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Thread: 100 Years Ago Today

  1. #3051

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    As an ex member of the editorial team you can count me in on that too.
    Kyte.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  2. #3052

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    I'll be happy to shout the Team another round myself.

    Grand job, superbly executed.
    I laugh in the face of danger - then I hide until it goes away!

  3. #3053

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    As an ex member of the editorial team you can count me in on that too.
    Kyte.
    You are never an Ex-Member Rob - its like being in the clergy (or being king) once in, thats you in for keeps....

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  4. #3054

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    15th February 1918


    Captain Vernon William Blythe Castle
    (Royal Flying Corps) is killed in a training accident in Fort Worth, Texas. With his wife Irene he helped form the famous dancing team. Fred Astaire played the part of Vernon in “The Irene and Vernon Castle Story” with Ginger Rogers, about the famous dancing couple. Upon the outbreak of war Castle returned to England to become a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps. Flying over the Western Front he shot down two aircraft and was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1917. He was posted to Canada to train new pilots, and then promoted to Captain and posted to the United States to train American pilots. While flying at Benbrook Field, near Fort Worth, Texas, he takes emergency action shortly after takeoff to avoid another aircraft. His plane stalls, and he is unable to recover control in time before the plane hits the ground. Vernon is the only casualty and fatally injured he dies soon after the crash at age 30. Irene paid tribute to Vernon in her memoir My Husband in 1919. There is a street in Benbrook named in his honor. Also placed on the street is a monument dedicated to him. Castle will be buried in New York. The Castles’ greatest success was on Broadway, in Irving Berlin’s debut musical Watch Your Step (1914). In this extravaganza, the couple refined and popularized the Foxtrot. After its New York run, Watch Your Step toured through 1916. The Castles appeared in a newsreel called Social and Theatrical Dancing in 1914 and wrote a bestselling instructional book, Modern Dancing, later the same year. The pair also starred in a feature film called The Whirl of Life (1915), which was well-received by critics and public alike. The whisper-thin, elegant Castles were trendsetters in many ways: they traveled with a black orchestra, had an openly lesbian manager, and were animal-rights advocate decades before it became a public issue.

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    The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle was released in 1939. It was based on Irene's book 'My Husband' and she was an advisor during the production. The lead roles were well cast, as the chemistry between Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers was excellent to depict the story, and of course their dancing abilities were vital. Irene was disappointed that Ginger wouldn't change her hairstyle (Irene had dark hair cut in the famous 'Castle Bob' style while Ginger's hair was lighter and longer) but the main controversy in relation to the film was about the 'whitewashing' of the supporting cast.

    In the film, Vernon and Irene's valet is a man with a learning disability, whereas in real life their valet was a non-disabled black man. It is also not mentioned in the film that the Castles toured with Europe's Society Orchestra, a group of black musicians. The Castles were trendsetters in more than just fashions, as this was a highly unusual situation in the USA at the time. Indeed, when the Castles were performing in theatres in New York in 1914, the musicians' union objected to Europe's Society Orchestra sitting in the orchestra pit with white musicians. Vernon and Irene solved the problem by arranging for their orchestra to sit on the stage instead. Another unusual situation was that the Castles' agent was a woman, and a woman who was openly lesbian. This is not made clear in the film, although it is obvious that the agent is a strong woman. Whether because of the whitewashing controversy, or because the Fred and Ginger partnership was considered to be becoming tired, or because it was a film about war that was released in 1939, when moviegoers perhaps wanted more escapism than a reminder of world events at the time, the film was not as successful as had been hoped. However, it is still an impressive film and the ending is particularly poignant, showing Fred and Ginger / Vernon and Irene dancing off into the sunset.

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    The War at Sea

    11 German destroyers (2nd Flotilla) raid Dover Straits Barrage (night February 15-16), sink trawler and 7 drifters (4 more vessels damaged) in 3 hours without any retaliation due to Royal Navy misreading of Dover Patrol signals. U-boat shells Dover on February 16, 8 casualties. U-55 last High Seas Fleet U-boat to use Dover Straits on February 18.

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    German destroyers at sea.

    A swift raid is made by a flotilla of large German torpedo boat destroyers at about 01:00 on patrol forces in the Dover Straits. The following craft, which are occupied in hunting a submarine, which has been sighted in the patrol area are sunk; trawler: James Pond, sunk while serving as a searchlight vessel and drifters: Jeannie Murray (Skipper Charles H Rivett killed), Clover Bank (Skipper John James Colby killed at age 30), W Elliott, Cosmos (Skipper George Daniel Thacker killed), Silver Queen (Skipper Leonard Brown killed at age 33), Veracity and Christiana Craig (Skipper William Collin killed at age 28). The trawlers Newbury, Golden Rule and Violet May (Skipper Alexander Ty Buchan RNR killed at age 28) are damaged. After having sunk these vessels the enemy destroyers return rapidly to the north before any British forces can engage them. The Violet May is brought into port the following day by two engine room ratings. A total of 76 men lost their lives in this engagement, 22 killed along with 54 drowned. Among those killed is

    Lieutenant David Livingstone
    (HM Drifter Cosmos). He is the son of the late Reverend John Livingstone.
    Trimmer Cook Paul Hendry Gerrie RNR (HM Drifter Violet May Skipper Alexander Buchan killed at age 28) is killed at age 18. His brother died on service in April 1916.
    Trimmer John Farquharson (HM Paddle Minesweeper Newbury) who is the last of four brothers who are killed in the war.

    First hand reports of the incident which became known as 'The massacre of the drifters'

    On Friday morning shortly after 1 a.m., German destroyers raided the Straits of Dover. It was the first raid that has taken place since the end of last spring, and as on previous occasions it was during an exceptionally high tide. The destroyers attacked a fleet of drifters that were engaged in hunting a submarine, and the first that those vessels knew of it was that a big destroyer nearly ran down a drifter in the dark. The destroyers then steamed down the line of drifters firing at them heavily, from time to time sinking one. The drifters at once scattered, dodging here and there to upset the aim of the destroyers gunlayers. The destroyers steamed right down the line, firing continually, and then steamed back the other side. Unfortunately there was no help at hand to assist these vessels, which are very lightly armed, whilst the Germans were armed with many 5.9 guns, which fire a 110 lb shell. From shore the firing could both be seen and heard very distinctly, and as drifter after drifter blew up the flames showed up ashore with startling vividness. Some of the destroyers fired their guns shorewards, as some fragments of shell fell on a village some distance back from the coast. Directly the attack was over the drifters at once went to the aid of their comrades who were either in the water or on drifters which had been hit. It must be said that the German gunnery was very accurate. Most of the shots hit vital parts of the vessels, and tore and ripped steel work to pieces like paper. In one case the whole of the crew of a sunken drifter were rescued, but most of the others were not so fortunate.

    Plenty of help came as soon as it was realised what had happened, but despite the raid the patrol of the Straits and the measures to stop submarines passing through never ceased. Later in the morning the section of the drifters which had so heavily suffered, came into Dover to land the rescued and the injured and dead. Altogether eight vessels were sunk, of which one was a trawler. The injured were at once landed and taken to the Hospital, whilst the dead were placed in motor lorries and taken to the Market Hall, crowds watching the bodies, wrapped in blankets, being lifted on to stretchers and carried into the Market Hall. The injuries that the men had received were of a very terrible nature, and were due in almost all cases to shells and splinters. Altogether thirty-six bodies were landed. There are many stories our heroic drifter men's coolness, and courage, during the fight. On one vessel the Germans swept the decks with shell, whilst the vessel trained its searchlight on the Germans, replying with her gun. When the gun was silenced through its crew being shot down, the man in charge thought, "My searchlight is no good now," and turned it off. The Germans apparently thought the vessel had sunk, as well it might after the intense fire it had sustained, and turned their fire elsewhere, and the vessel escaped. In another case a drifter caught fire from its flare lights being ignited by a shell that killed the skipper and other members of the crew. The two survivors — the engineers of the vessel who escaped the shell fragments by being at their engines below — got away in a boat, and, after the Germans were gone, seeing their vessel still afloat, returned board, and helped to bring it into harbour.

    Another story of the fight which has already appeared in the London papers, told by a young able seaman who took part in it;

    "This is not the first fight of a similar character in which I have taken part during this war," he said, "and yet, thank God, I am unhurt. But it was by far the worst of the four scraps which I have been engaged in. It was a terribly one-sided affair. The only thing I can compare it to is a picture of a man armed, say, with a revolver or a pop-gun being expected to do battle in a small boat with an armed cruiser. It was a fine, starlight night, and was so calm, there was not a breath of wind and only a very slight haze. The fleet of drifters to which I was attached was on patrol duty. Being then off duty myself, I went down to my bunk, but before turning in I was reading a book.

    "Suddenly at about 1 o'clock in the morning, I was startled by heavy and rapid firing, the noise of hurrying footsteps on the deck overhead, and the issuing of rapid orders. My first impression was that we had seen, and were firing at, a submarine. Picking up my lifebelt I hurried on deck. The noise of the cannonade at this time was almost deafening. The first thing I saw on reaching the deck was the blowing up of one of our drifters, which was not far away our port quarter. She went up in the air enveloped in a great sheet of flame, in the midst of which I distinctly saw her two masts and funnel fall with a splash into the water, sending up spray in all directions.

    "For a moment I stood watching the awful sight, and then the thunder of additional guns coming rapidly from various directions at once indicated to me that we were up against something more than a submarine fight. I ran along deck aft as my mate shouted, 'There goes another one,' and he had scarcely made the remark before a third boat was blown up. Following the direction indicated, I saw that they were both enveloped in flames, but they were too far off for us to render them any assistance. Moreover, it was a case of having to look out for oneself, for just at this moment our own vessel had a marvellous escape.

    "Suddenly, immediately astern of us, a searchlight shot out, sweeping the sea for some distance around, and by its light we were surprised to see the big dark hull of a German destroyer. She was bearing down at full speed, and had she continued on her course she would have cut us and sunk us easily. She was not more than 200 yards away from us. It is our belief that we owe our escape to being too close to be hit. We were sailing away from the destroyer, dodging all the time, and, fortunately for us, she missed us as she steamed northwards. The noise of the fight was terrible. Shells were falling in all directions."

    The account of the incident as written by the Admiralty for syndicated press release..
    (Admiralty Copyright.) The following account of the attack on the Dover Patrol is compiled from survivors' narratives.

    The German destroyer raid on the English Channel on the night of 14th-15th February had for its primary aim the destruction of the Auxiliary Patrol Forces on outpost duty. This much was evident from the deliberate and systematic manner in which, once touch was established in the inky darkness, the attack was carried out A large force was chosen for the enterprise, comprising ten at least of Germany's largest and fastest destroyers. That these succeeded in sinking seven armed fishing vessels and returning to their base without being intercepted by the British Patrols proper can be ascribed to accurate foreknowledge of the disposition of these forces (information readily supplied by aerial reconnaissance). The raiding tactics of German destroyers are too well known to call for detailed repetition. They sortie on a chosen night, a hand closed round the firing key of every gun and torpedo tube. Every surface craft sighted is an enemy, and they fire on sight, moving without lights at top speed. It must be admitted that they thus possess an initial advantage of which they might reasonably be expected to make the most. Indeed, the wonder is not so much that they were not intercepted in the inky darkness of a thousand square miles, but that they did not make more of their opportunity.

    On the night in question one of the drifter patrol had sighted a submarine on the surface, attempting to break through the vigilant cordon of patrol craft. Off went the drifter in jubilant pursuit, signalling to her consorts to join the hunt, and the remainder joined her like a pack of bassett hounds on the trail of an otter. The enemy destroyers, casting about in the darkness, sighted the "Tally-ho" rocket, and swept down upon the drifters from at least four quarters simultaneously. The Germans appear to have worked in pairs. The leading boat of each couple switched on blinding searchlight for the few seconds necessary to get an accurate range, and then the whole force slowed down to carry out the deliberate work of destruction. In the words of one of the survivors, "It was awful — just slaughter." The speaker made the statement without heat or reproach; he was a fisherman, as were most of his brethren, wont to accept calamity and misfortune without emotion. "Girt ole black things.." he added, and shook his grizzled head while the sunlight winked on his gold ear-rings. The enemy closed in nearly all cases to within fifty yards of their victims, poured two salvoes of high explosive shell into each, and passed on. They had no time for fancy shooting and there were few misses. It is to be hoped they found the gruesome work to their taste.

    In one case a German destroyer misjudged her distance, and came so close to her victim that she was unable to depress her guns sufficiently to bring them to bear on the little target. She fired as she rolled instead, and the drifter, Cloverbank, turned on the instant into a splintered shambles, buried in clouds of steam and sparks. Only one man survived the first salvo, Deckhand Plane, R.N.R. (Trawler Section). He forged forward to the gun through the flames and fumes of bursting shell, and, finding it loaded, returned the fire at point-blank range, single-handed, half-blinded, stupefied by smoke and din. It was brave work, but all round him in the darkness amid the flames of guns and blazing ships and all the savagery of that onslaught, the drifter patrol was taking its gruel not a whit less gallantly. The survivors launched their splintered dinghies, carrying their wounded with them, and paddled clear of the blazing wrecks that a few minutes before had been ship and home. The two enginemen of the Violet May - Engineman Ewing and Eagineman Noble — succeeded in launching their boat, and lowered into it the mate, mortally wounded, and a wounded deckhand. The remainder of the crew lay inextricably entangled in the blazing wreckage, dead. The survivors paddled clear, waited till the enemy had passed on, and then closed their little ship again. The fire had hold of her forward, steam was pouring from her wrecked engineroom, and the ammunition was exploding broadcast about her decks.

    "A doot she's sinkin'," said Ewing, stoutly. Noble said nothing. He was not given overmuch to speech, but he made the painter and proceeded to climb inboard again. Ewing followed, and between them they fought and overcame the fire. "Dinna leave me, Jamie," cried the mate piteously, "dinna leave me in the little boat." "Na, na," was the reply. "We'll nae leave ye," and presently they brought their wounded back on board, and took them below again. The mate was laid on his bunk, and Ewing fetched his shirts from his bag and tore them up into bandages. "An" them his dress shirts," murmured Noble. It was his first and last contribution to the narrative.

    They took turn and turn about to tend the wounded, plug the shot-holes and quench the smouldering embers of the fire, reverently dragging the wreckage from off their dead, and comforting the dying mate in the soft, almost tender, accents of the Celt. "Tis nae guid," said the mate at last, "dinina fash aboot me, lads. A'll gang nae more on patrol," and so he died. But they saved their little ship, and she lies in a corner of the basin at her base, a mass of twisted metal end charred woodwork, to testify to the courage of the British fishermen in war.

    The German account of the incident was as follows...

    ''On the night of February 14th our torpedoboats, under the command of Captain Heinecke, made a surprise attack on the strong forces guarding the English Channel between Calais and Dover and Cape Grisnez and Folkestone. A large guardship, numerous armed fishing steamers, and several motor-boats were forced to give battle, and the major part of these were destroyed. Our torpedo-boats suffered no losses or damage, and have all since safely returned."

    Middle East
    Palestine: Smuts cables that Allenby should have 2 divisions from Mesopotamia for 1918 offensive.
    Persia: Dunsterville and armoured car leave Hamadan for Enzeli on Caspian Sea (arrives February 17). Last Russians evacuate Meshed in east, 176 British soldiers replace them on March 14.

    Politics

    Allies form Allied Maritime Transport.

    Occupied Territories
    Poland: General Haller and 5,000 men escape to Russia.

    The War in the Air

    General Headquarters, February 16th.

    “On the 15th inst. the weather was again overcast and misty, but our aeroplanes carried out several reconnaissances. A few bombs were dropped and machine-gun fire was opened on the enemy's trenches and on various other targets behind his lines.

    “Last night our machines dropped bombs on Menin railway station and sidings and on hostile aerodromes and billets. One German machine landed intact behind our lines, and its occupants were taken prisoner. All our machines returned.”

    RFC Communiqué number 127:

    The mist experienced in the previous days still continued but showed signs of clearing in the afternoon, and a certain amount of work was carried out.

    A machine of the 1st Brigade dropped four 25-lb bombs on Haubourdin, and a machine of the 5th Brigade dropped four 25-lb bombs on various targets behind the enemy's lines. A total of 2,350 rounds were fired into the enemy's trenches and at ground targets.

    A “Friedrichshafen” landed in the Third Army area. [I have this as a machine from BG1/Bs1 with Vzfw Struck, Ltn Ridder, Gefr Jostmeier and Gefr Schrnahi all taken prisoner].

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    Enemy Aircraft:

    Flt Cdr R McDonald, 8N Sqn, Albatros out of control

    2nd-Lieut J A McCudden and 2nd-Lieut A F W Beauchamp-Proctor, 84 Sqn, Rumpler C out of control south of Le Catelet at 15:45/16:45

    Casualties:


    None.

    There were however still 12 British Airmen lost on this day

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    Aerial combats were few and far between, howver the following aces did manage to 'bag a kill'

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    These included a second for a name that would come to dominate future air battles - that of Captain Andrew Frederick Weatherby "Proccy" Beauchamp-Proctor VC. DSO. DFC. MC & Bar - he would finish the war as South Africa's highest scoring ace with 54 victories including the British Empire's highest tally of 'Balloon Busting'. All his victories were claimed whilst flying the SE5a (and all were completed in 1918)

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    "Proccy" (as he became known) was born in Cape Province on 4 September 1894 and was studying engineering at the University of Cape Town when war broke out in August 1914. He promptly dropped his studies and joined the army, serving as a signaller with the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles in German South-West Africa. With a discharge from the army in August 1915 Beauchamp-Proctor resumed his studies, after which - in March 1917 - he enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps. Upon arrival in England he was awarded a commission. A small man at just 5' 2", Beauchamp-Proctor required his seat to be raised simply in order that he could reach the necessary controls.With his flight training in England over Beauchamp-Proctor was assigned to 84 Squadron in late July 1917, with whom he travelled to France two months later.

    All of his 54 victories were achieved during 1918, and he established a particular reputation as a 'balloon buster': he brought down more observation balloons than any other pilot in the RFC. However despite his success as a fighter pilot Beauchamp-Proctor was not regarded as an especially able pilot: he managed to crash-land his aircraft three times before achieving his first 'kill'. A first-rate shot however his remarkable success during 1918 flying S.E.5a's brought him the DSO, MC, DFC and the VC. On 9 August 1918 he succeeded in bringing down nine observation balloons (a record). He was wounded and sent home on 8 October following a perhaps reckless solo attack upon no fewer than eight enemy aircraft at once.

    He died on 21 June 1921 in England aged 26.

    The German Ace Unteroffizier Paul Hüttenrauch of Jasta 7 was wounded in action on this day.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  5. #3055

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

  6. #3056

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    Been away for a while but I see your keeping up the good work.

  7. #3057

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    Captain Beauchamp-Proctor's S.E.5a would be a good plane to go with the balloons when they are re-released.

  8. #3058

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    Quote Originally Posted by Naharaht View Post
    Captain Beauchamp-Proctor's S.E.5a would be a good plane to go with the balloons when they are re-released.
    What a brilliant idea - ARES please take note, and while you're at it make sure we have McCudden and Mannock for the SE5a re-release (or Albert Ball)

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  9. #3059

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    16th February 1918

    Just a heads up - tomorrow's edition is going to dpend on whether or not holiday cottage has wi-fi, as I am out in the country for a family wedding for the next few days - so fingers crossed. Anyway here is today's

    Captain Anthony Lionel Fenwick (Lincolnshire Regiment) is killed at Hulluch while on patrol endeavouring to capture some of the enemy who have been seen near to the part of the line that he is holding. He suddenly comes upon an enemy post and is instantly shot by machine-gun fire. His body will be found in a crater on 23rd March and is buried in the British cemetery near Bethune. The 24 year old is the second son of Walter Lionel Fenwick JP of Wittam Hall, Bourne, Lincolnshire, and of his wife, Millicent, daughter of the Right Honorable Lord Robert Montagu PC JP DL. Captain Fenwick was at Cambridge when the War broke out and immediately offered his services and was given a Commission in the Lincolnshire Regiment. In June 1915 he went with his Regiment to Gallipoli as ADC to General Maxwell. He was then attached to the Border Regiment, and on 21st August 1915, after his Colonel and many other Officers had been killed in action on Chocolate Hill, he took command of his Regiment. For his services he was mentioned in Despatches and recommended for the MC. In 1917 he was sent to France and was killed.

    Captain Ernest Ludlow MC (Grenadier Guards) is killed during an air raid on London. While serving as a sergeant he was awarded a Military Cross in the first group to be awarded that decoration. It is not just Captain Ludlow that is killed, but also his wife (Jessie Sophia), and his two sons (Ernest John, age 10 and Bernard E, age 4). Their house, within the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital is destroyed by three large bombs dropped by one of six Gothas that have got through the London defenses. The family is buried with a memorial erected by the officers of the Grenadier Guards ‘In affectionate remembrance of a brave and esteemed colleague’.

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    German Air Raid on London and Kent

    Britain: Moonlight raid on London (18 casualties). Giant R12 (Seydlitz-Gerstenburg) rams balloon aprox. 10,000ft over Woolwich and plunges 1,000ft, inadvertently dropping two 660lb bombs and injuring air mechanic; remaining bombs jettisoned at Beckenham, and before return to Belgian base. R39 drops first 2,204lb bomb (largest of war) delivered to England, destroys Northern Pavilion of Chelsea Hospital. 1 (or 2) Giants ineffectually raid Dover (night February 16-17); 60 defence sorties (3 brief attacks).

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    Sighting of damage after a German air raid on England.

    Ernst Brandenburg, who lost a leg in June 1917 in an aeroplane crash, returned to Kagohl 3 in February and resumed command of the squadron. Finding morale low following the regular losses sustained by the crews, particularly in landing accidents, he suspended further raids while he built the squadron back up to full strength. Therefore, on the night of 16 February, five ‘Giants’ of Rfa 501 set out on their own. Strong winds immediately affected the raid and three abandoned the flight to London to settle for the closer target of Dover. One of them, R.33, had a bad night. With three out of the four engines failing, the crew dropped their bombs in the sea off Deal and limped home on one engine, flying at a height of just 200 metres. The crew of R.25 claimed to have bombed Dover but in fact all 20 bombs (each 50kg) fell in a line at about 10.40pm, roughly from Reach Court farm to Granville Road at St. Margaret’s, north of Dover. The bombs smashed a water main in Granville Road, damaged a convent laundry and a house known as ‘The Bungalow’, shattered numerous windows and dug craters in fields but caused no injuries. The crew of R.36 also claimed to have dropped two bombs on Dover, which either dropped with those released by R.25 or they fell in the sea. The two ‘Giants’ that held on for London, R.12 and R.39, had differing experiences. Both came inland over Essex, headed west and appeared initially to keep close company as the British defences believed there was only one aircraft. R.39, carrying the first 1,000kg bomb over Britain, appears to have evaded the plotters until she appeared over south-west London at about 10.15pm. Her own crew thought they were east of the City of London when they released their single bomb. It struck the north-east wing of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, home of the Chelsea Pensioners, obliterating the building. An officer of the hospital staff died, along with his wife, two of his five children and a niece.

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    Damage caused by a 1,000kg bomb at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea

    The other London-bound ‘Giant’, R.12, had crossed the Thames and was approaching Woolwich when a section of the balloon apron suddenly loomed up in front of it. One of the defence ideas initiated back in September 1917, ten of these balloon barrages were raised on the eastern approaches to London, described as ‘a wire screen suspended from balloons and intended to form a sort of barrage in which enemy machines navigated at night will be Raised to a height of 10,000ft, their more practical purpose was to force enemy raiders to fly at more predictable heights giving the AA guns an increased chance of success. Despite the best efforts of the pilot, the starboard wing of R.12 caught the dangling steel cables, twisting it out of control. After dropping 1,000ft the pilot regained control but the violent manoeuvres shook two 300kg bombs free. They fell in Woolwich at 10.20pm. One, exploding in Artillery Place, demolished the home of a greengrocer and his shop at No. 50a killing five people, severely damaged three other homes and shops from 49 to 51, and caused other damage at Nos. 47, 48, 52 and 53. Windows were also broken in Belford Grove and at a school in Rectory Place. Seconds later the other bomb exploded in Grand Depot Road where it killed an Australian soldier, Bombardier Eric Munro, and a nurse who was on holiday. The bomb also caused damage to St. George’s Garrison Church. Relieved to be still flying, the crew of R.12 turned back and jettisoned their remaining eight 50kg bombs. These fell harmlessly just north-east of Shortlands railway station near Bromley, some on a golf course and others on allotments on Farnaby Road.

    Both R.12 and R.39 flew out across Kent with 60 aircraft from the RFC hoping to intercept them, but only three made fleeting unsuccessful attacks. The AA guns had a busy night during which they fired 4,519 rounds at the two ‘Giants’ that reached London and at those near Dover, but all the ‘Giants’ safely reached their home base outside Ghent.

    Western Front: Royal Flying Corps No 101 Squadron (FE2bs) begin night bombing of German airfields and rest billets (February 19, 21, 24 and 25). McCudden again scores 4 victories.

    The following aerial victories were claimed on this day, including another 4 from James McCudden

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    Amongst those claiming their first victories were...

    Captain George Owen Johnson MC 24 Squadron RFC

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    After teaching school in Alberta, George Owen Johnson joined the army in 1913. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 and was posted to 84 Squadron in early 1918. An S.E.5a pilot, Johnson scored 6 victories before he was reassigned to 24 Squadron as a flight commander on 18 April 1918. Scoring 5 more victories, he shared in the capture of Kurt Wüsthoff on 17 June 1918 when the German's Fokker D.VII was forced down near Cachy. When the war ended, Johnson returned to Canada and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. Earning a CB during World War II, he retired with the rank of Air Marshal in 1947.

    Lieutenant Jean Seraphin Benjamin Emmanuel Bozon-Verduraz (Legion d'Honneur)

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    After five years in the army, Bozon-Verduraz transferred to the French Air Service on 8 October 1915. On 12 May 1916, he was injured in a crash while serving with C11. Posted to N3 on 15 June 1917, he scored eight victories during the first half of 1918. On 1 July 1918, he assumed command of Spa94, scoring three more victories and logging more than 683 hours of flight time by the end of the war.

    "Remarkable officer pilot; during two years, he has gained the admiration of the Army Corps Escadrille with which he served, carrying out the most arduous missions, never ceasing to seek battle with a joyous zeal. He downed, one after the other, three enemy planes in the space of four days. One wound. Three citations." Légion d'Honneur citation

    Jasta 74 and 75 are formed on this day

    Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 74, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 74, was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score over 22 aerial victories during the war, including a night time victory. The unit's victories came at the expense of one pilot killed in action, one wounded in action, and one taken prisoner of war. Jasta 74 was founded at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung ("Replacement Detachment") 1 at Altenberg on 16 February 1918. The new squadron became operational on the 25th. On 8 March 1918, it was posted to 1 Armee. The fighter squadron drew first blood on 3 April 1918.

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    Willy Hippert's Fokker DVII 'Mimmi' (Jasta 74)

    Jasta 75 - Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 75, commonly abbreviated to Jasta 75, was a "hunting group" (i.e., fighter squadron) of the Luftstreitkräfte, the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I. The squadron would score four aerial victories during the war, including an observation balloon downed. The unit's victories came at the expense of one wounded in action. Jasta 75 was founded on 16 February 1918 at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung ("Replacement Detachment") 2, Schneidemuhl. The new squadron became operational on 25 February. On 1 March 1918, it was posted to Armee-Abteilung B. The unit made its first victory claim on 12 April 1918.

    General Headquarters, February 17th.

    “On the 16th inst. the weather was very fine and visibility good. Our aeroplanes carried out observation for the artillery all day and took photographs of the enemy's rear lines and aerodromes. Hostile billets, railway stations, and troops were bombed and engaged with machine-gun fire throughout the day. A large calibre German gun was also bombed, and in the course of the day over 5½ tons of bombs were dropped by us on different targets. Fighting machines on both sides were most active, and frequent attacks were made by the enemy on our bombing, photographic, and artillery machines. In air fighting 14 German machines were brought down, and seven others were driven down out of control. Our anti-aircraft guns shot down two other hostile machines, one of them being a large bombing machine, which carried four men. This latter machine fell in our lines and its four occupants were taken prisoners. Another German aeroplane, making the 17th accounted for during the day, in addition to those driven down out of control, landed near one of our aerodromes, and its occupants were also taken prisoners. Five of our aeroplanes are missing.

    “During the night of the 16th-17th inst. our machines dropped 400 bombs on hostile aerodromes in the neighbourhood of Ghent, Tournai, and Laon. The railway station and sidings at Conflans - 15 miles west of Metz - were also successfully bombed from a low height, bursts being observed in the sidings. All our machines returned."

    Admiralty, February 17th.

    “On February 16th a bombing raid was carried out by naval aircraft on Zuydwege Dump. Many bombs were dropped, and a fire was observed to start in the middle of the objective. All our machines returned safely."

    RFC Communiqué number 127:

    The weather was very fine and the visibility good.

    Thirty-three reconnaissances were carried out, eight of which were long-distance photographic flights by machines of the 9th Wing.

    Eighty-three hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction and six neutralized; nine gun-pits were destroyed, 33 damaged, 29 explosions and 26 fires caused. Eighty-eight zone calls were sent down.

    On the 16th, 25 targets were registered by balloons, 21 of which were by those of the 2nd Brigade. Eleven active hostile batteries were located.

    A total of 2,547 photographs were taken, this being a record. Over seven tons of bombs were dropped and 10,410 rounds fired as follows:-

    1st Brigade: On the night of the 15th/16th, No 58 Squadron dropped 43 25-lb bombs and fired 277 rounds at Menin Railway Station, and No 102 Squadron dropped 32 25-lb bombs and fired 400 rounds at Marquain Aerodrome and aerodromes in the Lys Valley.

    During the day, Nos 2, 4, 4a, 5, 16 and 18 Squadron dropped six 230-lb, 33 112-lb and 12 20-lb bombs on hostile gun position near Courrieres; No. 18 Squadron dropped two 112-lb and 14 25-lb bombs on billets; 1st Wing dropped 53 25-lb bombs on miscellaneous targets, and 10th Wing fired 1,350 rounds.

    2nd Brigade: 2,641 rounds were fired at various targets, and No 57 Squadron dropped 10 112-lb bombs on Iseghem ammunition dump.

    3rd Brigade: Thirty-three 25-lb bombs were dropped and 510 rounds fired at various objectives.

    5th Brigade: 5,232 rounds were fired; 15th Wing dropped 74 25-lb bombs and 22nd Wing dropped 13 25-lb bombs.

    9th Wing: Six 112-lb and 24 25-lb bombs were dropped on lnglemunster Railway Station by No 27 Squadron.

    A “Friedrichshafen” was brought down by anti-aircraft gun-fire in the First Army area.

    An enemy machine landed at Catigny.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Lieut E C Eaton, 65 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Moorslede - Dadizeele at 07:35/08:35

    Maj G H Bowman, 41 Sqn, LVG C out of control Bantouzelle at 08:00/09:00 – Major Bowman, No 41 Squadron, fired a short burst from both guns at an E.A. which was diving at him. The E.A. went down in a steep left-hand turn completely out of control

    Capt G E Thomson and Lieut H G W Debenham, 46 Sqn, two-seater out of control 51b.V.2 [west of Villers-lès-Cagnicourt] at 08:30/09:30 – Capt G Thomson, No 46 Squadron, dived at an E.A. two-seater and fired 70 rounds. The E.A. went down vertically, giving out smoke, and was confirmed by anti-aircraft as being out of control

    2nd-Lieut H V Highton, 43 Sqn, DFW C out of control Brebières at 09:30/10:30

    2nd-Lieut J A McCudden, 84 Sqn, Rumpler C crashed St Quentin at 09:40/10:40 – 2nd-Lieut J McCudden, No 84 Squadron, attacked a two-seater Rumpler and fired a good burst from both guns. The E.A. dived and 2nd-Lieut McCudden followed it down to 1,000 feet, firing from time to time. The E.A. was seen to crash, and this was confirmed by 2nd-Lieut Sorsoleil of the same squadron

    2nd-Lieut J V Sorsoleil, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames St Quentin at 09:45/10:45 – 2nd-Lieut J Sorsoleil, No 84 Squadron, was attacked by five Albatros Scouts who were escorting the machine shot down by 2nd-Lieut McCudden

    Capt G H Lewis and Lieut C W Usher, 40 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Lille at 10:05/11:05 - Capt G Lewis and Lieut C Usher, No 40 Squadron, attacked an E.A. Scout which went down completely out of control

    Lieut J F Larson, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control La Fère at 10:20/11:20 – Lieut J Larson, No 84 Squadron, attacked an enemy scout. The pilot appeared to be hit, and the machine stalled and fell over on its back, and was last seen falling out of control

    Capt F E Brown, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control St Quentin at 10:20/11:20 – Capt F Brown, No 84 Squadron, attacked one of four E.A. scouts, which he shot down completely out of control.

    Capt H J Hamilton, 29 Sqn, two-seater out of control Moorslede at 10:26/11:26

    Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Sqn, Rumpler C broke up south-west of Caudry at 10:35/11:35 – left aerodrome at 9.40 and crossed lines over Bantouzelle at 16,000 feet at 10.25. Many E.A. scouts about, mostly above us, who withdrew north and east. At 10.35 saw a Rumpler getting height over Caudry at 16,500 feet. I secured a good position and fired a long burst with both guns, after which E.A. went down in a vertical dive and then all four wings fell off and the wreckage fell south-west of Caudry; Ernst Karlowa & Albert Fröhlich, FA A 202,

    Capt F E Brown, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control St Quentin at 10:45/11:45 – Capt F Brown, No 84 Squadron, attacked another Albatros Scout, and tracers were seen to enter the hostile machine, which fell out of control.

    Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Sqn, DFW CV in flames north-east of Le Catelet at 10:45/11:45 – at about 10.45 saw a D.F.W. south of Bois de Vaucelles at about 15,000 feet. I secured a firing position at 100 yards range and after firing a long burst from both guns E.A. went down in flames, after which it fell to pieces, the wreckage falling just north-east of Le Catelet; Uffz Max Hanicke (Kia) & Ltn Fritz Dusterdieck (Kia), FA 269[?],

    Capt F E Brown, 84 Sqn, LVG C crashed north of La Fere at 11:00/12:00 – After shooting down an Albatros Scout out of control, Capt Brown’s engine then started to give trouble, and he made for the lines. On the way back he encountered a two-seater L.V.G., and fired 150 rounds into it at 30 yards’ range, after which the E.A. fell out of control, and was seen to crash by another member of the patrol

    Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Sqn, Rumpler C out of control north of St Quentin at 11:10/12:10 – on recrossing lines I engaged a Rumpler at 15,500 feet over Hargicourt at 11.10 a.m. After firing a long burst from both guns E.A. went down fairly steeply south-east emitting smoke and was then seen by Capt Fielding Johnson to go in a right hand spiral dive, apparently out of control

    2nd-Lieut G O Johnson, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed south-east of St Quentin at 11:15/12:15 – Lieut G Johnson, No 84 Squadron, attacked an Albatros Scout and fired bursts into it with both guns. The E.A. fell out of control, and was seen to crash

    Capt H H Balfour, 43 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Courrières at 11:15/12:15
    Capt H H Balfour, 43 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Courrières at 11:15/12:15 - Capt H H Balfour, No 43 Squadron, while leading a patrol, observed two E.A. formations. He attacked one E.A. at point-blank range and drove it down out of control. He then got on the tail of another E.A. which went down in a spin and was seen to crash

    2nd-Lieut C F King, 43 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south of Courrières at 11:15/12:15 - 2nd-Lieut C King, No 43 Squadron, followed a hostile scout down to 3,000 feet firing continuously and when last seen the E.A. was still diving vertically out of control

    Flt Cdr G W Price, Flt Sub-Lieut W H Sneath and Flt Sub-Lieut H H S Fowler, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Pronville at 11:15/12:15 -

    Lieut G G Bailey, 43 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Hénin-Liétard at 11:25/12:25 – 2nd-Lieut G Bailey, No 43 Squadron, saw an Albatros Scout attacking an R.E.8. He dived on the tail of the E.A. and opened fire; the E.A. went down in flames and crashed

    Lieut G E H McElroy, 40 Sqn, DFW C out of control west of Hénin-Liétard at 11:30/12:30 - Lieut G McElroy, No 40 Squadron, attacked a hostile machine which was pointed out to him by A.A. fire. After a short burst from both guns had been fired into it, the E.A. turned over and went down in a slow regular spin obviously out of control

    16 British Airmen were lost on this day

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    Western Front
    Britain: British Intelligence appreciation on imminence of German offensive.
    France: Foch aiming at Petain’s removal (Fayolle diary and on February 26). US Army Supply Services open at Tours.

    Eastern Front
    LITHUANIA DECLARES INDEPENDENCE.

    The Act of Reinstating Independence of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Valstybės atkūrimo aktas) or Act of February 16 was signed by the Council of Lithuania on February 16, 1918, proclaiming the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania, governed by democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital. The Act was signed by all twenty representatives of the Council, which was chaired by Jonas Basanavičius. The Act of February 16 was the result of a series of resolutions on the issue, including one issued by the Vilnius Conference and the Act of January 8. The path to the Act was long and complex because the German Empire exerted pressure on the Council to form an alliance. The Council had to carefully maneuver between the Germans, whose troops were present in Lithuania, and the demands of the Lithuanian people.

    The immediate effects of the announcement of Lithuania's re-establishment of independence were limited. Publication of the Act was prohibited by the German authorities, and the text was distributed and printed illegally. The work of the Council was hindered, and Germans remained in control over Lithuania. The situation changed only when Germany lost World War I in the fall of 1918. In November 1918 the first Cabinet of Lithuania was formed, and the Council of Lithuania gained control over the territory of Lithuania. Independent Lithuania, although it would soon be battling the Wars of Independence, became a reality. The laconic Act is the legal basis for the existence of modern Lithuania, both during the interwar period and since 1990.[3] The Act formulated the basic constitutional principles that were and still are followed by all Constitutions of Lithuania. The Act itself was a key element in the foundation of Lithuania's re-establishment of independence in 1990. Lithuania, breaking away from the Soviet Union, stressed that it was simply re-establishing the independent state that existed between the world wars and that the Act never lost its legal power. On March 29, 2017, the original document was found at the Diplomatic archive in Berlin, Germany.

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    The original hand-written Act of Independence of Lithuania with twenty original signatures of signatories

    Germany: Germans declare Armistice with Russia will end noon February 18

    One more update to come ....

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 02-17-2018 at 02:26.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  10. #3060

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    So although in the middle of nowhere, we have wi-fi so glad to say service is uninterrupted (although I have to go and get ready for my niece's wedding soon, so will crack on)

    17th February 1918


    German Air Raid

    Despite having only one serviceable ‘Giant’ available on 17 February, the commander of Rfa 501 ordered it to attack London alone. R.25 appeared off the Kent coast at about 9.45pm and initially followed the course of the Thames Estuary. The sound of its engines attracted AA gunfire from both the Kent and Essex sides of the river, some of it way out of range, and the first RFC sorties took off at 9.50pm.

    As the river narrowed, R.25 veered from one shore to the other before dropping a sighting incendiary over Slade Green near Dartford at about 10.40pm. Approaching the south-eastern outskirts of London, the first HE bomb exploded in the back garden of a house in Newstead Road, Lee, severely damaging the rear of the house. Two more dropped close together at Hither Green. One exploded in the grounds of St. Swithun’s Church, damaging both the vicarage and the church, and the other on the pavement in Hither Green Lane, fracturing gas, water and electricity supplies and damaging buildings in the area. In Thornford Road, on the corner of Lewisham Park, a bomb exploded damaging a house and injuring two men. R.25 now followed a gently curving course that would ultimately lead to St. Pancras station in London, along which the crew released bombs at regular intervals. The next bomb demolished the rear of 7 Vicar’s Hill, Lewisham, but the occupants all escaped unhurt; the blast damaged many other houses in the street and in neighbouring roads. In Waller Road, New Cross, a bomb fell in the back garden of No. 160 causing significant damage to the rear of the house. In Pennethorne Road, Peckham, another exploded behind Nos. 23 and 25, demolishing the back additions of both houses, smashing windows and damaging the roofs in most other properties in the street and causing serious damage in Kincaid Road. Approaching Camberwell, the next bomb detonated in Trafalgar Road, damaging the premises of a metal manufacturer and smashed windows in 31 houses there and more windows in 11 houses and a pub in Glengall Road. Two bombs followed in Southwark. In Searles Road, the first exploded in the street, killing a soldier and injuring three people while causing significant damage to a school and five houses. The second bomb exploded in a foundry yard in Bear Lane causing severe damage to the premises, which extended to 11 other properties there and in Dolben Street. Continuing on the same line, R.25 crossed the Thames by Blackfriars Bridge at 10.55pm and dropped the next bomb, which failed to explode. It smashed down through five floors of St. Dunstan’s House at 133 to 137 New Fetter Lane, belonging to the Cambridge University Press, causing much damage but no casualties. Seconds later a bomb exploded in Doughty Mews off Guilford Street, Holborn, severely damaging the premises of a welding business and all the other buildings in the narrow mews suffered, which included a number of stables killing two horses. Damage extended to buildings in the surrounding roads: Guilford Street, Millman Street and Doughty Street.

    The crew of R.25 now clearly saw a worthwhile target dead ahead — St. Pancras Station. With great accuracy five bombs landed within 50 yards of each other around the station and adjoining Midland Grand Hotel, and a sixth bomb landed a short distance away in Midland Road by the wall of Somers Town Goods Station. Two of the bombs landed at the front of the station, two struck pinnacles on the hotel’s tower (one caused damage but failed to explode) and one exploded close to an archway leading through to the booking hall. Some time later, on completion of their difficult task, the emergency teams had recovered 20 bodies and helped 22 people suffering injury. Turning away to the north-east, R.25 dropped a final bomb (12kg HE) in the grounds of a YMCA Training Centre situated between Mildmay Park and Newington Green Road. The bomb failed to explode as R.25 headed home. The RFC flew 69 sorties as they attempted to intercept R.25 but only three aircraft were able to make attacks before they lost the target. All were unsuccessful. Remarkably, this raid by one German aircraft lured the AA guns into firing 7,375 rounds, with many of the guns positioned miles from the route of R.25. A significant number of these rounds were aimed at Home Defence aircraft who had strayed over the gun zones and whose identification lights were invisible at the height they were flying. The crew of R.25 reported this wild response to their flight when they safely reached home.

    Lieutenant Leslie Howard Tandy Capel 20 Squadron RFC is injured on landing on this day.

    Leslie Howard Tandy Capel scored seven victories flying the Bristol F.2b with 20 Squadron in 1918. As a garage proprietor from London, Leslie Howard Tandy Capel received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 17246 on a D.H.60G at Herts. & Essex Aero Club on 14 February 1939.

    Attachment 241126

    The diary of 62 Squadron RFC (Bristol Fighters)

    The Squadron left St. Omer for Serny Aerodrome on the 1st February 1918. At Serny work commenced, initially with the Squadron conducting practice patrols typically in flights of six aircraft. The first balloon patrol took place on the 17th February 1918, the first line patrol on the 25th February, and the first offensive patrol (in exceptionally heavy wind) on the 1st March 1918.

    It became clear at the beginning of March that the Germans were going to attack on the St.Quentin front, the whole of the 9th Wing, to which 62 Squadron belonged, proceeded to Villers Bretonneux, Cachy, and Champien aerodromes. No. 62 Squadron was stationed at Cachy [SE of Amiens - see map], and carried out Offensive patrols. It was here that the exceptionally heavy work carried out by the Squadron during the enemy's offensive, commenced. The Germans started to react to the British patrols on 10 March and 62 Squadron patrols (usually six aircraft) recorded their first main claims for destruction of EA - six on that day including those driven down out of control (OOC). This continued on 11 March with two further claims.

    General Headquarters, February 18th.

    “The weather was again fine on the 17th inst., and enabled our aeroplanes to proceed with their work in conjunction with the artillery and to take photographs of the enemy's aerodromes and back areas. Bombing, which had been carried out incessantly throughout the previous 36 hours, was continued, and over 6 tons of bombs were dropped by us on various targets, including hostile aerodromes in the neighbourhood of Tournai and Lille, a large ammunition dump near Courtrai, and numerous billets. Fighting in the air was again most severe, the enemy's scouts making determined but unsuccessful attacks against our bombing machines. Ten hostile aeroplanes were brought down and six others were driven down out of control. Three of our machines are missing.

    “On the night of the 17th-18th inst., further bombing raids were carried out against hostile aerodromes south of Ghent and west of Tournai as well as against many of the enemy's billets. Another most successful raid was carried out on the railway station and sidings at Conflans (west of Metz). A ton of bombs was dropped, and bursts were observed on sheds at the edge of the sidings, where a large fire was started. Other bursts were clearly seen on the siding and near the railway station. In spite of the exceptionally heavy fixe of the enemy's anti-aircraft guns, all our machines returned. On the 18th inst. our bombing squadrons raided the barracks and railway station at Treves, on the Moselle, and the steel works and railway station at Thionville. The raid was carried out in broad daylight, and excellent results were obtained. At Treves bombs were seen to burst in the gasworks, near the barracks, and also in the town, where two large fires were burning when our airmen left. At Thionville direct hits were obtained on the railway. Anti-aircraft gunfire was again considerable and accurate, but all our machines returned safely."

    Admiralty, February 18th.

    “Naval aircraft carried out a bomb raid on Uytkerke aerodrome at about noon on the 17th. Many bombs were dropped on the objective. One enemy aircraft was shot down out of control. All our machines returned safely."

    Admiralty, February 19th.

    "During the night of February 17th-18th naval aircraft carried out bombing raids on Zeebrugge mole and docks, and on docks at Bruges. Several tons of explosives were dropped. Bombs were observed to fall alongside a submarine shelter and in the vicinity of lock gates and quays."

    RFC Communiqué number 127:

    The weather was fine throughout the day and visibility was good.

    Twenty-seven successful reconnaissances were carried out, six of which were long distance photographic flights by machines of Nos 25 and 27 Squadrons.
    On the 17th, 87 hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and eight neutralized; 18 gun-pits were destroyed, 46 damaged, 54 explosions and 32 fires caused. Fifty zone calls were sent down.
    2,256 photographs were taken, of which 643 were by the 3rd Brigade and 103 were of hostile aerodromes in the enemy's back areas by the 9th Wing.
    12½ tons of bombs were dropped and 17,034 rounds fired at ground targets as follows:—

    Night 16th/17th - 1st Brigade: No 2 Squadron dropped 48 25-lb bombs on Lesquin, Wieres and Fournes; No 4 Squadron dropped 25 25-lb bombs on Lommes, Don, La Bassée and Mouveaux Aerodrome, and No 16 Squadron dropped eight 112-lb bombs on Meurchin.

    2nd Brigade: No 10 Squadron dropped 38 25-lb bombs on Menin.
    3rd Brigade: No 13 Squadron dropped 24 25-lb bombs on a dump at Oisy-le-Verger; No 12 Squadron dropped 12 25-lb bombs on Iwuy dump, and No 59 Squadron dropped 18 25-lb bombs on an ammunition dump.
    5th Brigade: Four 112-lb and 16 25-lb bombs on Villers Outreaux, and 29 25-lb bombs on Beaurevoir were dropped.

    9th Wing: No 101 Squadron dropped 96 25-lb bombs on Vivaise aerodrome; No 58 Squadron dropped 56 25-lb bombs on Rumbeke Aerodrome and 52 25-lb bombs on Marquain Aerodrome; and fired 1,162 rounds; No 102 Squadron dropped 20 25-lb bombs on Scheldewindeke, 31 25-lb bombs on Marquain, 14 25-lb bombs on Gontrode, 8 25-lb bombs on Worteghem Aerodrome, 10 25-lb bombs on trains and 29 2-lb shells and 900 rounds were fired.

    By Day - 1st Brigade: No 18 Squadron dropped four 112-lb and eight 25-lb bombs on Ascq Aerodrome; three 112-lb and four 25-lb bombs on Marquain Aerodrome; two 112-lb bombs on Lerzennes, and 32 25-lb bombs on billets; 1st Wing dropped 72 25-lb bombs and fired 200 rounds, and 10th Wing fired 6,850 rounds.

    2nd Brigade: No 57 Squadron dropped 72 25-lb bombs on Bisseghem ammunition dump; 11th Wing dropped 30 25-lb bombs, and 3,375 rounds were fired.
    3rd Brigade: Eighty-eight 25-lb bombs were dropped and 840 rounds fired.
    5th Brigade: 15th Wing dropped 85 25-lb bombs and fired 3,407 rounds, and No 84 Squadron dropped eight 25-lb bombs.
    9th Wing: No 27 Squadron dropped nine 112-lb and 24 25-lb bombs on Marquain Aerodrome.

    8th Brigade: On the night of the 16th/17th, in addition to the above, five machines of No 100 Squadron bombed the railway and sidings at Conflans (15 miles west of Metz) from a height of 1,000 feet. Two 230-lb, four 112-lb, one 40-lb and 14 25-lb bombs were dropped and 600 rounds fired at ground targets. Two 112-lb bombs burst on the station, and eight other in the sidings. All machines returned.

    Enemy Aircraft:


    Note: in this Communique, many of the out of control claims did not have a discrete entry but were recorded under the heading 'Hostile machines were driven down out of control by the following:'.

    Capt F G Quigley and Capt F C Gorringe, 70 Sqn, two-seater out of control Houthulst Forest -
    Capt H H Balfour, Lieut R S Grandy and 2nd-Lieut C F King, 43 Sqn, DFW C out of control east of Pont-à-Vendin at 08:55/09:55 -
    2nd-Lieut A J S Doble, 43 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brebières at 09:30/10:30 -
    2nd-Lieut H V Highton, 43 Sqn, EA out of control Brebières at 09:30/10:30 -
    Capt J L Trollope, 43 Sqn, DFW C out of control Brebières at 09:30/10:30 -
    2nd-Lieut C T Travers, 84 Sqn, two-seater out of control north-east of St Gobain at 10:00/11:00 -
    Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Sqn, LVG C out of control Guemappe at 10:25/11:25 - Uffz Josef Klauke (Kia) & Ltn Otto Jablonksi (Kia), FA 263 [?]
    2nd-Lieut A F W Beauchamp-Proctor, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south-east of St Quentin at 10:45/11:45 -
    Flt Sub-Lieut A T Whealy, 3N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Quesnoy at 10:55/11:55 - Flg Julius Bohe (Kia) [?]
    2nd-Lieut D S Judson, 3 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Marcoing at 11:15/12:15 -

    The following aerial victories were claimed on this day

    Attachment 241127

    A total of 12 British Airmen were lost on this day

    Attachment 241128 Attachment 241129

    Amongst those pilots claiming their first victories on this day we have:

    Captain William Spurrett Fielding-Johnson MC 56 Squadron RFC

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    The son of Thomas and Florence Lyne (Paget) Fielding-Johnson, William Spurrett Fielding-Johnson served with the Leicestershire Yeomanry in France before he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915. He was posted to 3 Squadron as an observer on 16 October 1915 but was badly injured in a crash on 19 January 1916. After recovering from his injuries, he received pilot training and was posted to 56 Squadron in October 1917. Flying the S.E.5a, Fielding-Johnson scored five victories in 1918. On 17 October 1929, he received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 8854 on a Moth Cirrus Mk. III at the National Flying Services, Hanworth. During World War II, he returned to air combat as an air gunner.

    Capt. William Spurrett Fielding-Johnson, M.C., Yeo. and R.F.C.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Whilst escorting machines of another squadron which were engaged in bombing work with one other officer he attacked ten enemy scouts. He destroyed two of them and forced another to land. On another occasion, when leading a patrol of six machines, he attacked ten enemy scouts. He destroyed one, and his patrol accounted for three others. A few minutes later, in conjunction with another officer, he destroyed an enemy two-seater machine of a new type. As a flight commander he showed great skill and by his daring and good leadership set a splendid example to the officers of his flight.

    Captain Tunstill's Men
    : Mid-morning the Battalion marched five miles south-west from Biadene to new billets at Altivole, marching via Montebelluna and Caselle. Meanwhile, two 3-ton motor lorries were provided for the movement of stores to Altivole.

    Cpl. William Hutchinson (see 18th May 1917) was reported by CSM Charles Edward Parker, MM (see 19th November 1917) and 2Lt. Fred Dyson (see 16th December 1917) as having been “drunk when on active service”. He was ordered to be detained pending a trial by Field General Court Martial.

    A congratulatory message from the Corps Commander, the Earl of Cavan, was issued to all units, “The Divisional Commander has been desired by the Corps Commander to convey, to all ranks of the Division , his sincere appreciation of the work they have done during the last 2 ½ months, both as regards organization and the manner in which it has been carried out. The Corps Commander also considers the active spirit shewn by all units in crossing the river is most praiseworthy. He wishes all ranks to be informed of his gratitude for their accomplishments. The Divisional Commander, in adding his congratulations, feels sure the Division will continue to merit the high opinion formed of them by the Corps Commander in any undertaking they may be called upon to carry out”.

    SS Northville, built by J. Readhead & Sons, South Shields in 1897 and owned at the time of her loss by The Lowlands Steam Shipping Co. Ltd. (J. Crass & Co.), South Shields, was a British steamer of 2472 tons.

    On February 17th, 1918, Northville, on a voyage from Newport to Dieppe with a cargo of coal, was sunk by the German submarine UB-33 (Fritz Gregor), 3.5 miles SExE from Berry Head. There were no casualties.

    Teaser for tomorrow - tomorrow we see the introduction of a new front line fighter aircraft - can you guess what it is?



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    Last edited by Hedeby; 02-18-2018 at 13:08.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  11. #3061

    Default 17th February 1918 supplement

    Something I found on the Twitter 100 years ago today page:
    British Bristol fighters in formation after taking off from Serny aerodrome, France: © IWM (Q 12055):


    ETA: having more trouble with the image showing, so I'll provide the link here:
    https://twitter.com/CenturyAgoToday/...85922637598720
    Last edited by zenlizard; 02-17-2018 at 12:28. Reason: Image showing?

  12. #3062

    Default

    Many thanks for that Sam - always delighted to see some Bristol Fighter pictures

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  13. #3063

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    18th February 1918

    Today saw the introduction of a new front line fighter - The Sopwith Dolphin

    The Sopwith 5F.1 Dolphin was a British fighter aircraft manufactured by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It was used by the Royal Flying Corps and its successor, the Royal Air Force, during the First World War. The Dolphin entered service on the Western Front in early 1918 and proved to be a formidable fighter. The aircraft was not retained in the postwar inventory and was retired shortly after the war.

    In early 1917, the Sopwith chief engineer, Herbert Smith, began designing a new fighter (internal Sopwith designation 5F.1) powered by the geared 200 hp Hispano-Suiza 8B. The resulting Dolphin was a two-bay, single-seat biplane, with the upper wings attached to an open steel cabane frame above the cockpit. To maintain the correct centre of gravity, the lower wings were positioned 13 in (33 cm) forward of the upper wings, creating the Dolphin’s distinctive negative wing stagger. The pilot sat with his head through the frame, where he had an excellent view. This configuration sometimes caused difficulty for novices, who found it difficult to keep the aircraft pointed at the horizon because the nose was not visible from the cockpit. The cockpit was nevertheless warm and comfortable, in part because pipes ran alongside the cockpit walls to the two side-mounted radiator blocks.Shutters in front of each radiator core allowed the engine temperature to be controlled. The first Dolphin prototype was powered by a geared 150 hp Hispano-Suiza 8 and featured a deep "car-type" frontal radiator. Test pilot Harry Hawker carried out the maiden flight on 23 May 1917. In early June, the prototype was sent to Martlesham Heath for official trials. On 13 June, the prototype flew to Saint-Omer, France, where the aircraft's unfamiliar shape prompted Allied anti-aircraft gunners to fire on it. Several pilots, including Billy Bishop of No. 60 Squadron, evaluated the prototype and reported favourably. On 28 June 1917, the Ministry of Munitions ordered 200 Dolphins from Hooper & Co. Shortly afterwards, the Ministry ordered a further 500 aircraft from Sopwith and 200 aircraft from Darracq Motor Engineering Company.

    The second prototype introduced upper wing radiators in lieu of the frontal radiator and large cut-outs in the lower wing roots, to improve the pilot's downward vision. These features proved unsuccessful and were omitted from subsequent aircraft. The third and fourth prototypes incorporated numerous modifications to the radiator, upper fuselage decking, fin and rudder. The fourth prototype was selected as the production standard. Series production commenced in October 1917, with 121 Dolphins delivered by the end of the year.

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    The Dolphin Mk I became operational with 19 and 79 Squadrons in February 1918 and 87 and 23 Squadrons in March. The Dolphin’s debut was marred by several incidents in which British and Belgian pilots attacked the new aircraft, mistaking it for a German type. For the next few weeks, Dolphin pilots accordingly exercised caution near other Allied aircraft. New pilots also voiced concern over the Dolphin’s wing arrangement, fearing serious injury to the head and neck in the event of a crash. Early aircraft were often fitted with improvised crash pylons consisting of steel tubes over the cockpit to protect the pilot's head. Experience showed that fears of pilot injury from overturning were largely unfounded. Crash pylons disappeared from front line aircraft, though they were often retained on trainers. Night-flying Dolphins of 141 Squadron, a Home Defence unit, had metal loops fitted above the inner set of interplane struts.

    Despite early problems, the Dolphin proved successful and generally popular with pilots. The aircraft was fast, manoeuvrable, and easy to fly, though a sharp stall was noted. When functioning properly, the Hispano-Suiza afforded the Dolphin excellent performance at high altitude. Accordingly, the Dolphin was often sent against German reconnaissance aircraft such as the Rumpler C.VII, which routinely operated at altitudes above 20,000 ft (6,100 m).No. 87 Squadron explored the use of equipment to supply pilots with oxygen at high altitude but the experiment was abandoned after trials showed that the oxygen tanks exploded when struck by gunfire. The highest-scoring Dolphin unit was No. 87 Squadron, which shot down 89 enemy aircraft. Pilots of 79 Squadron shot down 64 enemy aircraft in the eight and a half months that the aircraft was at the front. The top two Dolphin aces served in No. 79 Squadron. Captain Francis W. Gillet, an American, scored 20 victories in the type. Lieutenant Ronald Bannerman, a New Zealander, scored 17 victories. The third-ranking Dolphin ace was Captain Arthur Vigers of 87 Squadron, who attained all 14 of his victories in the same aircraft. Another notable ace, Major Albert Desbrisay Carter of 19 Squadron, obtained approximately 13 of his 29 confirmed victories in the Dolphin. Captain Henry Biziou scored eight victories in the type.

    Four Royal Air Force squadrons operated the Dolphin as their primary equipment, while other squadrons used it in small numbers. No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, a Canadian Air Force unit, formed with Dolphins at RAF Upper Heyford. The unit became operational shortly after the Armistice. In October 1918, the American Expeditionary Force purchased five standard Mk Is for evaluation, sending four back to the United States.

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    The official armament of the Dolphin was two fixed, synchronized Vickers machine guns and two Lewis guns mounted on the forward cabane crossbar, firing at an upward angle, over the propeller disc. The mounting provided three positions in elevation and some limited sideways movement. The Lewis guns proved unpopular as they were difficult to aim and tended to swing into the pilot's face. Pilots also feared that the gun butts would inflict serious head injuries in the event of a crash. Most pilots discarded the Lewis guns, though a minority retained one or both guns for attacking high altitude reconnaissance aircraft from below. Pilots of 87 Squadron, including Arthur Vigers, experimentally fitted some aircraft with two forward firing, unsynchronized Lewis guns mounted on top of the lower wing, just inboard of the inner wing struts. These guns could fire incendiary ammunition, which could not be used with the synchronized Vickers guns. The 97-round ammunition drums could not be changed once empty, nor could the pilot clear gun jams, and the field modification did not become standard. (obviously ARES need to produce this up-gunned version - I mean it wouldn't be the first time)


    Eastern Front
    GERMANS RESUME WAR (until March 2): Operation Faustschlag with 52 divisions, which take Dvinsk and Lutsk, advancing down railways 30 miles per day. Lenin radio message accepts peace conditions.

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    German soldiers pursue Red troops.

    Air War
    Germany: 8 FE2s (1 lost) of No 100 Squadron start fire at Trier central station; town receives 3 British raids (February 18-19, 2 day and 1 at night). Damaging FE2 raid on Thionville blast furnaces and gasworks.
    France: Germans bomb Calais causing false alert in southeast England, 55 sorties (night February 18-19) and 2,599 anti-aircraft shells.
    Western Front: 95th Aero (Pursuit) Squadron arrives in France; first ‘homegrown’ US fighter unit, begins patrols on March 14.

    General Headquarters, February 19th.

    "On the 18th inst. the weather was very fine, but visibility was not so good as on preceding days. This did not prevent our aeroplanes from carrying out much useful work in conjunction with the artillery, and taking many photographs in the enemy's forward and back areas. A hostile aerodrome north of Douai, a large ammunition dump near Courtrai, a railway station south-east of Douai, and the enemy's billets on various parts of the front were bombed by us during the day. Continuous fighting took place, resulting in 11 hostile machines being brought down and six others driven down out of control. Two of our aeroplanes are missing. At night a thick mist set in, but our machines, nevertheless, succeeded in making several short trips behind the enemy's lines, and dropped bombs on hostile billets and railway stations.

    "Following on the successful daylight raids on the 18th inst. against Treves and Thionville, our night-flying squadrons went out after dark and again attacked these towns from a low height with equally good results. Five bursts were observed on Treves station, which broke into flames. Three other buildings were alight when our machines left. In the second raid on Thionville, bursts were seen on the railway and in the gasworks. A large fire was started which was visible to the pilots attacking Treves. German aircraft and anti-aircraft guns were very active during both raids. One of our machines failed to return.

    "On the 19th inst. another raid in broad daylight, making the third within 36 hours, was carried out by us against Treves. On this occasion well over a ton of bombs were dropped on the objective. Eleven bursts were observed on the railway station and six on buildings in close proximity to it. Three good fires were started. Our machines were repeatedly attacked by hostile scouts, which were driven off. Anti-aircraft gun fire also was considerable. One of our machines is so far unaccounted for."

    Admiralty, February 19th.

    "On the night of February 18th bombing raids were carried out by naval aircraft on St. Denis Westrem and Bruges docks. Many tons of explosives were dropped. A hostile scout which attacked one of our machines was driven down.”

    Admiralty, February 19th.

    "During the forenoon of February 18th the enemy aerodrome at Varssenaere was attacked. Several direct hits are reported on hangars and sheds. During the course of offensive patrols three enemy aircraft have been destroyed. All our machines have returned safely.

    "On the night of February 18th bombing raids were carried out by naval aircraft on St. Denis Westrem and Bruges docks. Many tons of explosives were dropped. A hostile scout which attacked one of our machines was driven down. To-day (February 19th) a raid was made on Aertrycke aerodrome and Engel dump. Large quantities of explosives were dropped with good results. During the course of offensive patrols a hostile seaplane was shot down and fell in flames into the sea, a scout was brought down on our side of the line, and another machine driven down out of control. All our machines returned safely."

    RFC Communiqué number 127:

    The weather was again fine but the visibility only fair.

    Twenty reconnaissances were carried out six of these were successful long-distance photographic-reconnaissances on which 22 hostile aerodromes were photographed by machines of Nos 25 and 27 Squadrons.

    On the 18th, 58 hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and two neutralized; seven gun-pits were destroyed, 30 damaged, 25 explosions and 14 fires caused. Twenty-eight, zone calls were sent down.

    A total of 1,797 photographs were taken, six tons of bombs dropped, 50 2-1b. shells and 10,779 rounds fired at ground targets as follows:-

    Night 17th/18th - 1st Brigade: No 16 Squadron dropped 12 112-lb bombs on Henin-Liétard, Auby and Blanc Maison; No 5 Squadron dropped eight 112-lb and 45 25-lb bombs on Douai, Vitry, Beaumont, Bois Grenier, Esquerchin and Quiery, and No 2 Squadron dropped 16 25-lb bombs on Fournes.

    5th Brigade: No 82 Squadron dropped eight 25-lb bombs on Bohain.
    9th Wing: No 102 Squadron dropped eight 25-lb bombs on Gontrode Aerodrome, 14 25-lb bombs on Scheldewindeke Aerodrome, 16 25-lb bombs on trains, and 50 2-lb shells and 1,000 rounds were fired.

    By Day – 1st Brigade: 448 photographs. No 18 Squadron dropped 36 25-lb bombs on Faumont Aerodrome and 12 25-lb bombs on various targets: 1st Wing dropped 70 25-lb bombs; No 4a Squadron fired 100 rounds and 10th Wing fired 2,510 rounds.

    2nd Brigade: 337 photographs and 3,132 rounds. No 57 Squadron dropped 72 25-lb bombs on Harlebeke dump and 11th Wing dropped 55 25-lb bombs on various targets.
    3rd Brigade: Fifty-six 25-lb bombs were dropped and 570 rounds fired.
    5th Brigade: 15th Wing dropped 79 25-lb bombs and fired 3,467 rounds.
    9th Wing: No 27 Squadron dropped four 112-lb and 15 25-lb bombs on Dechy.

    The following bomb raids were carried out by the 8th Brigade:

    Night 17th/18th: Five machines of No 100 Squadron dropped three 230-lb six 112-lb, 30 25-lb and two 40-lb bombs from a height of 1,000 feet on the railway station and sidings at Conflans (15 miles west of Metz). Four bursts were observed in the sheds and on the edge of the sidings where a large fire was started. 700 rounds were fired at ground targets. All machines returned.

    By day, 18th - Five machines of No 55 Squadron dropped 10 112-lb and 30 40-lb bombs from 12,500 feet on the barracks and railway station at Treves (on the Moselle). Three bursts were seen in the gas-works, one near the Post Office, one in the railway workshops, and two near the barracks. Two houses were left blazing.

    Four machines of the same Squadron dropped eight 112-lb bombs and one 40-lb bomb from 13,500 feet on the station and steel works at Thionviile. Bursts were seen on the railway track. Anti-aircraft fire was considerable and accurate, two machines being hit. All machines returned.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft activity was about the same as on the previous day.

    Lieut J H Wensley & 2nd-Lieut Creek, 25 Sqn, EA out of control -

    Flt Sub-Lieut C R C Walworth, 8N Sqn, EA out of control Arleux -

    2nd-Lieut H D Barton, 2nd-Lieut A K Cowper and 2nd-Lieut R T Mark, 24 Sqn, DFW C out of control La Fere at 08:30/09:30 -

    Capt F G Huxley, 2 AFC, two-seater out of control Steenwerck at 09:20/10:20 – [duplicate of later claim ?]

    Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Vitry at 09:40/10:40 - Uffz Julius Kaiser, Jasta 35, Kia and Albatros Scout crashed Quiéry-la-Motte at 09:45/10:45 - Uffz Joachim von Stein zu Lausnitz, Jasta 35, Wia [?] - Capt J B McCudden, No 56 Squadron, when leading a formation dived on four enemy scouts. He fired a short burst into the leader whose machine burst into flames, pilot falling out. Capt McCudden then fired a long into another of the enemy's scouts from a range of 100 yards and it went into steep dive and was seen to crash

    Flt Sub-Lieut F V Hall, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed south of Menin at 09:50/10:50
    Flt Lieut J G Manuel, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout destroyed south of Menin at 09:50/10:50
    Lieut H L Symons, 65 Sqn, two-seater crashed Kestelhoek at 10:10/11:10
    2nd-Lieut C F King, 2nd-Lieut M H Orcutt and 2nd-Lieut C R Maasdorp, 43 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Hénin-Liétard at 10:10/11:10 -
    Capt H H Balfour, Lieut R S Grandy and Capt H H Balfour, 43 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control ? east of Hénin-Liétard at 10:10/11:10 -
    Capt F G Huxley, 2 AFC, Albatros Scout out of control Loos - Lille at 10:35/11:35 -
    2nd-Lieut C L Stubbs, 84 Sqn, two-seater out of control Beaurevoir at 11:00/12:00 -
    2nd-Lieut H W L Saunders, 84 Sqn, LVG C out of control Beaurevoir at 11:00/12:00 -
    2nd-Lieut P K Hobson, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Beaurevoir at 11:00/12:00 - Vfw Martin Klein, Jasta 5, Kia [?]
    Lieut G O Johnson, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south-east of Beaurevoir at 11:00/12:00
    Capt R A Grosvenor, 84 Sqn, two-seater out of control east of St Quentin at 11:05/12:05 -
    Flt Cdr R J O Compston, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Douai at 11:15/12:15 -
    Flt Sub-Lieut E G Johnstone, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of Vitry at 11:15/12:15 -
    Flt Sub-Lieut W L Jordan, 8N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of Vitry at 11:15/12:15 -
    Lieut J G Coombe, 29 Sqn, Albatros Scout destroyed north-west of Courtemarck at 11:20/12:20 -
    Lieut S A Oades & 2nd-Lieut S W Bunting, 22 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of La Bassée at 11:40/12:40 -
    Flt Sub-Lieut L D Bawlf, 3N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Thourout - Dixmude at 11:40/12:40 - Ltn d R Willy Etzold, Jasta 26, Kia [?]


    Flight Commander Guy William Price DSC & Bar was killed on this day

    Flight Sub-Lt. Guy William Price received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 987 on a Grahame-White biplane at the Grahame-White School, Hendon on 9 December 1914. Having scored twelve victories flying the Sopwith Camel, he was killed in action while strafing enemy positions. His Sopwith Camel was shot down by Theodor Rumpel of Jasta 23.

    Flt.-Cdr. Guy William Price, R.N.A.S.
    In recognition of the gallantry and determination displayed by him in leading offensive patrols, which have constantly engaged and driven away enemy aircraft.
    On the 2nd January, 1918, he observed seven Albatross scouts, and, crossing the lines in the clouds, he attacked one, which fell vertically, bursting into flames, and crashed to the ground.
    He has on several other occasions driven enemy aircraft down out of control.

    Flt. Cdr. Guy William Price, D.S.C., R.N.A.S.
    For consistency and determination in attacking enemy aircraft, often in superior numbers.
    On the 22nd January, 1918, when on offensive patrol, he observed seven Albatross scouts. He dived and fired into one of the enemy aircraft, which stalled, side-slipped, and eventually fell over on its back, disappearing through a thick bank of clouds, and was observed by others of our machines to fall completely out of control.
    On several other occasions he has destroyed enemy machines or brought them down completely out of control.

    On a very busy day there were 47 different pilots claiming victories on this day

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    On the flip side there were 11 British airmen lost on this day

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    Home Fronts
    Finland: For Mannerheim Senate makes military training compulsory for men of age 21 to 40 (effective February 28).
    Britain: CIGS Robertson resigns, Wilson succeeds. Labour Ministry announces demobilization arrangements. Churchill attributes munitions increase to 12% bonus. Road Transport Control Board founded.
    France: Ex-Senator Humbert arrested for Bolos Pasha complicity.

    Middle East

    Mesopotamia, Euphrates: British advance 14 miles from Ramadi to occupy Khan Abu Rayan and position 10 miles south of Hit.

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    Captain Tunstill's Men:
    Gnr. George Thistlethwaite (see 30th November 1917), who had been serving with 226th Siege Battaery, Royal Garrison Artillery, died of wounds at 3rd Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings, having been wounded some time previously. The circumstances of his death would be related to his family in a letter from one of the chaplains: "You will have had the very sad news of your son. He was brought here very severely wounded in the head, and quite unconscious. In spite of every care, his condition remained practically the same until yesterday afternoon, when he passed peacefully away. We have laid his body to rest in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, where a cross will mark his grave. His personal effects will be sent home by the authorities. I know what a great blow it will be to you, but you must be very proud in the remembrance of the loyal devotion with which your boy gave himself to the very end. Today I trust he has found, in the larger life of God's Paradise, a perfect rest after his labours, and I pray that the same God may be your comfort and strength in your great sorrow”.

    Ptes. Henry Charles Lindsay (see 9th January), Frederick McKell (see 12th October 1917), Charles Oldham (see 8th January) and Ernest Smith (29167) (see 9th January) were all reported absent off their final leave passes from 3DWR at North Shields. Lindsay would be absent for a total of eight days and on returning would be sentenced to 28 days’ detention and loss of eight days’ pay. McKell and Oldham would be absent for two days and Smith for four. McKell and Oldham would be sentenced to four days’ Field Punishment no.2 and forfeit two days’ pay, while Smith would have eight days’ punishment and would lose four days’ pay.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 02-19-2018 at 13:38.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  14. #3064

    Default

    The attachment fairy strikes again!

  15. #3065

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rebel View Post
    The attachment fairy strikes again!
    I will fix it

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  16. #3066

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    19th February 1918

    Private John Desborough is murdered while a prisoner of war in Germany by a sentry. After standing up for a French prisoner of war that is being bullied he is ordered away. He immediately obeys the order and as he is walking away is shot in the back and instantly killed.

    The War in the Air


    General Headquarters, February 19th.

    "On the 19th inst. another raid in broad daylight, making the third within 36 hours, was carried out by us against Treves. On this occasion well over a ton of bombs were dropped on the objective. Eleven bursts were observed on the railway station and six on buildings in close proximity to it. Three good fires were started. Our machines were repeatedly attacked by hostile scouts, which were driven off. Anti-aircraft gun fire also was considerable. One of our machines is so far unaccounted for."

    General Headquarters, February 20th.

    "The fine weather of the last few days continued on the 19th inst. Visibility, however, was not good, and prevented much work being done by our aeroplanes with the artillery. It did not interfere with photography, and many photographs were taken of the enemy's aerodromes and other important objectives. A hostile aerodrome north of Douai and a large ammunition dump north-east of Lille were heavily bombed by us during the day, and, in addition, 50 bombs were dropped on the enemy's billets. In air fighting 11 hostile machines were brought down, and one other was driven down out of control. A German night bombing machine also was brought down in No Man's Land by our infantry. Two of our aeroplanes are missing. At night visibility remained bad, the greater part of the front being enveloped in thick mist. Over 150 bombs were dropped by us, however, on an important hostile railway centre south-east of Cambrai and on billets north of Douai.

    On the night of the 19th-20th inst. Thionville was again successfully attacked by our machines. Twenty-six heavy bombs were dropped on the railway station. All bombs were seen to explode on and around the objective, and a large explosion was caused and two fires started. The enemy's anti-aircraft gunfire was again considerable, but all our machines returned safely."

    Admiralty, February 19th.

    "To-day (February 19th) a raid was made on Aertrycke aerodrome and Engel dump. Large quantities of explosives were dropped with good results. During the course of offensive patrols a hostile seaplane was shot down and fell in flames into the sea, a scout was brought down on our side of the line, and another machine driven down out of control. All our machines returned safely."

    RFC Communiqué number 128:

    The weather was fine but the visibility bad.

    On the 2nd Brigade front, no work was possible by Corps Squadrons owing to the haze.

    Six successful long distance photographic reconnaissances were carried out, on which 228 photographs were taken, were carried out by the 9th Wing and seven reconnaissances by machines of other Brigades.

    Twenty-one hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and one neutralized; two gun-pits were destroyed, 13 damaged, seven explosions and eight fires caused. Twelve zone calls were sent down.

    A total of 1,190 photographs were taken and 4½ tons of bombs dropped as follows:-

    Night 18th/19th – 1st Brigade: No 2 Squadron dropped 32 25-lb bombs on Fournes and Wicres and No 5 Squadron dropped 12 112-lb and 24 25-lb bombs on billets.

    5th Brigade: Nos 8, 35 and 52 Squadrons dropped 2 112-lb and 32 25-lb bombs on Bohain.

    9th Wing: No 102 Squadron dropped 16 25-lb bombs on Comines.

    By Day – 1st Brigade: 102 photographs. No 18 Squadron dropped 2 112-lb and 24 25-lb bombs on large calibre gun at Courrieres and on Vitry and Douai railway stations.

    2nd Brigade: No 57 Squadron dropped 72 25-lb bombs on Mouscron ammunition dump, and No 21 Squadron and 3rd Squadron A.F.C. took 252 photographs and dropped 12 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: 248 photographs were taken and 49 25-lb bombs dropped.
    5th Brigade: 15th Wing took 360 photographs, dropped 45 25-lb bombs and 22nd Wing dropped 8 25-lb bombs.
    9th Wing: 228 photographs, No. 27 Squadron dropped 26 25-lb bombs on Phalempin Aerodrome.

    In addition to the above, the following bomb raids were carried out by the 8th Brigade:-

    Night 18th/19th: Eight machines of No 100 Squadron dropped four 230-lb, eight 112-lb, one 40-lb and 14 25-lb bombs from a height of 1,500 feet on the railway station and barracks Treves. Five bursts were seen in the station, which at once burst into flames. Three fires were blazing when the machines left. One machine failed to return.

    Two machines of No 100 Squadron dropped two 230-lb, one 40-lb, and 6 25-lb bombs from 1,800 feet on the railway Gas Works at Thionville. A large fire was started which was seen by the pilots attacking Treves. Both machines returned.

    A total of 3¼ tons of bombs were dropped on the above raids.

    By Day: Eleven machines of No 55 Squadron dropped 1 230-lb, 18 112-lb and six 40-lb bombs from 15,000 feet on the railway station and barracks at Treves. Eleven bursts were observed on the station and six on the buildings round about. Three good fires were started. Thirty-seven plates were exposed, some of which show these fires. One machine is missing.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft were not as active as on the preceding days, though a number of scouts were encountered.

    Lieut J Hewett, 23 Sqn, two-seater crashed Crecy - Lieut J Hewett,' No 23 Squadron, attacked one of two enemy two-seaters. He dived at this machine and zoomed under it three times firing bursts from both guns at each dive. The two-seater went down in a slow glide and was seen by Lieut Faulkner to crash into a house at Crecy

    2nd-Lieut R G Hammersley, 2nd-Lieut P A McDougall, 2nd-Lieut R T Mark and 2nd-Lieut A K Cowper, 24 Sqn, Rumpler C crashed Servais at 08:40/09:40 -

    2nd-Lieut A K Cowper, 2nd-Lieut R T Mark, 2nd-Lieut R G Hammersley and 2nd-Lieut P A McDougall, 24 Sqn, DFW C in flames Bernot at 08:50/09:50 - 2nd-Lieuts A Cowper, R Mark, R Hammersley and P McDougall, No. 24 Squadron, each fired about 100 rounds into a hostile two-seater which burst into flames and fell into Servais village

    2nd-Lieut A F W Beauchamp-Proctor, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed St Gobain at 10:10/11:10 - 2nd-Lieut A Proctor, No 84 Squadron, engaged one of several hostile scouts at a height of about 15,000 feet. The hostile machine stalled, fell over sideways out of control and was seen to by crash by 2nd-Lieut McCudden

    2nd-Lieut J A McCudden, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north of La Fère at 10:15/11:15 -
    2nd-Lieut J V Sorsoleil, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north of St Gobain Woods at 10:15/11:15 – 2nd-Lieut J Sorsoleil, No 84 Squadron, whilst on patrol attacked one of ten hostile scouts. This machine started to spin and finally crashed near St Gobain woods

    Capt R A Grosvenor, 84 Sqn, two-seater crashed St Gobain Wood at 10:15/11:15 - Capt R Grosvenor, No 84 Squadron, dived on a large formation of hostile scouts escorting a two-seater which dived away in an easterly direction. Capt Grosvenor turned and followed the two-seater which stalled right in front of him and enabled him to get in a good burst; the enemy machine went down and crashed into a wood south of St Quentin

    2nd-Lieut J V Sorsoleil, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed St Gobain Woods at 10:15/11:15 – after shooting down an Albatros Scout, 2nd-Lieut Sorsoleil was then attacked by one of the other scouts, but after some manoeuvring managed to get on its tail and fired a from both guns. The E.A. dived vertically and crashed in the same wood as the previous machine

    2nd-Lieut J V Sorsoleil, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north of St Gobain Woods at 10:15/11:15 -
    Capt R A Grosvenor, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed St Gobain Wood at 10:20/11:20 -
    Lieut J F Larsen, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control St Gobain Wood at 10:20/11:20 -

    2nd-Lieut J A McCudden, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control St Gobain Wood at 10:20/11:20 - 2nd-Lieut J McCudden, No 84 Squadron, was attacked by several E.A. scouts. Into one of these he managed to fire a good burst and the enemy scout went down out of control and crashed in the Forest of St Gobain

    Lieut R W McKenzie and Lieut L Benjamin, 2 AFC, Albatros Scout out of control Vendin-le-Vieil at 11:45/12:45 - Lieut R Mackenzie and Lieut L Benjamin, 2nd Squadron A.F.C., attacked a hostile scout which went down out of control and was seen by ground observers to crash near Vendin-Ie.Vieil

    Flt Lieut S W Rosevear, 1N Sqn and Flt Cdr A W Carter, 10N Sqn, Albatros C in flames south of Zillebeke Lake at 11:45/12:45 -
    2nd-Lieut W M Kent, 60 Sqn, Albatros Scout captured Hollebeke at 11:50/12:50 - 2nd-Lieut W Kent, No 60 Squadron, fired with both his guns a hostile scout from a range of about 400 yards. The E.A. burst into flames and crashed in our lines near Hollebeke
    Capt W S Fielding-Johnson, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north of Lehaucourt, north of St Quentin at 11:50/12:50 -
    Capt L W Jarvis, SE5a B53 and Capt F Billinge, 56 Sqn, Albatros C out of control south-west of Rumaucourt at 11:50/12:50 -

    The following aces claimed victories on this day:

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    Lieutenant Reuben George Hammersley 24 Squadron RFC claims his first (and second victories)

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    The son of Reuben George and Mary A. Hammersley, Reuben George Hammersley received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 3556 on a Caudron biplane at Wallisdown School, Bournemouth on 14 September 1916. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in May 1917. In 1918 he scored eight victories in France as an S.E.5a pilot with 24 Squadron.

    Lieutenant Frank Leaman Baylies
    (French Air Service latterly American Air Service) claims his first victory.

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    The son of Charles S. and Lydia Terry (Paige) Baylies, Frank Leaman Baylies joined the United States Ambulance Service in May 1916. After seeing action on the Western Front, Serbia and Macedonia, he was rejected by the American air service due to defective vision and enlisted in the French Air Service in May 1917. After earning a Pilot's Brevet he was assigned to Spa73 at Dunkirk in November 1917. A month later he joined the Storks Group as a pilot with Spa3. In early 1918 Baylies refused a commission with the United States Air Service, preferring to remain with the French. He was killed in action when his patrol encountered the Fokker Triplanes of Jasta 19. Baylies is believed to have been shot down by Rudolf Rienau. Initially buried at Rollet, Baylies' body was exhumed in 1927 and reburied in Paris.

    In a letter to Baylies' mother, Major Edmund Gros, Air Service Signal Reserve Corps, wrote:
    Your son met a glorious death. He was one of the shining lights of our Aviation. He was a soldier without fear and without reproach. You must apply to him the eloquent words spoken in the British Parliament with respect to aviators; you must not turn your mind to sorrow, you must turn it towards all the glory which your son has won and the name which he will leave behind him when the story of this great war is written. He has taken his place by the side of all those heroes who gladly gave up that which is most precious of all, their lives, for the greatest ideal, the happiness of the human race.

    12 British Airmen lost their lives on this day:

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    Middle East
    Palestine: British XX Corps plus Anzac Mounted Division (6,800 men with 54 guns) gain 2 miles on 15-mile front east of Jerusalem (until February 21) from Turk 53rd Division (3,000 soldiers).

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    Turkish field guns in action with British troops in Palestine. On the left, a wounded gunner is taken away on a stretcher.

    Eastern Front

    7 German soldiers ‘capture’ 600 Cossacks. Hoffmann radios Trotsky that acceptance of peace conditions must be in writing.

    Politics
    Britain: General Rawlinson appointed British representative to Supreme War Council. Prime Minister defends latter in Commons.

    Secret War *
    Austria: Emperor Charles sends peace message for Wilson to King of Spain via Madrid Ambassador (Royal Navy Room 40 intercept it on February 20 and King Alfonso receives on February 21, handed to President Wilson on February 25).

    Home Fronts
    Russia: Land Nationaliza*tion decree published.
    Britain: Prince of Wales takes his seat in the Lords.

    More from the Master of the Belhaven Hunt:

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    Captain Tunstill's Men:
    It may have been in the more relaxed conditions at Valla that an incident occurred which 2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 12th February) would later relate in the memoir he wrote for his young niece and nephew,

    “Now before I go on – you see I keep remembering things – I forgot to tell you a funny story about what happened at a dinner we had when we came out of the line on the Piave – you noticed we did no fighting there and we were only shelled. At the dinner I was sat by a pal who was opening a champagne bottle. He couldn’t get the cork out till, all of a sudden, he did. It flew straight up in the air, hit the ceiling and – would you believe it? – came plop down on the Colonel’s bald head. Oh dear there was a row!”.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 02-20-2018 at 10:22.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  17. #3067

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    The attachment fairy has obviously not left the area. Stronger words this time Chris as she has definitely not taken on board your latest broadside.

  18. #3068

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    1000 posts on this thread alone huh Chris - that's one hell of an achievement. Many congratulations to all concerned

  19. #3069

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rebel View Post
    The attachment fairy has obviously not left the area. Stronger words this time Chris as she has definitely not taken on board your latest broadside.
    OH FFS !!! having to post everything twice at the moment - I even went back in and checked - TWICE

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  20. #3070

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    20th February 1918

    British troops occupy Khan Abu Rayat on the Euphrates fourteen miles from Ramadic and patrols advance to within ten miles of Hit.

    Two British steamers are sunk and suffer casualties on this day. SS Djerv (Master Ernest Edward Bonner) is sunk by U86 when she is torpedoed while in ballast 12 miles north by northwest of the Skerries, Anglesea. Her master is one of the two casualties being killed at age 38. Signaller A B Webster age 33 and Greaser T Wood (S S Huntsmoor) are killed along with eighteen fellow crewmen when their ship is sunk by a submarine twenty-three miles southwest from the Owers Light Vessel.

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    SS Djerv

    The War in the Air

    General Headquarters, February 20th.

    "On the 20th inst. our aeroplanes bombed the large factories and the station at Pirmasens in Germany. A ton of bombs was dropped, and hits were obtained near the station, the gasworks, and the factories, where a large fire was started. All our machines returned."

    General Headquarters, February 21st.

    "On the 20th inst. the recent spell of fine weather broke. With the exception of a few flights, carried out by our machines to give observation for the artillery, no flying was done."

    RFC Communiqué number 128:

    During the morning the sky was overcast with mist, which turned to rain in the afternoon.

    Five reconnaissances were carried out by the 5th Brigade and a total of 97 plates exposed. Twelve hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, eight gun-pits damaged, three explosions and one fire caused.

    Bombing: Three-and-a-half tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    Night 19th/20th - 1st Brigade: No 5 Squadron dropped six 112-lb and four 25-lb bombs on Quiery-la-Motte and Izel, and No 16 Squadron dropped six 112-lb bombs on Carvin and Bois de Phalempin.

    5th Brigade: Two 112-lb and 24 25-lb bombs were dropped on Bohain by Nos 8, 35 and 52 Squadrons.
    9th Wing: No 101 Squadron dropped two 112-lb and 108 25-lb bombs on Bohain, and No 102 Squadron dropped 15 25-lb bombs on Carvin and Provin.

    By Day - 1st Brigade: No 2 Squadron dropped 26 25-lb bombs.

    2nd Brigade: Two 25-lb bombs were dropped.
    3rd Brigade: Thirty-seven 25-lb bombs were dropped.
    5th Brigade: 2nd Wing dropped 33 25-lb bombs.

    The following bomb raids were carried out by the 8th Brigade:—

    Night 19th/20th: Two machines of Naval Squadron No 16 (Handley Pages) dropped 26 112-lb bombs on the railway station at Thionville. Two large fires were started and a large explosion caused.

    By Day: Eight machines of No 55 Squadron dropped two 230-lb, 10 112-lb and eight 40-lb bombs on the factories and stations at Pirmasens in Germany from height of 15,000 feet. Bursts were observed near the factories in the centre and the south end of the town and on the railway near the station. Bombs were also dropped close to the Gas Works. 113 plates were exposed. All machines returned.

    Photographic reconnaissances of hostile aerodromes were also carried out, 20 plates being exposed.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    No combats took place all day.

    Casualties:

    None.

    The German ace Leutnant Wolfgang Guttler is killed in an accident on this day

    Leutnant Wolfgang Güttler was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. He would score the first four while flying with Jagdstaffel 24, and the last four while flying as commander of Jagdstaffel 13. He was killed in a midair collision over his home airfield on 20 February 1918.

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    Wolfgang Güttler was born in Reichenstein on 22 February 1893. At the start of World War I, he served with the Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 11 (11th Jaeger Bataillon), and won a Second Class Iron Cross. He then transferred to the Die Fliegertruppen (Imperial German Air Service). After training as a pilot, Güttler was posted to Feldfliegerabteilung (Field Flier Detachment) 72 on the Eastern Front in 1916. He later served with Feldflieger Abteilung (Field Flier Detachment) 285. During this time, he was awarded the First Class Iron Cross in November 1916. He then underwent single-seater fighter training at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 11. He was then posted to a fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 24, on 10 March 1917. He scored his first aerial victory on 2 May 1917, when he shot down a Nieuport 17 south of Bienes. By 9 August, he had shot down a Spad VII and two Sopwith Triplanes of 10 Naval Squadron RNAS. On 29 September 1917, he was posted to Jagdstaffel 13 to command it as its Staffelführer (C.O.). He scored his fifth victory on 20 October 1917; on 19 February he scored his eighth. The following day, Wolfgang Güttler was engaged in aerial combat over Jasta 13's home aerodrome at Reneuil Ferme when he collided with another German pilot and was killed in action.

    Despite the weather the following claims were made

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    Only three British airmen were lost on this day

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    Eastern Front
    Germans march into Minsk and Hapsal (Estonia, via Gulf of Riga ice), have now taken over 1,500 guns and 9,000 PoWs.

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    German troops enter a Russian city.

    Middle East
    Persia: Dunsterville leaves Enzeli for Hamadan just before 3,000 Reds land from Baku to arrest him. He cables CIGS on February 26, that a brigade will secure British interests.

    Sea War
    Baltic: Germans form task force at Kiel of 3 battleships, 3 cruisers and 4 torpedo boats (Rear-Admiral Meurer) to support Finland intervention.

    More from the Master of Belhaven

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    Captain Tunstill's Men:
    The Battalion was occupied in general training. Parties of officers, NCO's and men went a few miles north by motor lorries to the hills in the vicinity of Asolo for instruction in hill fighting.

    Pte. Herbert Rushworth (see 26th September), who had been in England since having suffered severe wounds to his left arm on 20th September 1917, appeared before an Army Medical Board assembled at the University War Hospital, Southampton. The Board recommended that he be discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service.

    2Lt. Godfrey Isaacs (see 22nd January) formally relinquished his commission on grounds of ill health, having been treated for the symptoms of neurasthenia for the previous eight months.

    A payment of £1 16s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Cpl. Albert Harold Hanson (see 20th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20th September 1917; the payment would go to his father, Frederick.

    A payment of £2 5d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. George Stinson (see 20th September 1917) who had been killed in action on 20th September 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Betsy.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 02-21-2018 at 12:20.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  21. #3071

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    21st February 1918

    On the morning of February 21, 1918, combined Allied forces of British troops and the Australian mounted cavalry capture the city of Jericho in Palestine after a three-day battle with Turkish troops. Commanded by British General Edmund Allenby, the Allied troops began the offensive on Tuesday, February 19, on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Despite battling adverse weather conditions and a determined enemy in the Turks, the Allies were able to move nearly 20 miles toward Jericho in just three days. On the morning of February 21, it was apparent that the Turkish line had been broken, and the Allied forces entered the holy city of Jericho without much resistance at just after 8 a.m. Upon realizing they had lost control of the city, Turkish troops chose to retreat rather than fight. During the three-day battle, Allied troops captured 46 Turkish prisoners. The capture of Jericho proved to be an important strategic victory for the Allies, who now controlled some of the most important roads in the region, including the main road to the coast and the mountain highway leading to Jerusalem, and had reached the northern end of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth at 1,290 feet below sea level.

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    Breakfast meeting of Generals Chaytor, Chauvel and Chetwode on the morning of the capture of Jericho, 21 February 1918

    The Capture of Jericho occurred between 19 and 21 February 1918 to the east of Jerusalem beginning the Occupation of the Jordan Valley during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of the First World War. Fighting took place in an area bordered by the Bethlehem–Nablus road in the west, the Jordan River in the east, and north of a line from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. Here a British Empire force attacked Ottoman positions, forcing them back to Jericho and eventually across the Jordan River. Winter rains put an end to campaigning after the advance from the Gaza–Beersheba line to the capture of Jerusalem in December 1917. This lull in the fighting offered the opportunity for the captured territories to be consolidated. Extensive developments were also required along the lines of communication to ensure that front-line troops were adequately supplied, approximately 150 miles (240 km) from their main bases at Moascar and Kantara on the Suez Canal. General Edmund Allenby's initial strategic plans focused on his open right flank. If attacked with sufficiently large forces, he could be outflanked by an attack from the east—unlike his left flank which rested securely on the Mediterranean Sea to the west. His aim was to capture the territory east of Jerusalem stretching to the Dead Sea, where his right flank could be more secure. The area was garrisoned by Ottoman troops entrenched on hill-tops which the British infantry, Australian light horse and New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigades attacked. The infantry captured Talat ed Dumm on the main Jerusalem to Jericho road, while the light horse and mounted rifle brigades captured Jericho and the area to the south bordered by the Jordan River and the Dead Sea.

    The advance from Beersheba came to a halt in December. On 14 December Allenby reported to the War Cabinet that the rainy season would prevent any further operations, after Jerusalem was secured, for at least two months. At this time, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force was paralysed by a breakdown in logistics forcing Allenby to send the Anzac and the Australian Mounted Divisions, along with the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade south of Gaza to shorten their lines of communication. He wrote: "I can't feed them, with certainty, and even now, a fortnight's heavy rain would bring me near starvation." On 1 January, the 5th Mounted Brigade began moving back through the rain and slush followed by the 4th Light Horse Brigades Field Ambulance, beginning the Australian Mounted Division's journey back to Deir el Belah south of Gaza. The Anzac Mounted Division did not move back quite so far; the 1st and possibly 2nd Light Horse Brigades moved back to Esdud while the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade bivouacked near Ayun Kara (also known as Rishon LeZion) not far from Jaffa.

    Allenby wrote on 25 January: "I want to extend my right, to include Jericho and the N[orth] of the Dead Sea." This advance would remove the more serious threat to his right by pushing all the enemy across the Jordan River and securing the Jordan River crossings. It would also prevent raids into the country to the west of the Dead Sea and provide a narrow starting point for operations against the Hedjaz Railway. General Jan Christiaan Smuts, a member of the Imperial War Cabinet, was sent to confer with Allenby regarding the implementation of a French qualification to the War Office's Joint Note No. 12—that no troops from France could be redeployed to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Smuts was on his way back to London in February when the first step was taken to accomplish his suggestion of crossing the Jordan River and capturing the Hedjaz Railway, and the front line was extended eastwards with the successful capture of Jericho.

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    Map showing the advance of the Anzac Mounted Division with Ottoman positions indicated in green

    Infantry attack on 19 February

    The 60th (London) Division advanced with their 180th Brigade in the centre, their 181st Brigade on the left, and their 179th Brigade with the Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiment covering their right flank. At Ras et Tawil, the 2/23rd Battalion, London Regiment (181st Brigade) suffered 50 casualties in attacking some 300 entrenched Ottomans, capturing 25 prisoners and two machine guns; the Ottomans abandoned their position soon after. To the north-east of El Muntar Iraq Ibrahim, during a further advance by the 2/20th Battalion, London Regiment along a narrow ridge on the south bank of the Wadi Fara, they captured the high ground suffering 66 casualties. Meanwhile, on the left flank of the 60th (London) Division, the 160th Brigade of the 53rd (Welsh) Division captured Rammun, where the 2/10th Battalion Middlesex Regiment had some hard fighting, and the heights to the south. The Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment moved from Bethlehem to the Greek monastery of Mar Saba and onto the El Buqeia plateau, where Ottoman forces were entrenched astride the Mar Saba to Jericho road south of Nebi Musa. The remainder of the 1st Light Horse and New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigades moved from Bethlehem towards El Muntar. Chetwode and Chauvel watched these operations begin from the Mount of Olives more than 2,000 feet (610 m) above sea level; by the time the light horse and mounted rifles brigades reached Jericho on 21 February they were nearly 1,200 feet (370 m) below sea level.

    20 February

    Infantry attack

    The three infantry columns advanced: the column in the centre, the 180th Brigade, captured their objective of Talat ed Dumm on the main road from Jerusalem to Jericho.[15] This infantry brigade moved along the Jerusalem to Jericho road towards Talat ed Dumm; they were supported by the 10th Heavy Battery and one 6-inch Howitzer of the 383rd Siege Battery. The village was captured after an hour's bombardment. On the left, the 181st Brigade was slowed in their advance by small rearguards which showed skills in manoeuvre. The brigade was only able to advance 2.5 miles (4.0 km) to be about halfway between Ras et Tawil and Jebel Qruntul (also known as Jebel Kuruntul, the Mount of Temptation and Mount Quarantania) by nightfall, with the 231st Brigade of the 74th (Yeomanry) Division forming a reserve. On the right, the 179th Brigade column marched towards Jebel Ekteif (to the south of Talat ed Dumm); their 2/13th Battalion, London Regiment, however, faced a sheer drop of over twenty feet (6.1 m) and had to proceed across intervening ridges into parallel wadis, arriving too late for the attack. Meanwhile, two companies of the 2/16th Battalion, London Regiment from the 179th Brigade, of the 60th (London) Division were ordered to support an attack on Jebel Ekteif by the 2/15th Battalion, London Regiment. By 08:15 they had captured the advanced trenches, three companies, and fought their way up into the firing line on the summit of the hill.[32] At 10:00 the British infantry were reported to have captured this dominating position on the Jerusalem–Jericho road, but a strong counter-attack drove them off. Jebel Ektief was finally captured at about 12:30 when heavy artillery helped the desperate attackers secure their objective.

    Mounted attack

    Meanwhile, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (with the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment which had returned from the 179th Brigade) led the 1st Light Horse Brigade at 03:30 in their advanced on El Muntar. The advance guard formed by the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment moved from Bethlehem along an ancient road down the Wadi en Nar to the valley near El Muntar hill, followed by their brigade and the 1st Light Horse Brigade. They zig-zagged three miles (4.8 km) down to the valley floor while Ottoman soldiers on the height of El Muntar 1,250 feet (380 m) above watched their approach. Because of the terrain they moved in single file: the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade was strung out from five to eight miles (8.0–13 km), and it was hours before the long column could deploy for the attack.

    By 06:00 all the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade was in the valley; the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment was attacking Hill 306 while the Canterbury and Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiments attacked Hill 288. Shortly after 12:00 a mounted advance by an Auckland squadron took Hill 288, and Hill 306 was captured soon after. They attacked Ottoman positions from Tibq el Quneitra to Jebel el Kahmum astride the Mar Saba–Jericho road. These were both occupied soon after 14:00, forcing the Ottoman defenders to fall back to Nebi Musa. But Nebi Musa was strongly held by entrenched Ottoman soldiers supported by artillery, which made it impossible to move on: the attack was postponed until the next day. Even in daylight I should not have dreamt of riding this track [down the Wadi Qumran to the valley of the Jordan, and yet the whole brigade passed along it without mishap. At 11.00pm we were at the arranged position, and after tethering out the horses rolled ourselves up in our blankets. The night was bitterly cold, and we missed our "bivvies", orders having been given to travel light, so that every man rode with an absolute minimum weight. We are to leave here at 3.30 am to attack Neby Musa. Meanwhile, at dusk, the 1st Light Horse Brigade began its descent. They moved down the Wadi Qumran to the Jordan Valley, following a goat track which fell 1,300 feet (400 m) in two miles (3.2 km) to get into position to attack Nebi Musa from the rear. This journey was successfully completed by midnight.

    21 February
    Under cover of darkness, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade advanced north along a very rough track and by daylight had reached just east of the Neby Musa position. They made a dismounted attack while British infantry attacked Neby Musa from the rear. The Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment occupied Neby Musa at daylight after crossing the gorge on foot to find the Ottoman garrison had withdrawn with their guns. When the 1st Light Horse Brigade reached the floor of the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea, 1,300 feet (400 m) below sea level, it turned north towards Jericho. A single troop of 3rd Light Horse Regiment entered Jericho at about 08:00 to find the Ottoman garrison had withdrawn. The remainder of the brigade advanced up the Jordan Valley as far as the Wadi el Auja, while the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment (New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade) occupied Rujm el Bahr on the north shore of the Dead Sea. Meanwhile, the 60th (London) Division moved to the top of the cliff overlooking Jericho and the Jordan Valley from Neby Musa to Jebel Qruntul.

    Divisional Headquarters Staff set up their report centre about one mile (1.6 km) behind Jericho; when they were sitting down to a morning cup of tea, Chetwode and Chauvel joined them. Chaytor was sitting on the step of his car when shells fired from the other side of the Jordan River started to explode. One hit the front of his car and he narrowly escaped injury. This gun continued shelling the area at a range of over 10,000 yards (9,100 m); the British 13-pounders could get no further than 6,000 yards (5,500 m).[40] Chetwode's force of infantry and mounted units suffered 510 casualties during these operations.

    Air support
    During these three days of operations No. 1 Squadron's aircraft completely dominated all enemy aircraft, bombing and machine-gunning Ottoman positions, and reporting to headquarters on progress and estimates of Ottoman dispositions and strength. Messages were also dropped on troops in the front line with urgent news. Considerable Ottoman reinforcements were seen to arrive at Shunet Nimrin on the eastern side of the Jordan River, and an aerial raiding formation from No. 1 Squadron bombed troop tents, marquees and a supply dump in the area.

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    Ottoman trenches on the shore of the Dead Sea

    Aftermath

    On 22 February the 60th (London) Division withdrew its main line to Jebel Ekteif – Talat ed Dumm – Ras et Tawil, leaving outposts on the cliffs above the Jordan Valley and the Anzac Mounted Division started their journey back to Richon LeZion via Bethlehem. The Anzac Mounted Division left behind in the Jordan Valley the Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment with a subsection of machine guns and an artillery battery (under orders of the 60th Division) in a strong position where the road from Jerusalem falls into the Jordan Valley. Ottoman troops on the western bank of the Jordan River were holding a strong bridgehead at Ghoraniyeh, protecting the old stone bridge on the main Jerusalem to Es Salt road. There was also a smaller detachment down stream, covering the ford at Makhadet Hijlah (the traditional site of Christ's baptism).

    The Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment patrolled the Jordan River and valley area under enemy observation, attracting artillery shelling from Ottoman field guns.The patrols monitored the Ottoman positions at Ghoraniyeh and Makhadet Hajlah until 25 February when all Ottoman troops, guns and a pontoon bridge were found to have been removed to the east bank of the river. At the same time Shunet Nimrin was rapidly entrenched by the Ottoman Seventh Army and was soon held in force. Ottoman army garrisons continued to hold the Hedjaz railway from Deraa to Medina (although the line was harassed and cut by insurgent Arab units) and Cemal's VIII and XII Corps guarded the northern Levantine coast with four infantry divisions. The Ottoman Empire's War Minister, Enver Pasa, had lost confidence in the commander of the Ottoman forces in Palestine, German General von Falkenhayn, and on 1 March 1918 replaced him with General Otto Liman von Sanders. On 6 March the War Cabinet gave Allenby leave to advance "to the maximum extent possible, consistent with the safety of the force under his orders". He decided to create a third infantry corps called the XXII, commanded by Barrow with Wavell as his chief of staff. On 21 March an attempt to cut the Hedjaz railway at Amman began; this coincided with the launch of the Spring Offensive by Ludendorff against the Allies on the Western Front.


    Western Front
    France: Patton writes from Langres ‘… I get requests … to transfer into tanks nearly daily’.

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    US Tank Corps recruting poster.

    Eastern Front
    USSR: Lenin asks Sverdlov to form Revolutionary Defence Committee against Germans who take Rechitsa west of Gomel.
    Don: Kornilov’s 3000-strong Volunteer Army evacuates Rostov in night February 21-22, as several Red columns converge on it.

    Middle East
    Palestine – Fall of Jericho: Wellington NZ Regiment squadron rides to Dead Sea. British casualties 510 for 144 PoWs and 8 MGs.

    Sea War

    North Sea: King George V visits Harwich Force (new flagship cruiser Curacoa).
    Adriatic*: Austrian U-23 sunk by Italian torpedo boat Airone off Valona.

    Politics
    Germany: Government accepts Finn request for intervention.

    The War in the Air

    General Headquarters, February 22nd.

    "The weather improved on the 21st inst., and our aeroplanes were able to accomplish a full day's work in the air. Many successful reconnaissances, in the course of which photographs were taken, were carried out. The usual work in conjunction with the artillery continued all day, good visibility enabling excellent results to be obtained. Over 300 bombs were dropped by us on the enemy's billets and on railway sidings at Courtrai, Ledeghem, and south-east of Douai. In air fighting, seven hostile machines were brought down and two others driven down out of control. Three of our machines are missing.

    "During the night of the 21st-22nd inst., our aeroplanes dropped a total of 678 bombs on various targets. Three hundred bombs were dropped on an aerodrome south-east of Le Cateau used by the enemy's night bombing squadrons. Nineteen direct hits were observed on hangars. The remaining bombs were dropped on hostile aerodromes in the neighbourhood of Ghent and Tournai, and on billets. One of our machines failed to return.

    RFC Communiqué number 128:

    The weather was fine all day with excellent visibility.

    Twenty-one reconnaissances were carried out by Brigades and six reconnaissances by Nos 25 and 27 Squadrons on which 151 photographs were taken.

    Seventy hostile batteries were engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and seven neutralized. Eleven gun-pits were destroyed, 30 damaged, 41 explosions and 22 fires caused. Fifty zone calls were sent down.

    A total of 1,216 photographs were taken and 4¼ tons of bombs dropped as follows:-

    1st Brigade: 233 photographs. No 18 Squadron dropped four 112-lb and eight 25-lb bombs on Dechy and 12 25-lb bombs on La Basseé and Illies. Sixty-four 25-lb bombs were dropped by machines of the 1st Wing.
    2nd Brigade: 437 photographs, 12 112-lb bombs were dropped on Ledeghem Railway Station by No 57 Squadron and 48 25-lb bombs dropped by machines of the 2nd Wing.
    3rd Brigade: 329 photographs taken and 47 25-lb bombs dropped.
    5th Brigade: Sixty-three photographs. Four 25-lb bombs were dropped by No 48 Squadron and 79 25-lb bombs dropped by machines of the 15th Wing.
    9th Wing: 154 photographs. No 27 Squadron dropped 44 25-lb bombs on Courtrai Railway Sidings.

    Enemy Aircraft:


    Enemy aircraft were fairly active all day, the activity being most marked in the afternoon.

    Capt G F Hughes & Capt H Claye, 62 Sqn, two-seater broke up Armentières – Capt G Hughes and Capt H Claye, No 62 Squadron, whilst leading a formation at 13,000 feet, saw a large hostile two-seater flying south over Armentières at a height of 7,000 feet. The pilot dived to within 200 feet of the hostile machine, then “zoomed” up to within 50 yards under its tail, the pilot firing 50 rounds with his front gun. The hostile machine turned east, and the pilot again fired a burst of 50 rounds, after which it broke to pieces in the air

    Capt G E H McElroy, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south of Honnecourt-sur-Escaut at 10:00/11:00 -

    2nd-Lieut P A McDougall, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south of Honnecourt-sur-Escaut at 10:15/11:15 -

    Lieut A G Clark, 2 AFC, Albatros Scout crashed Brebières at 10:45/11:45 - Lieut A Clark, 2nd Squadron A.F.C., when leading his patrol, fired about 50 rounds from a range of 40 yards into a hostile machine which was diving at him. It fell over on its left wing, dropped vertically, and was seen to crash

    Lieut L Benjamin, 2 AFC, Albatros Scout out of control Brebières at 10:45/11:45 -

    Lieut G Jones, 4 AFC, Albatros Scout broke up Haubourdin at 10:50/11:50 – Lieut G Jones, 4th Squadron A.F.C., whilst on offensive patrol, attacked one of five or six hostile scouts which attacked the patrol. He followed this machine from 15,000 to 10,000 feet, firing 100 rounds at point blank range. One wing of the hostile machine broke off, and the machine crashed to the ground; Vzfw Artur Weber, Js46, Kia

    2nd-Lieut A W Adams, 4 AFC, Albatros Scout crashed west of Haubourdin at 10:50/11:50 – 2nd-Lieut W Adams, 4th Squadron A.F.C., was attacked by two hostile scouts. He managed to get above them and dived on one, firing a long burst at short range. The hostile machine spun down and was observed to crash

    Flt Cdr R B Munday, 8N Sqn, two-seater out of control Drocourt at 11:30/12:30 -

    Lieut R G Bennett & Corpl E Veale, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed west of Comines at 12:10/13:10 – Lieut R Bennett and Corpl Veale, No 20 Squadron, whilst on offensive patrol with eight Bristol Fighters, dived at an enemy two-seater and fired a burst from the front gun at about 200 yards range. The hostile machine side-slipped and was seen to crash on the ground

    Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Sqn, DFW CV in flames Méricourt at 13:45/14:45 – Capt J McCudden, No 56 Squadron, attacked a hostile two-seater at a height of 9,000 feet over Acheville. After four shot had been fired from each gun, the hostile machine burst into flames and crashed on the railway line just south of Mericourt; Vzfw Erich Klingenberg (Kia) & Ltn Karl Heger (Kia), FA(A) 235

    Capt W E Molesworth, 29 Sqn, two-seater captured Ypres - Zonnebeke at 14:10/15:10 - Capt W Molesworth, No 29 Squadron, chased a hostile two-seater which he saw being “archied” over Ypres. He managed to get on its tail, and after 2o rounds being fired, it burst into flames and fell in our lines between Hooge and Gheluvelt

    Capt H L Symons, 65 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames & Belgian pilot E Dixmude at 14:50/15:50 -

    2nd-Lieut F Martin & 2nd-Lieut W C Venmore, 57 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Roulers at 16:35/17:35 -

    Casualties:


    ? (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut A O'C Brook (Wia), 3 Sqn AFC, RE8 - anti-aircraft fire on artillery observation
    ? (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut D S Gordon (Wia), 4 Sqn, RE8 - ground fire also said to be Ltn Franz Schleiff, Js56, 5th victory [Havrincourt Wood at 16:15/17:15]
    ? (Ok) & Lieut W J Blitch (Wia), 16 Sqn, RE8 – combat ?
    2nd-Lieut R Longman (Wia), 70 Sqn, Camel - anti-aircraft fire on line patrol
    ? (Ok) & Lieut A Fudge (Wia; dow 22-Feb-18), 101 Sqn, FE2b -
    2nd-Lieut W M Kent (Kia), 60 Sqn, SE5a B4860 – took off 07:40/08:40 and last seen near Houthulst at 09:15/10:15 on OP; Ltn Rudolf Klimke, Js27, 6th victory [Rolleghem – Kapelle at 09:00/10:00]
    Lieut G B Craig (Pow; Dow 22-Feb-18), 60 Sqn, SE5a C5325 - last seen near Houthulst on OP; Oblt Hermann Goering, Js27, 17th victory Ledeghem at 09:00/10:00]
    2nd-Lieut R Lang MM (Wia), 2 Sqn AFC, SE5a B535 – took off 10:05/11:05 then wounded in combat with 10 Albatros scouts landed at 5 Sqn
    2nd-Lieut C D B Stiles (Ok) & Lieut W C S Gregson (Wia), 48 Sqn, Bristol F.2B A7220 - shot down by EA on OP St Quentin at 10:45/11:45
    2nd-Lieut A Couston (Pow), 4 Sqn AFC, Camel B5552 – took off 10:00/11:00 and last seen engaging EA near Haubourdin at 10:50/11:50 on offensive patrol; Ltn d R Rudolf Matthaei, Js46, 10th victory [south-west of Wavrin at 11:00/12:00]
    2nd-Lieut G C Logan (Pow), 2 Sqn AFC, SE5a B619 – took off 11:30/12:30 and last seen going towards the line on HO patrol; Vzfw Reinhold Joerke, Js13, 10th victory [Reneuil Ferme] ?
    2nd-Lieut B C W Windle (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut S G Williams MC (Pow), 102 Sqn, FE2b B451 – took off 18:45/19:45 then missing from night bombing

    The following aces claimed victories on this day - including number 55 for [B]James McCudden

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    15 British Airmen lost their lives on this day

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    The Master of Belhaven

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    Captain Tunstill's Men:

    Training continued and parties of officers, NCO's and men again went a few miles north by motor lorries to the hills in the vicinity of Asolo for instruction in hill fighting.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 02-21-2018 at 12:53.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  22. #3072

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    Deep joy another - do it twice day...

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  23. #3073

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    Quote Originally Posted by Hedeby View Post
    Deep joy another - do it twice day...
    What did you say to her Chris? She must be really, really upset!

  24. #3074

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    What did you say to her Chris? She must be really, really upset!
    He probably told her he liked Bristols

  25. #3075

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    Quote Originally Posted by mikeemagnus View Post
    He probably told her he liked Bristols
    Yeah! But whose?

  26. #3076

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    Anyone who has had them up-gunned Reg.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  27. #3077

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Anyone who has had them up-gunned Reg.
    Rob.
    Would that mean he's been talking to himself again?

  28. #3078

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    very funny chaps...

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  29. #3079

    Default Ironic?

    Quote Originally Posted by Hedeby View Post
    very funny chaps...
    Do I detect a hint of irony here?

  30. #3080

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    22nd February 1918

    Will probably have to upload in a couple of installments as once again real life and grown up responsibilities get in the way of having fun...

    Western Front
    Flanders: German trench raid on Ypres-Staden line.

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    A group of Stormtroop soldiers before deployment.

    Stormtroopers were specialist soldiers of the German Army in World War I. In the last years of the war, Stoßtruppen ("shock troops" or "thrust troops") were trained to fight with "infiltration tactics", part of the Germans' new method of attack on enemy trenches. Men trained in these methods were known in Germany as Sturmmann ("storm man", usually translated as "stormtrooper"), formed into companies of Sturmtruppen ("assault troops", more often and less exactly "storm troops"). The infiltration tactics of the stormtroopers are still in use today, in one form or another. Other armies have also used the term "assault troops", "shock troops" or fireteams for specialist soldiers who perform the infiltration tasks of stormtroopers.

    Prior to World War I

    Ever since the introduction of breech-loading infantry rifles there had been a growing realization that the days of close order infantry assault were coming to an end. For a time up to the turn of the 19th century armies tried to circumvent the problem by moving into range in dispersed formations and charging only the last metres like the French did in the Second Italian War of Independence, the Austrians in the War of 1866 against Prussia or the Germans against the French in the Franco-German war of 1870–71. The advent of the machine gun and the adoption of hydraulic-recoil artillery was a further setback for close order and the showing of the Boers in their war against the British fanned an enthusiasm for Boer tactics, e.g. open order tactics reliant more on achieving fire superiority and moving when enemy fire was ineffective than positioning oneself for the final bayonet charge.

    World War I assault tactics


    In the first part of the war, the standard assault on a trench line consisted of a lengthy artillery barrage all along the line, attempting to smash the enemy positions, followed by a rush forward of infantry in massed lines to overwhelm any remaining defenders. This process either failed, or at most gained only a short distance, while incurring enormous casualties, and the armies settled into trench warfare.

    Development of tactics

    The first experimental Pioneer assault unit of the German army formed in the spring of 1915, founded by Major Calsow and later commanded and refined by Hauptmann Willy Rohr. The methods which Rohr developed formed the basis of German infiltration tactics.

    Allied versions of infiltration tactics were first formally proposed by French Army captain André Laffargue (fr). In 1915 Laffargue published a pamphlet, "The attack in trench warfare", based upon his experiences in combat that same year. He advocated that the first wave of an attack identify hard-to-defeat defenses but not attack them; subsequent waves would do this. The French published his pamphlet "for information", but did not implement it. The British Empire armies did not translate the pamphlet, and the British Army continued to emphasise fire power, although Laffargue's proposals were gradually adopted informally, first by the Canadian Corps. The Germans captured copies of Laffargue's pamphlet in 1916, translating and issuing it to units, but by this point they already had their own, more sophisticated infiltration tactics, over two months before Laffargue's pamphlet was published. The distinction between the German and French tactics was that Laffargue recommended using waves of infantry to attack despite the high casualties that would ensue. Soldiers were trained to consider fire as a means to facilitate movement in progress. Movement would be a call for fire. N. R. McMahon advocated using combined arms in the attack, particularly light machine guns (some six light and two heavy MGs per battalion) using a decentralised fire control and tactical command system (known as Auftragstaktik in German). These methods, suggested in 1909, bore a strong resemblance to the Stoßtrupptaktik used by the Germans six years later.

    In February 1917, the British Army issued Manual SS 143 on the subject. The British made the platoon the basic tactical unit rather than the company as in 1916. The platoon was made up of four sections, Lewis Gun, rifle grenade, grenade and rifle. The new organisation allowed the platoon to make best use of the trench-fighting equipment that had arrived in adequate quantities since the beginning of the battle of the Somme. They were also supported by sophisticated artillery flash spotting and sound-ranging, something the German Army never perfected, instead relying on the aural method with ever more accurate measuring device.

    The concept of "stormtroopers" first appeared in March 1915, when the Ministry of War directed the Eighth Army to form Sturmabteilung Calsow ("Calsow's Assault Detachment" or SA Calsow). SA Calsow consisted of a headquarters, two pioneer companies and a 37mm gun (Sturmkanone) battery. The unit was to use heavy shields and body armor as protection in attacks.

    However, SA Calsow was never employed in its intended role. Instead it was sent into the line in France as emergency reinforcements during heavy Allied attacks. By June, the unit had already lost half its men. Major Calsow was relieved for this, against his protests that it was not his fault that the unit was not used as intended.

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    Soldier of a German assault group with his Bergmann MP 18 and a Parabellum P08, Northern France, Spring 1918.

    Bergmann MP-18


    The MP 18 manufactured by Theodor Bergmann Abteilung Waffenbau was the first submachine gun used in combat. It was introduced into service in 1918 by the German Army during World War I as the primary weapon of the Sturmtruppen, assault groups specialized in trench combat. Although MP 18 production ended in the 1920s, its design formed the basis of most submachine guns manufactured between 1920 and 1960. A common myth is that the Treaty of Versailles banned the production and use of the MP 18 by Germany. In fact, the treaty only limited the number of machine guns that Germany was permitted to stockpile, and no mention is made of machine pistols or the MP 18 in particular.

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    What became known as the "submachine gun" had its genesis in the early 20th Century and developed around the concepts of fire and movement and infiltration tactics, specifically for the task of clearing trenches of enemy soldiers, an environment within which engagements were unlikely to occur beyond a range of a few feet.

    In 1915, the German Rifle Testing Commission at Spandau decided to develop a new weapon for trench warfare. An attempt to modify existing semi-automatic pistols, specifically the Luger and C96 Mauser failed, as accurate aimed fire in full automatic mode was impossible due to their light weight and high rate of fire of 1,200 rounds per minute. The Commission determined that a completely new kind of weapon was needed. Hugo Schmeisser, working for the Bergmann Waffenfabrik was part of a team composed of Theodor Bergmann and a few other technicians. They designed a new type of weapon to fulfill the requirements, which was designated the Maschinenpistole 18/I. It is not clear what the "I" designation is intended to indicate, although its successor, the MP28, was designated the Maschinenpistole 28/II. Full-scale production did not begin until early 1918. Though technically not the world's first submachine gun, being beaten by the double-barreled Italian Villar-Perosa of 1915, in modern usage of the term the MP 18 is considered the world's first submachine gun since the Villar Perosa had been designed to be used as a light machine gun on aircraft before it was adapted to infantry use as a single-barreled shoulder-fired weapon in late 1918.

    Service history

    The MP 18 primarily served in the final stages of World War I in 1918, especially in the Kaiserschlacht offensive. At least 5,000 MP 18.1s were built and used during World War I, based upon observed serial number ranges of captured weapons; however, it is possible that up to 10,000 were built for the war. The MP 18 proved to be an excellent weapon. Its concept was well-proven in trench fighting. The basic design directly influenced later submachine gun designs and showed its superiority over the regular infantry rifle in urban, mobile, and guerrilla warfare. The MP 18 served with German police and paramilitary forces after the end of the war. It was widely used in combat by the Freikorps Von Epp against the Spartacus League in Bavaria and by other Freikorps in Berlin, where its efficiency in urban combat was demonstrated. All the limited conflicts between 1920 and 1940 saw an increasing use of this new class of weapons, first in South America during the Chaco War, then in Europe during the Spanish Civil War, and in China during the Japanese invasion, where its use by well-trained Chinese troops was costly for the invaders as in the Battle of Shanghai, where fierce street fights prefigured World War II urban combat of Stalingrad, Warsaw, Vienna and Berlin.

    Since the treaty allowed the Weimar Republic to keep a small quantity of submachine guns for police use, a few hundred MP 18.1s were modified to accept Schmeisser's original 20-round magazine design. This modification, conducted by Haenel Waffenfabrik, required removal of the existing magazine well collar, and replacement with a different one. These weapons were overstamped with the date "1920" on the receiver and magazine well to show they were legitimate weapons owned by the Weimar Republic and not war bringbacks or clandestine weapons. Bergmann sold the license of the MP 18. 1 to SIG Switzerland; the Swiss made model was known as SIG Bergmann 1920. It existed in .30 Luger, 9mm Parabellum and 7.63 mm Mauser. The Bergmann MP 18.1 represents a milestone both in terms of armament technology and warfare tactics. It opened the way for a whole new class of weapons and triggered the research for lighter automatic firearms to be used by mobile troops. Its first direct competitors did not see service in World War I, but most of them saw use in all the limited conflicts taking place in the inter-war period.

    Africa
    Mozambique: Hawthorn NRFF column fights Captain Goering’s 5 coys at Mtende (75 miles east of Luambala). Lettow now at Nanungu.

    Air War
    Yemen: 4 Royal Navy Air Service seaplanes from carrier City of Oxford scout, photo and bomb Turk positions near Loheia until February 28 giving the Idris’s men footing in the hills; more air operations over Maidi (March 19-22).

    General Headquarters, February 23rd.


    "On the 22nd inst., with the exception of a few flights in co-operation with the artillery, no work in the air was possible owing to bad weather."

    The Air Ministry issued the following announcement on February 26th:—

    "Western Front. - From February 1st to 22nd inclusive 75 enemy aircraft were brought down by the R.F.C. During the same period 39 enemy aircraft were driven down out of control - a total of 114. During the same period six enemy aircraft were brought down by anti-aircraft defences and infantry.

    "Against these 120 machines of the enemy, 28 of our own are missing.

    "The weight of bombs dropped during the month up to February 22nd has been 65 tons.”

    RFC Communiqué number 128:

    The sky was covered with low cloud and there was occasional rain.

    Four successful reconnaissances were carried out by machines of the 5th Brigade.

    Sixteen hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, 12 of these were by pilots of the 3rd Brigade who destroyed one gun-pit, damaged 12 others, caused eight explosions and one fire. They also reported 13 active hostile batteries.

    A total of 89 photographs were taken and 7¾ tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    Night 21st/22nd -
    1st Brigade: No 2 Squadron dropped 107 25-lb bombs on Fournes and Wicres, and No 4 Squadron dropped 36 25-lb bombs on Lomme, Fournes and Haubourdin.
    2nd Brigade: No 10 Squadron dropped 8 25-lb bombs on Menin.
    9th Wing: No 58 Squadron dropped 60 25-lb bombs on Marquain Aeroplane, direct hits being obtained on hangars and sheds, 12 25-lb bombs on Gontrode Aerodrome and 60 25-lb bombs on various objectives.
    No 101 Squadron dropped two 112-lb and 300 25-lb bombs on Ettreux Aerodrome.
    No 102 Squadron dropped 35 25-lb bombs on Marquain Aerodrome, eight 25-lb bombs on Scheldewindeke Aerodrome and 52 25-lb bombs on various objectives.

    By Day –
    1st Brigade: Sixty-two photographs.
    3rd Brigade: Twenty-seven photographs were taken and eight 25-lb bombs dropped.
    5th Brigade: 15th Wing dropped 18 25-lb bombs.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    There were no combats all day.

    Casualties:

    2nd-Lieut A W Chadwick (Ok), 80 Sqn, Camel B5447 - force landed Guines, near Calais, on line patrol

    There was just the one ace claiming a victory on this day

    Lieutenant Jack Escott Child 45 Squadron RFC

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    A Sopwith Camel pilot with 45 Squadron, Jack Escott Child, brother of James Martin Child, was the oldest son of Tylney Harris and Constance Octavio (Oxley) Child. He served in the Territorial Artillery before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in February 1917. He scored three victories in France and two victories in Italy. On 10 March 1918, his flight was mistakenly attacked by Italian scouts. In the brief action that followed, Child may have downed one of the Italians. He died of pneumonia at Lees Court Military Hospital during the influenza pandemic in 1918.

    Despite the poor weather there were still eleven British airmen who lost their lives today

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    More from the Master of Belhaven

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    Russian icebreaker Yermak began cutting a path through the ice in the Gulf of Finland for the bulk of the retreating Imperial Russian Navy Baltic Fleet to follow.

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    Yermak (Russian: Ермак, IPA: [jɪrˈmak]) was a Russian and later Soviet Union icebreaker, the first polar icebreaker in the world, having a strengthened hull shaped to ride over and crush pack ice.

    ermak was built for the Imperial Russian Navy under the supervision of vice-admiral S. O. Makarov by the members of his commission, which included D. I. Mendeleev, engineers N. I. Yankovsky and R. I. Runeberg, admiral F. F. Wrangel, among others.[2] It was built in Newcastle upon Tyne at its Low Walker yard and launched in 1898. She was named after the famous Russian explorer of Siberia, Don Cossack ataman Yermak Timofeyevich.

    She was commissioned on 17 October 1898. She arrived in Kronstadt on 4 March 1899 after breaking through ice and a formal reception was held to mark her arrival. Later in 1899 she reached 81°21'N north of Spitsbergen. She had been constructed to break through heavy ice (up to 2 m in thickness).

    Yermak had been used in the winter of 1899–1900 to set up the first radio communication link in Russia between Kotka and Gogland (Suursaar) island (distance 47 km). In 1900 she came to the aid of the cruiser Gromoboi which had grounded in the Baltic.

    Between 1899–1911 Yermak sailed in heavy ice conditions for more than 1000 days.

    During World War I she assisted the Baltic Fleet during the Ice cruise when the fleet was evacuated from Helsinki to Kronstadt in February 1918.

    During World War II the Yermak was mobilised again and took part in the evacuation of Hanko naval base. She was armed with two 102 mm, two 76 mm, four 45 mm and four machine guns. Yermak served with different branches of the Russian and Soviet Navy and Merchant Marine up until 1964, becoming one of the longest-serving icebreakers in the world. An island in the Nordenskiöld Archipelago was named after her. A monument to the icebreaker Yermak was unveiled in Murmansk In November 1965 – this included mosaic panels and the original anchor on the pedestal. Another icebreaker with the name Yermak was built for the Soviet Union at the Wärtsilä Helsinki shipyard, Finland in 1974. Russia employs an icebreaker named Yermak in the Baltic Sea as late as 2010

    Operation Faustschlag – The Central Powers offensive advance was so rapid that in a week it had advanced 150 miles (240 km) and was within 100 miles (160 km) of Petrograd. Much of the advance was done by rail, with German General Max Hoffman writing in his diary: "It is the most comical war I have ever known. We put a handful of infantrymen with machine guns and one gun onto a train and rush them off to the next station; they take it, make prisoners of the Bolsheviks, pick up few more troops, and so on. This proceeding has, at any rate, the charm of novelty."

    Invasion of Åland – Russia confirmed their forces would be leaving the Åland Islands, with 300 Russian Finnish Red Guards redeployed to Turku, Finland.

    A Soviet decree, initially thought to be released by Vladimir Lenin but later attributed to Leon Trotsky, ordered citizens to defend the territory to "the last drop of blood" and destroy any food provisions before having them fall to enemy hands as the Central Powers "Operation Fist Punch" closed in on Petrograd. The decree further disrupted peace talks between the Soviet Union and the Central Powers.

    The U.S. Army Air Corps established the 73d Aero Squadron at Rich Field, Texas

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 02-22-2018 at 13:54.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  31. #3081

  32. #3082

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    Nice article on the MP 18 Chris. Thanks as I was not aware of the details of this weapon. Just think what the German race could have achieved if they had put their energies into peaceful channels instead of fritering them away in two World Wars.

  33. #3083

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    Yes instead of losing 2 world wars they could have created the single most powerful european economy, produced a number of the worlds most prestigious automobile companies and won several world cups .... actually hang on a minute ...

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  34. #3084

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    23rd February 1918


    Air War

    Mesopotamia: 3-10 Royal Flying Corps aircraft bomb Turk camps and airfield in Hit area (until February 27) forcing German air unit back to Haditha.

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    The German fighter ace Buddecke was flying for the Turks and received the Pour le Merite. Hans-Joachim Buddecke (22 August 1890 – 10 March 1918) was a German flying ace in World War I, credited with thirteen victories. He was the third ace, after Max Immelmann and Oswald Boelcke, to earn the Blue Max (Pour le Mérite). He saw combat in three theaters during the First World War: Bulgaria, Turkey, and the Western Front.

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    A plane familiar to many of us on the forum

    Buddecke was born in Berlin and followed his father's footsteps into the Army. In 1904, he started as a Cadet; in 1910, he received his commission as Leutnant in the 115th Life Guards Infantry Regiment. He left the army in 1913 due to his little time for a social life and his new enthusiasm for flying.[citation needed] In the same year, he moved to the USA to start a new life, and flew for a time from the early airfield in Cicero, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.[4] While in the USA, he worked as a mechanic at a car factory in Indianapolis. By saving his earnings, he soon was able to buy his own aircraft (a Nieuport monoplane) and he immediately taught himself how to fly. On the day Buddecke started his own aircraft production company,[citation needed] war was declared and he abandoned his business plans and returned to Germany. Travelling under a fake name, Buddecke crossed the Atlantic in the Greek ship Athene to Palermo (Italy). After he arrived in Europe, he immediately made his way home to join the German Army's Fliegertruppe air service.

    Buddecke was sent to the Western Front in September 1914. Initially he flew as an observer but soon he would become a single-seater fighter pilot with FFA 23. Because of his previous experience on monoplanes, Buddecke's good friend, Rudolph Berthold, suggested that he should fly the first of the Fokker Eindecker aircraft delivered to the unit. Buddecke and Berthold, flying the Eindecker and an AEG G.II, respectively, formed a small Kampfstaffel within the unit, intercepting British reconnaissance aircraft.[6] Buddecke scored his first three victories during this assignment.

    Buddecke scored his and the new unit's first victory on 19 September 1915; a B.E.2c of No 8 Squadron RFC, crewed by pilot Lt WH Nixon and observer Capt JNS Stott. Opening fire from 200 meters he disabled the observer's machine gun, although Captain Stott then returned fire with a pocket pistol. It was shot out of his hands at a range of ten meters and Nixon was hit. Buddecke's gun then jammed when its cartridge belt tore in the slipstream. As Buddecke struggled with the jammed gun, Stott clambered atop the shoulders of his dying pilot, set his heels on the pilot's knees to operate the rudder and bent forward to grab the controls. Buddecke cleared his gun and aimed at the British observer's yellow leather coat. The BE.2c crash landed near Saint Quentin. Buddecke drove to the wreck after landing, where the uninjured captive Stott showed him the bullet holes in his coat. Buddecke followed this up with confirmed claims on 23 October (a B.E.2 of No. 13 Squadron RFC, with Capt CH Marks and Lt WG Lawrence-the brother of TE Lawrence,of Arabian fame-both killed) and 11 November and an unconfirmed victory on 6 December 1915. He was then sent to Gallipoli to fly the Halberstadt D.II and Fokker E.III with Ottoman FA 6 against the Royal Naval Air Service. The Turkish campaign was successful, with four confirmed victories and seven unconfirmed, and Buddecke was personally awarded he Gold Liakat Medal by Enver Pasha. He was recalled to the Western Front in late August 1916 as leader of the newly formed Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 4. After three kills during September, he again left for Turkey to fly with Ottoman FA 5. By early 1918 he was back in France with Royal Prussian Jasta 30, before switching to Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 18. Within a few days Buddecke was killed during an aerial combat above Lens, France on 10 March 1918, victim to Sopwith Camels of 3 Naval Squadron RNAS. Hans-Joachim Buddecke is buried at the Invalidenfriedhof Cemetery in Berlin.

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    General Headquarters, February 24th.


    "On the 23rd inst. bad weather again prevented much flying being done. A little observation work was carried out by our aeroplanes in co-operation with the artillery, and some bombs were dropped in the enemy's forward areas. During the night, 23rd-24th inst., bombs were dropped by us on three hostile aerodromes in the valley of the River Lys. All our machines returned."

    RFC Communiqué number 128:

    The weather was bad most of the day with very short clear intervals.

    Seven reconnaissances were carried out, seven hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and three neutralized; four gun-pits were damaged and eight explosions caused. Twelve active hostile batteries were reported by zone call.

    Bombing -
    1st Brigade: Twenty-eight 25-lb bombs dropped.
    2nd Brigade: Twenty-four 25-lb bombs dropped.
    3rd Brigade: Eight 25-lb bombs dropped.
    5th Brigade: Fourteen 25-lb bombs dropped.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    No combats took place.

    Casualties:

    2nd-Lieut T J A Proudfoot (Killed), 54 Sqn, Camel B9275 - broke in air and pilot fell out at 1,000 feet on practice shoot

    2nd-Lieut L P Roberts (Killed) & T4/249586 L/Corpl G A Oxtoby (Killed), 20 Sqn, Bristol F.2B C4617 - seen to dive vertically near aerodrome during test

    There were only two reported claims (by aces on this day)

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    Despite the lack of flying there were still 11 British airmen ost on this day.

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    Western Front

    Aisne: Franco-American raid over river Ailette.

    Eastern Front
    Russia: German peace terms become stiffer.
    Rumania: Kuehlmann and Czernin arrive at Bucharest to negotiate with Rumania.
    Finland: *Mannerheim’s ‘Karelian’ order of the day against Lenin. Bolsheviks agree to evacuate all Russian’ forces

    Defender of the Fatherland Day


    Defender of the Fatherland Day (Russian: День защитника Отечества (Den' zashchitnika Otechestva); Kazakh: Отан қорғаушы күні; Tajik: Рӯзи артиши миллӣ; Kyrgyz: Мекенди коргоочулардын күнү; Belarusian: Дзень абаронцы Айчыны) is a holiday observed in Russia, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. It is celebrated on 23 February, except in Kazakhstan, where it is celebrated on 7 May. First celebrated in 1919, the holiday marks the date in 1918 during the Russian Civil War when the first mass draft into the Red Army occurred in Petrograd and Moscow (on 17 February). In January 1919, it was decided to combine the celebration of that day with the anniversary of the publication of the decree on the establishment of the Red Army (of 18 February 1918).[1] In 1919, 17 February fell on a Monday, so it was decided to move the holiday to the nearest Sunday – 23 February. Since then it stayed that day.It was originally known as "Red Army Day" (Russian: День Красной Армии). In 1923, it was officially named Day of the Red Army and the Navy. In 1949, it was renamed Soviet Army and Navy Day (Russian: День Советской Армии и Военно-Морского флота (Dyen' Sovyetskoy Armii i Voyenno-Morskogo flota)).Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the holiday was given its current name in 2002 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who decreed it a state holiday (in Russia).

    More from the Master of Belhaven

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    Captain Tunstill's Men
    : There was a marked improvement in the weather, which was described by one man as, “glorious, really too hot to exert oneself!”.

    A sudden change of orders was received at Brigade level for 69th Brigade to return to the Montello to relieve units of 41st Division, with effect from the following day. This was necessitated by the decision to transfer 41st and 5th Divisions back to France in response to a growing concentration of German divisions on the Western Front. 41st Division had been ordered to begin entraining for France on 1st March. It had, at one point, been intended that 23rd Division would return to France but 41st Division had then been selected instead.

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    70
    Last edited by Hedeby; 02-23-2018 at 13:26.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  35. #3085

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Hedeby View Post
    Yes instead of losing 2 world wars they could have created the single most powerful european economy, produced a number of the worlds most prestigious automobile companies and won several world cups .... actually hang on a minute ...
    Now, where have I heard this before?

  36. #3086

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    24th February 1918

    We'll start today with the type of story that really makes my blood boil, and makes me ashamed...

    Private Victor Manson Spencer
    (Otago Regiment) is executed for desertion from near the front at age 23. He is the last New Zealander executed in the war.

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    Victor Manson Spencer (1 November 1896 – 24 February 1918) was a volunteer from Invercargill, New Zealand who fought in the Otago Regiment of the New Zealand Division in World War I. Victor was executed for desertion on 24 February 1918, despite later suggestions that he was severely traumatised by shellshock, having fought and survived several campaigns.

    New Zealand soldiers were subject to New Zealand military law which like all nations involved in the conflict had the death penalty for a number of crimes including desertion. Out of the 28 death penalties handed down by the New Zealand military only four were carried out the rest being quashed by the British Commanders of the armies involved. By contrast, death penalties imposed on Australian soldiers had to be confirmed by the Governor-General, which the Australian government did not allow, although, Australians were hanged at Shepton Mallet prison for civil crimes.

    Spencer was formally pardoned under the provisions of the Pardon for Soldiers of the Great War Act 2000 which was passed by the New Zealand Parliament, in a departure from custom since pardons are normally granted by the Crown, and are rarely posthumous. The grounds for the pardon was that the execution was not a fate that Spencer deserved but was one that resulted from (a) the harsh discipline that was believed at the time to be required; and (b) the application of the death penalty for military offences being seen at that time as an essential part of maintaining military discipline.

    Section 8 of the Pardon for Soldiers of the Great War Act reads thus:

    Pardon of Private Spencer

    Private Victor Manson Spencer, regimental number 8/2733, a member of the 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment,—

    (a) who was charged with having committed on 13 August 1917 the offence of desertion; and
    (b) who was, by a Field General Court Martial held on 17 January 1918, convicted of that offence and sentenced to death; and
    (c) who was again sentenced to death on 29 January 1918 after the Field General Court Martial had revised its finding and had convicted him of having committed the offence of desertion not on 13 August 1917 but on 25 August 1917; and
    (d) who was, after the sentence of death imposed on him on 29 January 1918 had been confirmed, executed by firing squad in accordance with that sentence on 24 February 1918,—
    is, by this Act, granted a pardon for that offence of desertion.

    Spencer was included in the mass pardon of 306 British Empire soldiers executed for certain offences during the Great War enacted in section 359 of the UK Parliament's Armed Forces Act 2006, and which came into effect by Royal Assent on 8 November 2006.

    He is buried in The Huts Cemetery, Dikkebus, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

    Eastern Front
    USSR: Soviets accept German peace terms after Central Executive Committee of Bolshevik Party votes 116-85 for Lenin after he threatens resignation.
    Germans take Borisov and Dorpat (Estonia) with 3,000 PoWs. Estonian Provisional Government forms in Reval, proclaims independent republic.
    Don: *Reds occupy Rostov and Novocherkassk (February 25), Ataman Nazarov shot; 1,500 Cossacks follow Whites.

    Middle East
    Armenia: Turk II Caucasian Corps reoccupies Trebizond and Gümüsane, Turk 36th Division nearing Erzerum on February 25.

    Sea War
    Adriatic: German raider Wolf returns to Pola having sunk 11 ships (33,000t) in 15 months. (see below)
    Channel: Keyes submits Zeebrugge Raid plan, Admiralty approves.

    SMS Wolf (formerly the Hansa freighter Wachtfels) was an armed merchant raider or auxiliary cruiser of the Imperial German Navy in World War I. She was the fourth ship of the Imperial Navy bearing this name (and is therefore often referred to in Germany as Wolf IV), following two gunboats and another auxiliary cruiser that was decommissioned without seeing action.

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    As a commerce raider, the Wolf was equipped with six 15 cm (5.9 in) guns, three 5.2 cm (2.0 in) SK L/55 guns and several smaller caliber weapons as well as four torpedo tubes. She also carried over 450 mines to be dropped outside enemy ports; she laid one minefield off Australia's southern coast which claimed several ships. Her commander was Fregattenkapitän (Commander) Karl August Nerger who was in charge until her return to Kiel, Germany in February 1918.

    The Wolf had not been designed for speed and her top speed was a mere 11 knots (20 km/h). Her advantages included deception (fake funnel and masts which could be erected or lowered to change her appearance), false sides which kept her weapons hidden until the last possible moment, and a range of over 32,000 nmi (59,000 km) thanks to a coal bunker capacity of 8,000 tons (assuming a cruise speed of 8 knots, burning 35 tons of coal daily). On 30 November 1916 the Wolf left her home port of Kiel with a crew of 348 men. Escorted by the SM U-66 from Skagerrak to the North Atlantic, she passed north of Scotland and turned south going around the Cape of Good Hope, where she laid some of her mines, into the Indian Ocean. She dropped mines at the harbors of Colombo and Bombay, then entered the waters of South Asia, Australia and New Zealand. With the help of the "Wölfchen" (Little Wolf), a Friedrichshafen FF.33 two-seater seaplane, she located and seized enemy vessels and cargo ships. After transferring their crews and any valuable supplies (notably coal, but also essential metals of which the German war effort had much need) to the Wolf, she then sank the vessels. The Wolf destroyed 35 trading vessels and two war ships, altogether approximately 110,000 tons. After 451 days she returned to her home port of Kiel on 24 February 1918 with 467 prisoners of war aboard. In addition she carried substantial quantities of rubber, copper, zinc, brass, silk, copra, cocoa, and other essential materials taken from her prizes. The Wolf, without support of any kind, had made the longest voyage of a warship during World War I. Captain Nerger was awarded the highest German decoration, the Pour le Mérite.

    For the remainder of the war, the Wolf was employed in the Baltic Sea. After the war she was ceded to France and sold to Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes of Paris, refitted and renamed Antinous. She was scrapped in 1931 in Italy. A member of the crew was the young Theodor Plivier, who became later a revolutionary, communist, and famous author. In his first novel Des Kaisers Kulis (The emperor's coolies) he assimilates his experience on board the Wolf. The book was transformed in a theatrical play, too, and forbidden after the National Socialist Machtergreifung. Another crew member was Jakob Kinau, brother of author Gorch Fock – Kinau served as a Minenbootsmannsmaat on the Wolf. In his voyage diary, which was published in 1934 in the Quickborn-Verlag, Hamburg, he mentioned some details of a mutiny on board, which was not described in memoirs of other Wolf crew. The SS Port Kembla was sunk off the coast of the South Island of New Zealand after hitting a mine laid by the Wolf.


    The Estonian Declaration of Independence, also known as the Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia (Estonian: Manifest Eestimaa rahvastele), is the founding act of the Republic of Estonia from 1918. It is celebrated on 24 February, the National Day or Estonian Independence Day. The declaration was drafted by the Salvation Committee elected by the elders of the Estonian Provincial Assembly. Originally intended to be proclaimed on 21 February 1918, the proclamation was delayed until the evening of 23 February, when the manifesto was printed and read out aloud publicly in Pärnu. On the next day, 24 February, the manifesto was printed and distributed in the capital, Tallinn.

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    The first celebration of Estonian Independence Day in Tallinn, Estonia on 24 February 1919

    During World War I, between retreating Russian and advancing German troops, the Occupation of Estonia by German Empire nearing, the Salvation Committee of the Estonian National Council, Maapäev, declared the independence of Estonia on 24 February 1918. The German Empire did not recognise the newly declared Republic of Estonia. However, after the defeat of the Central Powers in World War I in November 1918, Germany withdrew its troops from Estonia and formally handed over power in Estonia to the Estonian Provisional Government on 19 November. The Russian Bolshevik invasion and The Estonian War of Independence followed. On 2 February 1920, the Peace Treaty of Tartu was signed by the Republic of Estonia and Bolshevist Russia. The Republic of Estonia obtained international recognition and became a member of the League of Nations in 1921.

    MANIFESTO TO THE PEOPLES OF ESTONIA

    In the course of centuries never have the Estonian people lost their desire for independence. From generation to generation have they kept alive the hidden hope that in spite of enslavement and oppression by hostile invaders the time will come to Estonia "when all splints, at both end, will burst forth into flames" and when "Kalev will come home to bring his children happiness."

    Now that time has arrived.

    An unprecedented fight between nations has crushed the rotten foundations of the Russian Tsarist Empire. All over the Sarmatian plains ruinous anarchy is spreading, threatening to overwhelm in its wake all the nations living in the former Russian Empire. From the West the victorious armies of Germany are approaching in order to claim their share of Russia's legacy and, above all, to take possession of the coastal territories of the Baltic Sea.

    In this hour, the Estonian National Council, as the legal representative of our land and people, has, in unanimous agreement with Estonian democratic political parties and organizations, and by virtue of the right of self-determination of peoples, found it necessary to take the following decisive steps to shape the destiny of the Estonian land and people.

    ESTONIA,

    within his historical and ethnic boundaries, is declared as of today an

    INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.

    The independent Republic of Estonia shall include Harjumaa, Läänemaa, Järvamaa, Virumaa, with the city of Narva and its surroundings, Tartumaa, Võrumaa, Viljandimaa, and Pärnumaa with the Baltic islands of Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhumaa, and others where the Estonians have settled for ages in large majorities. Final determination of the boundaries of the Republic in the areas bordering on Latvia and Russia will be carried out by plebiscite after the conclusion of the present World War.

    In the aforementioned areas the only supreme and organizing authority is the democratically supported Estonian Salvation Committee created by the Estonian National Council.

    The Republic of Estonia wishes to maintain absolute political neutrality towards all neighbouring states and peoples and expects that they will equally respond with complete neutrality.

    Estonian military troops shall be reduced to the extent necessary to maintain internal order. Estonian soldiers serving in the Russian military forces will be called home and demobilized.

    Until the Estonian Constituent Assembly, elected by general, direct, secret, and proportional elections, will convene and determine the constitutional structure of the country, all executive and legislative authority will remain vested in the Estonian National Council and in the Estonian Provisional Government created by it, whose activities must be guided by the following principles:

    1. All citizens of the Republic of Estonia, irrespective of their religion, ethnic origin, and political views, are going to enjoy equal protection under the law and courts of justice of the Republic.

    2. All ethnic minorities, the Russians, Germans, Swedes, Jews, and others residing within the borders of the republic, are going to be guaranteed the right to their cultural autonomy.

    3. All civic freedoms, the freedom of expression, of the press, of religion, of assembly, of association, and the freedom to strike as well as the inviolability of the individual and the home, shall be irrefutably effective within the territory of the Estonian Republic and based on laws, which the Government must immediately work out.

    4. The Provisional Government is given the task of immediately organizing courts of justice to protect the security of the citizens. All political prisoners shall be released immediately.

    5. The city, county, and township local governments are called upon to immediately continue their work, which has been violently interrupted.

    6. For maintenance of public order, people's militia, subordinated to local governments, shall be immediately organized and citizens' self-defence organizations established in the cities and rural areas.

    7. The Provisional Government is instructed to work out, without delay, on a broad democratic basis, bills for the solution of the agrarian problem, and the problems of labor, of food supply, and of finances.

    ESTONIA!

    You stand on the threshold of a hopeful future in which you shall be free and independent in determining and directing your destiny! Begin building a home of your own, ruled by law and order, in order to be a worthy member within the family of civilized nations! Sons and daughters of our homeland, unite as one man in the sacred task of building our homeland! The sweat and blood shed by our ancestors for this country demand this from us; our forthcoming generations oblige us to do this.

    May God watch over thee
    And amply bless
    Whatever thou undertake
    My dear fatherland!

    Long live the independent democratic Republic of Estonia!

    Long live peace among nations!

    The Council of Elders of the Estonian National Council
    Tallinn, 21 February 1918

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    The War in the Air

    General Headquarters, February 25th.

    "On the 24th inst., in spite of bad weather, our aeroplanes carried out one or two reconnaissances and observed for the artillery. Bombs were dropped by us on various targets, including hostile billets, transport, and working parties. Two of our machines are missing. After dark, our night-flying squadrons dropped over 200 bombs on hostile aerodromes near Courtrai and on billets north-east of St. Quentin. All our machines returned."

    RFC Communiqué number 128:

    The sky was covered with low clouds, but there were a few short bright intervals.

    Nine reconnaissances were carried out and 25 plates exposed.

    Twenty-nine hostile batteries were engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and 12 neutralized. Three gun-pits were destroyed, 12 damaged, 16 explosions and 13 fires caused. Sixty zone calls were sent down. Of the hostile batteries engaged, 12 were by machines of the 1st Brigade, 16 by those of the 2nd Brigade and one by those of the 3rd Brigade.

    On 24th instant, balloons of the 1st Brigade registered nine targets, five of which were hostile butteries, and those of the 2nd Brigade, five targets, three of which were hostile batteries. One explosion and one fire were caused and 17 active hostile batteries located.

    208 bombs were dropped follows:_

    Night 23rd/ 24th - 9th Wing: No 58 Squadron dropped 12 25-lb bombs on Moorseele Aerodrome, nine 25-lb bombs on Menin Station, 22 25-lb bombs on Bavichove Aerodrome and 24 25-lb bombs on Oyghem.

    Day 24th –
    1st Brigade: 34 25-lb bombs were dropped by machines of the 1st Wing. 4th Squadron A.F.C. dropped 10 25-lb bombs on transport hitting one wagon.
    2nd Brigade: 34 25-lb bombs were dropped by machines of the 2nd Brigade. Five 25-lb bombs were dropped on an Anti-aircraft Battery by No. 70 Squadron.
    3rd Brigade: 20 25-lb bombs were dropped.
    5th Brigade: 33 25-lb bombs were dropped by machines of 15th Wing.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft activity was very slight, only a few indecisive combats taking place.

    Casualties:

    2nd-Lieut RD White (Inj) & 2nd-Lieut W A Keeler (Inj), 4 Sqn, RE8 B5071 - crashed Sh36a.V.13.b [east of Lillers] on practice contact patrol; said to be Ltn d R Wilhelm Papenmeyer, Js2, 3rd victory [St Julien at 14:45/15:45]
    2nd-Lieut L A Herbert MM (Wia), 40 Sqn, SE5a C9534 - shot up in combat
    Capt C Sutton (Wia), 3 Sqn, Camel B5245 - hit by German aircraft (?) on low patrol
    2nd-Lieut G R T Marsh (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut I MacKay Dempster (Kia), 52 Sqn, RE8 B2293 – took off 12:40/13:40 then missing from artillery patrol; Offz Friedrich Altemeier, Js24, 11th victory [Marcy at 13:15/14:15] ?
    2nd-Lieut W B Randell (Pow), 4 Sqn AFC, Camel B7317 – took off 13:45/14:45 and last seen between lines and La Bassée at 14:00/15:00 on offensive patrol and bombing; anti-aircraft fire

    The following aces claimed kills today - with a heavy input from the Austro Hungarian and Itallian air services

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    There were eight British airmen who lost their lives on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men: Another warm and sunny day.

    In accordance with the new orders received the previous day, the Battalion, departing at 9.35am, marched three miles north, back to their former billets at Altivole. Here, according to Pte. Harold Charnock (see 18th February), “on the excellent ground the officers beat the sergeants at football after a close game”.

    Pte. Thomas Warburton (see 2nd February 1917) was reported by Cpl. James Hotchkiss (see 23rd February) as having been, “dirty on guard mounting”; on the orders of Capt. Paul James Sainsbury (see 23rd February), he was to be confined to barracks for three days.

    Pte. Fred Sutcliffe (see 23rd February) was reported for the third consecutive day; on this occasion Cpl. James Hotchkiss (see above) reported him for having a, “dirty rifle on guard mounting parade”. For the accumulation of the three charges Sutcliffe was ordered, by Lt. Thomas Beattie (see 31st October 1917), to be confined to barracks for seven days.

    Ptes. Frederick McKell (see 18th February), Charles Oldham (see 18th February) and Herbert Ridley (see 30th January) were posted back to France from 3DWR and would join 5DWR.

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    71

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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    25th February 1918

    As I sit and produce this we are 16 views short of hitting the 250,000 mark. I look forward to celebrating that momentous milestone later this evening.

    Yet another quiet day in the lead up to the forthcoming spring offensive...

    Lieutenant Colonel George Alexander Walter Lamond (Royal Engineers) dies of illness on service in Ceylon at age 39 contracted on in Mesopotamia. He was a Scottish rugby union player for Kelvinside Academicals who was capped for Scotland twice in 1899 and once in 1905.

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    Eastern Front
    Estonia: Seckendorff’s Northern Corps takes Pernau, Reval with 626 guns, and Pskov.
    Ukraine: Linsingen reaches Zhitomir.
    Poland: Polish*-German Military Convention signed at Bobruisk southeast of Minsk.
    Finland: Mannerheim has 14,000 troops as 20,000 Reds attack towards Haapamaki and in Karelia (2000 Whites there).

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    German soldiers take a left behind Russian armored car.

    Middle East
    Palestine: Liman replaces Falkenhayn as Turk C-in-C.

    Sea War
    Baltic: Russians scuttle 11 submarines at Reval to avoid capture, cruiser Admiral Makarov last ship to leave after German cyclists ride in. Red evacuation (5 cruisers, 8 submarines, 12 minesweepers and 31 auxiliaries take 4,000 refugees) despite thick ice.

    Air War
    Italy: Austrians bomb Venice, Castelfranco and Mestre.

    Home Fronts
    Britain: Meat (2 oz per adult per week) bacon and ham (4 oz per head per week), butter and margarine (5 or 6 oz per head per week) rationing for London and Home Counties affects 10 million people, German PoWs including from February 26; queues vanish.

    The War in The Air


    General Headquarters, February 26th.


    "On the 25th inst., low clouds and a very strong wind prevented work in the air during the day. After dark, the sky cleared, though a very strong westerly wind continued. Our night bombing squadrons displayed great activity, dropping a total of over 2,200 bombs in the course of the night. The targets chiefly attacked were the aerodromes south of Ghent and west of Tournai used by the enemy's night-flying machines, and other aerodromes in the neighbourhood of Courtrai. Hostile billets round Douai and east of St. Quentin were also heavily bombed, over 350 bombs being dropped in the latter area. All our machines returned."

    Admiralty, February 27th.


    "During the night of 25th-26th bombing raids by naval aircraft were carried out on Oostacker Aerodrome and Bruges Dock. Many tons of bombs were dropped over objectives with good results."

    RFC Communiqué number 128:


    There were low clouds most of the day.

    Four reconnaissances were carried out by machines of the 5th Brigade and five photographs taken.

    Six hostile batteries were engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and six neutralised; two gun-pits were destroyed and two explosions caused. Forty zone calls were sent down.

    A total of four tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    Night 24th/25th - 9th Wing: Seventy-six 25-lb bombs on aerodromes in the Lys valley including lngelmunster, Bisseghem, Bavichove, Dries and Oostroosebeke Aerodromes by No 58 Squadron.
    Eight 25-lb bombs on Ennetières by No 102 Squadron.
    Two 40-lb, and 164 25-lb bombs on Mont Brehain by No 101 Squadron.

    Day 25th -
    1st Brigade: Fourteen 25-lb bombs by 1st Wing.
    2nd Brigade: Two 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: Thirty 25-lb bombs by 15th Wing and 13 25-lb bombs by No 48 Squadron.
    9th Wing: Forty 25-lb bombs on Menin by No 27 Squadron.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft activity was very slight, only one indecisive combat taking place.

    Casualties:


    2nd-Lieut T Clifford (Ok), 5 Sqn, RE8 B837- crashed on landing 11 Sqn after night bombing Douai
    Lieut G B Dixon (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut A O Collins (Inj), 4 Sqn, RE8 B3433 - crashed on take-off for artillery patrol.

    For the first time in a long time - there are ZERO claims today by the war's aces

    The Austro Hungarian Ace Hauptmann Johann Frint was killed on this day

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    Frint was an Oberleutnant in Infantry Regiment No. 65 when the war began. While stationed on the Russian front, he was very badly wounded on 14 November 1914. Despite injuries that prevented him from returning to service with the infantry, he succeeded in transferring to the air service and was posted to Flik 23 after completing his training as an observer. Having scored six victories with this unit, Frint was killed during a test flight when the Albatros D.III (53.46) in which he was flying crashed in an orchard.

    "A quiet, resolute, and clear-sighted man, inspired by the best sense of duty. An outstandingly capable officer, possessing unsurpassed bravery." Heinrich Kostrba

    There were only three British airmen lost on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men:

    Another glorious day.

    The Battalion returned to the front line. Starting out at 9.55am they marched via Contea and Montebelluna to Biadene; here they halted during the day at their former billets. After dusk they marched on, via Ciano, to return to the sector they had occupied in December 1917 (see 16th December 1917). They took up positions in the right sector of the right brigade of the divisional front. Three Companies were in the front line with the fourth in close support and Transport Lines at Venegazzu. Pte. Harold Charnock (see 18th February) remembered that, “All HQ were now in dugouts, the houses previously occupied being almost destroyed”. 2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 19th February) also remembered the changed conditions, “We lived in a great dug-out which we entered by four ladders, one below the other. And we each had a little room scooped out of the ground and candles to see by”. There had been heavy rain in the preceeding days and the Piave had risen by over four feet since the Battalion’s previous tour and many trenches and dugouts in the much lower-lying left sector of the line were now flooded.

    L.Cpl. Fred Wilson Fawcett (see 13th February) was reported by Capt. **** Bolton MC (see 23rd February) and Pte. George Drake (see 25th May 1917) for “neglect of duty in allowing a man on guard to take off his equipment and puttees”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 25th January) he would be deprived of his Lance Corporal’s stripe and be reduced to Private.

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    72

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  38. #3088

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    250,000 views - Amazing - Thank you to all our readers
    without you, all this would be pointless. Massive thanks to Rob and Neil my fellow conspiritors over the past three years.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  39. #3089

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    After all the celebrations it's on with the show, and as the snow falls outside my window, I find myself wishing for warmer times both now and a century before. I remember the days when it was a case of chosing what to leave out rather than scraping around trying to find enough to keep the presses turning.

    26th February 1918


    The hospital ship Glenart Castle (Lieutenant Commander Bernard Burt Royal Naval Reserve retired) is torpedoed by UC-56 at 03:47 en route to Brest to load wounded and sinks in about seven minutes off Lundy Island. There are only thirty-eight survivors from the 206 on board. Among the dead is her commander who is killed at age 55.

    Chaplain Frank Harrison Edinger is killed at age 33. He is the former curate of St Mary’s Church Ashford Kent and the son of the Reverend Philip Edinger former Vicar of Mersham.
    Chaplain lost is the Reverend John Joseph McIlvaine (attached Sherwood Foresters) is lost at age 39.
    Matron Katy Beaufoy (Queen Alexandria’s Imperial Military Nursing Service) drowns. She is a veteran of the South Africa war and had been on board the hospital ship Dover Castle due to illness when it was torpedoed and sunk by UB-67 in May 1917 off the coast of Bona, Algeria.

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    On 26 February 1918, Glenart Castle was leaving Newport, South Wales, heading towards Brest, France. Fishermen in the [Bristol Channel] saw her clearly lit up as a hospital ship. John Hill — a fisherman on Swansea Castle — remembered "I saw the Hospital Ship with green lights all around her - around the saloon. She had her red side lights showing and mast-head light, and also another red light which I suppose was the Red Cross light." At 04:00, Glenart Castle was hit by a torpedo in the No. 3 hold. The blast destroyed most of the lifeboats, while the subsequent pitch of the vessel hindered attempts to launch the remaining boats. In the eight minutes the ship took to sink, only seven lifeboats were launched. Rough seas and inexperienced rowers swamped most of the boats.

    Only 32 survivors were reported. A total of 162 people were killed, including the Captain — Bernard Burt, eight nurses of the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, seven Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) medical officers and 47 medical orderlies. Of the hospital patients being treated on board, a total of 99 died. The matron of Glenart Castle, Miss Kate Beaufoy (1868-1918), was among those killed in the sinking. Beaufoy was a veteran of the South African War and the Gallipoli campaign. Her family kept her diary and her writings describe life on the ship. Evidence was found suggesting that the submarine may have shot at initial survivors of the sinking in an effort to cover up the sinking of Glenart Castle. The body of a junior officer of Glenart Castle was recovered from the water close to the position of the sinking. It was marked with two gunshot wounds, one in the neck and the other in the thigh. The body also had a life vest indicating he was shot while in the water.

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    Memorial stone to the Glenart Castle

    After the war, the British Admiralty sought the captains of U-Boats who sank hospital ships, in order to charge them with war crimes. Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Kiesewetter — the commander of UC-56— was arrested after the war on his voyage back to Germany and interned in the Tower of London. He was released on the grounds that Britain had no right to hold a detainee during the Armistice. A memorial plaque was dedicated on the 84th anniversary of the sinking, 26 February 2002 near to Hartland Point, with the inscription, "In proud and grateful memory of those who gave their lives in the hospital ship Glenart Castle. Please remember, Master Lt. Cmdr. Burt, Matron Katy Beaufoy, the ships officers, crew and medical staff who died when their ship was torpedoed by UC56 in the early hours of 26th Feb 1918. The ship lies 20 miles WNW from this stone. For those in peril on the sea. R.I.P. Dedicated 26.02.2002"


    Eastern Front
    Soviet delegates return to Brest-Litovsk. Major-General Count Goltz put in command of 12th Landwehr or Baltic Division for projected German Finland intervention.

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    Arrival of the Soviet delegation at Brest-Litovsk.

    Sea War
    Bristol Channel: Outward*-bound British hospital ship Glenart Castle (95 lives lost) sunk by U-boat off Lundy Island.

    Air War
    Germany: Royal Flying Corps night bombers destroy 100-yard-long hangar at Frescaty airfield near Metz (night February 26-27).
    Southern Fronts: *Austrian Gotha bombers fly damaging 8-hour raid over Venice (night February 26-27).
    Western Front: 2nd Balloon Coy first US Air Service unit to give direct support to US front-line troops.

    General Headquarters, February 27th.

    "On the 26th inst., the weather was fine, but a very strong west wind greatly favoured the enemy's machines in air fighting. Our aeroplanes carried out several long-distance reconnaissances and took many photographs of hostile aerodromes and railway communications in the enemy's back areas, in addition to photographs of his trench lines. Our machines working with our artillery were busy all day, and good visibility enabled good results to be obtained. Four tons of bombs were dropped by us on the large railway sidings at Courtrai, the railway junction, midway between Douai and Valenciennes, two hostile aerodromes north of Douai, and billets. Fighting in the air was severe, and many combats took place between the enemy's scouts and our reconnaissance, bombing and fighting machines. One hostile aeroplane was forced to land behind our lines by one of our scouts. Twelve other German machines were brought down, and one was driven down out of control. Another hostile machine was brought down by our anti-aircraft gun-fire. Eight of our machines are missing.

    "During the night of the 26th-27th inst. over half a ton of bombs were dropped by us on barracks and railway stations at Treves, four bursts being observed on furnaces in the gas works and eight in the railway station. On the same night nearly one and a-half tons of bombs were dropped on a hostile aerodrome near Metz, good bursts being observed in the hangars and hutments. One hostile machine was encountered close to the aerodrome and brought down. All our machines returned safely, though fire from anti-aircraft guns and machine guns was considerable."

    Admiralty, February 27th.


    "Two further raids were made yesterday, one on Engel dump, where a fire was started, and the second on Abeele Aerodrome. All our machines returned safely."

    RFC Communiqué number 129:

    The weather fine with a very strong west wind in morning squalls and rain in the afternoon.

    Eleven reconnaissances were carried out by Brigades, and five successful long-distance photographic flights by No 25 Squadron and one by No 27 Squadron.

    Eighty-two hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and 11 neutralized; 16 gun-pits were destroyed, 37 damaged, 39 explosions and 13 fires caused. Forty-eight zone calls were sent down.

    On the 26th inst., balloons of the 1st Brigade registered seven targets, four of which were hostile batteries, and located four active hostile batteries, and those of the 2nd Brigade registered eight targets, of which five were hostile batteries. Four of the shoots were carried out in conjunction with aeroplanes.

    Bombing - A total of 2,507 photographs were taken, and 15½ tons of bombs dropped as follows:-

    Night 25th/26th – 1st Brigade: No 5 Squadron dropped 32 112-lb and 46 25-lb bombs on billets, No 4 Squadron dropped 45 25-lb bombs on billets, and No 16 Squadron dropped 11 112-lb bombs on billets.

    2nd Brigade: No 21 Squadron dropped 18 25-lb bombs on Menin, and No 10 Squadron dropped 24 25-lb bombs on Menin.

    9th Wing: No 58 Squadron dropped 43 25-lb bombs on Gontrode Aerodrome; 12 25-lb bombs on Bavichove Aerodrome on which one direct hit was obtained; 38 25-lb bombs on Oyghem Aerodrome when bursts were observed among hangars; 30 25-lb bombs on Bisseghem Aerodrome (bursts seen on hangars); four 25-lb bombs on Marcke Aerodrome, and 9 25-lb bombs on sidings and trains.

    No 102 Squadron dropped 37 25-lb bombs on Marquain Aerodrome when bursts were seen among hangars; 41 25-lb bombs on Scheldewindeke Aerodrome; eight 25-lb bombs on Lezennes Aerodrome; eight 25-lb bombs on Ramegnies Chin Aerodrome, and 14 25-lb bombs on siding and trains.

    No 101 Squadron dropped 12 40-lb and 378 25-lb bombs on billets in the woods east of Fontaine Uterte. All of the bombs fell in the wood, but it was impossible to say if they hit the huts. A large fire was caused in one of the woods. All the pilots made two raids and one pilot succeeded in making three.

    By day -
    1st Brigade: 413 photographs. No 18 Squadron dropped two 112-lb and 24 25-lb bombs on Faumont Aerodrome; six 25-lb bombs on Flines Aerodrome, and two 112-lb and eight 25-lb bombs on billets; No 2 Squadron dropped 21 25-lb bombs on billets; No 4 Squadron dropped 20 25-lb bombs; No 5 Squadron dropped 14 25-lb bombs, and No 4a Squadron dropped four 25-lb bombs.
    2nd Brigade: 622 photographs. No 57 Squadron dropped eight 112-lb bombs on Courtrai railway siding, and 2nd Wing dropped 44 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: 616 photographs were taken, and 44 25-lb bombs dropped on various targets. No 46 Squadron dropped 10 25-lb bombs.
    5th Brigade: 664 photographs. 15th Wing dropped 65 25-lb bombs, and No 48 Squadron dropped 15 25-lb bombs.
    9th Wing: 192 photographs. No 27 Squadron dropped 40 25-lb bombs on Somain sidings.

    Enemy Aircraft:


    Enemy aircraft were active on the whole front.

    Lieut L A Payne & Lieut G H H Scutt, 48 Sqn, LVG C in flames -

    2nd-Lieut I D R McDonald, 24 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed east of Laon at 08:40/09:40 - 2nd-Lieut J McDonald, No 24 Squadron, drove a hostile triplane down to 4,000 feet, firing short bursts from close range; it went down completely out of control and was seen to crash

    2nd LT A K Cowper, 24 Sqn, Fokker DrI broke up east of Laon at 08:40/09:40 - a hostile machine, one being attacked by 2nd-Lieut A Cowper, No 24 Squadron, broke up in the air and fell in pieces

    2nd-Lieut H B Richardson, 2nd-Lieut I D R McDonald, 2nd-Lieut W F Poulter, 2nd-Lieut J J Dawe, 2nd-Lieut H V L Tubbs and 2nd-Lieut R T Mark, 24 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed east of Samosay at 09:00/10:00 – after shooting down a hostile triplane, 2nd-Lieut McDonald then saw a triplane being attacked by other pilots of his patrol; he joined in and after a long fight at a height of about 200 feet drove hostile machine into the wood east of Samoussy, into which it crashed

    2nd-Lieut A K Cowper, 24 Sqn, Pfalz Scout captured La Fère at 09:00/10:00 - 2nd-Lieut A Cowper, No 24 Squadron, was dived on by a hostile scout which overshot him on our side of the lines, allowing him to get on to its tail and fire a long burst. The E.A. dived down to 500 feet, and 2nd-Lieut Cowper kept east, heading it off whenever it tried to recross the lines. The hostile machine flew west at a height 200 ft)., 2nd-Lieut Cowper finally forcing it to land intact at No 52 Squadron’s aerodrome; Uffz Hageler, Jasta 15, Pow, G.141

    Lieut W L Harrison, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of the Arras - Cambrai Road at 09:45/10:45 -

    Sgt C W Noel & Cpl T Hodgson, 57 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Courtrai at 10:00/11:00 -

    Lieut J D de Pencier, 19 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control near Comines at 10:05/11:05 -

    2nd-Lieut C F King, 43 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Fresnoy at 10:15/11:15 - 2nd-Lieut C King, No 43 Squadron, drove down a hostile two-seater from 12,000 to 6,000 feet, firing about 160 rounds at close range. He then drove three hostile scouts down to the ground, and while contour chasing saw two Albatros Scouts above him. One of these he attacked and drove down completely out of control, it was seen to crash by other pilots and an anti-aircraft battery

    Lieut S A Oades & 2nd-Lieut S W Bunting, 22 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Douai at 10:30/11:30 - 2nd-Lieuts S Oades and S Bunting, No 22 Squadron, attacked one of five Albatros Scouts encountered near Douai. The enemy machine burst into flames and fell to pieces

    2nd-Lieut M F Peiler, 43 Sqn, DFW C out of control Lens at 10:35/11:35 -

    2nd-Lieut A J S Doble, 43 Sqn, DFW C crashed Beaumont at 11:00/12:00 – 2nd-Lieut A Doble, No 43 Squadron, attacked an enemy two-seater which nose-dived into the ground and was seen to crash by several pilots

    Capt W E Molesworth, 29 Sqn, two-seater crashed south-east of Becelaere at 11:00/12:00 - Capt W Molesworth, No 29 Squadron, whilst leading a patrol, fired two drums at a hostile two-seater which was diving east; it went into a vertical dive and was seen to crash south-east of Becelaere by No 10 Squadron

    Sgt E R Clayton & 2nd-Lieut L L T Sloot, 57 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Dadizeele at 11:15/12:15 – Sergt E Clayton and 2nd-Lieut L Sloot, No 57 Squadron; whilst taking photographs were attacked by three enemy scouts. The observer fired 20 rounds at the leading machine, whose wings fell off and the machine burst into flames. The result of this combat was confirmed by Naval Squadron No 1

    Capt J T B McCudden, 56 Sqn, Rumpler C in flames east of Oppy at 11:20/12:20 - Capt J B McCudden, No 56 Squadron, attacked an enemy two-seater at 17,000 feet as he was recrossing the lines after two indecisive combats. He opened fire at 200 yards and kept on firing until the hostile machine burst into flames and fell to pieces; Vzfw Otto Kresse & Ltn Rudolf Binting, FA 7, Kia

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    The following aces were claiming victories on this day including another brace for James McCudden

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    Flight Sergeant Ernest John Elton 22 Squadron RFC (flying a Bristol F2B) opened his account with a double on this day, but was in turn shot down and wounded.

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    As an Air Mechanic with 6 Squadron, Ernest John Elton assisted Lanoe Hawker in developing a mount for attaching a Lewis gun to the Bristol Scout in June 1915. The highest scoring non-commissioned officer in the Royal Flying Corps, Elton scored 16 victories as a Bristol Fighter pilot with 22 Squadron in February and March of 1918.

    DCM Citation: "1429 Sjt. E. J. Elton, M.M., R.A.F. (Wimborne).
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the past month he has destroyed six hostile machines and brought down another out of control. On two of these occasions he has caused two enemy planes to crash to earth, although on each occasion his formation was fighting against very heavy odds. He has at all times displayed the most marked courage, skill and determination."

    With the better weather and the unfortunate wind direction a total of 19 British airmen were lost on this day

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    Hong Kong Jockey Club Fire

    1918-02-26 Tuesday, the second day of the Annual Racing, the grounds suffered an enormous and historic fire which killed 614 or more in-scripted by the Chinese.

    “At a few minutes to three o’clock, just after the third bell had rung for the first race after Tiffin, the whole row of Chinese booth and mat-sheds, except one on the extreme north, collapsed, and awful confusion ensured. The stands fell gradually, beginning from the stand labeled D.A.J.A. and falling southward and outwards towards the road and made a sound like a rasping of a saw. It looked as if the tops of all the stands had been connected by a wire hawser and that this had been pulled over gradually. The stands and booths took about 10 seconds to collapse. It is unclear how the fire began, but it quickly spread and the structure was an entire loss.

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    However, there were accounts that before the catastrophe, several people engaged in preparing meals on cooking ranges in the sheds, and it was the upsetting of these that caused the fire, which levied such a terrible toll of human life though the fire was highly blazed only for 20 minutes. Many people became trapped, as construction of the building did not include well positioned exits. It is impossible to give anything like the correct estimate for the loss of life but up to a late hour last night 570 bodies were collected on the race course. Probably it will never be authentically discovered how many perished. The fire was got under at about 6p.m. The charred human remains were carted away by coolies of the Sanitary Board for burial. It is impossible to say how many were burned to death – probably this will never be known. This Happy Valley Racecourse Fire produced one of worst disasters and highest number of casualties in Hong Kong history. Mr Ho Kam-tong donated the fee, so Chinese mourning rituals were held at Happy Garden (named as The Garden, later Yeung Woo Hospital) by hired monks, because some ghostly phenomenon have been reported in the area thereafter.

    In 1922, 4 years after the incidence, A public graveyard was negotiated with the government, then built by the Eastern Hospital Group. The path routed for the corpse transportation was named after the charity group. Entry to the Race Course Fire Cemetery is accessible from the hill side behind the Hong Kong Stadium to the area of the Mount Caroline Cemetery. With a scripture: IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THE RACE COURSE FIRE on February 26th 1918. a marble plate was erected as one of trio-plats architecture with a pair of Chinese couplets sided by 3 stories small towers in the graveyard which was renovated in 1993 funded by HKJC. 2010-01-21, it was selected in the List of Grade I historic buildings in Hong Kong and it can still be found tucked away behind the Hong Kong Stadium.

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    73

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  40. #3090

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    27th February 1918


    Flight Commodore Miles Jeffrey Game Day DSC
    (Royal Naval Air Service) drowns after being shot down in an action with six enemy aircraft twenty-five miles north of Dunkirk. His machine is hit and busts into flames, he then nosedives, flattens out and lands in the water. He is seen to scramble onto the rear of the fuselage and wave to other members of his flight, who drop a lifebelt to him. Another aircraft is dispatched with a life-raft as soon as the flight lands, and a motor launch from Dunkirk reaches his reported position within 90 minutes, but no trace can be found of him or his aircraft. He is a noted oarsman at Cambridge rowing Blue and one of the Great War Poets and dies at age 21. He is also a 5-victory ace. His brother was killed in October 1915. On hearing of his elder brother’s death, he composed a six-verse memorial poem entitled “To My Brother”, in which he reminisces on the dawning of a day on the Ouse which had played such an important part in his late brother’s life. It commences:

    This will I do when we have peace again,

    Peace and return to ease my heart of pain.

    Crouched in the brittle reed beds wrapped in grey,

    I’ll watch the drawing of the winter’s day.

    DSC Citation:

    Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
    Flt. Lieut, (actg. Flt. Cdr.) Miles Jeffrey Game Day, R.N.A.S. (since killed).
    For great skill and bravery as a fighting pilot. On the 25th January he attacked, single-handed, six enemy triplanes, one of which he shot down. On the 2nd February, 1918, he attacked and destroyed an enemy two-seater machine on reconnaissance at 18,000 feet.
    He destroyed several enemy machines in a short space of time, and, in addition, had numerous indecisive engagements.

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    Jeffery Day was the most famous poet in the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War. Born in Huntingdonshire on 1 December 1896, he was educated at Repton School before receiving a commission as a sub-lieutenant in the RNAS at the age of 18 on 21 August 1915. He was first stationed aboard the seaplane carrier Vindex where he gained a reputation as a skilled and daring flyer and was promoted to flight lieutenant on 31 December 1916. In August 1917 he was posted as a test pilot at Royal Naval Air Station Grain before seeing operational service. On 19 December 1917 Day joined No. 13 Squadron RNAS, seeing action over a period of six weeks during which he destroyed a total of five enemy planes. For these actions he was awarded the DSC “for great skill and bravery as a fighting pilot”. But by the time that announcement was gazetted on 16 March 1918 Day was already dead. On 27 February 1918, leading a flight of five aircraft, Day was shot down by six German aircraft which he attacked single-handed, out at sea. His commanding officer reported:

    He hit the enemy and they hit his machine, which burst into flames; but, not a bit flurried, he nose-dived, flattened out, and landed perfectly on the water. He climbed out of his machine and waved his fellow-pilots back to their base; being in aeroplanes they could not assist him.

    An air-sea search was launched within an hour and a half of him ditching, but no trace was ever found of him or his aircraft.

    Day had begun writing poems during his spare time – initially writing humorous verses, he began writing longer serious poems, encouraged by his friend Edward Hilton Young. Although only three of his poems were published during his lifetime – ‘On the Wings of the Morning’, ‘An Airman’s Dream’ and ‘To My Brother’ – a collection of his poems – Poems and Rhymes – was published posthumously in 1919. The preface was written by Edward Hilton Young, himself a poet, who was introduced to Day by fellow-pilot author Erskine Childers.

    An Airman's Dream by Jeffery Day


    When I am wearied through and through
    and all the things I have to do
    are senseless, peevish, little things,
    my mind escapes on happier wings
    to an old house, that is mine own,
    lichen-kissed and overgrown;
    with gables here and gables there
    and tapered chimneys everywhere,
    with millstone hearths for burning logs,
    and kettles singing from the dogs,
    with faintest taint of willow smoke,
    and rough-hewn beams of darkened oak,
    with unexpected steps and nooks,
    and cases full of leather books –
    soft water colours, that I love,
    and in the bedrooms up above
    large four-post beds and lots of air,
    where I may lie without a care
    and hear the rustle of the leaves
    and starlings fighting in the eaves.

    Around the house a garden lies,
    a many-coloured paradise,
    with sunlit lawns and stately trees
    that murmur in the summer breeze,
    with beds of flowers, not too tame,
    all bright, and never two the same,
    and wicker chairs in shady places
    to shelter folk with honest faces;
    and, if the Lord is very good
    and all things happen as they should,
    there is a river slipping by
    clear as the depthless summer sky,
    cool to the touch, and very deep,
    quietly smiling in its sleep,
    where large, well-educated trout
    scull themselves lazily round about:
    and here, in a secluded spot,
    an ancient punt for when it’s hot,
    where I can lie and read a book;
    and a canoe to mount the brook
    which babbles on with cheerful noise,
    chattering low its little joys,
    telling how, through Newton’s wood,
    it stole, sedate and very good,
    but when it tumbled through the mill
    it thumped the old wheel with a will;
    how the pike of Sandy Ridge
    caught the old chub below the bridge;
    and so on, if I choose to listen,
    until the evening dewdrops glisten.
    Thus the river softly glides,
    with soft green meadows at the sides
    and graceful trees, that form a screen
    of greeny brown and browny green.

    Down the stream a mile or two
    the fenlands come, where trees are few,
    a country very deeply blessed
    because its sunsets are the best.
    There sturdy, sad-eyed fenmen toil,
    tilling the heavy, rich-brown soil;
    a land where the grey heron breeds,
    and wild fowl paddle in the reeds;
    a land of molten, golden reds,
    of ripening corn, and osier beds.
    And up the stream comes rolling ground,
    with little hills, smooth-topped and round,
    and shady woods and pasture lands;
    and far away a mountain stands –
    faint silhouette of hazy blue
    adding enchantment to the view,
    and pleasant sense of mystery
    of what the other side may be:
    and on these grass lands, in the breeze,
    I ride wherever I may please,
    and in these woods, where’re I go,
    there is no man to say me no.

    My companions here are few,
    some horses and a dog or two,
    cocker spaniels, silver grey,
    with tails a wagging all the day:
    and all these servants old and tried
    are brimming up with quiet pride,
    with lots to say, and all content,
    each on the other’s business bent.
    A lady too, divinely fair,
    with dark blue eyes and blue black hair,
    who may be gentle and forgiving,
    but who must know the joy of living:
    shall brightly smile and blithely sing
    and laugh with me at everything,
    and love the things that I love best,
    the woods, the stream, and all the rest.
    She, through the languid summer days,
    shall roam with me down shaded ways,
    and drift with me, as in a dream,
    peacefully down the tranquil stream,
    and share with me the sweet delights
    of moonlit brooks on summer nights,
    and through the howling winter days
    shall be content to sit and gaze,
    embedded in an easy chair,
    watching the firewood spark and flare.

    And other things I’ll have are these,
    large breakfasts and enormous teas,
    honey and homemade bread, still hot,
    and butter from an earthern pot,
    with new laid eggs and clotted cream.
    Oh Lord! – to think it’s all a dream!


    Western Front

    Germany: Ludendorff and Kaiser first see the A7V German tank (crew on February 16) and captured British Mk IV tanks.

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    German A7V Tank

    The A7V was a tank introduced by Germany in 1918, during World War I. One hundred chassis were ordered in early 1917, 10 to be finished as fighting vehicles with armoured bodies, and the remainder as the Überlandwagen cargo carriers. The number to be armoured was later increased to 20. They were used in action from March to October 1918, and were the only tanks produced by Germany in World War I to be used in combat. Following the appearance of the first British tanks on the Western Front, in September 1916, the German War Ministry formed a committee, under the auspices of its Allgemeines Kriegsdepartement, Abteilung 7 Verkehrswesen ("General War Department, Section 7, Transportation"), to investigate tank development.

    The project to design and build the first German tank was placed under the direction of Joseph Vollmer, one of Germany's foremost automobile designers. It was to weigh around 30 tons, be capable of crossing ditches up to 1.5 metres wide, have armament including cannon at the front and rear as well as several machine-guns, and reach a top speed of at least 12 km/h. The running gear was based on the Holt tractor, copied from examples loaned by the Austrian Army. After initial plans were shared with the army in December 1916, the design was extended to be a universal chassis that could be used as a base for both a tank and unarmoured Überlandwagen ("over-land vehicle") cargo carriers.

    The first prototype was completed by Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft at Berlin-Marienfelde and tested on 30 April 1917. A wooden mockup of a final version was completed in May 1917 and demonstrated in Mainz with 10 tons of ballast to simulate the weight of the armour. During final design, the rear-facing cannon was removed and the number of machine-guns was increased to six. The first pre-production A7V was produced in September 1917, followed by the first production model in October 1917. The tanks were given to Assault Tank Units 1 and 2, founded on 20 September 1917, each with five officers and 109 NCOs and soldiers.

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    The A7V was 7.34 metres (24.1 ft) long, 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide, and the maximum height was 3.3 metres (11 ft). The tank had 20 mm of steel plate at the sides, 30 mm at the front and 10 mm for the roof; however, the steel was not hardened armour plate, which reduced its effectiveness. It was thick enough to stop machine-gun and rifle fire, but not larger calibre rounds. The A7V was armed with six 7.92 mm MG08 machine guns and a 5.7 cm Maxim-Nordenfelt cannon mounted at the front.* Some of these cannons were of British manufacture and had been captured in Belgium early in the war; others were captured in Russia in 1918 and appear to have included some Russian-made copies.

    Some A7Vs were originally built with two forward-facing machine guns instead of a 57 mm gun. Most were converted to carry a 57 mm before entering service. Number 501, Gretchen, took part in the action at St. Quentin before her 57 mm was fitted.

    The crew normally consisted of up to 17 soldiers and one officer: commander (officer, typically a lieutenant), driver, mechanic, mechanic/signaller, 12 infantrymen (six machine gunners, six loaders), and two artillerymen (main gunner and loader)

    Eastern Front
    Rumania: German peace terms’ ultimatum sent to Rumanian Govt at Jassy.

    Air War
    Britain: War Cabinet agree aircraft priority for Western Front, but anti-aircraft guns first to home defence.

    General Headquarters, February 28th.


    "A certain amount of artillery work was accomplished with aeroplane observation during the morning of February 27th, when the weather was fine. Our machines carried out a few reconnaissances, and bombs were dropped by us on a railway station east of Lille and on other miscellaneous targets behind the enemy's lines. In the little fighting which took place, one hostile machine was brought down. None of our machines are missing."

    RFC Communiqué number 129:


    The sky was overcast all day with rain in the afternoon.

    Seven reconnaissances were carried out; 18 batteries successfully engaged for destruction and three neutralized with aeroplane observation; four gun-pits destroyed, eight explosions and five fires caused. Nineteen zone calls were sent dawn.

    Bombing – A total of 83 photographs were taken, and 138 bombs dropped as follows:-

    1st Brigade: 32 photographs. Nos 2, 4 and 5 Squadrons dropped 26 25-lb bombs.
    2nd Brigade: 2nd Wing dropped 20 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: 51 photographs and 11 25-lb bombs.
    5th Brigade: 15th Wing dropped 21 25-lb bombs.
    9th Wing: No. 27 Squadron dropped 60 25-lb bombs on Ascq railway station.

    In addition to the above, the following raids were carried out by the 8th Brigade:—

    Night 26th/27th: One machine of Naval Squadron No 16 dropped 12 112-lb bombs on the barracks and railway station at Treves. Eight bursts were seen on the railway station and sidings, and four on a factory with a furnace. The pilot on approaching the target found it very misty, and had difficulty in locating it. He flew away for a short distance and waited 30 minutes, when the lights of the town were lit up (the "all clear” presumably having been given). He thereupon dropped his bombs.

    Nine machines of No 100 Squadron dropped 4 230-lb, 9 112-lb, 9 40-lb and 32 25-lb bombs on Frescaty Aerodrome; 36 rounds from the pom-pom gun and 2,100 from machine guns were fired at various ground targets. The first three machines to arrive at the target found sixteen pairs of lights lined up on the aerodrome, which on descending lower they identified as machines. Bombs were dropped amongst them from 1,000 feet, and 30 rounds from the pom-pom fired into them. One hostile machine taking off was bombed and caused to crash. Several direct hits on the hangars and hutments were obtained. On the homeward journey a hostile machine passed about 30 feet under one of our machines; 100 rounds were fired at a range of 50 feet which sent the hostile machine down vertically out of control. All our machines returned.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft activity was very slight, only a few combats taking place.

    Capt S H Long, 24 Sqn, EA out of control

    2nd-Lieut G R Howsam, 70 Sqn, Albatros C crashed south of Comines at 11:05/12:05 - 2nd-Lieut G Howsam, No 70 Squadron, attacked an enemy two-seater near Warneton at 500 feet. He fired two bursts at a range of 100 yards, when the E.A. fell out of control and crashed into a hedge S.E. of Comines

    Casualties:

    2nd-Lieut L N Gaskell (Wia; dow 01-Mar-18) & Lieut L McC Ritchie (Wia), 5 Sqn, RE8 B8900 - hit by AA fire and force landed near Bailleul and burst into flames on artillery registration

    Flt Cdr M J G Day DSC (Kia), 13N Sqn, Camel N6363 - seen attacking 6 enemy seaplanes but shot down in flames into sea 25 miles north of Dunkirk; Flgm Dreyer & Ltn Frantz, Seeflug II ?

    Lieut M W ****ens (Kia) & 75078 Sergt FJ Swain (Kia), 25 Sqn, DH4 A7733 - missing on height test and photography practice, shot down ?

    Only a handful of aces troubled the scorers on this day - all them from the RFC

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    Claiming his first victory on this day Lieutenant Alan Jerrad VC

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    In 1915, Alan Jerrard was a student at Birmingham University when he volunteered for the army. Commissioned in the South Staffordshires on 2 January 1916, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in August. A year later, he was sent to France to join 19 Squadron.On his second patrol over the lines, he was seriously injured when his SPAD VII crashed on 5 August 1917. After recovering from a broken nose and fractured jaw, Jerrard was assigned to 66 Squadron in Italy on 22 February 1918. For his actions on 30 March 1918, he was credited with three victories for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. On that day, Peter Carpenter and Harold Eycott-Martin accompanied Jerrard on his last patrol of the war. After engaging several Albatros scouts and attacking the Austro-Hungarian aerodrome at Mansue, Jerrard's Sopwith Camel was shot down by Benno Fiala von Fernbrugg of Flik 51J. Jerrard was captured but managed to escape several months later. When the war ended, Jerrard remained in the Royal Air Force, served in North Russia, and retired as a Flight Lieutenant in 1933.

    VC Citation


    Lt. Alan Jerrard, Royal Air Force (formerly of the South Staffordshire Regiment)
    When on an offensive patrol with two other officers he attacked five enemy aeroplanes and shot one down in flames, following it down to within one hundred feet of the ground.
    He then attacked an enemy aerodrome from a height of only fifty feet from the ground, and, engaging single-handed some nineteen machines, which were either landing or attempting to take off, succeeded in destroying one of them, which crashed on the aerodrome. A large number of machines then attacked him, and whilst thus fully occupied he observed that one of the pilots of his patrol was in difficulties. He went immediately to his assistance, regardless of his own personal safety, and destroyed a third enemy machine.
    Fresh enemy aeroplanes continued to rise from the aerodrome, which he attacked one after another, and only retreated, still engaged with five enemy machines, when ordered to do so by his patrol leader. Although apparently wounded, this very gallant officer turned repeatedly, and attacked single-handed the pursuing machines, until he was eventually overwhelmed by numbers and driven to the ground.
    Lt. Jerrard had greatly distinguished himself on four previous occasions, within a period of twenty-three days, in destroying enemy machines, displaying bravery and ability of the very highest order.

    Nine British airmen were lost on this day

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    We will close today with another snippet from the Master of Belhaven's diary

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    74
    Last edited by Hedeby; 02-28-2018 at 14:12.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  41. #3091

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    28th February 1918

    From a snow bound Yorkshire, here is today's edition. (Its nice when you open the curatins in the morning and think NOPE and go back to bed again)

    A seaplane gets out of control and spins to the ground in England. Acting Flight Commander Paul Douglas Robertson (Royal Naval Air Service), the observer, jumps from the machine just before it reaches the ground and lands safely, as the ground is marshy. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Hubert Charles Lemon, is trapped in the seaplane, which, on striking the ground, immediately bursts into flames, and, notwithstanding that the vicinity of the seaplane is quickly a furnace of blazing petrol and that heavy bombs, a number of rounds of ammunition, and the reserve petrol tank are all likely to explode, Acting Flight Commander Robertson returns and endeavors to extricate the pilot, and only desists when he has been so severely burned in the face, hands and leg that his recovery will be for some time in doubt. For his efforts Acting Flight Commander Robertson will be awarded the Albert Medal.

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    Sea War
    Allied and neutral shipping losses to U*-boats during February: 115 ships (68 British with 697 lives) worth 318,174t (British 226,896t). U-boat figure 138 ships worth 335,202t including 37 ships of 84,118t in Mediterranean or 574t per U-boat day on sea, highest since May 1917.
    Adriatic: Admiral Njegovan resigns as Austrian C-in-C to facilitate ‘rejuvenation’ of command.

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    U-boat at sea. By 1918, the submarines had taken on a size and shape that also triggered the ‘Battle of the Atlantic’ of World War II.

    Western Front
    Britain: During February BEF take 312 German PoWs.
    Germany: General preparation period including training for 56 divisions over, now 180 divisions in West (6 arrive in February).
    France: French order first (970) self-propelled guns (Renault 75mm).
    Aisne: German attack near Chavignon repulsed.

    Eastern Front

    Ukraine: Austrians (including Polish Legion) enter north of river Prut. Germans capture Russian Army Pripet Marshes Flotilla and reach river Dnieper near Mosyr.

    General Headquarters, March 1st.

    "Our aeroplanes took advantage of the few fine intervals on February 28th to carry out work in conjunction with the artillery and also to drop bombs on two of the enemy's ammunition dumps south of Lille, as well as on railway Sidings at Courtrai and Deynze {south-west of Ghent). One of our machines is missing. After dark our machines again took the air in the intervals between the hailstorms. Four tons of bombs were dropped on a large hostile aerodrome midway between Tournai and Mons, and on billets in the neighbourhood of Douai. All our machines returned."

    RFC Communiqué number 129:

    The weather was bad, but there were occasional bright intervals.

    Five reconnaissances were carried out by the 1st, 2nd and 5th Brigades.

    Twenty hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and 12 neutralized. Fifteen of the batteries engaged for destruction were by machines of the 1st Brigade. Six gun-pits were damaged, 16 explosions and five fires caused.

    Fifty-five zone calls were sent down.

    Bombing - A total of 194 photographs were taken and 246 bombs dropped follows:-

    1st Brigade: Seventy-five photographs. No 18 Squadron dropped two 112-lb and 28 25-lb bombs on [the] dump at Annoeullin; six 122-lb and 12 25-lb bombs on [the] dump at Bauvin, and Nos 2, 4 and 5 Squadrons dropped 67 25-lb bombs on various targets.
    2nd Brigade: 107 photographs. No 57 Squadron dropped 14 112-lb bombs on Courtrai railway sidings, and 2nd Wing dropped 14 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: 25 25-lb bombs.
    5th Brigade: 15th Wing dropped 46 25-lb bombs.
    9th Wing: No 27 Squadron dropped 32 25-lb bombs on Deynze railway junction.

    On the 28th February, balloons of the 1st Brigade registered six targets, five of which were hostile batteries, and located seven active hostile batteries, while those of the 2nd Brigade registered 11 targets (four being hostile batteries), and located two active hostile batteries. One of these shoots was carried out in conjunction with an aeroplane.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Lieut R W Howard, 2 AFC, Albatros Scout out of control Carvin at 12:30/13:30 -
    2nd-Lieut A F W Beauchamp-Proctor, 84 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south-east of La Fère at 16:20/17:20 -
    Flt Lieut H T Mellings, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of Ypres at 16:45/17:45 -
    Capt W D Patrick and Lieut F P Magoun, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Gheluvelt at 17:10/18:10 -
    2nd-Lieut P J Clayson, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Passchendaele - Zonnebeke at 17:10/18:10 -

    Casualties:

    2nd-Lieut E O Krohn (Kia), 84 Sqn, SE5a C5379 - took off 15:25/16:25 and last seen above St Gobain forest at 16:35/17:35 engaged by 3 EA on OP St Quentin; Ltn d R Hermann Becker, Js12, 5th victory, Vzfw Ulrich Neckel, Js12, 6th victory and Ltn Koch, Js12, 2nd victory [three claims but a single RFC loss]

    There was one British Ace shot down on this day : 2nd Lieutenant John Anthony "Jack" McCudden MC, the younger broher of James McCudden. He survived this encounter but was to lose his life only a matter of weeks later

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    Younger brother of James McCudden, John McCudden was shot down by Ulrich Neckel of Jasta 12 on 28 February 1918. The following month, he was killed in combat when his S.E.5a was shot down by Hans Wolff of Jasta 11.

    MC Citation: 2nd Lt. John Anthony McCudden, Gen. List, R.F.C.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While on patrol he attacked single-handed two enemy triplanes, causing one to dive down steeply under control and the other to crash to the ground. On the day previous to this he destroyed a hostile two-seater, besides which he has driven down one other machine, which was observed to be destroyed, and four others completely out of control. He has always displayed great courage and determination.

    The following claims were made on this day

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    Claiming his first victory on this day we have Lieutenant Francis Peabody Magoun, Jr. MC No.1 Squadron RFC

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    A student at Harvard University (class of 1916), Francis Peabody Magoun served as an ambulance driver with Section 1 of the American Field Service on the Western Front from 3 March 1916 to 3 August 1916. On 17 March 1917 he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in England. Following preliminary training at Oxford University, he was sent to France for advanced flight training with the Royal Naval Air Service. Magoun was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 4 July 1917 and received a pilot's certificate on 3 September 1917. He was posted to France with 1 Squadron on 11 November 1917. Flying the S.E.5a he scored four victories before he was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 April 1918 and wounded in action while strafing enemy troops on 10 April 1918. He returned to his squadron in October 1918, becoming an ace on 28 October 1918 after downing a Fokker D.VII near Anor. Discharged from service on12 June 1919, Magoun remained in England at the end of the war and attended Cambridge before returning to the United States. He later became an English professor at Harvard, specializing in Finnish studies. Magoun published more than a dozen books, including a prose translation of the great Finnish epic, "The Kalevala." Honored by Finland in 1964, he was awarded the Order of the Lion.

    Yet again nine British airmen were lost on this day

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    From the Master of Belhaven...

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    Captain Tunstill's Men:

    A patrol was to be despatched overnight 28th February/1st March to carry out reconnaissance work on the Austrian lines. Those involved would have been in no doubt as to the difficulties they would face, as described in the Divisional History; “The patrol work was very severe. Men, stripped and with their bodies oiled as resistance to the cold, would cross the first deep channel and drag across a boat carrying the patrol, dressed in white as camouflage against the snow, with their legs protected by thigh gum-boots. The patrol would then proceed to negotiate the farther shallower channels. If the swift current rose above a man’s knees, it would be hard for him to keep his footing”.

    Many years later 2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 26th February) recalled a conversation with 2Lt. Albert Joseph Acarnley (see 14th October), who was to lead to the patrol:

    “I remember one or two things which might interest you about our stay on the banks of the Piave. One was an incident I always remember which shows you the kind of brave man or one kind of brave man. We had an officer in our Company called Acarnley – we called him Mephistopheles because he looked so fierce with his thin red face and pointed short moustache. He was wounded all over, covered with little puckers where bullets had gone in and the flesh had healed (Acarnley had been twice wounded while serving with Royal Berks. before being commissioned). He was called the bravest man in the Brigade, so whenever there was a job needing reckless bravery, a lonely job, ‘Meph’ was asked to do it. He came into my dug-out one day nearly crying and cursing. I said, “What’s the matter Meph?”. He said, “Garside, they call me the bravest man in the Brigade, but I’ll tell you why they say that. It’s because I’m in the front of every attack. And why am I? Because I feel if I don’t rush forward, I’ll turn round and rush back. And so I get all the dirty jobs. The Colonel has just asked me …” – and he mentioned a very dangerous job. He had to cross right over the shingle and the river and lie in wait for an Austrian ‘runner’ right in front of the Austrian trenches, carefully collar him and stun him, without making him cry out and bring him back, smothered in a sack, so that he could be questioned about the troops the Austrians had there and so on. Which shows you why ‘Meph’ was brave. You may think him, after that, even braver than others thought him”.
    The plan was to put three separate parties across the river. The first party, led by Acarnley, with 12 other ranks, was to “proceed due North to reconnoitre the enemy wire and if possible to reconnoitre Monte Pilonetto”; a second party, led by 2Lt. Mark Allan Stanley Wood (see 9th October 1917), with four other ranks, was to follow Acarnley’s party but to go no further than the Austrian wire; while the third party, also of four other ranks and led by 2Lt. Archibald (Archie) Allen (see 4th January), was also to go as far as the Austrian wire and then reconnoitre 500 yards due East.

    All three parties were across the river by 7.25pm and in position. What followed is best described in the words of the official report from the Battalion War Diary:
    “The first party proceeded rather to the West of Magnetic North and after searching the scrub were confronted by a stretch of shingle between them and the river bank. The Officer (Acarnley) here decided to go forward with three men to see whether it was possible for the remainder of the patrol to follow. While engaged in crawling across the shingle an enemy post of four men was observed. The four men divided into two pairs and crawled further forward. Hereupon they were observed and a man came slightly out from the shadow of the bank. Not satisfied with what he saw he went back and came forward with a second man. They came to within four or five yards of the Officer who fired his revolver point blank at the first man. This man although apparently hit in the stomach immediately closed with the Officer while the remaining man of the post ran back to raise the alarm. Apparently they had not far to go as machine gun fire and rifle fire were opened in very quick time. The wounded man was apparently quite off his head and struggled with great vigour with the Officer and a Sergeant (Sgt. Christopher Clapham, see 25th January) who were together. Eventually he got away but not before his cap had been secured. The party then collected and after making a short reply to the fire aimed at them returned without casualties. It is believed that the skirmish took place about H.28.28.

    The other two parties, after going about half-way across the bed of the river, changed direction a few degrees further East and reached the further bank without being observed. Here a post was located close to some trees behind the wire. The two Officers crawled carefully up the bank but were observed whereupon a Very light was fired and two rifle shots. The post were then heard running away. The patrol then worked forward but found no trench. They cut samples of the wire which was on new wooden stakes seven or eight yards apart. The wire was of unusual make being made with the barbs fastened to a stiff wire of rectangular cross-section. It was found very easy to cut and when cut the pieces could be taken out very quietly. On further examination no trenches were found but a certain amount of movement and coughing was heard at various points on the front. Some wire was also being put up. The officer in charge of the third party (Allen) went further East and found all the wire of the same kind. His furthest point was apparently about H.38.29. Soon after this, both the second and third parties turned towards the West, forming a defensive flank for the first party".
    All parties returned to the British lines, having suffered no casualties, by 10.30pm.
    Acarnley would subsequently be awarded the Military Cross and Clapham the Military Medal for their actions. The citation for Acarnley’s reward stated: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When he was in command of a patrol reconnoitring on the farther side of the river his position was discovered, but, owing to his good leadership and initiative, he succeeded in withdrawing his patrol without loss. His patrol work has at all times been most conspicuous, and during numerous difficult crossings of the river he has displayed great courage and skill”.

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    75

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  42. #3092

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    March 1st 1918


    Right second attempt as the internet fell over just as I was about to save - there are no words vile enough to allow to me fully vent my frustration at this point.....

    The armed merchant cruiser HMS Calgarian is torpedoed by the German submarine U19 off Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland. The crew manages to isolate the damage but the U boat captain presses home the attack even though the cruiser is surrounded by destroyers and other ships, and torpedoes her again, and she sinks. Forty-nine men are killed including

    Engineer Sub Lieutenant Hugh Rownley Jarvis (Royal Naval Reserve) who is killed at age 28. He is one of five brothers who are killed in the Great War.

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    Also lost today were a total of 294 British lives, including:

    Second Lieutenant Lawrence Norris Gaskell (General List attached Royal Flying Corps) dies of wounds received from anti-aircraft fire on 27th February at age 19. His had been a scholar of St Paul’s School, Kensington and an Exhibitioner of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
    Head chemist Herbert Wallace-Roberts OBE dies in Italy at age 35. He is the Head Chemist at HM Explosives Factory, Queens Ferry, Flintshire and is attached to General Savile’s Mission. He was the son of the Reverend Charles Wallace-Roberts.

    Western Front
    France: In March French Army receives first Renault FT-17 light tanks.

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    Tank development went on at the same pace in Great Britain and in France in 1915. When “Little Willie” had already passed all its tests, so had the French Schneider CA-1. This machine was first suggested and conceived by Eugene Brillé, chief engineer of Schneider on the Holt tractor chassis and designed by Col. Estienne, the French “father of the tanks”, between May and September 1915.
    It had to overcome many problems and was first engaged en masse during General Nivelle’s offensive of April 1917 at Berry au Bac. It performed poorly, lacking speed, good maintenance, protection, trench crossing ability and was also very cramped. This painful experience made Estienne and other tank enthusiasts in France to think differently, both tactically and technically, and this ultimately led to the development of the Renault FT, a pioneering vehicle whose basic features are still found on modern MBTs.

    The idea and concept

    FT was a factory code. It never got a name. “FT” has no meaning but was the next identification letters available for this project in Renault nomenclature. The next project would be FU and the next FV etc…(some authors suggested later “Faible Tonnage” “low tonnage” or “Franchisseur de Tranchées” “trench crosser”). The Renault FT was also called “FT 17” although this specific naming was never acknowledged by Renault or any official working on the project. It was to be related to the year 1917, like “modele 1917” as it was customary for many French weapons of the time, but this was introduced after the war.

    It began as a concept, and became a personal project of Louis Renault, the famous car maker. He sought the ideal weight-to-ratio proportion for a more agile and faster tank than the Schneider CA-1 and the heavy Saint Chamond, and also a cheaper and easier model to produce. All started after a meeting between Colonel Estienne and him at the Hotel Claridge in Paris. Until then, Louis Renault declined any involvement into tank production, claiming his lack of experience with tracked vehicles and other commitments. However, as an engineer he was taken up by the challenge, and after the meeting, started a practical study for a light vehicle, easy to manufacture with a reduced, unskilled workforce (factories had been depleted then by mass drafts and enlisting). The core idea came from Estienne himself. Instead of cumbersome armored boxes, he imagined an immense fleet of cheap “bees”, five or six light tanks for the price of a single St Chamond. Small, fast and narrow, they could, by their sheer number, overwhelm the enemy defense -hence the “swarm of light tank” concept. Knowing the administrative and industrial roadblocks before him, he approached one of the most prominent French industrialists of the time. He also imagined a tank with a power-to-weight ratio good enough to overcome trenches and shell craters, and a fully rotating turret to take full advantage of a single weapon, either a gun or machine-gun. The fully rotating turret was not new. It was used operationally since 1915 on many French armored-cars, Renault, Peugeot and White, and by countless others around the world. The 1905 Charron armored car already used fully revolving turrets.

    Development history

    The light tank concept was not one that felt natural to military strategists, despite the fact that it was easier to produce en masse. This was the gamble of Louis Renault, whom, with the unwavering support of Col. Estienne, directly called for the acceptance of his ideas from the commander in chief, Joffre, but he was then rebuffed by the minister of the armaments and production, Albert Thomas. The latter only agreed for a single prototype. More so, when production got approved in December 1916, confirmed again in February 1917, the order was postponed due to priority being given to artillery tractors instead. It was officially accepted in May 1917, when Pétain replaced Nivelle, but, still, the reluctant director of Motor Services, general Mourret, was not replaced before September by Louis Loucheur, who finally gave the green light. In the meantime, the prototype delivered in January 1917 performed first trials at Renault’s Billancourt factory, before being sent to the Artillerie spéciale proving grounds at Champlieu for corrections. Although performing according to plans, it was later met with skepticism by the commission officers present at Marly on 22 April. Some asked for better ventilation, a wider turret and hull, or to raise the ammunition capacity to a staggering 10,000 cartridges! Still, the project had the enthusiastic support of the Consultative Committee of the assault artillery, and General Pétain’s arrival on the scene seemed to unlock the situation. He was sold on Estienne’s ideas, but for different reasons: He saw these as a morale-booster for simple soldiers. Helater ordered that all the trucks carrying these tanks to the frontline had this mention written in large characters on their back plate: “Le meilleur ami de l’infanterie” (“infantry’s best friend”).

    Design

    The Renault FT prototype included a rotating turret, a concept already tested with the Little Willie, a rear engine configuration, a front driver, with the turret operator (and commander) right behind. Compared to the short and narrow hull, the modified Holt chassis was big enough to allow sufficient grip on any ground. To manage large trench crossings a rear tail was mounted, which facilitates balance and hanging. Instead of “mobile fortresses” or “land cruisers”, the Renaut FT seemed lightly armed, but the turret made it versatile and efficient in most circumstances.

    Renault’s talented engineer Rodolphe Ernst-Metzmaier designed a narrow riveted box (slightly more than an average shoulders width), with flat sides, pointed noise and sloped rear. All available internal space was used, with almost no room to spare. The engine was located at the rear, and separated from the fighting compartment by a firewall. The driver sat on the front, his feet acting on the brake and release clutch pedals between the large pair of idler wheels. The commander stood just behind him. At first the standing position was only meant for short-term offensive, but with time, a leather strap was fixed on both sides, as an improvised sitting. However, the commander still had to stand up to use his narrow cupola. The crew accessed the tank through the front, through a two-doors hatch, and collapsible upper vision armored panel. The commander could exit from the rear turret hatch, a feature which became mainstream on French tanks. The driver had three vision slits, one on the collapsible panel, two on the sides.

    The Renault 4-cylinder air-cooled petrol engine was started either by a rear crank or an internal one. It was handily reachable from above, protected by a large hood. The petrol tank was installed after the turret and before the engine, high for gravity and well-protected except from above. A steel chain was usually suspended on the rear tail in order to be used for towing another vehicle. Large metal boxes were suspended on the flanks, with shovels, picks, spanner and other tools, as well as sometimes additional fuel tanks and spare track links. There was no means of communication between the turret operator and driver and the interior was almost deafeningly noisy, so a kind of “kicking code” in the back, shoulders or even head of the driver was used to transmit steering orders. These were armed with a Puteaux SA 18 37 mm (1.45 in) short-barreled, low-velocity gun, or a coaxial Hotchkiss 7.92 mm (0.31 in) machine gun.

    Production (1917-18)

    The prototype was examined by a commission, but almost cancelled in favor of the new Char 2C heavy tank, which never made its appearance before the armistice. After a few mass-production modifications on the prototype, the first wave was ordered in December 1916 for deliveries in February 1917, but amended, then suspended, and was still in jeopardy in May, despite the arrival of Pétain. It was not until September 12 that the new armament minister Louis Loucheur took Thomas’s office, and the project was definitely approved. Under Charles-Edmond Serre’s supervision, the first 84 machines were delivered prior to the end of 1917, and 2697 more until November 1918. This was, by far, the largest tank production by any country at that time, but caused problems to Renault which was still not ready to fulfill such orders and convinced other firms to share the lot, like Berliet at Lyon, and (Schneider) Somua and Delaunay Belleville. It was proposed as a licence to foreign countries as well, and the US industry was first in line, the federal government receiving a single tank and complete plans for 1200 more, both to cover the needs of the French and US Army. Renault produced two variants of the FT, the “female”, or machine-gun model, which was more common, and the “male”, armed with a short-barreled 37 mm (1.45 in) Puteaux SA 18 gun. Those models also differed by their definitive “Omnibus” turret, multi-faceted (standard) or rounded with bent metal plates, also known as the “Girod turret” first introduced by Berliet (hence the “Berliet turret”).

    By December 1917 3100 FTs were to be produced with the Omnibus turret, in both types, as well as 700 derived BS versions (fitted with a short 75 mm howitzer) and 200 TSF, radio versions. In January 1918, the order was again shifted for 1000 “female”, 1850 “male”, 970 BS (howitzer versions) and 200 TSF. In October the total order has reached a staggering 7820 machines. In November the armistice came and the order was cancelled, 1850 had been delivered so far by Renault, 800 by Berliet, 600 by Somua, and 280 by Delaunay-Belleville. The largest turret manufacturer was Paul Girod Aciéries at Ugine, which casted, assembled and forged round and octagonal models. Problems were experienced with the armor plates. Many came at the time from Britain, which caused delays due to local priorities. The supply of the new 37 mm Puteaux gun, specially redesigned from a light artillery gun, was also slow to reach full production. Despite the considerable delays (almost a year) before an effective production started, the first batch was still plagued with defects. About one third of the initial order had to be shipped back to the manufacturer for corrections. There was also a continuous lack of spare parts, which hampered the units’ operational capabilities and limited maintenance in the field. The poor quality of the fuel filters in particular, and the highly sensitive fan belts caused considerable turmoil and up to ten per cent of active vehicles were unfit for service in 1918 because of this, waiting for replacement parts. In 1919 a new redesigned version was proposed by Renault, including a more powerful engine, a long-barreled Puteaux gun and additional cases fitted in their tracks. It was successfully exported throughout the world. Some of them were immediately put into action, like the Finnish and Polish versions against the Soviets.

    War operations of the FT

    The small FT was an undeniable success, despite some flaws of the first series, including the radiator fan belt and cooling system problems. Large number of FTs were provided to most Western front units by mid-1918, and they were involved in all major offensives (4356 engagements and 746 lost in action), successfully crossing no man’s land and “cleaning” trenches as designed, but also forests. The first operational unit using FTs was the 1st BCL (Batallion de Chars Légers), on 18 February 1918. But only at the end March did this unit receive its full tank complement, although still unarmed. Each battalion counted three companies, with a full strength of 75 vehicles. The majority were MG-armed (41), with 30 gun-armed and up to four TSF, with 3 vehicles in reserve. Although it was smaller and less impressive than previous tanks, the FT was nevertheless successful, as Estienne had predicted, because so many reached the enemy lines at the same time, overwhelming the German defenses. It was also a tricky target due to its narrow section and small height. It gave confidence to the regular soldiers whom advanced behind it, avoiding most of the punishing machine-gun fire. First engagement occurred in May, 1918 at Foret de Retz, near Soissons. Tactics also involved a combination of gun-equipped “male” tanks to strike machine gun nests and pillboxes, and “females”, equipped with a 7.92 mm (0.32 in) Hotchkiss machine gun to finish the job. There, the rotating turret made all the difference. As the production rose and the tactics were refined and codified, a swarm of light tanks was intended to be thrown towards the German lines in the greatest Allied offensive planned for January-February 1919. Of course the armistice put an end to this plan, including a grand total of 12,260 tanks to be built in France, USA, Italy and Great Britain.

    The American FT

    Soon after the US joined the war, it was considered suitable to equip the newly formed units with provisional French FT tanks. Since the French general staff needed a huge production, US manufacturers were approached. Built under licence and with a revised design, this was later called “6 tons tank M1917” for “model 1917”. In fact, an estimated 514 FTs were delivered and 950 M1917 were built under licence (accepted in October 1918), but none were put to action before the end of the war. Later on, in mid-1919, a revised version was produced, the lengthened M1917A1, with minor alterations and a new, more powerful 100 hp (74.6 kW) Franklin petrol engine and an electric starter. Production was assumed by Van Dorn Iron Works, the Maxwell Motor Company, and the C.L. Best Tractor Company. The M1917 formed the basis of the future US Army corp of the early twenties.

    A world success


    If the United States, which were involved in the war, logically received many FT 17s, other countries also did. The Italians, for example, received 3 which were later copied and modified to produce the FIAT 3000. 24 were also used by the British, for testing. The French alone accepted in active duty during and after the war no less than 3177 machines, which made the French army, by far, the dominant tank force in the world at the time, and remained so nearly twenty years after. Exports, well served by Renault’s knowledge of the international market, reached Poland, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Brazil, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Japan. These tanks remained in first line many years in these countries, to the point that two Afghan FT17s were found in relative good condition during “Operation Enduring Freedom”! Actually the US still has many M1917s as museum pieces, but none of the original French FT. The only one, previously owned by the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor, was turned to the French government at a French request.

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    Polish FT-17s

    Variants


    In fact the gun armed variant was sometimes incorrectly dubbed FT 18. Among variants were 188 radio carrying vehicles (Renault TSF), about 40 FT 75 BS, armed with a punishing 75 mm (2.95 in) howitzer to deal with concrete pillboxes, the 13 Japanese modified FT-Ko, the 27 FT CWS built in Poland with French spare parts (also one gas firing model) and about 1580 FT 31, upgraded models with the new Reibel 7.5 mm (0.3 in) machine gun. These were still in use in regional units in September 1939, and many of them were posted outside the metropolis. The “Russkyi Reno” remains unique, but a modified version with a new sprung suspension was built in large numbers during the early twenties. During the interwar period, these Renault FT fought in many events, like the Russian Civil War, the Polish-Soviet War, the Manchurian War, the Chinese Revolution, the Rif War (in Morocco), the Spanish Civil War and the Estonian war.

    Other French variants include anti-tank gun FTs, which would have been armed with a 25 mm (0.98 in) or a 40 mm (1.57 in) gun. Some 2,000 FTs, then in service and in reserve, were planned for conversion. An FT with an experimental short-pitch track was designed in an attempt to increase speed, but the Kegresse system was preferred. Several SPGs were considered, the 75 Chenilles and 105 L Chenilles, which featured the gun aimed at the rear of the vehicle. The STAV Chenilles and STA 75 Chenilles also competed for the SPG requirement. A Renault FT Ammunition Carrier was planned to aid these SPGs.The FT 75 BS Poseur de Pont was planned to mount a bridge for other FTs to cross, but it was cancelled. A handful of Renault FTs were planned to mount a mast with two floodlights, planned to aid with lighting the trenches and policing duties. FTs were also planned to mount fascines, a snowblower, a bulldozer, and a crane. The Renault FT featured the first ever mine plow, but it was never mass produced. Some FTs were planned to be converted to agricultural tractors, but several problems cancelled the project. An odd plan was the FT Poseur de Masque, which carried a 2-ton concrete block that was intended to obscure machine-gun slits on the Siegfried Line.

    Britain: BEF strength 1,886,073 (including 293,264 Empire troops) plus 118,427 labourers and non*-combatants.
    Flanders: *German trench raids, especially on Portuguese Sector near Neuve Chapelle (Portuguese counter*attack succeeds on March 9).
    Artois*-Somme: German final preparations (until March 14) begin with advance parties moving up until March 5.
    Champagne: Slight German advance at Butte du Mesnil, French recover on March 14.

    Eastern Front
    USSR: Lockhart first sees Lenin, says Allied help acceptable against more German aggression. Trotsky cables Murmansk to accept ‘any and all (Allied) assistance’. Peace and Amity Treaty between Red Finnish Social Republic and Russian FSR. Germans occupy Polotsk, Bobruisk, Gomel and Mohilev (old STAVKA headquarter). During March 11 German divisions leave for Western Front.


    Middle East
    Turkey: Field Army (all fronts) only 200,000 strong. German Ambassador Count Bernstorff writes ‘Only Liman can pull off victory’.
    Palestine: Liman orders XX Corps to recross river Jordan (March 3-4) plus 11th Div (from Armenia) down from Damascus. 38th Jewish Brigade lands in Egypt.
    Mesopota*mia: Ex-RNAS Armoured Car Squadron lands at Basra to be Duncars (24 Austins).

    Sea War
    Atlantic: In March Top all-time U-boat ace Arnauld recalled from Mediterranean to command new U-cruiser U-139 in which he sinks another 6 ships worth 7,208t. U-boat sinks AMC HMS Calgarian (67 lives lost) off Ireland.
    Mediterranean: During march average of 10 U-boats at Sea.
    Channel: In March 29 U-boats transit through Dover Barrage (Coastal submarine UB-54 lost on March 19).

    Secret War
    Britain: Canadian physicist R W Boyle obtains echoes from Harwich submarine at 500 yards (inboard sets achieve up to 300 yards by Armistice).

    Politics
    USA: Wilson approves Japanese action in Siberia, will send separate invitation until March 2 but rethinks on March 5.
    Germany: German Army refuses to supply Bulgar Army with munitions and clothing.

    Neutrals

    Switzerland: Fat and butter rationing cards.

    The War in the Air


    General Headquarters, March 2nd.

    “There was a very strong wind on the 1st inst., with rain most of the day. Our aeroplanes, nevertheless, made a few flights in co-operation with the artillery, and carried out some reconnaissances. Over 200 bombs were dropped on various objectives, and many rounds were fired from the air at ground targets. Two hostile machines were brought down by anti-aircraft gun fire and two others were driven down out of control by our aeroplanes. One of our machines is missing."

    RFC Communiqué number 129:

    There were low clouds thronghout the day, with very short bright intervals.

    Eighteen reconnaissances were carried out, nine of which were by machines of the 5th Brigade.

    Seventeen hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and six neutralized; two gun-pits were destroyed, five damaged, four explosions and three fires caused. Twelve of the batteries engaged for destruction were with observation by machines of the 1st Brigade.

    An E.A. two-seater was brought down in our lines by anti-aircraft of the Third Army.

    Bombing – A total of 527 photographs were taken, and 6½ tons of bombs dropped as follows:-

    1st Brigade: No 2 Squadron dropped 85 25-lb and 16 40-lb bombs on Courrières and Estevelles; No 4 Squadron dropped 28 25-lb bombs on Bauvin, Don and Carvin, and No 16 Squadron dropped 16 112-lb bombs on Vitry, Quiéry-la-Motte and Billy Montigny.
    2nd Brigade: No 21 Squadron dropped 12 25-lb bombs on Oostnieuwkerke.
    9th Wing: No 58 Squadron dropped three 112-lb and 49 25-lb bombs on Grandglise Aerodrome (midway between Tournai and Mons), one 112-lb and four 25-lb bombs on Fresnes railway station; No 102 Squadron dropped one 230-lb and 16 25-lb bombs on Grandglise Aerodrome, eight 25-lb bombs on Seclin, and 12 25-lb bombs on trains.

    By Day –
    1st Brigade: 47 photographs. 1st Wing dropped 39 25-lb bombs.
    2nd Brigade: 2nd Wing dropped 33 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: 146 photographs, 45 25-1b. bombs.
    5th Brigade: 334 photographs, 88 25-lb bombs.

    Enemy Aircraft:


    Enemy aircraft activity was very slight.

    Hostile machines were brought down out of control by Capt W D Patrick, 2nd-Lieuts F McGoun and P Clayson, No 1 Squadron; Capt N Millman and 2nd-Lieut H Cooper, No 48 Squadron (two); Capt J Morris, No 23 Squadron;
    Capt G McElroy, No 24 Squadron; Lieut G Cuthbertson, No 54 Squadron, and 2nd-Lieut A Proctor, No 84 Squadron.
    2nd-Lieut A McN Denovan, 1 Sqn, two-seater out of control north of Staden -
    2nd-Lieut A McN Denovan, 1 Sqn, two-seater out of control north of Staden -
    Capt N C Millman & 2nd-Lieut A C Cooper, 48 Sqn, two-seater out of control by Cooper Joncourt at 10:10/ 11:10 -
    Lieut G C Cuthbertson, 54 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Esnes at 10:25/ 11:25 -
    Lieut G C Cuthbertson, 54 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Esnes at 10:25/ 11:25 -
    Capt J Fitz-Morris, 23 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control St Quentin at 10:30/ 11:30 -
    Capt N C Millman & 2nd-Lieut A C Cooper, 48 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south of St Quentin at 10:30/ 11:30 -
    Capt G E H McElroy, 24 Sqn, DFW C out of control Beaurevoir at 10:45/ 11:45 -

    Casualties:


    Capt E R H Pollack (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut J A Moir (Wia), 82 Sqn, AW FK8 B5837 - spun and landed with engine on fire after combat with 2 EA Triplanes on artillery observation
    Lieut G C Cuthbertson (Ok), 54 Sqn, Camel B6293 - shot in engagement with EA at 10:25/11:25 on special reconnaissance
    2nd-Lieut J L Horne (Ok), 54 Sqn, Camel B9259 – took off 10:40/11:40 and last seen at 15,000 feet our side of lines at 11:30/12:30 on defensive balloon patrol, later crashed but okay

    There were only a handful of claims made on this day, including:

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    A total of 10 British airmen were lost on this day

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    and finally for today...

    Captain Tunstill's Men:

    Overnight 1st/2nd the Battalion was relieved by the 11WYR and marched, via roads 10, 12 and 14 (the incoming Battalion used roads 11 and 13) to billets at Venegazzu. The relief was completed in heavy rain, with torrential downpours which would soon put the Piave into full flood.

    Battalion 2IC, Capt. William Norman Town (see 2nd December 1917), was promoted Temporary Major.

    Pte. Michael Langley (see 9th February), who, three weeks previously, had been reported as having overstayed his leave in England, re-joined the Battalion; he was ordered to undergo 28 days’ Field Punishment no.2 and to forfeit 28 days’ pay.

    Lt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 22nd February 1917), who had been one of the original officers of Tunstill’s Company, but was now serving with the RFC, was promoted Captain.

    Maj. Charles Bathurst MC (see 31st October 1917), who had been in England since having been taken ill four months previously, relinquished his temporary appointment as Major and was appointed Temporary Captain whilst commanding a company of an Officer Cadet Battalion.

    Pte. Trayton George Harper (see 26th September 1917), who had been in England since having been wounded on 20th September 1917, was posted to 3DWR at North Shields.

    Pte. Daniel Brennan (see 8th February), who had been in England since having been wounded in October 1916, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service. He was awarded a penion of 27s. 6d. per week, to be reviewed in six months.


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    76
    Last edited by Hedeby; 03-01-2018 at 12:46.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  43. #3093

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    March 2nd 1918

    As the snows continue to fall and we lament the loss (well postponement ) of one of our bigger gaming shows, the editorial team carry on, no snow days allowed here.

    The submarine H5 (Lieutenant Arthur Walter Forbes DSO) is sunk while on a routine patrol between Britain and Ireland with the loss of all twenty-eight of her crew, after being spotted by the British cargo ship SS Rutherglen under the belief she is an enemy submarine. She had been on the surface in the Irish Sea recharging her batteries and is rammed by the merchant ship. Though the steamer reports she passed through a group of survivors no attempt is made to pick them up. The crew members of the Rutherglen are paid a bounty for sinking the submarine but are never told it was a British submarine. Lieutenant Forbes son will be born 26th June and he is the son of Captain William Balfour Forbes Albert Medal winner. Among those on board the H5 is the

    Lieutenant (jg) E W F Childs USN – the first American to be killed on a submarine in warfare. +
    Lieutenant ‘Sir’ John Henry Algernon Anson the 5th Baronet age 28. He is the son of Rear Admiral Algernon Horatio Anson.

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    SS Kenmare
    (Master Peter Blacklock) is sunk by a submarine 25 miles northwest from Skerries, Anglesay. Chief Engineer Thomas Murphy is among the 29 crew members including the Captain killed. He dies at age 34. His son will be killed as a merchant marine apprentice on 19 December 1940 serving on SS Amicus.

    Sea War
    Baltic: German landings in Aaland islands, 900 Jaegers transported from Danzig.

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    German troops landing on Aaland islands


    The Invasion of Aland


    The Invasion of Åland was a 1918 military campaign of World War I in the Åland Islands, Finland. The islands occupied by Russian troops were first invaded by Sweden in late February and then by the German Empire in early March. The conflict was also related to the Finnish Civil War including minor fighting between the Finnish Whites and the Finnish Reds. As Germany took control over Åland in March 1918, the Russian troops were captured and the Swedish troops left the islands by the end of the Finnish Civil War in May. The Germans stayed in Åland until September 1918. The Åland Islands dispute was then turned over to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 and the League of Nations in 1920. The Åland convention was finally signed in 1921 re-establishing the demilitarised status of Åland as an autonomous part of Finland.

    The Åland Islands are located in the northern Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland. The population is Swedish-speaking, but after the 1809 Treaty of Fredrikshamn the islands were ceded to the Russian Empire together with a vast majority of the Finnish-speaking areas of Sweden. In the 1856 Treaty of Paris, settling the Crimean War, the Åland Islands were demilitarised. As the World War I broke out in 1914, the Russian Empire turned the islands into a submarine base for the use of British and Russian navies. On 25 July 1916, the German airship SL9 attacked the port of Mariehamn and bombed the boats of the Russian 5th submarine squadron and the mothership Svjatitel Nikolai, resulting the death of 7 Russian sailors. The Russian government also started building fortifications, in agreement with their allies France and Great Britain, in order to prevent the German invasion. Åland Islands were fortified with 10 coastal artillery batteries, several garrisons, docks and two airfields. Sweden, however, considered the structures too heavy for just defending the islands. The government feared a possible attack from Åland, and saw the neutral country was pressured to join the Allied Powers.

    As Finland gained its independence from Russia in December 1917, a movement was launched in Åland to join the islands to Sweden.The Swedish government had an audience with a delegation from Åland calling action on the question. After the Finnish Civil War started in late January 1918, the Swedish prime minister Johannes Hellner and the king Gustaf V had an audience with a delegation from Åland on 8 February. According to the delegation, a referendum had been held in Åland and a vast majority of 95% was willing to join Sweden. The delegation called for action on the cause and asked help from the Swedish government against the alleged arbitrary and disorder of the Russian troops. The Swedish press also insisted action because of the humanitarian causes. Since the beginning of the war, the government had already evacuated more than 1,000 Swedish citizens from the Finnish mainland via the west coast town of Pori. The Finnish Civil War expanded to Åland on 10 February, as a squad of 460 White Guard members, led by the captain Johan Fabritius, from the Vakka-Suomi region landed the islands. The group had fled three days earlier from the town of Uusikaupunki and crossed the ice of the Archipelago Sea. After reaching Åland, the Whites had some minor clashes with the Russians. On 14 February, they took the Prästö telegraph station in Sund, capturing 20 Russian soldiers. The Russians, however, had not much interest in resistance, they were mostly waiting for returning home.

    On 13 February, Swedish government finally decided to send troops to Åland. Two days later, a naval detachment of the icebreaker Isbrytaren I, the coastal defense ship HSwMS Thor and the troopship SS Runeberg docked Eckerö in the Swedish side of the islands. A small military unit landed Åland in order to protect the people from alleged misconduct of the Russian troops as well as from the violent threat of the Finnish sides of the Civil War. The Whites incorrectly assumed the Swedes had come to join them. Encouraged by this, the Whites took the artillery batteries in Boxö and Saggö, but instead of supporting them, the Swedes started negotiations with the Russians. The negotiation was stopped on 17 February, as 150-men Red Guard unit from Turku arrived Åland with the icebreaker Murtaja. Their intention was to help the Russians in the presumed fight against the Swedes and the Whites. In the same day, the Whites took the village of Godby in Finström but the Russian troops were able to keep the village of Jomala and the artillery fort of Sålis. Two days later, the Reds made a counterattack against Godby, but were pushed back. The Battle of Godby ended with 2 killed Whites and 3 killed Reds, 8 captured Reds was later executed. It remained the only Finnish Civil War battle fought in Åland. As the situation in Åland had now escalated to open violence, the Swedes intervened the situation with a counterfeit order by the White Army commander C. G. E. Mannerheim calling the Whites to retreat from Åland. In reality, general Mannerheim wanted the Whites to take control of all the islands and then launch an offensive against Turku, the Red capital of Southwest Finland. As the Whites did not know Mannerheim's real intentions, they followed the false order and left Åland on 20 February. As the White Finland found out about the Swedish conduct, they gave a strict objection. The Swedish government now had to convince that their purpose was not to join the islands to Sweden, but only to protect the Swedish-speaking people of Åland.

    On 19 February, HSwMS Sverige and HSwMS Oscar II carrying a company from the Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment arrived at Åland to press the Russians in leaving the islands.The Central Committee of the Baltic Fleet still tried to avoid the armed conflict and on 22 February the political representative Vatslav Vorovsky stated the Russian troops were willing to leave Åland. The order of disarmament was given a day after and the Finnish icebreaker Murtaja took 300 Russians and the Finnish Red Guard fighters to Turku. On 24 February, the 500-man battalion of the Royal Göta Livgarde, commanded by the lieutenant colonel G. E. Ros, landed at Eckerö and by the 2 March, the Swedes controlled all the islands, although there were still up to 1,200 disarmed Russian soldiers present.

    The armstice between Russia and Germany lapsed on 18 February 1918 and the Operation Faustschlag was soon launched by the Germans. This included the invasion of Åland, as the Germans did not know whether Sweden would remain neutral or join the Allies. The Germans had their interests in Finland because of the access to the Arctic Sea and the country's presence near the Murmansk railway and the Bolshevik capital of Saint Petersburg. To justify the invasion, Germany ordered a request of military assistance from their allies in Finland. The White Senate message requesting the German invasion of Åland reached Berlin on 22 February. The German intention was to gather troops to Åland and then land the Finnish mainland in the west coast town of Rauma. As the ice in the Bothnian Bay was too thick, the landing was finally made in Hanko, Southern Finland, by the Baltic Sea Division in the first days of April. On 28 February, a naval unit of the battleships SMS Westfalen and SMS Rheinland, commanded by the admiral Hugo Meurer, left Danzig to Åland. The ships were carrying the Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 14, under the command of the major August Schenck zu Schweinsberg. The convoy was slowed down by the heavy ice, but finally the Aalands-Detachement reached Eckerö on 5 March. The following day, the Swedes were forced to make a deal with the Germans.[4] According to the agreement, Sweden and Germany now shared the Åland Islands. The Swedes had a hold on the capital Mariehamn and the villages of Jomala, Geta and Finström. Both were allowed to use the port in Eckerö. A post of the Finnish military governor was established and filled by the naval officer Hjalmar von Bonsdorff as the representant of the White Senate.

    The Germans captured up to 1,000–1,200 Russian soldiers which were shipped to Liepāja. 250 Ukrainian, Polish, Latvian and Estonian soldiers of the Russian army were placed to an internment camp in Sweden. These soldiers were later handed over to Germans and transported to Sassnitz in Northern Germany. In Mariehamn, the Germans took several Russian warships and the Finnish steamer SS Baltic. In 10 March, the Finnish Reds proposed negotiations with the Germans over their potential threat against Turku, the Red capital of Southeast Finland. The Germans agreed to meet the Red delegation in Åland if they would bring the POWs kept in Turku. In 1918 the Russians exchanged more than 65,000 wounded and invalid German POWs via Finland. The Red delegation including the socialist philosopher Georg Boldt and the Turku militia leader William Lundberg, together with 260 POWs, travelled across the ice by horse-drawn sleigh. In 15 March, Boldt and Lundberg had a meeting with the Germans. However, the Reds were told that since the Germans were invited by the Whites, they could not discuss their intentions. Boldt and Lundberg were then escorted back to the mainland. In late March, the Germans launched a campaign in the Turku archipelago to secure the left wing of the forthcoming Baltic Sea Division landing in Hanko. The plan was to reach Turku from Åland via the islands of Houtskär, Korpo, Nagu and Pargas. Houtskär was taken by the Finnish Whites in 25 March and Korpo in 28 March, but the Reds stopped the German troops in the Battle of Nagu in 4 April. The Germans then left the archipelago and focused on the march from Hanko to Helsinki.

    Sweden pulled most of their troops from Åland on 14 March, but the ship Oscar II and one small military unit stayed until the end of the Finnish Civil War. The last Swedes retreated on 26 May 1918. The Germans stayed in the Åland Islands until September 1918. After the war, Sweden was still willing to take the Åland Islands and wanted to solve the dispute in the Treaty of Versailles, but the question was not included. A new referendum was held in 1919 and now 9,900 of the 10,000 voters wanted to join Sweden. A year later, Great Britain took the case to the newly founded League of Nations. In June 1921, Åland was declared as a demilitarised and autonomous territory of Finland.

    During their seven-month military campaign in Åland, the Germans lost six men. Three of them were killed on 9 March as the icebreaker Hindenburg struck a mine off Eckerö and sunk. Two sailors drowned on 11 April when the SMS Rheinland grounded between the islands of Lågskär and Flötjan. In addition to the casualties in Åland, seven Germans were killed in the Battle of Nagu in the Turku Archipelago. Swedish casualties were one man as an infantry sergeant committed a suicide in April. The Whites had three killed in the Battle of Godby, two in the Battle of Korpo and one in the Battle of Nagu. The number of killed Russians is not clear but at least two soldiers died in the clashes against the Finnish Whites. One Russian and one Finnish Red was shot by the Whites in late March as they were captured near the island of Vårdö. The order was given by the Finnish military governor Hjalmar von Bonsdorff and the execution was carried out by the Whites occupying the Turku Archipelago. In addition to the 3 Reds killed in the Battle of Godby, 8 captured Reds were shot by the Whites in the ice of Färjsundet Strait. At least 26 also died in the Battle of Nagu and 7 in the Battle of Korpo.

    Eastern Front
    USSR: Trotzky orders old Russian Army‘s demobilization.
    Ukraine: Linsingen captures Kiev.
    Finland: 900 German troops occupy Aaland islands (sailed from Danzig on February 28) and ready to intervene to Mannherheim’s fury but dissuaded from resignation.

    Middle East
    Palestine: 53rd Welsh Division night advances 3,000 yards astride Jerusalem-Nablus road (and on night March 6)

    The War in the Air

    RFC Communiqué number 129:

    Clouds were low all day, with a very strong wind and snow at times.

    One reconnaissance was carried out by machines of the 5th Brigade.

    Capt Carter and Capt Hyde, No 4 Squadron [erroneously given as 4th Squadron AFC in the Communiqué] carried out a contact patrol over area of the Portuguese front raided by the enemy during the night of the 1st/2nd inst.

    Machines of the 1st Brigade successfully engaged four hostile butteries and neutralized one; one gun-pit was damaged, one explosion and one fire caused. Two zone calls were sent down.

    Twenty-two photographs were taken, and 39 25-lb bombs dropped on various targets.

    Enemy Aircraft:


    Enemy aircraft activity was nil.

    Casualties:


    Capt Bell (Ok) & Lieut Malcolm (Ok), 98 Sqn, DH9 C1177 - stalled and crashed in forced landing Clairmarais due engine failure on return from bombing raid

    There were ZERO claims on this day

    Three British airmen lost their lives on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men:
    A day of torrential rain.

    Pte. William Masters (see 31st January) was reported as ‘drunk on active service’; he was reported by 2Lt. Keith Sagar Bain (see 9th October 1917) and L.Cpl. Frederick James Lynch (see 29th October 1917). On the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 25th February) he would undergo seven days’ Field Punishment no.2.

    Pte. John William Mallinson (see 6th January) was reported by Sgt. James Henry Howarth (see 30th November 1917) for losing part of his kit by neglect; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see above) he was to pay for the lost item.

    The Mayor of Keighley, Mr. F.W.L. Butterfield, wrote to the Infantry Record Office in York requesting their assistance in arranging the presentation of the Military Medal which was due to L.Cpl. Cain Rothera MM (see 18th February), who was currently home on leave. He was seeking to arrange a presentation of the medal to be held at Keighley War Hospital within the next week as Rothera was due to return to Italy on 9th March. In response, the Infantry Record Office would indeed make urgent arrangements for the despatch of the medal.

    A payment of £2 5s. 6d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Archibald Kean (see 20th September 1917), who had been killed in action on 20th September 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Annie.

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    77

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  44. #3094

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    3rd March 1918


    Captain John de Camborne Paynter (Royal Naval Air Service) shows great zeal and courage during a bombing attack on Ostende Seaplane ZBase in spite of very adverse conditions. He will be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his efforts today and on others. He will be killed in June as a 10-victory ace.

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    S S Romeo (Master James Neale age 48) is torpedoed and sunk 10 miles northwest of Peel while carrying meat and provisions from Scapa Flow to the fleet in Liverpool. Twenty nine are killed including her master. The steamer Northfield (Master George Robert Steele age 48) is torpedoed and sunk twenty five miles southwest of Lundy Island. Fifteen are killed including her master.


    Eastern Front
    RUSSO-GERMAN PEACE OF BREST-LlTOVSK: Russia renounces Baltic States, Poland, Belorussia, Finland and three Armenian districts to Turkey; 630,000 Austrian PoWs to come home.
    Southern Russia: Terek Cossack Soviet Republic declared.

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    Signature of the peace treaty of Best-Litovsk.

    On March 3, 1918, in the city of Brest-Litovsk, located in modern-day Belarus near the Polish border, Russia signs a treaty with the Central Powers ending its participation in World War I.

    Russia’s involvement in World War I alongside its allies, France and Britain, had resulted in a number of heavy losses against Germany, offset only partially by consistent victories against Austria-Hungary. Defeat on the battlefield fed the growing discontent among the bulk of Russia’s population, especially the poverty-stricken workers and peasants, and its hostility towards the imperial regime, led by the ineffectual Czar Nicholas II. This discontent strengthened the cause of the Bolsheviks, a radical socialist group led by Vladimir Lenin that was working to harness opposition to the czar and turn it into a sweeping revolution that would begin in Russia and later, he hoped, spread to the rest of the world.

    The February Revolution broke out in early March 1917 (or February, according to the Julian calendar, which the Russians used at the time); Nicholas abdicated later that month. After Lenin’s return from exile (aided by the Germans) in mid-April, he and his fellow Bolsheviks worked quickly to seize power from the provisional government, led by Alexander Kerensky, Russia’s minister of war. On November 6, aided by the Russian military, they were successful. One of Lenin’s first actions as leader was to call a halt to Russian participation in the war.

    An armistice was reached in early December 1917 and a formal cease-fire was declared December 15, but determining the terms of peace between Russia and the Central Powers proved to be far more complicated. Negotiations began at Brest-Litovsk on December 22. Leading their respective delegations were Foreign Ministers Leon Trotsky of Russia, Baron Richard von Kuhlmann of Germany and Count Ottokar Czernin of Austria.

    In mid-February, the talks broke down when an angry Trotsky deemed the Central Powers’ terms too harsh and their demands for territory unacceptable. Fighting resumed briefly on the Eastern Front, but the German armies advanced quickly, and both Lenin and Trotsky soon realized that Russia, in its weakened state, would be forced to give in to the enemy terms. Negotiations resumed later that month and the final treaty was signed on March 3.

    By the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Russia recognized the independence of Ukraine, Georgia and Finland; gave up Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to Germany and Austria-Hungary; and ceded Kars, Ardahan and Batum to Turkey. The total losses constituted 1 million square miles of Russia’s former territory; a third of its population or 55 million people; a majority of its coal, oil and iron stores; and much of its industry. Lenin, who bitterly called the settlement that abyss of defeat, dismemberment, enslavement and humiliation, was forced to hope that the spread of world revolution—his greatest dream—would eventually right the wrongs done at Brest-Litovsk.

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    Borders drawn up in Brest-Litovsk

    Finland: Red Guard offensive fixed for March 9.
    Estonia: German Eighth Army occupies Narva (c.85 miles west of Petrograd) after routing 1,600 Red Guards and sailors, have captured 17,000 Russians and 1500 guns for 109 casualties since February 18. Hoffmann orders advance to halt except in the Ukraine.

    Sea War
    Russia: Central Powers’ Diktat at Brest* Litovsk strips Russia of all Baltic naval bases except Kronstadt; also Odessa and Nikolayev stipulates disarmament and detention of Russian warships in these ports pending general peace.
    North Sea: First mine of Northern Barrage laid in Area B up to 50 miles from Orkney.

    Home Fronts

    Germany: R Goering’s play Seeschlacht (Sea Battle) opens at Berlin. Kaiser orders flags in every city and day off school to celebrate peace with Russia.
    Turkey*: Muslims of Samsun massacre all Armenians.

    The War in the Air

    Admiralty, March 3rd.


    “A bombing raid was successfully carried out to-day by naval aircraft on the seaplane sheds at Ostend. A number of bombs were dropped from 150 ft. to 300 ft., and were observed to reach objectives. Three direct hits were also obtained on an anti-aircraft battery in the vicinity. All our machines returned safely."

    RFC Communiqué number 129:

    Low clouds and mist throughout the day prevented flying.

    Casualties:

    None.

    There was just the one claim on this day

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    There were three British airmen lost on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men:
    The recent heavy rain continued.

    Two weeks after suffering a sprained ankle while playing football, Pte. Samuel Richards (see 29th October 1917) of ‘D’ Company reported sick as a result of his injury. Lt. Thomas Beattie (24th February), commanding ‘D’ Company, investigated the circumstances and Richards was admitted via 70th Field Ambulance to 23rd Division Rest Station.

    Pte. George Green (22749) (see 3rd February), serving at the Trench Mortar School at the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia, was admitted to 29th Stationary Hospital at Cremona (cause unknown).

    A payment of £3 13s. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. James Mullock (see 17th October), who had been killed in action on 17th October 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Alice.

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    78

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  45. #3095

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    March 4th 1918

    Blimey lots of searches coming back with nothing today...

    The War in the Air

    RFC Communiqué number 129:

    Low clouds, mist and rain on the whole front made flying practically impossibIe.

    Two reconnaissances were carried out, and 12 25-lb bombs dropped on various targets, six by machines of the 3rd Brigade and six by those of the 1st Brigade.

    Artillery co-operation was impossible but a few artillery and offensive patrols were carried out.

    Casualties:


    2nd-Lieut L R Evershed (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut G B Pershouse (Ok), 5 Sqn, RE8 C5061 - crashed in bad landing from artillery patrol

    2nd-Lieut J C Louw (Inj), 60 Sqn, SE5a B625 - turned near ground with insufficient speed during practice

    The only claim I can find (and this one was unconfirmed) was by Offizierstellvertreter Bernhard Ultsch of Jasta 77

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

    Despite the bad weather there were still five British Airmen lost on this day - in fact there were only 173 British lives lost in total on this day - one of the quietest for a couple of years...

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    A March Mystery

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    Cyclops, a US Navy coal carrier (collier) heading to Baltimore with a load of manganese ore.

    The Cyclops had left from Rio De Janeiro on February 16, 1918 and was supposed to arrive in Baltimore on March 13, 1918. Mysteriously, she disappeared without a trace in the Bermuda Triangle and nothing of her or her crew has ever been found.

    Chalk it up to the Bermuda Triangle? Or was she sunk by a U-Boat? Well, no U-Boat ever reported such a sinking and the German navy has repeatedly said they did not sink the Cyclops. At 542 feet long, the Cyclops would be a victim worth bragging about. It is speculated by US Navy investigators that the cargo of manganese ore may have become wet and sloshed back and forth in the ship creating an uneven load and causing the ship to turn over, but without a wreck or survivor’s account no one can know.

    A totally cracked angle to this tale (as if a ship disappearing in the Bermuda Triangle is not cracked enough) is the Captain of the ship. Capt. George Worley was not who he said he was! He was actually Johan Wichmann born in Germany and an illegal alien in the United States! He had snuck off a ship in San Francisco in 1878 and had changed his name to George Worley. Compounding the bizarre story is the Captain’s behavior. Tyrannical and petty, Worley was said to have run around the ship with a pistol in pursuit of one of the ensigns! Even creepier, he was known to make his rounds of the ship wearing long underwear and a Derby hat! His obvious pro-German bias also made him hated by non-German members of his crew.

    Another twist to this incident, a passenger on this final voyage of the Cyclops was the US Consul General in Rio, Alfred Gottschalk, another well known and roundly disliked pro-German. Investigators speculated the Captain and Gottschalk may have turned the ship over to Germany, but this allegation is still denied by the German government. The USS Cyclops AC-4 has also made its way into popular culture, becoming the star of Clive Cussler’s novel Cyclops, featured in the video game Dark Void, and appearing in television episodes of Quantum Leap and Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! The loss of the Cyclops, a 20,000 ton ship over 500 feet long and carrying 306 people still stands as the worst US Navy non-combat disaster ever. As such, the Navy took a long hard look into what had happened, and came up empty!

    another take on the tale from 'The Pandora Society'

    USS Cyclops (AC-4) was one of four Proteus-class colliers built for the United States Navy several years before World War I. Named for the Cyclops, a primordial race of giants from Greek mythology, she was the second U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. The loss of the ship and 306 crew and passengers without a trace within the area known as the Bermuda Triangle some time after March 4th, 1918 remains the single largest loss of life in U.S. Naval history not directly involving combat.

    She put to sea from Rio de Janeiro on February 16th, 1918 and entered Salvador on February 20th. Two days later, she departed for Baltimore, Maryland, with no stops scheduled, carrying the manganese ore. The ship was thought to be overloaded when she left Brazil, as her maximum capacity was 8,000 long tons (8,100 t). Before leaving port, Commander Worley had submitted a report that the starboard engine had a cracked cylinder and was not operative. This report was confirmed by a survey board, which recommended, however, that the ship be returned to the U.S. She made an unscheduled stop in Barbados because the water level was over the Plimsoll line, indicating an overloaded condition; however investigations in Rio proved the ship had been loaded and secured properly. Cyclops then set out for Baltimore on March 4th, and was rumored to have been sighted on March 9th by the molasses tanker Amolco near Virginia, but this was denied by Amolco‘s captain.

    Additionally, because Cyclops was not due in Baltimore until March 13th, it is highly unlikely that the ship would have been near Virginia on March 9th, as that location would have placed her only about a day from Baltimore. In any event, Cyclops never made it to Baltimore, and no wreckage of her has ever been found. Reports indicate that on 10 March, the day after the ship was rumored to have been sighted by Amolco, a violent storm swept through the Virginia Capes area. While some suggest that the combination of the overloaded condition, engine trouble, and bad weather may have conspired to sink Cyclops, an extensive naval investigation concluded: “Many theories have been advanced, but none that satisfactorily accounts for her disappearance.” This summation was written, however, before two of Cyclops‘s sister ships, Proteus and Nereus, vanished in the North Atlantic during World War II. Both ships were transporting heavy loads of metallic ore similar to that which was loaded on Cyclops during her fatal voyage. In both cases, it was theorized that their loss was the result of catastrophic structural failure, but a more outlandish theory attributes all three vessels’ disappearances to the Bermuda Triangle.

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    Rear Admiral George van Deurs suggested that the loss of Cyclops could be owing to structural failure, as her sister ships suffered from issues where the I-beams that ran the length of the ship had eroded owing to the corrosive nature of some of the cargo carried. This was observed definitively on the USS Jason, and is believed to have contributed to the sinking of another similar freighter, Chuky, which snapped in two in calm seas. Moreover, Cyclops may have hit a storm with 30–40 kn (56–74 km/h; 35–46 mph) winds. These would have resulted in waves just far enough apart to leave the bow and stern supported on the peaks of successive waves, but with the middle unsupported, resulting in extra strain on the already weakened middle.

    On June 1st, 1918, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt declared Cyclops to be officially lost and all hands deceased. One of the seamen lost aboard Cyclops was African American mess attendant Lewis H. Hardwick, the father of Herbert Lewis Hardwick, “The Cocoa Kid”, an Afro Puerto Rican welterweight boxer who was a top contender in the 1930s and 1940s who won the world colored welterweight and world colored middleweight championships. In 1918, a short summary of the loss of Cyclops was listed in the U.S. Navy Annual Report. For a BBC Radio 4 documentary, Tom Mangold had an expert from Lloyds investigate the loss of Cyclops. The expert noted that manganese ore, being much denser than coal, had room to move within the holds even when fully laden, the hatch covers were canvas and that when wet the ore can become a slurry. As such the load could shift and cause the ship to list. Combined with a possible loss of power from its one engine it could founder in bad weather.

    As it was wartime, there was speculation she was captured or sunk by a German raider or submarine, because she was carrying 10,800 long tons (11,000 t) of manganese ore used to produce munitions, but German authorities at the time, and subsequently, denied any knowledge of the vessel. The Naval History & Heritage Command has stated she “probably sank in an unexpected storm” but the ultimate cause of the ship’s fate is unknown.

    Air War
    Western Front: US 94th Aero (Pursuit) Squadron arrives (flies first US recon petrol over German lines on march 19), is joined by future top ace Rickenbacker.

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    Britain: DH10 (‘Amiens’) heavy bomber first flies. 8,403 women employed in Royal Flying Corps.
    Italy*: Austrians bomb Venice for 8 hours (300 bombs) but lose 13 aircraft, also attack Padua, Mestre and Treviso; (early March). German Jastas 1, 31 and 39 return to Western Front (for Ludendorff Offensive).

    Eastern Front

    Russia: Germans claim 63,000 PoWs, 2600 guns, 5000 MGs and 500 planes since February 18. Supreme Military Soviet formed at Petrograd.
    Finland: Order of the Cross of Liberty instituted at Mannerheim’s suggestion.

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    79

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  46. #3096

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    5th March 1918

    Eastern Front

    RUMANIAN-CENTRAL POWERS PRELIM PEACE (signed at Buftea on May 7): Dobruja ceded; Hungarian frontier to be ‘rectified’; 8 divisions to demobilize at once; Rumania to help Central Powers’ march on to Odessa and grant German trade privileges.
    Finland*: Mannerheim cables Ludendorff, thanks Kaiser for weapons and insists on Finn command of German troops and non*interference (Hindenburg agrees on March 10).
    Northern Russia: 130 Royal Marines land at Murmansk (French cruiser Amiral Aube arrives at Royal Navy request on March 19).
    Latvia*: Falkenhayn (from Palestine) takes command of German Tenth Army for duration of war.

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    Romanian Prime-Minister Alexandru Marghiloman signing the treaty.

    Western Front
    Germany: Germans introduce new ultrasecure 5-letter field cipher for Ludendorff Offensive, but French (Painvin) first solve c. April 4, break it on April 26; by May 29 only two-day delay in reading it.
    Flanders: Belgian counter*-attack north of Pervyse.

    The War in the Air


    General Headquarters, March 6th.

    “After two days of wind and rain, on the afternoon of the 5th inst. the weather cleared slightly. Our aeroplanes observed for the artillery and carried out a few reconnaissances. Bombs were dropped by us on the railway sidings at Mouscron (north-east of Lille) and on targets near the enemy's lines. In air fighting two hostile machines were brought down and one other was driven down out of control. One of our machines is missing. After dark Ingelmunster railway station and a hostile aerodrome north-east of St. Quentin were heavily bombed by our machines, all of which returned.”

    RFC Communiqué number 130:

    Low clouds and a strong wind prevailed, but the weather improved somewhat in the afternoon.

    Twelve reconnaissances were carried out, eight of which were by machines of the 5th Brigade.

    Machines of the 1st Brigade were able to carry out a little artillery co-operation; one hostile battery was successfully engaged for destruction, one neutralized, two explosions and one fire caused. Two zone calls were sent down.

    790 photographs were taken, and 77 bombs dropped as follows:-

    1st Brigade: Eighteen 25-lb bombs on miscellaneous and trench targets.
    2nd Brigade: No 57 Squadron dropped 10 112-lb bombs on railway sidings at Mouscron.
    3rd Brigade: Twenty-one 25-lb bombs on miscellaneous targets.
    5th Brigade: Twenty-eight 25-lb bombs on miscellaneous targets by 15th Wing.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft activity was below normal.

    Capt J L Trollope, 43 Sqn, DFW C out of control east of La Bassée at 15:25/16:25 – Capt J L Trollope, No 43 Squadron, shot down one E.A. out of control

    Lieut S A Oades & 2nd-Lieut S W Bunting, 22 Sqn, two-seater broke up Lens at 15:35/16:35 and Scout out of control Lens at 15:45/16:45 - 2nd-Lieuts S A Oades and S W Bunting, No 22 Squadron, attacked an E.A. two-seater. On firing a burst into it the right wing of the E.A. folded back and the machine went down in a spinning nose dive. They then attacked an E.A. scout, which turned over find spun down, completely out of control

    Lieut C W Usher, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames south of Sallaumines at 15:45/16:45 – 2nd-Lieut C W Usher, No 40 Squadron, attacked an enemy Scout. After a short combat, the E.A. dived steeply, and was confirned by A.A. observers to have burst into flames 2,000 feet from the ground

    Casualties:

    ? (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut R S Fear (Wia; Dow), 15 Sqn, RE8 B2257 – combat ?
    ? (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut T W Cave (Wia), 35 Sqn, AW FK8 – shot up on photography
    2nd-Lieut W F Poulter (Pow; dow 06-Mar-18), 24 Sqn, SE5a B145 – took off 12:55/13:55 then badly wounded Villers-Outreaux on OP; Offz Stv Adolf Schreder, Js17, 1st victory [south-east of Vendhuille at 14:00/15:00] ?
    2nd-Lieut W H Boston (Wia) & Lieut J E G Mosby (Ok), 4 Sqn, RE8 A4748 - attacked by 4 EA and overturned in forced landing Sh36a.G.14.b.7.8 [north-west of Mametz] at 15:05/16:05 during photography and reconnaissance
    2nd-Lieut S A Oades (Wia) & 2nd-Lieut S W Bunting (Wia), 22 Sqn, Bristol F.2B B1168 – machine-gun shot away part of propellor after combat at 15:45/16:45 and force landed Laires [north-west of Lens] while destroying EA on lines

    The following claims were made on this day

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    Ten British Airmen were lost on this day

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    More from the Master of Belhaven

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    80

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  47. #3097

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    March 6th 1918

    As the Ludendorff Offensive edges ever closer , here at the Sniper's Times we are still struggling to find much to report on at the moment...

    However, much busier day in the air...

    WEDNESDAY, 6 MARCH 1918


    General Headquarters, March 7th.


    “The fine weather on the 6th inst. led to great aerial activity on both sides. Our aeroplanes reconnoitred all parts of the front, and took a great many photographs of the enemy's forward and back areas. Over 400 bombs were dropped on hostile billets and railway sidings, and several thousand rounds were fired from the air from machine-guns at parties of German infantry, hostile batteries in action, and transport on roads. Continuous fighting took place between our scouts and the enemy's machines, which persistently attacked our bembing and artillery machines. Ten German aeroplanes were brought down, and 10 others driven down out of control. Three of our machines are missing.

    “After dark, a thick mist developed and prevented much night flying being done. A few bombs, however, were dropped on German aerodromes close to Metz. All our machines returned.”

    RFC Communiqué number 130:


    The weather was very fine, enabling much work to be done.

    Twenty-five reconnaissances were carried out, four being long distance photographic reconnaissances by machines of the 9th Wing.

    Sixty hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and five neutralized; eight gun-pits were destroyed, 23 damaged, 24 explosions and nine fires caused. Thirty-nine zone calls were sent down.

    2,562 photographs were taken, and over eight tons of bombs dropped as follows:-

    Night 5th/6th —

    9th Brigade: No 58 Squadron dropped one 112-lb and 66 25-lb bombs on Ingelmunster railway station; No 101 Squadron dropped two 112-lb and five 25-lb bombs on Bohain, and 22 112-lb and 52 25-lb bombs on Siboncourt aerodrome.

    Day 6th -
    1st Brigade: 323 photographs. No 18 Squadron dropped 36 25-lb bombs on dumps and billets, and the 1st Wing dropped 97 25-lb bombs.
    2nd Brigade: 492 photographs. No 57 Squadron dropped eight 112-lb bombs on Tourcoing railway sidings, and the 2nd Wing dropped 53 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: 793 photographs. 59 25-lb bombs.
    5th Brigade: 869 photographs. 15th Wing dropped 127 25-lb bombs, and No 48 Squadron dropped 20 25-lb bombs.
    9th Wing: 85 photographs. No 27 Squadron dropped eight 25-lb bombs on Cambrai.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft was [sic] very active, particularly on the 5th Brigade front.

    Capt G E H McElroy, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north-east of Bellecourt at 07:05/08:05 – Capt G E H McElroy, No 24 Squadron, shot down one enemy scout which was seen to hit the ground N.E. of Bellicourt

    2nd-Lieut B E Sharwood-Smith & Sergt J C Lowe, 57 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Bousbecque at 08:00/09:00 -

    Flt Cdr W M Alexander, 10N Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south-east of Dixmude at 08:30/09:30 -

    Capt K M G St C G Leask, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Renansart at 09:40/10:40 – Capt K G Leask, No 84 Squadron, whilst on offensive patrol, was attacked by a large number of E.A. Scouts, one of which he shot down out and was seen by an observer of another squadron to crash near Renansart

    Capt A H G Fellowes, 54 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control north-east of St Quentin at 09:45/10:45 - Ltn d R Erich Bahr, Jasta 11, Kia [?]

    Lieut R H Little & Lieut L N Jones, 48 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed La Fère - Hanegicourt at 09:50/10:50 - Lieuts R H Little and L N Jones, No 48 Squadron, attacked a formation of enemy scouts but were themselves attacked by an E.A. formation from above. One E.A. was shot down out of control and was seen to crash

    Capt R W Chappell, 41 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Niergnies at 10:00/11:00 -

    2nd-Lieut E Pybus & Lieut T W Cave, 35 Sqn, EA out of control [by Cave] Bellenglise at 10:40/11:40 -

    Capt A J Brown and 2nd-Lieut A K Cowper, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control St Quentin at 10:55/11:55 -

    2nd-Lieut H B Richardson, 24 Sqn, Fokker DrI broke up Fontaine at 10:55/11:55 - 2nd-Lieut H B Richardson, No 24 Squadron, dived on one of five E.A scouts and after firing about 60 rounds both left planes broke off the E.A. machine which fell between Fontaine and Croin

    Lieut F J Scott, 4 AFC, Rumpler C crashed east of Lens at 11:00/12:00 – Lieut F J Scott, 4th Squadron A.F.C., shot down a Rumpler two-seater, which was confirmed by an observer of No 5 Squadron to have crashed near Lens

    2nd-Lieut F R McCall & 2nd-Lieut F C Farrington, 13 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Monchy-le-Preux at 11:15/12:15 - Ltn Schonger, Jasta 23, Wia [?]
    Sergt W McCleery & Sergt W N Dyke, 18 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Lens - Pont-à-Vendin at 11:15/12:15 -
    Sergt W McCleery & Sergt W N Dyke, 18 Sqn, two-seater out of control Lens - Pont-à-Vendin at 11:15/12:15 -
    2nd-Lieut D A Stewart & 2nd-Lieut H W M Mackay, 18 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control by Stewart Lens - Pont-à-Vendin at 11:15/12:15 -
    2nd-Lieut D A Stewart & 2nd-Lieut H W M Mackay, 18 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control by Stewart Lens - Pont-à-Vendin at 11:15/12:15 -
    2nd-Lieut G W Bulmer & 2nd-Lieut S J Hunter, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control E La Bassée at 11:15/12:15 -
    2nd-Lieut L N Franklin, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Inchy at 11:15/12:15 -
    2nd-Lieut D A Stewart & 2nd-Lieut H W M Mackay, 18 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control [by Mackay] Lens - Pont-à-Vendin at 11:20/12:20 -
    2nd-Lieut D A Stewart & 2nd-Lieut H W M Mackay, 18 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control [by Mackay] Lens - Pont-à-Vendin at 11:20/12:20 -
    Capt A G Waller & Sergt M B Kilroy, 18 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Carvin at 11:25/12:25 -
    Capt A G Waller & Sergt M B Kilroy, 18 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Carvin at 11:25/12:25 -

    Lieut R J Owen, 43 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed east of Bois du Biez at 12:00/13:00 - 2nd-Lieut R J Owen, No 43 Squadron, whilst on patrol, was attacked by eight E.A. scouts, one of which he shot down and was confirmed by “B” Battery A.A. to have crashed near the Bois du Biez

    Capt J H Tudhope, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of La Bassée at 12:00/13:00 -

    2nd-Lieut W L Harrison, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north-east of La Bassée at 12:00/13:00 -

    2nd-Lieut F Belway & 1/AM F Rose, 13 Sqn, Albatros Scout captured south of Feuchy at 12:15/13:15 - 2nd-Lieut F Belway and 1st/A.M. P Rose, No 13 Squadron, whilst on artillery observation, shot down an enemy scout, which landed in our lines south of Feuchy; Ltn d R Otto Hohmuth, Js23b, Pow

    Flt Lieut S W Rosevear, 1N Sqn, Fokker DrI destroyed Bouchoir at 13:15/14:15 -

    2nd-Lieut J J Dawe, 24 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control La Fère at 13:40/14:40 -

    2nd-Lieut D R MacLaren, 46 Sqn, Hannover CL out of control east of Douai at 13:45/14:45 -

    Lieut G D Jenkins, 46 Sqn, Hannover CL out of control east of Douai at 13:45/14:45 -

    Capt G E Thomson, 46 Sqn, Hannover CL out of control east of Douai at 13:45/14:45 -

    2nd-Lieut D M Clementz, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout captured at 13:45/14:45 - 2nd-Lieut D M Clements, No 24 Squadron, succeeded in shooting down an E.A. which collided with him in the air, and both machines crashed on our side of the lines; Ltn d R Otto Hohmuth, Js23, Pow [?]

    Lieut H F Davison & 2nd-Lieut J L Morgan, 22 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Douai at 14:00/15:00 -

    Sergt E J Elton & 2nd-Lieut G S L Hayward, 22 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Douai at 14:00/15:00 - Sergt E J Elton and 2nd-Lieut G S L Hayward, No 22 Squadron, shot down an E.A. which was seen to crash near Dechy

    Sergt E J Elton & 2nd-Lieut G S L Hayward, 22 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south-east of Douai at 14:10/15:10 -

    Lieut J W Wallwork, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north of Lens at 15:20/16:20 – 2nd-Lieut J W Wallork, 2nd-Lieut W L Harrison and Capt I P R Napier, all of No 40 Squadron, each attacked a hostile machine, and in each case shot it down out of control. All three E.A. were reported by ground observers to have crashed - one west of Lens; one north of Lens and one just north of Mericourt

    Capt R J Tipton, 40 Sqn, Pfalz Scout captured Lens at 16:20/17:20 - Capt R J Tipton, No 40 Squadron, whilst leading a patrol, observed seven Albatros Scouts. He singled out one of the E.A. and opened fire with both guns; the E.A went down vertically and crashed on this side of the lines; Ltn d R Otto Hohmuth, Js23, Pow [?]

    Capt I P R Napier, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north-east of Lens at 16:20/17:20 - 2nd-Lieut J W Wallork, 2nd-Lieut W L Harrison and Capt I P R Napier, all of No 40 Squadron, each attacked a hostile machine, and in each case shot it down out of control. All three E.A. were reported by ground observers to have crashed - one west of Lens; one north of Lens and one just north of Mericourt

    2nd-Lieut W L Harrison, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north-west of Lens at 16:25/17:25 - 2nd-Lieut J W Wallork, 2nd-Lieut W L Harrison and Capt I P R Napier, all of No 40 Squadron, each attacked a hostile machine, and in each case shot it down out of control. All three E.A. were reported by ground observers to have crashed - one west of Lens; one north of Lens and one just north of Mericourt

    2nd-Lieut R G Hammersley, 24 Sqn, DFW C out of control east of St Quentin at 16:35/17:35 -

    Capt G E H McElroy, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames east of St Quentin at 16:35/17:35 – Capt G E H McElroy, No 24 Squadron, attacked an Albatros Scout and fired 200 rounds from close range. The E.A. went down smoking and before reaching the ground burst into flames

    2nd-Lieut P A McDougall, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of St Quentin at 16:45/17:45 -

    One British Ace was killed on this day

    2nd Lieutenant Harry William MacKintosh MacKay 18 Squadron RFC. He was an observer who claimed FOUR kills on this day in his DH.4 before he too was killed in action.

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    The only son of William (a journalist and editor of "North British Agriculturalist") and Janet (Lauder) Mackay, Harry William MacKintosh MacKay was a member of the Aberdeen Grammar School Company of the Territorial Gordons before the war. After serving on the Western Front with the 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders Regiment, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 25 October 1917 and scored five victories as an observer with 18 Squadron in 1918.

    Lieutenant McKay was one of 13 British Airmen lost on this day

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    There is a long list of those claiming victories today including a first for Major Donald Roderick MacLaren 46 Squadron RFC. He would go on to record 54 victories between now and the end of the war.

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    The son of Robert James and Mary Jeanie MacLaren, Donald Roderick MacLaren's family moved from Ottawa to Calgary, Alberta, in 1900, where MacLaren attended public schools and Western Canada College. In 1911, his family moved to Vancouver. MacLaren attended McGill University in Montreal from 1912 to 1914, but left the university due to an illness and returned to Vancouver where he completed a surveyor's course and worked as a fur trapper for several years with his father.
    MacLaren joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1917. With 54 victories, he was the highest scoring ace to fly the Sopwith Camel. MacLaren scored his final victory on 9 October 1918. His combat career came to an end the following day when he broke his leg while wrestling with a friend. Following the Armistice, he helped form the Royal Canadian Air Force before retiring to begin a career in civil aviation. MacLaren became superintendent of Canadian Airways, Ltd. before being named Assistant to the Vice-President in charge of operations for Trans-Canada Airlines in 1937. He was also the founding father of the Air Cadet League of Canada and was invested into Canada's aviation hall of fame in 1977.

    MC: T./2nd Lt. Donald Rodrick MacLaren, Gen. List and R.F.C.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one occasion, when on low bombing work, he bombed a long-range enemy gun 9,000 yards behind the lines, obtaining from a height of 200 feet two direct hits on the gun truck and two on the railway track alongside. When returning to our lines he encountered a hostile two-seater machine, which he shot down crashing to earth. He then attacked a balloon, which burst into flames, and finally, observing another enemy two-seater plane, he engaged it and eventually succeeded in crashing it to earth. He has set an excellent example of gallantry and skill to his squadron.

    DSO: Lieut. (A./Capt.) Donald Roderick MacLaren, M.C., D.F.C. (FRANCE)
    Bold in attack and skilful in manoeuvre, Captain MacLaren is conspicuous for his success in aerial combats. On 24th September he and his patrol of three machines attacked a formation of six enemy scouts, although the latter were protected by sixteen other enemy aircraft at a higher altitude. Firing a burst at point-blank range, this officer shot down one in flames. In all he has accounted for forty eight enemy machines and six kite balloons

    DFC: Lieut. (T./Capt.) Donald Roderick MacLaren, M.C.
    Accompanied by two other pilots, this officer attacked four enemy aeroplanes; all of these were destroyed; he himself fought two down to within 200 feet of the ground, destroying both. The two pilots who were with him each accounted for one of the remaining two. It was a well-conceived manoeuvre ably carried out, reflecting credit on all concerned. This officer has in four and a half months accounted for 37 hostile aircraft and six balloons, displaying great resolution and exceptional tactical ability.

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    Today's victory claims:

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    Middle East
    Arabia: Turks (including 703rd German battalion) retake Tafila from Zeid and drive him on to Shobek on March 7, but Arabs re-occupy Taftla on March 20.

    Eastern Front
    Russia: 7th Bolshevik Congress renames Party Communist, majority vote for peace on March 8.
    Finland: Peace Treaty signed with Germany at Berlin.

    Sea War

    Britain: War Cabinet gives 1917 Allied and neutral shipping losses, a 2,632,297t deficit.

    Air War

    Western Front: Royal Flying Corps night bombing of railways, airfields and ammo dump on 7 nights until March 20.

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    81

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  48. #3098

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    A belated congratulations Chris, Neil and Rob, on the 250,000 views - cause for celebration I believe. Many many thank you's for the dedication and hard work

  49. #3099

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    Many thanks Mike

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  50. #3100

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    7th March 1918


    German Air Raid


    On the night of 7 March 1918, Rfa 501 despatched six ‘Giants’ to attack London but one turned back when an engine seized.



    The first to reach London, R.39, carried a single 1,000kg bomb. Having reached the coast at Deal at 10.56pm, R.39 crossed the Thames Estuary at about 11.30pm having been under AA gunfire for much of its course over Kent. More gunfire traced its westward course towards London, where R.39 became a target for the Tower Bridge gun at 11.47pm. Eight minutes later, R.39 released its bomb. It fell about half a mile north-west of Paddington Station, on Warrington Crescent, a quiet residential road in Maida Vale. The massive bomb exploded on the dividing wall between Nos. 63 and 65, destroying both buildings and those on either side. Serious damage extended to 20 other houses in the street and around 400 in the surrounding area suffered damage to a lesser extent, leaving 12 dead and 33 injured. R.39 headed back over Kent, still attracting AA fire before reaching the coast at about 1.00am.

    The second ‘Giant’ to reach London — possibly R.27 — came inland over Broadstairs, at 11.00pm. Heading west, she crossed the Thames Estuary to Essex and followed a course skirting London to the north. At 12.05am observers at Potter’s Bar noted her heading south and about ten minutes later two bombs fell in the Belsize Park area of north-west London. One exploded in the garden of a large house at 15 Lyndhurst Gardens where it smashed a greenhouse, damaged a brick wall and iron railings as well as causing damage to the house. Many houses in surrounding streets suffered broken windows. The second bomb caused severe damage to the upper floors of 31 and 32 Belsize Square and damaged Nos 33 and 34 while causing lesser damage to 58 other properties. The next four bombs fell in St. John’s Wood. Two fell in gardens in Townshend Road where one failed to detonate. The other caused damage to Nos. 37, 39 and 41 and smashed windows in 31 neighbouring properties. In New Street (now Newcourt Street) a bomb destroyed No. 11 killing six people and injuring two, severely damaging the houses on both sides and smashing windows in 21 others. The last bomb exploded in St. John’s Wood Road, outside Lord’s Cricket Ground, killing two men, severely damaging the Lord’s Hotel and causing some damage to the cricket ground. Heading south, the ‘Giant’ crossed the Thames and dropped a final bomb on London in Burland Road, on the west side of Clapham Common. It exploded in the street at 12.25am, smashing both a gas main and water main and partially demolished Nos. 14, 16 and 18. Incredibly, only one person suffered injury. Damage extended to 25 other properties in the street and to 77 in neighbouring roads. Following a route home over Kent, a final bomb exploded in a wood near the village of Hayes in Kent at around 1.00am. The raider crossed the coast at Dover at 1.50am.

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    A third ‘Giant’ reached London, dropping its bombs on the north-western outskirts. Coming inland over Broadstairs at 11.33pm, the ‘Giant’ headed west facing AA fire and 16 minutes later crossed the Thames Estuary. Guns in Essex then opened fire but the raider continued to the north of London, reaching Enfield at 12.23am where it turned south. A few minutes later three bombs exploded in fields behind houses in Addison Way, between Golders Green and Finchley, causing damage to 30 properties. The ‘Giant’ then turned away from London, dropping its next bomb in Dollis Avenue, Finchley, causing damage to 72 houses, with those closest to the explosion seriously affected. Following an evasive course, a bomb dropped in a field on Frith Lane, Mill Hill, smashing windows in two houses, followed by one that exploded in the back garden of 16 Totteridge Lane, Whetstone, damaging 157 houses, some seriously. One man died here with 10 other people injured. Heading back over Essex, the ‘Giant’ passed out to sea near Bradwell at about 2.00am.

    Two of the raiders failed to reach London. One of these came inland near Foulness in Essex at 11.10pm. Encountering AA fire, its course deflected north of London into Bedfordshire where at about midnight four bombs fell in Luton Hoo Park, just south of Luton, digging craters and damaging a small shed. Now heading towards London, the ‘Giant’ ran into AA fire from guns at Harpenden and Wheathampstead at about 12.10am, which forced her to turn away to the north-east. More gunfire caused further changes of direction and at about 12.40am, as the raider reached the village of Great Munden in Hertfordshire, a bomb dropped in a ploughed field on Mentley Farm. Moments later, ten more bombs landed around the village of Much Hadham. The first exploded in a field on the Moor Park estate not far from the mansion, eight fell in fields at Danebridge and one on a disused brick kiln nearby. The bombs damaged the kiln, the roof of a cattle shed, crops in a wheat field, while two cottages had their windows smashed and ceilings damaged. After dodging more AA fire, the ‘Giant’ eventually went out to sea near Harwich at about 1.55am. The other raider that failed to reach London had come inland near Southend-on-Sea, Essex, at 11.18pm. Facing heavy AA fire as it headed west, it turned away from London when near Billericay. More guns opened fire as it headed back to the coast before it dropped a 100kg bomb at Tillingham at 12.20am, which fell harmlessly in a field at Stowe’s Farm. The aircraft then crossed the Thames Estuary to the Kent side where more AA guns engaged. Appearing over Herne Bay, the ‘Giant’ dropped a 100kg bomb on the beach at 1.02am. The blast seriously damaged five houses, caused slight damage to four, smashed windows in 30 others and caused much damage at the St. George’s Hotel. Coming inland to Broomfield, a bomb dropped in a field close to Broomfield Hall but caused no damage. The raider went out to sea near Broadstairs at about 1.25am.

    The five ‘Giants’ kept the AA guns busy with 9,737 rounds fired. No RNAS aircraft took off and none of the pilots of the 42 RFC aircraft saw any sign of the raiders. Sadly two pilots — Captain A.B. Kynoch (37 Squadron) and Captain H.C. Stroud (61 Squadron) — died when their aircraft collided over Essex.

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    Air War
    Britain: 3 of 6 ‘Giant’ bombers sent attack London (63 casualties, 25 houses destroyed, night March 7-8) in moonless conditions; second 2,204lb bomb employed. 42 defence sorties killed 2 pilots in collision, no sightings.
    Occupied Belgium: Scheldewindeke Giant bomber base opens south of Ghent, probably first airfield with paved runways.

    Eastern Front
    Germany: Hindenburg persuades Kaiser invading Finland ‘healthy pressure’ on Reds. Hoffman diary ‘Our Bolshevik friends are now beginning to destroy the railways’.

    Home Fronts
    Britain: Commons votes record £600 million war credit. Estimated daily cost per day £6.75 million.
    USA*: Wilson authorizes bronze Army medal DSM.

    THURSDAY, 7 MARCH 1918


    General Headquarters, March 8th.

    “Although the weather on the 7th instant was fine, the thick haze interfered with flying. None the less, our aeroplanes dropped on various targets three and a half tons of bombs, one ton of which was dropped on a hostile aerodrome east of St Quentin. A few fights took place, in which one German machine was brought down. None of our aeroplanes are missing.

    “During the night of the 7th-8th instant, our night bombing machines attacked the railway stations of Cambrai and Cusigny (south-east of Cambrai), in addition to billets and active hostile batteries, dropping a total of five tons of bombs. All our machines returned.”

    RFC Communiqué number 130:

    The weather was fine at first, but the visibility bad, the sky later being covered with clouds.

    Fifteen reconnaissances were carried out, seven of which were by machines of the 9th Wing. Six hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, four gun-pits damaged and five fires caused. Two zone calls were sent down.

    278 photographs were taken, and three-and-a-half tons of bombs dropped as follows:-

    Night 6th/7th – 8th Brigade: Six machines of No 100 Squadron left to bomb Frescatty Aerodrome (just south-west of Metz). Owing to a thick mist coming up suddenly the machines were recalled, but one pilot who failed to see the signal reached the objective and dropped one 230-lb, one 40-lb and five 25-lb bombs from 1,500 feet.

    Day 7th – 1st Brigade: 113 phorographs. No 18 Squadron dropped four 112-lb and 14 25-lb bombs on Salome, and two 112-lb and four 25-lb bombs on miscellaneous targets. 1st Wing dropped 60 25-lb bombs.

    2nd Brigade: Two 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: 37 25-lb bombs.
    5th Brigade: 15th Wing dropped 70 25-lb bombs, and Naval Squadron No 5 dropped 83 25-lb bombs on Mont d’Origny Aerodrome.

    Enemy Aircraft:


    Enemy aircraft activity was very slight.

    Capt J Fitz-Morris, 23 Sqn, Rumpler C in flames Urvillers at 08:10/09:10 – Capt J F Morris, No 23 Squadron, attacked a Rumpler two-seater which he shot down in flames. The E.A. turned completely over, diving into the mist with black smoke and flames coming from its fuselage

    Casualties:

    2nd-Lieut R E M Worsley (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut L W Harman (Ok), 12 Sqn, RE8 B2266 - petrol tank shot through at 3,000 feet by hostile machine-gun fire on line patrol

    The Austro Hungarian Ace Oberleutnant Alexander Tahy was hilled in a flying accident on this day. He had eight victories to his name.

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    After serving with an artillery regiment, Tahy transferred to the Army Air Service in early 1916. Posted to Flik 12 on the Isonzo front, he was soon reassigned to Flik 19 after a disagreement with his commanding officer. With this unit he was wounded in action on 3 December 1916 and scored five victories as an observer in less than seven months. Having learned to fly with Flik 19, Tahy transferred to Flik 51J in September 1917 and scored two more victories as a scout pilot. He was killed when his Albatros D.III (153.69) went into an unexplained spin over Mansue and crashed.

    The following claims were made on this day

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    Claiming his first 'kill' was Captain Francis Stanley Symondson 66 Squadron RFC. He would survive the war with 13 victories.

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    The son of Stanley Vernon and Jessie Kate (Uridge) Symondson, Trumpeter Francis Stanley Symondson, from the Honourable Artillery Company, was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 18 March 1915. After he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, he scored thirteen victories in Italy flying the Sopwith Camel with 66 Squadron in 1918.

    There were ten British airmen lost on this day, intotal there were 197 British lives lost on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men : Lt. John Charles Brison Redfearn (see 10th January) wrote, from the Officers Command Depot, South Camp, Ripon, to the War Office requesting a reassessment of his case,

    “I have the honour to request that you will grant me, at the earliest opportunity, a Special Medical Board on my case. I have been sent here from Pinewood Sanatorium, Wokingham, Berks. recently although not recovered from pulmonary tuberculosis, and since my arrival I have not felt at all well. I must apologise for writing direct, rather than through the command depot authorities, but I desire to have an independent examination of my case and I regret to say that I somehow feel that the Medical Staff have not taken a fair view of my case. At my last Board I strongly urged that I might be kept in the South of England somewhere; this place depresses me very greatly and I am unable to make any progress in these climatic conditions. May I beg that this Board be granted me as soon as possible.”

    The War Office replied simply that he must pursue his appeal through the proper channels.

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    82

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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