Tuesday 27th February 1917
Today we lost: 690
· A woman whose father died on service last year
· A man whose brother was also killed in the Great War
Today’s highlighted casualties include:
· Civilian Armorel Kitty Trevelyan (Army Service Corps Canteens) dies on service at age 19. Her father died on service serving in the Army Service Corps last year.
Air Operations:
Salonika:KG 1 bombs British Summerhill camp north of Salonika (376 casualties). Raiders intercepted by scouts of Nos 17 and 47 Squadrons; 1 Halberstadt escort fighter forced down and pilot taken PoW. Most of 47 Squadrons scouts damaged.
Royal Flying Corps Losses today: 14
2Lt Johnson, H.A. (Hubert Alfred), 8 Squadron, RFC. Killed in action aged 23.
2Lt Pope, E.A. (Edwin Albert), 8 Squadron, RFC. Killed in action aged 27.
Capt McArthur, J. (John), 12 Squadron, RFC. Killed in action aged 22.
Private James Whiteford, 12 Squadron, RFC. Killed in action age 19
Lt Mackain, H.F. (Henry Fergus), 13 Squadron, RFC. Killed in action aged 24.
2Lt Jack, R.L.M. (Robert Laurence Munro), 16 Squadron, RFC. Died of wounds received on 26th February 1917.
A Mech 2 Clutterbuck, G. (George), 47 squadron, RFC. Died of Wounds aged 36. Wounded 26 February 1917 during enemy air raid on Janes Airfield, Macedonia.
FS Tansley, R.J.C. (Reginald John Cameron), 47 Squadron, RFC, aged 23.
PO Mech Brown, G.F. (George Frederick), Pembroke Naval Air Station, RNAS.
Sgt Liddell, H.J., RFC.
2Lt Needs, C.R. (Charles Richard), RFC. Killed whilst flying aged 31.
Lt Primrose, W.W. (Walter Wingate), RFC, aged 19.
A Mech 2 Spendlove, W.C, 50 Reserve Squadron, RFC. Died of sickness aged 40.
2Lt White, H.T. (Harold Tom), Central Flying School, D Squadron, RFC. Killed whilst flying in Wiltshire aged 21.
Claims: 2
Lt Werner Voss, Jasta 2, achieves victories number 10 and 11 when he shoots down a BE2b (near Blairville) of 8 squadron and a BE2c (west of Arras), of 12 squadron.
· Second Lieutenant Edwin Albert Pope age 27
· and his observer Hubert Alfred Johnson age 23 (London Regiment) are the pilot and observer of the 8 squadron aircraft.
· Captain John McArthur age 22 (Berkshire Regiment) and his observer
· Private James Whiteford age 19 (Machine Gun Corps) are killed later that day at St Catherine on the western outskirts of Arras.
Home Fronts:
Germany: Bethmann hails U-Boat success and justifies breaking agreement with USA.
Western Front
France – Calais Agreement: Lloyd George and French War committee (Briand and Lyautey) agree on Nivelle-Haig plan of operations. British agree (Haig reluctantly) that general conduct of imminent campaign should only be in hands of the French C-in-C subject to Haig’s usual right of appeal to London.
Somme: On February 26 and 27 British troops capture villages of La Barque, southwest of Bapaume, and Ligny; in past week gains on 11-mile front (south of Gommeccourt to east of Guedecourt) to maximum depth of 3 miles.
Flanders: Successful British trench raid east of Armentieres, damages 3 trenches and takes 13 prisoners.
Tunstills Men Tuesday 27th February 1917:
Winnipeg Camp
The Battalion was ordered to march from Winnipeg Camp to begin what would be a six-week period away from the front line; the weather was described as “excellent for marching … a cool, easy day”. Provision was made for a ten-minute halt every hour along the line of march. The Battalion was to be in position just west of Brandhoek, ready to move off from there at 10.17am. They would be the final Battalion in the Brigade, followed only by 69th Field Ambulance and 192 Company, ASC. They first marched eight miles to ‘Z’ Camp, near Sint Jan ter Biezen, east of Poperinghe, where an overnight stop was taken.
Cpl. Luke Dawson (see 10th January) was promoted Acting Sergeant.
Cpl. Henry Feather was killed in action while serving with 16th Battalion West Yorks.; he was buried at Owl Trench Cemetery, Hebuterne. Henry was the younger brother of Pte. Joe Feather (see 29th July), who had been one of the Keighley men who had served with Tunstill’s Company; Joe himself had been wounded on the Somme in July 1916.
A payment of £7 8s 5d was authorised, being the amount outstanding in pay and allowances to the late Pte.Albert Edward Dury (see 4th October 1916); the payment would go to his father, Richard.
Eastern Front:
Near Jakobeny the Germans take several Russian positions on high ground and 1,300 prisoners.
Africa, Asiatic & Egyptian Theatres:
Mesopotamia: British cavalry reconnaissance Aziziyeh (until February 28) 50 miles west of Kut but supply shortage forces them back to river. Turkish losses since February 23 including 4,300 PoWs; 39 guns; 22 mortars and 11 MGs. Maude cables C-in-C India asking further advance approval after necessary supply pause till March 5.
Naval Operations:
One of the auxiliary stop valves in HMS Sandhurst accidentally bursts and the boiler room immediately becomes fills with dense steam. In spite of the danger of burning and suffocation from steam, and of the fact that it is impossible to draw fires or at once to lift the safety valves, which renders the possibility of a second and even worse accident highly probable, Artificer Engineer Edmund John Pysden, Royal Navy makes several gallant attempts to enter the stokehold, and succeeds in bringing out two men who are lying insensible on the stokehold plates, and helps to bring out others. Several of the survivors would undoubtedly have lost their lives but for the rescues effected by this man and others. Mr. Pysden also eventually succeeds in opening the safety valve, which relieves the immediate danger of a further accident. Although he had a wet rag tied over his mouth, he swallowed a considerable quantity of live steam, and was partially incapacitated by its effects. Notwithstanding the gallant efforts of Mr. Pysden and other members of the ship’s company, seven men lose their lives owing to the accident and five are seriously injured. For his efforts he will be awarded the Albert Medal.
The Cunard liner Laconia is torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U50 six miles north west by west of Fastnet at 22:30. Twelve crew members and passengers are lost, including three American citizens. A patrol boat and a minesweeper, possibly HMS Laburnum, rescue the survivors.
The hired trawler Evadner is sunk by a mine off Owers Light Vessel.
· Her captain Skipper John Barron Royal Naval Reserve is killed aged 25.
· Also lost is seaman James **** (RNR) who is killed at age 21. His brother will be killed in April 1918.
Shipping Losses: 10 (2 to mines & 8 to U-Boat action)
Political:
Germany: The German Chancellor proclaims great success of submarine campaign, and justifies breaking of Germany's agreement with U.S.A., saying it was conditional on America insisting on Great Britain respecting international law concerning "Freedom of the Seas".
Russia: Re-opening of Duma.
Neutrals:
USA: President Wilson states that he considers sinking of "Laconia" the "overt act" for which he was waiting (see 25th and April 6th).
Wilson thanks Balfour for ‘information of such inestimable value’ (Zimmermann telegram).
John M Browning demonstrates his new short recoil, water-cooled machine-gun.
In a very short space of time the US Browning M1917 machine-gun was ordered into production in large numbers.
Anniversary Events:
425 |
|
Theodosius effectively founds a university in Constantinople. |
1531 |
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German Protestants form the League of Schmalkalden to resist the power of the emperor. |
1700 |
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The Pacific Island of New Britain is discovered. |
1814 |
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Napoleon’s Marshal Nicholas Oudinot is pushed back at Barsur-Aube by the Emperor’s allied enemies shortly before his abdication. |
1827 |
|
The first Mardi-Gras celebration is held in New Orleans. |
1864 |
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The first Union prisoners arrive at the Confederate prison in Andersonville, Georgia. Of nearly 45,000 prisoners of war who arrive at the camp, approximately 13,000 will perish from starvation, scurvy, diarrhea, and dysentery. |
1865 |
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Confederate raider William Quantrill and his bushwackers attack Hickman, Kentucky, shooting women and children. |
1905 |
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The Japanese push Russians back in Manchuria and cross the Sha River. |
1908 |
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The forty-sixth star is added to the U.S. flag, signifying Oklahoma’s admission to statehood. |
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