officers. The King goes on to visit Australian 5th Division headquarters. The Queen visits the South African hospital at Abbéville. The King continues his tour of Vimy Ridge and the Somme area. Finally the King, Queen and Prince call in at the Duchess of Sutherland's hospital prior to leaving from Calais for Britain.

Western Front

German attacks repulsed in region of Lombartzyde (Nieuport).

French gain and hold against counter-attacks German trench system on Moronvillers, east of Reims.

German thrust on Chemin des Dames and Cerny partially resisted north of the Aisne.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Successful British raid on Turks near Gaza.

Political, etc.

Herr von Bethmann Hollweg resigns; succeeded as German Imperial Chancellor by Dr. Michaelis.

U.S. House of Representatives votes to send 22,000 aeroplanes and 100,000 airmen to Western Front.



The King and Queen return from visit to Western Front.

Sir Douglas Haig made K.T.

[Hedeby]

We will start today's issue with a gratutitous picture of a pair of Bristols...



July 15th 1917

On this day in 1917, a three-day stretch of fighting in the streets peaks in Petrograd after the provisional government falls temporarily amid anger and frustration within and outside the army due to the continuing hardships caused by Russia’s participation in World War I.

Despite devastating losses on the Eastern Front in 1916, the provisional Russian government–which succeeded to power after the abdication of Czar Nicholas II in March–had rejected all calls for peace. Alexander Kerensky, appointed minister of war in the spring of 1917, was determined to reinvigorate the Russian war effort, installing the victorious General Alexei Brusilov as commander in chief of the Russian forces and making plans to go back on the offensive within months. The disintegration and despair within the army continued, however, as some 30,000 deserters were reported from the front every day. At Kerensky’s command, Brusilov launched another major offensive on July 1, the same day a massive peace demonstration was held in Petrograd.

Though the new offensive resulted in heavy losses for the Russians, it was at home where the provisional government received its greatest threat. On July 15, 1917, an uprising in Petrograd encouraged by Leon Trotsky, an official of the Bolshevik Party–the radical socialist movement led by Vladimir Lenin, recently returned from exile due to German help–succeeded in briefly toppling the provisional government. The Bolsheviks saw their opportunity and attempted to seize power in Petrograd, as fighting broke out in the streets. The violence peaked on July 17. The following day, officers loyal to the provisional government destroyed the offices of the Bolshevik newspaper, Pravda. Lenin, sensing the time was not yet ripe for revolution, went into hiding–albeit temporarily–and Kerensky took charge, restoring order and continuing his efforts to salvage the Russian war effort.

Months later, however, Lenin emerged again, as the Bolsheviks succeeded in wresting power in Russia from the army in November amid massive strikes and rebellions in the streets; almost immediately after taking power, the Bolsheviks moved towards an armistice with the Central Powers, ending Russia’s involvement in World War I.



On this day 585 British Lives were lost

Major Bede Liddell Fenton (Dorsetshire Regiment) is killed at age 35 while searching for wounded comrade Lieutenant William John Coley who was in fact already dead. He is the son of the Reverend Enos Fenton Vicar of Shotton.

Today’s highlighted casualties include:

Lieutenant Colonel John Ralph Hedley DSO (commanding 1/5th Border Regiment) is killed at age 46.
Captain Herbert Leslie Ridley (Dublin Fusiliers) is killed at age 22. His brother was killed last October.
Chaplain the Reverend Joseph Strickland, 12th Brigade, 4th Division, dies on Malta at age 53.
Private Harold Lisle Loveridge (Hampshire Regiment) is killed in Palestine at age 35. He is an Isle of Wight football player.

5 AIRMEN HAVE FALLEN ON SUNDAY JULY 15TH 1917

Flt. Sub Lt. Bray, F. (Francis "Frank") 8 (N) Squadron RNAS
Air Mech 1 Shaw, R. (Robert) 7 Squadron attached 108th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
Air Mech 1 Stevens, J.E. (James Edgar) RNAS
2nd Lt. Theron, L.C. (Lucas Cornelius) RFC
Air Mech 1 Tree, G.R. (George Robert) 7 Squadron RFC

The following claims were made today - another seemingly quiet day on the front...

Robert Little Australia #32
Douglas McGregor Canada #6
William Jenkins England #5
Paul Bäumer Germany #3
Hans Bethge Germany #9
Kurt Jacob Germany #1
Adolf von Tutschek Germany #16
Keith Caldwell New Zealand #8

Menwhile back in the trenches, its time to hear from Capt. Tunstill's men again... Support trenches in the left sector of the Divisional front near Observatory Ridge. Battalion HQ and one Company were positioned in Hedge Street Tunells about I.24.d.5.1; one Company in Canada dugouts about I.30.a.9.4; one Company at Rudkin House Tunnels about I.24.a.0.1; and one Company in Metropolitan Left about I.29.a.8.2. A reminder was issued to all Brigade commanders in 23rd Division on grounds that “The Divisional Trench Standing Orders do not appear to be sufficiently enforced in some units.” Brigadiers were particularly directed to two points:

“With special reference to dress and the wearing of equipment etc. Men have been noticed partially undressed in the support trenches and rifles and equipment of the 25% of men who take off their equipment by day do not appear to be placed ready for immediate use on any fixed system. Equipment must be hung up ready to be put on with a minimum of delay, and rifles must be kept in close proximity to the man.

The sanitation of the trenches requires a great deal of improvement. All refuse, empty tins etc. must be buried. Latrines should be put in off shoots from trenches and not in the trenches themselves. Fly proof lids for latrine buckets must be provided”.

The intensity of the artillery exchanges over the next week was noted in the Brigade War Diary, “Artillery very active on both sides during this period. Our guns of all calibres were firing incessantly on enemy positions and communications. Hostile retaliation was heavy at times, especially on the raods, gun positions and back areas generally. Gas shells being freely used during these shoots. The forward area was subjected to heavy shell fire from guns of 4.2” calibre and upwards from about 3am to 5am each morning and several bursts of shell fire were put over our front line area at intervals during the night.”

The Battalion provided carrying and working parties for the front line. In the course of one of these carrying parties, overnight 14th/15th July, taking ammunition to the Mount Sorrel sector for 69th Machine Gun Company, Pte. John Foster (see 16th January) slipped and injured his right knee. He reported sick the following morning and would be admitted to 5th London Field Ambulance before being transferred via 46th Casualty Clearing Station to 47th General Hospital at Le Treport.

More on the German use of Mustard Gas

Up to the end of July, the Germans bombarded the Ypres area every night with mustard, during which the Germans gunners had to surround their own gun positions with chloride of lime as a precaution against leaks or premature bursts of the shells. In addition, a series of set piece gas shoots were conducted. On 15 July a ‘multi-coloured’ shoot of a thousand rounds was carried out, which despite barrel bursts was repeated the following day. Then on 17th and again on 21st more extensive gas shoots were carried out on tracks, shelters and accommodation at Zillebeke Lake.

On the night of 20-21 July Blue and Green Cross were again tried in combination in an operation called Britentod or ‘British death,’ postponed from the previous night owing to strong winds. British battery positions at Voormezele were targeted, each German field battery having been issued with 900 rounds of Green Cross and each howitzer battery 350 rounds of Blue Cross. The bombardment, from 1am to 3am, completely silenced the British batteries although no mention is made of mustard having been used.

On the same night 20-21 July, in an operation called Totentanz, or ‘Dance of Death,’ Armentières was first targeted with mustard gas, injuring about 6,400. The following night 21-22 July, Nieuwpoort was heavily bombarded with mustard, thus the south and north flanks successively of the expected British attack area were rendered impassable. The casualties were worse overall than those suffered at Ypres as the troops here had not yet received adequate warning and instructions regarding mustard gas.

On 23-24 July Britentod was repeated, then on 26-27 gas bombardments in the Wytschaete sector named Schlesien and Apolda. On 28-29 July renewed gas bombardments of Armentières and Nieuwpoort was carried out between 1am and 4.30am. The civilian casualties from mustard gas in Armentieres totalled 675, of which 86 had died by 18 August, a high mortality due in part to the number of elderly citizens, many living in cellars, who were either unable or reluctant to leave the area while the shelling was in progress.


Nieuport July 1917 thescene of the German gas attack

From July, Blue and Yellow Cross shells were used in very large numbers with a reduction only coming in the winter of 1917-18. Once the Germans had identified the improved protection afforded by the British respirator against Blue Cross, they came to use these shells at the beginning of a gas bombardment, as the shells could not be distinguished from HE shell. The sneezing symptoms would therefore affect men before they could adjust their masks and then cause them to succumb to Green Cross shells used subsequently. HE or Blue Cross shells were used to disguise the distinctive bursting sound of Yellow Cross mustard gas shells.

During August and September 1917, the Germans used mustard to defeat French attacks on either side of the river Meuse, causing 13,158 to be poisoned and 143 killed. Losses were so great in the affected areas that it has been claimed that the French were forced to abandon the attack.[10] The combination of Green and Blue Cross shells, used for the first time to support the attack at Nieuwpoort on 10 July, was later used for the successful German assault across the Daugava river on 1 September 1917 which lead to the fall of Riga. The artillery fire plan was the work of Colonel Georg Bruchmüller and the publicity accorded it has led some to assume incorrectly that Bruchmüller invented this combination of gas shells, called Buntschiessen or ‘colour shoots’.

Mustard gas caused serious casualties to the British in July 1917 but there seems to be no evidence to support the claim by Beumelburg and Hanslian that it caused the start of the 3rd Battle of Ypres to be postponed for a fortnight.[11] Hanslian and Seesselberg claimed also that it prevented a British break-though during the offensive. Whilst mustard continued to be used throughout the battle, it was not used to cover the withdrawal of German forces as it would be in 1918, as they could not contaminate ground which they would wish immediately to recapture. Although the Germans improved slightly the effectiveness of their Blue Cross shells, the Allies regarded them as a wasted effort, something that post-war German writers could not accept.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

Gas is a horrible weapon. My old platoon sergeant admitted there were two weapons that scared the hell out of him - gas and land mines - because despite however good a soldier you were there was very little you could do about either.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

We will start today's issue with a gratuitous picture of a pair of Bristols...

Now that's more like it Squadron Leader, but did I happen to notice that they are under gunned?
Kyte.

[Rebel]

Never knowingly, surely!

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

Cheers for keeping me sane Chris. Keep up the good work.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

How are you doing Neil?
Rob.

[Hedeby]

16th July 1917

LOTS TO GET THROUGH TODAY SO WE WILL BE FOCUSSING NOSTLY ON THE WAR N THE AIR...

Zeppelin Raid

Rather surprisingly, this raid set out for London on one of the shortest nights of the year with only about four hours of true darkness. Although six Zeppelins were earmarked for the raid, strong winds and engine problems meant only two crossed the English coast, L.42 and L.48.

Commanding L.42, Kapitänleutnant Martin Dietrich, cruised off the Kent coast before finally coming inland over the North Foreland lighthouse at 2.05am. Five minutes later a searchlight briefly found L.42 then lost her again. Dietrich headed south, keeping out to sea; he believed he was approaching Deal and Dover where he thought his bombs fell. In fact it was Ramsgate. Passing the town’s Marina Pier, L.42’s first bomb landed in the sea about 400 yards south-west of the pier, followed by another 150 yards further on which also fell in the sea, off the Royal Victoria Pavilion. The third bomb, however, made its mark. A 300kg HE bomb exploded on a building about 20 yards from the Clock Tower in Ramsgate Harbour, used at the time by the Royal Navy as an ammunition store. ‘A sheet of blood-red flame shot upwards and for hours ammunition of all kinds continued to explode with a tornado of fury.’ Such was the intensity of the explosions that some residents believed the Germans were attempting a landing.

The next bomb dropped in Albert Street, a narrow road near the harbour, where it demolished or seriously damaged a number of houses, with other damage extending over a wide area. At No. 45 the explosion killed 67-year-old Benjamin Thouless and injured his wife. Next door, at No. 47, Jonathan Hamlin and his wife also died, but his brother escaped with injuries. Two houses suffered when the next bomb detonated in a front garden in Crescent Road, amongst those injured was Lt. Warden of the Royal Flying Corps, home on leave. The following morning ‘it was impossible to walk in any of the main streets without feeling the crunch of glass under one’s feet’. The Borough Surveyor reported damage to 660 houses shops or other buildings.


Having passed over the town, Dietrich headed away to the north-west, dropping four more bombs. One detonated about 100 yards from Southwood House, one in a field about 70 yards from where the railway crossed the Manston Road and two close together in a field about 50 yards from a railway cutting north-west of Nether Court Lodge. Continuing on the same heading L.42 neared the RNAS airfield at Manston but the five bombs dropped all fell in Poleash Fields near Manston village, about half a mile short of the airfield, breaking windows in seven houses. The final two bombs, both incendiaries, fell as L.42 turned to the north-east, landing harmlessly in fields at Lydden and at Nash Court as she approached Garlinge. L.42 only remained overland for 14 minutes. On her homeward journey L.42 evaded attacks by three RNAS aircraft from Yarmouth.

The other Zeppelin to reach England, L.48 commanded by Kapitänleutnant der Reserve Franz Georg Eichler, had the commander of the Naval Airship Division, Korvettenkapitän Viktor Schütze, on board. L.48 spent over well over two hours off the Suffolk coast before coming inland at about 2.00am south of Orfordness, having struggled with engine problems and a frozen compass. Too late to attack London, Eichler selected Harwich as a secondary target. After following an erratic path L.48 finally seemed on course but at 2.45am seven guns of the Harwich defences opened fire on her, eventually firing off over 500 rounds. In response L.48 dropped about nine bombs near Falkenham, which fell between Falkenham Wood and Lower Farm. Turning west, Eichler dropped another 13 bombs near Kirton, falling in fields roughly between Corporation Farm and St. Mary’s Church. Heading back northwards, L.48 dropped three bombs between Waldringfield and Martlesham, on farmland between Cross Farm Cottages and Cross Farm.

Still experiencing engine problems as he headed north, flying between 14,000 and 15,000 feet, Eichler received a radio message advising him of a helpful tail wind at 11,000 feet. Alerted to news of a Zeppelin approaching the Suffolk coast, two aircraft took off from the RFC’s Orfordness Experimental Station shortly before 2.00am. Both pilots pursued L.48 and Lt. E.W. Clarke in a BE2c fired four drums at long range as he was unable to get above 11,000 feet. Lt. F.D. Holder, flying a FE2b with Sgt. S. Ashby as his observer/gunner, made a number of attacks, but Holder’s front gun jammed and so did Ashby’s while firing his fifth drum. No.37 Squadron had also sent pilots up and shortly before 3.00am another aircraft went up from Orfordness, a DH2 flown by Capt. R. Saundby. With the sky beginning to lighten and L.48 still struggling overland, Saundby closed in and fired off three drums of ammunition at gradually shortening distances and Lt. L.P. Watkins flying a 37 Squadron BE12 from Goldhanger was also on his third drum when L.48 caught fire and began to burn. She crashed on fields at Holly Tree Farm at Theberton, Suffolk. Incredibly, three of the crew survived the crash and burning wreckage, but neither Eichler nor Schütze was among them.

Although Holder/Ashby, Saundby and Watkins all believed they had been responsible for the fatal shots and a shared victory seemed the obvious decision, the War Office awarded the honour of shooting down L.48 to Watkins.



The combat.

Previously L48 had approached the English coast at a height of 13,000 feet; she was part of a force of four airships sent to attack London that night. L48 drifted over Orford Ness at about 02.00hrs. On board that night was KorvettenKapitan Schutze who was Kommodore of the North Sea Airship Division. From here she rounded Wickham Market. Bombs were dropped around Harwich with one being dropped over Martlesham. Once the bombs had been released the ship believed it was heading East back for home. However the compass had frozen and was giving an incorrect reading in fact L48 was heading north along the coast. At this point Anti Aircraft guns opened up both on coastal emplacements and including several on ships out at sea. Searchlights flicked on and wavered about the sky finally coning in on L48, seemingly supporting her in the night sky. Once held in search lights it was imperative for L48 to get out of the area, for two reasons: firstly AA fire could be directed far more accurately as the gunners could see the actual target…and any night flying defence fighters would see the Zeppelin from up to 40 miles away in the right weather conditions. In L48`s circumstance that it just what happened. A number of airborne pilots and crews had spotted her pinpointed by search lights and bursts of AA fire. Flying a BE2c (A8896) from the Armament Experimental Station at Orfordness Lt EW Clarke was the first to attack. Between Orfordness and Harwich he fired a total of four drums of Lewis gun ammunition from 11,000 feet at the airship which was still 2,000 feet higher. However there seemed to be no effect at all for this expenditure of ammunition. The second aeroplane to attack at this time was an FE2b B401 crewed by Lt FD Holder (Pilot) and Sgt S Ashby also from the AES, this crew also fired four drums of Lewis ammunition, and an additional thirty rounds from a fifth drum when suddenly their gun jammed. As this happened they were approximately five miles from Leiston and frustratingly within 300 yards range of their target. Previously they had seen their sparking fizzling tracers whizz away through the dark night sky, like thousands of cigarette ends all flicked at the same time, streaking away being frustratingly absorbed into the giant shape of the invader. However they had finally achieved success: it could be seen now that a small fire had started in the stern end very near the tail, a small glow initially, but one that slowly gained in size. Captain RHMS Saundby in DH2 A5058 managed to fire two and a half drums at the target, now there began to be a really serious blaze in the rear section of the airship. L48 tail section now began to take on the classic “Chinese Lantern” effect as it was illuminated from within” (Saundby was later awarded the Military Cross for his part in this action and retired from the RAF in 1946 with the rank of Air Vice Marshall) As the airship fell it was finally chased by Lt P Watkins in BE12 6610 from 37 (HD) Sqn (A Flight) at Goldhanger, he fired another two drums from 2000 down to 1000 feet, and then another from 500feet. It was Watkins who would be credited with the final “Kill” of L48
All Pilots used standard 0.303 rounds both ball and tracer. The credit given to Watkins for shooting down L48 was purely arbitrary and probably the result of higher authority wanting such credit to go to the Home Defence organisation. Like wise numerous local tales of heroics sprang up:- L48 was shot down by one pilot single handedly, he was so keen to get airborne he was still in his pyjamas, and the method used to bring the airship down was by flying above it and throwing grenades down onto it. With the latter fact there could be some confusion with the case of Sub Lieutenant Warneford who on 6th June 1915 did actually succeed in destroying Zeppelin LZ37 over Ghent in Belgium……by dropping several small bombs on it. For this action Warneford was awarded the Victoria Cross. However despite reassuring the British public to some degree, they needed Home Front Zeppelin victories. The names of pilots and crews who brought down the likes of the Cuffley Schutte Lanz and later Zeppelins over England would become phenomenal celebrities.

The impact of the wreckage

As she fell in flames initially the airship nosed downwards, shortly before impact she would assume a tilted up angle as the stern section became less airworthy and lost both its gas and supporting envelope fabric. Now truly ablaze and falling, the inner structure could be seen as burning fabric fell away. Several of the crew witnessed Eichler remove his thick leather coat and start to take off his overalls (He like all the crew believed they were over the sea, and would shortly be swimming for their lives) Shortly afterwards KorvettenKapitan Viktor Schutze the Flag Officer in the Gondola clutched the edge of the map table in terror as he heard hideous screams and cries from the burning sections of the airship. Eventually the stern crashed into the ground at a 60 degree angle compacting and buckling as it sent up a huge shower of sparks and flaming fabric shreds. This angled impact smashed the rear section of the gondola, hopefully finally putting those burning crewmen in this area out of their misery. Heavier sections such as the engines were snapped from their mountings and crashed down through the burning superstructure into the soft sandy soil of Holly Tree Farm. As the engines fell through the complex structure of white hot metal the massive wooden propeller blades caused flurries of sparks and debris to rise up until each blade splintered and shattered against something more resistant. As the structure settled Ellerkamm, Miethe and Uecker lost no time in jumping down from the damaged gondola. As the three escaped they watched as the flames sprang up and consumed all the envelope fabric from the nose section. The heat was now so intense that metal covering of the gondola they had been in a few seconds before (and that their colleagues were still in) was now beginning to melt. If there was still anyone else alive within the gondola area at this time, they were destined to die in this intense fire. Some of the heavier buried sections later required intensive labour to extract them from where they had embedded themselves in the sand. Several photographs show rigs and pulleys for lifting present at the impact point. It is possible that several quite large engine associated sections may still remain buried in situ. It is rumoured that during her descent one engine detached and splashed down into the reed beds of what is now Minsmere wild life reserve. One can almost imagine the mournful cries of distressed waterfowl as the a huge Maybach engine splashed down in the marsh. However Woodbridge Museum has something else that fell from the wreckage, perhaps one of the most poignant artefacts: a sailor’s style cloth hat complete with embroidered head band. Such poignant reminders of the tragic loss of life can still be found at the crash site today. On Friday 14th April 2006 a metal detecting survey revealed the crushed remains of a button that had once been sewn onto one of the crew overalls. It took between three and five minutes from first combat for L48 to impact the ground, so slowly did she fall. However the position of the fire in the rear quarters and slow descent probably allow for the survivors, of which any were unusual in such incidents.



The crew of L48 who were killed were:-

Franz Georg Eichler
Heinrich Ahrens
Wilhelm Betz
Walter Dippmann
Wilhelm Gluckel
Paul Hannemann
Heinrich Herbst
Franz Konig
Wilhelm Meyer
Karl Milich
Michael Neunzig
Karl Floger
Paul Suchlich
Viktor Schutze
Herman Van Stockum
Paul Westphal.

The survivors were:-

Heinrich Ellerkamm (said to be wandering around dazed after the crash)
Wilhelm Uecker
Otto Miethe
Note: - It is believed to be Ellerkamm who was the crew member taken to a local house in Theberton. When the door opened and the occupant asked if she could look after him until the arrival of the authorities, her reply was “Not likely lock the bugger in the shed”

Staying with the aerial nature of the combat- the following claims were made on this day...

Robert Little Australia #33
Geoffrey Bowman England #10

George Brooke England #1



George Ai Brooke was posted to 45 Squadron as an observer in the summer of 1917. He scored 4 victories with this unit flying the Sopwith 1½ Strutter. Shot up by Max von Müller on 28 July 1917, he and pilot Matthew Frew succeeded in returning to their aerodrome before crashing. Posted to 20 Squadron, Brooke scored one more victory flying the F.E.2d and two more victories flying the Bristol F.2b.



Gordon Olley England #4
Walter Bertram Wood England #8
Hans von Adam Germany #6
Heinrich Gontermann Germany #24

Hermann Göring Germany #9



Fritz Kieckhäfer Germany #1

Kieckhäfer was wounded in action on 4 November 1917. His sixth victory was a Bristol Fighter piloted by John Milne of 48 Squadron on 24 October 1917. He was wounded whilst attaching an R.E.8 near Lille on 4 May 1918 and died from his wounds on 7 June 1918.

Otto Kissenberth Germany #6
Otto Schmidt Germany #6
Kurt Wüsthoff Germany #4
William Charles Campbell Scotland #15 #16 #17
Matthew Brown Frew Scotland #3
William Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick Scotland #21
Richard Maybery Wales #3

One German ace was lost on this day...

Fritz Krebs of Jasta 6

and four British airmen were also lost...

Air Mech 2 Carter, A.S. (Alfred S.) Aircraft Park, Mespotamia RFC
2nd Lt. Cayford, G.E. (George Everett) 10 Traiing Squadron RFC
Capy. Johnstone, M. (Melville) 27 Squadron RFC
Air Mech 2 Leitch, B.M. (Bruce Mayenson) Recruits depot RFC

RFC General Headquarters report for July 16th

“Although handicapped by thick clouds and strong winds, our aeroplanes carried out a great deal of successful work yesterday in conjunction with our artillery, and, in addition, our raiding machines dropped a large number of bombs on various points of military importance behind the enemy's lines. In the evening many fights took place in the air, as the result of which six enemy aeroplanes were brought down, one of which was forced to land in our lines, and three others were driven down out of control. None of our machines are missing.”

Artillery Co-operation — 92 hostile batteries were successfully engaged with aeroplane observation.

Photographic reconnaissances were attempted by No 2 Squadron RNAS in the vicinity of Bruges, but abandoned owing to heavy cloud banks.

Usual offensive patrols by No 4 Wing RNAS, also anti-submarine patrols by Seaplanes.

An Offensive Patrol of 56 Squadron, when escorting Martinsydes of 27 Squadron, was attacked by four Albatros scouts but these were driven off. Shortly afterwards Capt G H Bowman noticed 15 EA above him, so turned to take his patrol nearer the lines as there was a strong west wind blowing. A number of other machines joined the EA formation and then dived at our SES who were underneath at 14,000 feet. Our machines were out-numbered and driven down to 4,000 feet. Eventually, Captain Bowman secured a favourable position on the tail of one EA which, like all the rest, simply dived past and fired. This machine after being fired at dived straight into the ground, completely crashed. In this fight Lt R G Jardine destroyed one EA, and Lt R A Maybery sent one down completely out of control

In the evening, an Offensive Patrol of 1 Squadron led by Captain W C Campbell encountered eight Albatros scouts which they attacked over Becelaere. Captain Campbell picked out the leader into which he fired a drum and the EA was destroyed. Shortly afterwards he dived at the leader of a formation of 14 EA which the Nieuports attacked, and followed it down until he saw it crash in a field. Sgt G P Olley picked out a scout painted bright green which he shot down and saw crash, and Lt L F Jenkin picked out an EA painted slate-grey and last saw it falling over and over completely out of control

Capt W J C Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Roulers - during a large encounter which took place over Roulers between ten Albatros scouts and Spads, Sopwith Pups, Camels and SE5s, Captain K C Patrick and 2nd Lt D U McGregor, both of 23 Squadron, each shot down one EA scout completely out of control [I have an issue here; most records show McGregor claiming his 6th victory on 15 July and K-C-P his 21st on 16 July. I haven’t got copies of combat reports for these claims so have no details of times etc, so for the time being, I’ve listed the claims as McGregor on 15 July and K-C-P on 16 July; anybody got information that clarifies the matter?]. This was K-C-P’s last claim before being promoted Major and being given command of No 60 Sqn.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Methinks this raid was last months news. Your compositor has mistook the plate from that edition and loaded it on the press in error Chris.
Rob.

[Hedeby]

Methinks this raid was last months news. Your compositor has mistook the plate from that edition and loaded it on the press in error Chris.
Rob.

Funny that I have 3 sources all with different dates for the same event

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I only noticed because the shortest nights of the year are in mid June and not July.
Rob.

[Hedeby]

17th July 1917

George V announces that the British royal family’s name will change from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor. The House of Windsor is the royal house of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The dynasty is of German paternal descent and was originally a branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, itself derived from the House of Wettin, and it succeeded the House of Hanover as monarchs in the British Empire following the death of Queen Victoria, wife of Albert, Prince Consort. The houses of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Windsor have provided five British monarchs to date, including four kings and the present queen, Elizabeth II.



The name was changed from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor in 1917 because of anti-German sentiment in the British Empire during World War I. Edward VII and, in turn, his son, George V, were members of the German ducal House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha by virtue of their descent from Albert, Prince Consort, husband of Queen Victoria. High anti-German sentiment amongst the people of the British Empire during World War I reached a peak in March 1917, when the Gotha G.IV, a heavy aircraft capable of crossing the English Channel, began bombing London directly and became a household name. In the same year, on 15 March, King George's first cousin, Nicholas II, the Emperor of Russia, was forced to abdicate, which raised the spectre of the eventual abolition of all the monarchies in Europe. The King and his family were finally convinced to abandon all titles held under the German Crown and to change German titles and house names to anglicised versions. Hence, on 17 July 1917, a royal proclamation issued by George V declared:

Now, therefore, We, out of Our Royal Will and Authority, do hereby declare and announce that as from the date of this Our Royal Proclamation Our House and Family shall be styled and known as the House and Family of Windsor, and that all the descendants in the male line of Our said Grandmother Queen Victoria who are subjects of these Realms, other than female descendants who may marry or may have married, shall bear the said Name of Windsor..


Two air aces were lost on this day:

Lieutenant Roger Bolton Hay MC (1895 – 17 July 1917) was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. He was the youngest of three sons born to The Reverend Reynell Wreford Hay, rector of Garsdon and Lea in Wiltshire, and his wife Margaret Alice (née Bolton). His grandfather William Hay was a merchant and ship owner from Bishopwearmouth, while his uncle, William Delisle Hay, was a novelist and mycologist. Hay was educated at Dean Close School, Cheltenham, and at Blundell's School, Tiverton, and was preparing to enrol at Oxford University when the war broke out.

After serving as a cadet in the Officers' Training Corps, on 27 January 1915 Hay was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) in the 3rd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, alongside his brothers Hugh Allport Hay (1889–1965) and Guy Baldwin Hay (1890–1951). He was confirmed in his rank on 19 November, and received orders sending him into the front lines in July 1915, but a motor-cycling accident delayed his departure until February 1916. He served in the trenches until August, when he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps. Hay returned to England to train as a pilot,and was appointed a flying officer on 28 March 1917.

He returned to France in April 1917,[5] and joined No. 48 Squadron, the first to be equipped with the Bristol F.2 Fighter. Hay began his victory string during Bloody April, taking a share with Fred Holliday, Anthony Wall, Ernest Moore, and William Winkler in the shooting down of an Albatros D.III over Vimy on the 23rd, and another over Cagnicourt the following day. On 27 April he shared in the destruction of a reconnaissance aircraft over Vitry with Maurice Benjamin and William Price. Hay had two further solo victories, destroying another D.III over Etaing on 15 June, and driving down a fourth over Ghistelles on 12 July. His final total was two aircraft destroyed and three driven down out of control. Hay was reported missing in action on 17 July, and it was later reported that he died as a result of wounds while a prisoner of the Germans the same day. He had been awarded the Military Cross in June,which was gazetted posthumously on 24 July. His citation read: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On several occasions he has shown the utmost courage and dash in attacking and dispersing hostile aircraft in superior numbers. His willingness to undertake the most hazardous duties has at all times set a fine example to other pilots and observers of his squadron. Hay is buried in the New Communal Cemetery at Oostende, Belgium.

Tenente Luigi Olivi was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He won two awards of the Silver Medal for Military Valor and was killed in action. Olivi was born in Campobasso on 18 November 1894. He lived in Ancona prewar. He joined the Italian military before Italy entered World War I. On 31 March 1914, he was promoted to Caporal. He was promoted again, to Sergente, on 31 July 1914, and sent off to aviation school at Aviano to train on Bleriots. He received his pilot's license on 16 June 1915. On 25 October 1915, he was injured in an accident at Malpensa while flying a Macchi Parasol.

His original flying duty was artillery observation for 2a Squadriglia (later redubbed 42a Squadriglia. He then transitioned to Nieuports, training at Cascina Costa, and was assigned to 76a Squadriglia on 25 July 1916. Between 8 October 1916 and 17 June 1917, he scored six confirmed victories, including one shared with Mario Stoppani; he also had an unconfirmed claim. After his final victory, Olivi returned to take aerial photos of his final victim, and was killed in action. Luigi Olivi had flown 217 hours on 180 combat sorties. In 48 aerial combats, he had claimed eight aerial victories, six of which were confirmed. He had been recognized with two awards of the Silver Medal for Military Valor.

The following aerial victory claims were made today...

Cecil Richards Australia #5 #6 #7 #8



After seeing action in Gallipoli and France, Cecil Roy Richards transferred to the Royal Flying Corps at the end of 1916. Assigned to 20 Squadron during the summer of 1917, he flew the F.E.2d until 19 August when he was shot down at Quesnoy and captured by Ernst Hess of Jasta 28.

2nd Lt. Cecil Roy Richards, R.F.C., Spec. Res.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when on offensive patrols in attacking and shooting down hostile machines. On one occasion he shot down four in one day, displaying great dash and a fine offensive spirit.

Godwin Brumowski Austro-Hungarian Empire #9



William Bishop Canada #34 #35
Cecil Brock Canada #2

Captain Arthur Roy Brown Canada #1



Intelligent but shy, Arthur Roy Brown loved to fly. After receiving an aviator's certificate on a Wright biplane at the Wright school, Dayton, Ohio on 13 November 1915, he joined the Royal Naval Air Service. He was almost killed when he crashed an Avro 504 during a training flight on 2 May 1916. He eventually recovered and was posted to 9 Naval Squadron on the Western Front in April 1917. Reassigned to 11 Naval Squadron, he scored his first victory on 17 July 1917, shooting down an Albatros D.III while flying a Sopwith Pup. In the fall, he rejoined 9 Naval Squadron to fly Sopwith Camels, becoming a flight commander in February 1918. In what would become the most famous aerial combat of the war, Brown's flight encountered Jasta 11 on the morning of 21 April 1918. In the battle that followed, Brown scored his final victory of the war. Engaging a red Fokker DR.I he was officially credited with shooting down Manfred von Richthofen. For this action, Brown received a bar to his Distinguished Service Cross. On 1 August 1919, Brown was transferred to the unemployed list and returned to Canada where he worked as an accountant, founded a small airline and became an editor for "Canadian Aviation" magazine. During World War II, Brown entered politics after his application to join the Royal Canadian Air Force was rejected. The year before he died, he ran for Parliament but was defeated.

"The postwar period is more serious than winning the war. We who served in the last war know what it is to get kicked out of the service and then wonder where to turn and where to go to make a living. I got back into civilian life last tine with 27 fractures and was a nervous wreck. I got no pension. That kind of thing must never happen again." Roy Brown, Liberal candidate for Parliament, 1943

Combat Report 21st April 1918: At 10:35 a.m. I observed two Albatross burst into flames and crash.
Dived on large formation of 15 - 20 Albatross Scouts[,] D 5's and Fokker triplanes, two of which got on my tail and I came out. Went back again and dived on pure red triplane which was firing on Lieut. May. I got a long burst into him and he went down vertical and was observed to crash by Lieut. Mellersh and Lieut[.] May. I fired on two more but did not get them." - Brown's second combat report, 21 April 1918

Lieut. (Hon. Capt.) Arthur Roy Brown, D.S.C., R.A.F.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On 21 April 1918, while leading a patrol of six scouts he attacked a formation of twenty hostile scouts. He personally engaged two Fokker triplanes, which he drove off; then, seeing that one of our machines was being attacked and apparently hard pressed, he dived on the hostile scout, firing the while. This scout, a Fokker triplane, nose dived and crashed to the ground. Since the award of the Distinguished Service Cross, he has destroyed several other enemy aircraft and has shown great dash and enterprise in attacking enemy troops from low altitudes despite heavy anti-aircraft fire.



Alfred Carter Canada #6
Anthony Spence Canada #3
Melville Waddington Canada #3
Leonard Barlow England #5
Charles Booker England #18
Philip Fletcher Fullard England #12
Howard Redmayne Harker England #3
Keith Muspratt England #3
Edmund Pierce England #7
Arthur Percival Foley Rhys Davids England #12
Cyril Burfield Ridley England #2
Herbert Rowley England #3
Harry Scandrett England #3
Reginald Soar England #11
Frank Stevens England #4
Richard Trevethan England #6

Mortimer West England #1 #2

11 Squadron RFC flying Bristol F.2b (A7138)


95 Squadron Bristol F2B

Julius Buckler Germany #11
Rudolf Francke Germany #4
Walter Göttsch Germany #13
Alfred Niederhoff Germany #5
John Cowell Ireland #11 #12

Edward Gribben Ireland #1

The son of Isabella Gribben, Edward Gribben served with the Royal Irish Rifles before he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and was posted to 70 Squadron in 1917. That summer, he scored 5 victories flying the Sopwith Camel. In the fall, he was reassigned to the Home Defence, flying night fighters with 44 Squadron. On 2 October 1918, Gribben was reassigned to 41 Squadron as a flight commander but was wounded in action two days later when he was forced down by a Fokker D.VII.

Flavio Baracchini Italy #9
Fulco Ruffo di Calabria Italy #11
Forster Maynard New Zealand #4
Juri Gilsher Russia #4
Ian Henderson Scotland #6
Oliver LeBoutillier USA #3

9 AIRMEN HAVE FALLEN ON TUESDAY JULY 17TH 1917

(Rivers Gordon) British Adriatic Squadron, 6th Wing RNAS
Flt. Sub Lt. Bryans, F.M.P. (Fraser MacPherson) Hornsea Mere Naval Air Station RNAS
Lt. Hay, R.B. (Roger Bolton) 48 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Munro, J.D.S. (James Donald Sutherland) RFC
2nd Lt. Palmer, P.E. (Percy Eric) 29 Squadron RFC
Sub Lt. Planterose, E.A. (Ernest A.) British Adriatic Squadron, 6th Wing RNAS
2nd Lt. Rodocanachi, P.J. (Paul John) 53 Squadron
2nd Lt Smeeth, W.S. (William Sutton) RFC
2nd Lt. Watt, N.L. (Norman Lindley) 53 Squadron RFC

The submarine C34 (Lieutenant Inglesby Stuart Jefferson age 24) is sunk by the German submarine U-52 while on the surface off the Shetlands. The crew of 18 has one survivor. Lieutenant Jefferson is a holder of the Royal Humane Society’s Medal for rescuing a soldier from drowning. The minesweeper HMS Newmarket (Commander Fitzroy Henry Hall killed) is sunk in action with German submarine U-38 in the Eastern Mediterranean. The crew of 63 is lost. Commander Hall’s brother was killed on Gallipoli in September 1915.

Second Lieutenant James Donals Sutherland (Australian Infantry attached Royal Flying Corps) dies of injuries received in England. His brother Edward Charles Munro will have his diaries published after the war as Diaries of a stretcher-bearer 1916-18. Another brother Private Christian Munro will be killed next April.

On this day in 1917, a three-day stretch of fighting in the streets peaks in Petrograd after the provisional government falls temporarily amid anger and frustration within and outside the army due to the continuing hardships caused by Russia’s participation in World War I.

Despite devastating losses on the Eastern Front in 1916, the provisional Russian government–which succeeded to power after the abdication of Czar Nicholas II in March–had rejected all calls for peace. Alexander Kerensky, appointed minister of war in the spring of 1917, was determined to reinvigorate the Russian war effort, installing the victorious General Alexei Brusilov as commander in chief of the Russian forces and making plans to go back on the offensive within months. The disintegration and despair within the army continued, however, as some 30,000 deserters were reported from the front every day. At Kerensky’s command, Brusilov launched another major offensive on July 1, the same day a massive peace demonstration was held in Petrograd.

Though the new offensive resulted in heavy losses for the Russians, it was at home where the provisional government received its greatest threat. On July 15, 1917, an uprising in Petrograd encouraged by Leon Trotsky, an official of the Bolshevik Party–the radical socialist movement led by Vladimir Lenin, recently returned from exile due to German help–succeeded in briefly toppling the provisional government. The Bolsheviks saw their opportunity and attempted to seize power in Petrograd, as fighting broke out in the streets. The violence peaked on July 17. The following day, officers loyal to the provisional government destroyed the offices of the Bolshevik newspaper, Pravda. Lenin, sensing the time was not yet ripe for revolution, went into hiding–albeit temporarily–and Kerensky took charge, restoring order and continuing his efforts to salvage the Russian war effort.

Months later, however, Lenin emerged again, as the Bolsheviks succeeded in wresting power in Russia from the army in November amid massive strikes and rebellions in the streets; almost immediately after taking power, the Bolsheviks moved towards an armistice with the Central Powers, ending Russia’s involvement in World War I.

Western Front

Successful British raids in the Ypres sector.

French regain positions north-west of Verdun lost during last 18 days.

Eastern Front

Russians hold their positions in Galicia against German counter-thrust.

Political, etc.

Continued disorder in Petrograd.

Royal Proclamation changing name of Royal House and family to Windsor. (see above)

Changes in the Government announced.

Resolution in favour of extension of Canadian Parliament passed

[Hedeby]

18th July 1917

The vacancy remains for someone to try out the Editor's chair for a week whilst I am off on holiday and Neil re-couperates. ANyone who is interested please let me know.

Thank you

on with the war...

We start today with the loss of a French air ace.

Sous Lieutenant Henri François Languedoc N12 Escadrille.



Having joined the army on 21 October 1903, Languedoc was serving with a cavalry regiment when the war began. Promoted to Sous Lieutenant, he transferred to an infantry regiment on 21 March 1915 but was disqualified from further service when he was badly wounded in combat. On 10 January 1916, he joined the French Air Service and received his Pilot's Brevet on 31 March 1916. Posted to Escadrille N12, he scored his first victory flying a Nieuport 11 on 23 October 1916. The following year, Languedoc downed six more enemy aircraft and became N12's leading ace before he was mortally wounded on 16 July 1917 and died two days later.

The wet and windy weather all across the front kept aerial activity to a minimum and only three airmen were lost on this day.

2nd Lt. Owen, H.E.M. (Herbert Ernest Malcolm) RFC
Lt. Porter, H.E.M. (Harvey Ernest Maxwell) 13 SQuadron RFC
Air Mech. 1 Shead, E.D. (Edward Derrick) Cranwell Central Depot and Training Establishment

There were only 5 claimed 'kills' on this day and four of those were unconfirmed and none were from the Western Front

Cesare Magistrini Italy u/c
Guido Nardini Italy #3
Vladimir Strizhesky Russia u/c
Vasili Yanchenko Russia #11
Ivan Loiko Russia u/c

Western Front

A heavy preliminary artillery bombardment which will last for ten days begins for the Battle of Passchendaele. Three thousand guns expend a quarter of a million shells into the surrounding ground. This assault combined with the heaviest rains the area has seen in 30 years turns the ground into a muddy quagmire.

On this day 465 British lives were lost

Today’s highlighted casualties include:

Captain Philip Mundy Chaworth-Musters MC (Royal Field Artillery) is killed in action at age 22. He is the second of three brothers to die in the Great War.
Captain William Gray Walker MC (General List attached Trench Mortar Battery, 8th Division) is killed in action at age 31. He is the son of the Reverend Johnstone.
Captain Claude Denman Bennett (Duke of Wellington’s Regiment) is shot and killed by a sniper at age 30. He is the Headmaster of Langcliffe School.
Captain Ian MacFarlane (Royal Army Medical Corps attached Egyptian Hospital Khan Yunus Egypt) dies on service at age 29. He is the son of the Reverend Norman C MacFarlane and he was a Medical Missionary at Nazareth Palentine from 1911 to 1914 joining the forces in 1915.
Sapper George Brown (Royal Engineers) is killed on Salonika at age 38. His son will lose his life serving in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in the Second World War.

Major Ernest Cole Fleming MC (Royal Field Artillery) is killed in action at age 33. This is the second time his wife has been widowed by the Great War having lost her first husband Captain George Armand Furse (Royal Field Artillery) is 1914.



The Eastern Front

The Kerensky Offensive 1st - 18th July 1917



The Kerensky Offensive was the last Russian offensive of the war., whose name came from the Provisional Government's minister of war at the time. The offensive was aimed not only at holding the Central Powers in the Eastern Front in coordination with the Allied forces in the west, but also at raising the morale of the Russian Army and people's faith in the government.Despite its initial suceess, the desperate offensive ended as a catastrophe: not only did it fail to achieve any of the goals, but it also gave an unrecoverable blow to the Russian military, and further undermined the Provisional Goverment's prestige and widened the gap between the ruling elite and general public. The event contributed to subsequent domestic unrests that eventually led to the seizure of power by the Bolshviks.
All the political elements in the Provisional Government at the time recognised that the war was one of the most urgent issues for the governemt to deal with. There were three choices about what to do about the war.
The first one was to continue fighting. Such a view was in the mainstream, held by many high- ranking governmental officials, a representative of whom was Alexandar Kerensky, then the Minister of War, later the Prime Minister of the Provisional Government. To him, the continued Russian participation was an obligation to defend liberty and the revolution of the Russian people integral to the whole revolution endeavour, and "Russian honor" in international relationships. He also advocated "wiping out the shame" of previous defeats, especially during 1915 as the Russian Army was in constant retreat.

However, despite their appearance as newly emerged defenders of freedom and democracy, the Provisional Government officials inherited the legacy of Tsarist Russia's sense of imperial glory.
The second view of the war, more moderate and pragmatic, sought peace without annexations and indemnities. Dubbed as "revolutionary defensism", this view was held by the moderate socialists in the Soviet. As manifested in its first pronouncement on the war on Mar 14, the Soviet announced that ''the Russian democracy ... will oppose the policy of conquest of its ruling classes . . . and it summons the peoples of Europe to common, decisive action in favor of peace''. People holding this view did not have much enthusiam for territorial gains or the messianic Pan-Slavic heroism in liberating the Slavic population under oppression. Yet, unwilling to withdraw to reach a separate peace and hoping the war would end soon, the defensists agreed to cooperate with the government in war efforts.
The last and most radical view, called "defeatism", was held by the Bolshevik Party under Vladimir Lenin's leadership. As Lenin and Stalin argued in their papers, the war was a ''predatory imperialist war", fighting for the caplists' expansionist ambitions at the price of revolutionaries' blood.

The Bolsheviks further blamed the war as the topmost reason for Russian people's suffering – the financial crisis, food shortage, rising tax and cost of living, etc. To end the suffering, the Bolsheviks urged an immediate separate peace with the Central Powers and an end to Russia's own bourgeois government. There were even some who took pro-German standing among these defeatists. The Social Revolutionaries' representatives made open pro-German speeches and were in direct communication with the German government.
One the international stage, the Allied government forces kept pressing Russia for the general offensive previously promised by the tsarist regime to be held in the spring 1917.
The Central Powers, on the other hand, were hoping for a separate peace with Russia. A virtual armistice was realised at the front. The enermy prohibited any type of action except in response to a Russian assault "in the hope that Russia would sign a separate peace with the Central Powers". In fact, Berlin's attempts to negotiate Russia’s exit from the war started as early as April 1917.
Preparation For The Offensive

Despite the opposition and unrest at the front, the Provisional Government, from it very earliest days, had been preparing for a resumption of the military operation. Vasiliy Alekseyev, the chief of the army's staff from March to June 1917, started the evaluation of morale and fighting ability by requesting feedback from field commanders. The majority of these officers reported degenerated disciplines among soldiers and lowered fighting abilities resulting from the dissolution of old regulations and the absence of new ones. They thought the troops were ready for defensive operations, but that offensive operations should be put off. Also in doubt was the leadership that the army commanders could exercise over their troops. Given the special dual leadership of the Provisional Government and the Soviet, many army officers were confused and frustrated. Alexander Guchkov, the minister of war before Kerensky, once complained to Alekseyev, saying "...one may say directly that the Provisional Government exists only so long as the Soviete permits this. Especially in the military sphere it is possible now to give out only such orders as do not definitely conflict with the orders of the Soviet". With the army morale and discipline in question and the lack of clarity in leadership, Alekseyev wrote twice to the allies to put off Russian's commitment in the eastern front.

By contrast, Aleksei Brusilov, Commander of the Southwestern Front, was optimistic about the general offensive. He received unanimous agreement from his commanders on several points: ''the armies had the will and capablity to attack; we must undertake our obligation to the Allies; ' the Army has its own opinion, and the opinion of Petrograd as to its state and morale cannot solve the question'; the opinion of the army is obligatory for Russia; its real force is here, in the theater of war, and not in the rear''
However, that might not be the real case. As historian R. Feldmen pointed out, Brusilov arrived at his conclusion largely based on misinterpretation of the soldiers' revolutionary zeal as enthusiasm to continue the war. Indeed, as observed from the documents of soldiers voices during mid-1917, their opinions on the war divided widely. A small fraction of soldiers surely showed the patriotic enthusiasm as Brusilov concluded. They embraced the active military operation as ''the path to liberty and honor'' and criticised those who coiled at the offensive.

However, the voices opposing Russia's continuous participation in war were equally strong. In the resolution from soldiers of the 1th Infantry Reserve Regiment, the soldiers called for immediate end of the war and concentrated efforts on reviving the national economy. Most of the soldiers were in confusion and tired of the war and simply held the defensist view: '' we will end it soon ... but (we) don't have to attack and aren't going to.''
Although the army officers held different attitudes about the feasibility of the offensive, none of them ever questioned the necessity of Russia's continuous, active role in the war. Even the pessimist officers would agree that the defensive operations were to be only transient until morale and discipline were fully reestablished.However, Kerensky could not wait. Determined to implement the offensive as , Kerensky replaced the cautious Alekseyev with the bold and aggressive Brusilov on May 22. A series of purges were conducted in the army. General Dragomirov was replaced by General Klembovsky as commander of the Northern Front while General Przheval'sky replaced General Yudenich on the Caucasian Front and General Denikin, Chief of Staff to Alekseev, replaced Gurko as commander of the Western Front. Such personnel reshuffling merely one month ahead of the offensive was reminiscent of the frequent and capricious change of commanders by Nicholas II and signified the ineptitude of Kerensky in military manipulation.Kerensky spent extra efforts trying to win the support the approval and support of The First All-Russia Congress of Soviets, held in Petrograd on June 3. In order to gain support to legitimise the offensive, Kerensky once informed Brusilov to put off the offensive. As Kerensky expected, the resolution was passed, ending with the statement: 'The Congress takes the stand that until the war is brought to an end ... the Russian revolutionary democracy is obliged to keep its army in condition to take either the offensive or defensive.... The question whether to take the offensive should be decided from the purely military and strategic point of view.
The Offensive

On 1st July (June 18 O.S) 1917, on the day of the offensive the Russian army was better prepared than at any time during the war for an offensive. Three armies (the 11th Army to the north of the Southwestern front; 8th to the south; and 7th in the center) were rallied along the nearly long front, highly superior to the enermy in manpower and well equipped with arms from domestic factories as well as allies.
The assault was prepared by two full days of artillery attack, although this did little harm to the enermy, who was informed well in advance about the offensive by deserters and the Petrograd news media and had enough time to evacuate their trenches.
Tactically, the goal was to capture Lemberg which would disrupt communication and transportation between the German north and the Austro-Hungarian south. Strategically, the Russian commanders hope to give a heavy blow to the Austro-Hungarian troops in Galacia as well as to tie as much as possible German divisions so as to release the pressure on the Allies at the Western Front until the American troops arrived.
Initial Success

During the first few days of the offensive, the Russians gained a considerable victory. To the north, the 11th Army attacked the Austro-Hungarian 2nd Army. With intelligence, the Russian commander knew in advance that the Austrian 19th division consisted primarily of Czechs. The Russians quickly transferred a battalion of former Czech prisoners of war who had gone over to them from the Czech division. With a successful solicit of surrender before assualt, the 3000 men of the Austrian-Hungarian 19th Division dropped their weapons and surrendered to the Russians. The surrender of the 19th division created a gap in the Austro-Hungarian defence, which allowed the Russians to push deep into enemy line. On the first day alone, the 11th Army captured nearly 18,000 prisoners, 21 guns and 16 machine guns.

At the center of the front was the 7th Army, which was the strongest among the three Russian Armies. However, they lost the iniative as they attacked three days later than the 11th Army, allowing their enemies to prepare themselves. Having sustained heavy losses, the 7th Army barely pushed through enemy line.The 8th Army in the south brought the largest success in the first few days. Mounting a full attack on the Austro-Hungarian 3rd Army, the Russian quickly cut through the enermy's defense, and eliminated a small force of German reserve. From July 1st to July 3rd (June 18 to June 20 O.S) witnessed the capture of 10,000 prisoners and 80 artillery pieces.

The Offensive Falters

Although filled with excitement from the initial success, Brusilov had to slow down the offensive after the first week for several reasons. Aside from the reinforcement by the Central Powers, one reason was the poor organisation of operational plans.
The Russian commanders did not make detailed follow-up plans after the initial success. Another reason was the passive attitude of the field soldiers. Contary to the expectation that the soldiers, after initial success, would be more active in battlefield, they displayed unwillingness for further assault as they reasoned that they had done their share and were not obliged to keep up an uninterrupted advance. For these reasons, Brusilov had to postpone repeatedly his plans for secondary attacks. Finally, the commanders were given ''a free hand in deciding when the armies are ready'', which created a huge confussion that probably contributed to their later lack of coordination in operations.

The Collapse

While the Russians were immobilised in confusion, the Central Powers were able to organise their counter-attack. The Germans quickly transfer six divisions through their highly effective railway from the French and Belgian fronts.
The Germans, with fighting ability much superior to that of the Austro-Hungarians, exerted tremendous pressure on the Russian lines. To the south, the Austro-Hungarian 7th Army were able to probe the loosely held positions of the Russians and made a concerted attack to push the Russians back. Altogether, the Central Powers were able to break the Russian defense and advance 100 miles within 10 days.
During the retreat, the Russians suffered heavy losses: casualties included 40,000 killed, and 20,000 wounded. At this point, the Russian army was so devastated that they were not able to launch any further counter-attacks.

Aftermath

The Kerensky Offensive, was a desperate gamble to reestablish governmental authority that backfired on the Provisional Government. Its failure marked the weakness of the Provisional Government in military, politics and diplomatic relationships.
Suffering such a heavy blow, the Russian army never recovered to its full strength and was no longer able to launch any further offensives.
Instead of bolstering army morale by a victory, the offensive deepened soldiers' grievances about the war and the government itself and led to further degeneration in army discipline. The government again reshuffled the army commanding personnel. General Brusilov was replaced by General Kornilov, who was the main actor in the 'Kornilov Affair' in August 1917 that catalysed the collapse of the Provsional Government. As for the relationship with the Allies, the offensive did nothing to raise Russia's prestige. Rather, frustrated by their weakness, the Allies no longer counted on the Russians for constructive warfare.
Most importantly, the military failure shook the basis of the government's authority. The Kerensky Offensive signified the government's inability and even insensitivity to respond to the need of the people. The government was expected, best summarised in a March 1917 editorial in the Newspaper Rabochaia Gazeta:

" with the support of the people and the army, to destroy swiftly and decisively everything that remains of the old order and that interferes with the new one, and to create, just as swiftly and decisively, everything without which the new order cannot exist...'
However, instead of bringing in the new order, the government clutched tightly to the war, one of the major legacies of the old order, and kept feeding the war machine with the scarce resouces so desperately needed to relieve the country's suffering. Such ignorance of people's calls widened the gap between the government and the masses.
Meanwhile, the government's weakness in maintaining order and discipline was evident. Soldiers were becoming increasingly defiant to their officers and more and more rebellious. The Bolsheviks exploited to the full advantage of these dissatisfactions to attack the government on their path of rising to power.

Eastern Front

Russians gain and lose Nowica (Galicia); heavy fighting.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Sir E. Geddes succeeds Sir E. Carson as First Lord of the Admiralty.

Political, etc.

Revolt in Petrograd crushed; order being restored.

Mesopotamia Report: Government announce further decision.

Petition to extend the Canadian Parliament will not be put forward.

Australian repatriation scheme introduced.

[mikeemagnus]

Thanks Chris,
Mike

[Hedeby]

Alas a forshortened edition this evening as I have been visiting my granddaughter in hospital all evening and have only just got back... and also beacuse of the weather there is not a great deal to report on



19th July 1917

Let us start with a sentence that we have not seen for many many months....

According to RFC/RAF records NO DEATHS ARE RECORDED FOR THURSDAY JULY 19TH 1917

In addition there were only two claims on this day... both first timers.


Captain Claude Robert James Thompson Australia #1 (19 Squadron RFC)



From Richmond, Victoria, Lieutenant Claude Robert James Thompson received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 4343 at Shoreham on 1 March 1917. Flying the SPAD VII and SPAD XIII, he was credited with six victories while serving with 19 Squadron in 1917. Reassigned to the Home Establishment, he was killed in a crash during the summer of 1918.

Hauptmann Karl Nikitsch Austro-Hungarian Empire #1



Hauptmann Karl Nikitsch was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.

He was killed in an air crash during a test flight of a French single-seat aircraft



484 British Lives were lost on this day

Today’s highlighted casualties include:

Lieutenant Brian Hugh Bridgeman Lethbridge (Bedfordshire Regiment) is killed in action at age 24. He is the son of the Reverend Bridgeman Herbert Servante Lethbridge Vicar of St Luke’s Enfield.
Second Lieutenant Hugh Cecil Moxon (Bedfordshire Regiment) is killed at age 20. He is the son of the late Reverend Ernest Arthur Moxon, Vicar of All Saints New Market.
Second Lieutenant John Theodore Gordon Humphreys (40th Pathans) dies while on service in Dar es Salaam at age 21. He is the son of the Reverend Henry James Humphreys Vicar of Thornley who will lose two other sons in the war.
Second Lieutenant Alexander Hope Kinnear (Cameron Highlanders) is killed in action at age 22. His brother was killed in August 1916.
Second Lieutenant Basil Lyoons (Berkshire Regiment) is killed at age 30. His brother was killed last September.
Private Frederick Turner (Cheshire Regiment) is killed at age 31. His brother died on service in February 1917.

The Reichstag Peace Resolution was passed by the Reichstag of the German Empire on 19 July 1917 by 212 votes to 126. It was supported by the Social Democrats, the Catholic Center Party and the Progressive People's Party, and was opposed by the National Liberals and the Conservatives. The resolution was introduced by the Catholic leader Matthias Erzberger. It was an attempt to seek a negotiated peace to end World War I. The resolution called for no annexations, no indemnities, freedom of the seas and international arbitration. It was ignored by the German High Command and by the Allied powers.

Discussions of Germany’s aims during the war were wedded to visions of what the country’s political institutions would look like after the war. In issues of domestic politics, the Catholic party had traditionally allied more easily with Conservatives than with the Progressives or the Socialists, where anti-clericalism ran deep. As doubts about the war grew, forces within the Catholic party migrated to the left. In the summer of 1917, the Catholic leader, Matthias Erzberger (1875-1921), persuaded a majority of the Catholics in the parliament to join with the Progressives and Majority Socialists in sponsoring a public resolution in favor of a compromise peace. In July 1917, over the protests of the chancellor and the Supreme Command, these parliamentary allies passed the so-called Peace Resolution. This was the most spectacular act of parliamentary defiance during the war and signaled a major rift in the domestic consensus that had given birth to the war.

As it did on August 4, 1914, the word uttered from the throne still holds true for the German people at the threshold of the war’s fourth year: “We seek no conquest.” Germany resorted to arms in order to protect its freedom and independence, to defend its territorial integrity.
The Reichstag strives for a peace of understanding, for durable reconciliation among the peoples of the world. Territorial acquisitions achieved by force and violations of political, economic, or financial integrity are incompatible with such a peace.

The Reichstag furthermore rejects all plans that envisage economic exclusion or continuing enmity among nations after the war. The freedom of the seas must be guaranteed. Only economic peace will lay the groundwork for amicable coexistence among the peoples of the world.

The Reichstag will actively promote the creation of international legal organizations. As long, however, as enemy governments do not agree to such a peace, as long as they threaten Germany and its allies with territorial conquests and violations, the German people will stand together as one man, persevere unshakably, and fight on until its right and the right of its allies to life and free development is guaranteed.

United, the German people is unconquerable. In its determination, the Reichstag stands united with the men who are protecting the Fatherland in heroic combat. They can be certain of the never-ending gratitude of the entire nation.

Western Front

Heavy German attacks south of Lombartzyde (Nieuport sector), south of St. Quentin, and north of the Aisne repulsed.

Eastern Front

German counter-offensive opens; Russian positions east of Zloczow (east Lemberg) pierced as a results of troops insubordination.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turkish cavalry force encountered west of Beersheba (Palestine) and driven back.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Report on operations in East Africa published.

Main German positions in the region of Narongombe (East Africa) attacked; heavy casualties on both sides.

Political, etc.

German Imperial Chancellor speaks in the Reichstag on the "Majority Resolution".

Statement issued on Russian and German Socialists meeting at Stockholm.

Attempted assassination of M. Kerenski.

Captain Tunstill's Men: Two Companies in the front line, between I.30.b.9.8. and I.30.c.8.4; Battalion HQ and one Company in Hedge Street Tunnels and the remaining Company in Canada dugouts.

Pte. Mark Ruckledge (see 17th October 1916) was killed in action and would be buried at Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery, just north of the village of Verbrandenmolen. However, the precise location of his grave within the cemetery was lost in subsequent fighting and he is now commemorated on one of the special memorials in the cemetery.

Pte. William Noel Simpson (see 5th July), who had only joined the Battalion two weeks previously, was wounded, suffering injuries to his left leg; he was admitted to 70th Field Ambulance and would be transferred via 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings to 1st Australian General Hospital at Rouen. Pte. John Edward Bartle (see 19th December 1916) was also wounded; the nature of his wounds are unknown.

On the night of 19/20th the Battalion was relieved by the 9Yorks and moved back into reserve. BHQ mover to Larch Wood at I.29.c.2.9. One Company was at the Dump (I.29.c.2.4); one Company at Battersea Farm (I.23.c.7.2) and two Companies much further back at Scottish Wood near ****ebusch.

[Hedeby]

20th July 1917

Looks like there was break in the weather over the battlefields judging by the increase in aerial combat on this day. In addition we have some monumental changes to the Eurpoean political landscape and the founding of new states...

Two aces were lost on this day...


2nd Lt. Aldred Seymour Shephard DSO.MC

Enlisting on 8 September 1915, Alfred Seymour Shepherd served with the Australian Infantry before his transfer to the Royal Flying Corps on 23 October 1916. On 25 April 1917, he was posted to 29 Squadron as a Nieuport scout pilot, becoming a flight commander on 13 July 1917. Scoring ten confirmed victories, all of his victims flew the Albatros D.III. On the evening of 20 July 1917, Shepherd was killed in action when his Nieuport 23 was shot down by an Albatros D.V flown by Alfred Niederhoff of Jasta 11.

2nd Lt. Alfred Seymour Shepherd, R.F.C., Spec. Res.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While on balloon attack he came under heavy fire from a rocket battery. He attacked this battery from a low altitude, silencing it, and dispersing the gunners. He then returned to the attack on a balloon, and fired all his ammunition, and though his machine was badly hit, crossed the line at 100 feet.

2nd Lt. Alfred Seymour Shepherd, M.C., R.F.C., Spec. Res.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on numerous occasions when engaged in combat with hostile aircraft. Though surrounded by enemy machines, he continued to fight for nearly an hour with the utmost gallantry and determination against two hostile formations, finally bringing down one of the enemy out of control. Within a month he brought down seven hostile machines completely out of control.


Cornet Juri Vladimirovich Gilsher

Of noble birth, Gilsher studied civil engineering before entering the Nikoliavsky Cavalry school on 13 December 1914. On 29 August 1915, he transferred to the air service, first attending flight school at Gatchina before going to the front with the newly formed 4th Army Air Detachment on 19 November 1915. A few weeks later, an accident with a propellor blade injured his left hand. When he recovered, Gilsher completed advanced flight training at Odessa, then returned to the front on 5 April 1916. Promoted to Cornet (Cavalry Second Lieutenant), he was attached to the newly formed 7th Fighter Detachment. Crashing a badly damaged Sikorsky S-16 on 9 May 1916, Gilsher's left leg had to be amputated. Refusing to give up his flying career, he learned to use a prosthesis, returned to his squadron as temporary commander and continued flying combat missions. Flying the Nieuport 21, he was credited with five victories before he was killed in action by enemy fire.

Claims on this day were as follows:

Arthur Coningham Australia #4 #5 #6
Robert Little Australia #34
Alexander Augustus Norman Dudley Pentland Australia #2
Otto Jäger Austro-Hungarian Empire #6
Andre de Meulemeester Belgium #4
William Alexander Canada #7
William Bishop Canada #36

Raymond Collishaw Canada #34


Nice wing spacing on this plane

Reginald Hoidge Canada #13
Roderick McDonald Canada #4
Ellis Reid Canada #13
Charles Booker England #19
Geoffrey Bowman England #11
Frederick Sowrey England #4
Mortimer West England #3
Hans von Adam Germany #7
Hans Bethge Germany #10

Oscar von Boenigk Germany #1



The son of an army officer, Oskar von Boenigk received a commission in the König Friedrich III Grenadier Regiment on 22 March 1912. As a platoon leader during the Battle of Longwy in October 1914, he was badly wounded in the chest. Upon recovering, he returned to his unit in the spring of 1915 and was awarded the Iron Cross, second class. Later that year, his application for a transfer to the air service was accepted and he was sent to observer school in December 1915. In March 1916 he was posted to Kampfstaffel 19. After four months he was reassigned to Kampfstaffel 32. Boenigk applied for Jastaschule in January 1917 and upon graduating he was posted to Jasta 4 on 24 June 1917. With this unit he scored five victories and was awarded the Iron Cross, first class. On 21 October 1917 he assumed command of Jasta 21. Scoring an additional sixteen victories with this unit, he was awarded the Hohenzollern House Order. On 31 August 1918 he was promoted to Oberleutnant and assumed command of Jagdgeschwader II. Stationed on the St. Mihiel Front in September, Boenigk scored five more victories, bringing his total to 26. In October he was awarded the Albert Order, second class, the Saxe-Ernestine House Order, second class, the Order of St. John and the Blue Max.

Freiherr von Boenigk served with distinction in the post-war revolution and attained the rank of Major General with the Luftwaffe during World War II. Captured by the Russians in May 1945, he died as a prisoner of war in 1946.

Alfred Niederhoff Germany #6

Kurt Schönfelder Germany #1



Schönfelder was a naval pilot attached to Jasta 7. He was killed in combat when his black Fokker D.VII, distinctively marked with a gold star on the fuselage, was shot down by the Sopwith Camels of 210 Squadron.

Kurt Wüsthoff Germany #5
John Cowell Ireland #13
Fulco Ruffo di Calabria Italy #12 #13
Juri Gilsher Russia #5
Vasili Yanchenko Russia #12
Gerald Maxwell Scotland #6



Lieutenant Colonel Clive Maitland Waterlow (Royal Engineers, Wing Commander Royal Naval Air Service) is killed at age 31 at the Royal Naval Air Service Training Establishment at Cranwell. It is typical overcast summer’s day with a light breeze of not more than four or five mph. A landing party is walking airship SS.39 back to its shed after an instructional flight. Although a routine operation, on this occasion they are being supervised by the Commanding Officer of the Airship Training Wing, Commander Waterlow. Suddenly the airship begins to lift off. As instructed the landing party lets go of the ropes, all except, that is, Waterlow and two of the party, PO Mechanic Maurice George Collins and AMII Simon Lightstone. For some reason these three men spring forward and grasp the fore starboard guy just as the airship leaps into the air and quickly gains height. The three men hang on as well as they can but as their grips weaken they fall one by one to their deaths. The SS.39 later makes a landing about one and half miles east of Cranwell village and is ripped but otherwise it suffers little damage. Wing Commander Waterlow is the only son of David Sydney Waterlow former Member of Parliament for Islington and grandson of ‘Sir’ Sydney Waterlow and dies at age 33. Waterlow was involved in the inaugural flight of the first British Army Airship, Nulli Secundus, at Farnborough on the morning of 10th September 1907.

10 AIRMEN HAVE FALLEN ON FRIDAY JULY 20TH 1917

Flt. Lt. Akers, J.F.W. (John Frederick William) 4 (N) Squadron RFC
PO Mech Collins, M.G. (Maurice George) Airship Training Wing, Cranwell Central Depot & Training Establishment Royal Naval Air Service, H.M.S. 'Daedalus'
2nd Lt. Jardine, R.G. (Robert Gordon) 56 Squadron RFC
Air Mech. 2 Lightstone, S. (Simon) Airship Wing, Cranwell RNAS
Capt. Messervy, E.D. (Ernest Dyce) 56 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Phillips, J.L. (Joseph Leo) RFC
Lt. Pittman, C.F. (Cecil Frederick) Central Flying School, Upavon, Wiltshire
2nd Lt. Shepherd, A.S. (Alfred Seymour) 29 Squadron RFC
Lt. Colonel Waterlow, C.M. (Clive Maitland) H.M. Airship 'SS 39', Cranwell Balloon Wing RNAS
Lt. Workman, C.S. (Charles Service) 10 Squadron RFC



The P&O express mail liner Salsette is torpedoed in the starboard side of the engine room by UB-40 fifteen miles southwest from Portland Bill on its way to Marseilles and Bombay. The torpedo strikes at 12:01 and fifteen men are killed in the explosion. Moments later Captain Albert Armitage (Royal Naval Reserve) gives the order to abandon ship – an evacuation that is completed in five minutes. Forty-five minutes later the ship lists to the port side and sinks. The UB-40 sits out several depth-charge attacks before surfacing and sinking another steamer, the collier L H Carl, just one hour later. Two crewmembers are killed in this sinking.

Eastern Front

German breach of Russian front in Galicia growing; retreat stayed in Brzezany and Halicz regions.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Record heat at Baghdad 123 deg.

THE CORFU DECLARATION

With the Austro-Hungarian empire rapidly crumbling in 1918 moves were well underway to instigate the creation of a new Greater Serbia state.

The establishment of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes - which was formally declared on 1 December 1918 and renamed Yugoslavia in October 1929 - demonstrated the clear determination on the part of Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Montenegrins, Bosnians, Macedonians and others to win self-determination from Austria; the collapse of the empire brought such nationalist agitation to a head.

Reproduced below is the text of the Corfu Declaration of 20 July 1917 which established the Allied-backed principles upon which the new state would be created and governed.

The Corfu Declaration, 20 July 1917

The first step toward building the new State of Yugoslavia

1. The State of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, who are also known by the name of Southern Slays or Yugoslavs, will be a free and independent kingdom, with an indivisible territory and unity of power. This State will be a constitutional, democratic, and Parliamentary monarchy, with the Karageorgevich dynasty, which has always shared the ideals and feelings of the nation in placing above everything else the national liberty and will at its head.

2. The name of this State will be the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, and the title of the sovereign will be King of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.

3. This State will have one coat-of-arms, only one flag, and one crown.

4 The four different flags of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes will have equal rights, and may be hoisted freely on all occasions. The same will obtain for the four different coats-of-arms.

5. The three national denominations, the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, are equal before the law in all the territory of the kingdom, and each may freely use it on all occasions in public life and before all authorities.

6. The two Cyrillic and Latin alphabets also have the same rights and every one may freely use them in all the territory of the kingdom. The royal and local self-governing authorities have the rights and ought to employ the two alphabets according to the desire of the citizens.

7. All religions are recognized, and may be free and publicly practiced. The Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Mussulman religions, which are most professed in our country, will be equal, and will enjoy the same rights in relation to the State. In view of these principles, the Legislature will be careful to preserve the religious peace in conformity with the spirit and tradition of our entire nation.

8. The Gregorian calendar will be adopted as soon as possible.

9. The territory of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes will comprise all the territory where our nation lives in compact masses and without discontinuity, and where it could not be mutilated without injuring the vital interests of the community. Our nation does not ask for anything which belongs to others, and only claims that which belongs to it. It desires to free itself and establish its unity. That is why it conscientiously and firmly rejects every partial solution of the problem of its freedom from the Austro-Hungarian domination.

10. The Adriatic Sea, in the interests of liberty and equal rights of all nations, is to be free and open to all and each.

11. All citizens throughout the territory of the kingdom are equal, and enjoy the same rights in regard to the State and the law.

12. The election of Deputies to the national representation will take place under universal suffrage, which is to be equal, direct, and secret. The same will apply to the elections in the communes and other administrative institutions. A vote will be taken in each commune.

13. The Constitution to be established after the conclusion of peace by the Constituent Assembly elected by universal, direct, and secret suffrage will serve as a basis for the life of the State. It will be the origin and ultimate end of all the powers and all rights by which the whole national life will be regulated. The Constitution will give the people the opportunity of exercising its particular energies in local autonomies, regulated by natural, social, and economic conditions. The Constitution must be adopted in its entirety by a numerical majority of the Constituent Assembly, and all other laws passed by the Constituent Assembly will not come into force until they have been sanctioned by the King.

Thus the united nation of Serbs, Croatians, and Slovenes will form a State of twelve million inhabitants. This State will be a guarantee of their national independence and of their general national progress and civilization, and a powerful rampart against the pressure of the Germans, and an inseparable ally of all civilized peoples and States.

Having proclaimed the principle of right and liberty and of international justice, it will form a worthy part of the new society of nations.

Signed at Corfu, July 20, 1917, by the President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Serbia, Nikola Pa****ch, and the President of the Yugoslav Committee, Dr. Ante Trumbic.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

How are we fixed for cover Chris?
Rob

[mikeemagnus]

Thanks Chris - hope your granddaughter is ok

[mikeemagnus]

OK, things have altered in the last few days. I'll stick my neck out and say that I'm willing to give it a bash for a day or two - haven't a clue how to go about it, but i'm available this weekend. If Rob can take the reins Monday to Friday, I'll do my best to keep the print rolling tomorrow and Sunday. If that suits PM me Chris / Rob,

Mike

[Mike George]

Very nicelt done

[Hedeby]

OK, things have altered in the last few days. I'll stick my neck out and say that I'm willing to give it a bash for a day or two - haven't a clue how to go about it, but i'm available this weekend. If Rob can take the reins Monday to Friday, I'll do my best to keep the print rolling tomorrow and Sunday. If that suits PM me Chris / Rob,

Mike

Many thanks Mike, however my plans have been changed at this end and as my grandaughter was only released from hospital today I am now not going on Holiday until Sunday afternoon. This means I am around to do Saturday's and Sunday's but will need back up Mon-Sat. If you and Rob could cover a few days each that would be brilliant. I will send you through a list of sites that I refer to, but in addition to those just googling the date usually throws up a good story or two. I will be back in time for the first day of Passchendaele which is gong to be a monster edition. Also I will send you a picture to use as your header (via e-mail) Need a new sniper as I have the Mauser 98, Rob the SMLE and Neil the Moisin Nagant. I was looking for a suitable Springfield 1903 image to fit the header but couldn't find one I liked, so I chose this instead... its a bit different

[mikeemagnus]

OK Chris, I'll pm Rob and see what he has planned. I'm sure we can manage between us Have a good break when you go. Hope your Grandfather is ok now.
Chau for now.
mike

[Hedeby]

21st July 1917

We will start today with an article from The Spectator magazine entitled - The Crisis in Germany

WE think we may take it for granted that the infectious spirit of the Russian Revolution, together with the declarations from Britain and France that peace could be made more easily with the German people than with the present rulers of Germany, has produced a real impression in Germany. On many sides we see signs of disquiet, anxiety, and a desire for popular reform. We believe that these feelings so far as they affect the German people themselves are genuine enough. Indeed, we should be paying very little attention to history, which proves the infectious character of revolutions, and to the political penetration displayed by Mr. Lloyd George and M. Ribot in their recent speeches, if we thought otherwise. We believe, then, that the beginnings of a popular movement in Germany have proceeded, so far as they go and for what they are worth, from the mind and heart of, the 'people themselves, and were not originally procured by the Government as a means of misleading foreign observers. This is not to say that the German bureaucracy will not be able to turn events to their own advantage. This is of course pre- cisely what they will try to do. They may very well succeed, and indeed, as we said last week, they are already showing signs of success. They are accomplished masters of make- believe, guides who know every inch of the tortuous paths of political guile. Before we can even think of regarding seriously the first results of popular feeling in Germany we must bring them to sonic sort of test.

This, after all, is not difficult to do. Take the resolution which is to be submitted to the Reichstag on Thursday—we are writing about it before we know the outcome of the clebat e —and see whether it satisfies any test implied in the well-known war aims of the Allies. The resolution drawn up by the Majority in the Reichstag (i.e., the Roman Catholic Centre, the Socialist Party, and the Radicals, who represent the new popular movement) runs :- " As on August 411,, 1914, so now on the threshold of the fourth war winter, the words of the Speech from the Throne hold good for the German people—namely, that we are not impelled by the lust of conquest, and that Germany took up arms for the defence of her freedom and independence and for the integrity of her territorial possessions. The Reichstag strives for peace by agreement and for lasting conciliation of peoples. Such a peace is incompatible with territorial expansion by force and with political, economic, or financial oppressions. The Reichstag also rejects all plans aiming at economic isolation and international enmities after tho war. The freedom of the seas must be assured. Only an economic peace will prepare the ground for peaceful intercourse of nations. The Reichs- tag will energetically promote the creation of International Courts. So long as enemy Govertunents do not agree to such a peace, eo long as they threaten Germany and her Allies with conquest or oppression, the German people will stand together as one man and firmly hold on and fight until its right ant! its Allies' right to live and to develop is assured. United the German people is unconquerable. The Reichstag knows itself at one with the men who in heroic fight are defending the Fatherland."

Let us make all the allowances we can for the fact that the Majority wish to be persuasive and tactful and gently to draw hesitating politicians along with them, and we must still confess that the popular movement offers us the very smallest satisfaction at present. It is a good sign that the old bluster about conquest and annexations and indemnities has dis- appeared, but we see no trace of courage or determination. The Majority probably feel more than they say. Yet they have not dared to say it. They try to make the Kaiser's words their own, but they must remember that the Kaiser's policy to a policy of conquest, and that all the world has long known its

That policy began with the absolutely unprecedented oppression of Serbia, and went on with the infamous violation of Luxemburg and Belgium, the murder of Belgians, the destruction of Belgian homes, the shooting of hostages, the avaricious extortion of fines, the deportation of Belgians for servile labour, the illegal introduction of gas and liquid-fire in the field, the wholesale murder of non-combatants at sea, the arch-atrocity of sinking hospital ships, the connivance in the massacre of Armenians, and so on in a catalogue too long to reproduce: No nation at war has ever compiled such a record. But let us pass over the palpable untruth about Germany's object in making war and come to the object of the Majority as now stated. It is " peace by agree- ment and a lasting conciliation of peoples." Such a peace, we agree, is incompatible in the abstract with " territorial expansion by force and with political, economic, or financial oppressions.! But the world having suffered once from the wickedness and brutality of the German rulers has no notion of suffering a second time from the same cause. The Majority must know that, and if they had an ounce of daring, or any Proper determination to prove the strength of their convictions, they would propose to offer to the Allies some pledges of their right intentions for the future. Surely the first thing they would tell themselves is that they must make amends —offer reparation—for the terrible wrongs they have done to Belgium and other countries ; and the second thing they would tell themselves is that the Allies will ritually wait some guarantee of security in future. As they do not even mention the possibility of such things, the words that follow about " International Courts " signify nothing. In their context such words are even an offencs. What is the use of Courts when the same people remain in power in Germany once more to bring the name of international agreements into contempt and ridicule ? The popular movement in Germany must go very much farther than this before the Allies can feel that they are coming into contact at any point with the German people.

Now let us turn from the people's point of view to that of the Emperor and his bureaucrats. Although it is clear to us that the Government did not originate the present move- ment, they are no doubt trying desperately to use it for their own purposes. Just as Bismarck always diverted attention front awkward questions at home by threatening some foreign country, so he used domestic questions to disconcert his foreign enemies. We have to thank the Westminster Gazette for having picked out a striking extract front Bismarck's Recolleetions and Reminiscences :— " Looking to the in necessity in a fight against an overwhelming foreign Power of being a',lr, extretno need, to use even revolu- tionary means, I had no hesitation whatever in throwing into the frying-pan, by means of the circular despatch of Juno 10th, 1866, the most powerful ingredient known at that time to liberty.mongers, namely, universal suffrage, so as to frighten off foreign monarchies from trying to stick a finger into our national omelette. I never doubted that the German people would be strong and clever enough to free themselves from the existing suffrage as soon as they realised that it was a harmful institution. If it cannot, then my saying that Germany can ride when once she has got into the saddle was erro- neous. The acceptance of universal suffrage was a weapon in the war against Austria and other foreign countries, in the war for German unity, as well as a threat to use the last weapons in a war against coalitions. In a war of this sort, when it becomes a matter of life and death, one does not look at the weapons that one seizes, nor the value of what one destroys in using them ; one is guided at the moment by no other thought than the issue of the war and the preservation of one's external independence ; the settling of affairs and the reparation of the damage has to take place after the peace."

Bismarck's tradition holds. If the Kaiser and his advisers can use the popular movement as a blind, they certainly will. They cannot help accepting it up to a point, because the domestic danger of resisting it would ha too great. The Kaiser is not the man ho was, nor is his position what it was. Both are shaken. Ho and his advisers recognize that Austria is utterly war-weary and wants peace, even on humbling terms, and they also recognize that the voice of Bavaria is as the voice of Austria. Yet they still hope to guide these feelings into the required channel. At present they seem to us to be awaiting their opportunity. The Majority resolution lends itself to almost any inter- pretation ; and the new Chancellor is a man who, for all we know—hardly anything is known about him—will also lend himself to any policy imposed upon him front above. That is the merit of Dr. Michaelis in the eyes of the bureaucracy, that he has no past record which need embarrass him. An issue approaches. If the popular party have any pluck, they may achieve something. If they live on in au atmosphere of servility, of condonation, and of tact rather than of fact, they will achieve nothing, and may actually find themselves for some time in a worse position than ever-

But one way or another the situation seems likely to change a good deal faster than was has hitherto in the war. Herr von Bethmann Hollweg was like a feather-bed ; he could be punched indefinitely without result. If Dr. Michaelii is to be only a mouthpiece, as we suspect--otherwise the choice of such an obscure person is very difficult to explain— what kind of opinions will he be made to utter I There can of course be only one answer : the views of Ludendorff and Hindenburg, of the Crown Prince and Tirpitz.. so be it. We ask for nothing better. We shall know exactly against what we have to contend. The issue will more than ever be Democracy versus Autocracy." The solitary figure of the Kaiser will stand out struggling for a hopeless and discredited political system. If he plays his part cleverly, his fall may be postponed, but it will be the heavier when it comes. From his own standpoint, he may be right to fight for the cause of his House and trick his people, for if Kaiserism as he has conceived it is not militaristic it is nothing. Democracy means that militarists are out of a job. The situation, in fine, though it is dark and intricate for the Germans, is clear enough for us. We cannot make peace with Kaiserism. There must be a change of heart and a change of system in Germany, with unmistakable guarantees of reparation and future good conduct, before we can approach the question of peace. We can wait calmly for the signs. If the Majority refuse to pass the Vote of Credit in the Reichstag, they will exhibit a good sign ; if they pass it, • they will exhibit a bad one. Till there is some one in power in Germany whom we can trust there will he nobody with whom we can make peace. In the final analysis everything is reduced to a question of good faith. At present there are no traces of good faith towards us, although we believe that the German popular movement is real in itself so far as it has gone. The old solution of the war holds good. We must beat Germany to her knees.

The War in The Air

The following pilots made claims on this day...

Robert Little Australia #35
Raymond Collishaw Canada #35 #36



Robert Dodds Canada #1



An engineering student when the war began, Robert Dodds enlisted on 3 January 1916. After serving overseas with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in October 1916. Posted to 48 Squadron on 12 July 1917, Dodds flew Bristol Fighters and won the Military Cross for an attack on an enemy aerodrome. In May 1918 he returned to Canada where he served as an instructor at Camp Mohawk. In latter life, Dodds played a prominent role in the development of Canadian civil aviation. He was head of the civil aviation division of the defense department from 1930 until he retired in 1957 at age 65. According to his nephew, Robert Dodds requested his uniforms and other war memorabilia be donated to the local Hamilton Military Museum. He was a signatory to the creation of Trans-Canada Airlines, the forerunner of Air Canada. In the 1960s, he and other WWI veterans were interviewed by Frank Lalor of the Canadian Broadcast Corporation for a radio documentary series called In Flanders Fields.

Albert Earl Godfrey Canada #9
Ellis Reid Canada #14
Melville Waddington Canada #4
Brian Edmund Baker England #2
Robert Coath England #2

James (Jimmy) Thomas Byford McCudden VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Bar, MM England #6



Arthur Percival Foley Rhys Davids England #13
Frederick Sowrey England #5

Thomas Tuffield England #1 (48 Squadron RFC)

From the 16th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, Tuffield transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in the summer of 1917. Posted to 48 Squadron as an observer, he scored 6 victories flying the Bristol Fighter before becoming a pilot in 1918.


Any excuse.....

Rupert Randolph Winter England #2

Gustav Schneidewind Germany #1

Schneidewind was posted to Jasta 1(F) in Palestine on 7 January 1918. On 23 May 1918, in a fight with the Bristol Fighters of 1 Squadron (AFC), he was badly wounded in both arms when he was shot down by Carrick Paul of New Zealand.


Ooh another excuse - 1 Squadron AFC

Adolf von Tutschek Germany #17
William Charles Campbell Scotland #18 #19

12 AIRMEN HAVE FALLEN ON SATURDAY JULY 21ST 1917

Capt. Brown, S.F. (Sidney Frederick) 21 Squadron RFC
Rfmn Davis, H. (Harry) 21 Squadron RFC
Lt (Tp Flt Sub-Lt) Hervey, W.B. (William Baker) H.M. Airship 'C11', Howden Naval Air Station
Air Mech 2 Lloyd, W.M. (William Morley) 4 Squadron attached 56th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
Flt. Commander MacLennan, G.G. (George Gordon) 6th (N) Squadron RNAS
Lt . Madill, R.M.K. (Ralph MacKenzie) 20 Squadron RFC
Air Mech 1 Moore, H.F. (Harold Frank) H.M. Airship 'C 11', Howden Naval Air Station
Flt. Commander Morrison, L.D. (Louis D.) RNAS
Air Mech 1Muir, R. (Robert) 14 Squadron attached 302nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
2nd Lt. Rook, F.W. (Frederick William) 40 Squadron RFC
Air Mech 2 Ward, H.R. (Harry Richard) Royal Naval Air Service, H.M.S. 'President II'
Air Mech 1 Webb, C. Recruits Depot RFC

Capt. Tunstill's men : Another very hot day. In close reserve with BHQ at Larch Wood (I.29.c.2.9). One Company at the Dump (I.29.c.2.4); one Company at Battersea Farm (I.23.c.7.2) and two Companies much further back at Scottish Wood near ****ebusch.


Western Front

Heavy artillery battle in Flanders.

Eastern Front

Germans progress south of Dniester, reach suburbs of Tarnopol.

Russians retreating on the Sereth.

Naval and Overseas Operations

H.M.S. "Otway" torpedoed, 10 lost.



SS Otway was a British ocean liner owned by the Orient Line, built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Glasgow, Scotland and launched in 1909.

She had five sister ships; Orsova, Osterley, Otranto, Orvieto, and the Orama. These ships allowed the Orient Line a prized attraction to the traveling public: fixed sailings every other week to Australia and New Zealand. Requisitioned by the Royal Navy and deployed as an armed merchant cruiser, Otway was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat SM UC-49 off the Hebrides on 23 July 1917 during World War I, with the loss of 10 lives. (Fog of War as we have 2 conflicting dates here one for 21st one for 23rd - editor)

Political, etc.

Mr. Lloyd George replies to Herr Michaelis.

Arrest and deportation to Germany of General Pilsudski (Polish patriot).

[Hedeby]

OK Chris, I'll pm Rob and see what he has planned. I'm sure we can manage between us Have a good break when you go. Hope your Grandfather is ok now.
Chau for now.
mike

Another late change - when I heard we were getting back at 3:00 on Sunday, it was actually 3:00am on Monday morning so alas I will need Sunday covering as well.
Lol I assume you mean my grand daughter if my grandfather was Ok he would be about 120 !!

Really appreciate your support - I will PM you some links etc

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Chris, Mike.
I can handle that. Will start Monday and talk to you on that day Mike.
Got to go now.
Rob.

[mikeemagnus]

Lol I assume you mean my grand daughter if my grandfather was Ok he would be about 120 !!

Guess I need new glasses as well as a hearing aid, but please don't tell my wife (Actually she already knows - just kidding!)

Chris, Mike.
I can handle that. Will start Monday and talk to you on that day Mike.
Got to go now.
Rob.

OK Rob, chat Monday

[Hedeby]

Many Many thanks Guys

[Hedeby]

Ok so its the penultimate post from me for a few days as I am off in search of unbroken sunshine, a clear pool and a cold beer. I leave you in the capable hands of our own Wing Commander and our newest recruit to the editorial team Captain Mikeemagnus

22nd July 1917

We will start today with something different, a look at one of the smaller nations involved in this 'World War'

Siam in World War I

The Kingdom of Siam, now known as Thailand, is possibly one of the least well-known participants in World War I. Siam fought against the Central Powers by an active contribution, whatever the actual military value, to one of the most gruelling and critical campaigns of the war. It sent an Expeditionary Force dispatched to France, to serve on the Western Front. Siam entered the war in July 1917 by declaring war on Germany and Austria-Hungary. Following acclimatisation, both military and meteorological, and specialist training, the Siamese contingent began operations on the Western Front in the middle of September 1918. The war ended soon afterwards, but following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, Siamese troops also contributed to the initial occupation of Rhineland, when they took over the town of Neustadt an der Haardt.


The Siamese Expeditionary Force during the 1919 Paris Victory Parade.

The First World War had no direct impact on Siam because of the great distance not only from Europe but also from Germany's colonial territories in the Pacific and on the China Coast. However, the war did provide an opportunity for King Rama VI to strengthen his country's position in the international arena and to strengthen the position of the monarchy within the Siamese state. Though it had been successful in maintaining its independence from the European colonial powers, Siam had been forced to cede Laos, Cambodia and its own four southernmost provinces, at the height of imperialism between 1889 and 1909, and it had also had to grant extraterritorial rights to foreign citizens. Rama VI hoped to revise the unequal treaties by taking the side of the Allied Powers. He also used the war as a means to promote the concept of siamese nation and to confirm his supremacy as the head of the nation, a status that had been challenged by elements of the military in the Palace Revolt of 1912.

On 22 July 1917, Siam declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary. Twelve German vessels docked in Siamese ports were immediately seized. The crews and other Central Power nationals were detained and sent to India to join their fellow citizens in British India's existing civilian internment camps. Siam was the sole country in Southeast Asia to maintain full independence from the great empires during the colonial era. It was the only state in the region to enter the conflict entirely of its own free will, as an equal of the European powers rather than as part of their imperial contingents. As a clear symbol of the new two-track strategy of active association with the world powers and of renewal and restructuring within the nation, the King authorised a re-design of the national flag. The new flag had an extra colour, blue, and was arranged in stripes. It was said to represent the three elements of the nation: creed, crown and community. Noticeably, representation of the military was subsumed between him and the people. The new colours of blue, white and red, also sat comfortably, almost cerainly deliberately, along the flags of Serbia, Russia, France, Great Britain and the United States. The new flag appeared on the 28 September 1917. Initially, two variants were common: the current minimalist five horizontal bands and a variant maintaining the continuity and prestige of the old flag, with the traditional white elephant symbol on a red disc, from the old flag, superimposed over the new stripes, a variant still the flag of the Royal Thai Navy. When the Siamese Expeditionary Force marched in the 1919 victory parade, it was behind the hybrid flag.

In September 1917, a volunteer expeditionary force was assembled, consisting of medical, motor transport and aviation detachments. By early 1918, 1,284 men were selected from thousands of volunteers. The force, commanded by Major-General Phraya Bhijai Janriddhi, was destined to be sent to France. On 30 July 1918, the Siamese landed in Marseilles. Some 370 pilots and groundcrew were sent to air schools in Istres, Le Crotoy, La Chapelle-la-Reine, Biscarosse and Piox for retraining, as the pilots were deemed incapable of withstanding high altitude air combat.On 1 August, with French and British divisions advancing to the German positions on the Marne, the French selected some men from the Siamese detachment to form the first Siamese labour volunteer detachment. They received brief training and arrived at the front on 4 August 1918 during the Second Battle of the Marne. Phya Bhijai Janriddhi served as observer during the battle. This was the first Siamese contingent to see the frontline trenches. This was followed by the ground forces actively proceeding to the fighting front in mid September. In the same month the medical and motor transport detachments were sent to the front lines and took part in the 1918 Champagne and Meuse-Argonne Offensives. Siamese airmen had not finished training when the time the Armistice of 11 November 1918 was signed. The ground forces, on the other hand, had distinguished themselves under fire and were awarded the Croix de Guerre and Order of Rama decorations. The ground forces participated in the occupation of Neustadt an der Haardt in the Rhineland region of Germany and also took part in the 1919 Paris Victory Parade.



At the end of the war, Siam participated in the Versailles Peace Conference and became a founding member of the League of Nations. By 1925, the United States, the United Kingdom and France had abandoned their extraterritorial rights. Siam was also rewarded with confiscated German merchant ships. Siamese casualties during the war amounted to 19 dead. Two soldiers died before their departure to France, and the remainder perished from accidents or disease. The World War Volunteers Memorial honoring the Siamese soldiers who died in the conflict opened on 22 July 1921, in Sanam Luang, central Bangkok. The last surviving member of the Siamese Expeditionary Corps, Yod Sangrungruang, died on 9 October 2003.

The War in the Air

It was a busy day in the skies over the first world war battlefields...

Two aces lost their lives on this day



Flight Lieutenant John Albert Page 10(N) Squadron RNAS, class of 1915, graduated from McGill University with a bachelor's degree in science. He received a commission in the Royal Naval Air Service in the summer of 1915. On 26 April 1917 he was posted to 10 Naval Squadron. Flying the Sopwith Triplane, he scored 7 victories before he and his flight commander, John Sharman, were killed in action on 22 July 1917.



The son of Thomas H. Sharman, Flight Commnader John Edward Sharman10 (N) Squadron RNAS studied Applied Science at the University of Toronto from 1913 to 1915. He joined the Royal Naval Air Service on 3 February 1916 and received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 3216 on a Bristol biplane at Royal Naval Air Station, Redcar on 15 July 1916. Posted to 3 Wing later that year, he scored his first victory on 25 February 1917 while flying the Sopwith 1½ Strutter. When 3 Wing was disbanded, Sharman was reassigned to 10 Naval Squadron on 1 May 1917, becoming a member of Raymond Collishaw's "Black Flight." Flying the Sopwith Triplane known as "Black Death," he scored seven more victories before he was killed in action.


The Black Death of John Sharman - excellent wingspacing

Claims on this day included:

Roderic Dallas Australia #18
Phillip Johnston Australia #6
Robert Little Australia #36 #37
Archie Jenks Canada #5
Brian Edmund Baker England #3
Charles Booker England #20
Geoffrey Cock England #13
Bruno De Roeper England #2
John Firth England #2
Philip Fletcher Fullard England #13 #14
Harold Satchell England #7
Reginald Soar England #12
Richard Trevethan England #7
Wilfred Young England #3
Otto Brauneck Germany #10
Kurt-Bertram von Döring Germany #4 #5
Heinrich Geigl Germany #3
Otto Hartmann Germany #4

Alois Heldmann Germany #1



An engineering student, Heldman enlisted in the army on 3 January 1915. After serving with an infantry regiment on the Eastern Front, he transferred to aviation and was posted to FA 57 in the summer of 1915. After gaining combat experience, he joined Jasta 10 on 24 June 1917 and scored 15 confirmed victories by the end of the war. His last plane was a yellow-nosed Fokker D.VII with a white and black checkerboard tail and his initials on the top wing. With the signing of the Armistice, he returned to engineering before joining the Luftwaffe in 1933. He was promoted to Colonel and later served as a flying school inspector. At the end of World War II, he was held by the Allies until his release in 1946.

Alfred Niederhoff Germany #7

Wilhelm Reinhard Germany #1



Reinhard entered the army in 1909. When the war began, he served with an artillery regiment on the Western Front. Badly wounded in November 1914, he did not return to the front until June 1915. After completing flight training, he was wounded for the second time in December 1915. Returning to duty in February 1916, he served with FA(A) 205 before being assigned to FA 28 in the Balkans. In 1917, Reinhard attended Jastaschule and was assigned to Jasta 11 on 24 June 1917. Scoring his first victory on the morning of 22 July 1917, he shot down English ace Geoffrey Cock over Warneton. On the morning of 4 September 1917, he was wounded in action for the third time. After recovering from his wounds, he assumed command of Jasta 6 on 26 November 1917. With the death of Manfred von Richthofen, Reinhard assumed command of JG I on 22 April 1918. In July 1918, he attended the aircraft trials near Adlersdorf. After Hermann Göring finished test flying a Zeppelin-Lindau D.I, Reinhard took it up for a test flight but was killed when a strut broke and the top wing collapsed.

John Cowell Ireland #14
Tom Hazell Ireland #12 #13 #14

Robert Birkbeck Scotland #1



The son of Vincent and Winifred (Alexander) Birkbeck, Robert Alexander Birkbeck attended West Downs School, Winchester before he enlisted. He received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 3157 at London & Provincial School, Hendon on 23 June 1916. Appointed temp. 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) 4 March 1917. Scored 10 victories flying Nieuport Scouts with 1 Squadron from 10 June 1917 to 17 February 1918. Distinguished Flying Cross gazetted 3 June 1918. Granted a short service commission as Flying Officer (from Flight Lieutenant) effective from 12 May 1920. Left the service on 12 May 1931 and became a shipbroker.

William Charles Campbell Scotland #20

Maxwell Findlay Scotland #1



Raised in the northeast of Scotland near Stonehaven, Findlay joined the Black Watch when war broke out. He transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service in 1917 and was posted to 6 Naval Squadron where he scored his first two victories flying the Sopwith Camel. He then joined 10 Naval Squadron and scored 12 more victories by the end of May 1918. Captain Findlay received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 6566 on a Sopwith biplane at military school, Freiston on 6 December 1918. Post-war, Findlay was killed in a crash during the Johannesburg Air Race of 1936.

James Fitz Morris Scotland #3

It was a bad day for the RFC & RNAS with 16 confirmed deaths

Air Mech 1 Allen, W. (William) Felixstowe Naval Air Station, Royal Naval Air Service, H.M.S. 'President III'
Capt. Bond, W.A. (William Arthur) 40 Squadron RFC
Flt Sub Lt. Brett, L.H. (Leslie Henry) Eastern Mediterranean Squadron, Mudros RNAS
Lt. Clifton, G.L.C. (George Leake Cecil) No.2 Aircraft Depot RFC
Lt. Coates, W.H. (William Henry) 32 Squadron RFC
Lt. Deakin, R.H. (Robert Hartley) 45 Squadron RFC
Air Mech 1 Evans, T. (Thomas) 100 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Hartley, J.H. (James Harold) 45 Squadron RFC
Lt. Hayes, R. (Reginald) 45 Squadron RFC
Major & Quartermaster Knell, W. (William) RFC (died aged 53 of natural causes)
Pte. McLaughlin, A. (Arthur) 42 Squadron RFC
Flt Lt. Page, J.A. (John Albert) 10 (N) Squadron RNAS (see above) attached 22nd Wing, Royal Flying Corps
2nd. Lt Riggs, R.R. (Roy Robertson) 19 Squadron RFC
Flt. Cdr. Sharman, J.E. (John Edward) 10(N) Squadron RNAS attached 22nd Wing, Royal Flying Corps(See above)
Capt. Smith, B.H. (Bronson Howard) 42 Squadron RFC
Air Mech 1 Sowerby, J. (James) 100 Squadron RFC

I also have record of Captain William Arthur Bond MC



Captain William Arthur Bond MC (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry attached Royal Flying Corps) is killed at age 28. He is a five victory ace and a sub-editor of the Paris Daily Mail. After his death, his wife Aimee wrote An Airman’s Wife about him. Bond was wounded while serving in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in the Dardanelles in 1916. After transferring to the Royal Flying Corps, Bond was posted to fly Nieuport fighters in No. 40 Squadron in early 1917. He flew Nieuport No. B1545 to five victories in a month, beginning on 10 May and ending on 9 June 1917. He was appointed flight commander in July. On the 22nd, he was killed in action over Sallaumines while flying Nieuport No. B1688. Cause of his death is disputed; he is said to have either fallen to the guns of a two-seater observation plane from FA 235, or to anti-aircraft fire.

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We will finish today with the latest German Gotha raid



Although the weather inland prevented a strike against the capital, Kagohl 3 selected the ‘easy’ coastal towns and docks at Felixstowe and Harwich for an early morning raid.

Observers reported varying numbers of Gothas with the final analysis of the raid settling on 16. The formation crossed the Suffolk coastline at Hollesley Bay at 8.05am and turned towards Felixstowe. The first AA gun opened fire at 8.07am but another six minutes passed before the first defence aircraft were able to take off. By 8.17am the Gothas had turned for home.

The first bomb dropped in the sea about 50 yards east of Bawdsey Manor then the Gothas crossed the River Debden and opened out as the AA guns began to fire. Approaching Felixstowe the next two bombs fell in fields north-east of St. Peter & St. Paul’s Church, followed by one that demolished a smithy near Highrow Farm and injured the smith, before two caused extensive damage to property at Highrow. Two women were injured at Uplees House, 350 yards west of the Town railway station, when a bomb smashed a conservatory and another failed to explode when it struck the ground near the railway about 200 yards north of Goyfield House. A bomb that fell close to St. John’s Church destroyed a cookhouse by the Parish Room and another caused serious damage to Wanstead Cottage in Garrison Lane and the two houses on either side. Seconds later a bomb struck the rear of the Ordnance Hotel on Garrison Lane, killing the barman and two customers, a sergeant and private of the 3rd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and injured two other soldiers. At the corner of Garfield and Victoria roads a bomb exploded without causing damage while three falling in Langer Road, near Army Service Corps headquarters, smashed windows and brought down telephone wires, but it also injured two soldiers of the ASC, one of them fatally.



At the junction of Landguard and Manor roads a bomb brought down more telephone wires but the next, falling on the beach 100 yards south of Manor Terrace, killed an officer and seven men of 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, and injured an officer and 15 men of the same battalion. The men were sheltering in a trench but instead of keeping down, those killed had stood up to watch the raid. A bomb falling on Landguard House by the camp of the 3rd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, damaged a cellar while three bombs that detonated on Landguard Common injured a soldier of the Royal Defence Corps and demolished two huts. Four bombs fell close by on ‘A’ Rifle Range merely gouging craters in the ground. The next bomb landed at the RNAS station injuring two naval ratings, one of whom later died, and demolished an engineers’ shed. A bomb dropping 50 yards west of Landguard lighthouse destroyed a shed and three at Landguard Point exploded without damage. The next bombs, estimated at 13, fell in the River Stour and Harwich harbour where the minesweeper HMT Touchstone sustained damage and two of her crew suffered injuries.

More bombs fell in the Harwich area. At Parkeston one bomb landed harmlessly in allotments as did two bombs that dropped in fields at Ray Farm between Parkeston and Dovercourt. In Upper Dovercourt a bomb landed in a field on Tollgate Farm, another fell in St. Nicholas’s Cemetery and three on New Hall Farm, all without damage. In Dovercourt three bombs landed close together, two in Lee Road failed to detonate but still caused limited damage to houses and the third damaged a slaughterhouse, probably on Old Vicarage Farm.

The Harwich AA guns fired off 273 rounds but the defence aircraft were unable to climb up to operational height before the raiders had headed out over the North Sea. Two flights from No.37 Squadron, flying in formation for the first time in action, were presumed to be German by the guns of the Mobile AA Brigade and at the 3-inch gun at Canvey who opened fire at them when over 30 miles south-east of Harwich. No Gothas were hit by the home defences.

[Hedeby]

Right, I had better keep this short and sweet as its chocs away and wheels up in only a few hours...

23rd July 1917

Two Brigadier Generals are killed in separate actions today. Brigadier General Charles William Eric Gordon General Officer Commanding 123rd Brigade 41st Division is killed in action at age 39. The General and his Brigade Major, Captain George Frederick Pragnall (Royal West Kent Regiment) are killed by a direct hit by a shell on the overland track between “Spoil Bank” and Voormezeele. The General is instantly killed while Captain Pragnell dies five minutes later at age 26. He is the only son of ‘Sir’ George Pragnell.



Brigadier General John Arthur Tanner CB, CMG, DSO (Chief Engineer, VII Corps) is killed in action at age 59 by a shell behind Wancourt while on his way to inspect the defences at “Cavalry Farm”. Brigadier-General Gordon was given a Commission in the The Black Watch in 1897 and served with his Regiment throughout the South African War, being present at the Battles of Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Dreifontein, and many other engagements, and received the Queen’s and the King’s Medals with six clasps. He then accompanied his Battalion to India, where he spent ten years, being Adjutant from 1909 to 1912. In March 1915 he went to France as Adjutant of the South Staffordshire Regiment but in the following June he rejoined the Black Watch and was severely wounded at the Battle of Loos. In March 1916 he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of a Battalion of the Black Watch and commanded it at the Battle of Longueval, on the Somme. In the following September he received the command of a Brigade and served at Vimy Ridge in the trenches, and at the Battle of Messines.

In total 692 British lives were lost on this day

Today’s highlighted casualties include:

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Hyde Openshaw (commanding 1st/4th Somerset Light Infantry) is killed in Mesopotamia at age 49. He is the son of the Reverend W T Openshaw.
Captain Robert Newton Thomas (General List attached Royal Flying Corps) is killed at age 26 in Palestine when shot down by Anti Aircraft Fire. Two of his brothers will be killed in the War the first in January 1916 the second in July 1918. They are sons of Brigadier General ‘Sir’ Owen Thomas. Killed with him in the flight is Second Lieutenant John Wesley Howells (Lancashire Regiment attached Royal Flying Corps). He is a Wesleyan Minster. They are the only Royal Flying Corps casualties in Palestine this month.
Captain H E H Clayton-Smith (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) is killed at age 26. His brother was killed in December 1915.
Lieutenant Archibald Ronald Grant-Suttie (Royal Horse Artillery) is killed in action at age 20. He is the grandson of both ‘Sir’ George Grant-Suttie of Balgone 5th Baronet and the 7th Viscount Dawnay. Lieutenant William Slinger (East Lancashire Regiment) is killed in action. His brother was killed in November 1916.
2nd Corporal David Glencross Slimmon MM (Royal Engineers) is killed at age 21. He played for the Kilmarnock Football Club.
Lance Corporal William Webb (Grenadier Guards) dies of wounds at age 23. He is a member of the Margate Thursday Football Club.
Private Henry Cecil Wilmot (Worcestershire Regiment) dies at home at age 26. He is a son of the late Reverend Francis Edmund William Wilmot Rector of Munnington who will lose a third son in October of this year having also lost a son in August 1916.
Gunner Percy Hemshall (Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 26. His brother will be killed in November.
Private John Herbert Marsh (Manchester Regiment) is killed at age 25. His brother will be killed next September.
Gunner Cecil Bennifer (Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 19 two months after his brother was killed.

Captain Tunstill's Men : At 4.42pm the Battalion began a march via La Clytte and Westoutre back to their former billets at Le Coq de Pailie, close to Berthen .

Brig. Genl. Lambert (still NOT a relative) noted in his diary that, “10th went without packs, which was quite wrong”. He also expressed his thoughts at being back at Berthen, “We are in the country again, back in the old farm and it is very pleasant to see the sun and warmth and hear the birds again … I hope a few days here will do us all good … We shall have plenty to do training the men and getting ready for our next trip”.

A number of men joined the Battalion. Pte. Reginald Dayson had been posted to France a few weeks earlier. He was from Newcastle and had worked as a shipyard riveter before enlisting in 6th Northumberland Fusiliers in July 1915, when he was actually only 16 years old. He had trained in England with the Battalion for four months before, because of his age, being transferred back to his former employment with Armstrong Whitworth at Elswick. He had been called up again in March 1916 and posted to France in July to join 5DWR. He had been wounded in action on 17th September, suffering wounds to his back, and had been posted back to England. He had spent two months in hospital before being passed fit for duty and had then served with 3DWR before being posted back to France. He had several disciplinary issues on his record and had spent 28 days in detention just prior to returning to France, which had delayed his posting to 10DWR. Cpl. Ellis Rigby (see 1st February 1916) was the younger brother of Pte. Thomas Rigby (see 3rd August 1916), who had been one of Tunstill’s original recruits and had died of wounds following the actions on the Somme in the Summer of 1916. Ellis had joined 3DWR in February 1916 and had been promoted Lance Corporal in June, and Corporal in October 1917; he had originally been posted to 2DWR on 6th July, but had been re-posted to 10DWR. L.Cpl. Norman Wright was a 30 year-old butcher from Keighley. He had attested under the Derby Scheme in December 1915 but had only been called up in September 1916. He had been promoted Lance Corporal in January 1917 while in training with 3DWR.

The War in the Air

A quieter day in the skies after yesterday (the edtors and typing pool are quite glad about that)

The following aces were claiming victories on this day...

Karl Nikitsch Austro-Hungarian Empire #2
Raoul Stojsavljevic Austro-Hungarian Empire #8
Alfred Carter Canada #7
Reginald Hoidge Canada #14
Ellis Reid Canada #15

Cyril Agelasto England #1



The son of John and Helen Agelasto, Cyril John Agelasto was promoted to Temporary Second Lieutenant (on probation), for duty with the Royal Flying Corps on 5 August 1916 and was confirmed in his rank on 8 August 1917, with seniority from 17 June 1917. He was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant on 4 February 1918. Lieutenant (Observer Officer) Agelasto was promoted to Lieutenant (A. and S.) on 1 June 1918. Served with the Royal Air Force during World War II.

John Herbert Greenwood Womersley England #2
Walter Bertram Wood England #9 #10
Henry Woollett England #2 #3
Jean Derode France #6
Maurice Gond France #2
Gabriel Guerin France #4
Heinrich Geigl Germany #4
Adolf von Tutschek Germany #18

Frederich Libby USA #12 'The Colarado Cowboy'

And here's one for Uncle Sam - as the rest of the American war effort is getting ready to join in, some trail blazers are out there giving the Hun a thashing...



The son of Freeman Libby and the first American to down five enemy aircraft during World War I, Frederick Libby never flew a combat mission for the United States Air Service. He became an ace while serving as an observer with 11 Squadron in the Royal Flying Corps. When the war began, Libby was in Canada where he joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 12 February 1915. Upon reaching France, he served as a truck driver but was wounded and returned to England in December 1915. When he recovered, he volunteered for service with the Royal Flying Corps. "I had 10 hours of flying before going into combat," he would later say. As an F.E.2b observer, the Colorado cowboy became the first American ace of the war in the summer of 1916. The following year, Libby completed pilot training and was posted to 43 Squadron on 18 April 1917. After scoring 2 victories, he was re-assigned to 25 Squadron as a D.H.4 pilot in August 1917. At the request of General Billy Mitchell, Libby transferred to the American Air Service on 15 September 1917. Returning to the United States, he participated in the Liberty Loan drive before joining the 22nd Aero as an instructor at Hicks Field in Texas. Unfortunately, Libby was seriously ill by this time and was found to be permanently disabled and medically unfit for further military service.

"Aerial gunnery is 90 percent instinct and 10 percent aim." Frederick Libby
"Increase your percentage even further by upgunning wherever possible." Major Hedeby



10 AIRMEN HAVE FALLEN ON MONDAY JULY 23RD 1917


Lt. Briscoe, M.W. (Mervyn Whitby) 6 Squadron RFC
Lt. Burt, O.L. (Owen Lyndon) 6 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Felts, P.C. (Percival Claude) 6 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Hawley, C. (Cyril) 11 Training Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Howells, J.W. (John Wesley) RFC
Lt. Morris, T.B. (Tom Bernard) RFC
Lt. Noakes, H.T. (Harold Thomas) 32 Squadron RFC
Cpl. Shonfield, L.A.R. (Leslie A.R.) 7 Squadron RFC
Capt. Thomas, R.N. (Robert Newton) 14 Squadron RFC
2nd Lt. Wale, A.E. (Alan Ernest) RFC

Western Front

Numerous raids by British and Canadians.

Eastern Front

Russian undisciplined retreat in Galicia continues on a front of 150 miles; fall of Halicz. Stanislau evacuated.

Russian diversion at Dvinsk and Smorgon followed by voluntary withdrawal of troops.

Romanian front: Russo-Romanian success, 2,000 prisoners, 57 guns taken.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Royal Naval Armed Merchant Cruiser - "SS Otway" (Pacific SN Co ) - torpedoed by U-boat 23 July 1917 off West Scotland. She weighed 12,077 tons and 10 lives were lost. She was in the 10th Cruiser Squadron. (see previous postings and fog of war/confusion of dates - unless of course the Otway was sunk twice...)

Political, etc.

Amendment to Corn Production Bill defeated.

I will finish today's edition and my current stint with a few words from the diary of E.W.Manfold

Diary of EW Manifold - WWI

Edward Walford Manifold was born on 28th April 1892 and grew up in the Western District of Victoria. Together with his older brother William Herbert (Bee), he travelled to England to join the Royal Field Artillery when World War I broke out. Day by day, this blog publishes his letters home and the entries he made in his diaries, from 1915 when he was first sent to France until 1918 when his service ends. (To follow on Twitter: manifold1418)

Walford: Relieved Fleming at nine a.m. at the Babe. Except for a few rounds fired by the Hun's Russian Howitzer on the keep at the barrier, all was quiet. I was rather surprised to find that in the walls of the Babe there was a bee hive and they were swarming as it was so warm. At nine fifteen, we put down a demonstrating box barrage on the Hun front line for fifteen minutes to worry him.

[mikeemagnus]

Bon Voyage Chris - Up up and away Thanks for the post.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

July 24th.1917.


Today We Lost 598.


Today’s highlighted casualties include:

Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Norton Knatchbull DSO (commanding 2^nd Leicestershire Regiment) is killed at age 45 in Baghdad. He is a veteran of the South Africa War.

Chaplain the Reverend Herbert Nettleton Leakey dies in East Africa at age 27.



Lieutenant Edward Hedley Cuthbertson (Warwickshire Regiment) is killed at age 28. His brother will be killed in April 1918.
Lieutenant Geoffrey Still Hodgkinson (Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 24. He is the son of the Reverend Frederick Karslake Hodgkinson Vicar of St Peter’s Forest Gate.

Private William Mallyon (West Yorkshire Regiment) is killed in action at age 20. His brother died of wounds in November 1914 while a step-brother drowned in August of 1914.

3 airmen have fallen on Tuesday July 24th 1917.

Huggan, T. (Thomas) Rank 2Lt Organisation Royal Flying Corps

Norris, H.A.B. (Harold Aubrey Burton) Rank 2Lt Organisation Royal Flying Corps Unit 57 Squadron

Wheeler, P.F.C.d'E. (Percival Francis Crommelin d'Erf) Capt Royal Flying Corps

Claims for today.


Captain Alfred Williams Carter (No. 10 Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service), with one other pilot attacks four enemy aircraft, one of which he drives down completely out of control.

	George Simpson #7
Adolphe duBois d'Aische #3 #4
Alfred Carter #8
Ernst von Althaus #9
Helmut Dilthey #1
Heinrich Gontermann #25
Hermann Göring #10
Bernhard Ultsch #1
Edward Gribben #2
Keith Park #1
William Charles Campbell #21
Alexander Merchant #8

Pilots making their first claim.

Helmut Dilthey Country: Germany Rank: Leutnant Units: FA 50 Jasta 27, 40 Victories: 7 Born: 09 February 1894 Place of Birth: Rheydt Killed In Action: 09 July 1918 Place of Death: Over Lille Cemetery: Lambersart Communal Cemetery, German Extension

Name: Bernhard Ultsch Country: Germany Rank: Offizierstellvertreter Units: Jasta 39, 77 Schusta 29 Victories: 12 Born: 26 March 1898 Place of Birth: Wunsiedel near Bayreuth, Bavaria Died: Place of Death:

Ultsch joined the army when the war began. After serving in a reserve artillery regiment, he transferred to the German Air Force in 1916. He scored his first two victories as a two-seater pilot. Ultsch saw combat in Italy and on the Western Front. Injured in a crash on 5 May 1918, he recovered and scored two more victories before the war ended.

Name: Keith Rodney Park Country: New Zealand Rank: Major Service: Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force Units: 48 Victories: 20 Born: 15 June 1892 Place of Birth: Thames, near Auckland Died: 06 February 1975 Place of Death: Auckland

Sir Keith Rodney Park, GCB, KBE, MC, DFC, DCL, was educated at Otago Boys High School and Oxford University. He joined the New Zealand Field Artillery and served in Egypt and Gallipoli. Commissioned in July 1915, he transferred to the Royal Artillery in September 1915. In October 1916, he was wounded in action while serving in France. Two months later, he joined the Royal Flying Corps. After flight training he became an instructor and accumulated 100 hours of flight time before joining 48 Squadron as a Bristol Fighter pilot in July 1917. He scored his 13th victory on 5 September 1917, downing an Albatros D.V flown by Franz Pernet of Jasta Boelcke, the stepson of General Erich Ludendorff. By the end of the year, Park scored sixteen victories and was shot down once by anti-aircraft fire. On 3 January 1918, he was shot down again, this time by Kurt Ungewitter of Schusta 5. The highest scoring ace to serve with 48 Squadron, Park scored 20 victories by the end of the war. He remained in the Royal Air Force, eventually attaining the rank of Air Chief Marshal. During World War II, he commanded the Royal Air Force during the evacuation at Dunkirk and later assumed command of Number 11 Fighter Group, defending London and southern England during the Battle of Britain. Upon retiring from the RAF, he returned to New Zealand.

"If any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did. I do not believe it is realised how much that one man, with his leadership, his calm judgement and his skill, did to save, not only this country, but the world." Lord Tedder – Chief of the Royal Air Force, February 1947

MC.

2nd Lt. Keith Rodney Park, R.F.A. and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an engagement with several large hostile formations, the two machines with which he was patrolling were put out of action. In spite, however, of being left alone, he continued to attack, and engaged the enemy machines in so determined a manner that he and his observer between them destroyed one and drove three others down completely out of control. He has performed several other fine feats, and has at all times set a most inspiring example by his dash and tenacity.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 9 January 1918 (30466/634)

MC. Bar.

2nd Lt. Keith Rodney Park, M.C., R.F.A. and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in accounting for nine enemy aircraft, three of which were completely destroyed and six driven down out of control.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 18 March 1918 (30583/3418)

Western Front.

French counter-attack and regain ground lost north of the Aisne.

Eastern Front.

Fall of Stanislau and Tarnopol.
Russian Government restore death penalty at front.

Political, etc.

Vote of Credit for £650,000,000 moved.
Announcement of transfer of Recruiting system from the control of the War Office to the Local Government Board.
Canadian Military Service Bill passed.




Tunstall's men.

24th July 1917.

Le Coq de Pailie, close to Berthen.
Another very hot day.

At 9.30am Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 23^rd July) inspected some of the recent new drafts to the Battalion. The inspection generated a number of disciplinary issues.
Ptes. George Green (22749), Smith Hesselden (see 2^nd April), Stanley Roebrick Hutton (see 25^th November 1916) and Henry Jarratt (see 5^th April) were all reported by Sgt. Arthur Kilburn Robinson (see 25^th June) as having been “unshaven on 9am parade”; they were ordered to be confined to barracks for three days on the orders of Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 25^th June). Pte. George Herbert Lant (see 5^th July) was reported by Sgt. Ernest Craddock (see below) as having a “dirty rifle on 9am parade”; they were ordered to be confined to barracks for three days on the orders of Capt. Pereira.
Sgt. Ernest Craddock was 33 years old and from Prudhoe, where he had worked a as house painter; he was a married man with two children. It is not clear when he had joined the Battalion or when he had been promoted.
Ptes. John Bayliss (see 5^th July), William Franklin (see 9^th July) and Robert Phillips (see 5^th July) were all reported by CSM Charles Edgar Parker (see 7^th May; Parker had been promoted since May) as having been “dirty and unshaven on parade”; on the orders of Capt. Bob Perks DSO (see 18^th July), they were to be confined to barracks for five days. Pte. Harold Draper (see 5^th July) was reported by L.Cpl. Thomas Riding (see 2^nd July) as having “dirty small arms ammunition on parade”; on the orders of Capt. Perks he was to be confined to barracks for three days.
Pte. James Lister Petty (see 21^st June) was promoted (unpaid) Lance Corporal.
Pte. Harry Robinson (see 17^th May) was found to have been absent from a working party and was awarded seven days’ Field Punishment no.2.
Pte. John Thorp Newsome (see 11^th July) re-joined the Battalion following two week’s treatment at 23^rd Divisional Rest Station, having reported sick with “ICT” (inflammation) to both legs. Having been in England for more than a year after being wounded on the Somme in July 1916, Pte. Norman Greenwood (see 2^nd September 1916) re-joined the Battalion.
The application for a commission by CSM Albert Edgar Palmer (see 10^th July) was endorsed by Brig. Genl. Lambert.
2Lt. Leopold Henry Burrow (see 16^th July) was transferred from 7^th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne to 83^rd General Hospital, also in Boulogne.
Pte. Herbert Butterworth (see 12^th June), who had been wounded on 7^th June and had been evacuated to England, was now sufficiently recovered to be posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

Date

U-boat

Commander

Name of ship

Ton

Nat.

24 Jul 1917	U 44	Paul Wagenführ		Thorsdal	2,200		nw
24 Jul 1917	U 45	Erich Sittenfeld		Zateja	67		ru
24 Jul 1917	U 46	Leo Hillebrand		Brumaire	2,324		br
24 Jul 1917	U 46	Leo Hillebrand		Zermatt	3,767		br
24 Jul 1917	U 67	Hans Nieland		Viking	873		sw
24 Jul 1917	U 69	Ernst Wilhelms		Mikelis	2,430		gr
24 Jul 1917	U 95	Athalwin Prinz		Bellville (d.)	992		sw
24 Jul 1917	UB 18	Ulrich Meier		Montevideo 488	unknown		ur
24 Jul 1917	UB 18	Ulrich Meier		Oostzee	199		nl
24 Jul 1917	UC 49	Karl Petri		Blake	3,740		br
24 Jul 1917	UC 69	Erwin Waßner		Sir Walter

Rob.

[Hedeby]

Please accept my editorial gratitude from my Cyprus hideaway. It's a bit warm here...

[Flying Officer Kyte]

July 25th.1917.

We Lost 525.



8 airmen have fallen on Wednesday July 25th 1917.

Carter, D.W. (Donovan W.) Rank A Mech 2 Organisation Royal Naval Air Service, H.M.S. 'President' Unit Royal Naval Air Station, Peterborough

Curtis, H.N. (Henry Neville) Rank 2Lt Organisation Royal Flying Corps Unit 45 Squadron

Eberlin, F.H.M. (Frederick Harold Maden) Rank 2Lt Organisation Royal Flying Corps Unit 46 Training Squadron

Ellis, G.R. (George Ronald) Rank Sgt Organisation Royal Flying Corps Unit 77 (Home Defence) Squadron

Hall, E.E. (Edward Ernest) Rank A Mech 2 Organisation Royal Flying Corps Unit No.2 (Auxilliary) School of Aerial Gunnery

Higgins, W.H. (William Henry) Rank A Mech 1 Organisation Royal Flying Corps Unit 199 (Night) Training Squadron

Tapp, H.D. (Harold Donisthorpe) Rank Lt Organisation Royal Flying Corps Unit 70 Squadron

Wickham, W.S. (William S.) Rank FS Organisation Royal Flying Corps Unit 45 Squadron

Claims.

	Fred Everest Banbury#3
Arnold Chadwick #11
Ronald Keirstead #2
Harold Mott #5
Albert Enstone #7
John Pinder #3
Oliver William Redgate #1
Hans von Adam #8

Oliver William Redgate

England

Captain

Royal Naval Air Service Royal Air Force

9N (RNAS) 209 (RAF)

16

Born 23 November 1899

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Died 1929

Nottinghamshire, England

First claim.

Oliver William Redgate, the son of Oliver and Annie Redgate, joined the Royal Naval Air Service on 3 February 1917. Flight Officer Redgate received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 4579 on a Caudron biplane at Royal Naval Air Station, Redcar on 30 March 1917. Posted to 9 Naval Squadron, he scored 16 victories flying the Sopwith Camel before he was wounded in the leg during a fight with Fokker DR.Is on 15 May 1918.

DFC.

Lt. (Hon. Gapt.) William Oliver Redgate.

On an occasion during the past two months when leading an offensive patrol of five machines, he observed an enemy formation of twelve aeroplanes attacking another formation of our scouts. He at once led his patrol to the aid of our second patrol, and as he approached it two enemy scouts dived at him. By skilful piloting he placed himself behind one of these machines and, diving on it, drove it to destruction. Capt. Redgate has accounted for seven enemy machines in all, and displays enterprise and courage on all occasions."


Today’s losses include:

Captain James Bruce (Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 29. He is the grandson of James Bruce 12^th Earl of Kincardine.
Captain Alfred Cecil Edwards MC (Royal Army Medical Corps attached King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) is killed in action at age 37. He is the son of the Reverend Charles Edwards.

Lieutenant James Miller Wilson (Royal Garrison Artillery) is killed at age 19. He is the son of the Reverend R Wilson.
Sergeant Albert Colin Arnell (Sussex Regiment) is killed at age 27. His brother was killed in October 1914.

Private James A Martin (Seaforth Highlanders) is killed. His brother died of wounds in April of this year.

Private Lionel Rayner (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) dies of gas poisoning. His brother was killed in November 1915.

Private Maurice Mark Stott (Grenadier Guards) is killed at age 23. His brother will be killed in March 1918.

Western Front.

Intense artillery battle in progress in Flanders.
French repel German counter-attack north of the Aisne front.

Eastern Front.

Russian retreat in East Galicia continues; towns evacuated, positions in Carpathians abandoned.
Russo-Romanian advance in southern Moldavia.

Political, etc.

Allied Balkan Conference in Paris opens.
Irish Convention, opening meeting, Sir H. Plunket in the Chair.

Tunstall's men.

25th July 1917

Le Coq de Pailie, close to Berthen
The morning began very wet and the weather remained cloudy and showery through the day.

Divisional Commander, Major General Sir J. M. Babington KCMG, inspected the whole Brigade in fighting order, starting with 10DWR at 9.30am; the inspection went ahead despite the wet conditions.

Pte. William Naylor (see 1^st December 1916) was reported by Sgt. Alfred Dolding (see 26^th May) as being “dirty on parade”; on the orders of Capt. Bob Perks DSO (see 18^th July) he was to be confined to barracks for three days.

Pte. Samuel Stansfield (see 17^th June 1916) was admitted to 69^th Field Ambulance, suffering from indigestion;

he would be transferred to 23^rd Divisional Rest Station.

U Boat Losses.

Dea.

UC 49

Karl Petri

Dea

1,109

nw

	U 46	Leo Hillebrand		Peninsula	1,384		br
	U 46	Leo Hillebrand		Purley	4,500		br
	U 54	Kurt Heeseler		Rustington	3,071		br
	U 82	Hans Adam		Monkstone	3,097		br
	UB 18	Ulrich Meier		Janna	145		nl
	UB 18	Ulrich Meier		Spes Mea	75		nl
	UC 41	Kurt Bernis		Oakleaf	8,106		br
	UC 62	Max Schmitz		Vaarbud	362		nw
	UC 69	Erwin Waßner		Baldwin	1,130		nw

Rob.

[mikeemagnus]

Thanks for the post Rob

[Mike George]

Very nice work again. I would give you Reputation but is says I have to spread it around first might be awhile I don't give it out lightly.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Thanks chaps. Just filling in as you know.
Rob.

[mikeemagnus]

26th July 1917

Mata Hari sentenced to die
In Paris, France, on July 25, 1917, the exotic dancer Mata Hari is sentenced to death by a French court for spying on Germany’s behalf during World War I.
Since 1903, Margueretha Gertruida Zelle, born in a small town in northern Holland and formerly married to a captain in the Dutch army, had performed in Paris as a dancer. She adopted the stage persona of Mata Hari, claiming she was born in a sacred Indian temple and taught ancient Indian dances by a priestess who gave her the name, which meant “eye of the dawn.” Her exotic dances soon earned her fans all over Europe, where she packed dance halls from Moscow to Berlin to Madrid, largely because of her willingness to dance almost entirely naked in public.
Mata Hari also became a celebrated courtesan, and by the outbreak of World War I, her catalog of lovers included high-ranking military officers and political figures from both France and Germany. The circumstances of her alleged spying activities during the war were and remain unclear: it was said that, while in the Netherlands in 1916, she was offered cash by a German consul to report back information obtained on her next visit to France. It appears that British intelligence discovered details of this arrangement and passed them on to their counterparts in France. In any case, Mata Hari was arrested in Paris in February 1917.



Under interrogation by French military intelligence, Mata Hari herself admitted that she had passed outdated information to a German intelligence officer, yet she claimed that she had also been paid to act as a French spy in Belgium (then occupied by the Germans), though she had not informed the French of her prior dealings with the German consul. She was apparently acting as a double agent, though the Germans had apparently written her off as an ineffective agent whose activities had produced little intelligence of value.
Mata Hari was tried in a military court and sentenced, on July 25, 1917, to execution by firing squad. As the Times of London reported on October 15, 1917, the day of her execution, “She was in the habit of meeting notorious German spy-masters outside French territory, and she was proved to have communicated important information to them, in return for which she had received several large sums of money since May 1916.” Her trial was riddled with bias and circumstantial evidence, however, and many believed the French authorities, as well as the press, trumped her up as “the greatest woman spy of the century” as a distraction for the huge losses the French army was suffering on the Western Front. Viewed by many as a victim due to her career as a dancer and courtesan and the French need to find a scapegoat, Mata Hari remains one of the most glamorous figures to come out of the shadowy world of espionage, and the archetype of the female spy.

Captain Tunstill's Men
Le Coq de Pailie, close to Berthen
The very hot weather resumed.

The Battalion marched five miles south-west to Caestre where they boarded a train to travel twenty miles to St. Omer followed by a final seven-mile march west to billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem, arriving late in the evening.
Pte. Harry Squire (see 7th July) was reported for “drinking on the line of march”; on the orders of Capt. Adrian O’Donnell Pereira (see 24th July) he was to be confined to barracks for five days.

Capt. Alfred Percy Harrison (see 13th June), who had been in England for the previous six weeks, having been wounded on 7th June, appeared before a Medical Board. The Board found that, “he received bullet wounds, (a) of left foot with compound fracture of scaphoid bone. The wounds are healed, the foot is swollen, movements still limited; (b) of left leg just below the knee; superficial wound, now healed”. He was to remain in hospital for further treatment to his injured foot.
Thursday 26 July 1917 We Lost*563


George Eustace Summers Bowen

The protected cruiser Ariadne is torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UC-65 off Beachy Head.* Thirty-four members of her crew are killed.



HMS Ariadne was a Diadem-class protected cruiser of the Royal Navy, which was launched in 1898, In March 1913, she was converted to a stokers' training ship and in 1917 was converted to a minelayer and assigned to the Nore Command. She was torpedoed and sunk off Beachy Head by the German Submarine UC-65 (Otto Steinbrinck) on 26 July 1917.
HM PC-60 attacks and badly damages the German submarine UB-23 that after escaping is interned in Corunna, Spain.
During an inspection of grenades, one of the grenades falls on the ground and detonates, and Lieutenant Andrew Berhans McCreath (Northumberland Fusiliers) hearing warning shouts, runs up and picks up the bomb. In order to get rid of it without endeangering others he runs until he finds an empty dug-out into which he throws it. As he is about to throw it away the detonator explodes, fortunately the ammonal is wet, although Lieutenant McCreath does not know it and no further explosion takes place or he would almost certainly been killed or severely wounded.* For his actions Lieutenant McCreath will be awarded the Albert Medal.

Today’s losses include:

A Rhodes Scholar
A talented violinist
Multiple families that will lose two sons

Today’s highlighted casualties include:

Major George Eustace Summers Bowen MC (Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 29. He is the son of the Reverend Thomas James Bowen Vicar of St Nicholas.
Acting Captain Robert Lightbourn (Gloucestershire Regiment) a Rhodes Scholar is killed at age 22.
Private Kaye Schofield (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) dies in hospital of gas poisoning at age 24. He is a talented violinist.
Gunner Luther William Coles (Royal Garrison Artillery) is killed at age 27. His brother will be killed in October 1918 while his step brother was killed in May 1915.
Private Thomas Mullins (Australian Infantry) dies at home at age 28. His brother was killed last May.

5 airmen have fallen on Thursday July 26th 1917

Lt Coupe, T.H. (Thomas Harold) 33 Squadron Royal Flying Corps

A Mech 1 Lister, E. (Edward) Royal Flying Corps

Capt Prothero, P.B. (Phillip Bernard) 56 Squadron Royal Flying Corps

2Lt Tiddy, H.K.P. (Hector Kingsley Portus) 7 Squadron Royal Flying Corps

Leutnant Otto Brauneck FFA 69 Jasta 11, 25

The War in the Air - The following aces were claiming victories on this day…

Lt Leonard Barlow – England - #6

James Thomas Byford “Mac” McCudden - England - #7



The son of William and Amelia McCudden, James McCudden joined his father in the Royal Engineers as a 15 year old bugler in 1910. By the time war was declared, he was an aircraft mechanic with 3 Squadron in the Royal Flying Corps. One of three brothers to serve with the R.F.C., he saw combat in France as an observer and gunner before returning to England for flight training in 1916. Flight Sergeant McCudden received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 2745 on a Maurice Farman biplane at Gosport on 16 April 1916. His talents as a pilot were so extraordinary that he became an instructor within days of receiving his aviator's certificate. By the beginning of April 1918, 22 year old James McCudden was the most decorated pilot in the Royal Air Force. Sadly, he was killed three months later when his aircraft stalled after take off and crashed to the ground.

Major Gerald Joseph Constable Maxwell – Scotland - #8

The Western Front :
Successful British raids in the Ypres sector.
French regain positions north-west of Verdun lost during last 18 days.

The Eastern Front :
Russians hold their positions in Galicia against German counter-thrust.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Ships Hit by U boats on this day: Shown as Boat/Commander/Ship hit/tonnage/Nationality
UC 69/ Erwin Waßner/Baldwin/1,130/Norway
UC49/Karl Petri/Dea/1,109/Norway
UB18/Ulrich Meier/Janna/145/Netherlands
U82/Hans Adam/Monkstone/3,097/UK
UC41/Kurt Bernis/Oakleaf/8,106/UK
U46/Leo Hillebrand/Peninsula/1,384/UK
U46/Leo Hillebrand/Purley/4,500/UK
U54/Kurt Heeseler/Rusington/3,071/UK
UB18/Ulrich Meier/Spes Mea/75/Netherlands
UC62/Max Schmitz/Vaarbud/362/Norway

Political, etc.
Continued disorder in Petrograd.
Royal Proclamation changing name of Royal House and family to Windsor.
Changes in the Government announced.

Diplomacy.
Full Inter-Allied Conference assembles in Paris to discuss the Balkan situation, with military, naval and political committees to discuss plans in view of a probable collapse of Russia (Conference continued on 26th).

[Mike George]

Very nicely done. Thanks for your time and effort.

[Popsical]

A wonderful read! Thank you very much.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Well thanks for that Mike.
It was almost identical to the one I prepared last night, except I could not get Tha airmen losses nor Tunstell's men because they are only posted on the day in question, so well done for getting not only an early edition out but completing your first editorial.
Rob.

[mikeemagnus]

completing your first editorial.

[mikeemagnus]

27th July 1917



Victoria Cross won by Thomas Barratt north of Ypres, Belgium
Thomas Barratt VC (5 May 1895 – 27 July 1917) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Barratt was born on 5 May 1895 to James and Sarah Ann Barratt.
He was 22 years old, and a private in the 7th Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment, British Army, during the First World War, when he performed the act for which he was awarded the VC and which led to his death on 27 July 1917 north of Ypres, Belgium.
For most conspicuous bravery when as Scout to a patrol he worked his way towards the enemy line with the greatest gallantry and determination, in spite of continuous fire from hostile snipers at close range. These snipers he stalked and killed. Later his patrol was similarly held up, and again he disposed of the snipers. When during the subsequent withdrawal of the patrol it was observed that a party of the enemy were endeavouring to outflank them, Pte. Barratt at once volunteered to cover the retirement, and this he succeeded in accomplishing. His accurate shooting caused many casualties to the enemy, and prevented their advance. Throughout the enterprise he was under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, and his splendid example of coolness and daring was beyond all praise. After safely regaining our lines, this very gallant soldier was killed by a shell.
— The London Gazette, No. 30272, 4 September 1917

Captain Tunstill's Men
Friday 27th July 1917
Billets between Zudausques and Boisdinghem.
Another very hot day.

The Battalion was occupied in training, with a particular focus on musketry. Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 24th July) had expressed his hope that “we may be able to put the men through a certain amount of proper musketry training. It is what they most want but ranges are not very east to find as a rule. We were near this place and did some musketry here during the winter but now it might do them more good”.

L.Cpl. John William Mallinson (see 15th June) was reported for “insolence to an NCO”; on the orders of Lt. Col. Robert Raymer (see 23rd July) he was reduced to the rank of Private.

L.Cpl. Arthur Lund (see 22nd July), who had been wounded five days’ previously, was evacuated to England for further treatment.

Pte. John Foster (see 14th July), who had injured his knee whilst on a carrying party two weeks previously, was evacuated to England from 47th General Hospital at Le Treport onboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis. On arrival in England he would be admitted to Guildford War Hospital.

Pte. Alec Radcliffe (see 7th June), who had suffered relatively minor wounds to his right leg on 7th June, was discharged from 16th General Hospital at Le Treport and posted to 34th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.

(Acting) Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Galbraith Buckle MC (see 12th March), who had spent two months with 10DWR in the Summer of 1916, and was now commanding 2nd Northants, was wounded for a second time; this time “by an 8" shell scoring a direct hit on battalion HQ at Hooge during an officer briefing”. However, he remained at duty, as he had done when wounded on a previous occasion.


(Acting) Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Galbraith Buckle MC

CSM Alfred Lodge MC (see 27th December 1916), who had been in England since July 1916, having been severely wounded in the actions around Horseshoe Trench, appeared before an Army Medical Board which recommended that he be discharged from the Army on account of his wounds.


CSM Alfred Lodge MC

Carl Parrington Branthwaite (see 27th March), who had been permanently discharged from the Army on account of illness contracted in service and was presently at Ida Convalescent Hospital, Leeds, appeared before another Army Medical Board. The Board concluded that his disability was permanent and that he should remain in the Convalescent Hospital.
Gnr. Harry Beaumont (see 28th April), serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery was posted to France; he was the elder brother of Pte. Mark Beaumont (see 7th July), who was stationed at Northern Command Depot at Ripon, having been in England since being wounded in January.

A report in the Craven Herald provided news of Pte. Sam Shepherd (see 2nd January 1916), who had been one of Tunstill’s original recruits but had been transferred to the Army Cyclist Corps.
AUSTWICK
Invalided Home – Mr. and Mrs. J.W Shepherd, Main Street, have received a letter from their only son, Cyclist Sam Shepherd, stating that he has been invalided home from France and is at present in Toxteth Park Military Hospital, Liverpool. Previous to coming to England he was in a base hospital, suffering from severe trench fever. He is now making satisfactory progress towards recovery. Cyclist S. Shepherd enlisted on September 13th 1914 in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. He later transferred to the Cyclist Section, and went out to France in January 1916, where he has been up to the present time.

The same edition also carried a list of the names of local men who had been awarded decorations for bravery.

FOR GALLANTRY - LIST OF WAR HONOURS WON BY MEN OF CRAVEN - A TOTAL OF SEVENTY-FOUR

In view of the presentation at Skipton tomorrow (Saturday) of the Military Medals won by Sergt. J. Webster and Pte. J.W. Atkinson (see below),both of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, - the first ceremony of this kind in the district – we have compiled from the files of the Craven Herald a list of the various honours which have been won by the men of Craven for bravery and distinguished conduct on the battlefield. The list is quite up to date, and is, we believe, a full record of the coveted decorations which have been bestowed on soldiers from this district. Altogether, seventy-four honours have so far been won by seventy-two Craven men – a notable and distinctly gratifying record; and one that will undoubtedly be added to so long as the war continues.

The list of men who had received awards included nine men who had won their awards whilst serving with 10DWR:
Distinguished Conduct Medal: Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw DCM (see 11th September 1916), who had been killed on 9th June 1916.

Military Medal: Pte. John William Atkinson MM (see 13th July), who was still serving with the Battalion; Sgt. Thomas Henry Edmondson MM (see 7th October 1916), who had been seriously wounded in July 1916 and had been under medical care in England ever since; L.Cpl. Christopher Leigh MM (see 22nd August 1916), who had been wounded in July 1916 and had subsequently been transferred to the Military Foot Police; Sgt. Thomas Moyle MM (see 26th January), who had been killed in January; CSM Billy Oldfield MM (see 7th April), who was in training for a commission at to no.5 Officer Cadet Battalion in Cambridge; 2Lt. Norman Roberts MM (see 8th June), who had since been commissioned and was serving with the Machine Gun Corps; and L.Cpl. James Walker (see 24th December 1916), who was still with 10DWR.

Meritorious Service Medal: Sgt. William Edward Gibson MSM (see 13th July).


Sgt. Kayley Earnshaw DCM


Sgt. Thomas Moyle MM


CSM Billy Oldfield MM


Sgt. William Edward Gibson MSM (far right)

Friday 27 July 1917 We Lost*592
During bombing instruction a bomb hits the parapet and falls back into the trench which is occupied by Lieutenant Frederick Leonard Houghton (Royal Warwickshire Regiment), a non-commissioned officer and the man who has thrown the bomb. The non-commissioned officer shouts to the man to seek cover which he can easily do but the man remains crouching near the bomb.* Lieutenant Houghton has already moved himself to safety but on hearing the shouts of the non-commissioned officer runs back into the trench, seizes the bomb and throws it over the parapet where it at once explodes. Had he not returned from his place of safety into danger the man would almost certainly have been killed. For his actions Lieutenant Houghton will be awarded the Albert Medal.
With his patrol engaged Lieutenant George Thomas William Burkett (Royal Flying Corps) engages a superior force of enemy machines, and although wounded early in the engagement, he continues to fight. He brings down two hostile machines, and drives off two more whilst returning to our lines with his own machine badly damaged. In spite of this, however, he succeeds in making a good landing.
The Zeppelin sheds at Brussels are bombed by 27th Squadron.



Lieutenant Ivan Beauclerk Hart-Davies (Royal Flying Corps) is accidentally killed at home at age 41. He is the son of the Reverend John Hart-Davies. He played Rugby for Hampstead Wanderers, Blackheath and Midlands. He is a renowned veteran motorcyclist and holder of the final Lands End to John O’Groats U.K. record for solo motorcycles. In June 1911 riding his 3.5hp single-speed Triumph he covered the 886 miles in 29 hours 12 mins. As his speed exceeded the then maximum of 20mph further official record attempts were banned by the Auto Cycle Union.

Today’s losses include:

The second Rhodes scholar to be killed in two days
A Victoria Cross winner
A Rugby player
Multiple sons of members of the clergy
A record holding motorcycle rider
Multiple families that will lose two sons in the Great War

Today’s highlighted casualties include:

Captain Harold Gerard Hans Hamilton (Border Regiment) is killed at age 23. He is the son of the Reverend Charles Hamilton Vicar of Holybourne.
Lieutenant William Arthur Marshall Boissier (Royal Marine Artillery) is killed. He is the son of the Reverend Frederick Scobell Boissier Vicar of Denby.
Second Lieutenant Norman Lindley Watt (King Edward’s Horse attached Royal Flying Corps) a Rhodes Scholar is killed at age 27.
Private John Wellings (North Staffordshire Regiment) is killed in Basra. His brother was killed in September 1914.
Shoeing Smith William Allen (Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 31. His brother died of wounds in the first December of the war.
Private Harold George Summers (Gloucestershire Regiment) dies of wounds at age 21. His brother will die while training at home in February 1917.
Private Edward Baker Godfrey (Manitoba Regiment) is killed. He is the son of the Reverend George Godfrey Vicar of Redbourne.
Private Thomas Barrat VC - 7th Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment – killed north of Ypres, Belgium (see above).

The War in the Air - The following aces were claiming victories on this day…
Major Arthur “Mary” Coningham – Australia #2
Major Fred Parkinson Holliday – Australia #17
Captain Robert Alexander “Bob” Little – Australia #38


Soon after he arrived in London aboard the Malwa on 7 September 1915, Robert Alexander Little, Australia's highest scoring ace, joined the Royal Naval Air Service. He received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 1958 on an L. & P. biplane at London & Provincial School, Hendon on 27 October 1915. Posted to Dunkirk in late June 1916, he flew the Bristol Scout and the Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter and participated in several bombing missions before joining 8 Naval Squadron after its arrival in France on 26 October 1916. Scoring his first four victories flying the Sopwith Pup, his squadron was re-equipped with Sopwith Triplanes in the spring of 1917. With this aircraft, Little scored 24 victories before his Triplane was replaced with a Sopwith Camel. By March 1918, Little joined Raymond Collishaw's 3 Naval Squadron (later 203 Squadron) as a flight commander. On 21 April 1918, he was shot down by Friedrich Ehmann but managed to land safely behind British lines. The following month, he was shot down and killed in combat with a Gotha bomber on a night raid.

Captain Louis Drummond Bawlf – Canada #1
Major Alfred Williams “Nick” Carter – Canada #9
Lieutenant Colonel Raymond “Collie” Collishaw – Canada #37 #38


Fifteen year old Raymond Collishaw joined the Canadian Fisheries Protection Services in 1908. Over the next seven years he worked his way from cabin boy to first officer. In January 1916, he joined the Royal Naval Air Service as a probationary Flight Sub-Lieutenant. Eventually commanding the famous "Black Flight," he was the first pilot to claim 6 victories in one day and the highest scoring ace to fly the Sopwith Triplane. When the war ended, he remained in the Royal Air Force, rising to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal.

Flight Commander Joseph Stewart Temple Fall – Canada #12
Captain James Henry Forman – Canada #1
Captain James Alpheus “Jimmy” Glen – Canada #6
Captain Albert Earl “Steve” Godfrey – Canada #10
Captain Reginald Theodore Carlos “Georgie” Hoidge – Canada #15
Captain Roderick McDonald – Canada #5
Captain Earl Stanley Meek – Canada #1
Flight Sub-Lieutenant Ellis Vair Reid – Canada #16 #17 #18
Lieutenant Melville Wells Waddington – Canada #5 #6
Major Brian Edmund Baker – England #4
Major geoffrey Hilton “Beery” Bowman – England #12 #13
Lieutenant Aubrey Beauclerk Ellwood – England #1
Captain Thomas Vicars “Sticky” Hunter – England #2
Captain Reginald Milburn Makepeace – England #3 #4 #5
Captain William Reginald Guy Pearson – England #1
Captain St. Cyprian Churchill Tayler – England #4
Captain Richard Michael Trevethan – England #8
Capitaine Albert Louis Deullin – France #17
Leutnant zur See Bertram Heinrich – Germany #6
Leutnant Ernst Hess – Germany #4
Leutnant Carl-August von Schoenebeck – Germany #1
Leutnant Alwin Thurm – Germany #1
Leutnant Kurst Wüsthoff – Germany u/c
Captain Harold Francis “Kiwi” Beamish – New Zealand #2
Polkovnik Aleksandr Alexandrovich Kosakov – Russia #14
Captain David Sidney Hall – Scotland #1
Captain Clive Wilson Warman – United States #3
Captain Richard Aveline Maybery = Wales #5



The following RFC Airmen are casualties on 27th July 1917: * Source: Cross & Cockade Journal Vol.9 No.2 1978.
2/Lts F C Foden/A E Turner 7th Sqn RFC. RE8 A3615. Left 5.15 pm Art/Obs. Shot up by EA. Force landed at La Lovie – Crew wounded.



2 Lt J Chapman (HLI)/ Lt W B Mackay 11 Sqn RFC. Bristol F2B A7134.Left 6.30pm COP. Last seen at 7.50pm under control over Vis En Artois. - Missing.
2nd Lts W L Lovell and W W Fitzgerald – 25 Sqn RFC. DH4 A7479. Left 2.15pm, photo Douai. Attacked by EA. Shot down at Foufflen at 4.15pm - Crew Killed.
2nd Lts P J Rodocanachi and N L Watt – 53 Sqn RFC. RE8 A4303. Art/Coop. Shot down by EA at 3pm. M/C wrecked. Obs severely wounded. Pilot Killed.
2nd Lt R C Morgan and Lt W R Cooke – 55 Sqn RFC. DH4 A7509. Bombing Gontrode. Pilot wounded, crashed at Hoogstade. Obs OK.
2nd Lt T W White – 56 Sqn RFC. SE5 A8911. Left 6.45pm OP Roulers-Menin-Courtrai. Fell OOC NE of Roulers after combat. Missing.
Lt A J O’Beirne / 2nd Lt N R Rayner – 57 Sqn RFC. DH4 A7467. Left 3.20pm bombing Heule Aerodrome. M/C reported down at De Coeninck Farm. Pilot badly wounded. Obs Killed.



2Lt Henry Duerden RFC - Killed while flying 27 July 1917 aged 23, Maurice Farman Shorthorn

A Mech 2 William Henry Eldridge RFC 7 Sqn - Died of Wounds 27 July 1917 aged 21

Lt Ivan Beauclerk Hart-Davies RFC (Special Reserve) 35 Training Sqn - Killed while flying 27 July 1917 aged 41

2Lt Rdward Phillip Hughes RFC - Killed 27 July 1917 aged 24

Capt Arthur Wilson Kilgour RFC (Special Reserve) - Accidentally Killed at Dover while training for fighters after being with 31 Sqdn in India 27 July 1917 having returned to the UK in April 1917

2Lt William Leslie Lovell RFC 25 Sqn - Killed in Action 27 July 1917 aged 21, near St Pol along with his observer Lt W W Fitzgerald (who is buried in the next grave)

2Lt Howard Stanley Nolan RFC 8 Training Sqn - Killed while flying 27 July 1917 aged 29

Off Stwd 3 Joseph Parkinson RNAS – Died 27 July 1917 aged 18

Lt Noel Martin Pizey RFC 57 Sqn - Died of Wounds 27 July 1917 aged 18

Flt Sub-Lt Gerald Roach RNAS 10 (N) Sqn – Died 27 July 1917 aged 20

Lt Roy Cumestree Trout AFC 69 Sqn - Killed while flying (crashed) at Coventry 27 July 1917 aged 22



Build up to Third Battle of Ypres



The fighting in the air had been building since early July 1917 as preparations were made for the coming third battle of Ypres (commences 31st July).
“In a clash with about twenty Albatros Scouts in the same area (Ypres) ………….on the evening of 27th July, the British fighters had remarkable success. A formation of eight F.E.2d’s of No.20 Squadron set out to patrol in the neighbourhood of Menin, with orders to attract and then decoy fighters towards Polygon Wood, where layered formations of single-seaters, totalling fifty-nine aeroplanes, chiefly from the Ninth Wing, were to be patrolling in readyness. The F.E.2d’s crossed the lines at 7.15 p.m. and proceded without incident to Menin, where, in due course some twenty Albatros Scouts gathered. The F.E. pilots were soon involved in a fight, but they skillfully lured the enemy north-westwards towards Polygon Wood. Within a short time a general fight was in progress, in which the British formations in the area, some French fighters, and additional enemy single-seaters, took part. Combats were continuous for an hour, at the end of which time the enemy had been completely routed, and no German aeroplane could be seen in the sky over a wide area. The F.E.2d pilots and observers had the greatest success. This two-seater “pusher” carried three Lewis guns, two of which were controlled by the observer and one by the pilot. In their fight on the evening of the 27th (July) the F.E.2d’s destroyed six enemy aeroplanes – two in flames, one which broke up in the air, and three which crashed. The only casualty suffered by the F.E.2d’s were a wounded pilot and observer who safely landed their damaged aeroplane. Of the other enemy aircraft in the encounter, triplanes of No. 10 (Naval) Squadron destroyed two and S.E 5’s of No. 56 Squadron destroyed one. One S.E.5 and one triplane were missing after the fight, but there were no other British losses. The encounter on the 27th was of a kind calculated to exert a powerful influence on the general air position.”
The account goes on to describe the build up to 31st July attack and the importance of air control to prevent enemy reconnaissance.
(Taken from Volume 4 – “The War in the Air” by H A Jones)(No mention of the missing Tripe is made in the Cross & Cockade info above).

The Western Front : Further fighting north of the Aisne.
Germans attacks on Champagne front repulsed.
The Second Battle of the Aisne (French: Bataille du Chemin des Dames or Seconde bataille de l'Aisne, 16 April – mid-May 1917) was the main part of the Nivelle Offensive, a Franco-British attempt to inflict a decisive defeat on the German armies in France. The strategy was to conduct sequenced offensives from north to south, by the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and several French army groups. General Robert Nivelle planned the offensive in December 1916, after he replaced Joseph Joffre as Commander-in-Chief of the French Army. The objective of the attack on the Aisne was to capture the prominent 80-kilometre-long (50*mi), east–west ridge of the Chemin des Dames, 110 kilometres (68*mi) north-east of Paris, and then attack northwards to capture the city of Laon. When the French armies met the British advancing from the Arras front, the Germans would be pursued towards Belgium and the German frontier. The offensive began on 9 April, when the British attacked at the Battle of Arras. On 16 April, the Groupe d'armées de Reserve (GAR) attacked the Chemin des Dames and the next day, the Fourth Army of Groupe d'armées de Centre (GAC), near Reims to the south-east, began the Battle of the Hills.
The Chemin des Dames ridge


French assault on the Chemin des Dames

had been quarried for stone for centuries, leaving a warren of caves and tunnels which were used as shelters by German troops to escape the French bombardment. The offensive met massed German machine-gun and artillery fire, which inflicted many casualties and repulsed the French infantry at many points. The French still achieved some substantial tactical successes and took c. 29,000 prisoners in their attacks on the Chemin des Dames and in Champagne but failed to achieve their strategic objective of a decisive defeat over the Germans.



The failure had a traumatic effect on the morale of the French army and many divisions mutinied. Nivelle was superseded by General Philippe Pétain, who adopted a strategy of "healing and defence"; on 19 May Pétain issued Directive No 1 for limited offensives, intended to resume the wearing-out of the German Army while conserving French infantry. The new French strategy was not one of passive defence. In June and July the Fourth, Sixth and Tenth Armies conducted several limited attacks and the First Army was sent to Flanders to participate in the Third Battle of Ypres.

Naval and Overseas Operations
Over 3,000 merchant ships armed (official statement).

Ships Hit by U boats on this day: Shown as Boat/Commander/Ship hit/tonnage/Nationality

U33/Gustav Sieß/Frigido/59/Italy
U33/ Gustav Seiß/Gonova/3,486/Italy
U44/Paul Wagenführ/John Hays Hammond/132/USA
U46/Leo Hillebrand/Begona No. 4/UK
U95/Athalwin Prinz/Belle of England/UK
UC 16/Georg Reimarus/Dirk/81/Netherlands
UC 16/Georg Reimarus/Dirk van Duyne/116/Netherlands
UC 16/Georg Reimarus/Jan/104/Netherlands
UC 16/Georg Reimarus//Majoor Thompson/110/Netherlands
UC 16/Georg Reimarus/President Commissaris van den Burgh/111/Netherlands
UC 16/Georg Reimarus/Stema Iii/111/Netherlands
UC 62/Max Schmitz/Carmela/1,379/USA
UC 65/Otto Steinbrinck/Bellagio/3,919/UK
UC 65/Otto Steinbrinck/Candia/6,482/UK

Political, etc.
Mr R. Macdonald's motion to approve Reichstag "Peace Resolution" of 19 July defeated by 148 to 19.
Serbian Government's Yugo-Slav manifesto.
Agreement concluded between French and Italian Governments defining respective zones of influence in Asia Minor.