100 Years Ago Today

[Flying Officer Kyte]

14th February 1916.

Valentine's Day Big issue. (No! Not that Big Issue.) Ed.


No deaths are recorded for Monday February 14th 1916.


Two claims were made today.



Oberleutnant Rudolf Szepessy-Sokoll of Flik 17 of the Austro-Hungarian Empire flying Lohner B.VII (17.36) shot down a Caudron over Milano for his first victory.



A tall man, Rudolf Szepessy-Sokoll Freiherr von Negyes et Reno joined the army in 1914 and distinguished himself in combat whilst serving with the Hussars Regiment No. 1. He volunteered for the air service in the summer of 1915, scoring his first victory as an observer with Flik 17. In what may have been the first strategic bombing mission in history, Szepessy-Sokoll was a member of a flight of ten Lohner and Lloyd two-seaters that attacked Milan, Italy on 14 February 1916. By early April 1917, Szepessy-Sokoll completed pilot training and was assigned to Flik 10 on the Russian front. He served with Flik 27 in August 1917 and with Flik 3 in September 1917, where he scored his first victory as a pilot, flying an Albatros D.III. Killed in action the day after he became an ace, Szepessy-Sokoll was shot down by Francesco Baracca. He was buried with full military honors in the cemetery near Ajello. He was posthumously awarded the Order of the Iron Crown, 3rd class.

Leutnant Leopold Anslinger of FA 54 shot down a Russian EA Near Grobla, NW of Tarnapol for his second victory.



When the war began, Anslinger was already a licensed pilot (#566) serving with the Fliegertruppe. Posted to the Eastern Front, he was commissioned on 22 March 1915 and scored his first four victories in 1916. Reassigned to FA 24 and 242, he scored the remainder of his victories in 1917. In the last months of the war, he was stationed in Mainz with Kest 9 on homeland defence. When the war ended, Anslinger became a commercial pilot with Lufthansa and enjoyed sketching and building motorcycles and automobiles.
Awards.



Lieutenant ERIC ARCHIBALD McNAIR VC.





9th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
Hooge - 14th February 1916




Citation from the London Gazette, No 29527 March 30, 1916:
"Eric Archibald McNair, Lieutenant, Royal Sussex Regiment. When the enemy exploded a mine, Lieutenant McNair and many men of two platoons were hoisted into the air, and many men were buried. But, though much shaken, he at once organised a party with a machine gun to man the near edge of the crater, and opened rapid fire on a large party of the enemy who were advancing. The enemy were driven back leaving many dead. Lieutenant McNair then ran back for reinforcements, and sent to another unit for bombs, ammunition and tools to replace those buried. The communication trench being blocked, he went across the open under heavy fire, and led up the reinforcements the same way. His prompt and plucky action undoubtedly saved the situation."
Born on 16th June 1894, at Calcutta in India, Eric Archibald McNair was the son of a solicitor then working and living in India. He was educated at Charterhouse school, and Magdelen College, Oxford where he met the then Prince of Wales.
Commissioned into the Royal Sussex Regiment in October 1914, he joined the 9th Battalion at Brighton. Their training took them to barracks near Dover, and crossed to France with the Battalion in August 1915, to take part in the ill-fated Battle of Loos. The 9th fought near a position called The Dump, and suffered heavy casualties. The Battalion they moved to the Ypres Salient, where they took over trenches on the Bellewaarde Ridge near the hamlet of Hooge. It was here on 14th February 1916 that the action which resulted in the award of the VC took place.
McNair was appointed to the rank of Captain, continued to serve with the 9th Bn after the award of the VC until badly wounded at Guillemont, on the Somme, on 18th August 1916. He never returned to the battalion, his wounds and sickness resulting in a Staff job. This staff work took him to Italy in 1917, where he was attached to General Headquarters. McNair again contracted sickness, dying at Genoa Hospital on 12th August 1918, aged twenty four. He is buried in Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa, Italy (Plot I, Row B, Grave 32).
His VC is held at the Royal Sussex Regiment museum at Eastbourne.


Lieutenant William Marychurch Morgan. Albert Medal.






During grenade instruction in a trench a man drops a grenade which sinks in the mud so only the smoke from the burning fuse can been seen. Second Lieutenant William Marychurch Morgan (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) who is outside the danger zone at once springs forward and gropes in the mud for the grenade. The difficulty of finding it adds greatly to the danger but he still picks up the grenade and throws it over the parapet just in time saving several men from death or serious injury. For his actions Lieutenant Morgan will be awarded the Albert Medal.


Today’s highlighted casualties include:

• Lieutenant Eric Henry Porter (South Staffordshire Regiment) is killed at age 27. His brother will be killed in November.
• Second Lieutenant John Whiteley Mallinson (Rifle Brigade attached Machine Gun Corps) is killed at age 20. He is the son of the Reverend J H Mallinson.
• Private Cyril Edward Briggs (East Kent Regiment) is killed in action at age 27. His brother will be killed in December 1917.
• Private George Brown Brocklehust (Royal Fusiliers) is killed at age 27. His brother was killed last November on Gallipoli.

Western Front.




Germans take 600 yards of British front trench on the 'Bluff' South East of Ypres between Ypres-Comines railway and the Canal.

Further German attack on Soissons failed.

Tunstall's men.

Billets at Fort Rompu.

The Battalion began its move back into Corps Reserve; this necessitated a 22 mile march to Steenbecque which was to be completed in two stages. The move began in heavy rain; Battalion transport, carrying kit and equipment moved off during the afternoon, but the men, in marching order and wearing their greatcoats, did not depart from Fort Rompu until 9.45 pm and marched overnight, crossing the River Lys at Croix du Bac and on via Steenwerck and Le Verrier, arriving at Vieux Berquin at 3 am on 14^th.

Pte. Tom Darwin (see 13^th February), who had originally been taken ill ten days earlier, was transferred from 8 Casualty Clearing Station at Bailleul to the Australian General Hospital at Wimereux for further treatment.

Capt. Harry Hildyard (see 11^th February), who had been on sick leave since early January, reported for duty with 11^th Battalion West Ridings at Brocton Camp, Cannock Chase, Staffs.


Eastern Front.

Continued Russian success round Dvinsk.

Southern Front.

Austrian airmen bomb Milan, Treviglio, Bergamo and Monza.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

Russians take another fort at Erzerum.

Political, etc.

War Office requests people not to phone it for “information as to the progress of events” when a Zeppelin raid is going on.
As it points out, when such events are happening “the whole of the military staffs are concerned are fully occupied, and, moreover, the telephone lines must be free for the receipt of official reports, the issue of orders, and the necessary control of defensive inquiries greatly impede the collection of information.”


Entente Powers make declaration guaranteeing to Belgium eventual independence and indemnification.

Remaining classes of single men called up in Great Britain.

Partial Romanian mobilisation completed.

Messrs. Rigden sentenced.

'TRADING WITH THE ENEMY". Feb. 14. Last. month William Gurden Rigden, William Fownes Rigden, and Stanly Fownes Rigden, partners of the well-known glove firm of Fownes Brothers and Company, were charged at the Guildhall with having traded with the enemy. Counsel insisted that an accountant was appointed under the Trading with the Enemy Act, and he found correspondence showing that the defendants, who had a branch in New York, and owned a company in Germany, had imported into New York from Germany goods to the value of £6,000. promising to pay the German firms after the war, paying additional interest, and promising more orders. Defendants were remanded, the presiding alderman remarking that it was a very serious case. Defendants were ordered to find bail in the sum of '2000 each.
The defendants have now pleaded guilty. W. C. Rigden was fined £5600, and W. F. Rigden sentenced to twelve months'. and Stanley P. Rigden to four months' imprisonment.

Unrest in Ireland.


Keep your eye on this.Ed.




An attack on vans of a Galway trader was blamed by the RIC on hostility towards him as a sub-director of army recruiting. Mr Young’s vans were carrying empty mineral water cases when the drivers were forced to leave them, the horses were driven away and the cases thrown out on the road between Clarinbridge and Oranmore.

Tailpiece. (for Baz.) Ed.




The soldiers of the Australian Imperial Force who fought in WW1 are usually remembered as heroic and patriotic. But they weren’t always compliant to military rule and were prone to cause trouble, both here and overseas.
Conditions in the recruitment camps at Liverpool and Casula were overcrowded and uncomfortable. In 1916, a year and a half into the war, the volunteers started agitating for better conditions, demanding more flexible leave arrangements and a canteen serving alcohol. When the recruits were told at morning parade on Monday 14 February 1916 that their weekly training regime would increase from 36 hours to 40 and a half hours a week, all hell broke loose.
The soldiers declared they were going on strike and decamped without permission. News of the strike travelled fast among the soldiers and by late morning about 3,000 men marched from Casula into Liverpool where they joined up with the Liverpool recruits.
They ran riot through the town. They packed into the hotels demanding drinks and distributing it out on the street in pots and pans, smashed and looted shops and overran the train at the railway station and headed into the city.
Mrs Elsie Collimore, interviewed 30 years ago, remembers scenes from the 1916 soldiers riot in Liverpool, which happened when she was a little girl. The euphoric and drunk soldiers reached Central station by about 11am and kept pouring into the city into the afternoon. Initially the protesting soldiers formed up and marched down George Street behind a placard protesting at their increased training load. But discipline soon disintegrated.
For a few hours anarchy ruled the streets of Sydney. The police were powerless to control the mob. Hotels were raided for booze, fruit stalls overturned, shops at the Queen Victoria Building and Grace Brothers at Broadway were smashed. The drunk soldiers targeted businesses with German affiliations – such as Kleisdorff’s tobacco shop in Hunter Street and the German Club in Phillip Street.
In the end the police called other military recruits from the Sydney Showgrounds to assist in bringing the soldiers under control. They were gradually pushed back towards Central and sent back out to Liverpool. However a fiery remnant of protesters took a last stand at Central in the evening, throwing missiles at police. This provoked a response. In the melee shots rang out. When things calmed down, Ernest William Keefe, a 20 year old trainee in the Light Horse, lay on the ground dead, and 6 or 7 others in the crowd (including a civilian) were injured. The shooting sobered everyone up.
It’s hard to know exactly how many recruits participated in the riot. There were both military and civic trials. At least 279 trainees were discharged from the army. And over 30 men were charged in the civil courts with riotous behaviour, assaulting police, damaging property, indecent language and the like.




Liquor Referendum sign, urging citizens to vote fro 9pm closing and 8pm as their 2nd choice. Located on the corner of Riley Street and William Street looking SW towards Yurong Lane, 1910. (City of Sydney Archives NSCA CRS 51/1831)
The unintended consequence of the riot was much more lasting. One of the soldiers’ gripes was that they wanted a canteen at the training camp serving alcohol. Well, they managed to spoil it for everyone, playing right into the hands of the temperance movement. An early-closing Referendum was scheduled for the 10th June on the liquor question. The temperance movement, supported by the conservative Sydney Morning Herald, demanded the closing of all bars until the war was over. The drunken behaviour of “Black Monday” was condemned as unpatriotic and made NSW “the shame of Australia”. Four months after the riot, the citizens of Sydney voted to close all pubs at 6 o’clock. This law remained in place until 1955.

So when you are having a beer at your local pub today on the 100th anniversary of the 1916 soldiers riot, spare a thought for the soldiers. While we might admire them for standing up for better conditions, their behaviour transformed pubs in Sydney forever.

Rob.

[Mike George]

Thanks again, for your time effort

[Naharaht]

Lohner B.VII (17.36) Pilot Sgt Philipp Postl, Observer Rudolf Szepessy-Sokoll.

A Caudron G.3 . I suspect that the plane shot down was one of these.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Thanks for the feedback Dave.
Rob.

[Flying Helmut]

Great stuff, once again.

Bringing charges of "indecent language" against Aussie soldiers?
They must have really been out for blood!

[Flying Officer Kyte]

15th February 1916.

2 airmen have fallen on Tuesday February 15th 1916.

Flt Sub-Lt Bernard Richards Lee Royal Naval Air Service Drowned in loss of seaplane while on patrol 15 February 1916 aged 20.
Flt Sub-Lt Herbert Joseph Page Royal Naval Air Service Drowned in loss of seaplane while on patrol 15 February 1916 aged 25.

There were no claims today.


Today’s highlighted casualties include:

• Lieutenant Colonel Edwy Baxter (114^th Canadian Infantry) dies on service in Canada at age 37. He is the son of the late Honorable Jacob Baxter.

• Second Lieutenant Harold Godfrey Bache (Lancashire Fusiliers) is killed at age 26. He played in 20 first class cricket matches between 1907 and 1910. He was also a fine footballer playing for West Bromwich Albion and winning an England amateur cap. He also played Tennis and Hockey for England.
• Sergeant Major Frank Cannon (Essex Regiment) is killed at age 32. He played football for West Ham United in 1909 and 1910.

• Born Hitchin, Hertfordshire November 8, 1884 Frank Cannon was signed in 1909 from Queens Park Rangers after scoring an impressive hat-trick against the Hammers in 1908. However Cannon only played 4 games for the Irons' scoring a solitary goal against Norwich City in a 5-2 win. On leaving the Boleyn Ground he signed for New Brompton the forerunner of Gillingham before moving on to Halifax Town.
• Rose to Colour Sergeant Major in the 11th Essex Regiment where he fought mainly around Ypres and the battlefields of Passhendale. He died on the February 15, 1917 of shrapnel wounds. After his death the following appeared in his local newspaper written by QM Sergeant L.P Martin,
• “The 13th Essex had been in the trenches for sixteen days and were just about to be relieved, ‘He was just ready to leave the trench when several shrapnel shells burst over him, wounding him and several others. Although his wound was rather serious – he was wounded in the back – it was quite thought he would get to England and recover, but I am sorry to say he died on his way to the dressing station about an hour after he was hit."
• On the day of his death the Germans fired over 16,000 shells. A commemorative plaque to the 13th Essex Regiment (The West Ham Pals) was unveiled outside the West Stand club shop in 2009.

• Private Harry Barnes (South Staffordshire Regiment) is killed in action at age 23. His brother will die at home two weeks after the Great War ends.

• Private Francis James Morley (Royal Fusiliers) is killed at age 21. His brother was killed last July.

. 15 Feb 1916: Pilot Arthur Travers Harris is posted to No 19 Reserve Sqn RFC. (BE2 – Northolt).




Western Front.



French regain ground at Tahure (Champagne).







At Ypres the British launch counter attacks to regain the Bluff and the Bean. These continue until the 16th with no success.


Tunstall's men.

Vieux Berquin

After taking a short rest after arriving at 3am, the Battalion resumed its march at 9.30am. Five hours later the Battalion finally arrived, having marched via La Motte, at their new camp one mile north of Steenbecque, where, despite the winter weather, the Battalion was to be quartered in tents. The War Diary recorded that, “The troops marched well; only a few cases of men falling out were reported”.
However, the long march may well have been what accounted for Tunstill’s Man L.Cpl. George Liddemore being sent back to England. He had been hospitalised briefly in August 1915 suffering from inflammation of the joints and now, just a week after surrendering his former rank as Corporal, (see 12^th February) was sent back to the Regimental Depot in England, having been taken ill.

Eastern Front.

German attacks in Dvinsk district repulsed.

Italian Front.


Preparations for the Fifth Battle of the Isonzo begins.



The Italians make minor advances against Austrian forces in the Italian Alps. The battle ends on the 17^th March 1916.

Naval and overseas.

Only one U Boat casualty today.





The Dutch Steamer Brandoeng Mined and damaged 4 miles S of the Kentish Knock LV by UC 5, captain Ulrich Mohrbutter


Political, etc.

Parliament meets.

Speeches on the war by Mr. Asquith and Lord Kitchener.

Agreement concluded between British Government and chieftains of the Bakhtiari (Persia) for co-operation in protection of Persian oilfields.

British Order in Council extends powers of Ship Licensing Committee to all voyages (see November 10th, 1915).
M. Sazonov makes representations to Allied Conference.


Senator Root attacks U.S. foreign policy.



Although seventy years of age, he continued to be active as an elder statesman. He opposed neutrality policy but supported him during the war;

Letter from Eustace Tennyson-d'Eyncourt (Admiralty) to WSC reporting on the successful trials of the first "landship" (or tank).




Rob.

[Hedeby]

I like the noteworthy casualties string you have going there Rob, you must leave a note of the source on the editor's desk when it becomes time to swap back...
I liked the whole ' sharing the love' aspect on Valentine's day.....

although here is my take on Valentine's Day...

[Flying Officer Kyte]

What are those monsters chief?
They look nothing like Little Willie.
I will put my information for the casualties under the Aspidistra pot in the Officers' Mess.
Remember a journalists we must protect our sources.





Kyte.

[Mike George]

Thanks for your time and work.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

STOP PRESS TODAY.



Tommies pay a flying visit to our Newspaper Offices.



They leave us a present to help our Reporters get around to cover stories better.




Kyte

[fast.git]

Love the header! Fantastically appropriate... though that grouping could be a little tighter.

Well done, as always, good sirs.

As I'm currently working through Pieters' astoundingly-good The Belgian Air Service in the First World War (Aeronaut Books, 2010), I can add that it rained, the Compagnie des Aviateurs reported no activity... and that they had a grand total of eight aircraft available for duty!

We've got a review of this fantastic resource on site here: http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...The-(Aeronaut)

The review (originally posted by Bluedevil/Alex in 2011) is a little dated, though accurate. I'll add some thoughts once I've had a little more time with it.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Reply from the Editor.

Dear Major Fast.git.
I am afraid the Grouping is down to the Editor in Chief. His small arms shooting is not as accurate as the guns on his "Biff".
Respectfully yours,
F.O.Kyte.sub editor.

[fast.git]

My apologies, good sir! No offense intended, nor in any measure so great as cannot be forgiven over a bottle (or two) of fine Scottish gin?

Perhaps after which we shall attempt a truer test of marksmanship... whomever shall pour straightest, without sparing a drop for the table, shall be declared the victor.

[Hedeby]

We have had a request to review the header and look at having the Lee- Enfield Mk.III instead of the KAR98k - the image is not quite as good... personally I prefer the current one - but am open to the views of the readership as well as fellow editors??

[fast.git]

Hmm. I don't have a horse in this race, per se, but I would prefer the original (despite my playful "jab" at the editor's shot grouping). Nothing wrong with the Lee-Enfield, but the Mauser 98 (more appropriately titled the Mauser Gewehr 1898, or Gewehr 98) was a game-changer. It is the quintessential bolt-action rifle... just about every modern center-fire bolt gun in existence today borrows at least a part of the Mauser's action and operating system. In fact, much of what we take for granted as obvious and normal components of bolt-action rifles were a part of Paul Mauser's revolutionary 1896 design.

The Gewehr 98 (G98, Gew.98, or M98) served as the standard German service rifle from its introduction in 1898 until it was replaced by a derivative, the Karabiner 98k, in 1935. Using Mauser's patented action, the Gew.98 fired the powerful 7.92x57mm Mauser cartridge from a 5-round internal clip-loaded magazine with an effective range of up to 500 meters over iron sights and 1,000 meters when paired with an 8x telescopic sight. Many of the features introduced on this rifle (forward locking lugs, stripper clip loading, single-piece firing pin, controlled feed extractor, cock-on-open action, built-in gas vents on the bolt sleeve, 3rd "safety" lug, etc.) were copied by, notably, the:

• M1903 Springfield
• Pattern 1914 Enfield
• M1917 Enfield ("American Enfield")
• Arisaka Type 38/Type 99

Btw, if I'm not mistaken, the header image identified in Chris/Hedeby's post as a "KAR98k" appears instead to be a post-WWI reissue of the Gewehr 98 (possibly a Gew.98b). The tangent-leaf rear sight (rather than the Lange-Visier v-notch quadrant sight) is indicative of Reichswehr service.

This is not a bad thing, mind you, as the Karabiner 98 kurz (Kar98k) is associated with the Second World War and I would much prefer to stick with what appears to be a First World War era long rifle.

Short story long: I'd like to stay with the Gew.98 image rather than switching to the Lee-Enfield.

[flash]

That's better ! The weapon is a bit pristine but at least it's British, why not alternate ?

[Naharaht]

Chris's pictures were of WW2 Valentine tanks, Rob. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine_tank

[Flying Officer Kyte]

No real preference either way sir.
Kyte.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

16th February 1916.

No deaths are recorded for Wednesday February 16th 1916.

No claims were made today.

Today’s highlighted casualties include:


Lieutenant Douglas Gilmour (Seaforth Highlanders) is killed in action at age 26. He is the son of ‘Sir’ John Gilmour of Lundin and Montrave, 1st Bt.

Douglas Gilmour was born on 13 November 1889. He was the son of Sir John Gilmour of Lundin and Montrave, 1st Bt. and Henrietta Gilmour. He married Doris Hyacinth Hooker, daughter of Charles Paget Hooker, on 16 December 1910. He died on 16 February 1916 at age 26, from wounds received in action.
He fought in the First World War. He gained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the service of the 7th Seaforth Highlanders.


Private Arthur Daniel Crane (Northamptonshire Regiment) dies of wounds at age 31. He is the first of three brothers who are killed in the war.




We much regret to record the death of Pte. D. Crane, 6th Northants Regiment, of Castor. Pte. Crane was seriously wounded in the back while on active service in France on Jan 28th. He was taken to the casualty clearing station, where he remained nine days. He was then moved to the base hospital at Rouen, but he was too seriously injured ( he had a fractured spine) to recover, and he died peacefully on Feb 16th. He was laid to rest with full military honours on Feb 17th, in St. Ewen’s cemetery, Rouen, where many more of our brave English boys who have given their life for King and country repose. The Rev. Dr. Richards, chaplain to the 11th Stationary Hospital, Rouen, officiated. Mrs Crane cannot speak too highly of the care and attention bestowed upon her husband by the nurses and their kindness in writing to her full particulars of his state. They speak highly of his patience and courage, and gratitude, and cheerfulness. In a letter to Mrs Crane, the Chaplain also speaks of Pte. Crane’s great courage and fortitude, and the Commissioner of Graves has promised to send a photograph of the grave to Mrs Crane. Deceased was a great favourite with his comrades at the Front, who speak highly of his good qualities. He is the first of the Castor contingent to lose his life in the war. One of his comrades who was fighting by his side says that when wounded Crane, although in terrible agony, would not even groan and let them know how badly he was wounded, until the fighting was over. Canon Hulbert most sympathetically alluded to him in his sermon on Sunday evening, when Mrs Crane and her children were at the service. The sympathy of every one goes out to the widow and her three children in their sad bereavement. Pte. Crane was a most affectionate father, writing home almost daily. He was also very much liked and esteemed by his master (Mr Gordon Smith) and his fellow workmen.

Western Front.


Ypres prelude.Enemy diversionary attacks around the Ypres Salient: the Bluff, 14 February – 2 March 1916.






Small local efforts to counter attack over the next two days failed. The all-important Bluff position had been lost, and it would take more than localized efforts to regain it.
The operations in the area of the Bluff from the start of the enemy attack to noon on 17 February cost the British 1,294 casualties.

Tunstall's men.

Corps Reserve at Steenbecque.

Once settled at their new location, cnditions immediately proved difficult and it was reported that, “A strong wind got up during the night accompanied by heavy rain. A number of tents were blown down during the day. The air is very pure. Owing to recent heavy rain there is much mud about. The water is reported not good, and the farmers’ milk is also considered of questionable quality. Orders have been issued that water and milk must be boiled before drinking”.
However, for the next week the weather remained good and the time was spent mainly in training exercises. It was while here that the Battalion finally received short Lee Enfield rifles to replace the older models which had originally been issued to them.

Southern Front.






Remnants of Montenegrin army land at Corfu.

Bulgaro-Austrian advance on Durazzo.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

Russians take Erzerum; nearly 13,000 prisoners and 323 guns.

After five days of intense fighting, the Russian army defeats the Third Turkish Army to capture Erzerum, a largely Armenian city in the Ottoman province of Anatolia, on this day in 1916.





The Central Powers considered Turkey, which entered World War I in November 1914, a valuable ally for two reasons: first, it could threaten British interests in the Middle East, and second, it could divert Russian troops from the front in Europe to the Caucasus. Unfortunately for the Turks, the success of this second objective resulted in the loss of the Turkish province of eastern Anatolia to the Russians in 1916.







The brilliant Russian campaign of February 1916 was commanded by General Nikolai Yudenich, one of the most successful and distinguished Russian commanders of the war. On February 11, the Russian troops began their attack on Erzerum from the south, over Kop Mountain. Once the Russian forces broke through the Turkish lines to the south and began to attack other Turkish positions, the fall of Erzerum seemed inevitable. The Third Turkish Army began abandoning their equipment and retreating from their positions as the Russians entered the city. In total, the Russians captured more than 1,000 guns and artillery and took some 10,000 Turkish prisoners.





With the capture of Erzerum, arguably the strongest and most important fortress in the Turkish empire, the Russians had gained the upper hand in the battle for control on the Caucasus front. With this one victory, the Russians captured or controlled all the roads leading to Mesopotamia and Tabriz and, in essence, controlled western Armenia.


Arabs desert from Turkish army in large numbers.

Naval and Overseas Operations.

Conquest of Cameroons practically completed.



Only one U boat sinking was recorded on this day.



The French Steamer Memphis, Mined 4 miles NW of Laghi off Durazzo, by UC 12 Captain Eberhard Fröhner. the ship was towed to Durazzo but sank there on the 19th. There were no recorded casualties.


Political, etc.

Air debate in House of Commons.

U.S. refuses German proposals on the "Lusitania" question.

Entente renews pledges to Belgium.

War Office take over anti-aircraft defence of London from the Admiralty, and become responsible for anti-aircraft defence generally throughout the kingdom.
War Office also take over from the India Office control of operations in Mesopotamia.

Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

17th February 1916.

A slow news day.

2 airmen have fallen on Thursday February 17th 1916.


A Mech 2 James Ernest Amos Royal Flying Corps 1 Training Centre. Died 17 February 1916 aged 40.


A Mech 2 Benjamin Arthur Fitton Royal Flying Corps No.2 Training Centre. Died 17 February 1916.



No claims were made on this day.


Today’s highlighted casualties include:




Lieutenant Maurice James Banister (The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment) is killed in action at age 23. He is the son of the Reverend Edmund Dawson Banister.






Second Lieutenant James Douglas Tombs (Border Regiment) dies of illness at age 27. He is the son of the Headmaster of Haverfordwest Grammar School and his brother died of wounds last September.
Entered College in Michaelmas Term, 1910. A member of the 1st Rugby Football XV, 1910 - 1913. A member of the University Contingent of the Officers' Training Corps. B.A., 1914. Assistant Master at Greenfield Preparatory School, Seaford, 1914. Commenced service on 28 December 1914. Second Lieutenant, 7th Battalion, Border Regiment serving in France. Died at the 7 General Hospital, Malasisse, St. Omer during active service, 18 February 1916.






Private Hugh Hargreave Wyatt-Smith (London Regiment) dies in Italy of appendicitis at age 18.


Western Front.


Tunstall's men.

Corps Reserve at Steenbecque.

The weather remained good and training continued.

Major Paul Hammond, who was the elder brother of Lt. Leonard Hammond Transport Officer for 10DWR, was wounded whilst serving with 8^th Battalion East Lancs Regiment; he was hit by a stray bullet as he was leaving a communication trench at the village of Foncquevillers, and suffered a compound fracture of the femur. He was evacuated to No.1 General Hospital, Etretat, on the coast, north of Le Havre.

Major Paul Hammond

Lt. Leonard Hammond

Southern Front.


Berat (Albania) occupied by Austrian forces. (see July 10th, 1918).




Austro-Hungarian occupation of Albania (1916-1918)


The largest part of Albania was occupied by Austria-Hungary. This occupation was presented as "friendly", because Austro-Hungary and Albania were not at war. The Austro-Hungarians left the local administration in place, formed an Albanian gendarmerie and opened schools. The development of a proper Albanian language and orthography was promoted to reduce Italian influences. They also built roads and other infrastructure. Less popular was their attempt to confiscate weapons, which were all-present amongst the civilian population. Nevertheless, several thousand Albanians fought on the side of the Austro-Hungarians against the Allies.
The Military Administration was established at Scutari.
Austro-Hungarian Military Commander was Hermann Kövess von Kövessháza (Feb 1916 - Mar 1916), commander of the 3rd Army

Naval and Overseas.

Last German forces in South Cameroons cross border into Spanish territory for internment.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

British land at Chios.





Chios island is crescent or kidney shaped, 50 kilometres (31 mi) long from north to south, 29 kilometres (18 mi) at its widest, and covers an area of 842 square kilometres (325 sq mi). The terrain is mountainous and arid, with a ridge of mountains running the length of the island. The two largest of these mountains, "Pelineon" (1,297 metres (4,255 ft)) and "Epos" (1,188 metres (3,898 ft)), are situated in the north of the island. The center of the island is divided between east and west by a range of smaller peaks, known as "Provatas".

Vurla bombarded.

Political, etc.

Republican party in U.S. Congress promises support to Administration in opposition to German submarine policy.

Rob.

[Rebel]

We have had a request to review the header and look at having the Lee- Enfield Mk.III instead of the KAR98k - the image is not quite as good... personally I prefer the current one - but am open to the views of the readership as well as fellow editors??

I'd go for the Enfield but then I have drilled with and fired one (Mk.IV) and never having been in the German QArmy have no experience of the K98.

[Boney10]

Enfield preferred for me, same reason as Reg

[Flying Officer Kyte]

18th February 1916.

1 airman has fallen on Friday February 18th 1916.


A Mech 2 Reginald Butt 17 Reserve Squadron Royal Flying Corps. Died 18 February 1916.

Nothing further known.

There were two claims today.




Oberleutnant Ludwig Hautzmayer of Flik 19 flying a Fokker E.III (03.52) shot down Caproni Ca.I over Merna, near Gorizia for his first victory.




Hauptmann Kostrba of Flik 4 flying Fokker E.I (03.51) destroyed a Caproni Ca.I over Palmanova for his first victory. It was shared.

Kostrba joined the Austrian army and served in the infantry before his transfer to aviation. He became a pilot in October 1914 and was sent to the Italian front. He was the first Austro-Hungarian ace to down three enemy aircraft in one day. When the war ended, Kostrba founded the Czechoslovakian Flying Corps and was its first commanding officer.




Today’s highlighted casualties include:






Sergeant-Major Alexander Mann Kirton is a Quartermaster-Sergeant in the Australian Infantry. He was born in Bunbury, Western Australia, the son of Richard G. Kirton and Mary Ann. In civilian life he was a bank clerk who enlisted on the 14^th August 1914. He rose rapidly through the ranks; from corporal, to sergeant and then ended as quartermaster-sergeant. He embarked at Freemantle on the fleet transport Ascanius on the 2 November for the Dardanelles campaign. In Gallipoli during 1915 he became seriously ill and was taken off, first to the island of Lemnos (where Rupert Brooke died in 1915) and then to hospital in Alexandria. After recovery he was posted, as instructor, to the infantry training school at Zeitoun where yesterday he is mortally wounded in the head and chest in a hand grenade accident. He dies in hospital from these injuries at age 22.
Lance Corporal William Ballard (Suffolk Regiment) is killed at age 23. His brother will be killed in August on Gallipoli.
Corporal Charles David Houghton (Gloucestershire Regiment) is killed at age 26. His brother will be killed in October 1917.


Western Front.

Artillery duel at Ypres.



French troops shelter.


Tunstall's men.
Friday 18th February 1916

Corps Reserve at Steenbecque

The weather remained good and training continued.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald carried a report on the death of Pte. Harry Iredale (see 12^th February):

EARBY SOLDIER KILLED.

The sad news of the death, on February 11^th (sic), of another Earby soldier was received on Wednesday morning, referring to Pte. Harry Iredale, of the 10^th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment. Deceased, who was only 19 years of age, was the only son of Mrs. Iredale, Colne Road, and grandson of the late P.C. Iredale, of Earby. He joined the Army in September, 1914, and had been in France about six months. Before enlisting he was employed as a weaver at Messrs. J. S. Watson and Sons, Albion Shed.
The sad news was contained in the following letter from Pte. M. Beaumont, a stretcher-bearer in the 'A' Company:-

Southern Front.


Italian advance in Collo zone.

On the 18^th Feb 1916 heavy bombing raids by Italian Caproni bombers on Laibach was made in retaliation for an earlier Austrian raid on Milan.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

Russians take Mush and Aklat (Armenia).

Naval and Overseas Operations.



British Cavalry in Cameroons.

The German forces in Togoland surrender and an area the size of Germany comes under British control. During the entire Cameroon campaign the British and French have suffered 7,000 casualties.

Surrender of Mora completes conquest of Cameroons by Anglo-French forces.
Overshadowed by the scale of the fighting on the Western Front, the war in Africa reflected the political situation in Europe. The Scramble for Africa in the 1870s had created a patchwork continent of territories held by the imperial European powers. When those powers declared war in 1914, the colonies in Africa found themselves at war.
On 18 February 1916 in West Africa, the German colony of Cameroon fell to the French and British following 17 months of fighting. In July 1915 the German Southwest Africa colony (present day Namibia) had been taken by the Allies following 11 months of fighting between the Germans and South African and Rhodesian troops loyal to the British. This left a single German colony remaining in Africa; German East Africa. There, 10,000 troops skilfully commanded by General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, pursued by a British-led force ten times larger, held out until the end of the war.



German supply column in German East Africa.

German attack repulsed at Kachumbe (Uganda).

Political, etc.

Debate in French Chamber on government control in army zone: Government secures vote of confidence.

Rob.

[Hedeby]

Stirling effort Rob - theres not a lot of 'news' about at the moment - but the Battle of Verdun kicks off very soon so that should provide plenty of information

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Yes Boss. I'm looking forward to that, and a few Zep raids in March.
Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

19th February 1916.

No deaths are recorded for Saturday February 19th 1916.

No claims were recorded on this day.

However, on that day there were two BE2cs that came down, but neither from enemy fire, though they might still have generated rescue party work.

BE2c (2077) of 15 Sqdn. (2/Lt S.N. Ellis uninjured).

BE2c (2079) of 12 Sqdn. (2/Lt D.G. Little uninjured).

Today’s highlighted casualties include:

The husband of Mrs. Eleanor Mary Clayton Sykes-Banks, Major William Sykes-Banks (Dorsetshire Regiment attached Headquarters Dieppe) dies of illness. Her two sons will also lose their lives before the end of the Great War.

Lieutenant Victor Charles Moore Mayne (South Wales Borderers) is killed at age 20. His brother was killed last May.

Corporal Samuel Gribben (Highland Light Infantry) dies of wounds at home. His brother will die of wounds in June of this year.

Private Thomas Ogden (Manchester Regiment) dies of wounds received in action at age 32. His two brothers will also be killed in the Great War.




Captain Edward George Gatacre, who was born in Barnstaple, Devon in 1884 and was educated at Cheltenham College. He joined the army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry in 1905.
Edward soon became captain for his regimental rugby team and helped to win the Calcutta Cup between 1907 and 1910.
This is a different trophy to its now more famous counterpart (Edward is not listed on the RFU's Roll of Honour), having been set up in 1890 by the rugby section of the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club as an inter-club trophy. Officially known as the Calcutta Rugby Union Challenge Cup, it was promptly christened the Calcutta Cup.
By 1911, Edward was in India with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding Regiment). That year, Edward and his comrades formed part of the Guard of Honour at the last Delhi Durbar or Court of Delhi, a mass assembly at Coronation Park, Delhi, in the presence of King George V to mark his succession as Emperor of India.
Edward went to France with his regiment on 29th October, 1915. He was wounded on the Somme on 19th February, 1916, while the West Riding Regiment was in trenches south-east of Hebuterne. He died, aged 32, the following day.
Edward is buried at Louvencourt Military Cemetery, France.

Western Front.

A brief synopsis of some of the things going off today.

3rd Monmouths on the march.

The 3rd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment moved from Cassel to billets at Steenvorde, about 14 miles west of Ypres. They had their first experience of marching on the Pave, a road surface of uneven stone, which in wet weather became treacherous to the heavily loaded infantryman. Orders were issued during this period assigning the 3rd Monmouth's to the 83rd Infantry Brigade, which came under the 28th Division, which was commanded at this time by Major General Bulfin.

2nd Life Guards engaged in Squadron work.
2nd Life Guards - War Diary records: Squadron went out to work 3 separate schemes.

Leave cancelled'
All leave cancelled and postponed for present. The relief of Lt. Armstrong MO DLI by Lt. Cohen tomorrow has therefore been cancelled.

19th Feb 1915 South Staffs relieve 2nd Queens.

19th Feb 1915 4th Camerons to France.

Relocations.

Auchel units of 6th London Brigade RFA went to Bowry for training. The Brigade arrived at 1400. Auchy. Units remaining at Auchy are under their own arrangements. A Billeting party went on to Bowry.

19th Feb 1916 Air Raid.

16th Northumberland Fusiliers march South.

The 16th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers march from Villers-Bocage to Camon, a suburb of Amiens.

Batteries Cutting Wire.

236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report C236 Battery came into action in position immediately south of Left Infantry Brigade HQ as reserve Battery for raid operation. Wire cutting continued by A236, B236, B104 and D236 Battery with the other Howitzers firing again on right area National - one hundred and eighty rounds. X47 Trench Mortar Battery again fired sixty rounds at enemy wire.


Tunstall's men.

Corps Reserve at Steenbecque

The weather remained good and training continued.


Having spent the last week at home on leave (see 12^th February), Major Lewis Ernest Buchanan was declared unfit to return to duty for at least a further three weeks. The immediate cause of his disability was not stated but given his age (he was forty-eight) it seems likely that he, like Captain Harry Robert Hildyard (see 17^th February) was simply no longer fit enough to withstand the rigours of trench warfare. It would, however, be mid-May before Buchanan was formally replaced as Second-in-Command of the Battalion.


Ex-Tunstill’s Man, Dvr. Arthur Overend (see 22^nd November 1915), now serving with the ASC at Cirencester, again found himself in trouble, as he had on a number of previous occasions. He was found to have been, “insolent to an NCO” and was ordered to be confined to barracks for three days.



Eastern Front.

General Kuropatkin appointed to command the Northern front.


Naval and Overseas Operations.



HMS Valiant was commissioned into service with Captain Maurice Woollcombe as her first commanding officer.










General Smuts arrives at Mombasa.







Major-General Tighe succeeded by Lieut.-General Smuts in command of British forces in East Africa.





Political, etc.

Letter from Prince Nicholas of Greece to "Le Temps".

Action begun in Admiralty Court to recover "Appam".

Greek protest against French action in Corfu.

U.S. protest to Turkey on Armenian massacres.



On February 19th, 1916, The Irish Times published an “urgent manifesto to the people of Ireland” from the Irish Parliamentary Party leader John Redmond.



In it Redmond reiterated his call for Irish men to mark the “profound change” in the relationship between Britain and Ireland by “wholeheartedly supporting the Allies in the field”.
Redmond continued: “I pointed out that at long last, after centuries of misunderstanding, the democracy of Great Britain has finally and irrevocably decided to trust Ireland and I called upon Ireland to prove that the concession of liberty, would, as we have promised in your name, have the same effect in our country as in every other portion of the Empire.”
Redmond’s call was in response to a fall-off in recruitment in Ireland which predated the Rising and accelerated afterwards. He warned that the gaps in the ranks would be filled by others if they were not filled by Irishmen.
The Irish men at the front had “appealed through me to farmers, labourers, artisans and to every class of our people not to desert them. In your name I promised them in France and Flanders that Ireland would stand by them.”


Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

20th February 1916.


5 airmen have fallen on Sunday February 20th 1916.

Capt William Knox 13 Squadron Royal Flying Corps February 20th 1916. The pilot of BE 2c 2054 when Capt W Knox was killed was 28 year-old 2Lt Frank Arthur Garlick of Denver, Colorado, and East Barnet, Hertfordshire, who was also killed in action.

2Lt Frank Arthur Garlick 13 Squadron Royal Flying Corps Killed in Action 20 February 1916 aged 28, during an aerial combat.

2Lt Charles Gordon Procter Royal Flying Corps February 20th 1916.
Born at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Son of Charles Edward and Ada Jane Procter, of Moundsmere, Longbenton. Pilot fell from aircraft after it nosed dived and rolled over, Catterick aged 18.

2Lt Ernest John Radcliffe, 21, Royal Flying Corps February 20th 1916. Maurice Farman, Sideslipped, crashed into house and burnt, Brooklands.

Flt Sub-Lt Francis Hamilton G. Toms Royal Naval Air Service February 20th 1916. Avro 504C 8587, RNAS, Crashed and caught fire, Chingford.

Claims.

There were two claims today.
Flt.-Cdr. Roderic Stanley Dallas, D.S.C., R.N.A.S. claimed an unconfirmed C (DD) whilst flying his Nieuport 11 (3981) over Nieuport.






Dallas joined the Australian army in 1913. When war broke out, he applied for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps but was rejected. Instead, he joined the Royal Naval Air Service in 1915. Flying Nieuport Scouts, Sopwith Triplanes and Sopwith Camels, Dallas scored 23 victories before he assumed command of 40 Squadron on 1 April 1918. Two weeks later, he was wounded while strafing enemy troop positions but continued flying combat missions. With the S.E.5a, he scored 9 more victories before he encountered three members of Jasta 14 and was killed in action, shot down by Johannes Werner in a Fokker DR.I.
Flt.-Cdr. Roderic Stanley Dallas, D.S.C., R.N.A.S.
In recognition of his services on the 23rd April, 1917, when with two other machines he engaged a formation of nine-hostile scouts and two-seater machines. Two two-seater machines were shot down, one of them by Flt.-Cdr. Dallas unassisted.
(The award of the Distinguished Service Cross was announced in the London Gazette of 6th September, 1916.)










Leutnant Gustav Leffers claimed his third victory a B.E.2c (2054) over Aizecourt le Bus.( see top item above.)




Leffers was killed in action when his Albatros D.II was shot down by John Quested of 11 Squadron.


Home Front.

Seaplanes of Seeflieger Abteilung No.1 were in action over English coastal towns again on Sunday 20 February 1916. The wireless station at Caister on the Norfolk coast picked up radio transmissions at 10.30am but before their significance could be established, bombs began falling on Lowestoft. The approaching aircraft were a Friedrichshafen FF 33e and a Hansa-Brandenburg NW.




The first aircraft appeared at 10.55am and circled over the southern side of the town for about five minutes, dropping bombs and heading back out to sea. The second raider appeared at 11.10am with one report stating it remained over the town for six minutes while another claimed eight minutes.

The raiders dropped 19 small high-explosive bombs of which one failed to detonate and two fell in the sea. The bombs caused no serious damage according to official reports, but a newspaper mentioned considerable damage to ‘two dwellings and the outbuildings of a restaurant’. One bomb exploded close to the Primitive Methodist Chapel, blowing out the windows while the congregation were inside.





A newspaper reported, ‘The congregation was greatly alarmed, but left without disorder or panic, the service being abandoned.’ Three bombs also fell ‘harmlessly’ close to the gasworks. The bomb that failed to detonate crashed through the roof of a workman’s cottage and landed in the bedroom, the occupants having a lucky escape. Some slight military damage occurred at the headquarters of the 5th Provisional Brigade. A bomb struck a greenhouse and broke the telephone line; a staff captain and a clerk received minor glass cuts.

Five RNAS aircraft took off from Yarmouth to oppose the raid but with the first only getting airborne at 11.05am they were too late to engage the two raiders. A 6-pdr and a 12-pdr gun opened fired from Lowestoft, as did HMS Halcyon from the harbour, firing one round from a 4.7-inch gun, all without effect.
Casualties: 1 killed, 2 injured .

Another Friedrichshafen FF 33e had already aimed bombs at shipping about five miles south of the Kentish Knock light vessel, damaging the steamer Glenfoyle, when it appeared over Walmer at around 11.20am.





According to a newspaper report many of the citizens of Walmer were out enjoying a Sunday stroll when the aircraft appeared. A cry of ‘Look out; It’s a German! Get under cover!’ was heard, then six HE bombs were released, aimed at the Royal Marine Barracks. Three of the bombs missed, falling in the sea, but one struck the target. A Marine, who was outside the barracks at the time, received slight cuts to his leg from glass splinters. Another bomb exploded in Dover Road breaking numerous windows but the remaining bomb had tragic results. Two friends, George Castle and Cyril Pedler, were walking along a road by the sea known as The Beach when the first bombs landed in the sea. Moments later another ‘fell with a blinding flash at their feet’, killing Castle, 16, and seriously injuring Pedler, aged 17.

A large number of aircraft took off from Dover, Eastchurch and Grain but most only managed to get airborne after the raider had turned for home.

On 20 February 1916 an anti-aircraft gun was stationed at Wested on what is now Crockenhill Football Gound, and a searchlight installed at Harvestfield.

Western Front.

26 British aeroplanes raided Don behind German Flanders line.

German bombardment opened north of Verdun.

Germans attempt to cross Yser at Steenstraate, capture post at Boesinghe.

- Eastern Front.

Russian success on the Dniester in Bukovina.

Southern Front.

Deportation of Greeks from Xanthi by Bulgarians.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

British airmen destroy power station at El-Hassana (Sinai).

Naval and overseas.

There were three losses to German U Boats on this day.




UB 13 Karl Neumann Belgian Fishing smack David Marie was taken as a prize off the Flanders coast.

UC 14 Casar Bauer. British Navy Drifter Gavenwood was mined and sunk off Brindisi with 11 casualties.

UC 5 Ulrich Mohrbutter. British Steamer Dingle sunk, mined 10 miles SxW of the Kentish Knock LV, Thames’ mouth. with 9 casualties.


Rob.

[Hedeby]

Good one Rob - lots of air related stuff as well. Thank you

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Hopefully as we get into the year the balance will swing to our main interest as air activity hots up. I'm thinking that we may only find time to do full biography for pilots first kill and then just limit them to a line for subsequent kills, unless they do something noteworthy, like gain a medal or bring down a famous opponent.
Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

21st February 1916.

2 airmen have fallen on Monday February 21st 1916.



B.E.2c 989, RNAS Release mechanism tangled; airship AP1 inverted and crashed.




Sqdn Cdr De Courcy Wyndor Plunkett Ireland Royal Naval Air Service Fell out of Airship / Aeroplane combination AP 1 when it side slipped, and fell to his death in the Medway 21 February 1916 aged 31.





Wg Cdr (Cdr) Neville Florian Usborne Royal Naval Air Service Killed in Airship/Plane AP1 when it crashed into a goods yard.


For the full story see here.:- http://www.usbornefamilytree.com/neville1883.htm

No claims were made today.

Today’s highlighted casualties include:

H M Trawler Carlton (Skipper Joseph Herbert Sandford) is lost with her crew of eight.

Private William Hunter (Loyal North Lancashire Regiment) is shot at dawn for desertion at age 20.


Shot at dawn Memorial

Western Front.

Battle of Verdun begins.






At 7:12 a.m. on the morning of February 21, 1916, a shot from a German Krupp 38-centimeter long-barrelled gun—one of over 1,200 such weapons set to bombard French forces along a 20-kilometer front stretching across the Meuse River—strikes a cathedral in Verdun, France, beginning the Battle of Verdun, which would stretch on for 10 months and become the longest conflict of World War I.





By the beginning of 1916, the war in France, from the Swiss border to the English Channel, had settled into the long slog of trench warfare. Despite the hard conditions in the trenches, Erich von Falkenhayn, chief of staff of the German army, believed that the key to winning the war lay not in confronting Russia in the east but in defeating the French in a major battle on the Western Front.




In December 1915, Falkenhayn convinced the Kaiser, over the objections of other military leaders such as Paul von Hindenburg, that in combination with unrestricted submarine warfare at sea, a major French loss in battle would push the British—whom Falkenhayn saw as the most potent of the Allies—out of the war.







The chosen mark of Falkenhayn’s offensive was the fortress city of Verdun, on the Meuse River in France. The city was selected because in addition to its symbolic importance—it was the last stronghold to fall in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War—it was possible to attack the fortress city from three sides, which made it a good strategic target.



Ammunition dump.

Ignoring intelligence that warned of a possible German attack in the region, French command had begun in 1915 to strip its forces at Verdun of the heavy artillery essential to defensive warfare, choosing instead to focus on an offensive strategy masterminded by General Ferdinand Foch, the director of the army’s prestigious War College, and dubbed Plan XVII.





Thus the German attack of February 21 caught the French relatively unprepared.




From the beginning, the Battle of Verdun resulted in heavy losses on both sides. Falkenhayn famously admitted that he did not aim to take the city quickly and decisively, but to bleed the French white, even if it meant an increased number of German casualties.




Within four days of the start of the bombardment on the Meuse, the French forward divisions had suffered over 60 percent casualties; German losses were almost as heavy.



French counterattack.



Zeppelin L.77 brought down by French.





The news that a Zeppelin had been shot down by a French anti-aircraft gun was received with joy both in France and this country, where the murderous exploits of these craft have obliterated any feeling of sympathy that might have been felt for the crew in their terrible fate. The fine achievement of the French gunners was first officially announced in a Paris communiqué of February as, which stated : ” A Zeppelin, flying south from St. Menehould, was brought down by the motor-gun section. The Zeppelin was shot through with an incendiary shell, and fell in flames in the neighbourhood of Brabant-le-RoL”





A later communiqué said: “The Zeppelin brought down at Brabant-le-Roi is the ‘L 77,’ of very recent construction. It was set fire to by an incendiary shell, and, on coming to earth, was further destroyed by the explosion of the bombs on board. The bodies of the officers and men forming the crew of the Zeppelin have been found in the cabin-boat.” The loss was admitted in the German Main Headquarters report issued in Berlin on the 22nd. “A German airship,” it stated, “last night fell a victim to the enemy’s fire.”





Southern Front.

General Sarrail received by King of Greece.

Naval and overseas.


Six ships fell prey to U boats on this day
.
UB 12 captained by Wilhelm Kiel accounted for no fewer than three of them.

Belgian Fishing vessel La Petite Henriette sunk SE of Lowestoft.
British Fishing Smacks Oleander and W.e. Brown both stopped and scuttled 28 miles of Lowestoft.

UC 12 Eberhard Fröhner sank Italian Hospital ship Marechiaro Mined off Cape Laghi, Durazzo with 33 casualties.

UC 5 Ulrich Mohrbutter sank the Dutch Tanker La Flandre Mined near Galloper LV with 39 casualties.



Finally




UC 6 captained by Matthias Graf von Schmettow sank British Navy trawler Carlton Mined off Folkestone with nine casualties.

Political, etc.

Vote of Credit.

Lieut.-General Sir H.C. Sclater, Adjutant-General, Home Forces, Great Britain, resigns.

Lieut.-General Sir C.F.N. Macready, Adjutant-General, British Expeditionary Force, France, resigns.

Germany informs U.S. through a press representative that she regards armed merchantmen as cruisers.( Ooh Scary!) Ed.

Rob.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Special Edition 22nd February 1916.


No deaths are recorded for Tuesday February 22nd 1916.

No claims were made today.


Western Front.

British recovery in Givenchy Wood.






Battle of Verdun: Germans fail at Brabant, but take Haumont Wood and the Beaumont salient. French evacuated Haumont village, retook part of Beaumont salient; Bois de Caures evacuated.

Sniper's times exclusive.

By our special corespondent at Verdun.
For the first time since the Christmas truce we bring you an exclusive on two soldiers from the German side of the lines at Verdun.

Caures Forest: 22nd of February 1916 The men of the 25th Infantry Division (from Hessen) fought in the Caures forest in the opening phase of the Verdun Offensive. The I. Bataillon of the Infanterie-Leib-Regiment 117 was in the wave of assault troops. The documents to two of the men serving in the battalion and an account of the days fighting follows. Unteroffizier Robert Olbrich of the 3. Kompagnie was wounded by a rifle or machine gun bullet in the left arm during the assault. He was very possibly evacuated with Gefreiter der reserve Hans Fleischhacker who was wounded by a shell splinter. The two men fought in the same battalion from the outbreak of the war including the assault on Maurupt. Hans Fleischhacker 10 years after his wound in the Caures-Wald. (To make the narrative easier to follow, German designations are used for the 117. Regt. and English ones for the 115th Regt.) On the 22nd of February at 3:00 a.m. the I. Bataillon left Romagne-sous-les-Cotes and took an already prepared march route to the east of the Cote de Romagne through the Mont-Aube-Wald, passing through Ville-devant-Chaumont and reaching the assault positions 1 km to the Southwest of Ville which had been prepared on the night of the 20th-21st of February. The Battalion, reinforced by the Festungs Machinen-Gewehr Zug 168, was put under the command of the divisions Sturmtruppen commander, Oberst von Dassel of the 49th Infanterie Brigade. At about 8:00 a.m. the artillery fire increased reaching the infamous "Trommelfeuer" level as heavy artillery and Minenwerfer hammered the enemy frontline. The assault began at noon. Half an hour earlier the Leib-Kompagnie (1. Kompagnie under Leutnant Pätzelt) and 2. Kompagnie (Oberleutnant Sümmermann) had positioned themselves just behind the left wing of the Leibgarde-Regiment 115 and were able to join the assault right away. The Leib-Kompagnie (117. Regt) joined the 5th and 7th Companies of the 115th Leib Regt in taking the blockade on the road from Ville to Vacherauville were 41 prisoners with 2 heavy machineguns were captured. The three companies then pushed left over the road reaching the southern border of the Caures-Wald by 2:30 p.m. The 2. Kompagnie which had followed the Leib Kompagnie until the crossing of the road had joined the 6th company of the 115th Leib Regt and had reached the southern border of the Caures-Wald at 2:00 p.m. Here the troops had to wait for artillery support and the arrival of the neighbours on the right flank. The 3. and 4. Komp. under the command of the Bataillon-Kommandeur, Major Henrici, left the staging area at 1:30 p.m. and followed the Leib Kompagnie and 2. Kompagnie, all the time hassled by strong enemy artillery fire which first fell on the German staging area, then moved back to the French second line of defence. For this reason the attached Flamethrower troops could not advance with the companies. Hearing that the enemy still held the C Stellung (3rd defence line) on the divisions right flank (in front of the I./115) Major Henrici ordered the 3. Komp. to march in that direction. A field artillery piece under Leutnant Deinhardt of the Field Artillery Regiment 61 was rushed forward and gave the assault troops some breathing space. The 3. Komp. under Leutnant Ellinghaus was on the left wing of the I./115 and two of its sections (under Leutnant Bender and Feldwebel Lahr) took a number of Blockhouses along the Ville-Vaucherauville road along with 100 prisoners and three machine guns. From here they crossed to the Southern border of the Caures-Wald where Lahr's section took another two blockhouses. The 4. Komp. stayed as the reserve of the Bataillon-Kommandeur upon reaching the C Stellung. In the meantime it was about 4:00 p.m. While the Leibgarde Regiment 115 dug in on the southern edge of the Caures-Wald the I. Bataillon of the Infanterie Leib Regiment 117 under Major Henrici pulled back into the Trenches 815-816 behind the Leibgarde Regiments left flank. During the Afternoon the 117. Regt. staff, II. and III. Batl. along with the regimental M.G. Kompagnie moved into the Mont-Aube-Wald. The II. Batl. then into the staging area that the I. Batl. had waited in before the assault, to the Southwest of Ville. That evening the 5. and 8. Kompagnie occupied the Dewitz-Graben (Trench) The Infanterie Leib Regiments losses for the 22nd of February 1916 were: I. Batl. 8 Killed, 32 wounded. II. Batl. 19 wounded. After his recovery Olbrich served as an instructor at the Feld Rekruten Depot of the 8. Armee. As an afterthought to his participation in the Verdun battle he was awarded the Hessen Bravery Medal in May 1917. The wound badge certificate for Hans Fleischhacker. While most documents leave us in the dark as to where and when the wound was suffered, this one very kindly has the date of his departure from the Regiment, which was the date of the wound. The Iron Cross 2nd class award document to Gefreiter d.R. Fleischhacker, awarded and forwarded to him months after his last action with the Regiment. The Militärpaß entry for Fleischhacker indicating a wound by a Garantsplitter. The Paß tells us that after his wound Fleischhacker served in the Festungsgendarmerie in the Festung Mainz. The entry in Olbrich’s Militärpaß for his wound on the 22nd of February in the Caures-Wald. Below: The canteen of Ersatz Reservist Scharkopf of the 12. Kompagnie, I.L.R. 117. It was pierced by schrapnel at Verdun and discarded in the forest. (The top hole is a shell splinter hole that goes through both sides of the canteen, the botton hole seens to have been made by an entrenching tool. Scharkopf seems to have survived the war.

German aeroplane raid on Dunkirk.

LZ95 raided Vitry-le-Francois.





Tunstall's men.

Corps Reserve at Steenbecque
There was a heavy fall of snow and a sudden interruption to the established routine late in the day when orders were received that “all training be suspended and that the Battalion must be held in readiness to move off at a moment’s notice”. In the words of the official Divisional History, “It looked as if the Division was be given a ‘side-slip’ on this flat and dreary front in place of the rest which they had confidently expected”.

L.Cpl. Matthew Best (see 8^th February) who had suffered an accidental injury to his chest during training in January and had been in hospital, was passed fit and ordered to be sent to the Infantry Base Depot at Etaples.




L.Cpl. Matthew Best

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

Russians approach Trebizond.

Naval and Overseas Operations.





HM Submarines D7 and E30 proceeded to Skagerrak to stop iron ore trade from Narvik to Rotterdam.


Japanese warships reported in the Mediterranean.





Prize crew from "Moewe" bring a British ship to Santa Cruz and blow her up.



. British SS Westburn put into Teneriffe with German prize crew and 206 prisoners from ships sunk by raider Möwe.


Political, etc.


Lieut.-General Sir G. H. Fowke appointed Adjutant-General, British Expeditionary Force, France (see 21st).

Lieut.-General Sir C. F. N. Macready appointed Adjutant-General, Home Forces, Great Britain

Inter-parliamentary Commission opens at Paris.

Blockade policy attacked in the House of Lords
.
Tsar reopened Duma in Petrograd. He iswell received.





President Wilson's diplomatic emissary to Europe, "Colonel" Edward House, met and agreed with the British Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey, the outline details of a veiled threat to Germany
The so-called 'House-Grey Memorandum', noted in memo form by Grey, involved the U.S. 'inviting' German participation in a U.S. inspired peace convention; the failure of Germany to attend would lead to U.S. military involvement.
A marked departure from the official U.S. policy of neutrality, House's agreement with Grey was not cleared in advance by Wilson, who was almost certain to object to House's actions.
In the event House was spared inevitable humiliation by Wilson. The British Government led by Prime Minister Asquith vetoed the suggestion.Memorandum of Sir Edward Grey

Confidential
22 February 1916
Colonel House told me that President Wilson was ready, on hearing from France and England that the moment was opportune, to propose that a Conference should be summoned to put an end to the war.
Should the Allies accept this proposal, and should Germany refuse it, the United States would probably enter the war against Germany.
Colonel House expressed the opinion that, if such a Conference met, it would secure peace on terms not unfavourable to the Allies; and, if it failed to secure peace, the United States would leave the Conference as a belligerent on the side of the Allies, if Germany was unreasonable.
Colonel House expressed an opinion decidedly favourable to the restoration of Belgium, the transfer of Alsace and Lorraine to France, and the acquisition by Russia of an outlet to the sea, though he thought that the loss of territory incurred by Germany in one place would have to be compensated to her by concessions to her in other places outside Europe.
If the Allies delayed accepting the offer of President Wilson, and if, later on, the course of the war was so unfavourable to them that the intervention of the United States would not be effective, the United States would probably disinterest themselves in Europe and look to their own protection in their own way.
I said that I felt the statement, coming from the President of the United States, to be a matter of such importance that I must inform the Prime Minister and my colleagues; but that I could say nothing until it had received their consideration.
The British Government could, under no circumstances accept or make any proposal except in consultation and agreement with the Allies...
(initialled 'E.G.' by Sir Edward Grey)
Foreign Office






COUNT BERNSTORFF U.S. INDIGNANT.
New York, February 20th.

All the morning newspapers indicate their displeasure with big headlines, and many practically accuse Count Bernstorff of having turned the German Embassy into a publicity bureau for the purpose of influencing American sentiment into pro-Teutonic channels, through the systematic giving out of misleading statements.
The “Herald’s” Washington correspondent says—Threats that a certain Ambassador will be sent home if the unfair Press propaganda does not cease are made by an official who is in a position to make such threats good.
The ambassador’s dismissal could have thrown the Rising plans into disarray. Count Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff was the diplomat in New York who was relaying messages to Berlin of the required arrangements to supply guns for the Irish Republican Brotherhood’s planned Rising at Easter.

Rob.

[Hedeby]

Blimey Rob - what an outstanding edition, thank you, we will have our hands full as the battle of Verdun progresses (wish my French was better as I bet some of their sites are bursting with information).
I am away on business for a couple of days but would you like me to take over from Friday?

[Flying Officer Kyte]

23rd February 1916.


1 airman has fallen on Wednesday February 23rd 1916.

A Mech 2 Thomas Farrant Wells 6 Squadron Royal Flying Corps Died of Wounds (gas) 23 February 1916 aged 25.

No claims were made today.

Today’s highlighted casualties include:




Major Douglas Reynolds VC (Royal Field Artillery) dies of septicemia from gas poisoning received in December 1915 at Le Touquet, France. He had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 26^th August 1914 at Le Cateau and on 9^th September 1914 at Pysloup. His son will be killed as a Lieutenant serving in the Irish Guards in May 1940. The younger Reynolds was born the month before his father died.
The son of Lt.-Col. Henry Charles Reynolds and Sarah Eleanor B. Goodwyn, he was educated at Cheltenham College. He was 31 years old, and a Captain in the 37th Bty., Royal Field Artillery, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 26 August 1914 at Le Cateau, France, Captain Reynolds took up two teams with volunteer drivers, to recapture two British guns and limbered up two guns under heavy artillery and infantry fire. Although the enemy was within 100 yards he managed, with the help of two drivers (Job Henry Charles Drain and Frederick Luke), to get one gun away safely. On 9 September at Pysloup, he reconnoitred at close range, discovered a battery which was holding up the advance and silenced it. Reynolds later achieved the rank of Major, but was wounded in action, and died in the Duchess of Westminster's hospital in Le Touquet, France, on 23 February 1916.
Major Reynolds is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery in Northern France, while his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich, London.


Lieutenant Ronald John Mortlock Lias (Sussex Regiment) is killed at age 26. He is the son of the Reverend John James Lias Chancellor of Llandaff.

Second Lieutenant Leonard Ewbank (Border Regiment) is killed at age 23. His brother will be killed in November 1917 and they are sons of the Reverend John Ewbank Rector of Bolton.





Second Lieutenant Evelyn Ernest Arnold Collisson (Bedfordshire Regiment) is killed at age 22. He is the son of the Reverend Thomas Collisson Rector of Gravenhurst.

Private Herbert Anthony (Northamptonshire Regiment) dies from the effects of war service at home. His brother will be killed in October 1917.

Private F Hibbert (King’s Own Lancaster Regiment) is killed at age 20. His brother was killed last October.



Western Front.




LZ87 raided Epinal.

Battle of Verdun: French evacuate Bois des Caures, Ornes and Samogneux. Germans claim 3,000 prisoners.



French regain part of trenches at Givenchy.



Tunstall's men.

Corps Reserve at Steenbecque

At 11am, in conditions described by J.B. Priestley as, “absolutely arctic – blizzards and terrible frost”, the men were assembled and marched, at the head of the Brigade, twelve miles east in the freezing conditions to the area between Neuf Berquin and Estaires, arriving at 5pm. Here they “slept, or rather tried to sleep, in ramshackle old sheds, huddled together without blankets or anything”.

Orders had been received at Brigade level for 69^th Brigade to occupy trenches in the Laventie sector, relieving 23^rd Brigade; however, these orders were quickly rescinded.



Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

Russian capture of Erzerum relieves Egyptian front.

Naval and Overseas Operations.


Three U Boat successes were achieved on this day, and there was one notable miss.



Max Valentiner and U 38 were responsible for two.






British Steamer Diadem. Sunk56 miles SExS of Porquerolles Island, and French Sailing vessel Roubine, shelled and sunk 30 miles S25E of Porquerolles Island (E of Toulon) with two casualties.

UC 12 captained byEberhard Fröhner Italian Navy Trawler Monsone Mined and sunk off Durazzo with eight casualties.





White Star SS Olympic is missed by an unknown U-Boat's torpedo in the Mediterranean.

Portuguese seize German steamers in Tagus.




SMS SeaGull

On February 8, 1916 Westburn, a British steamship, was captured by SMS SeaGull 530 miles north northeast from Pernambuco. Pernambuco is now known as Recife, Brazil. Acting Lieutenant Reinhold Badewitz was in command with a prize crew of seven German sailors when Westburn was scuttled on February 24, 1916, just outside Santa Cruz harbor, Tenerife, Canary Islands.




Westburn was a British steamship built in 1893 by Short Brothers at Sunderland, England for the James Westoll line. She was 351 feet in length and 3,300 tons with a speed of 7 knots.
This was the second of three ships owned by the Westoll line lost to German surface ships during the war. Mary Ada Short was captured and sunk by Prinz Eitel Friedrich on February 18, 1915. Gladys Royle was captured and sunk by Seeadler on January 9, 1917.
Captain A. T. Campbell was in command with a crew of 25 when Westburn sailed from Liverpool on January 31. She was bound for Buenos Aires, Argentina with a cargo of 3,878 tons of Welsh steamcoal.





Twenty-four crewmembers were landed in Tenerife, Canary Islands on February 23, 1916.


POWs taken by Seagull on her first voyage.

On February 28, they sailed on the liner Athenic arriving in London on March 3. Captain Campbell and second officer Charles Mattson were on SeaGull when she sailed into Wilhelmshaven, Germany on March 4. They were interned as prisoners of war.



The Canary Islands are a Spanish possession. Spain remained neutral for the duration of the war.


For more info on SMS. Moewe/ seagull see here:-

http://smsmoewe.com/ships/smsmsm.htm

Political, etc.




Kaiser visited Wilhelmshaven.

Admiral von Pohl died in Berlin.

General Smuts arrives at Nairobi.







Lord Robert Cecil appointed Minister of Blockade.


Peace debate in Commons.

Rob.

[Rebel]

(Quote)
Tunstall's men.
Corps Reserve at Steenbecque
At 11am, in conditions described by J.B. Priestley as, “absolutely arctic – blizzards and terrible frost”, the men were assembled and marched, at the head of the Brigade, twelve miles east in the freezing conditions to the area between Neuf Berquin and Estaires, arriving at 5pm. Here they “slept, or rather tried to sleep, in ramshackle old sheds, huddled together without blankets or anything”.
Orders had been received at Brigade level for 69th Brigade to occupy trenches in the Laventie sector, relieving 23rd Brigade; however, these orders were quickly rescinded. ( Quote)

Hi Rob. I never cease to be amazed at the apparently aimless movement of 'resting' troops in the Great War. There is a book which I would recommend to anyone with an interest in the Great War which is:
The War The Infantry Knew 1914 - 1918 by Captain J.C.Dunn who was the medical officer of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. It is a day by day diary of his time in France enhanced with the recollections of his fellow officers and men. In it you will find many instances of moves from one billet to another with apparently little rhyme nor reason.
The Daily Telegraph reviewed this book and said about it. "Sometimes, through word of mouth and shared enthusiasm, a secret book becomes famous. The War The Infantry Knew is one of them. Published privately in a limited edition of five hundred copies in 1938, it gained a reputation as an outstanding account of an infantry battalion's experience on the Western Front.
John Keegan said " It is one of the most interesting and revealing books of it's type".

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Glad you like Tunstall's men Reg.

It is more or less the same as the book that you mention excepting it misses out the odd day, probably because it is even less exciting than most! I was dubious about adding it, but felt it helped to show the mindless side to the war a bit. It is good to know that you don't think it is just a filler and of no interest.
The Editors do welcome constructive feedback from the readers. The price of the News has not gone up since its inception over a year ago, and printing letters from readers will not alter this, despite the shortage of printers ink, paper and photographic plates. Fortunately, when it comes to typeset there is no shortage of lead.
Ed.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

24th February 1916.

1 airman has fallen on Thursday February 24th 1916.

A Mech 1 Frank Careless Royal Naval Air Service H.M.S. 'Espiegle' Died 24 February 1916 Iraq Arabia.

No claims were made today.


Today’s highlighted casualties include:


Second Lieutenant Victor Morton Cansfield (Royal Field Artillery) is killed. His brother will be killed next month.

Second Lieutenant Dugald Roderick Christie (Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 19 in Mesopotamia. He is the son of Dr. Dugald Christie CMG Manchurian Missionary.


Home Front.

The first British Territorial division (the North Midland) [Not to be confused with first division of the New Armies, for which see May 9th.] leaves England for France.


Tunstall's Men.
Thursday 24th February 1916.

Between Neuf Berquin and EstairesDespite the urgency of the previous two days, there was now a hiatus in activity; the War Diary reported that, “Nothing further has transpired. We were however instructed to "Stand to". The weather is bad”.

2Lt. John Henry Hitchin (see 7^th February), who had been absent without leave from 11^th Battalion West Ridings since 29^th December 1915 was formally confirmed as having been, “removed from the Army” on account of his absence.


Western Front.

Battle of Verdun: front extended from Malancourt to Fromezy: part of Bois des Fosses taken by Germans.



The Germans bring in new offensive troops into the battle. These are bombarded heavily by the French artillery from the left bank of the river Meuse, which is after all not being attacked by the Germans. This was one of the points of criticism against the plan of Falkenhayn who wanted to attack, solely on the right riverbank. In spite the heavy bombardment the Germans succeed in taking Cote 344, as well as the Bois de Fosses, the Bois de Chaume and the village of Ornes. At the end of the day the situation becomes extremely critical, because the second line of defence is lost as well.
But precisely on this day French relief troops have arrived: the XXth army corps, under command of general Balfourier is going to replace the XXXth army corps of general Crétien. The troops are getting cold, tired and hungry from the forced marching during the day but this new troops are thrown into the fray immediately.



French victims after the bombardment


Despite the crisis situation in Verdun, the French headquarters receive positive information; the German offence is supposed to be weakening and counterattacks would be made. In the evening the chief of the central army group, general Langle de Cary, calls and delivers a very pessimistic report. Joffre’s chief of staff, general De Castelnau, advises to send the IId French army, under the supervision of commander Phillipe Pétain, as reinforcement to Verdun immediately. He himself leaves for Verdun instantly with the authority to make the necessary arrangements.



Dead French soldiers are buried by Germans on the battlefield


Verdun Action 21-25th Feb.


Southern Front.

Durazzo evacuated by Albanians: Essad Pasha goes to Italy.

Naval and Overseas.


Master Donald Douglas (S S Arbonne) is killed along with crew of thirteen when his ship is sunk by the submarine UB2 three miles east of the Kentish Knock Light Vessel.

Fireman Tom Derbon Teanby (S S Tummel) is killed when his ship is sunk by a mine seven miles south from the Kentish Knock. His brother was killed in September 1914.






This photograph depicts a PDR Balloon Gun at the Watertown Arsenal, outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The arsenal was established in 1816, by the United States Army for the receipt, storage, and issuance of ordnance. In 1995 all Army activity ceased and the remainder of the site was converted to civilian use and now houses a shopping mall and office park.


Political, etc.

Initially the British were content to accept material aid from Portugal but were less enthusiastic about the young Portuguese Republic actually taking part in the fighting. The growing logistical problems affecting the Allies did however lead the British to ask the Portuguese Government in December 1915 for permission to requisition all the German ships moored in their ports, and this was done on 24 February 1916. In reaction, Germany declared war on Portugal on 9 March.

German promise of Polish independence announced in Duma.

U.S.-German Relations Critical; Plan To Break Off Relations With Germany Is Forecast. The relations between the U. S. and Germany depend upon the instructions believed to be en-route from the Kaiser's government to his ambassador in Washington.

The Irish Times:
Dublin Metropolitan Police notes on surveillance of subversives: “Alderman Thomas Kelly, T S Cuffe, Gerald Crofts and Henry Dixon, were observed at the Sinn Féin Rooms, 6 Harcourt Street at 8.





Irish Volunteers drilling.

Photograph: Defence Forces Military Archives/Cathal Brugha Barracks/militaryarchives.ie 75 members of the Irish Volunteers, 50 carrying rifles, in charge of E Daly and FJ McCabe, went route marching towards Fairview. They returned at 10.15pm and dismissed without further parade.

Footnote:

Jules Verne’s "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" opened in New York.

Rob.

[Tonx]

A Mech 1 Frank Careless Royal Naval Air Service H.M.S. 'Espiegle' Died 24 February 1916 Iraq Arabia.

This unfortunate surname reminds me of a story I once heard about Frank H Coward from my late Godfather Steve Coward. Somehow upon signing up during April 1915 there was a surname mix-up out of which he became Frank C Howard and about which he remained silent. By the outbreak of World War 2 Mr Coward Snr was in a Reserved Occupation so this never had the opportunity to happen again.

Many years later when I joined up myself one of my training syndicate was John Dean Doran. Who somehow in the administrative process became John D Dean. However given that both of us found ourselves serving alongside another chap from Glinsby in 5th Hunderside this says a lot about armed forces administration standards in the early 1990s ...

[Flying Officer Kyte]

25th February 1916.


1 airman has fallen on Friday February 25th 1916.


A Mech 2 Howard Hine Scruby No.2 Army Aircraft Park Royal Flying Corps Killed in enemy air raid 25 February 1916 aged 34
No claims were made today.

Today’s highlighted casualties include:



Major (Acting Lieutenant Colonel) Edward Campion (Seaforth Highlanders) dies of gassing at home received in May of last year at age 42. He is the third son of W H Campion CB who served in the same regiment in the Crimea and Indian Mutiny. His brother Charles was killed in the South Africa War as a Lieutenant in the Imperial Yeomanry in 1901.






Major and Quartermaster Harry Studley (Black Watch) dies on service at home at age 52. His son will die of wounds in October 1917.



Captain Hugh Clifford Chetwode Lloyd (Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry) is killed at age 24. His brother died of wounds last April.

Second Lieutenant Eric Arthur Walton Wood (Duke of Wellington’s Regiment) is killed in action at age 20. He is the son of Dr. Arthur Wood JP.


Western Front.



French prepare to counter attack.






Battle of Verdun: Germans claim 10,000 prisoners: Germans take heights of Louvemont: French organise line of Champneuville-Ornes and evacuate civil population of Verdun: General Petain arrivesto take command at Verdun.






Costly German attacks on Douamount Plateau by 5th Brandenburg Divison repulsed from Douamont village, but a few Germans reached the old fort.



Douaumont was a massive structure, protected by two layers of concrete over a meter thick, and surrounded by a seven-meter-deep moat and 30 meters of barbed wire. When it fell on February 25 to the German 24th Brandenburg Infantry Regiment with the kaiser on hand to deliver his personal congratulations, German jubilation was matched only by the French army’s shock and sadness.




Fort de Douaumont 05:10 in the afternoon German soldiers slide into the dry ditch ( on found telephone poles).
On February 25, 1916, German troops seize Fort Douaumont, the most formidable of the forts guarding the walled city of Verdun, France, four days after launching their initial attack.



The barrack room inside Fort Douaumont, where German soldiers take some rest


The Battle of Verdun will become the longest and bloodiest conflict of World War I, lasting 10 months and resulting in over 700,000 total casualties.


Russians beyond Erzrum took Ashkala.

Germans captured Hill 344.


Tunstall's Men.

Between Neuf Berquin and Estaires
The weather remained bitterly cold and the Battalion passed a second day on stand-by, but received no further instructions.

The weekly edition of the Craven Herald reported on the poignancy of a letter written just days before his death by Pte. Harry Iredale (see 18^th February):
LETTERS FROM THE FRONT - A PATHETIC REMINDER
Pathetic interest attaches to the following letter, written only three days before he was mortally wounded, from Pte. H. Iredale of the 10^th Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment, whose death at the age of 19 years was recorded last week:-
5th February, 1916
"Dear Mr. Bartley, - I received the parcel about a fortnight ago, but as several of the lads have not yet received their parcels I thought I would defer writing. We do very well for clothes and socks, and as a rule we have a bath and change of underclothing every five days, so that socks and comforts from home are hardly necessary. We all do very well for food, though it is plain, but we can hardly expect anything else out there, so we have to rely on the parcels sent from home. The weather is gradually changing for the better, and, I suppose, harder fighting. Our regiment has been out here nearly six months now so we are expecting the usual month's rest, and probably a pass. We received a parcel for Pte. Greenwood, who is in hospital, but as men in hospital are not allowed parcels we divided it amongst the lads. We have not much time to spare in the trenches, so I shall have to bring this letter to a close, again thanking you for the most welcome parcel.
"I remain, yours sincerely, H. IREDALE."





Pte, Harry Iredale

The same edition also reported on the recent marriage of Sgt. Tom Pickles (see 12^th February):
From the Trenches to the Altar

Sergt. Tom Pickles, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who arrived home from France on a week’s leave on the 11^th inst. was married on the following Saturday, the 12^th, at the Baptist Church, Colne, to Miss Nora Leach, of 3 Calder Street, Colne. The bridegroom is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Pickles of Walden House, Barnoldswick. He has been in France several months.

There was also notice of the continuing fund-raising efforts of Mrs. Geraldine Tunstill (see 14^th January):

GIFTS ACKNOWLEDGED

Mrs. H.G. Tunstill acknowledges with most grateful thanks the following gifts for “A” Company, 10^th West Riding Regiment: 22 pairs of socks, 1 muffler from Cawood (per Mrs. Hemsworth); 3 pairs of socks from Mrs. Thorpe, Settle; 20 pairs of socks from Halton West Sewing Party (per Mrs. Yorke); 4 pairs of mittens, £2 (monthly subscription), Mrs. H.G. Tunstill; 24 pairs of scoks from Slaidburn and District (per Mrs. King-Wilkinson); 4 pairs of socks, 1 muffler from “A friend of the Soldiers”; 24 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of mittens, 1 scarf from Newton and District (per Mrs. Peel). These comforts have been sent with 2,500 cigarettes, 12 bottles lemon squash, 1 dozen Tommy’s cookers, 300 candles, 100 pipes to Captain Tunstill for distribution to the men.

Many more socks are required, also shirts, which will be gratefully acknowledged if sent to Mrs. Tunstill, Otterburn, Bell Busk.


Major Paul Hammond, who was the elder brother of Lt. Leonard Hammond, Transport Officer for 10DWR, died at No.1 General Hospital, Etretat, having been wounded a week earlier (see 17^th February). Although he had initially made a good recovery, Paul Hammond had contracted pneumonia; he was buried at Etretat Churchyard.

Lt. Leonard Hammond

Major Paul Hammond

Southern Front.

Russians beyond Erzrum took Ashkala..

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

Russians occupy Sakhne and Bideswikh Passes, Kashan and Ispir (Persia).
A force of Senussi attacks the British column at Wadi Maktil just before the British are about to depart to make an attack themselves. They open fire with two field guns and a machine gun. The Royal Scots and the South African Regiments quickly deploy and silence the enemy at very little loss.

Naval and Overseas.

H M Drifter Lily Reaich (Skipper Robert Grant RNR age 22) is sunk by a mine off Durazzo. Her skipper is killed along with nine other members of the crew.



British SS Saxon Prince captured and sunk by Möwe 620 miles west from Fastnet





Photograph of the Wilson line ship the SS Dido. The Dido was sunk by a German mine at the mouth of the Humber on 25 February 1916. Second mate Jack Altoft was among the crew members who lost their lives.


UC 10 commanded by Alfred Nitzsche was responsible for sinking the British Steamer Southford. Mined 4 miles ESE Southwold with four casualties.

Political, etc.


President Wilson writes to Senator Stone that he will not abrogate rights of American citizens in the matter of travel by sea.


Lieut.-Colonel Gerald Johnstone Lipyeatt STONEY, D.S.O., M.C.





On the 25th February 1916 he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, Military Wing as a Wing Adjutant.

Rob.

[Ken at Sunrise]

President Wilson writes to Senator Stone that he will not abrogate rights of American citizens in the matter of travel by sea.

I thought he wrote the letter on the 24th.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive...649C946796D6CF

I love that you are doing this.

Thank you,

[Flying Officer Kyte]

26th February 1916.


No deaths are recorded for Saturday February 26th 1916.


Three claims were made today.



Sous Lieutenant Jean Navarre made two claims today.
His first and 4th overall claim was a Fokker EIII over Dieu.
His fifth was an unspecified two seater over Maheulles.





The son of a wealthy paper manufacturer, Navarre was the first French pilot to be officially declared an ace in an army dispatch. Assigned to MS12, he began the war by shooting at enemy aircraft with a rifle from his Morane-Saulnier L. On 1 April 1915, he scored his first victory in the Fismes sector, bringing down an Aviatik with three well placed shots. With his transfer to N67, Navarre began flying the Nieuport 11 and on 25 February 1916, he became the first French pilot to shoot down two enemy aircraft in a single day. He was also the first French fighting pilot to be cited in orders. Flying above the lines in a red "Bébé," Navarre was easily identified by the poilus in the trenches who witnessed several of his victories. A solitary hunter, he would attack from behind and below his opponent's aircraft, standing in the cockpit to fire his wing mounted machine gun. Shot down over the Argonne on 17 June 1916, Navarre suffered a head wound from which he never fully recovered. Following a two year stay at an asylum in Paris, he returned to the front but flew no more combat missions. In 1919, having been selected to fly a Morane-Saulnier through the Arc de Triomphe during a post-war celebration, Navarre was killed in a crash while training for the event.

Médaille Militaire.

"Sergent pilot of Escadrille MS12 of remarkable skill and audacity. He has battled two enemy planes in one week, meeting them and attacking from a few meters in spite of the enemy observer's fire. He forced one of them to land behind our lines, allowing the pilot and observer, both of whom had been wounded by his observer's fire, to be taken prisoner." Médaille Militaire citation.


Légion d'Honneur



"Adjudant pilot of Escadrille MS12, remarkably adroit and devoted, he has had several aerial combats, one of which permitted the capture of two enemy officers and an enemy plane. He volunteers for all the delicate missions, and has executed special and particularly perilous missions with complete success." Légion d'Honneur citation


Oberleutnant der Reserve Ernst von Althaus made his third claim today. It was a BE2c West of Lahons.




Ernst Althaus joined the 1st Royal Saxon Hussar Regiment as an Ensign at the age of 16 and was promoted to Leutnant in 1911. Awarded the Military Order of St. Henry and the Iron Cross, second class, on 27 January 1915, he transferred to the air service on 4 April 1915. Nicknamed Hussar Althaus, he completed his training and was promoted to Oberleutnant before joining FA 23 on 20 September 1915. Two months later he joined Kampf Kommandos Vaux and scored 5 victories before he was wounded in action in April 1916. When he recovered, he was awarded the Iron Cross, first class, the Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, and in July 1916, the highly prized Orden Pour le Mérite. Wounded again on 4 March 1917, Althaus recovered and was posted to Jasta 14 shortly before Manfred von Richthofen selected him to command Jasta 10. With this unit he flew an Albatros D.V (1119/17) with his personal marking, the letters H and A (for Hussar Althaus), spelled out along the fuselage in morse code. He scored one more victory with this aircraft in July 1917 but the following month, due to failing eyesight, he was forced to relinquish command of Jasta 10 to Werner Voss. He then assumed command of Jastaschule 11 but his eyesight worsened and he returned to the army, commanding a company of infantry near Verdun. There he was captured by the Americans on 15 October 1918. Although completely blind by 1937, post-war, Althaus became a lawyer and was the Director of the County Court of Berlin during World War II. Before his death due to illness in 1946, he served as an interpreter for the Allies.


Second Lieutenant David Cunnighame Woodside (Royal Scots Fusiliers) is killed in action at age 20. He is a son of the Reverend David Woodside DD and has two brothers who will be killed later in the Great War.

Captain John Crosbie Bengough (Gloucester Hussars) the Aide de Camp to General Peyton is killed at age 27.

Second Lieutenant Cecil Henry Paulet (Dorset Yeomanry) is killed at age 40. He is the grandson of the Reverend Lord Charles Paulet.

Home Front.


Forty squadron Royal Flying Corps is formed at Fort Grange, Gosport Hants under the command of Captain G R Howard.


Western Front.

French air-raid on Metz-Sablons.


Fort Douaumont

Battle of Verdun: Germans capture Fort Douaumont: French save the situation by a counter-attack and repulse Germans at Poivre Hill.They are forced back from the fort.


Tunstell's Men.


Between Neuf Berquin and Estaires


As on the previous day, the Battalion remained on high alert, but received no orders, until, late in the evening, they were ordered to be made ready to return to Steenbeque next morning.


CSM Harry Dewhirst (see 7^th February) joined 11^th (Reserve) Battalion DWR, with whom he would be employed as an Instructor.



CSM Harry Dewhirst (back left) pictured in 1914 with other NCOs of the Battalionhoto by kind permission of Henry Bolton)

William George Wade (see 3^rd December 1915), serving with the Army Cyclist Corps, was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal; he would later be commissioned and join 10DWR.



William George Wade, pictured in 1918
(photo by kind permission of Henry Bolton)

Trooper Claude Darwin, (see 20^th February) was released from hospital in Egypt, having been treated for mumps, and rejoined the Australian Light Horse. He was the brother of Tunstill recruit, Pte. Tom Darwin, who was currently being treated for ‘debility’ whilst serving with 10DWR (see 14^th February).

. Southern Front.

Activity on Italian front: indecisive results.

Italians leave Durazzo.

Serbians, Montenegrins and Albanians withdraw from Albania.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

Russians occupy Ashkala (Armenia).




Senussi attacked and defeated by Brigadier-General Lukin near Agagia (Barani, Egypt).




Charge of Dorset Yeomanry; Gaafer Pasha, prisoner.

At 09:30 the Western Frontier Force under Brigadier General Lukin near Agagia, (Barani, Egypt), attacks the Senussi. The Dorset Yeomanry carries out a brilliant charge joined in battle by the South African Infantry. They are accompanied by six armored cars under the Duke of Westminster. The attack is a model of desert warfare and the enemy is destroyed while its leader Gaafer Pasha and his staff are captured. The remnants of the enemy retreat 50 miles west to Sollum.

Naval and Overseas Operations.

The Grand Fleet left Scapa Flow for two days watching and exercise cruise in the northern part of the North Sea.



French Armed merchant Cruiser "Provence II" torpedoed in Mediterranean by U35 captain Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière (930 lost).




UC 12 Eberhard Fröhner sank hired drifter Lily Reaich (Skipper Robert Grant) after striking a mine off Durazzo. Her crew of ten is killed.




UC 10 Alfred Nitzsche sinks Sweedish steamer Birgit 4 miles outside of the Kentish Knock LV One casualty.




UC 7 George Haag sinks British steamer Dido Mined 4 miles outside of the Kentish Knock LV

Political, etc.

Taxation of war profits in Germany ordered.

Rob.

[Maverick]

100 YEARS AGO TODAY...... 26th February 1916

Western Front
Battle of Verdun: Germans capture Fort Douaumont: French save the situation by a counter-attack and repulse Germans at Poivre Hill.

Southern Front
Activity on Italian front: indecisive results.

Italians leave Durazzo.

Serbians, Montenegrins and Albanians withdraw from Albania.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians occupy Ashkala (Armenia).

Senussi attacked and defeated by Brigadier-General Lukin near Agagia (Barani, Egypt).

Charge of Dorset Yeomanry; Gaafer Pasha, prisoner.

Naval and Overseas Operations

French transport, "Provence II" torpedoed in Mediterranean (930 lost).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The above is the summary extract from the war records daily report....

It appears that by 1915 activity was fierce on both land and sea....
in most of the globe..

We shall remember them

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I thought he wrote the letter on the 24th.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive...649C946796D6CF

I love that you are doing this.

Thank you,

Answer to readers questions.
Very true Ken, but news of this did not reach the U.K. until the morning editions of the 25th.
Ed.

[Maverick]

On this day 100 years ago ~ 27th February 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: Germans take Talou Hill, and repulse five attacks on Fort Douaumont.

French repulse attack on Eix station.

Southern Front

Austrians occupy Durazzo.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians occupy Kermanshah (Persia).

Farafra and Dakhla Oases occupied by Arabs.

Naval and Overseas Operations

P. & O. liner "Maloja" mined off Dover (155 lost).

We shall remember them

Maverick

[Flying Officer Kyte]

27th February 1916.


1 airman has fallen on Sunday February 27th 1916.


Flt Lt Harold H Rosher Royal Naval Air Service Dover Naval Air Station. Killed in aircraft accident, aged 21, when Bristol Scout Type C 1258, 5 Wing, Dover nose dived and crashed.




No claims were made today.


Today’s highlighted casualties include:



Commander Seymour Fisher-Rowe (HMS Falmouth, Royal Navy) dies of illness at home at age 39. He is the son of Lady Victoria Fisher-Rowe and grandson of 1^st Earl of Ravensworth.

Second Lieutenant Andrew William McGregor (Black Watch) is killed in action at age 22. He is a Rhodes Scholar.

Private Fred Tyerman (Yorkshire Regiment) is killed at age 18. His brother will be killed in four days.


Western Front.

Battle of Verdun: Germans take Talou Hill, and repulse five attacks on Fort Douaumont.

French repulse attack on Eix station.

Tunstall's men.

Between Neuf Berquin and Estaires.
The purpose of the recent emergency move had not become clear and even the official Divisional History later reported that, “a certain amount of marching and counter-marching took place; the reasons for this have not been discovered, but the nature of the movements ordered seem to indicate an uncertainty as to the enemy’s intentions”. Whatever the emergency, it turned out to be short-lived; “we messed about several days, but evidently weren’t needed, so returned wearily to our ‘rest’ camp – in six inches of snow”. Lt. Richard Bolton (see 11^th January), writing years later, recalled that, “the Division was ordered forward again and marched via the Foret de Nieppe to the Estaires area. Naturally the air was full of rumours which were very far from the truth; it was later learnt that an attack had been planned with a view to relieving the pressure on the French at Verdun. Nothing came of this and once more the Battalion returned to Steenbecque”. A six-hour march, starting at 9.30am saw the Battalion back at Steenbecque at 3.30pm. Orders were issued for the Battalion to resume their training programme.



Southern Front.

Austrians occupy Durazzo.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

Russians occupy Kermanshah (Persia).

Farafra and Dakhla Oases occupied by Arabs.


Naval and Overseas Operations.


S S Maloja




The British armed merchantman SS Maloja is mined and sunk by UC 6 captain Matthias Graf von Schmettow 2 miles southwest from the Dover Pier killing 122.
He also accounted for the British Steamer Empress of Fort William. Mined 2 miles S of the Dover Pier with no casualties.



U35 Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière sank the Italian Steamer Glava off SW Cape Matapan. No casualties.




UC 7 Georg Haag sank the Dutch Passenger SteamerMecklenburg. Mined near the Galloper LV with no loss of life.

Russian Steamer Petshenga Mined and sunk1.5 miles E of Aldeburgh Napes S. buoy by an unknown assailant.


Political.

Bad news for the Sniper's Times et al.

It is expected that the Government proposals, which entail heavy curtailment of supplies to newspaper owners and others, will be shortly enforced. This will necessarily lead to a reduction in the size of newspapers, and no waste of any kind on the printed editions can be permitted. Agents and Vendors will, therefore, be good enough to exercise the most rigid economy in ordering present supplies.


Well that's me signing off for a while. Tomorrow it's over to our august Editor in chief once more.
Kyte..

[Hedeby]

All ready and raring to go sir - stories checked for accuracy (as we wouldn't want any of that, lol), tonic in the fridge, printing blocks being set as we speak, latest edition due out around tea time.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Right I'll leave it in your capable hands then Squadron Leader.
Kyte.

[Hedeby]

On this day 100 years ago ~ 27th February 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: Germans take Talou Hill, and repulse five attacks on Fort Douaumont.

French repulse attack on Eix station.

Southern Front

Austrians occupy Durazzo.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians occupy Kermanshah (Persia).

Farafra and Dakhla Oases occupied by Arabs.

Naval and Overseas Operations

P. & O. liner "Maloja" mined off Dover (155 lost).

We shall remember them

Maverick

lol - you after a cub reporter's position Simon?

[Hedeby]

Huge thanks to Rob for his sterling efforts over the past few weeks in maintaining this thread. Thought I would go with a slightly different header to mark my return to the editor's chair, in response to those who wanted to see the Lee- Enfield....
So here we go...

February 28th 1916

There was one airman lost on this day in 1916...

Air Mechanic 2nd Class Frederic John Broad - Service number: 18825 No.1 Training Centre Royal Flying Corps. He is buried in Bury St. Edmunds Cemetery in Suffolk He was born in 1880 making him 36 years old. Usual story, not an officer so unless his descendants have been active on one of the genealogy sites there is unfortunately little available information.

There were no claims of any aerial victories on this day and we are not due another Victoria Cross until March 8th (that story will be covered in this thread, rest assured)

The nucleus of a British air squadron formed to bomb German industrial centres (see June 5th, 1918).Western Front

Battle of Verdun: German attacks west of Douaumont repulsed.

On this day the fighting continues. The remainders of the 105th Saxon infantry regiment has to march on, even though they are being fired at from two sides by French machine guns that fire just a small distance from the ground.

An eye-witness: ...the soldiers fell over like tin soldiers. Almost all our officers get hurt or killed and many of our men get killed because of their own artillery fire, which is too close and therefore causes many victims...


Image showing the complete devastation near Douaumont

Another regiment sees the opportunity to enter the village and leaves behind horrible casualties. With the man against man fights no prisoners are made. Heavy territorial fighting goes on during the entire day but the village is still not taken. On both sides losses are terrible. Four German regiments are put into action: out of 3500 men, 2000 are dead or hurt. With these fighting’s the expression 'the Hell of Verdun' is used for the first time.

In the morning the village of Douaumont is under attack for 4 hours; even a Big Bertha (a 420 mm heavy gun) is put into action. A snowstorm, however, decreases the visibility. The Germans deploy the 105th (Saxon) Infantry Regiment. In the attack on the village this Regiment is decimated, because of the French machine guns which destroy their flanks. The German artillery gets the message, through a false report, that the attackers have already arrived at the village and they shift their fire towards the Thiaumont-fortification. At the besiege which follows, the French soldiers fire while standing in their trenches, undisturbed by German artillery fire, from a height at the attacking German troops, which suffer awful heavy losses. Eventually the Germans enter the village in the middle of a heavy snowstorm and the man against man fights continue until deep in the night. The fighting with knives, spades and bayonets is merciless and losses on both sides are enormously. Regiments report casualty-figures of more than 50 percent. After 2 days no territorial gain has been made at all.

The German advance had gained little ground on 27 February, after a thaw turned the ground into a swamp and the arrival of French reinforcements increased the effectiveness of the defence. Some German artillery became unserviceable and other batteries became stranded in the mud. German infantry began to suffer from exhaustion and unexpectedly high losses, 500 casualties being suffered in the fighting around Douaumont village. On 29 February, the German advance was contained at Douaumont by a heavy snowfall and the defence of French 33rd Infantry Regiment. Delays gave the French time to bring up 90,000 men and 23,000 short tons (21,000 t) of ammunition from the railhead at Bar-le-Duc to Verdun. The swift German advance had gone beyond the range of artillery covering fire and the muddy conditions made it very difficult to move the artillery forward as planned. The German advance southwards, brought it into range of French artillery west of the Meuse, whose fire caused more German infantry casualties than in the earlier fighting, when French infantry on the east bank had fewer guns in support.

Big Bertha (German: ****e Bertha)—literal translation "Fat (or heavy) Bertha"—is the name of a type of super-heavy howitzer developed by the armaments manufacturer Krupp in Germany on the eve of World War I. Its official designation was the L/12, i.e., the barrel was 12 calibre in length, 42-cm (16.5 inch) Type M-Gerät 14 (M-Equipment 1914) Kurze Marine-Kanone ("short naval gun", a name intended to camouflage the weapon's real purpose)



he howitzer was mainly designed by Krupp's Director of design, Professor Fritz Rausenberger, and his predecessor, Director Max Dreger (1852–1929). Many sources say that Bertha is a reference to Bertha Krupp, heiress and owner of the Krupp industrial empire. Not all accept this connection. During the war, the Germans gave numerous other nicknames to the M-Device. ("****e", meaning fat or big in German, is apparently not a reference to the physical aspect of Mrs. Krupp.) The name "Big Bertha" subsequently came to be applied generically by the Allies to any very large German gun, such as the railway-mounted battleship guns known as "Langer Max" and the ultra-long range "Paris Gun". Strictly speaking, ****e Bertha, or Big Bertha, is only applicable to the 42-cm M-Gerät howitzer. Big Bertha gained a strong reputation on both sides of the lines due to its early successes in smashing the forts at Liege. The German press went wild with enthusiasm and declared the Bertha a Wunderwaffe.When later during the German assault upon Verdun in February 1916, it proved less effective, as the newer construction of this fort, consisting of concrete reinforced with steel, could mostly withstand the large semi-armour-piercing shells of the Berthas. Only Fort Vaux was severely damaged during this event, destroying the water storage and leading to the surrender of the fort.

The German 1st Air Battle Squad bombs Verdun.

Germans carry Navarin Farm (Champagne): Navarin Farm was a position on the Champagne Battlefields of 1915 which saw heavy fighting in the fighting from September 1915. French troops assaulted and captured the German positions here at great loss and it soon became a household name throughout France. Here we see the Germans taking back control...

After the war it was selected as one of the sites to build a French National Ossuary. The ‘pyramid’ memorial to the Armies of the Champagne was unveiled in 1924 and not only contains numerous memorials to those who fought here but underneath are the bones of more than 10,000 men who fell on the Champagne battlefields.



Located near the old Navarin Farms on the West side of the road off of D977 near D220 Monument This large pyramid type structure, topped with the statue of three soldiers, was built to honor the dead of the Armies of Champagne of which four were American divisions. Of the soldiers depicted in the statue, the one on the right is the likeness of Quentin Roosevelt. The monument contains a chapel on whose walls are plaques containing the names of the soldiers who were placed in the crypt at the request of their families. The crypt contains 10,000 unnamed soldiers along with General Gouraud, commander of the 4th French Army.

The size and proportions of the monument are impressive. The group of statues, which crown its summit, is the work of Real de Sarte. It represents three combatants in the course of an attack. The sculptor has given the soldier on the right the features of Quentin Roosevelt, nephew of the President of the United States, who died in the service of France, and to the soldier on the left he has given the features of his brother, who was killed on the Chemin des Dames. To the grenadier in the centre, he has given the features of General Gouraud. The main entrance leads to a chapel, on whose walls are a number of marble plaques carrying the names of soldiers who disappeared, placed there at the request of their families. The crypt contains ossuaries containing the unnamed remains of 10,000 soldiers, together with the tomb of General Gouraud, who wished to be buried in the midst of those whom he had commanded from 1916 to 1918 as head of the 4th Army. A foundation, which is publicly recognised, provides for the upkeep of the building, and the "Association for the Memory of the Armies of Champagne" organises and imposing ceremony each year in the presence of senior civil and military figures from France and America. An open-air mass is celebrated as part of the ceremony.

Today’s highlighted casualties include:

Private Harry Wilkins (Suffolk Regiment) is killed in action on his 23rd He went out to France 9th January and was working with a party filling sandbags when he is shot through the head and killed.
Trooper Albert Lawrence Brown (Canadian Mounted Rifles) dies on service in Canada at age 27. His brother will die on service on the same day in 1919.
Private Sidney Rodgers (Lincolnshire Regiment) is killed at age 20. His brother died on service in September 1914 in India.

The War at Sea

There were five ships reported lost on this day with the loss of 26 crew.

Ander Norway: The barque was driven ashore at Blyth, Northumberland, United Kingdom and was wrecked with the loss of four of her crew.
HMT Angelus: Royal Navy World War I: The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off Dover, Kent (51°03′50″N 1°18′20″E) with the loss of two of her crew. According to the Germans the mine had been laid by UC.3
Masunda: United Kingdom World War I: The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 106 nautical miles (196 km) south west by south of Cape Matapan, Greece (34°54′N 21°20′E) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.



Masunda acquired some fame when she towed the Gilbert Steeves ship Langbank (4,599 grt, built 1895), 650 miles to safety after she lost two of her propellor blades whilst on a voyage from Samarang to U.K.. with a cargo of sugar in 1911.

Thornaby: United Kingdom World War I: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom) (52°03′30″N 1°43′00″E) with the loss of nineteen of her crew.
HMT Weigelia: Royal Navy World War I: The naval trawler struck a mine and sank in the English Channel off Dover (51°08′30″N 1°27′30″E) with the loss of a crew member

Africa

German Troops Surrender The Cameroon: On this day in 1916, Allied forces complete their conquest of the Cameroons, a German protectorate on the coast of western Africa.

Drawn by the rich trade of slaves, ivory and rubber established in the 17th century, German and British settlers began to explore inland Africa beginning around 1860. In 1884, Germany established a protectorate over the Douala region; Britain did not dispute the claim. By the early 20th century, Germany had built roads, begun the construction of a railroad and cultivated large plantations of cacao, palm and rubber in the region. They had also built a city, Douala, on the Atlantic coast, which by 1914 served as the principal port and wireless station in the Cameroons. The British launched their campaign in the German Cameroons in late summer 1914, just after the outbreak of World War I; it would last 18 months. The British failed to anticipate the German strategy: knowing the formidable strength of the British navy, the Germans decided not to concentrate on defending the coast, but instead to withdraw inland and use the rough interior of the continent to fortify their resistance. Thus, although British forces earned quick successes—they secured Douala by September 27, 1914, without firing a shot—they were not able to fully take control of the Cameroons until the following February. The West African Frontier Force, fully committed in the Cameroons until March 1916, was one of two sets of “local” troops that the British turned to in Africa; the other was the South African Defense Force, which concentrated on the campaign in German Southwest Africa (now Namibia). African soldiers in World War I were generally compelled to enlist or were mercenaries. Some served on both sides during the war.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Barani (western Egypt) occupied.


Political Etc.

Albanian Provisional Government of Essad Pasha set up at Naples (see 24th, and September 20th).

[Hedeby]

February 29th 1916

For the second time of asking as I had almost completed this when I clicked on the wrong tab and lost the bloody lot - really must learn to build the post in stages then I don't lose the best part of an hour's work (mumble, mumble swear swear mumble)

There was one airman lost on this day in 1916: 2nd. Lt. Cecil Herbert Stileman No.5 Squadron RFC (Attached from the 14th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers) He is buried at LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY in WEST-VLAANDEREN BELGIUM. He was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Stileman, of Derwent House, Wimbledon Park and was only 22 when he died. He was flying an artillery observation patrol but his plane stalled on take off side-slipped and crashed; Stileman was the observer in the BE 2c 4501; the pilot Lt Mills was injured but survived.

Today's other highlighted losses are:

Captain William Gen (South African Army Medical Corps attached South African Infantry) is killed in East Africa at age 56.He is the son of General T Gem.
Private James Goodliffe (The King’s Liverpool Regiment) is killed at age 20. He has two brothers who will lose their lives later in the Great War.

There were 4 claims of aerial victories today, three first timers and one ace making 5th victory. First lets deal with the Ace...

Major (later Wing Commander) Frederick James Powell OBE, MC (13 August 1895 – May 1992). He was flying an FE.8 over Passchendaele when he shot down an Aviatik 'C'. Although this was his 5th confirmed kill he had also had a further 9 unconfirmed. If Billy Bishop had been doing his scoring he would have been one of the leading aces at the front by now...



Now the first timers...

Captain (later Group Captain) Gilbert Ware Murlis Green DSO & Bar, MC & Two Bars (24 January 1895 – 26 August 1958) Flying an Fb.5 of No.5 Squadron he shot down an EA East of Bourion Wood.

He was a Royal Air Force career officer credited with eight aerial victories. He was a pioneer among fighter aces, and his victories were scored in a variety of theatres and flying environments. He was successful on both the Western Front, in Greece, and on his home soil. He also commanded two of the original night fighter squadrons. Green's military career started humbly; on 9 September 1914, just after World War I began, he was promoted from rifleman to temporary second lieutenant in the 16th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles). By 22 November 1915, he was a flying officer observer.[2] He was assigned to No. 5 Squadron on the Western Front. Manning the guns in a two-seater aircraft piloted by Frederick Powell, Green brought down a DFW two-seater on 29 February 1916.He was then transferred from Flying Officer Observer to the Royal Flying Corps's General List on 19 June 1916[4] and sent for pilot training.[3] On 13 December 1916 he scored his second victory, destroying another DFW while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12 with 17 Squadron in Salonika, Greece.

On 4 January 1917, he captured an Albatros D.V fighter despite being overmatched; the German craft was faster, more agile, and had two guns instead of one. Ten days later, he would repeat the feat, although his victim this time was an Albatros two-seater reconnaissance plane, and Green had help from fellow ace Franklin Saunders. On 18 February 1917, Green battled German ace Rudolf von Eschwege in a dogfight during which Green's gun jammed, and wingman J. C. F. Owen was shot down. Green returned to form on 18 and 19 March, destroying a Friedrichshafen G seaplane and driving another down out of control on the 18th, and setting fire to an Albatros reconnaissance aircraft on the 19th. Green thus became the only pilot to become an ace flying the B.E. 12. These three successes earned him the Distinguished Service Order.

For his next victory, Green borrowed a Spad fighter; he brought down an Albatros two-seater in flames with it on 13 July 1917. He was then rotated home to England to command a Home Defence unit, 44 Squadron, which operated Sopwith Camels as night fighters. Here Green ended the year by shooting down a Gotha G.IV bomber piloted by German Oberleutnant Gerhard Von Stachelsky on 18 December 1917. It was the first German aeroplane to be shot down at night over Britain. In June 1918, Green took command of 151 Squadron and led it to France, where it engaged the Germans in night fighter operations. Later in the war, he moved on to command 70 Squadron in daylight combat.



Captain (later Group Captain) Clive Alexander Brewster-Joske OBE, MC (1896–1947) was a Fiji-born British subject of Australian heritage. He became a flying ace during World War I and was credited with eight aerial victories. Upon his return to civil life post-war, he became a leading citizen of Fiji being entrusted by several foreign governments as their consular agent. He returned to service at the beginning of World War II, rising first to the rank of lieutenant colonel, then to that of group captain. When he was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant on 15 June 1915, he was serving in the 55th Infantry Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force. He went into combat as an infantry officer in July 1915. On 15 November 1915, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps from the Motor Machine Gun Service. He learned an observer's duties by performing them; he corrected artillery fire via a wireless transmitter, photographed enemy positions, and manned the observer's machine gun when attacked. He was initially assigned to No. 1 Squadron for these observer's duties. After his first victory claim was not confirmed, he scored his first aerial success on 29 February 1916.

I can't however find a picture of him

and finally and flying for the Germans we have Lt. Kurt Haber - flying (most likely) a Fokker D.II he shot down a Voisin South West of Soissons. Alas I can't find out much more about Lt. Haber other than that he was shot down and killed on 20th December 1916 probably by Charles Nungesser.


Western Front

The Battle of Verdun

On this day also the battle for the village of Douaumont continues. It is still fiercely protected by French artillery fire. De attackers have many difficulties to go forward and suffer many losses in doing so. When the evening falls German pioneers appear with flame-throwers that spit a 30 meter long beam of fire. Because of the demoralising effect this attack has, large groups of French soldiers surrender. During the journey back to the German territory they have to carry the badly wounded Germans with them. After another day of heavy fighting, where the French are fired at from Fort Douaumont by the Germans, the village is at last taken on the Thursday - 2 March. The defending soldiers of the 33rd regiment surrender. Among the prisoners is one Charles the Gaulle.



It is clear that the attack on Verdun is stagnating. The same conclusion is reached by the German headquarters in Stenay. Measures are being contemplated. General Pétain has reached his goal for now: The German attack has been put to a halt and the French army even gained more than the necessary 2 to 3 days. An important cause for the stagnation comes from the side of the Germans: because of the fact that German troops have gained a lot of territory the passed week, the front lines are now out of reach of their artillery support system. The battlefield has turned into a huge flooded swamp of grenade shell-holes and the displacement of artillery is only possible through immense effort. The most important supply of ammunition stagnates. In the front lines, problems occur in the supply of spare troops, ammunition, materials and replacements. Field kitchens are nowhere to be found; food has to be carried to the front. Drinking water is very difficult to come by. The wounded cannot be carried away and cannot receive medical attention - many are left to die in the freezing cold. The dead can not be buried because of the heavy shootings and are tossed into a shallow trench; at a next artillery bombardment the corpses will reappear. The weather conditions are extremely bad: cold, snow and rain torture the men on both sides in the trenches on the battle field.

Falkenhayn had neglected to deploy spare troops when there was an opportunity to break through; an opportunity which presented itself on the 25th and 26th of February. A fast break through, however, was not included in the tactical concept of Falkenhayn. He wanted the French army to 'bleed to death' and not to achieve a speedy victory. The result was that the bruising battle, which Falkenhayn wanted, had now become reality. The victims are not only French, as he had pictured it. Germans also become victims of this battle more and more. Verdun seems to be deteriorating into a mass slaughter, as never seen before. Another important cause for stopping the German attack is the fact that the French have brought in reinforcements and under the command of Pétain, the French artillery has at last been sufficiently put into position. Within a couple of days the battle strength has been increased to 500 pieces, which are primarily stationed at the left riverbank. From there, well protected behind the hill tops and out of reach from German artillery, they have a devastating impact on the attacking Germans. On Sunday - 27 February an attack was launched by the VII German army corps to overtake the Meuse and to eliminate the French artillery firings, however this attack fails miserably. When the battle of Verdun stagnates at the beginning of March 1916, the German army leaders reach the conclusion that the French artillery fire had to be eliminated from the left riverbank before a successful march to Verdun can be made along the right riverbank. The Battle for the Flanks is about to begin.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German raider, "Grief", and British auxiliary cruiser "Alcantara" sink each other in North Sea.



The Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Alcantara (Captain Thomas E Wardle) is sunk by the German raider Greif that is then in turn finished off by HMS Andes and HMS Comet. At about midday the previous day, while in a position about 60 miles east of north of the Shetlands, where the Alcantara was due to rendezvous with her relief ship, the Andes, a wireless message instructing her to remain on station and keep a lookout for a suspicious steamship coming out of the Skagerrak was received. At 08:45 this morning Captain Wardle sees smoke on the horizon to his port beam. While making in the direction of the unidentified steamship, he receives a wireless warning from the Andes that this is probably the vessel they are seeking. Wardle signals to the unknown vessel to stop, and fires two blanks across her bow. By this time the two ships have approached to within 1,000 yards of each other, the Alcantara coming up astern and lowering a boarding boat. At this moment, however, the ‘stranger’ which has Norwegian colors painted on her side and the name Rena-Tonsberg drops her bulwarks and runs out her guns. She is the German raider Greif. From the very first the British fire is very accurate. The Greif’s bridge is carried away at the first broadside, and then, systematically, British guns rake the upper works of the enemy, seeking out the wireless room. Before long the enemy’s wireless is destroyed, and the guns are promptly turned upon the hull and water-line of the enemy. In a few minutes the Greif has a fire blazing aft and she begins to settle down by the stern. As the Alcantara’s guns methodically and relentlessly rake her from stem to stern her return fire grows feeble until after about fifteen minutes it dies away almost entirely. On paper, judging by the difference between the armaments, the Alcantara ought to have been blown out of the water by this time but, although she is hit frequently, the actual damage she sustains is almost negligible. The Greif is a beaten and doomed craft when other vessels come up in answer to Alcantara’s wireless. The first to arrive is the Andes, Captain George B.W. Young (another converted unit of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Line), and a few rounds from her apparently complete the enemy’s destruction.



But the fight is not yet over. The Greif again begins to blaze away with the one or two guns that remain intact when there occurs one of those misfortunes that are apt to occur to the most efficiently handled ships. An unlucky shot carried away the Alcantara’s steering-gear, and her captain immediately loses the weapon which he has depended for the destruction of his enemy – his seamanship. The Alcantara, though nearly all her guns are intact, becomes unmanageable, and for the first time in the action she swings around into a position that her full broadside is exposed to the enemy. The Greif immediately fires three torpedoes. The first two miss – in spite of the short range but the third catches the Alcantara squarely. As a result after some twenty minutes of fierce and closely contested fighting the two combatants find themselves sinking together. The Greif is the first to go. It is believed that, like the Moewe, she carried a large cargo of mines and she blows up with a tremendous explosion and heads to the bottom, just a few minutes before the mortally injured Alcantara turns over on her side to find a resting place within a few hundred yards of her. Of the 321 officers and men on board the Greif, five officers and 115 men are rescued from the sea and made prisoners by the British destroyers that come upon the scene. Alcantara’s loss amounts to five officers and 69 men, of whom nearly all were killed by the final torpedo.


Officer’s Steward Richard Henry Buckett, who was among the survivors and will awarded the D.S.M. for gallantly assisting the wounded, will be killed in the sinking of the armed boarding steamer Stephen Furness, when that vessel is torpedoed in the Irish Channel on 13th December 1917 he was 51 years of age.

Other Naval losses included:


List of shipwrecks: 29 February 1916

Alexander Wentzel Russia World War I: The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off the Cap de Fer, Algeria (37°21′N 7°34′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMT Chester II Royal Navy The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Eliza S.Italy World War I: The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea west of Bizerta, Tunisia (37°24′N 7°42′E) by SM U-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Lakmé France The cargo ship sank in the Bay of Biscay south west of the Île d'Yeu, Vendée with the loss of six of her crew.
Mercia Sweden The ship ran aground at Pennard, Glamorgan, United Kingdom. She subsequently broke in two. Mercia was on a voyage from Bilbao, Spain to Briton Ferry, Glamorgan.
HMS Primula Royal Navy World War I: The Arabis-class sloop was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cerigo, Greece (34°39′N 22°17′E) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four crew.

Blockade of Cameroons raised.

Political, etc.

Germany formally announces to U.S.A. that she will not postpone her "unlimited" submarine campaign, which is to begin at midnight of 29 February.

German Note to Portugal.

Government recognises National Volunteer Force for Home Defence.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

A very full edition Chris, with an increasingly Air biased content as we predicted would eventually come about.
Rob.