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Thread: 100 Years Ago Today

  1. #3501

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    9th August 1918


    OK we'll make a start catching up on this one...

    The 29th Battalion Australian Imperial Forces is involved in the capture of Vauvillers. Among those killed is

    Private William Reginald Rawlings MM who is uncle of Captain Reginald Saunders MBE the first Aboriginal commissioned officer in the Australian Military Forces who fought in World War II and Korea. He is killed at age 27. His friend
    Corporal Harry Thorpe MM who is regarded as a premier footballer and athlete in brigade sports as well as a scout is shot in the stomach and dies after being taken to a dressing station near Bayonvillers.
    The 6th London Regiment are at La Houssoye in the Somme sector and are ordered to take Chipilly Ridge, which involves the capture of a small track running along near the ridge of the crest. Three tanks are employed in support and at 16:15 the battalion moves off from its positions to begin the attack. As they round the edge of Celestines Wood they come under heavy machine gun fire and heavy casualties are sustained.

    Rifleman Reginald John Newberry (King’s Royal Rifle Corps attached London Regiment) is killed at age 18. His two brothers have been previously killed in the Great War.
    On a bombing raid the machine in which Second Lieutenant. Samuel Lilburn Dunlop (Royal Air Force) is the observer is attacked by a number of enemy airplanes, one of which he shoots down in flames. On the return journey, he and his pilot, Lieutenant G Beveridge, are again attacked. He succeeds in shooting down a second machine in flames. In this latter attack Lieutenant Beveridge is severely wounded and faints. Second Lieutenant Dunlop immediately takes the controls. Leaning over the fuselage to support his pilot, steering the machine and at intervals firing on the enemy aircraft as they close on him, he makes for our lines, and with the help of the pilot, who has recovered consciousness, lands in safety.

    Captain Norman Goudie (Royal Air Force) and his observer, Second Lieutenant R McK Jamison, at low altitudes observe about three hundred enemy infantry massed in a sunken road and offering a strong resistance to our advancing troops. By keeping them under continual machine gun fire, they succeed in demoralizing the enemy, so much that they hold up a piece of white cloth as a sign of surrender. Captain Goudie ceases fire but remains in the vicinity until our troops push forward and take the enemy prisoners.

    During an attack when the advance is much impedd by hostile machine guns concealed in crops and shell holes Sergeant Thomas James Harris VC MM (Royal West Kent Regiment) leads his section against one of these capturing it and killing seven of the enemy. Later on two successive occasions he attacks single handed two enemy machine guns which are causing heavy casualties and holding up the advance. He captures the first gun and kills the crew, but is himself killed when attacking the second one. He will be awarded the Victoria Cross posthumous Victoria Cross for his actions. One of five such awards on this day

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    Thomas James Harris VC MM (30 January 1892 – 9 August 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross. No. 358 Sjt. Thomas James Harris, M.M., late R.W. Kent R. (Lower Hailing, Kent).

    For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack when the advance was much impeded by hostile machine guns concealed in crops and shell-holes. Sjt. Harris led his section against one of these, capturing it and killing seven of the enemy.

    Later, on two successive occasions, he attacked single-handed two enemy machine guns which were causing heavy casualties and holding up the advance. He captured the first gun and killed the crew, but was himself killed when attacking the second one.

    It was largely due to the great courage and initiative of this gallant N.C.O. that the advance of the battalion was continued without delay and undue casualties. Throughout the operations he showed a total disregard for his own personal safety, and set a magnificent example to all ranks.

    Son of William John and Sarah Ann Harris of Rochester[1] He was 26 years old, and a serjeant in the 6th (Service) Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, British Army during the First World War. On 9 August 1918 at Morlancourt, France, he performed the deeds for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

    Private Robert Matthew Beatham (Australian Infantry) is killed at age 24 during the attack north of Rosieres, east of Amiens. When the advance is held up by heavy machine gun fire, he dashes forward, and, assisted by Lance Corporal Nottingham, bombs and fights the crews of four enemy machine guns, killing ten of them and capturing ten others, thus facilitating the advance and saving many casualties. When the final objective is reached, although previously wounded, he again dashes forward and bombs a machine gun, being riddled with bullets and killed in doing so. For his actions on this day he will be posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

    Robert Matthew Beatham, VC (16 June 1894 – 11 August 1918) was a British-born Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross.

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    Beatham was born on 16 June 1894 to John and Elizabeth Beatham, who resided at Glassonby, Cumberland, England. He was educated at a local school and as a teenager, he emigrated to Australia with his brother Walter. He was labouring at Geelong in Victoria when he volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force on 8 January 1915. Beatham was posted to the 8th Battalion with the rank of private. He embarked on HMAT Hororata from Melbourne on 17 April 1915 for Suez but returned to Australia in August 1915 due to venereal disease. After recuperating he embarked for Gallipoli as a reinforcement for 8th Battalion. He saw nearly a month of active service at Gallipoli before the general evacuation to Alexandria.

    From there Beatham was sent to France, arriving with his battalion in Marseilles on 31 March 1916 en route for the Western Front. Later that year he participated in the Battle of Pozières during which he was wounded. After six weeks of recuperation he rejoined his unit in late September 1917. He was wounded a second time on 4 October 1917 at Broodseinde during the Battle of Passchendaele and was evacuated to England for treatment and recovery. During his sojourn in England he was found guilty of being absent without leave over the New Year of 1918 and was given field punishment and a forfeit of pay. He rejoined his unit in February 1918.

    On 9 August 1918 at Rosières, east of Amiens, on the second day of the Battle of Amiens, Beatham's battalion was attacking high ground when it was held up by heavy machine gun fire after supporting armour was knocked out of action. Beatham, accompanied by Lance Corporal W. G. Nottingham, made four charges to knock out a series of German machine gun posts holding back the advance of the Australians. Wounded in the leg during the first charge, he was killed taking out a final machine gun post on 11 August. For his gallantry he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC). Gazetted on 14 December 1918, the citation for his VC read as follows:

    For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice during the attack north of Rosieres, east of Amiens, on 9th Aug., 1918. When the advance was held up by heavy machine gun fire, Pte. Beatham dashed forward, and, assisted by one man, bombed and fought the crews of four enemy machine guns, killing ten of them and capturing ten others, thus facilitating the advance and saving many casualties. When the final objective was reached, although previously wounded, he again dashed forward and bombed a machine gun, being riddled with bullets and killed in doing so. The valour displayed by this gallant soldier inspired all ranks in a wonderful manner. Beatham is buried at Heath Cemetery, in Harbonnières. His Victoria Cross is held in a private collection in Melbourne. It sold in 1999 for a then record price for an Australian VC of A$178,500. Five of his brothers saw active service in the First World War; two died and another spent two years as a prisoner of war. Robert's younger brother Walter also enlisted in the AIF and served with 21st Battalion and survived the war.

    Alexander Picton Brereton VC (13 November 1892 – 10 January 1976) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross

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    He was the son of a Manitoba farmer, Cloudesley Picton Brereton and Annie Frazer Black. He married Mary Isabel McPhee on 17 Jun 1925 and had three children. He was a barber. Brereton joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in January 1916. Brereton was 25 years old, and an acting corporal in the 8th (Winnipeg Rifles) Battalion, CEF during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 9 August 1918 east of Amiens, France, during an attack when a line of hostile machine-guns opened fire suddenly on his platoon which was in an exposed position with no cover Corporal Brereton realised that unless something was done, his platoon would be annihilated. On his own initiative he at once sprang forward alone and, reaching one of the enemy machine-gun posts, shot the operator of the gun and bayoneted the next one who attempted to operate it, whereupon nine others surrendered. His action inspired the platoon to charge and capture the five remaining posts. He later achieved the rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant during World War II. He is at buried at Elnora Cemetery, Elnora, Alberta, Canada. Brereton's medals are on display at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery, Imperial War Museum in London.

    Frederick George Coppins VC (25 October 1889 – 20 March 1963) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross.

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    He was 28 years old, and a corporal in the 8th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

    On 9 August 1918 at Hatchet Woods, near Amiens, France, Corporal Coppins' platoon came unexpectedly under fire of numerous machine-guns. It was not possible to advance or retire and there was no cover. Corporal Coppins, calling on four men to follow him, leapt forward in the face of intense machine-gun fire and rushed straight for the guns. The four men with him were killed and he was wounded, but going on alone, he killed the operator of the first gun and three of the crew and took four prisoners. Despite his wound, he then continued with his platoon to the final objective.

    After the war, he returned to Winnipeg. He enlisted as a special constable during the Winnipeg General Strike. Within hours of his appointment, he charged his horse into a gathering of strikers and was dragged off his horse and severely pummelled. Coppins played a minor role in the 1930 film All Quiet on the Western Front, as a German machine gunner. A record exists for his enlistment in World War II at Angel's Camp Calaveras Co. California aged 50 but it is unknown what role he played. He later moved to California where he died. He is interred at the Chapel of the Chimes columbarium in Oakland, California. Coppins' medals are located in a collection at the Royal Winnipeg Rifles Museum, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    Raphael Louis Zengel VC MM (11 November 1894 – 27 February 1977) was an American-born Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross.

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    Zengel was born at Faribault, Minnesota. As a young boy, he and his mother Mary moved to a homestead near the village of Plunkett, Saskatchewan. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in July 1915. Zengel received the Military Medal in March 1918 for taking command of his platoon when his officer and sergeant had been put out of action. He was 23 years old, and a sergeant of the 5th (Western Cavalry) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, during the First World War, when on 9 August 1918 east of Warvillers, France, he performed the deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

    The citation reads:

    No. 424252 Sjt. Raphael Louis Zengel, M.M., Saskatchewan R.

    For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when protecting the battalion right flank. He was leading his platoon gallantly forward to the attack, but had not gone far when he realised that a gap had occurred on his flank, and that an enemy machine gun was firing at close range into the advancing line. Grasping the situation, he rushed forward some 200 yards ahead of the platoon, tackled the machine-gun emplacement, killed the officer and operator of the gun, and dispersed the crew. By his boldness and prompt action he undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his comrades. Later, when the battalion was held up by very heavy machine-gun fire, he displayed much tactical skill and directed his fire with destructive results. Shortly afterwards he was rendered unconscious for a few minutes by an enemy shell, but on recovering consciousness he at once continued to direct harassing fire on the enemy. Sjt. Zengel's work throughout the attack was excellent, and his utter disregard for personal safety, and the confidence he inspired in all ranks, greatly assisted in bringing the attack to a successful end.

    It was a very busy day in the air with the following claims being made.

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    Not suprisingly RAF losses were considerable - amongst those falling today were:

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    Top performance for the day was from Lieutenant James Alfred Keating DFC. DSC. 49 Squadron RAF who downed 4 enemy planes on this day winning the DFC in the process. This was achieved flying DH.9 C2202

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    Unlike most volunteers, James Alfred Keating was a married man when he joined the United States Air Service in 1917. After successfully completing flight training and receiving a commission, he was sent to England for additional instruction as a bomber pilot attached to the Royal Flying Corps. In June 1918, Keating was assigned to 49 Squadron as a D.H.9 pilot. Two months later, he and his observer were credited with five victories in two days of aerial combat. They scored their first victory over a Pfalz D.III on the morning of 8 August 1918. The following day, returning from a successful bombing mission against the bridge at Falvey, they shot down four Fokker D.VIIs in a running battle that lasted twenty minutes. For this action, Keating and his observer were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

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    For gallantry and skill. On 9 August 1918, he bombed Falvy Bridge from 1,000 feet obtaining a direct hit. The formation was attacked on its way home by 25-30 EA and a running fight ensued to our lines. Lt. Keating showed exceptional coolness and judgement, and by skilful flying, enabled his observer to shoot down two EA in flames over Marchélepot and Ablaincourt. Two more EA were shot down by the formation and seen to crash in the vicinity of Soyecourt. His machine was so badly shot about that he was forced to land in the shell crater area. On 8 August [1918], after bombing Bethencourt Bridge from 800 feet, obtaining a direct hit, he found seven Pfalz scouts attacking his formation from the rear. He maneuvered for position, enabling his observer to shoot down one in flames over Bethencourt. On 17 July [1918], he bombed Passy Bridge from 500 feet, destroying it just as a column of transport was passing. He then opened machine gun fire on the troops in the vicinity, causing many casualties and great disorder. He has taken part in many successful bomb raids and his excellent example of coolness and courage in action is of the greatest service to his squadron.

    The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to James Alfred Keating, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in the skies over France during the months of July and August, 1918. On August 9, 1918, Lieutenant Keating bombed Falvy Bridge over 1,000 feet, obtaining a direct hit. On returning, his formation was attacked by enemy planes and a running fight ensued. By skillfully flying with exceptional coolness he enabled his observer to shoot two planes down in flames. On August 8, 1918, after bombing Bethincourt Bridge over 800 feet, obtaining a direct hit, he found 7 enemy planes attacking his formation from the rear. By maneuvering for position he enabled his observer to shoot one down in flames over Bethincourt. On July 17, 1918, he bombed Passy Bridge over 500 feet, destroying it just as a column of transport was passing. He then opened machine-gun fire on the troops in the vicinity, causing many casualties and great disorder. His exceptional courage and splendid bravery were a constant inspiration to the members of his command.

    There were also Hat Tricks for Leutnant Otto Könnecke of Jasta 25 and Leutnant Arthur Laumann of Jasta 66

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    After two years in an artillery regiment, Laumann's request for a transfer to the German Air Force was approved. While with Jasta 66, his first victory was over a SPAD during the dogfight in which his commander, Rudolf Windisch, was killed. Laumann, who's Fokker D.VII carried the initials " AL" on the fuselage, was the last member of Jagdgeschwader I to be awarded the Blue Max.

    The Battle of Amiens

    The advance continued on 9 August, though without the spectacular results of the first day. The battle was widened on the north and the south of the initial attack (with the southern part of the battle (involving French forces) called Battle of Montdidier (French: Bataille de Montdidier).

    The infantry had outrun the supporting artillery, and the initial force of more than 500 tanks that played a large role in the Allied success was reduced to six battle-ready tanks within four days. The Germans on Chipilly Spur commanded a wide field of fire to the south of the Somme, and their flanking fire held up the left units of the Australian Corps until late on 9 August, when a small Australian party slipped across the river and captured the village of Chipilly itself, together with a renewed attack by III Corps. On the Canadian front, congested roads and communication problems prevented the British 32nd Division being pushed forward rapidly enough to maintain the momentum of the advance. On 10 August, there were signs that the Germans were pulling out of the salient from Operation Michael. According to official reports, the Allies had captured nearly 50,000 prisoners and 500 guns by 27 August. Even with the lessened armour the British drove 19 km (12 mi) into German positions by 13 August.

    Field Marshal Haig refused the request of Marshal Foch to continue the offensive, preferring instead to launch a fresh offensive by Byng's Third Army between the Ancre and Scarpe.

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    The Battle of Amiens was a major turning point in the tempo of the war. The Germans had started the war with the Schlieffen Plan before the Race to the Sea slowed movement on the Western Front and the war devolved into trench warfare. The German Spring Offensive earlier that year had once again given Germany the offensive edge on the Western Front. Armoured support helped the Allies tear a hole through trench lines, weakening once impregnable trench positions: the British Third Army, with no armoured support, had almost no effect on the line, while the Fourth, with fewer than a thousand tanks, broke deep into German territory. Australian commander John Monash was knighted in the days following the battle.

    British war correspondent Philip Gibbs noted Amiens' effect on the war's tempo, saying on 27 August that, "the enemy...is on the defensive" and, "the initiative of attack is so completely in our hands that we are able to strike him at many different places." Gibbs also credits Amiens with a shift in troop morale, saying, "the change has been greater in the minds of men than in the taking of territory. On our side the army seems to be buoyed up with the enormous hope of getting on with this business quickly" and that, "there is a change also in the enemy's mind. They no longer have even a dim hope of victory on this western front. All they hope for now is to defend themselves long enough to gain peace by negotiation.

    WESTERN FRONT
    Somme: *Germans momentarily reoccupy Chipilly north of the river Somme, British with 145 tanks (39 knocked out) and joined US 167th Regiment, capture Morlancourt and Rosieres-Lihons; advance up to 3 miles despite facing 6 extra German divisions, 3,884 Canadian soldiers capture 8 villages and Australian casualties. French take 2 villages and encircle Montdidier with 6 divisions.
    Flanders: British advance west of Merville to Locon.

    AIR WAR
    Austria – The Vienna Raid: Gabriele D’Annunzio organizes daylight leaflet drop; 7 SVA5s and 1 two-seater SVA9 (Palli and D’Annunzio) fly 625 miles San Pelagio-Vienna and back, loitering 30 minutes over city, drop 200,000 manifestos calling on the Viennese to throw off ‘Prussian servitude’.
    Western Front: Allies again lose heavily attacking Somme bridges, RAF loses c.35 of 45 aircraft lost for 3 German planes.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 08-11-2018 at 11:09.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  2. #3502

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    Well after a short intermission - (not too long this time thank goodness) we are back in print - I will update yesterday's post when I have a little more time - probably tomorrow

    10th August 1918

    Lots going on today, so we will try to cover as much as possible.

    During this morning Captain Henry John Burden DFC.DSO (Royal Air Force) leads his patrol in three attacks and he destroys three enemy machines. This evening he destroys two more. Captain William Roy Irwin (Royal Air Force) leads his flight down to attack fifteen Fokkers. In the engagement that ensues he shows brilliant leadership and personal courage, accounting for two machines.

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    The son of Charles Elbridge and Maggie (Eaton) Burden, Henry John Burden first saw action in the trenches of France. After almost a year with the 75th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in April 1917. Flying the S.E.5a with 56 Squadron in France, he shot down five Fokker D.VIIs on 10 August 1918, for which he was awarded the DSO. Two days later he shot down three more. Burden was William Bishop's brother-in-law. Later became an architect and died in hospital after an illness of several months. He was 64.

    DFC: Lt. (T./Capt.) Henry John Burden (Can. Forestry C.).
    This officer took a prominent part in a most successful low bombing attack on an aerodrome. He obtained a direct hit on the objective allotted to him. He further set fire to three enemy machines on the ground with machine-gun fire. On the return journey he attacked a canal boat. In each case flying at a very low altitude. A gallant and able patrol leader, who has destroyed three enemy aeroplanes and driven one down out of control, in addition to the three destroyed on the ground.

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    DSO: Lieut. (T./Capt.) Henry John Burden, D.F.C. (Can. Forestry C.).
    Since joining his Squadron in February this Officer has accounted for seventeen enemy machines—twelve crashed, two driven down, out of control and three destroyed in flames on the ground during an attack on an aerodrome. On the morning of the 10th August he led his patrol in three attacks and himself destroyed three enemy machines. In the evening of the same day he destroyed two more. Two days later he attacked a large number of Fokkers, seven of which were destroyed, accounting for three himself. In this encounter Captain Burden led his patrol with exceptional skill and daring.

    On a very busy day in the air we also saw a hat-trick of victories from :

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    Willy Coppens claimed three more balloons on this day taking his total number of 'kills' to 25 (23 balloons and two enemy scouts) Name:  balloon.PNG
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    Captain William Carpenter Lambert DFC 24 Squadron RAF (no relation - editor)

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    The son of William G. and Mary Lambert, William Carpenter Lambert was born and raised in Ironton, Ohio. He was first introduced to aviation at the age of 10 or 11 when an aviator flying a Wright Flyer arrived in Ironton for the annual 4th of July celebration. Lambert went for a ride and the pilot allowed him to handle the controls. In 1914 Lambert left his job as a chemist, in Buffalo, New York, to go to Canada to enlist in the Royal Artillery. When he arrived, there were no openings and he found work as a chemist and factory supervisor at the Nobel plant in Montreal. He was employed by Canadian Explosives Limited from 1914 to 1916.

    In the spring of 1917 Lambert joined the Royal Flying Corps and received his training at Long Branch, Camp Borden, Camp Mohawk and Camp Rathbone. He sailed from Canada on 19 November 1917. Posted to 24 Squadron in France on 20 March 1918, he had 32 aerial combats and scored 18 victories before he was sent to hospital for battle fatigue on 20 August 1918. He was given home leave and remained at home for the remainder of the war. After the war, Lambert spent a year barnstorming with air shows in the eastern United States. He worked as an engineer, started manufacturing airplanes with a friend in Dayton, Ohio, and flew the U.S. Air Mail route from Cleveland, Ohio to Washington, D.C. Active in the U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve since the 1920s, he served as an engineer during World War II and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1954. An accomplished artist who made many sketches and paintings of his flying experiences, Lambert sold prints from his collection later in life. He also wrote two books: "Barnstorming and Girls" and "Combat Report." One of his prize memorabilia from the Great War was a piece of fabric from Manfred von Richthofen's red Fokker DR.I triplane.

    Lambert died following a long illness. He was buried in the uniform he wore so proudly as a Lieutenant Colonel in World War II. He was 87.

    Two German Aces were lost on this day, including one of the top scoring aces of the entire war...

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    Oberleutnant Erich Löwenhardt (7 April 1897 – 10 August 1918) was the 3rd highest German flying ace with 54 victories during the First World War, behind only Manfred von Richthofen and Ernst Udet.

    Löwenhardt was born in Breslau, Silesia, German Empire on 7 April 1897, the son of a doctor. He received his education at a military school in Lichterfelde. He was 17 when hostilities erupted in August 1914 and was assigned to the German Army's Infantry Regiment Nr. 141; he saw infantry action on the Eastern Front with them. Young Löwenhardt was wounded near Łódź but remained on duty as standard bearer for his regiment as it fought in the Battle of Tannenberg. As reward for his courage] on 2 October 1914 he was commissioned. On 30 October he was both wounded and decorated with the Iron Cross Second Class. After convalescing, he returned to his unit in the Carpathians. In early 1915 he received the Iron Cross 1st Class for saving the lives of five wounded men. Löwenhardt then transferred to the Alpine Corps on the Italian Front. However, he fell ill and was invalided from service as unfit for duty.

    After five months' recuperation, Löwenhardt volunteered for the Imperial German Army Air Service and qualified as an aerial observer. He then completed pilot training in 1916. Service in two-seaters with Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) (Flier Detachment (Artillery)) 265 followed. In January 1917, he underwent conversion training for fighters. He joined a fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 10 in March 1917. On 24 March 1917, Löwenhardt scored his first confirmed aerial victory, destroying an enemy observation balloon over Recicourt.

    Löwenhardt was an aggressive, skilled fighter whose score grew steadily. During this period, he flew Albatros and Pfalz planes. By the end of September he was an ace. He survived a forced landing on 20 September with a minor wound; the next day, he shot down his fifth victim. He posted two more claims in October, one of which was confirmed. On 6 November, his aircraft's lower wing was damaged during combat over Winkel Saint Eloi at 0830 hours, a dud antiaircraft shell smashing his left wingtip without exploding. Löwenhardt pulled his craft out of the resulting spin at 15 meters altitude, wheels down, and bounced into a tumbling wreck. He exited the wreckage shaken but otherwise unharmed. On 30 November 1917, he closed out his year with his eighth confirmed victory; he was credited with four balloons and four airplanes. Löwenhardt scored two more victims in January 1918: a balloon and a Bristol F.2 Fighter. In March, he added five more. On 1 April, just before his 21st birthday, he was appointed to command Jasta 10. The next month, Jasta 10 re-equipped with new Fokker D.VIIs. Löwenhardt continued to score; on 10 May, he destroyed an observation balloon for his 20th victory and became eligible for the Pour le Merite. The next day, he was awarded the Knight's Cross with Swords of the House Order of Hohenzollern; he also received the Austro-Hungarian Empire's Military Merit Cross. The Pour le Merite (commonly called the Blue Max) came on 31 May 1918, when Löwenhardt's tally had reached 24. By now, Löwenhardt was locked into an "ace race" with Ernst Udet and Lothar von Richthofen for the honor of being the top scoring ace in their fighter wing. The rivalry between Löwenhardt and the younger Richthofen was a friendly one, as they often flew as wingmen. Jasta 10 belonged to The Flying Circus, and when the wing commander's spot came open on 29 June 1918, Oberleutnant Löwenhardt was tapped for temporary command of it. By then, his tally stood at 27. When he surrendered the JG I command on 6 July, it had risen to 34. By the end of July 1918, Löwenhardt's total was 48: 9 balloons and 39 airplanes.

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    On 8 August, the Allied Forces launched the war's final offensive against the Germans. The British Royal Air Force led the assault, and Löwenhardt downed three of their airplanes. On the 9th, he shot down two more. On the 10th, flying despite a badly sprained ankle, Löwenhardt launched his yellow Fokker D.VII on a mid-day sortie leading a patrol heavily weighted with rookie pilots. He encountered No. 56 Squadron RAF and shot down a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a over Chaulnes, France at 1215 hours for his 54th victory. In the aftermath of the combat, he collided with another German pilot, Leutnant Alfred Wenz from Jasta 11. Löwenhardt's Fokker's landing gear slammed the upper right wing on Wenz's D.VII. Both pilots' planes were equipped with parachutes and both pilots bailed out. Erich Löwenhardt's chute failed to open and he fell to his death.

    Also lost on this day was Leutnant Fritz Putter a twenty five victory ace from Jasta 68

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    When the war began, Pütter joined the infantry and distinguished himself in combat on the Eastern Front before transferring to the German Air Force in May 1916. After nearly a month in a military hospital, he died from severe burns received when his Fokker's incendiary ammunition ignited on 16 July 1918.

    The following claims were made on this day...

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    In today's actions 24 members of the RAF lost their life:

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    Elsewhere:

    French troopship Polynesien was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea by German submarine SM UC-22 with the loss of 19 lives.

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    SS Polynesien was a French passenger ship that was sunk on 10 August 1918 in the Mediterranean Sea 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) off Valletta, Malta, by a torpedo launched by SM UC-22, captained by Eberhard Weichold. The ship was en route from Bizerte, Tunisia, to Thessaloniki, Greece. On board was a detachment of cadets and personnel of the Serbian army, including Serb heroine Milunka Savić. Most of the cadets survived the sinking, as did Savić, but eleven crew members and six passengers died. The survivors were rescued to Malta and healed at Cottonera Hospital

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    Milunka Savić CMG (Serbian Cyrillic: Милунка Савић; 28 June 1892/10 August 1895 – 5 October 1973) was a Serbian war heroine who fought in the Balkan Wars and in World War I. According to a Serbian source, she may be the most-decorated female combatant in the entire history of warfare. Savić was born in 1892, in the village of Koprivnica, near Raška, in Serbia. In 1913, her brother received call-up papers for mobilization for the Second Balkan War. She chose to go in his place—cutting her hair and donning men's clothes and joining the Serbian army. She quickly saw combat and received her first medal and was promoted to corporal in the Battle of Bregalnica. Engaged in battle, she sustained wounds and it was only then, when recovering from her injuries in hospital, that her true gender was revealed, much to the surprise of the attending physicians.

    "Savic was called before her commanding officer. They didn't want to punish her, because she had proven a valuable and highly competent soldier. The military deployment that had resulted in her gender being revealed had been her tenth. But neither was it suitable for a young woman to be in combat. She was offered a transfer to the Nursing division. Savic stood at attention and insisted she only wanted to fight for her country as a combatant. The officer said he'd think it over and give her his answer the next day. Still standing at attention, Savic responded, "I will wait." It is said he only made her stand an hour before agreeing to send her back to the infantry." In 1914, in the early days of World War I, Savić was awarded her first Karađorđe Star with Swords after the Battle of Kolubara. She received her second Karađorđe Star (with Swords) after the Battle of the Crna Bend in 1916 when she captured 23 Bulgarian soldiers single-handedly.

    She was awarded the French Légion d’Honneur (Legion of Honour) twice, Russian Cross of St. George, British medal of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael, Serbian Miloš Obilić medal. She was the sole female recipient of the French Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 with the gold palm attribute for service in World War I.

    She was demobilised in 1919, and turned down an offer to move to France, where she was eligible to collect a comfortable French army pension. Instead, she chose to live in Belgrade and found work as a postal worker. In 1923, she married Veljko Gligorijević, whom she met in Mostar, and divorced immediately after the birth of their daughter Milena. She also adopted three other daughters. In the interwar period, Milunka was largely forgotten by the general public. She worked several menial jobs up to 1927, after which she had steady employment as a cleaning lady in the State Mortgage Bank. Eight years later, she was promoted to cleaning the offices of the general manager.

    During the German occupation of Serbia in World War II, Milunka refused to attend a banquet organised by Milan Nedić, which was to be attended by German generals and officers. She was arrested and taken to Banjica concentration camp, where she was imprisoned for ten months. After the advent of socialism in 1945, she was given a state pension, and continued to live in her house in Belgrade's Voždovac neighborhood. By the late 1950s her daughter was hospitalized, and she was living in a crumbling house in Voždovac with her three adopted children: Milka, a forgotten child from the railway station in Stalac; Radmila-Višnja; and Zorka, a fatherless girl from Dalmatia. Later, when she attended the jubilee celebrations wearing her military medals, other military officers spoke with her and heard of her courageous actions. News spread and at last she gained recognition. In 1972, public pressure and a newspaper article highlighting her difficult housing and financial situation led to her being given a small apartment by the Belgrade City Assembly. She died in Belgrade on 5 October 1973, aged 81, and was buried in Novo groblje. A street in Belgrade is named after her.

    The American Expeditionary Forces established the First United States Army under the command of General John J. Pershing after sufficient men and equipment had arrived in France, becoming the oldest active American field army.

    First Army was established on 10 August 1918 as a field army when sufficient American military manpower had arrived in France during World War I. As an element of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in the latter stages of World War I it was the first of three field armies established under the AEF. Serving in its ranks were many figures who later played important roles in World War II. First Army was inactivated in April 1919.

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    As part of an army reorganization and final realization of the 1920 amendment to the National Defense Act of 1916, Army Chief of Staff, General Douglas MacArthur directed the establishment of four field armies that each commanded three corps areas that were geographically located. The field armies were established to provide organizational structure for large military organizations that might be mobilized in time of national need.

    First Army was located in the northeast United States and was activated on 11 September 1933 at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York. Initially activated as a paper army, it was commanded by General Dennis E. Nolan. Until 1942, First Army's commander was always the senior commander of one of its three corps areas. The First Corps Area was headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Second Corps Area was headquartered at Fort Jay, Governors Island, in New York, New York, and Third Corps Area was located at Fort Howard (Maryland) near Baltimore, Maryland. Since First Army was only a paper organization in its early days, its staff was the existing staff of the corps areas. The overall mission of the First Army was commanding and training regular army, army reserve and national guard units in the three corps areas. Nolan, the American Expeditionary Force's (AEF) chief of intelligence during World War I was followed by Major General Fox Conner, First Corps Area commander and another AEF veteran and its Chief of Operations. In the years after World War I, Conner was a crucial mentor in the careers of Dwight Eisenhower and George C. Marshall. Passed over as a candidate for Army Chief of Staff for Douglas MacArthur, Conner retired. In 1938 First Army came under command of General Hugh A. Drum. Drum, who along with a buildup of the Army in 1939 and through the early 1940s, began to develop First Army into a bona fide field army. It began to establish and develop its own staff and participated in the large scale Army maneuvers in Louisiana and North Carolina between 1939 and 1941. As the United States entered World War II, Drum was assigned command of the newly established Eastern Defense Command, responsible for coastal and domestic defense, which relieved First Army of this responsibility on 24 December 1942. Drum retired in 1943 when he reached mandatory retirement age. General George Grunert, commander of Second Service Command, assumed command of First Army until Headquarters, First Army was activated in Bristol, England in January 1944 under command of General Omar Bradley.

    First Army's entry into World War II began in October 1943 as Bradley returned to Washington, D.C. to receive his command and began to assemble a staff and headquarters to prepare for Operation Overlord, the codename assigned to the establishment of a large-scale lodgement on the European Continent following Operation Neptune, which was the invasion of Normandy. The headquarters were activated in January 1944 at Bristol, England.

    Upon going ashore on 6 June 1944, D-Day, First Army came under General Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group (alongside the British Second Army) which commanded all American ground forces during the invasion. Three American divisions were landed by sea at the western end of the beaches, and two more were landed by air. On Utah Beach, the assault troops made good progress, but Omaha Beach came nearest of all of the five landing areas to disaster. The two American airborne divisions that landed were scattered all over the landscape, and caused considerable confusion among the German soldiers, as well as largely securing their objectives, albeit with units completely mixed up with each other. First Army captured much of the early gains of the Allied forces in Normandy. Once the beachheads were linked together, its troops struck west and isolated the Cotentin Peninsula, and then captured Cherbourg. When the American Mulberry harbour was wrecked by a storm, Cherbourg became even more vital.

    After the capture of Cherbourg, First Army struck south. In Operation Cobra, its forces finally managed to break through the German lines. The newly established Third Army was then fed through the gap and raced across France.

    With the arrival of more US troops in France, the Army then passed from the control of 21st Army Group to the newly arrived 12th Army Group which commanded the First Army and the newly formed Third Army under Lieutenant General George S. Patton. General Bradley assumed command of the 12th Army Group and Lieutenant General Courtney Hodges was placed in command of the First Army. First Army followed Third Army, the American armies forming the southern part of the encirclement of Germans at the Falaise pocket.

    After capturing Paris (the Wehrmachtbefehlshaber von Groß-Paris, Dietrich von Choltitz, capitulated 25 August, ignoring Hitler's Trümmerfeldbefehl), First Army headed towards the south of the Netherlands.

    When the Germans attacked during the Battle of the Bulge, First Army found itself on the north side of the salient, and thus isolated from 12th Army Group, its commanding authority. It was, therefore, temporarily transferred, along with Ninth Army, back to 21st Army Group under Montgomery on 20 December. The salient was reduced by early February 1945. Following the Battle of the Bulge, the Rhineland Campaign began, and First Army was transferred back to 12th Army Group. In Operation Lumberjack, First Army closed up to the lower Rhine by 5 March, and the higher parts of the river five days later. On 7 March, in a stroke of luck, Company A, 27th Armored Infantry Battalion, part of Combat Command B, found the Ludendorff Bridge across the Rhine at Remagen still standing. It quickly captured the bridge and established a secure bridgehead. in the next 15 days, over 25,000 troops and their equipment crossed the river. By 4 April, an enormous pocket had been created by First Army and Ninth Army, which contained the German Army Group B under Field Marshal Model, the last significant combat force in the northwest of Germany. While some elements of First Army concentrated on reducing the Ruhr pocket, others headed further east, creating another pocket containing the German Eleventh Army. First Army reached the Elbe by 18 April. There the advance halted, as that was the agreed demarcation zone between the American and Soviet forces. First Army and Soviet forces met on 25 April.

    In May 1945, advance elements of First Army headquarters had returned to New York City and were preparing to redeploy to the Pacific theater of the war to prepare for Operation Coronet, the planned second phase of Operation Downfall the proposed invasion of Honshū, the main island of Japan in the spring of 1946, but the Japanese surrender in August 1945 thanks to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki terminated that effort.

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    Lieutenant Jean Baptiste Arthur Brillant (Quebec Regiment) dies of wounds received over the past two days performing acts that will win him a posthumous Victoria Cross. When in charge of a company which he leads in attack during two days with absolute fearlessness and extraordinary ability and initiative, the extent of the advance being twelve miles. On the first day of operations shortly after the attack has begun, his company’s left flank is held up by an enemy machine gun. Lieutenant Brillant rushes and captures the machine-gun, personally killing two of the enemy crew. While doing this, he is wounded but refuses to leave his command. Later on the same day, his company is held up by heavy machine-gun fire. He reconnoiters the ground personally, organizes a party of two platoons and rushes straight for the machine-gun nest. Here 150 enemy and fifteen machine-guns are captured. Lieutenant Brillant personally killing five of the enemy, and being wounded a second time. He has this wound dressed immediately, and again refuses to leave his company. Subsequently this gallant officer detects a field gun firing on his men over open sights. He immediately organizes and leads a “rushing” party towards the gun. After progressing about 600 yards, he is again seriously wounded. In spite of this third wound, he continues to advance for some 200 yards more, when he falls unconscious from exhaustion and loss of blood.

    WESTERN FRONT

    France: Total Allied PoW haul since August 8: 24,000, plus over 400 guns. US First Army operational under Pershing; Colonel Hugh A Drum CoS. AEF combat strength 822,358. Churchill (flew to France on August 8) at BEF GHQ Shell conference.
    Amiens: Montdidier garrison surrounded and captured by French First Army in 7-mile-advance. 7 new German divisions arrive, drunken Bavarians shout at 38th Division ‘What do you war-prolongers want ?’. Rawlinson asks Haig ‘Are you commanding the British Army or is Marshal Foch?’ and gets Amiens thrust ended; he has 85 tanks (30 knocked out) in action (38 on August 11, 6 on August 12).
    Oise: French Third Army (7 divisions) drives 3-4 miles northeast into German Eighteenth Army flank below Montdidier in Second Battle of Lassigny (until August 22).

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    EASTERN FRONT

    USSR: Lenin orders anti-German screen troops to Volga despite Trotsky’s doubts (still 37 German divisions in east). Anglo-French Moscow consuls arrested in reprisal for Archangel landings.
    East Siberia: Czechs and 400 Cossacks repulse 5,000 Reds in Stepanovka-Kraevsk area.

    SEA WAR

    Western Atlantic: U-boat gas attack on US Coast Guard station and lighthouse, Smith Island, NC.
    North Sea: Harwich Force (4 cruisers and 13 destroyers) off Western Frisian Islands launches 6 CMBs to attack German minesweepers across minefields, but all lost to German seaplane attacks (1 lost), other aim of trapping Zeppelin achieved.

    AIR WAR
    Western Front: RAF Amiens offensive bombing switches to railways as well, 90 extra fighters bring strength to 480, but Peronne station raid costs 6 of 52 aircraft involved (Peronne attacked 3 times, August 11). Captain FMF West in FK 8 of No 8 Squadron RAF wins Victoria Cross on tank contact patrol (see August 12th). Oblt Erich Lowenhardt (53 victories) killed in mid-air collision (Germany’s third ranking ace), one of 15 aircraft lost (38 Allied planes claimed). Captain A Yuille (Sopwith Camel, No 151 Squadron) shoots down first Giant bomber behind British lines near Talmas (night August 10-11).

    and finally for today, Captain Tunstill's Men: Billets at Cereda and Grumo.

    The Battalion was engaged in training and on the rifle range.

    A Divisional Horse Show was held at Trissino; in the words of the Divisional History this afforded, “an opportunity for our Allies to judge what the 23rd Division could do in this line, and proved an immense success. Officers of both the French and Italian cavalry entered for the open events and Lord Cavan presented the prizes at the end of this very English holiday held in the midst of the vineyards of Northern Italy”.

    Pte. William George Ruddock (see 21st June) departed on seven days’ leave to Lake Garda.
    Pte. Richard Metcalfe (see 18th July), who was on attachment to the Royal Engineers, was ordered to be confined to barracks for two days; the nature of his offence is unknown.
    Pte. John Henry Evison (see 2nd July) who had been wounded on 21st June, and had been treated at 57th General Hospital in Marseilles, was evacuated to England aboard the Hospital Ship Aberdonian; the details of his treatment in England are unknown.
    Pte. Walter White (see 24th June 1917), who had served with 10DWR before being transferred to the Labour Corps, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service due to illness; the details of his illness are unknown.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  3. #3503

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    Another big edition Chris. Placed with having to do yesterdays as well owing to the downtime. (Another air raid I suspect) You have done a splendid job to catch up.
    Well done once again.
    Rob.
    Last edited by Flying Officer Kyte; 08-11-2018 at 12:09.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  4. #3504

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    Thanks Rob - good job I retired, lol

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  5. #3505

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    The war has exactly three months (or 12 weeks) left to run

    11th August 1918

    Lieutenant George Poole and Sergeant Ernest Antcliffe (Royal Air Force) achieve two victories over Fokker D.VII’s at Combles flying their BF2b, while Captain R K Simpson and Sergeant Charles Hill (88) bring down one southwest of Peronne.

    The 17th (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Lancers are mounted and among the leading regiments of the current offensive capturing enemy ground and prisoners. In the 24 hours their losses will include 2 officers and 10 other ranks killed, 24 other ranks wounded two gassed and two missing with 52 horses killed and missing.

    Three days after performing acts that will win him the Victoria Cross. Lieutenant Alfred Edward Gaby (Australian Infantry) is killed in action leading an attack at Villers-Bretonneux.

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    The advance having been checked by intense machine-gun fire, Lieutenant James Edward Tait MC (Manitoba Regiment) rallies his company and leads it forward with consummate skill and dash under a hail of bullets. A concealed machine gun, however, continues to cause many casualties. Taking a rifle and bayonet Lieutenant Tait dashes forward alone and kills the enemy gunner. Inspired by his example his men rush the position, capturing twelve machine guns and twenty prisoners. His valorous action clears the way for his battalion to advance. Later, when the enemy counter-attacks our positions under intense artillery bombardment, this gallant officer displays outstanding courage and leadership, and, though mortally wounded by a shell, he continues to aid and direct his men until his death.

    British pilot Stuart Culley shot downover the North Sea, the last airship to be destroyed in World War One. Culley had taken off in a Sopwith Camel from a barge towed behind the destroyer HMS Redoubt prior to engaging the airship, making it the first successful interception of an enemy aircraft by a shipborne fighter.

    "Ascended to a height of 19,000 feet, at which altitude he attacked an enemy airship, and brought it down in flames completely destroyed. This was a most difficult undertaking involving great personal risk, and the highest praise is due to Lieutenant Culley for the gallantry and skill he displayed."

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    Some extracts from Culley describing the incident... (think this is translated from another publication , hence the English and grammar are a little ropey)

    But the L 53 annoyed Colonel Samson, D.S.O., who at this time was Officer Commanding No. 4 Group, E/.A.F., and he had a thirty- foot deck made to fit on one of the towing lighters, and on this, held in place with a quick release gear, he put a Camel aeroplane, a single-seated fighter land-machine with great speed and climb.

    The flotilla then cruised off Terschelling until fifteen minutes after eight o'clock, when the flagship signalled to the destroyer towing the Camel lighter that the L 53 had been sighted. Immediately Cully saw the Zeppelin glistening in the sunlight. It was about thirty miles away, at a height of ten thousand feet. It looked about as big as his little finger.
    He climbed into the cockpit of his machine. The propeller was swung. He tested the rotary engine. When the towing destroyer had got up to thirty knots, he ran his engine full out, slipped the quick release, ran along the lighter deck only five feet, and took to the air.
    At forty -one minutes after eight o'clock he started to climb towards Commander Proells' airship at a speed of fifty-two miles an hour. Commander Proells had also been climbing, and he was still above Cully. His airship was of the type known as the height-climbing 50's, the last word in construction, six hundred and forty feet long, with five engines, and containing two million cubic feet of inflammable gas. The L 53 had all this time been broadside on to Cully. He now saw her turn end on. He thought that he had been sighted by her crew, and that her Commander had turned out to sea away from him. He swung the nose of the Camel directly towards her and continued to...

    But the crew of the great Zeppelin apparently did not see the tiny midge in the sun, for they held on their course at the same height. At forty-one minutes after nine o'clock, one hour after Cully had left the lighter in the Camel, the two machines met head on, the airship only two hundred feet above the aeroplane. Cully pulled back his controls and stalled his machine until the Camel was almost standing on its tail. As the bow of the Zeppelin came into his sight he started both Lewis guns....The aluminium skeleton of the bow of the Zeppelin was now fully exposed. But the fabric of the tail was still smoking and burning. She was standing vertically upright, nose down, and was falling rapidly below him with ever increasing momentum.

    Culley's Sopwith Camel has been preserved and has been at both Duxford and Hendon

    This was the last Zeppelin ever shot down, all Zeppelin operations were ended with this loss

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    Vladimir Lenin issued an order by telegraph to hang at least 100 kulaks in an effort to suppress a kulak revolt in the Penza Gubernia region of Russia, although whether the order was carried out was unknown

    The Canadian Air Ace Captain Gordon Budd DFC Irving 19 Squadron RAF was killed on this day. He was flying a Sopwith Dolphin E4432.

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    The only son of William H. and Mary Irving, Gordon Budd Irving was educated at Huron Street Public and the University Schools. An employee of the National Trust Company, he joined the Royal Flying Corps in May 1917. After training at Camp Borden and in England, he was posted to 19 Squadron in France. Flying the Sopwith Dolphin he scored 12 victories before he was killed in action near Albert in August 1918.

    Lt. (T./Capt.) Gordon Irving.
    He has carried out numerous offensive patrols, and under his able leadership many enemy formations have been successfully engaged. He has personally accounted for six enemy aircraft, and by his consistent keenness and fearlessness he sets a fine example to the pilots in his squadron.

    Claims on this day included...

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    The top performer of the day with a hat trick was Lieutenant Michel Joseph Callixte Marie Coiffard of the French Air Service Spa.154 He was a 34 victory ace and one of the war's top balloon busters Name:  balloon.PNG
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    Médaille Militaire
    "On 29 May 1915, as an artillery observer in the trenches under extemely violent bombardment by heavy artillery, he spontaneously offered himself to serve as a liaison between the infantry and artillery, the telephone connection with the artillery having been destroyed by enemy fire. When the infantry telephone network had been severed in its turn he carried it along the artillery line and made repairs in terrain attacked by 105 and 150 artillery projectiles. Non-commissioned officer of remarkable courage and sang-froid; the campaigns in Tunisia and Morocco, three wounds, three citations." Médaille Militaire citation

    Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur
    "A valiant officer and a model of courage, initiative and devotion. Wounded four times in the infantry, he entered the aviation service where he has proven his most brilliant military qualities. He downed his third enemy plane on 2 February 1918, during the course of a particularly difficult combat. Médaille Militaire for feats of war. Six citations." Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur citation

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    Officier de la Légion d'Honneur
    "An officer of fierce energy and incomparable bravery. In Morocco he had already gained attention by his audacity. In the actual war he served successively in the artillery, infantry and air service attracting throughout amazement and admiration because of his scorn of death and his admirable spirit of sacrifice. In pursuit aviation his will to conquer allowed him to accomplish a series of exploits with regularity and speed which have never been equaled. He reported 32 official victories, of which 27 were gained in three months. Three wounds, Médaille Militaire and Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur for feats of war. Fifteen citations." Officier de la Légion d'Honneur

    Another 27 British airmen were lost on this day

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    Western Front

    The Battle of Amiens

    The battle ended on August 11 as German resistance stiffened and Canadian commander Sir Arthur Currie urged the Allied leadership to consolidate the gains they had made thus far. In three days, the Allies had advanced some 8 miles (13 km), a huge achievement in a war characterized by minute gains at enormous cost. More than 19,000 Allied soldiers were killed or injured, while the Germans lost more than 26,000, including some 12,000 prisoners. Also captured by the Allies was the “Amiens gun,” a 280-millimetre (11-inch) Krupp naval gun that had been mounted on a railway carriage. The “Amiens gun” had been shelling the city of Amiens throughout the summer, and previous attempts to disable it had been unsuccessful, but an enterprising Australian sapper commandeered the train’s engine and drove it back to Allied lines. Ludendorff described the opening day of the battle as "the black day of the German Army in the history of this war…Everything I had feared, and of which I had so often given warning, had here, in one place, become a reality.” When Ludendorff informed German emperor William II of the disaster at Amiens, William replied, “We have reached the limits of our capacity. The war must be terminated.” Indeed, Amiens sparked the “hundred days” campaign, the successful Allied push that would drive the Germans backwards until their ultimate defeat and the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918.

    The Amiens Gun

    The Amiens Gun is a German 28-centimetre (11 in) railway gun (originally mounted in the battleship SMS Hessen)[1] that was captured by the Australian Imperial Force during World War I and returned to Australia as a war trophy. The 28 cm SK L/40 "Bruno" (SK – Schnelladekanone (quick-loading cannon) L – Länge (with a 40-calibre barrel)) gun was placed on public display on 26 March 1920 adjacent to the Central railway station, Sydney.[2] While the gun's carriage was scrapped during the 1960s, the gun barrel remains on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

    The ceremony of unveiling was performed before cheering thousands by Major-General Lee, State Commandant. Also present were Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal, Brigadier-General Cox, C.B., Colonel Kingdon, Colonel Brughe, Q.M.G., Captain Soane, A.D.C, Mr. R. T. Ball, Minister for Works, Mr. James Fraser, C.M.G., Chief Railway Commissioner, and many Railway officers. Major-General Lee, in addressing the gathering, complimented all concerned in the unloading and reassembling of the gun.

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    General Sir C. Rosenthal, speaking of the capture of the gun by the 31st Battalion of the eighth Brigade of the fifth Division, jocularly remarked that as it was a Victorian Brigade, they would no doubt have kept the great trophy for Victoria, but for the fact that they did not have the proper railway gauge there for it, and General. C. Cox added: "Thanks to our 4ft. 8½in. gauge we have this trophy permanently." The Chief Commissioner of Railways (Mr. James Fraser) remarked that he had been authoritatively informed that Great Britain had built the biggest gun on earth as an answer to the German "Big Bertha." It never fired a shot – there was no occasion for it – but it had a length of 83 ft. (25.3m), being 11 ft. (3.35m) longer than the gun at Central, and a range of 87 miles (140 km). It was intended as our answer to Krupp's if the war had lasted any longer. Lieutenant George Burrows, M.C. (and Bar) was decorated for his gallantry in connection with the capture of the gun.

    The following account of the capture was given by Lieutenant Burrows. On the morning of 8 August 1918, the Australian Corps, with two Divisions of Canadians on their left, attacked the German position in front of Villiers-Bretonneux, the Australian portion of the line extending from the Somme River to a point some hundreds of yards south of Villers-Bretonneux. Preparations for the attack were carried out secretly along the front for several weeks before the attack. A heavy concentration of artillery was brought on to the front, and every wood for some distance behind the line concealed tanks, ready to move forward into position, during the night prior to the attack. The infantry and tanks got into position under cover of the noise created by aeroplanes flying overhead for that purpose. A dense fog came over at about 2 am, and did not clear until about 9 am Following a terrific bombardment, the infantry supported by tanks, attacked at 5 am, and after passing the German front and support lines very little opposition was met with until reaching the final objective, which was the old Amiens defence line in front of Harbonnieres. The attack was well organised, and came as a complete surprise to the enemy.

    Referring to the particular part of the front where the gun was captured, in the fifth Division sector, a section of sappers from the eighth Field Company Engineers was detailed to go over with the 31st Battalion. Their work on arrival at final objective was to put out wire entanglements in front of the front line, and dig a series of strong points about 200 yards (180m) behind the front line for the reserve companies. On arrival at final objective, east of Harbonnieres, about 200 yards in front of the front line, there was a train consisting of an 11.5in. naval gun on railway mounting, a locomotive, two ammunition trucks, and about twenty other trucks. The rear portion of the train was on fire. An Engineer officer went forward, examined the train, and found it to be in working order, and with the assistance of two sappers raised steam. Whilst this was being done the water feed-pipe from the injector to the tank was perforated by a machine-gun bullet. This was bound round with tracing tape. The burning portion of the train was detached, shunted into a siding, and the engine, gun, and ammunition trucks were brought back about 600 yards (550m) behind the lines, to where the rails had been blown out by shell-fire. A message was sent back to the Field Company Headquarters for a party to repair the track. This was done during the night. The message also asked for more water to be sent forward.

    Steam was again raised the following morning and, in trying to move the gun back, the gun slipped the rear bogie wheels off the rails. There were nine lifting jacks on the train. With the aid of these the gun was got on to the track again and brought back to Bayonvillers the following morning at 2 o'clock, and a receipt obtained from the officer sent up from Army Headquarters to take over the gun. The gun was complete in every detail, ready for firing, with 37 rounds of ammunition in the trucks. Each shell weighed over 320 kg (704 lbs).

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    SEA WAR
    Germany: Scheer replaces Holtzendorff as CNS. Hipper to command High Seas Fleet. Hindenburg and Ludendorff tell Scheer on August 12 that only U-boats can win the war.

    AIR WAR
    France: 9 German bombers raid Calais, cause 47 military and 13 civilian casualties, 100 vehicles destroyed and fire spreads to spare parts worth £ 1 1/4 million for 19,566 BEF motor vehicles.
    Western Front: Germans claim 38 Allied planes for loss of 15.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  6. #3506

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    Welcome to the glorious 12th of August

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    Captain Henry John Burden (Royal Air Force) with his flight attacks a large number of Fokkers, seven of which are destroyed. Captain Burden shoots down three of the enemy. Captain William Roy Irwin (Royal Air Force) leads his patrol to attack a large formation of Fokker biplanes, he himself accounting for two of them.

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    Captain Burden

    Frankfurt, Germany is attacked from the air for the first time in the Great War by twelve machines from 55 Squadron under the command of Captains Silly and Mackay. They are attacked by forty scouts on their way to the target and throughout the return journey. All machines return safely, though one observer is killed by enemy machine gun fire. Also on this day Quinell leading a formation of 104 Squadron has a fight that last for three quarters of an hour and when they have fought these Germans out of the air they fly to a German aerodrome and destroy the machines which they catch on the ground.

    Lieutenant William Gordon Claxton (Royal Air Force) ends a nine-day period in which he will destroy ten enemy aircraft and one kite balloon giving him a total of thirty enemy machines and the one kite balloon.

    Battle of Amiens – British forces gained another 19 km (12 mi) into German positions held since the Spring Offensive, ending most of the major fighting.

    George V of the United Kingdom knighted John Monash, commander of the Australian Corps, on the battlefield near Château de Bertangles, France with the Order of the Bath, the first British commander to be knighted in that way for 200 years

    General Sir John Monash, GCMG, KCB, VD (/ˈmɒnæʃ/; 27 June 1865 – 8 October 1931) was a civil engineer and an Australian military commander of the First World War. He commanded the 13th Infantry Brigade before the war and then, shortly after its outbreak, became commander of the 4th Brigade in Egypt, with whom he took part in the Gallipoli campaign. In July 1916 he took charge of the newly raised 3rd Division in northwestern France and in May 1918 became commander of the Australian Corps, at the time the largest corps on the Western Front. The successful Allied attack at the Battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918, which expedited the end of the war, was planned by Monash and spearheaded by British forces including the Australian and Canadian Corps under Monash and Arthur Currie. Monash is considered one of the best Allied generals of the First World War and the most famous commander in Australian history.

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    When the First World War broke out in August 1914, Monash became a full-time army officer, accepting an appointment as the chief censor in Australia. Monash did not enjoy the job, and was keen for a field command. In September, after the Australian Imperial Force was formed, he was appointed as the commander of the 4th Infantry Brigade, which consisted of four battalions: the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th. His appointment was met with some protest within the military, in part due to his German and Jewish ancestry, but Monash was supported by numerous high-ranking officers, including James Legge, James McCay and Ian Hamilton, and his appointment stood.

    When the first contingent of Australian troops, the 1st Division, sailed in October, the 4th Brigade remained behind. Training was undertaken at Broadmeadows, Victoria, before embarking in December 1914. After arriving in Egypt in January 1915, Monash's brigade established itself at Heliopolis, where it was assigned to the New Zealand and Australian Division under Major General Alexander Godley. After a period of training, in April, the brigade took part in the Gallipoli campaign against the Turks. Assigned the role of divisional reserve, Monash came ashore early on 26 April. The brigade initially defended the line between Pope's Hill and Courtney's Post, and the valley behind this line became known as "Monash Valley". There he made a name for himself with his independent decision-making and his organisational ability. He was promoted to brigadier general in July, although the news was marred by spiteful rumours that were passed in Cairo, Melbourne and London about him being a "German spy". During the August offensive that was launched by the Allies to break the deadlock on the peninsula, Monash's brigade was to conduct a "left hook" to the capture of Hill 971, the highest point on the Sari Bair range. On the evening of 6/7 August, the brigade launched its attack, but poor maps, heavy resistance and the mountainous terrain defeated them. Elsewhere, the offensive also stalled, resulting in disaster for the last co-ordinated effort to defeat the Turkish forces on the Gallipoli Peninsula. By mid-August, Monash's brigade was down to just 1,400 men out of the 3,350 it had begun the campaign with. On 21 August, Monash led them in an attack on Hill 60, before it was withdrawn from the peninsula for rest. While the brigade recuperated on Lemnos, Monash took leave in Egypt, where he learned of his appointment as a Companion of the Order of the Bath. In November, the 4th Brigade returned to Gallipoli, occupying a "quiet sector" around Bauchop's Hill. Monash used his engineering knowledge to improve his brigade's position to withstand the winter, and he worked to improve the conditions that his troops would have to endure, but in mid-December the order to evacuate the peninsula came.

    Following the withdrawal from Gallipoli, Monash returned to Egypt where the AIF underwent a period of reorganisation and expansion. This process resulted in the 4th Brigade being split and providing a cadre of experienced personnel to form the 12th Brigade. It was also reassigned to the 4th Division. After a period of training, Monash's brigade undertook defensive duties along the Suez Canal. On 25 April 1916, the first anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, while at Tel-el-Kebir, Monash and his men solemnly observed Anzac Day. Monash distributed red ribbons to soldiers present at the first landing and blue ribbons to those who came later.

    In June 1916, Monash and his command were transferred to the Western Front, being sent to the front around Armentières. In July, Monash was promoted to major general and placed in command of the Australian 3rd Division. He trained the division in England with attention to detail, and after the division was sent to the Western Front in November 1916, led stage-by-stage to the nearest approach that could be improvised to the conditions of actual warfare. He was involved in many actions, including Messines, Broodseinde, and the First Battle of Passchendaele, with some successes, but with the usual heavy casualties. The British High Command was impressed by Monash's abilities and enthusiasm. In May 1918, he was promoted to lieutenant general and made commander of the Australian Corps, at the time the largest individual corps on the Western Front.

    Lieutenant General Sir John Monash later described the recapture of the town of Villers-Bretonneux on 25 April 1918 after the Germans had overrun the 8th British Division under General William Heneker as the turning-point of the war. Sir Thomas William Glasgow's 13th Brigade, and Harold Elliott's 15th Brigade, recaptured Villers-Bretonneux.

    Monash was a noted advocate of the co-ordinated use of infantry, aircraft, artillery and tanks. He wrote:

    ... the true role of infantry was not to expend itself upon heroic physical effort, not to wither away under merciless machine-gun fire, not to impale itself on hostile bayonets, nor to tear itself to pieces in hostile entanglements—(I am thinking of Pozières and Stormy Trench and Bullecourt, and other bloody fields)—but on the contrary, to advance under the maximum possible protection of the maximum possible array of mechanical resources, in the form of guns, machine-guns, tanks, mortars and aeroplanes; to advance with as little impediment as possible; to be relieved as far as possible of the obligation to fight their way forward; to march, resolutely, regardless of the din and tumult of battle, to the appointed goal; and there to hold and defend the territory gained; and to gather in the form of prisoners, guns and stores, the fruits of victory.

    At the Battle of Hamel on 4 July 1918, Monash, with the support of the British 4th Army commander Sir Henry Rawlinson, commanded the 4th Australian Division, supported by the British 5th Tank Brigade, along with a detachment of American troops, to win a small but operationally significant victory for the Allies.

    On 8 August 1918, the Battle of Amiens was launched. Allied troops under the command of Field Marshal Douglas Haig, predominantly Rawlinson's British 4th Army (consisting of the Australian Corps under Monash and the Canadian Corps under Arthur Currie, and the British III Corps) attacked the Germans. The allied attack was spearheaded by the Australian Corps, who had been given the capture of enemy artillery as a key objective in the first phase by Monash in order to minimize the potential harm to the attacking forces. The battle was a strong, significant victory for the Allies, the first decisive win for the British Army of the war, causing the Germans to recognise that for them the War was lost. The defeated German leader, General Erich Ludendorff, described it in the following words: "August 8th was the black day of the German Army in the history of the war". These operations were just a start of a broad Allied offensive across the Western Front. On 12 August 1918, at Château de Bertangles, Monash was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on the battlefield by King George V, the first time a British monarch had honoured a commander in such a way in 200 years.

    The Australians then achieved a series of victories against the Germans at Chuignes, Mont St Quentin, Peronne and Hargicourt. Monash had 208,000 men under his command, including 50,000 inexperienced Americans. Monash planned the attack on the German defences in the Battle of the Hindenburg Line between 16 September and 5 October 1918. The Allies eventually breached the Hindenburg Line by 5 October, and the war was essentially over. On 5 October, Prinz Max von Baden, on behalf of the German Government, asked for an immediate armistice. By the end of the war Monash had acquired an outstanding reputation for intellect, personal magnetism, management and ingenuity. He also won the respect and loyalty of his troops: his motto was "Feed your troops on victory". Monash was regarded with great respect by the British – a British captain on the staff of William Heneker's 8th Division described Monash as "a great bullock of a man ... though his manners were pleasant and his behaviour far from rough, I have seen few men who gave me such a sensation of force ... a fit leader for the wild men he commanded". Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery later wrote: "I would name Sir John Monash as the best general on the western front in Europe".

    For his services during the war, and in addition to his creation as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Monash was appointed as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George on 1 January 1919. He also received numerous foreign honours – the French appointed him a Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur and awarded him the Croix de Guerre, the Belgians appointed him a Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown (Grand-Officier Ordre de la Couronne) and awarded him the Croix de Guerre, and the United States awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal.

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    WESTERN FRONT

    Germany: Kaiser relieves Crown Princes William and Rupprecht of Ninth, Eighteenth and Second Armies, all heavily engaged at Amiens and formed into Boehn’s new Army Group (until October 31) whose Seventh Army goes to Eberhardt.
    Somme: Lull in operations (until August 20), Australians take Proyart. King George decorates US 33rd Division Doughboys.

    MIDDLE EAST
    Palestine: British 10th and 60th divisions’ raids on Gharabe Ridge (164 casualties) and east of Nablus road cause 570 casualties and take 14 MGs (over 239 Turk PoWs). Lawrence and Lieutenant-Colonel Joyce meet Buxton’s force at El Jefir east of Hejaz Railway, reach Azrak in armoured car on August 14.
    North Caucasus: Bicherakov (c.2,200 men) captures Derbent; Red warship foils Dunsterville’s bid to recall him (August 20).

    SEA WAR
    Eastern Mediterranean: U-boat sinks British transport Anhui (4 die) off Cyprus.

    HOME FRONTS
    Italy: Ex-Prime Minister Giolitti speaks on postwar reconstruction.
    USA: Liquor sale ban on railways.
    Britain: 30,000 see British Scientific Products Exhibition (250 firms) in London (until September 7).

    Therer were a further 4 victoria crosses awarded on this day

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    Percy Clyde Statton, VC, MM (21 October 1890 – 5 December 1959) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces. Serving as a sergeant during the First World War, Statton was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1918 following his assault on four German machine guns. With three men, Statton rushed the posts armed with only a revolver and succeeded in capturing the first gun. Moving to the second, he killed the crew of five himself before the two remaining gun crews were forced to retreat.

    Born in Tasmania, Statton was married and working as a farmer when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force during 1916. Posted to the 40th Battalion, he was shipped to England where he spent three months training. Arriving on the Western Front in 1917, Statton was awarded the Military Medal during the Battle of Messines while leading carrying parties to the frontline under heavy artillery and machine gun fire. Wounded twice during the war, Statton returned to Australia in 1919 and was discharged the following year. In 1934, he took part in rescue work aiding families isolated by severe bushfires in the Derwent Valley. Following a period of service during the Second World War, Statton died of stomach cancer in 1959.

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    Despite his wife's disapproval, Statton enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 29 February 1916, and was allotted to the newly raised 40th Battalion as a private. Appointed lance corporal on 22 May, Statton embarked from Hobart aboard HMAT Berrima on 1 July, bound for England. The troopship disembarked at Devonport a little over seven weeks later, where the 40th Battalion spent the next three months training.

    Promoted to corporal on 19 November 1916, Statton embarked along with the rest of the 40th Battalion for France and the Western Front four days later. Initially posted to Le Havre, the battalion was transferred to Flanders in Belgium during early 1917. Statton was promoted to temporary sergeant on 16 January 1917, which was made substantive from 26 April. In June, the 40th Battalion took part in the Battle of Messines. Over a three-day period during the engagement at Messines from 7–9 June, Statton was placed in charge of supervising and leading carrying parties to the frontline. Throughout this work, he was subject to heavy German artillery and machine gun fire, and on several occasions the party was decimated by shellfire. Despite this, the parties managed to reach the frontline on every occasion. For his actions throughout this time, Statton was later awarded the Military Medal, the recommendation of which cited his "exceptional fine work and gallant conduct". The notification of the award was published in a supplement to the London Gazette on 16 August 1917.

    On 12 October 1917, Statton was involved in operations during the First Battle of Passchendaele when he suffered a gunshot wound to his right shoulder. First admitted to the 22nd General Hospital, Douane, Statton was then transferred to the VAD Hospital, Tonbridge, as the wound required treatment in England. Having sufficiently recovered after a period of hospitalisation at the Fort Pitt Military Hospital, Chatham, and 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, Statton was granted two weeks leave from 28 January 1918. Returning to duty, he was attached to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill prior to re-embarking on 1 May for France, where he rejoined the 40th Battalion twelve days later. While in action around the village of Villers-Bretonneux on 10 June, Statton was wounded in a gas attack on his position. Initially admitted to the 10th Australian Field Ambulance, he was transferred to the 40th Casualty Clearing Station six days later, before returning to the 40th Battalion on 24 June. Beginning on 8 July, Statton was placed on a five-day attachment to a demonstration platoon at the 10th Brigade Headquarters. Returning to his battalion, he was attached to the American 3rd Battalion, 130th Regiment, for service over a seven-day period later that month. He rejoined the 40th Battalion on 27 July.

    Between 10–12 August 1918, the 3rd Australian Division—of which the 40th Battalion was part—was ordered to attack from an easterly direction against the southern bank of the Somme River, and advance along the road past Proyart. On 12 August, the 40th Battalion was tasked with the objective of seizing and holding a valley to the south of the Proyart–Chuignes road. The advance entailed moving the battalion across approximately 1,300 metres (1,400 yd) of open ground, while under the direct observation of German forces on high ground to the east of Proyart. At the same time, the 37th Battalion was to move through the village of Proyart itself, and proceed to a line just beyond the railway to the north of the Proyart–Chuignes road. It was during this action that Statton was to earn the Victoria Cross.

    The 40th Battalion began its attack at approximately 07:30, and by 08:30 had successfully advanced 800 metres (870 yd). It was at this point, however, that the unit came under an intense barrage from German artillery, and were prevented from moving further forward. With assistance from a Lewis Gun team under Statton's command, the battalion's A Company managed to reach the centre of Proyart village an hour later. The remainder of the 40th Battalion attempted to follow, but soon became subject to heavy machine gun fire. With his Lewis Gun, Statton engaged two German machine gun posts and thus enabled the remainder of his battalion to continue its advance. The battalion was later able to reach its objectives.

    At 18:00, the 40th Battalion received a message that the 37th Battalion was about to attempt to advance from the village to its own objective. From his position, Statton observed a line of German machine gunners firing on the 37th Battalion and preventing its advance. He turned his Lewis Guns on them in an attempt to assist a party of men from the 37th as they attacked. Having failed, a party of thirteen men were assembled and rushed the position soon after, but the group was wiped out before they reached the first gun. Gathering Corporal Upchurch and Privates Leslie Styles and Beard, Statton worked his way along under the cover of the Chuignes road embankment. Reaching within 75 metres (82 yd) of the machine gunners and armed with only a revolver, Statton led the three men as they rushed across the open ground towards the German strongpoint. Reaching the position, the party was able to dispose of the first gun and its crew before moving onto the second, where Statton personally shot four of the five crew members and bayoneted the fifth with his own rifle. Seeing this, the two remaining gun teams began to retreat but were killed by Statton's Lewis Gunners.

    Soon after, another German machine gun opened up, killing Private Styles and wounding Corporal Upchurch. With Private Beard, Statton began to crawl back to his own lines, while the inspired 37th Battalion continued its advance and cheered the pair as they went past.Later that evening, Statton, while under heavy machine gun fire, went out and retrieved the badly-wounded Upchurch and the body of Styles. By 20:00, both battalions had reached and consolidated their positions, and were relieved by the British 17th Division the following day.

    At 09:00 on 27 September 1918, the 40th Battalion was ordered onto parade by the unit's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel John Lord. Addressing the assembled crowd, Lord announced that that same day, the name of Sergeant Percy Statton would appear in the London Gazette announcing that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross. Described by the battalion's history as a "reluctant hero", Statton was granted three cheers before he was carried shoulder high through the ranks while the battalion band played. The full citation for Statton's Victoria Cross appeared in a supplement to the London Gazette later that day, reading:

    War Office, 27th September 1918.

    His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, N.C.O.'s and Man: —

    No. 506 Sjt. Percy Clyde Statton, M.M., A.I.F.

    For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in action when in command of a platoon which reached its objective, the remainder of the battalion being held up by heavy machine-gun fire. He skilfully engaged two machine-gun posts with Lewis gun fire, enabling the remainder of his battalion to advance.

    The advance of the battalion on his left had been brought to a standstill by heavy enemy machine-gun fire, and the first of our assaulting detachments to reach the machine-gun posts were put out of action in taking the first gun. Armed only with a revolver, in broad daylight, Sjt. Statton at once rushed four enemy machine-gun posts in succession, disposing of two of them, and killing five of the enemy. The remaining two posts retired and were wiped out by Lewis-gun fire.

    Later in the evening, under heavy machine-gun fire, he went out again and brought in two badly wounded men.

    Sjt. Station set a magnificent example of quick decision, and the success of the attacking troops was largely due to his determined gallantry.

    More to follow
    Last edited by Hedeby; 08-12-2018 at 09:50.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  7. #3507

    Default

    OK Chris.
    I'm fed up with the way the top brass are handling this war!
    Kyte.

    (Just shooting a grouse)
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  8. #3508

    Default

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    Welcome to the glorious 12th of August

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    Captain Henry John Burden (Royal Air Force) with his flight attacks a large number of Fokkers, seven of which are destroyed. Captain Burden shoots down three of the enemy. Captain William Roy Irwin (Royal Air Force) leads his patrol to attack a large formation of Fokker biplanes, he himself accounting for two of them.

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    Captain Burden

    Frankfurt, Germany is attacked from the air for the first time in the Great War by twelve machines from 55 Squadron under the command of Captains Silly and Mackay. They are attacked by forty scouts on their way to the target and throughout the return journey. All machines return safely, though one observer is killed by enemy machine gun fire. Also on this day Quinell leading a formation of 104 Squadron has a fight that last for three quarters of an hour and when they have fought these Germans out of the air they fly to a German aerodrome and destroy the machines which they catch on the ground.

    Lieutenant William Gordon Claxton (Royal Air Force) ends a nine-day period in which he will destroy ten enemy aircraft and one kite balloon giving him a total of thirty enemy machines and the one kite balloon.

    Battle of Amiens – British forces gained another 19 km (12 mi) into German positions held since the Spring Offensive, ending most of the major fighting.

    George V of the United Kingdom knighted John Monash, commander of the Australian Corps, on the battlefield near Château de Bertangles, France with the Order of the Bath, the first British commander to be knighted in that way for 200 years

    General Sir John Monash, GCMG, KCB, VD (/ˈmɒnæʃ/; 27 June 1865 – 8 October 1931) was a civil engineer and an Australian military commander of the First World War. He commanded the 13th Infantry Brigade before the war and then, shortly after its outbreak, became commander of the 4th Brigade in Egypt, with whom he took part in the Gallipoli campaign. In July 1916 he took charge of the newly raised 3rd Division in northwestern France and in May 1918 became commander of the Australian Corps, at the time the largest corps on the Western Front. The successful Allied attack at the Battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918, which expedited the end of the war, was planned by Monash and spearheaded by British forces including the Australian and Canadian Corps under Monash and Arthur Currie. Monash is considered one of the best Allied generals of the First World War and the most famous commander in Australian history.

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    When the First World War broke out in August 1914, Monash became a full-time army officer, accepting an appointment as the chief censor in Australia. Monash did not enjoy the job, and was keen for a field command. In September, after the Australian Imperial Force was formed, he was appointed as the commander of the 4th Infantry Brigade, which consisted of four battalions: the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th. His appointment was met with some protest within the military, in part due to his German and Jewish ancestry, but Monash was supported by numerous high-ranking officers, including James Legge, James McCay and Ian Hamilton, and his appointment stood.

    When the first contingent of Australian troops, the 1st Division, sailed in October, the 4th Brigade remained behind. Training was undertaken at Broadmeadows, Victoria, before embarking in December 1914. After arriving in Egypt in January 1915, Monash's brigade established itself at Heliopolis, where it was assigned to the New Zealand and Australian Division under Major General Alexander Godley. After a period of training, in April, the brigade took part in the Gallipoli campaign against the Turks. Assigned the role of divisional reserve, Monash came ashore early on 26 April. The brigade initially defended the line between Pope's Hill and Courtney's Post, and the valley behind this line became known as "Monash Valley". There he made a name for himself with his independent decision-making and his organisational ability. He was promoted to brigadier general in July, although the news was marred by spiteful rumours that were passed in Cairo, Melbourne and London about him being a "German spy". During the August offensive that was launched by the Allies to break the deadlock on the peninsula, Monash's brigade was to conduct a "left hook" to the capture of Hill 971, the highest point on the Sari Bair range. On the evening of 6/7 August, the brigade launched its attack, but poor maps, heavy resistance and the mountainous terrain defeated them. Elsewhere, the offensive also stalled, resulting in disaster for the last co-ordinated effort to defeat the Turkish forces on the Gallipoli Peninsula. By mid-August, Monash's brigade was down to just 1,400 men out of the 3,350 it had begun the campaign with. On 21 August, Monash led them in an attack on Hill 60, before it was withdrawn from the peninsula for rest. While the brigade recuperated on Lemnos, Monash took leave in Egypt, where he learned of his appointment as a Companion of the Order of the Bath. In November, the 4th Brigade returned to Gallipoli, occupying a "quiet sector" around Bauchop's Hill. Monash used his engineering knowledge to improve his brigade's position to withstand the winter, and he worked to improve the conditions that his troops would have to endure, but in mid-December the order to evacuate the peninsula came.

    Following the withdrawal from Gallipoli, Monash returned to Egypt where the AIF underwent a period of reorganisation and expansion. This process resulted in the 4th Brigade being split and providing a cadre of experienced personnel to form the 12th Brigade. It was also reassigned to the 4th Division. After a period of training, Monash's brigade undertook defensive duties along the Suez Canal. On 25 April 1916, the first anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, while at Tel-el-Kebir, Monash and his men solemnly observed Anzac Day. Monash distributed red ribbons to soldiers present at the first landing and blue ribbons to those who came later.

    In June 1916, Monash and his command were transferred to the Western Front, being sent to the front around Armentières. In July, Monash was promoted to major general and placed in command of the Australian 3rd Division. He trained the division in England with attention to detail, and after the division was sent to the Western Front in November 1916, led stage-by-stage to the nearest approach that could be improvised to the conditions of actual warfare. He was involved in many actions, including Messines, Broodseinde, and the First Battle of Passchendaele, with some successes, but with the usual heavy casualties. The British High Command was impressed by Monash's abilities and enthusiasm. In May 1918, he was promoted to lieutenant general and made commander of the Australian Corps, at the time the largest individual corps on the Western Front.

    Lieutenant General Sir John Monash later described the recapture of the town of Villers-Bretonneux on 25 April 1918 after the Germans had overrun the 8th British Division under General William Heneker as the turning-point of the war. Sir Thomas William Glasgow's 13th Brigade, and Harold Elliott's 15th Brigade, recaptured Villers-Bretonneux.

    Monash was a noted advocate of the co-ordinated use of infantry, aircraft, artillery and tanks. He wrote:

    ... the true role of infantry was not to expend itself upon heroic physical effort, not to wither away under merciless machine-gun fire, not to impale itself on hostile bayonets, nor to tear itself to pieces in hostile entanglements—(I am thinking of Pozières and Stormy Trench and Bullecourt, and other bloody fields)—but on the contrary, to advance under the maximum possible protection of the maximum possible array of mechanical resources, in the form of guns, machine-guns, tanks, mortars and aeroplanes; to advance with as little impediment as possible; to be relieved as far as possible of the obligation to fight their way forward; to march, resolutely, regardless of the din and tumult of battle, to the appointed goal; and there to hold and defend the territory gained; and to gather in the form of prisoners, guns and stores, the fruits of victory.

    At the Battle of Hamel on 4 July 1918, Monash, with the support of the British 4th Army commander Sir Henry Rawlinson, commanded the 4th Australian Division, supported by the British 5th Tank Brigade, along with a detachment of American troops, to win a small but operationally significant victory for the Allies.

    On 8 August 1918, the Battle of Amiens was launched. Allied troops under the command of Field Marshal Douglas Haig, predominantly Rawlinson's British 4th Army (consisting of the Australian Corps under Monash and the Canadian Corps under Arthur Currie, and the British III Corps) attacked the Germans. The allied attack was spearheaded by the Australian Corps, who had been given the capture of enemy artillery as a key objective in the first phase by Monash in order to minimize the potential harm to the attacking forces. The battle was a strong, significant victory for the Allies, the first decisive win for the British Army of the war, causing the Germans to recognise that for them the War was lost. The defeated German leader, General Erich Ludendorff, described it in the following words: "August 8th was the black day of the German Army in the history of the war". These operations were just a start of a broad Allied offensive across the Western Front. On 12 August 1918, at Château de Bertangles, Monash was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on the battlefield by King George V, the first time a British monarch had honoured a commander in such a way in 200 years.

    The Australians then achieved a series of victories against the Germans at Chuignes, Mont St Quentin, Peronne and Hargicourt. Monash had 208,000 men under his command, including 50,000 inexperienced Americans. Monash planned the attack on the German defences in the Battle of the Hindenburg Line between 16 September and 5 October 1918. The Allies eventually breached the Hindenburg Line by 5 October, and the war was essentially over. On 5 October, Prinz Max von Baden, on behalf of the German Government, asked for an immediate armistice. By the end of the war Monash had acquired an outstanding reputation for intellect, personal magnetism, management and ingenuity. He also won the respect and loyalty of his troops: his motto was "Feed your troops on victory". Monash was regarded with great respect by the British – a British captain on the staff of William Heneker's 8th Division described Monash as "a great bullock of a man ... though his manners were pleasant and his behaviour far from rough, I have seen few men who gave me such a sensation of force ... a fit leader for the wild men he commanded". Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery later wrote: "I would name Sir John Monash as the best general on the western front in Europe".

    For his services during the war, and in addition to his creation as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Monash was appointed as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George on 1 January 1919. He also received numerous foreign honours – the French appointed him a Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur and awarded him the Croix de Guerre, the Belgians appointed him a Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown (Grand-Officier Ordre de la Couronne) and awarded him the Croix de Guerre, and the United States awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal.

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    WESTERN FRONT

    Germany: Kaiser relieves Crown Princes William and Rupprecht of Ninth, Eighteenth and Second Armies, all heavily engaged at Amiens and formed into Boehn’s new Army Group (until October 31) whose Seventh Army goes to Eberhardt.
    Somme: Lull in operations (until August 20), Australians take Proyart. King George decorates US 33rd Division Doughboys.

    MIDDLE EAST
    Palestine: British 10th and 60th divisions’ raids on Gharabe Ridge (164 casualties) and east of Nablus road cause 570 casualties and take 14 MGs (over 239 Turk PoWs). Lawrence and Lieutenant-Colonel Joyce meet Buxton’s force at El Jefir east of Hejaz Railway, reach Azrak in armoured car on August 14.
    North Caucasus: Bicherakov (c.2,200 men) captures Derbent; Red warship foils Dunsterville’s bid to recall him (August 20).

    SEA WAR
    Eastern Mediterranean: U-boat sinks British transport Anhui (4 die) off Cyprus.

    HOME FRONTS
    Italy: Ex-Prime Minister Giolitti speaks on postwar reconstruction.
    USA: Liquor sale ban on railways.
    Britain: 30,000 see British Scientific Products Exhibition (250 firms) in London (until September 7).

    Therer were a further 4 victoria crosses awarded on this day

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    Percy Clyde Statton, VC, MM (21 October 1890 – 5 December 1959) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces. Serving as a sergeant during the First World War, Statton was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1918 following his assault on four German machine guns. With three men, Statton rushed the posts armed with only a revolver and succeeded in capturing the first gun. Moving to the second, he killed the crew of five himself before the two remaining gun crews were forced to retreat.

    Born in Tasmania, Statton was married and working as a farmer when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force during 1916. Posted to the 40th Battalion, he was shipped to England where he spent three months training. Arriving on the Western Front in 1917, Statton was awarded the Military Medal during the Battle of Messines while leading carrying parties to the frontline under heavy artillery and machine gun fire. Wounded twice during the war, Statton returned to Australia in 1919 and was discharged the following year. In 1934, he took part in rescue work aiding families isolated by severe bushfires in the Derwent Valley. Following a period of service during the Second World War, Statton died of stomach cancer in 1959.

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    Despite his wife's disapproval, Statton enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 29 February 1916, and was allotted to the newly raised 40th Battalion as a private. Appointed lance corporal on 22 May, Statton embarked from Hobart aboard HMAT Berrima on 1 July, bound for England. The troopship disembarked at Devonport a little over seven weeks later, where the 40th Battalion spent the next three months training.

    Promoted to corporal on 19 November 1916, Statton embarked along with the rest of the 40th Battalion for France and the Western Front four days later. Initially posted to Le Havre, the battalion was transferred to Flanders in Belgium during early 1917. Statton was promoted to temporary sergeant on 16 January 1917, which was made substantive from 26 April. In June, the 40th Battalion took part in the Battle of Messines. Over a three-day period during the engagement at Messines from 7–9 June, Statton was placed in charge of supervising and leading carrying parties to the frontline. Throughout this work, he was subject to heavy German artillery and machine gun fire, and on several occasions the party was decimated by shellfire. Despite this, the parties managed to reach the frontline on every occasion. For his actions throughout this time, Statton was later awarded the Military Medal, the recommendation of which cited his "exceptional fine work and gallant conduct". The notification of the award was published in a supplement to the London Gazette on 16 August 1917.

    On 12 October 1917, Statton was involved in operations during the First Battle of Passchendaele when he suffered a gunshot wound to his right shoulder. First admitted to the 22nd General Hospital, Douane, Statton was then transferred to the VAD Hospital, Tonbridge, as the wound required treatment in England. Having sufficiently recovered after a period of hospitalisation at the Fort Pitt Military Hospital, Chatham, and 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, Statton was granted two weeks leave from 28 January 1918. Returning to duty, he was attached to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill prior to re-embarking on 1 May for France, where he rejoined the 40th Battalion twelve days later. While in action around the village of Villers-Bretonneux on 10 June, Statton was wounded in a gas attack on his position. Initially admitted to the 10th Australian Field Ambulance, he was transferred to the 40th Casualty Clearing Station six days later, before returning to the 40th Battalion on 24 June. Beginning on 8 July, Statton was placed on a five-day attachment to a demonstration platoon at the 10th Brigade Headquarters. Returning to his battalion, he was attached to the American 3rd Battalion, 130th Regiment, for service over a seven-day period later that month. He rejoined the 40th Battalion on 27 July.

    Between 10–12 August 1918, the 3rd Australian Division—of which the 40th Battalion was part—was ordered to attack from an easterly direction against the southern bank of the Somme River, and advance along the road past Proyart. On 12 August, the 40th Battalion was tasked with the objective of seizing and holding a valley to the south of the Proyart–Chuignes road. The advance entailed moving the battalion across approximately 1,300 metres (1,400 yd) of open ground, while under the direct observation of German forces on high ground to the east of Proyart. At the same time, the 37th Battalion was to move through the village of Proyart itself, and proceed to a line just beyond the railway to the north of the Proyart–Chuignes road. It was during this action that Statton was to earn the Victoria Cross.

    The 40th Battalion began its attack at approximately 07:30, and by 08:30 had successfully advanced 800 metres (870 yd). It was at this point, however, that the unit came under an intense barrage from German artillery, and were prevented from moving further forward. With assistance from a Lewis Gun team under Statton's command, the battalion's A Company managed to reach the centre of Proyart village an hour later. The remainder of the 40th Battalion attempted to follow, but soon became subject to heavy machine gun fire. With his Lewis Gun, Statton engaged two German machine gun posts and thus enabled the remainder of his battalion to continue its advance. The battalion was later able to reach its objectives.

    At 18:00, the 40th Battalion received a message that the 37th Battalion was about to attempt to advance from the village to its own objective. From his position, Statton observed a line of German machine gunners firing on the 37th Battalion and preventing its advance. He turned his Lewis Guns on them in an attempt to assist a party of men from the 37th as they attacked. Having failed, a party of thirteen men were assembled and rushed the position soon after, but the group was wiped out before they reached the first gun. Gathering Corporal Upchurch and Privates Leslie Styles and Beard, Statton worked his way along under the cover of the Chuignes road embankment. Reaching within 75 metres (82 yd) of the machine gunners and armed with only a revolver, Statton led the three men as they rushed across the open ground towards the German strongpoint. Reaching the position, the party was able to dispose of the first gun and its crew before moving onto the second, where Statton personally shot four of the five crew members and bayoneted the fifth with his own rifle. Seeing this, the two remaining gun teams began to retreat but were killed by Statton's Lewis Gunners.

    Soon after, another German machine gun opened up, killing Private Styles and wounding Corporal Upchurch. With Private Beard, Statton began to crawl back to his own lines, while the inspired 37th Battalion continued its advance and cheered the pair as they went past.Later that evening, Statton, while under heavy machine gun fire, went out and retrieved the badly-wounded Upchurch and the body of Styles. By 20:00, both battalions had reached and consolidated their positions, and were relieved by the British 17th Division the following day.

    At 09:00 on 27 September 1918, the 40th Battalion was ordered onto parade by the unit's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel John Lord. Addressing the assembled crowd, Lord announced that that same day, the name of Sergeant Percy Statton would appear in the London Gazette announcing that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross. Described by the battalion's history as a "reluctant hero", Statton was granted three cheers before he was carried shoulder high through the ranks while the battalion band played. The full citation for Statton's Victoria Cross appeared in a supplement to the London Gazette later that day, reading:

    War Office, 27th September 1918.

    His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, N.C.O.'s and Man: —

    No. 506 Sjt. Percy Clyde Statton, M.M., A.I.F.

    For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in action when in command of a platoon which reached its objective, the remainder of the battalion being held up by heavy machine-gun fire. He skilfully engaged two machine-gun posts with Lewis gun fire, enabling the remainder of his battalion to advance.

    The advance of the battalion on his left had been brought to a standstill by heavy enemy machine-gun fire, and the first of our assaulting detachments to reach the machine-gun posts were put out of action in taking the first gun. Armed only with a revolver, in broad daylight, Sjt. Statton at once rushed four enemy machine-gun posts in succession, disposing of two of them, and killing five of the enemy. The remaining two posts retired and were wiped out by Lewis-gun fire.

    Later in the evening, under heavy machine-gun fire, he went out again and brought in two badly wounded men.

    Sjt. Station set a magnificent example of quick decision, and the success of the attacking troops was largely due to his determined gallantry.

    Thomas Fasti Dinesen VC (9 August 1892 – 10 March 1979[1] ) was a Danish recipient of the Victoria Cross

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    He was born in an affluent and aristocratic family in Rungsted, Denmark. Following the outbreak of the First World War, Dinesen attempted to enlist in the British, French, and United States armies, before finally being accepted by the Canadian Corps in 1917. He enlisted in the 236th Battalion (New Brunswick Kilties), CEF before transferring to the 42nd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force:[2] the Royal Highlander Regiment, known as the Black Watch of Canada. The MacLean Kilties were the 236th Canadian Battalion, recruited in Nova Scotia. It reached England in 1917 and was broken up for reinforcements.[3]

    During the Battle of Amiens he was 26 years old, and a private in the 42nd Quebec Regiment (Royal Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force when, on 12 August 1918 at Parvillers, France, he displayed conspicuous bravery when, five times in succession, he rushed forward alone against entrenched enemy troops and put hostile guns out of action. He was credited with killing 12 of the enemy using both bayonet and grenade, and with inspiring his comrades at a very critical stage of the action.[4]

    For this action, Dinesen was awarded the Victoria Cross (or VC). He also received the French Croix de guerre [5] His name appears on the List of Canadian Victoria Cross recipients.

    He was commissioned.[6] and later achieved the rank of lieutenant.

    On 7 August 1918, whilst waiting to go into action, Dinesen wrote of his night in Gentelles Wood: 'All day long we rested in this pleasant spot - we even had permission to make a little fire here and there under a thickly branched tree and do a bit of cooking. The regular meals are good and plentiful, of course, but we never miss a chance of eating unlimited quantities of extra food. The last tin of baked beans was opened - there's no reason to go into battle with a haversack heavier than was absolutely necessary! We washed and shaved carefully in order to look our best before Fritz ... Our equipment was inspected for the last time: Gas-masks, rifles, ammunition, shaving kit, iron rations - everything was OK. Some of us were presented with an extra gift - mine was a big and heavy bag containing a dozen or so Mills bombs! Just before sunset we had to fall in for a final parade. Then supper - and at l0pm we were again fighting our way through the throng on the Amiens - Roye road.'

    Thomas's sister Karen (whom he, and most of their Danish friends, called "Tanne") later wrote that her brother's bravery, and the recognition from the British Crown, in some measure saved her own reputation in the community of British colonials among whom she lived in British East Africa. According to Blixen, she had inadvertently alienated many of her neighbors by helping to buy horses for a German officer she met on board ship while sailing to Kenya for the first time. Only months later this officer, General Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck, was named commander of the German forces in East Africa, and waged an effective campaign against Blixen's English neighbors. Blixen commented that the suspicion and resentment this aroused in her fellow colonists only subsided after her brother won the VC.

    Air Commodore Ferdinand Maurice Felix West, VC, CBE, MC (19 January 1896 – 8 July 1988) was a senior Royal Air Force officer, aviator, and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross

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    Born in Paddington, London, on 19 January 1896, "Freddy" West was the son of an army officer killed in 1902 during the Second Boer War. Growing up in Italy, he attended the University of Genoa in 1913 and during the 1914 vacation he acquired a post in banking. When the First World War broke out he in 1914 joined the British Army, initially in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a private, before being commissioned in May 1915 and joining the Royal Munster Fusiliers. He arrived in France for service on the Western Front in November 1915.

    After a flight in early 1917, West decided to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps, training as an observer at Brooklands, and sent back in France in April 1917 to No 3 Squadron, becoming a fully qualified observer in July 1917, having accumulated over 100 flying hours. After six months and 225 flying hours he was posted back to Britain to undergo pilot training at Grantham. He was then posted to No 8 Squadron in January 1918, flying Army co-operation duties with the infantry and tanks. Crewing up with Lt. William Haslam in March, West flew a series of hazardous sorties over the front, culminating with both men being awarded the Military Cross on 1 May 1918.

    On 18 June 1918, West's aircraft was attacked by 4 Pfalz D.III scouts. West personally claimed one shot down, and skillfully evaded the rest to return to base. The next day West was bounced by a group of Fokker DVII scouts, and West dropped to 200 feet altitude and flew through a network of kite balloons to escape. He was 22 years old, and a captain in No. 8 Squadron, Royal Air Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

    On 12 August 1918, the British Army was intending to start a major offensive, but it needed information about the enemy positions. Setting off at dawn, West and his observer, Lt. William Haslam, flying an Armstrong Whitworth FK 8 (serial number C8602), spotted an enemy concentration through a hole in the mist. Avoiding severe ground fire, almost immediately they came under attack from seven German fighter aircraft and West was hit in the leg, and his radio transmitter was smashed.

    Continuing to identify his location, he remained under attack and manoeuvred his machine so skilfully that his observer was able to get several good bursts into the enemy machines, which drove them away. Only when he was sure of the enemy’s position did he attempt to break off and head for his own lines. He twisted his trouser leg into a tourniquet to stem the flow of blood from his wounds. Unable to make his airfield West landed behind the Allied lines and insisted on reporting his findings despite being in excruciating agony. His left leg had five wounds, one of which had shattered his femur and cut the femoral artery, and had to be amputated. Shortly afterwards he was invalided back to Britain, where on 9 November 1918 he learned that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross. After recovering from his amputation, West was fitted with an innovatively designed Swiss artificial leg.

    West was awarded a permanent commission in the RAF during 1919. Posted to RAF Uxbridge, he gradually returned to flying duties. He led No. 4 Squadron RAF in 1936, and during World War II he commanded No. 50 Wing in France during 1939. He was subsequently Air Attaché at the British Embassy in Rome in early 1940 and thereafter was part of the British Legation in Berne, where he assisted Allied airmen who had escaped into Switzerland. At one stage the German Gestapo put a price on his head because of his underground activities. At the end of the War he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his work.

    The War in the Air

    It was another really busy day in the air...

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    Another 21 British airmen were lost on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men: Billets at Cereda and Grumo.

    The Battalion was engaged in training and on the rifle range.

    At Divisional level plans were once again revived for a large-scale assault on the Austrian lines on the plateau; these plans had first been conceived in May but had been postponed due to the Austrian attacks in June (see 25th June). In preparation for the attack 7th Division was to be withdrawn from the lines for a period of rest and 23rd Division would take their place in the left sector of the front, before then being moved into the right sector for the attack itself, as planned for in the original scheme.

    Pte. Frederick Sharp (see 22nd July), serving at the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia following a period of illness, was reported “absent without leave from 9pm until 10.45am (13th August)”; he was ordered to be confined to barracks for seven days.

    Pte. Arthur Sutcliffe (see 9th December 1917), who had been wounded in November 1917 while serving with 2/6th DWR, was formally discharged from the being as no longer physically fit due to his wounds; he was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. for four weeks, reducing thereafter to 13s. 9d. and to be reviewed in one year’s time.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  9. #3509

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    August 13th 1918

    The Battle of San Matteo

    The Battle of San Matteo took place in the late summer of 1918 on the Punta San Matteo (3678 m) during World War I. It was regarded as the highest battle in history until it was surpassed in 1999 by the Kargil Conflict at 5600m.

    At the beginning of 1918 Austro-Hungarian troops set up a fortified position with small artillery pieces on the top of the San Matteo Peak. The base of the peak lies at 2800m altitude and it takes a four-hour ice climb up a glacier to reach the top. From this position, they were able to shell the road to the Gavia Pass and thus harass the Italian supply convoys to the front line. On August 13, 1918, a small group of Italian Alpini (307th Company, Ortles Battalion) conducted a surprise attack on the peak, successfully taking the fortified position. Half of the Austro-Hungarian soldiers were taken prisoner; the other half fled to lower positions.

    The loss of the San Matteo Peak constituted a loss of face to imperial Austria, and reinforcements were immediately sent to the region while the Italians were still organizing their defence on the top of the peak. On September 3, 1918 the Austro-Hungarian forces launched operation "Gemse", an attack aimed to retake the mountain. A large scale artillery bombardment, followed by the assault of at least 150 Kaiserschützen of the 3rd KuK Kaiserjäger Regiment stationed in Dimaro, was eventually successful and the lost position was retaken. The Italians, who already considered the mountain lost, began a counter-bombardment of the fortified positions, causing many victims among both the defending Italian and the Austro-Hungarian troops.

    The Austro-Hungarians lost 17 men in the battle and the Italians 10. The counterattack would be the last Austro-Hungarian victory in World War I. The Armistice of Villa Giusti, concluded on November 3, 1918 at 15:00 at Villa Giusti (near Padua) ended the Alpine War in these mountains on November 4, 1918 at 15։00 h.

    In the summer of 2004, the ice-encased bodies of three Kaiserschützen were found at 3400m, near the peak

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    Italian navy cruiser Etruria was destroyed at port in Livorno, Italy when a barge carrying ammunition exploded beside the vessel.

    Etruria was a protected cruiser of the Italian Regia Marina (Royal Navy) built in the 1891 by Cantiere navale fratelli Orlando Livorno. She was the third of six vessels of the Regioni class, all of which were named for current, or in the case of Etruria, former regions of Italy. The ship was equipped with a main armament of four 15 cm (5.9 in) and six 12 cm (4.7 in) guns, and she could steam at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).

    Etruria spent her early career with the main fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. In the early 1900s, she spent much of her time in North and South American waters; she visited the United States for the Jamestown Exposition and the Hudson-Fulton Celebration in 1907 and 1909. The ship took part in the Italo-Turkish War of 1911–12, primarily by providing gunfire support to Italian troops in North Africa. Reduced to a training ship by World War I, Etruria was deliberately sunk by the Regia Marina in Livorno to convince Austria-Hungary that its espionage network had not been compromised by double agents.

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    Etruria was 84.8 meters (278 ft) long overall, had a beam of 12.03 m (39.5 ft) and a draft of 4.87 m (16.0 ft). She displaced up to 3,110 metric tons (3,060 long tons; 3,430 short tons) at full load. Her propulsion system consisted of a pair of horizontal triple-expansion engines, with steam supplied by four cylindrical water-tube boilers.[1] On her speed trials, she reached a maximum of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) at 7,018 indicated horsepower (5,233 kW). The ship had a cruising radius of about 2,100 nautical miles (3,900 km; 2,400 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). She had a crew of between 213–78. Etruria was armed with a main battery of four 15 cm (5.9 in) L/40 guns mounted singly, with two side by side forward and two side by side aft. Six 12 cm (4.7 in) L/40 guns were placed between them, with three on each broadside. Light armament included eight 57 mm (2.2 in) guns two 37 mm (1.5 in) guns, and a pair of machine guns. She was also equipped with two 45 cm (18 in) torpedo tubes. Etruria was protected by a 50 mm (2.0 in) thick deck, and her conning tower had 50 mm thick sides.

    Etruria was laid down at the Odero-Terni-Orlando shipyard in Livorno on 1 April 1889. Shortages of funding slowed the completion Etruria and her sister ships. Tight budgets forced the navy to reduce the pace of construction so that the funds could be used to keep the active fleet in service. As a result, it took two years to complete her hull, which was launched on 23 April 1891. Fitting-out work proceeded even more slowly; she was not ready for commissioning until 11 July 1894. Following her commissioning, Etruria was assigned to the Second Division of the Italian fleet in October 1894, along with the ironclad battleships Francesco Morosini, two cruisers and six torpedo boats. In 1895, she the other ships were replaced by the ironclads Sardegna and Ruggiero di Lauria and the torpedo cruiser Partenope. On 20 June 1895, Etruria and a fleet that included the battleships Sardegna, Re Umberto, Andrea Doria, and Ruggiero di Lauria, visited Germany for the ceremony of the opening of the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal. Contingents from Britain, France, Russia, Spain, and several other countries joined the celebration.

    Etruria was stationed in the Red Sea to support colonial forces in Italian Eritrea in 1902. In April 1907, Etruria and the armored cruiser Varese crossed the Atlantic to represent Italy during the Jamestown Exposition, the commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the Jamestown colony, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. In addition to the Austro-Hungarian delegation, the international fleet consisted of warships from Great Britain, Japan, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and several other nations.[8] Etruria returned to the United States in September 1909 for the Hudson-Fulton Celebration in New York City, which also included ships from the German, British, and French fleets, among others, in addition to the hosting US Navy. On this occasion, she was joined by the training cruiser Etna. Etruria also represented Italy at the commemoration of Peruvian pilot Jorge Chávez on 27 October 1910, who had been killed in a crash attempting to cross the Alps from France to Italy a month before. The French cruiser Montcalm joined Etruria for the event.[10] The ship made another visit to the United States in March 1911, this time in San Francisco. Her visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy on 17 March; Etruria fired a 21-gun salute in honor of the anniversary, which was returned by the US Navy training facility in the harbor.

    On 29 September 1911, Italy declared war on the Ottoman Empire in order to seize Libya. At the time, Etruria was still in American waters, but she was quickly recalled. On 18 October, she joined the escort for a troop convoy headed to Benghazi. The convoy was heavily protected against a possible Ottoman attack: the escort comprised the four Regina Elena-class pre-dreadnought battleships, her sister Liguria and another cruiser, and five destroyers. The Italian fleet bombarded the city the next morning after the Ottoman garrison refused to surrender. During the bombardment, parties from the ships and the infantry from the troopships went ashore. The Italians quickly forced the Ottomans to withdraw into the city by evening. After a short siege, the Ottoman forces withdrew on 29 October, leaving the city to the Italians. By December, Etruria had been moved to Tobruk, where she provided gunfire support to the Italians defending the city. She was joined there by Etna and twelve torpedo boats. In the meantime, most of the fleet had returned to Italy for refitting. In January 1912, Etruria was moved back to Benghazi. For the next six months she remained here, supporting the garrison against Ottoman counter-attacks. The ship repeatedly shelled the Ottoman camps outside the city. On 15 October, the Ottomans surrendered, ending the war.

    Etruria was stationed in Libya as part of the local defense force, which included the old ironclad battleships Lepanto and Enrico Dandolo, along with several smaller vessels. By the outbreak of World War I, the ship had been reduced to a training cruiser. The Italian Navy deliberately blew up Etruria in Livorno on 13 August 1918, ostensibly as an act of sabotage by Austro-Hungarian agents in Italy. The purported agents had in fact been coopted as double agents, and the destruction of Etruria was meant to strengthen Austro-Hungarian confidence in their espionage network.

    German submarine SM UB-30 was depth-charged and sunk in the North Sea with the loss of all 26 crew

    SM UB-30 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 16 November 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 March 1916 as SM UB-30. The submarine sank 18 ships in 19 patrols. They included the William Cory & Son collier SS Vernon in the North Sea off Spurn on 31 August 1917 and the Witherington and Everett Steam Ship Company collier SS Lightfoot in the English Channel off Selsey Bill on 16 March 1918. UB-30 was sunk by two depth charges from HMS Landrail south of Goodwin Sands at 51°9′N 1°46′ECoordinates: 51°9′N 1°46′E on 13 December 1916.

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    A German Type UB II submarine, UB-30 had a displacement of 274 tonnes (270 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.90 m (121 ft 1 in), a beam of 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two Benz six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 270 metric horsepower (270 shp; 200 kW), two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing 280 metric horsepower (210 kW; 280 shp), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft). The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.06 knots (16.78 km/h; 10.43 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.71 knots (10.57 km/h; 6.57 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 7,030 nautical miles (13,020 km; 8,090 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-30 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time.

    EASTERN FRONT

    Volga: Stalin declares state of siege at Tsaritsyn, bourgeoisie to dig trenches.
    East Siberia: Czech General Dieterichs appeals for Allied help from Vladivostok.

    SEA WAR
    Germany: Behnke replaces Capelle as Minister of Marine (until October 7).
    North Sea: Convoy escort armed trawlers depth charge and sink coastal submarine UB-30 off Whitby.
    Med*iterranean: 17 destroyer-escorted fast storeships from USA have docked at French ports, via Spanish waters, since July 1, 4000t per day discharged by autumn.

    AIR WAR
    Occupied Belgium: 50 Sopwith Camel fighters (including No 17 US Aero Squadron) surprise Varssenaere airfield west of Bruges, destroy 28-38 aircraft.

    POLITICS

    Britain: Government recognizes Czechs as Allied nation, latter declare war on Germany.
    Germany: At Spa Hindenburg and Ludendorff, Chancellor and Foreign Minister, agree war cannot be ended militarily.

    The War in the Air


    Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Eugene Seeley Coler and Second Lieutenant C W Gladman (11 Squadron Royal Air Force) while on escort duty dive on a formation of twenty enemy airplanes. In the engagement that follows the pilot destroys three and his observer two, making a total of five machines destroyed in this fight. The men were flying a Bristol Fighter from 11 Squadron. For his actions on this day Captain Coler would be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

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    Cyril William Gladman was the son of William and Ellen Gladman, Cyril William Gladman was an electrical engineer, apprentice when he enlisted in the 28th Battalion of the London Regiment on 24 November 1915 at Chelmsford. He scored 8 victories with 11 Squadron before he was badly wounded in action on 14 August 1918.

    Capt Eugene Seeley Coler DFC (USA) In 1917, Eugene Seeley Coler, the son of William and Lillie (Seeley) Coler, was a medical student at McGill University in Montreal, Canada and a sergeant instructor in the Canadian Field Artillery. The following year, with the Royal Flying Corps, he was assigned to 11 Squadron as a Bristol Fighter pilot. On 13 August 1918, he and his observer shot down five Fokker D.VIIs in three minutes of fierce fighting over Péronne. Wounded in action by Jasta 2 on 16 September 1918, Coler always shot down two or more aircraft at a time. After the war, he married Helen Feur on 28 June 1919, became a physician and served with the United States Army Air Corps in Africa, Italy and England during World War II. Colonel Coler rejoined the United States Air Force in 1951 and was stationed in England with the Medical Corps, 7th Air Division when he died in 1953.

    DFC Citation: Lieut. (A./Capt.) Eugene Seeley Coler. (FRANCE)
    Bold in attack and skilful in manoeuvre, this officer never hesitates to engage the enemy regardless of disparity in numbers. On 13th August when on escort duty, he dived on a formation of twenty enemy aeroplanes. In the engagement that ensued he himself destroyed three and his observer two—making a total of five machines destroyed in the fight; a fine performance, reflecting great credit on the officers concerned.

    Claiming a hat trick on this day were a number of pilots including Major Charles Dawson Booker DSC. Croix de Guerre of 201 Squadron RAF. Unfortunately after completing his third victory of the day in Sopwith Camel D9642, he was himself shot down and killed by the German Ace Ulrich Neckel of Jasta 12. It was Neckel who earlier in the war had shopw down and Killed John McCudden, brother of James 'Jimmy' McCudden.

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    The son of Louis and Ada Booker, Charles Dawson Booker joined the Royal Naval Air Service on 8 September 1915. Most of his victories were achieved with a Sopwith Triplane he called "Maud." On 11 August 1917, Booker scored his 21st victory when he and William Jordan shot down an Albatros D.V piloted by Adolf von Tutschek. Moments later, Booker was shot down by Viktor Schobinger of Jasta 12. He landed safely behind British lines. Flying a Sopwith Camel, Booker shot down three Fokker D.VII aircraft on 13 August 1918 but died from wounds received the same day when he was shot down by Ulrich Neckel of Jasta 12.

    1901 residence was Sutton At Hone, Hextable, Kent; birth registered in the 2nd quarter of 1897 at Bromley, Kent.

    Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
    Flt. Sub-Lieut. Frederick Earle Fraser, R.N.A.S.
    Flt. Lieut, (act. Flt. Cdr.) Charles Dawson Booker.
    For special gallantry in the field on numerous occasions, especially the following:—
    On 26th April, 1917, he went to the assistance of some of our photographic machines, which were about io be attacked by twelve Albatross scouts. One of-these he fired on at close range, and brought it down out of control.
    On 24th May, Iyl7, whilst on patrol, he went to the assistance of a formation-of our machines, which was being attacked by nine hostile scouts. He attacked one of the latter, which was driven down-in flames and crashed. Later in the same day he attacked and drove down out of control another hostile machine.
    On numerous other occasions he has attacked enemy machines and driven them down out of control.

    The following claims were also made on this day:

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    Another day of heavy losses for the RAF with another 28 men lost.

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    During an enemy counter-attack, Sergeant Robert Spall’s (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry) platoon is isolated. There upon Sergeant Spall takes a Lewis gun and, standing on the parapet, fires upon the advancing enemy, inflicting very severe casualties. He then comes down the trench directing the men into a sap seventy-five yards from the enemy. Picking up another Lewis gun, this gallant NCO again climbs the parapet, and by his fire holds up the enemy. While holding up the enemy at this point that he is killed. For his actions this day Sergeant Spall will be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

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    Robert Spall VC (5 March 1890 – 13 August 1918), was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross. Robert Spall was born in Ealing, Middlesex, England on March 5, 1890. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in July 1915. Spall was 28 years old, and a sergeant in Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War, and was awarded the VC for his actions on 13 August 1918 near Parvillers-le-Quesnoy, France.

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    His citation reads:

    For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice when, during an enemy counter-attack, his platoon was isolated. Thereupon Serjt. Spall took a Lewis gun and, standing on the parapet, fired upon the advancing enemy, inflicting very severe casualties. He then came down the trench directing the men into a sap seventy-five yards from the enemy. Picking up another Lewis gun, this gallant N.C.O. again climbed the parapet, and by his fire held up the enemy. It was while holding up the enemy at this point that he was killed. Serjt. Spall deliberately gave his life in order to extricate his platoon from a most difficult situation, and it was owing to his bravery that the platoon was saved.

    Sergeant Spall's final resting place was lost and as such he is commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial with the over 11,000 other Canadian dead of the war killed in France but whose remains were lost or never recovered. His name is also specially commemorated on the War Memorial in the grounds of Brentford (Middlesex) Library. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the PPCLI Museum at The Military Museums in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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    Nice piece on the Etruria and The Battle of San Matteo Chris. As you know I'm interested in all things on the Italian Front.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

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    One does ones best

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  12. #3512

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    Very nice work, keep it up GOOD read.

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    Think this makes 55 days on the bounce now, however I am delighted to say that the most remarkable Squadron Leader Skafloc will be returning to editorial duties from around the 27th (Thanks Neil)

    August 14th 1918

    Typing this suffering the effects of incoming fire (well to be exact got stung on the face by a bloody wasp whilst out walking the dog - blimey it hurts !!!)

    Lieutenant Joseph Paul AGNEW MC. 42nd Training Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Formerly 79th Company, Machine Gun Corps (MGC). Died Flying Accident Boughton Corner Farm, Wye, Ashford, Kent. (Sopwith Camel) 14th August 1918 aged 22 years. Born Cowper, Northumberland. Son of Thomas and Jane Ann Agnew of The Post Office, Cowpen Village, Blyth, Northumberland. Buried in the Ashford Cemetery. Grave reference RC.1725. Joseph was buried in Ashford which is close to the site of his flying accident.

    Joseph’s name appears on the Blythe Civic War Memorial, Cowpen, Blythe, Northumberland.

    Upon the outbreak of war in August 1914, Joseph was one of the very first men to volunteer for overseas active service. He responded immediately to Earl Kitcheners call for men enlisting into the army as a Private soldier. Joseph worked up through the ranks and by 1916 he was a Second Lieutenant in the Machine Gun Corps. In June 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross for his previous service in Egypt in 1916 for bravery in the face of the enemy –

    At night he was in charge of 2 guns and whilst moving up with the infantry to an assembly position his sub-section came under heavy shell fire. Several of his men were killed outright and others were badly wounded. He ordered his men to scatter and take cover. Joseph was wounded by a shell and badly concussed. Despite this he took charge of the situation and carried on directing his men. Joseph and an NCO went forward under heavy shell-fire and joined a small party of infantry, where he remained until daybreak ordering his own men and taking charge of the infantry men too. By this time he and his men had captured 8 enemy soldiers.

    Joseph was awarded the Military Cross personally by Field Marshall the Duke of Connaught (the King’s brother) for encouraging his men by way of example to hold on in the face of a furious enemy counter-attack. In June 1918 Joseph’s parents received an erroneous notification from the War Office advising them that their son Joseph had been wounded and then subsequently killed by gassing in Egypt. Two days later they received a telegraph from Joseph telling them he was wounded but still alive! After being awarded the MC, Joseph transferred into the Royal Flying Corps with the commissioned rank of Lieutenant. In June 1917 Joseph returned to the UK on leave and shortly after was sent to 42nd Training Squadron, Royal Flying Corps at Wye to learn to fly. During this training Joseph was involved in a tragic flying accident. His commanding officer Major Lucey reported the circumstances of his death –

    Lieutenant Agnew was ordered to attack and fire at a ground target which necessitated low flight. He approached the target in his Sopwith Camel and fired three bursts into it. After hitting his target Lt Agnew performed a series of rolls. On the third roll, his machine got into a spin and nose dived to the ground! The manoeuvre he was making was not necessarily disobeying orders, because it was an accepted practice at that time to celebrate victories by “barrel rolling”. Corporal James Talbot left the airfield at Wye with a rescue team and headed for Boughton Corner Farm where Joseph’s machine had appeared to come down in a cornfield. Upon arriving on the scene Corporal Talbot was met with a picture of sheer carnage! Lieutenant J.P Agnew was found in the wreckage of the machine very severely injured. Lieutenant Agnew was extricated from the wreckage of the Sopwith machine and taken with all haste to Ashford Hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital in Ashford Lieutenant Agnew’s condition worsened and he died of his injuries.

    The Kent County Coroner held an inquest into the circumstances of the fatal accident on 16 August 1918. Its verdict was “Death by Miss-adventure”. He died of a fracture of the back of the skull and other serious internal injuries consistent with a violent impact.

    Joseph was given the honour of a full military funeral. The Reverend F.T McSweeney conducted the ceremony in Ashford’s Canterbury Road Municipal Cemetery. The military representatives were commanded by Captain Larduci with Lieutenants Alexander, Mackintosh, Butler, Brandt and Cadet Gray also in attendance. Private Spearing sounded the “Last Post” on a bugle and a firing party under Sergeant Kingston fired the volley. Captain Larduci laid a wreath from all members of 42 Training Squadron, RAF from Wye. Joseph’s body was interred in the Roman Catholic Section at Ashford’s Municipal Cemetery, Canterbury Road, Ashford. The reason why he was buried in Ashford and not alongside his other fallen colleagues at Wye Churchyard is the fact he was a Roman Catholic.

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    The 42nd Training Squadron, RFC was a reserve training squadron based at the Wye Aerodrome, Bramble Lane, Wye, Kent. No trace of the airfield today other than a few bits of concrete in a ploughed field. Joseph’s father Thomas Agnew was killed in another tragic accident on 14 August 1937.

    Second Lieutenant Reginald Francis Clements MC (Royal Sussex Regiment) is killed at age 26. He is one of the War Poets

    Immortality

    I may not wait to hear
    What says the wind that sweeps across the lea,
    And yet I know it speaks, and in its voice
    There is some word to make my heart rejoice,
    Some message speeding on eternally

    That God has not made clear!

    I may not wait to find
    The secret of the seething sea that flows
    Nor ever rests; yet must thre b some plan
    Above the most exalted thought of man,
    Some destiny that none but Heaven knows,

    And Heaven keeps me blind!

    I may not wait to know
    The secret of the towering mountain height
    That makes my little self so small and frail
    And bids me rest awhile behind the veil,
    Because so far beyond it shines the light

    And God would have it so!

    WESTERN FRONT
    Germany: Crown Council decides victory in the field now most improbable. LUDENDORFF RECOMMENDS IMMEDIATE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
    Somme: Germans evacuat*ing Ancre sector.

    AIR WAR
    Somme: RAF has flown 700 sorties and dropped 571 bombs on bridges (mainly 112lb) since August 8 without inflicting serious damage. Fonck destroys 3 German aircraft (8 admitted losses for 29 Allied).
    Palestine: Nos 144 and 45 Squadrons reinforce RAF.

    POLITICS

    Germany: Emperor Charles and Kaiser meet for last time at Spa, Arz warns ‘Austria-Hungary could only continue the war until December’; Austrians plead for peace. Kaiser instructs Hintze to seek Queen of Holland’s mediation but only to aid German recovery.
    Britain:Allied Propaganda Conference, at Crewe House, London (until August 17) opened by Northcliffe.

    The War in the Air

    French flying ace René Fonck shot down three German aircraft in ten seconds in a head-on attack, with all three crashing within 100 meters (328 feet) of one another near Roye, Somme, France.

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    While shooting down 75 German planes, René Fonck was never wounded and claimed that only one enemy bullet ever hit his airplane. He was methodical, detailed, a skilled marksman, and a braggart. He took pride in using the least amount of ammunition necessary to bring down an enemy. He was a fine flier, but his self-promotion won him few close friends. He didn't drink or carouse with the other pilots, preferring to plan missions, perform calisthenics, and press his uniforms. In a remark that displayed both his skill and his boastfulness, he once said, "I put my bullets into the target as if by hand."

    Always anxious to prove his claims, on September 14 (1917), he recovered the barograph from an aircraft he had shot down. The instrument confirmed Fonck's rendition of the encounter, showing that the German plane had reached 20,000 feet, had maneuvered lower while dueling Fonck, had zoomed up briefly at 5,000 feet (as the pilot pulled back on the stick when hit), and then had stalled and crashed. The great French ace, Georges Guynemer, disappeared on September 11 (1917). The Germans claimed that he was shot down by Kurt Wisseman, a Rumpler pilot, and a good one, as he was credited with five kills while flying the two-seaters. Shortly, Fonck achieved a measure of revenge for the French Aviation militaire. On the 30th, he spotted a two-seater flying at 9,000 feet. Sensing that the rear gunner was alert to him, he expertly moved in below and behind, where he could not be fired on. Fonck fired two bursts. The Rumpler fell inside the French lines and the dead pilot's papers identified him as Kurt Wisseman. He told a journalist that by killing "the murderer of my good friend," he had become "the tool of retribution." This statement might have surprised the dead Guynemer, since he and Fonck were never friends.

    One book referred to Fonck as "a dreadful show-off, intolerable, always bragging, egotistical, ham-like, a poseur, gaudy, loud, hard to take, expressionless at times, morose, deliberately cruel, over-neat, tightly tailored, etc." Even his best friend, Lt. Claude Haegelen, (a 22 victory ace), was quoted as saying of Fonck:

    He is not a truthful man. He is a tiresome braggart, and even a bore, but in the air, a slashing rapier, a steel blade tempered with unblemished courage and priceless skill. ... But afterwards he can't forget how he rescued you, nor let you forget it. He can almost make you wish he hadn't helped you in the first place."

    One has to wonder what his enemies said.

    His final toal was 75 confirmed victories - he claimed 142.. (and I have a go at Billy Bishop !! - editor)

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    He continued flying after the war. In the mid-Twenties, he sought to fly the Atlantic, the Holy Grail of aviation pioneers, a New York to Paris flight. Teaming with Igor Sikorsky, they prepared a three-engine craft, the S.35. He tested the aircraft for days, but when he first tried the long flight on September 26, 1926, a faulty fuel tank brought him down. A few days later, on a second attempt, the S.35 crashed and burned on take-off, killing two other crew members. Before Fonck and Sikorsky could try again, Lindbergh had made the first flight. Eventually, his vanity soured his relations with the press, and he lost much of his wartime popularity. In 1939, he retired as France's Inspector of Pursuit Aviation. He died in 1953, at age fifty-nine.

    It was another busy day in the air... 4 aces were lost on this day

    Captain Herbert Ruska Gould MC 18 Squadron RAF (6 victories) DH.4

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    The son of Nat Gould and Elizabeth Madeline (Ruska) Gould, Herbert Ruska Gould arrived in England in 1895. In 1914, he enlisted in the City of London Yeomanry. After he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, he was posted to 18 Squadron and scored six victories flying the D.H.4. Gould was was missing in action near Douai on 14 August 1918.

    T./Lt. Herbert Ruska Gould, General List and R.A.F.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has carried out 24 successful bombing raids, several of which he has led, and 26 low reconnaissance and bombing flights, as well as many low-flying, harassing and bombing patrols, during which many direct hits have been obtained and severe casualties inflicted. He has destroyed three enemy machines and has shown a very high spirit of zeal throughout.

    Captain James Fitz Morris 23 Squadron RAF MC & Bar(14 victories) Spad X.III B6856

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    From Polmont, James Fitz Morris, the son of James and Jane (Brown) Morris, was educated at Laurieston School. Enlisting early in the war, he served as a motor despatch rider with the Highland Light Infantry before he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. Prior to becoming a pilot, he served with 11 Squadron in France as an observer on Vickers Gunbuses and was mentioned in despatches. After recovering from a serious accident in August 1916, he served as an instructor at Harlaxton aerodrome and was promoted to Temporary Captain. Returning to France with 25 Squadron in the summer of 1917, he scored seven victories flying the D.H.4. With 23 Squadron in March 1918, he scored seven more victories flying the SPAD XIII. Captain Morris was killed in a crash while touring the United States with a contingent of R.A.F. fliers in the summer of 1918.

    Military Cross (MC)
    T./Capt. James Fitz-Morris, Gen. List, and R.F.C.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on photographic and offensive patrols. On at least four occasions he has displayed great dash and courage in attacking hostile machines, two of which he completely destroyed, and has driven others down out of control.

    Military Cross (MC) Bar
    Lt. (T./Capt.) James FitzMorris, M.C., High. L.I., and R.F.C.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During operations he carried out many reconnaissances at a low altitude and obtained valuable information. On one occasion, while on a bombing patrol, he saw an enemy machine attacking our troops with machine gun fire from about 500 feet, and at once attacked it and drove it to the ground. He then attacked seven enemy scouts, one of which he drove down in flames inside our lines. He has also destroyed five other enemy machines and driven down two others out of control. He has always set a magnificent example of dash and determination.

    Lieutenant David Esplin Smith 20 Squadron RAF (6 victories) - Bristol Fighter C4672

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    A barber's assistant, David Esplin Smith, the son of Mungo and Rebecca Smith, enlisted on 28 November 1915 but was discharged on 12 February 1916 for being under-age. Enlisting again, he joined C Squadron, No. 2 Royal Flying Corps Cadet Wing on 14 May 1917. With 20 Squadron in the summer of 1918, Smith scored six victories flying the Bristol Fighter. Shot down by Jasta 56 on 14 August 1918, Smith was killed but his observer, John Hills, survived and was captured.

    Lieutenant Richard Alexander "Alex" Hewat
    87 Squadron RAF (6 victories) - Sopwith Dolphin C4155

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    The son of R. A. J. and Jessie Bell Hewat, Richard Alexander Hewat's father was co-founder of Strong, Hewat and Company. "Alex" Hewat was one of five brothers from Briggsville, Massachusetts who fought in the Great War. He was a "crack end" on Tad Jones' undefeated football team at Exeter Academy in 1915. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in June 1917 and was posted to 19 Squadron in September. Scoring his third victory on 26 October 1917, his SPAD VII was hit by ground fire and Hewat received a head wound. When he recovered, he was reassigned to 87 Squadron and returned to France in April 1918. Flying the Sopwith Dolphin, Hewat scored three more victories before he was killed in action, probably shot down by Hermann Leptien.

    The following claims were made on this day (and I don't know why Fonck's 3 don't appear on this list)

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    It was one of the RAF's worst days of the war, with 37 men lost, including...

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    Captain Tunstill's Men: The Battalion was engaged in training and on the rifle range.

    In the evening the Battalion marched 15 miles north west via Cereda, Priabona and Malo to Beregana Camp, south-east of Thiene.

    Pte. William Harper (25972) (see 21st June) was admitted via 70th Field Ambulance to 9th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from diarrohea.
    Pte. William Hewitt (25172) (see 6th July), who had suffered shrapnel wounds to his right hand during the trench raid on 21st June, was transferred from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.
    Pte. John Walter Gethen (see 9th August), serving at the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia, was admitted via 39th Casualty Clearing Station to 62nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia; he was suffering from venereal disease.

    Pte. Walter Ralph (see 10th May), who had been in England since having wounded in action while serving with 1st/5th York and Lancasters, was granted two weeks’ leave before joining 3rd Battalion York and Lancasters; he was the elder brother of Pte. Kit Ralph (see 30th April 1917) who had been killed at Le Sars in October 1916.

    2Lt. Aidan Nicholson (see 3rd July), who had been in England for a month after suffering from broncho-pneumonia, wrote to the War Office, asking “if I am entitled to any gratuity in consideration of my recent illness. I have been invalided home on account of broncho pneumonia which I contracted on active service due to exposure to wet and cold. I am at present on sick leave and have been given one month’s Home Service” .

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  14. #3514

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    Don't worry Chris.
    Lt Perry got it for you.
    Kyte.

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

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    Revenge is sweet...

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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    15th August 1918


    Hundred Days Offensive – Field Marshal Douglas Haig refused an order from Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch to continue the Amiens offensive as troop advances and supply routes were faltering in the face of regrouping German positions. Instead, he reorganized the British Third Army and U.S. Army II Corps for an offensive on the German-held town of Albert, France.

    Somme: BEF recrosses the Ancre (for last time). Canadian Corps actions around Damery (until August 17, repulse counter-attack on August 16). Haig refuses to obey Foch’s order from August 11 for attack on Roye*-Chaulnes, but will attack north of Somme (c. August 21). French Third Army captures Lassigny Massif (town on August 21) halts on river Divette on August 22.
    Flanders: Rupprecht warns Prince Max of Baden ‘Our military situation has deteriorated so rapidly that I no longer believe we can hold out over the winter; it is even possible that a catastrophe will come earlier.’

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    EASTERN FRONT
    USA: Government severs relations with Soviet Government.
    East Siberia: *Heavy Red shelling (until August 17) answered on August 16 by HMS Suffolk 12-pounder in armoured train. Siberian Regional Duma meets in Tomsk.
    Kuban: Volunteer Army captures capital Ekaterinodar (Denikin enters on August 16).

    SEA WAR
    North Sea: Harwich Force destroyers Ullswater and Scott sunk (torpedo and mine respectively) escorting Dutch convoy.

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    HMS Scott was an Admiralty type destroyer leader. She was launched in 1917 and sunk in 1918 by a German submarine. HMS Scott was the first of a new destroyer leader class built to be flotilla leaders for the V- and W-class destroyers. She was ordered during the First World War in 1916, and the class would unofficially be named after her. The ship herself was the first to bear the name Scott and was named after Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet. Scott was launched on 18 October 1917; on 15 August 1918, however, she was sunk off the Dutch coast — less than a year after entering service. The cause of her sinking is unclear, it is assumed that a German U-boat torpedoed and sunk her, however it is also possible that she hit a mine. Regardless of cause, the German submarine UC-17 — which had been patrolling and mining the area — is usually credited with her sinking.

    The German submarine U17 is usually credited with her sinking even though various records describe her sinking as being during moving alongside another stricken destroyer HMS Ullswater which had suffered the same fate the same day.

    17 year old Boy Telegraphist Frederick Thomas Ludbrook, son of George and Edith Ludbrook of London is the solitary naval rating whose remains were interned at Shotley St Mary

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    The sinking of the Ullswater.

    AIR WAR
    Western Front: German fighters break up Allied formations, claim 25 Allied aircraft for 4 lost.

    Major Arthur William Keen MC commanding officer of 40 squadron crashes near Bruay, his machine bursting into flames. He is admitted to hospital suffering from burns to his face and legs and a severe concussion. He will die on 2nd September after seventeen days of intense suffering. He is a 14-victory ace.

    The Royal Air Force established air squadron No. 242.

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    No. 242 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron. It flew in many roles during the First World War, Second World War and Cold War. During the Second World War, the squadron was notable for (firstly) having a large number of pilots who were either RCAF personnel or Canadians serving in the RAF – to the extent that it was sometimes known, unofficially, as "242 Canadian Squadron", and (secondly) for being as the first squadron to be commanded by Douglas Bader. No. 242 Squadron was formed on 15 August 1918 from the numbers 408, 409 and 514 Seaplane Flights at Newhaven Seaplane Base, and continued using the Short 184 from there and the nearby airfield at Telscombe Cliffs on anti-submarine patrols over the English Channel until the end of the First World War.

    The squadron was reformed at RAF Church Fenton on 30 October 1939 with Canadian personnel. At first using the Bristol Blenheim and Fairey Battle, it converted to the Hawker Hurricane in February 1940. In May 1940 the squadron moved to RAF Biggin Hill and went into action over France. Douglas Bader was posted to command the Squadron, as a Squadron Leader, at the end of June 1940, when the unit was mainly made up of Canadian pilots that had suffered high losses in the Battle of France and had low morale. Despite initial resistance to their new commanding officer, the pilots were soon won over by Bader's strong personality and perseverance, especially in cutting through red tape to make the squadron operational again. Upon the formation of No. 12 Group RAF, No. 242 Squadron was assigned to the Group while based at RAF Duxford. In June 1940 it moved to RAF Coltishall in eastern England, as part of No. 12 Group RAF and was involved in the Battle of Britain. During this period 242 Squadron moved to RAF Duxford as part of the Duxford Wing, 12 Group's Big Wing formation. In 1941 it started offensive sweeps and bomber escorts and convoy patrols. In December 1941 the squadron moved to the far East arriving at RAF Seletar on 13 January 1942. The situation was desperate and it had to move to Palembang on Sumatra where the squadron collapsed through lack of spares and was dispersed by 10 March 1942. On 29 December 1941 Pilot Officer M C Blanchard (RCAF) was reported missing believed killed after a mid air collision off the coast of Ghar Hassan, Malta, during an operational flight. The collision was between Hurricane BE343 (Blanchard) and Hurricane BE344 (Flight Lieutenant Andrews (RCAF) who was later found safe).

    On 10 April 1942 the squadron re-formed at RAF Turnhouse, Scotland with the Supermarine Spitfire and was involved in coastal patrols. In October it was deployed to North Africa defending Algiers. It fought into Tunisia then moved on to Malta and was involved in the invasion of Sicily and the Salerno beach-head operations. In 1944 it was moved to Syria for a rest period before moving to Corsica where it was part of the invasion of southern France and attacks on northern Italy. The squadron was disbanded in Italy on 4 November 1944. The squadron reformed again on 15 November 1944 at RAF Stoney Cross as a transport squadron, training on the Vickers Wellington then getting operational on the Short Stirling. By 1946 it had become an operator of the Avro York running scheduled freight services into India and to the Azores; in June 1946 it was located at RAF Oakington as part of No. 47 Group. In 1948 it became involved in the Berlin Air Lift operating from Wunstorf. After the air lift it returned to England and requipped with Handley Page Hastings. The squadron was disbanded at RAF Lyneham on 1 May 1950. On 1 October 1959 it was reformed at RAF Marham as a surface-to-air missile unit with the Bristol Bloodhound. It was tasked to protect the V bomber bases until disbanded on 30 September 1964.

    The following claims were made on this day, including a Hat trick by someone called TONKS ! (I checked ... not him. - Joke for those in the know - editor)

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    On a thankfully quiter day for the RAF 12 airmen were lost

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    Captain Tunstill's Men: Beregana Camp, south-east of Thiene

    In the evening the Battalion marched a further five miles north via Carre to Caltrano where they crossed the River Astico and then turned west for a further mile to billets at San Donna Camisino.

    Pte. John Foster (see 11th July), serving in France with 2/7th DWR, was transferred from 13th Convalescent Depot at Trouville to ‘I’ Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. However, after just four days he would again be reported sick and readmitted to one of the convalescent hospitals at Trouville.

    A payment of £1 10s. 11d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Stephen Walsh (see 22nd April 1917), who had been killed in action in April 1917; the payment would go to his father, John. It is unclear why there had been such a protracted delay in dealing with Pte. Walsh’s affairs.

    and finally - trouble in Ireland...

    4 August 1918 was a day of defiance by the GAA and the Irish people against British government attempts to suppress Gaelic games. There was another day of defiance on 15 August 1918 in protest at the British attempt to suppress political meetings. Led by acting Sinn Féin General Secretary Harry Boland, the organisation held outdoor meetings all over the country. Frank Gallagher says in 'The Four Glorious Years':

    "At the one hour throughout the whole land the local Sinn Féin Cumann held a public meeting. There were nearly 2000 Cumainn. In almost every townland, and in the cities in almost every street, the people gathered and defied the big and little military governors. Each meeting was timed to last 15 minutes, and as soon as word of it came to the local British headquarters and troops and police had been assembled to disperse it, the meeting was over. In Dublin, Constabulary hurried from street to street, noting who was speaking, who was listening. Soon they realised that it was all Dublin which was defying them, and, in the country, all Ireland. They threw up their hands - what could be done with people like that?"

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  17. #3517

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    16th August 1918

    Lets start with the air war for a change...

    Captain Herbert Axford (Royal Air Force) leads his formation to bomb certain docks near Bruges. These docks being exceptionally well guarded and our planes are heavily handicapped by adverse weather conditions; moreover, the formation has suffered casualties, and his own machine is badly damaged; he nevertheless succeeds in reaching and bombing his objective in the face of an intense barrage.

    Lieutenant Frederick Stanley Gordon (Royal Air Force) achieve three victories leaving him one short of being an ace when he shoots down two Fokker D.VIII’s over Messines this morning and a Rumpler C east of Kemmel Hill in the afternoon.

    Western Front: 65 Allied fighters attack La Bassee fighter base. New German Fokker DVIII (EV) parasol monoplane fighter (Jasta 6) scores first victory out of 18 claimed.
    Germany: First RAF raid on Darmstadt by No 55 Squadron, 3 DH4s lost to fighters.

    Fokker D.VIII

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    The Fokker E.V was a German parasol-monoplane fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz and built by Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. The E.V was the last Fokker design to become operational with the Luftstreitkräfte, entering service in the last months of World War I. After several fatal accidents due to wing failures, the aircraft was modified and redesignated Fokker D.VIII. Dubbed the Flying Razor by Allied pilots, the D.VIII had the distinction of scoring the last aerial victory of the war.

    In early 1918, Fokker produced several rotary-powered monoplane prototypes. Of these, Fokker submitted the V.26 and V.28, small parasol-winged monoplanes with his usual steel-tube fuselages, for the second fighter trials at Adlershof in May/June 1918. The V.28 was tested with both the 108 kW (145 hp) Oberursel UR.III and 119 kW (160 hp) Goebel Goe.III, though neither of these engines were ready for operational service. The V.26 utilized the standard Oberursel UR.II engine, producing only 82 kW (110 hp). While this engine was obsolete, the V.26's low drag and light weight meant that it was nevertheless quite fast. The Fokker designs were only barely beaten by the Siemens-Schuckert D.III with the complex bi-rotary Siemens-Halske Sh.III engine. In the end, the V.26 was ordered into production as the Fokker E.V. Four hundred were ordered immediately with either the UR.III or Goe.III. Because neither engine was available in any quantity, all production examples mounted the UR.II.

    The first production E.V aircraft were shipped to Jasta 6 in late July. The new monoplane was also delivered to Jasta 1, Jasta 19, Jasta 24 and Jasta 36. Leutnant Emil Rolff scored the first kill in an E.V on August 17, 1918, but two days later he was killed when his aircraft's wing collapsed in flight. After another E.V of Jasta 19 crashed, Idflieg grounded all E.V aircraft. Pending the investigation of these wing failures, production ceased at the Fokker Flugzeugwerke. According to Fokker, the wing failures were caused by the army technical bureau, which had forced him to modify the original design by over-strengthening the rear main spar. This faulty design allegedly caused the wing to twist and fail. Fokker claimed that this defect was resolved by reverting to his original design.

    According to most other accounts, the source of the wing failures lay not in the design, but in shoddy and rushed construction. Fokker had subcontracted construction of the E.V wings to the Gebrüder Perzina Pianoforte Fabrik factory. Due to poor quality control, inferior timber had been used and the spar "caps", forming the upper and lower members of each spar assembly, had been placed too far apart during the fabrication. Because the resulting spars were vertically too large to pass through the ribs, excess material was simply planed away from the exposed upper and lower surfaces of the cap pieces, leaving the assembled spars dangerously weak. Other problems included water damage to glued parts, and pins that splintered the spars, rather than securing them. Tests showed that, when properly constructed, the original E.V wing had a considerable margin of safety. Satisfied that the basic design was safe, Idflieg authorized continued production, after personnel changes and improved quality control measures were introduced at the Perzina factory.

    Deliveries resumed in October. At the direction of the Kogenluft (Kommandierenden General der Luftstreitkräfte), Idflieg redesignated the modified aircraft D.VIII. Henceforth, the "E." and "Dr." designations were abolished and all fighters received the "D." appellation. The D.VIII commenced operations on 24 October with Jasta 11. The aircraft proved to be agile and easy to fly. Allied pilots nicknamed it the Flying Razor, because of its sleek appearance and single wing.

    Jasta 5 was issued a D.VIII. The famed ace Erich Lowenhardt performed a test flight of a Fokker EV whilst paying a visit to Jasta 6 in the summer of 1918, but no evidence of him flying this aircraft on any other occasion exists to date. A total of 381 aircraft were produced, but only some 85 aircraft reached frontline service before the Armistice. Some reached Italy, Japan, the United States, and England as trophies, but most were scrapped in accordance with the terms of the Armistice.

    The Polish Air Force captured 17 aircraft, but only seven (six E.V and one D.VIII) were in airworthy condition. All were used against Soviet forces in the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1920. Lieutenant Stefan Stec earned the first kill for the Polish Air Force, by shooting down a Ukrainian Nieuport fighter on 29 April 1919. In 1921, the remaining Fokkers were withdrawn from front-line units and transferred to the Szkoła Obsługi Lotniczej (Air Personnel School) at Poznań-Ławica airfield.

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    The following claims were made on this day

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    There was a Hat Trick of kills today from Lieutenant Frederick Stanley "Freddie" Gordon DFC of 74 Squadron RAF

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    A farmer from Hillsborough, Frederick Stanley Gordon was the only son of Dr. Gordon. He received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 5505 on a Curtiss Flying Boat at New Zealand Flying School, Kohimarama on 17 October 1917. Flying the S.E.5a on the Western front with 74 Squadron, he scored nine victories. Post-war, he was appointed to the New Zealand Air Force, with the rank of First Lieutenant, in 1923. His sister married Keith Caldwell.

    20 RAF airmen were lost on this day

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    WESTERN FRONT
    USA: Pershing requests return of 3 out of 5 US divisions training with BEF.
    Somme: Anglo-French advance in Roye sector.

    EASTERN FRONT
    USSR: Lenin tells Moscow Party that young people must be won over.
    Northern Russia: Whites occupy Shenkursk, 175 miles south-south-east of Archangel.
    East Siberia: *27th US Infantry (from Philippines) lands at Vladivostok as does Japanese C-in-C General Otani. Czechs-foil Red landing attempt on Lake Khanka. Sir Charles Eliot British High Commissioner in Siberia; Regnault (ex-French Tokyo Ambassador) made Allied representative at Vladivostok (August 21).

    An Allied force under command of Lionel Dunsterville arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan

    Battle of Lake Baikal

    The Battle of lake Baikal was probably the only naval battle to be undertaken by Czechoslovak forces. In August of the year 1918 the Czechoslovak legion, under the leadership of Gajda, fought the Red Army for control of the mountain passes around lake Baikal which were well defended. Gajda was troubled by the fact that Baikal was completely under the control of the Red Army's ships, which threatened the Czechoslovak units with landing units to the legion's rear. While occupying various ports on the shores of the Baikal, the Czechoslovak legionaries managed to capture two enemy steamships, the "Sibirjak" and the "Fedosia". These were later refitted with a pair of Howitzers each.

    On the August 15, the Czechoslovak "fleet" sailed out of Listvyanka. By noon on the August 16, the ships were about 8 km from the port in Mysova in heavy fog. After a few minutes, the fog started dissipating and the ships spotted Mysova. The Red Army forces defending the town were under the impression that the approaching ships were friendly vessels bringing in supplies. This allowed the ships to approach the harbor to a distance of approximately 4 km. By the time the defenders of Mysova realized their error, it was too late. The icebreaker Bajkal tried to initiate fire upon the Czechoslovak ships but they were faster. They began to fire, both at the Bajkal and at the harbor. The Bajkal was sunk and general confusion erupted in Mysova. The train station was in flames. An armored train arrived after half an hour of Czechoslovak bombardment. Guns were offloaded from it and began to return fire upon the Czechoslovak ships. Since the main mission of destroying the harbor and train station were completed, the legionaries left the battle. On the return journey they met the enemy ship Angara which decided to evade battle. The rest of the journey was uneventful and they returned to Listvyanka without any further incidents.

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    News of the Czechoslovak Legion’s campaign in Siberia during the summer of 1918 was welcomed by Allied statesmen in Great Britain and France, who saw the operation as a means to reconstitute an eastern front against Germany. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, who had resisted earlier Allied proposals to intervene in Russia, gave in to domestic and foreign pressure to support the legionaries' evacuation from Siberia. In early July 1918, he published an aide-mémoire calling for a limited intervention in Siberia by the U.S. and Japan to rescue the Czechoslovak troops, who had been blocked by Bolshevik forces in Transbaikal but as you now know, had fought their way through. But by the time most American and Japanese units landed in Vladivostok, the Czechoslovaks were already there to welcome them. The Allied intervention in Siberia continued so that by autumn 1918, there were 70,000 Japanese, 829 British, 1,400 Italian, 5,002 American and 107 French colonial (Vietnamese) troops in the region. Many of these contingents supported anti-Bolshevik Russians and Cossack warlords who had established regional governments in the wake of the Czechoslovak seizure of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

    The Czechoslovak Legion's campaign in Siberia impressed Allied statesmen and attracted them to the idea of an independent Czechoslovak state. As the legionaries cruised from one victory to another that summer, the Czechoslovak National Council began receiving official statements of recognition from various Allied governments.

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  18. #3518

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    August 17th 1918


    There were a total or 398 British lives lost the lowest number for some considerable time (i.e. its going to be a quiet one...)

    WESTERN FRONT
    Mangin’s Tenth Army (1,138 guns) gains c.2000 yards between rivers Oise and Aisne with over 2,000 PoWs (until August 18). The French Tenth Army attacked the German-held town of Noyon, France in an early offensive prior to the main Allied attack at Albert four days later.

    EASTERN FRONT

    Northern Russia: 2/10th Royal Scots march through Archangel behind US Marine band, reach Bereznik on river Dvina by barge on August 31.
    North Russia Intervention – Allied forces supporting the Northern Regional Government advanced from Arkhangelsk to Onega Bay, Russia.

    MIDDLE EAST
    Azerbaijan: Dunsterville arrives at Baku in SS President Kruger, 2 battalions follow, inspects defences on August 18 while defenders lose Fatmai village on northern flank.
    An Allied offensive to control the entire Absheron Peninsula of Azerbaijan ended in failure

    The Martin MB-1 aircraft was first flown

    The Martin MB-1 was an American large biplane bomber designed and built by the Glenn L. Martin Company for the United States Army Air Service in 1918. It was the first purpose-built bomber produced by the United States.

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    In 1921 Martin produced its KG.1 variant of the MB-1, with ten purchased by the Navy as torpedo bombers under the designation MBT. After two were purchased, the designation was changed to Martin MT. In response to a requirement from the Air Service for a bomber that was superior to the Handley Page O/400. Martin proposed the MB-1 and were rewarded with an initial production contract for six aircraft. The MB-1 was a conventional biplane design with twin fins and rudders mounted above the tailplane and a fixed tailwheel landing gear with four-wheel main gear. Powered by two 400 hp (298 kW) Liberty 12A engines, it had room for a crew of three in open cockpits.

    Initial delivery to the Air Service was in October 1918, with the aircraft designated GMB for Glenn Martin Bomber. The first four produced were configured as observation aircraft, and the next two as bombers. Four others were produced before the end of World War I cancelled all remaining war contracts. The last three aircraft each were configured experimentally, with separate designations: GMT (Glenn Martin Transcontinental), a long-range version with a 1,500 mi (2,400 km) range; GMC (Glen Martin Cannon) with a nose-mounted 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon; and GMP (Glenn Martin Passenger) as an enclosed ten-passenger transport. The GMP was later redesignated T-1. Six surviving aircraft were later modified and used by the United States Postal Service as mail carriers. The design was the basis for the Martin MB-2, which had a greater load capability but was slower and less maneuverable.

    Ten aircraft were used by the United States Navy from 1922 under the designations MBT and MT and were used as torpedo bombers, two by the Navy and eight by Marine Corps squadron VF-2M. On 5 October 1923, the Marine Corps entered an MT, serial number A-5720, in the National Air Races in St. Louis. The aircraft raced with the racing number 58, placing third on the 160 nautical miles; 190 miles (300 km) course. They were used in the West Virginian Coal Wars, notably in the Battle of Blair Mountain, as aerial observers sent in by President Warren Harding. One aircraft was lost, crashing on the return flight, with the loss of three crewmen.

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    British war poet Wilfred Owen met his friend Siegfried Sassoon for the last time in London and spent what Sassoon later described as "the whole of a hot cloudless afternoon together.

    The War in the Air

    The following claims were made on this day (quite a small list)

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    There were 12 British airmen lost on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men: Billets at San Donna Camisino.

    Starting out at 6am the Battalion marched up on to the Asiago Plateau, covering five arduous miles via the mountain tracks to camp at Mount Brusabo, south-east of Cesuna.

    Pte. Lewis Batey (see 21st June) was admitted via 71st Field Ambulance to 24th Casualty Clearing Station; he was suffering from diarrohea.
    Pte. Fred Sutcliffe (see 12th June) departed on seven days’ leave to Lake Garda.
    Lt. Arthur Lilley (see 1st August), in training in England with the RAF, was posted back to France to continue his training as an observer.
    Pte. Edward Somers (see 23rd May), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was appointed Acting Lance Corporal.

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  19. #3519

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    Duplicate Faerie strikes again
    Last edited by Hedeby; 08-18-2018 at 14:13.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  20. #3520

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    18th August 1918

    Lance Corporal Henry Louie Norwest MM & Bar (Alberta Regiment) is killed in action at age 30. The Native Canadian Metis Indian achieved a sniping record of one hundred fifteen fatal shots as a sniper during the Great War. While Norwest was an outstanding marksman, the thing that set him apart from others was his superb stealth tactics and his expertise in the use of camouflage.

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    Henry Norwest was born in Fort Saskatchewan on May 1st, 1884, a Metis of Cree descent. Before enlisting in the Canadian Army, Henry lived on the Hobbema Reserve (now known as Maskwacis), approximately 100 km south of Fort Saskatchewan, and was a rodeo performer and ranch-hand. He enlisted in 1915 as a private in the 50th Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces and was deployed to France in August 1916. Promoted in the field to Lance-Corporal, Norwest was the leading Canadian sniper during World War I and is credited with 115 documented fatal shots. Known to have only counted witnessed kills, his actual total can only be higher than 115.

    Henry Norwest was awarded the Military Medal in April 1917 for his “great bravery, skill and initiative in sniping the enemy after the capture of the Pimple,” a peak on Vimy Ridge, near Arras in northern France.

    Vimy Ridge held a commanding view of the surrounding countryside and had defied all previous attempts at capture, before being assaulted and successfully captured by the CEF, April 9 -12, 1917. All four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, acting together for the first time in battle, did what the mighty nations of Britain and France could not. They defeated the Germans. The Pimple was captured on the first day, but the battle raged for 3 days more. A costly battle, the CEF lost more than 10,600 troops killed and wounded in those four days, but this was a fraction of the 150,000 casualties suffered by French and British troops in previous efforts to conquer Vimy Ridge. Canadian losses would have been higher but Henry Norwest saved numerous Canadian lives by conducting overwatch sniper operations to eliminate German snipers and machine gun emplacements before they could exact revenge on the victorious Canadians.

    According to the webpage “Sharpshooter: Henry Louis Norwest” on the Veteran Affairs Canada website, a Bar was added to his Military Medal in 1918 for accomplishments since lost to history. However, further research uncovered that the Bar was added posthumously “for Gallantry in the Field.” A Bar represents another award of the Military Medal, something that was only achieved by 830 members of the 600,000+ strong Canadian Expeditionary Forces.

    Besides being an outstanding marksman, Lance Corporal Norwest was known as an expert in camouflage techniques, and was able to remain motionless for seemingly days at a time. He accomplished most of his kills while stalking through No Man’s Land, the deadly zone between the Allied and German fronts, where anything that moved was a target for snipers and artillery from both sides, and by covertly getting behind enemy lines. He was known to have fearsome eyes that looked like black marble, and he was respected by troops in his battalion for his calm demeanor and kind manner. In an era when due respect was not bestowed upon native soldiers, Norwest was not initially included on the Branch #27 Cenotaph, despite his legendary sniping record, and his payment of the ultimate sacrifice, death on battlefield, In 2004, members of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #27 succeeded in erasing this embarrassment and had Henry Norwest’s name added to the Cenotaph, in the presence of several guests of honour, his descendants.

    The Canteen of RCL #27 is officially known as the Henry Norwest Canteen and his picture is proudly displayed within, along with a feather and a beaded wristband, donated by descendants and relatives for the Cenotaph ceremony. In the centre of the Fort Saskatchewan Cemetery, in the Royal Canadian Legion’s Henry Norwest Field Of Honour, two brass plaques pay tribute to Lance Corporal Norwest. According to German POW’s, Lance Corporal Norwest was known by and feared by German forces. He was killed by an enemy sniper on August 18, 1918, and is buried in Warvillers, Somme, France. Upon his death, Canadian Major-General Arthur Currie ordered every available artillery gun to fire on enemy positions as a tribute to one of the British Empire’s top sharpshooters.

    The Thule Society
    was established in Munich, a secret occult group that developed elaborate theories on the origins of the Aryan race.

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    The Thule Society (/ˈtuːlə/; German: Thule-Gesellschaft), originally the Studiengruppe für germanisches Altertum ("Study Group for Germanic Antiquity"), was a German occultist and völkisch group founded in Munich right after World War I, named after a mythical northern country in Greek legend. The society is notable chiefly as the organization that sponsored the Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (DAP; German Workers' Party), which was later reorganized by Adolf Hitler into the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP or Nazi Party). According to Hitler biographer Ian Kershaw, the organization's "membership list ... reads like a Who's Who of early Nazi sympathizers and leading figures in Munich", including Rudolf Hess, Alfred Rosenberg, Hans Frank, Julius Lehmann, Gottfried Feder, Dietrich Eckart, and Karl Harrer. However, Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke contends that Hans Frank and Rudolf Hess had been Thule members, but other leading Nazis had only been invited to speak at Thule meetings or they were entirely unconnected with it. According to Johannes Hering, "There is no evidence that Hitler ever attended the Thule Society.

    The Thule Society was originally a "German study group" headed by Walter Nauhaus, a wounded World War I veteran turned art student from Berlin who had become a keeper of pedigrees for the Germanenorden (or "Order of Teutons"), a secret society founded in 1911 and formally named in the following year. In 1917, Nauhaus moved to Munich; his Thule Society was to be a cover-name for the Munich branch of the Germanenorden, but events developed differently as a result of a schism in the Order. In 1918, Nauhaus was contacted in Munich by Rudolf von Sebottendorf (or von Sebottendorff), an occultist and newly elected head of the Bavarian province of the schismatic offshoot known as the Germanenorden Walvater of the Holy Grail. The two men became associates in a recruitment campaign, and Sebottendorff adopted Nauhaus's Thule Society as a cover-name for his Munich lodge of the Germanenorden Walvater at its formal dedication on 18 August 1918 A primary focus of the Thule Society was a claim concerning the origins of the Aryan race. In 1917, people who wanted to join the "Germanic Order", out of which the Thule Society developed in 1918, had to sign a special "blood declaration of faith" concerning their lineage:

    The signer hereby swears to the best of his knowledge and belief that no Jewish or coloured blood flows in either his or in his wife's veins, and that among their ancestors are no members of the coloured races.

    "Thule" (Greek: Θούλη) was a land located by Greco-Roman geographers in the farthest north (often displayed as Iceland). The Latin term "Ultima Thule" is also mentioned by Roman poet Virgil in his pastoral poems called the Georgics. Thule originally was probably the name for Scandinavia, although Virgil simply uses it as a proverbial expression for the edge of the known world, and his mention should not be taken as a substantial reference to Scandinavia.The Thule Society identified Ultima Thule as a lost ancient landmass in the extreme north, near Greenland or Iceland, said by Nazi mystics to be the capital of ancient Hyperborea.

    The Thule Society attracted about 250 followers in Munich and about 1,500 elsewhere in Bavaria.[

    The followers of the Thule Society were very interested in racial theory and, in particular, in combating Jews and Communists. Sebottendorff planned but failed to kidnap Bavarian socialist prime minister Kurt Eisner in December 1918. During the Bavarian revolution of April 1919, Thulists were accused of trying to infiltrate its government and of attempting a coup. On 26 April, the Communist government in Munich raided the society's premises and took seven of its members into custody, executing them on 30 April. Amongst them were Walter Nauhaus and four well-known aristocrats, including Countess Heila von Westarp who functioned as the group's secretary, and Prince Gustav of Thurn and Taxis who was related to several European royal families. In response, the Thule organised a citizens' uprising as White troops entered the city on 1 May.

    Münchener Beobachter newspaper

    In 1918, the Thule Society bought a local weekly newspaper, the Münchener Beobachter (Munich Observer), and changed its name to Münchener Beobachter und Sportblatt (Munich Observer and Sports Paper) in an attempt to improve its circulation. The Münchener Beobachter later became the Völkischer Beobachter ("Völkisch Observer"), the main Nazi newspaper. It was edited by Karl Harrer.

    Deutsche Arbeiterpartei
    Anton Drexler had developed links between the Thule Society and various extreme right workers' organizations in Munich. He established the Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (DAP; German Workers' Party) on 5 January 1919, together with the Thule Society's Karl Harrer. Adolf Hitler joined this party in September the same year. By the end of February 1920, the DAP had been reconstituted as the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP; National Socialist German Workers' Party), often referred to as the Nazi Party.

    Sebottendorff by then had left the Thule Society, and never joined the DAP or the Nazi Party. Dietrich Bronder (Bevor Hitler kam, 1964) alleged that other members of the Thule Society were later prominent in Nazi Germany: the list includes Dietrich Eckart (who coached Hitler on his public speaking skills, along with Erik Jan Hanussen, and had Mein Kampf dedicated to him), as well as Gottfried Feder, Hans Frank, Hermann Göring, Karl Haushofer, Rudolf Hess, Heinrich Himmler, and Alfred Rosenberg. Historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke has described this membership role and similar claims as "spurious" and "fanciful", noting that Feder, Eckart, and Rosenberg were never more than guests to whom the Thule Society extended hospitality during the Bavarian revolution of 1918, although he has more recently acknowledged that Hess and Frank were members of the society before they came to prominence in the Nazi Party. It has also been claimed that Adolf Hitler himself was a member. Evidence on the contrary shows that he never attended a meeting, as attested to by Johannes Hering's diary of society meetings. It is quite clear that Hitler himself had little interest in, and made little time for, "esoteric" matters. (See also Hitler's Nuremberg speech of 6 September 1938 on his disapproval of occultism.)

    Wilhelm Laforce and Max Sesselmann (staff on the Münchener Beobachter) were Thule members who later joined the NSDAP

    Early in 1920, Karl Harrer was forced out of the DAP as Hitler moved to sever the party's link with the Thule Society, which subsequently fell into decline and was dissolved about five years later, well before Hitler came to power.

    Rudolf von Sebottendorff had withdrawn from the Thule Society in 1919, but he returned to Germany in 1933 in the hope of reviving it. In that year, he published a book entitled Bevor Hitler kam ((in German): Before Hitler Came), in which he claimed that the Thule Society had paved the way for the Führer: "Thulers were the ones to whom Hitler first came, and Thulers were the first to unite themselves with Hitler." This claim was not favourably received by the Nazi authorities: after 1933, esoteric organisations were suppressed (including völkisch occultists), many closed down by anti-Masonic legislation in 1935. Sebottendorff's book was prohibited and he himself was arrested and imprisoned for a short period in 1934, afterwards departing into exile in Turkey. Nonetheless, it has been argued that some Thule members and their ideas were incorporated into the Third Reich. Some of the Thule Society's teachings were expressed in the books of Alfred Rosenberg. Many occult ideas found favour with Heinrich Himmler, who had a great interest in mysticism, unlike Hitler, but the Schutzstaffel (SS) under Himmler emulated the structure of Ignatius Loyola's Jesuit order rather than the Thule Society, according to Hohne.

    The Thule Society has become the center of many conspiracy theories concerning Nazi Germany, due to its occult background (like the Ahnenerbe section of the SS). Such theories include the creation of vril-powered Nazi UFOs.[28]

    In popular culture

    In popular culture, references to the Thule Society have included the 2013 season 8 episode "Everybody Hates Hitler" of The CW series Supernatural, in which a group of society members seek out a lost ledger containing information about their experiments with necromancy. In the 2016 season 11 episode "The Vessel", a leading member of the Thule Society vies against Dean to find a piece of the Ark of the Covenant during World War II. In the season 12 episode "The One You've Been Waiting For", the Thule leadership endeavors to resurrect Adolf Hitler, resulting in the death of both the leadership of the Thule Society and the resurrected Hitler.

    The Thule Society plays a major role in the Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa, a movie set after the ending of the 2003 anime of the same name.
    In Hellboy, the Thule Society was responsible for conducting a doomsday ritual that caused the titular hero to appear in our world with the aid of Grigori Rasputin. In the 2004 film adaptation, Professor Bruttenholm refers to Adolf Hitler having joined the Thule Society in 1937, describing them as "a group of German aristocrats obsessed with the occult."
    The Thule Society is referenced in several of Charles Stross's Laundry Files novels and short stories.
    In the Area 51 novels, the society is mentioned as being the occult force behind the Nazi Party.
    The Thule Society plays a major part in the Wolfenstein video game series.
    In the Secret World Chronicle[29] by Mercedes Lackey, the Thule Society is behind the attacks on Echo facilities on February 15, 2004.[30]
    The Thule Society is featured in the video game Clive Barker's Jericho.
    The fictional "Brotherhood of Thule" is featured as the American branch of the Thule Society in the 1998 video game Black Dahlia.
    The Thule Society plays a role in the Marvel Comics series, Fear Itself. In the story, the Thule Society is under the guidance and leadership of the Red Skull, which he uses to protect the Hammer of Skadi when it is summoned to the earth.
    The Thule Society also appears in Steve Gerber's brief run on Marvel's Cloak and Dagger.
    The Loyalists of Thule, a group dedicated to the hunt for supernatural creatures, are based on the remnants of the Thule Society in Hunter: The Vigil by White Wolf Publishing
    The Thule Society is present in the eroge/anime 11eyes as a hermetic society of dark magick practitioners aiding Nazi Germany in its war against the Vatican.
    The Thule Society is at the center of a conspiracy which is the subject of the Serbian 2017 TV series Senke nad Balkanom ("Shadows over the Balkans"), set in the interwar Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

    WESTERN FRONT
    Flanders: British Second Army (671 casualties) advance between Vieux Berquin and Bailleul takes 697 PoWs including Fifth Army 5-mile advance until September 6.
    Lorraine – AEF gas attack at Mervillor near Baccarat: 800 US projectors fire 12t phosgene (250 gassed, 30 killed). 2 British Second Army divisions capture Outtersteene and Hoegenacker Ridges east of Hazebrouck, Merville retaken on August 19.

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    EASTERN FRONT
    Volga: Over 30,000 Red troops transferred from West since July 25.
    East Siberia: Cossack machine-guns repulse Red River Ussuri crossing south of Runovka. 2 more Suffolk 12-pounders back defence though Japanese refuse gun battery (August 17), but c.3,000 Allies retreat 6 miles to Syvagino by train after Cossack lines stormed on August 20.

    AIR WAR
    Western Front: Current leading US ace (94th Squadron) David Putnam (12 victories) shot down and killed.

    The Royal Air Force established air squadrons No. 246, No. 249, and No. 257T

    246 Squadron RAF
    :

    The squadron was formed at the former Royal Naval Air Station Seaton Carew, England on 18 August 1918 to provide coastal patrols. It was the only RAF squadron to operate the Blackburn Kangaroo. The base closed and the squadron was disbanded, in May 1919 as some sources claim, while others have 15 March 1919 or 24 March 1919. The squadron reformed on 1 September 1942 at Bowmore on Islay to operate Short Sunderland flying boats. It began patrols in December 1942 but was disbanded on 30 April 1943.

    On 11 October 1944 it reformed at RAF Lyneham as a transport squadron flying the Consolidated Liberator, moving to RAF Holmsley South in December. The Handley Page Halifax was also used for experimental and conversion duties. In December 1944 the squadron began to convert to the Avro York. In February 1945 the squadron absorbed the VVIP Flight and the Metropolitan Communications Squadron at RAF Northolt. In November 1945 the Halifax aircraft were retired and the Douglas Skymaster introduced. In 1945 the squadron standardised on the Avro York and operated scheduled services to India and the Middle East until it merged with 511 Squadron on 15 October 1946.

    249 Squadron RAF:

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    No. 249 (Gold Coast) Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron, active in the sea-patrol, fighter and bomber roles during its existence. It was the top scoring fighter squadron of the RAF in World War II.

    No. 249 Squadron was formed for the first time on 18 August 1918 from Nos. 400, 401, 419 and 450 flights at Dundee Equipped with a variety of seaplanes the squadron flew coastal patrol and anti-submarine duties as part of No. 78 Wing RAF. It remained at Dundee until April 1919 when it moved to RNAS Killingholme, without its aircraft. The squadron was disbanded not long after, on 8 October 1919.

    During World War II
    On 16 May 1940, 249 squadron reformed as a fighter squadron at RAF Church Fenton. Equipped with Hurricanes, the unit fought in the Battle of Britain. The only Victoria Cross awarded to an RAF Fighter Command pilot during the Battle of Britain, was won by James Brindley Nicolson while serving with 249 squadron. Offensive missions over France began in December 1940 but in May 1941, No. 249 was transferred to Malta by aircraft carrier. There it formed part of the fighter defences, converting to Spitfires in February 1942. Fighter bomber missions over Sicily began in November 1942 and October 1943 the squadron moved to Italy. Sweeps were carried out over Albania and Yugoslavia and in September 1944, No. 249 converted to Mustangs. In April 1945, it moved to Northern Yugoslavia for a month and after a short period in northern Italy the squadron disbanded on 16 August 1945.

    On 23 October 1945, No. 500 Squadron at Eastleigh, Kenya was renumbered 249 Squadron and flew Baltimores for a short time before re-equipping with Mosquitoes in February 1946. After taking part in survey flights, No.249 moved to Iraq in June 1946 and became a Tempest fighter squadron.

    Into the jet age

    The squadron was stationed at RAF Deversoir in the Egyptian Canal Zone in 1952, flying Vampires. Vampires were received in 1950 and after a period in Egypt the squadron moved to Jordan and converted to Venoms. In August 1956, it moved to Cyprus and in July 1957 to Kenya where it disbanded on 15 October 1957. It reformed at Akrotiri on the same day as a Canberra light bomber unit and after twelve years in the area No.249 disbanded on 24 February 1969

    Present
    In the year 2000 the Squadron gave its number to an Air Cadet Squadron based in Hailsham, England. This was because 249 Squadron lost a man over the town during the Battle of Britain. The Air Cadets Squadron is also an affiliated member of 249 Squadron Association

    257 Squadron RAF


    No. 257 Squadron was formed at Dundee on 18 August 1918[1] from Nos. 318 and 319 Flights. It flew both seaplanes and flying boats on anti-submarine patrols from Dundee until the end of the First World War and disbanded there on 30 June 1919

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    The squadron was re-formed on 17 May 1940 at RAF Hendon[1] as a Fighter Squadron, equipped with Spitfires. The squadron became operational at RAF Northolt, where the squadron flew Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain, during which it was part of No. 11 Group RAF. The squadron was based in south-east England throughout the Battle of Britain and in March began taking part in sweeps over France. Night fighter patrols were also flown and in July 1942 converted to Typhoons which began low-level patrols in September to intercept enemy fighter-bomber raids. Escort missions were also flown and in July 1943, it began offensive operations. The squadron started fighter-bombing sorties in January 1944, and as part of Second Tactical Air Force moved to France in July to provide air support for the Allied armies. By October it was based in Belgium for attacks on enemy transport and battlefield targets. The Squadron disbanded on 5 March 1945.

    During the Second World War the squadron was the Burma gift squadron; the chinte in its logo is a Burmese effigy.

    The following claims were made on this day:

    Attachment 253054

    The top performance on the day was from Lieutenant John Carbery Preston 150 Squadron RAF who claimed FIVE victories on this day flying his Sopwith Camel D6643

    2nd Lieutenant J. C. Preston of the Bedford Regiment was appointed Flying Officer and seconded to the Royal Flying Corps on 27 April 1917. He was made temporary Lieutenant whilst serving with the R.F.C. on 1 June 1917. Posted to 150 Squadron in Salonika, Preston scored 7 victories in the summer of 1918 as a Sopwith Camel pilot. He relinquished his commission on 6 August 1919.

    Listed as John Carbury Preston in the Medal Rolls Index.

    12 British Airmen were lost on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men:
    Starting from 3.15am, the Battalion moved into front line positions relieving 2nd Royal Warwickshires. The Battalion was now in the left division, right brigade, right sector, in positions running from south of Roncalto to just north of the road junction known as Pelly Cross . One Company was stationed in the outpost line, two Companies in the front line and one Company in close support.

    Cpl. George Alfred Giles (see 11th September 1917) was appointed Acting CQMS ‘C’ Company, in place of CQMS Maurice Harcourt Denham (see 11th August), who had been injured in an accident a week previously.

    Sgt. Albert Hoggarth (see 23rd July); L.Cpls. Martin Reddington (see 13th July), Clarence Smith (see 24th April) and Bertie Thurling (see 6th August) and Ptes. William Henry Cleaver (see 20th June), Frank Dunn (see 11th July), Robert Fiedler (see 4th August), Fred Heap (see 20th July), Leonard Hurley (see 13th August 1917), Arthur Leeming (see 12th May 1917), Albert Mellor (see 5th October 1917), Joseph Barber Taylor (see 1st April) and Arthur Wood (29524) (see 5th January) departed on two weeks’ leave to England;

    Capt. Robert Stewart Skinner Ingram (see 1st March), who had been one of the original officers of Tunstill’s Company, but was now serving with the RAF, was taken prisoner after the aircraft he was flying was forced down near Ostende. Capt. Ingram, along with his observer, 2Lt. A.W. Wyncoll, had been on a bombing raid when their aircraft had been engaged by enemy aircraft and hit by flak; the damaged machine was seen going down fast near Ostende at 1553 hrs. Capt. Ingram would be imprisoned at Rastatt Camp in Baden.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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    19th August 1918

    Captain Carleton Main Clement MC (Royal Air Force) is killed by Anti-Aircraft fire near Langemarck. The 14-victory ace is the son of the Honorable Justice W H P Clement.

    Captain Carleton Main Clement MC (15 May 1896 –19 August 1917) was a Canadian First World War flying ace officially credited with 14 victories despite being handicapped by flying an obsolete plane (FE2b). Clement attended Victoria College, Toronto University before serving as a private in the 47th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. His enlistment form of 17 June 1915 gives his next of kin as W. H. P. Clement, and claims that Clement had previously served as a commissioned officer in the "B. C. Horse". He was half an inch shy of six feet tall, with fair hair and complexion and blue eyes.

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    He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being commissioned in March 1916. His assignment to 22 Squadron had him piloting the outmoded Royal Aircraft Factory FE.2b, with observers such as Llewelyn Davies manning the front guns. Between 4 December 1916 and 5 June 1917, he flew this obsolescent model to victory over eight different German Albatros fighters, sometimes teaming with such other aces as Gerald Gordon Bell, and earning the MC in the process. Towards the end of this run, he downed German ace Kurt Schneider;Schneider would suffer with an infected thigh wound until succumbing on 14 July. Clement then switched to piloting Bristol F.2 Fighters. He and Davies set a reconnaissance plane afire on 29 July 1917. Clement scored again on 10 August. Then, two days later, he set an Albatros D.V afire, drove another down out of control, and teamed with other pilots to drive two more D.Vs down out of control.

    On 19 August, Clement was shot down and killed by antiaircraft fire from Flakzug 99. Hugh Trenchard himself sent a telegram of regret to 22 Squadron.

    A U.S. Navy Curtiss airplane (18T Wasp) broke a new world speed record of 163 mph (232.32 km/hr)

    The Curtiss 18T, unofficially known as the Wasp and by the United States Navy as the Kirkham, was an early American triplane fighter aircraft designed by Curtiss Engineering for the US Navy. The Curtiss 18T was intended to protect bombing squads along the French coast, and a primary requisite for this job was speed. Speed was not the triplane's only salient feature: an 18T-2 set a new altitude record in 1919 of 34,910 ft (10,640 m). The streamlined and very "clean" fuselage contributed to the aircraft's performance. The basic construction was based on cross-laminated strips of wood veneer formed on a mold and attached to the inner structure. The technique was a refinement of that used on the big Curtiss flying boats.

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    Flown by Roland Rholfs, the 18T achieved a world speed record of 163 mph (262 km/h) in August 1918 carrying a full military load of 1,076 lb (488 kg).The Model 18T-2 was an improved version of its predecessor, boosting 50 additional horsepower. The wings of the new model were swept back. It was also 5 ft (150 cm) longer with a 9 ft (270 cm) longer two-bay wing, though its flight ceiling was 2,000 ft (610 m) lower. After World War I, it was employed as a racing plane: an 18T-2 nearly won the Curtiss Marine Trophy Race in 1922 (limited to U.S. Navy pilots), but pilot Sandy Sanderson ran out of fuel just before the finish line. Curtiss Engineering followed the success of the Model 18T with the launch of the Model 18B, unofficially known as the "Hornet", built to otherwise similar specifications.

    A Handley Page Type O aircraft carrying six crew and one passenger crashed near Maxstoke, England during a test flight, killing all on-board. RAF Type O/400 D4593 crashed at Maxstoke during a test flight from Castle Bromwich Aerodrome, killing all seven on board. Fabric from a wing tore off, causing a loss of control.

    The following aerial combat claims were made on this day

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    Top scoring on the day was Lieutenant Louis Bennett, Jr. who claimed 4 of his 12 victories on this day

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    The son of Louis and Sallie Maxwell Bennett of Weston, West Virginia, Louis Bennett's father, a prominent Lewis county politician, was the Democratic nominee for governor of West Virginia in 1908. Louis Bennett Jr. attended Cutler and St. Luke's preparatory schools in Pennsylvania before enrolling at Yale in 1913. In October 1917 he joined the Royal Flying Corps at Toronto, Ontario. Like fellow American Frank Luke, Bennett was fond of shooting down balloons. During his brief but remarkable nine day career, Bennett flew 25 sorties against the Germans, shooting down nine enemy balloons from an S.E.5a. On 24 August 1918, after destroying his last two balloons, his aircraft burst into flames when it was hit by ground fire. Bennett crashed but was pulled from his plane shortly before he died from his injuries. Bennett received no medals for his actions in combat.

    As a memorial to her husband and son, Sallie Maxwell Bennett donated the Bennett mansion on Court Avenue to the city of Weston, West Virginia in December 1921, to be held in perpetuity as "The Louis Bennett Public Library and Welfare Center." She also commissioned The Aviator, a bronze statue by Augustus Lukeman, which was unveiled on the grounds of the Linsly School in Wheeling, West Virginia on Armistice Day, 1925. Louis Bennett Field, in Weston, West Virginia, was also named in honor of Louis Bennett Jr.

    on a really bad day for the RAF a further 34 men were lost

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    Captain Tunstill's Men: The Brigade War Diary noted that, “Information received from various sources pointed to a withdrawal of the enemy. Vigorous patrolling was carried out. Two prisoners were obtained by 10th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment”.

    Pte. John Bayliss (see 23rd August 1917) was reported 2Lt. Mark Allan Stanley Wood (see 28th February) for being asleep whilst on sentry duty. This was a serious offence which could potentially carry a death penalty, though this was seldom enforced. He would be held in confinement awaiting trial by Field General Court Martial.

    Pte. Walter Eary (see 10th June) was admitted via 70th Field Ambulance to 9th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from tonsillitis.

    Pte. John William Dean (see 16th August 1917), serving in France with 2/5th DWR, departed for England on two weeks’ leave; whilst in England his leave would then be extended for a further week (reason unknown).

    Pte. Walter Limmer (see 11th August), home on leave, married Alice Wade at Skipton Register Office.

    At 11.55pm Pte. William Postill Taylor (see 2nd July), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was again reported absent off final leave; he would return to duty at 4.40pm the following day having been ordered to do so by the Military Police in Newcastle. He would be ordered to undergo two days’ Field Punishment no.2.

    2Lt. Billy Oldfield MM (see 30th June), who had recently relinquished his commission having been severely wounded while serving in France with 1st/4th DWR, appeared before an Army Medical Board assembled at 2nd Northern General Hospital in Leeds. The Board reported that 2Lt. Oldfield, “was transferred to this hospital from 2nd London General, Chelsea, May 25th 1918. Xray shows loss of tissue to the extent of 4 cms in right lower jaw. Maxillary cap splints have been fixed. Mastication is good with these. A special appliance will be necessary. There is no possibility of bony union. The arm is improving. He is totally blind. General health good”. It was determined that he was to remain in hospital and was to be re-examined in two months’ time.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 08-20-2018 at 04:21.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  22. #3522

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    Nice edition Mr.Editor but I see that the attachment fairey has made a partial come back!

  23. #3523

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    Grrrr... fixed it

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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    20th August 1918


    Battle of the Ailette

    The Battle of the Ailette was a battle that took place during the First World War in August 1918, on the banks of the Ailette between Laon and Aisne.

    After the Battle of Amiens, the forces of the Entente, led by Marshal Foch, planned a large-scale offensive on the German lines in France, the various lines of advance converging on Liège in Belgium.

    Blocking the road to Paris between the Somme and Aisne, the Ailette and its canal linking the Oise and Aisne served as retrenchment for a number of soldiers of the Imperial German Army. Though it was a largely unknown battle of the Hundred Days Offensive during the First World War, the Ailette was the scene of fierce fighting between the French and German forces for its control from August to September 1918, before it returned to the French in October.

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    August 15 - Having noticed that Von Eben's army is widely spread from Audignicourt to Morsain, Mangin decides to take advantage of it. So on August 17, at 5 am he attacks and seizes a position around Autrèches with the French 7th and 30 Army Corps. The next day at 6 o'clock in the evening, they assault 10 km of front and advance 2 km taking 2,000 prisoners while losing 60 killed and 300 wounded, having thus approached von Eben's first line.
    August 19 - In the evening, Mangin holds a line through Bailly - Tracy-le-Val, west of Nampcel, Audignicourt, Vassens, Morsain, Nouvron, Vingre and Fontenoy.
    20 August - On the right, north-west of Soissons, Tartiers is taken; in the center the infantrymen gained access to the plateau of Audignicourt and took Lombray and Blérancourdelle while on the left, despite relentless resistance, the Germans retreat towards Ourscamp. During these maneuvers 8,000 prisoners are taken. Nampcel, Carlepont, and Caisnes are regained.
    August 21 - With the support of tanks, Cuts is captured, lost and recaptured. Blérancourt is taken after a hard fight. On the road to Noyon between Sampigny and Pontoise, a raid reached the Oise and gained the woods of Carlepont and Ourscamps by threatening to surround them across the Oise, and the rest of the Lassigny massif that Humbert (3rd army) will occupy bordering Divette.
    August 22 - The 1st Bavarian Division hastened to the rescue and was attacked; by the afternoon, the French troops advance to the Oise up to Quierzy. On the right, towards noon, they occupy the hill to the east of Pommiers, to the north reach Bagneux and further round Pont-Saint-Mard.
    23 August - In the evening, after taking Quierzy and Manicamp, Mangin's army borders the Ailette Canal on to Guny and takes the station of Juvigny and the plateau between Cuffies and Pasly.

    The Second Battle of Bapaume (Preliminaries)

    The Second Battle of Bapaume was a battle of the First World War that took place at Bapaume in France, from 21 August 1918 to 3 September 1918. It was a continuation of the Battle of Albert and is also referred to as the second phase of that battle. The British and Dominion attack was part of what was later known as the Allies' Hundred Days Offensive.

    The Second Battle of Bapaume was carried out over a period of two weeks and involved the divisions of IV Corps; the British 5th, 37th, 42nd, and the 63rd Divisions along with the New Zealand Division. On 29 August, elements of the New Zealand Division, after heavy fighting in the days prior, occupied Bapaume as the defending Germans withdrew. It then pushed onto the Bancourt Ridge, to the east of Bapaume. On 8 August 1918, the Hundred Days' Offensive commenced on the Western Front and it would prove to be the last major campaign of the First World War. It began with the Battle of Amiens, an attack by the Canadian and Australian Corps at Amiens, which rolled the German lines back 8 km (5.0 mi). The advance petered out after four days after the Germans began to regroup and shore up their defences. The commander of the British Expeditionary Force, Field Marshal Douglas Haig, recognised that it was time to put pressure elsewhere on the German front and for this, decided to use General Julian Byng's Third Army. Haig decided that the Bapaume sector, with the town of Bapaume at its centre, was to be the new focus of operations.

    Bapaume itself was a small town linked by rail to Albert and Arras. There were also four major roads running through the town; running to Albert in the south-west, to Peronne in the south-east; to Cambrai in the east and to the north lay Arras. Captured by the forces of Imperial Germany in the early stages of the war, it had been the focus of the British forces on the opening day of the Battle of Somme in 1916. Still in German hands, it had been largely destroyed in early 1917 following their withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. Extensive booby traps had also been left and these troubled the Australians that moved into the town afterwards. It was subsequently recaptured by the Germans during the Spring Offensive. The land surrounding Bapaume was relatively flat and thus was conducive to the use of tanks.

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    Byng allocated the Third Army's IV Corps to the forthcoming operation, which was to become known as the Second Battle of Bapaume.[Note 1] IV Corps, commanded by Lieutenant General George Harper comprised five divisions, all of which would be employed during the battle. The first three to be involved were the New Zealand Division along with the 37th and 42nd Divisions. The other two divisions, the 5th and the 63rd Divisions, were held in reserve before being deployed later in the battle.[8] Of all these divisions, only the New Zealand Division was at full strength. Facing the Third Army was the German 17th Army, commanded by General der Infanterie (General of the Infantry) Otto von Below, made up of eight divisions which, apart from the 4th Bavarian Infantry Division, were all second class formations. A further two divisions were in reserve.

    The battle was planned to have two phases. The first, what is now known as the Battle of Albert, was to be an attack across a 15 km (9.3 mi) front from the village of Puiseux towards the Albert–Arras railway. The New Zealand Division, commanded by Major General Andrew Russell, played a limited role in this action, being limited to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade supporting the main attack which was to be carried out by the 37th Division on 21 August. The New Zealanders, along with the 42nd Division, on its right, were expected to bring the right flank in line with the left. Then the 5th and 63rd were to pass through the lines of the 37th Division and move onto and beyond the Albert-Arras railway. The New Zealand Division and 42nd were to move forward and maintain the front line, which gradually narrowed, placing the New Zealanders in a valley with the high ground on either side occupied by its flanking British divisions. The second phase, scheduled to begin on 23 August, was to capture Bapaume and then advance further east to Reincourt-les-Bapaume and Bancourt-Fremicourt and the high ground beyond. The New Zealanders were to play a key role; the 1st and 2nd Infantry Brigades of the New Zealand Division, kept in reserve, were to be ready to exploit any breakthrough on the front.[10] To distract the Germans from the main attack being carried out by the Third Army, the French Tenth Army conducted diversionary attacks to the south.

    A total of 440 British lives were lost on this day

    Lieutenant Colonel Claud Frederick Pilkington Parry DSO (Royal Field Artillery) is killed in action. He is the son of the late Major General F W B Parry.
    Lieutenant Alexander Hugh Sincalir Joyce MM (Norfolk Regiment) dies of wounds at age 27. He was awarded his Military Medal for efforts in a raid on enemy trenches as a Lance Corporal in the Bedfordshire Regiment on 27th April 1916.
    Lieutenant George William Hugh Parlee (Royal Air Force) is killed at age 33. He is the son of the Reverend Henry J Parlee.
    Private Nathaniel George Read Amies (East Kent Regiment) is killed at age 30. He is the son of the Reverend Stuart Amies Vicar of the Brents Feversham.

    SOUTHERN FRONTS

    Albania – Austrian counter*-offensive (until August 26): Colonel-General Pflanzer-Baltin flown in to command XIX Corps including fresh 45th Division and Bulgar 12th Division (43 battalions) vs Ferrero’s 23 Italian battalions (13,000 sick ion August).

    WESTERN FRONT
    Battle of Noyon (until August 29) and the Ailette: Mangin’s 12 divisions and 220 tanks advance 3 miles between rivers Oise and Aisne, taking 8,000 PoWs (‘another black day’, Ludendorff), reaches Oise on August 21, but repulsed north of Soissons on August 22. Foch letter to Clemenceau says victory in 1919.
    Somme: Since August 8, Canadian Corps (11,822 casualties) has advanced up to 14 miles on a 6-mile front, liberating 65 square miles and 27 villages, capturing over 9,000 PoWs, nearly 200 guns and over 1,000 MGs and mortars.

    EASTERN FRONT
    USSR: Central Executive Committee abolishes right to own land. Lenin’s letter to Armenian workers.

    The Royal Air Force established air squadrons No. 229, No. 230, No. 231, No. 232, No. 234, No. 235, No. 236, No. 237, No. 238, No. 239, No. 240, No. 245, No. 247, No. 248, No. 259, No. 261, and No. 265.

    The following claims were made on this day

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    On a quieter day in the air RAF casualties reduced to eleven men lost (compared with over 30 the previous day)

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    Captain Tunstill's Men: Pte. Jonas Yoxall (see 2nd August) was wounded, suffering shrapnel wounds to his forehead; he would be admitted via 69th Field Ambulance and 39th Casualty Clearing Station to 11th General Hospital at Genoa.

    Ptes. Thomas Butler (see 5th July), Thomas Henry Fearn (see 10th June), Herbert Jacklin (see 20th July) and Sidney Powdrill (see 18th July) re-joined the Battalion from the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

    Pte. Richard Metcalfe (see 10th August), who was at the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia having been on attachment to the Royal Engineers, was reported as being “absent without leave from roll call 6.15am until apprehended by regimental police at Toreglia at 10.15pm”; he was ordered to forfeit one days’ pay and to be confined to barracks for seven days.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 08-20-2018 at 14:05.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  25. #3525

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    Oh no you haven't Chris.
    Just look on the bright side 84 more days, and that Fairy will be down at the Dole office.
    Kyte.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  26. #3526

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    at the second attempt....

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  27. #3527

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    Bingo Chris.
    Must have been worried when I mentioned the Dole Office.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  28. #3528

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    Looking forward, week to day I will be resuming my 100 Years duties. Fingers crossed.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  29. #3529

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    Just happy to see you posting again Neil.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

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    21st August 1918

    At 04:55 the 1st Coldstream Guards set off towards their objectives along the Boiry – Moyenneville road. The fog is very heavy and is worsened by a smoke barrage laid down by an artillery barrage making it impossible to see any farther than 3 yards in front. They are supported by 10 tanks of the 12th Tank Corps battalion which prove little help in the fog and smoke. By 06:30 the battalion has covered 1,000 yards and captured their objectives. Killed during this assault is the commander of No 4 Company

    Captain Rupert Caldwell Butler Fellowes
    (Coldstream Guards) who is killed at age 24. He is the son of the late Rear Admiral ‘Sir’ Thomas and Lady Fellowes and a former member of the Bailliol Boat Club. His younger brother had been killed as a Midshipman on HMS Irresistible in 1915.

    Second Lieutenant Ernest John Clark (Royal Air Force) while reconnoitering a road at low altitude, bombs with great success fourteen enemy motor transports. On a second flight during this same night he bombs enemy horse transports, destroying eight transport wagons and their teams. Later, with his last bomb, he obtains a direct hit on two motor lorries. During the morning, flying in the mist at 200 feet, and subjected to heavy hostile fire, Second Lieutenant Alexander Melvin Anderson (Royal Air Force) locates our cavalry and the enemy positions. In the afternoon he makes a most valuable and accurate report and situation map. While on this duty his pilot is wounded and forced to land just west of our lines; Lieutenant Anderson extricates him from their machine under heavy fire and carries him to a dressing station.

    At Courcelles, France, during an attack, the infantry loses their bearings in dense fog and Lieutenant Colonel Richard Annesley West (North Irish Horse attached 6th Tank Corps) at once collects any men he can find and leads them to their objective in face of heavy machine-gun fire. For his action today and on 2 September at Vaulx-Vraucourt he will be awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. Also lost today serving in the 6th Tank Corps is

    Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Beaumont Wood (Lancers commanding) killed at age 36.

    Second Lieutenant Thomas Godwin Hobbs
    (Royal Air Force) performs six hours of flying. He is twice attacked by large formations of enemy airplanes, but on each occasion, by skillful maneuver and resolute fighting he drives them off and continues his patrol, bringing back much valuable and accurate information. Also on this day he attacks enemy transport, causing great confusion and inflicting heavy casualties.

    The Battle of Albert

    Battle of Albert (21–23 August 1918) was the third battle by that name fought during World War I, following the First Battle of Albert and the Second Battle of Albert, with each of the series of three being fought roughly two years apart. This smaller third battle was significant in that it was the opening push that would lead to the Second Battle of the Somme and involved the Australian Corps. This attack opened the advance, with the main attack being launched by the Third Army along with support from the Fourth Army.[2] The Second Battle of Bapaume, from 25 August to 3 September, was a continuation of this battle. The attacks developed into an advance, which pushed the German 2nd Army back along a 50-mile (80 km) front line. On 22 August, the 18th (Eastern) Division took Albert, with the British and Americans advancing on Arras.[2] On 29 August, during the Second Battle of Bapaume, the town of Bapaume fell into New Zealand hands. This resulted in an advance by the Australian Corps, who crossed the Somme River on 31 August and broke the German lines during the Battle of Mont St. Quentin.[2] The Westheer (German armies on the Western Front) was pushed back to the Hindenburg Line, from which they had launched their spring offensive.

    2nd Battle of Bapaume

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    Albert–Arras railway
    The opening phase of the battle began on 21 August, when two battalions of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, covered by artillery and fog which reduced visibility to less than 100 m (110 yd), moved forward and seized Puiseux, capturing over 100 prisoners. It established a new line 1,000 m (1,100 yd) beyond the village and secured the flanks of the neighbouring divisions making their own move forwards. The British 5th Division then passed through the brigade's positions to take over the advance. It struggled to take its objective of Achiet-le-Petit and a feature known as the Dovecot and assistance, in the form of patrols mounted by the Rifle Brigade battalions, was provided. Nonetheless, the 5th Division had advanced 3.2 km (2.0 mi) and took over 500 prisoners of war for relatively few casualties. Little progress was made the next day as Byng directed that the focus for the day was to simply consolidate the gains made and prepare for a further movement forward on 23 August. The relative inactivity of 22 August encouraged von Below in a belief that the attacks of the previous day were a failure. Seeking to take advantage, he arranged for counterattacks to be mounted by the 17th Army, and these resulted in the loss of Dovecot, which overlooked the New Zealand positions. The machine gun battalion of 42nd Division provided key support in driving off the counterattacks which, according to prisoners of war captured during the action, was launched by 52nd Infantry Division, largely made up of men from the Grand Duchy of Baden, which had newly arrived in the sector from Flanders.

    The following day, 23 August, the 42nd Division attacked Dovecot; a battalion of Lancashire Fusiliers and the 10th Manchester Battalion, assisted by a battalion from the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, took the position after beginning their advance at 2:30 am. The New Zealanders also secured the flank of the 5th Division which attacked towards the village of Irles and then onto Loupart Wood and Grévillers. In the meantime, the 37th Division attacked and captured Bihucourt.

    As a result of the operations of 21–23 August, the frontline had been established to the east of the Albert-Arras railway line with all but one of the ridges to the south and west of Bapaume held by IV Corps. However, the 5th Division had been unsuccessful in its attacks which left the ridge running from Loupart Wood to Grévillers and then onto Biefvillers still in the hands of the Germans. Although over 2,000 prisoners of war had been taken during this period along with 25 field guns, the 5th Division had suffered 1,600 casualties by this stage of the battle.

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    Advance onto Bapaume
    The New Zealand Division was tasked to capture Grévillers, held by two battalions of the Royal Bavarian 14th Infantry Regiment (Kgl. Bayerisches 14. Infanterie-Regiment), and then push into, and beyond, Bapaume, while the 37th Division, on the left of the New Zealanders, was to capture Biefvillers. The attack had two phases; the 1st Infantry Brigade was to capture Loupart Wood and Grévillers and establish a line about 450 m (490 yd) beyond. This would leave Bapaume and the high ground beyond to be captured in the second phase by the 2nd Infantry Brigade. Intelligence indicated that Bapaume was lightly held and the advance was to be supported by two brigades of artillery as well as thirteen Mark IV tanks and a company of Whippets. Most of the armoured support was intended to cover the 2nd Infantry Brigade in its advance, as the artillery support was primarily for the 1st Infantry Brigade.

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    There were two Victoria Crosses awarded for actions on this day...

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    Major General Daniel Marcus William Beak, VC, DSO, MC & Bar (27 July 1891 – 3 May 1967) was a British Army officer and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross.

    Beak joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as a rating on 2 February 1915, but before seeing action was commissioned as a temporary sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Division in May 1915. He was posted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, but it is not clear from his service record if he saw action in that theatre. He arrived in France in May 1916, and after being appointed adjutant of the Drake Battalion on 2 March 1917, he ended up commanding his battalion as an acting commander between 19 March 1917 and 3 April 1917.[4] He was promoted to temporary lieutenant commander on relinquishing command, and attached to headquarters.

    He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in January 1917, and a Bar to his MC on 18 July 1917. The citations read:

    His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to confer the Military Cross on the undermentioned Officers and Warrant Officers, in recognition of their gallantry and devotion to duty in the Field :—

    Temp. Sub-Lt. Daniel Marcus William Beak, R.N.V.R.

    For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his men in the attack with great courage and initiative and materially assisted in the capture of the enemy line. He set a fine example throughout.

    His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award a Bar to the Military Cross to the undermentioned Officers:—

    Temp. Sub. Lieut, (actg. Lieut.-Comdr.) Daniel Marcus William Beak, M.C., R.N.V.R.

    For conspicuous gallantry during operations, when he continually dashed forward, under heavy fire, to reorganize the men, and led them on with great bravery through the enemy barrage and machine-gun fire.

    He attended the Senior Officers' Course in Aldershot in late 1917 and on 31 December was promoted temporary commander, and appointed as commanding officer of the Howe Battalion

    Beak remained in command of the Howe Battalion, then briefly commanded the Anson Battalion in the first week of March 1918, and then transferred back to the Drake Battalion on 13 March 1918. He was Mentioned in Despatches on 20 May, and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 26 July 1918, the citation read:

    Awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

    T./Comdr. Daniel Marcus William Beak, M.C., R.N.D., R.N.V.R.

    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During a night attack by the enemy the right flank of his division was left in a dangerous position. He arranged for a flank to be formed in that direction, and subsequently covered the retirement of two brigades with a composite rear-guard which he organised and commanded. His initiative and presence of mind greatly assisted in extricating these brigades from a very difficult situation. Throughout, the skilful handling of his battalion was particularly noticeable.

    He was sick for four days with the flu in July 1918, and was granted a period of home leave in August, returning on 10 August. During the period 21/25 August and on 4 September 1918 at Logeast Wood, France, Commander Beak led his men and captured four enemy positions under heavy fire. Four days later, although dazed by a shell fragment, in the absence of the brigade commander, he reorganised the whole brigade under extremely heavy gun fire and led his men to their objective. When an attack was held up, accompanied by only one runner he succeeded in breaking up a nest of machine-guns, personally bringing in nine or ten prisoners. His initiative and the confidence with which he inspired all ranks, contributed very materially to the success of these operations. In recognition of his efforts, Beak was awarded the Victoria Cross. The full citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 12 November 1918 (dated 15 November 1918)

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    War Office, 15th November, 1918.

    His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, Noncommissioned Officers and Men: —

    T./Comdr. Daniel Marcus William Beak, D.S.O., M.C., R.N.V.R.

    For most conspicuous bravery, courageous leadership and devotion to duty during a prolonged period of operations.

    He led his men in attack, and, despite heavy machine-gun fire, four enemy positions were captured. His skilful and fearless leadership resulted in the complete success of this operation and enabled other battalions to reach-their objectives. Four days later, though dazed by a shell fragment, in the absence of the brigade commander, he reorganised the whole brigade under extremely heavy gun fire and led his men with splendid courage to their objective. An attack having been held up he rushed forward, accompanied by only one runner, and succeeded in breaking up a nest of machine guns, personally bringing back nine or ten prisoners. His fearless example instilled courage and confidence in his men, who then quickly resumed the advance under his leadership. On a subsequent occasion he displayed great courage and powers of leadership in attack, and his initiative, coupled with the confidence with which he inspired all ranks, not only enabled his own and a neighbouring unit to advance, but contributed very materially to the success of the Naval Division in these operations. He received a second Mention in Despatches on 20 December 1918. With the war now over he was granted several periods of home leave, returned home permanently in May 1919, and was demobilised in June.

    Edward Benn ('Ned') Smith VC, DCM (10 November 1898 – 12 January 1940) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross.

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    Distinguished Conduct Medal

    On 10 August 1918, then a Corporal with the 1/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, he was leading a daylight patrol near Hébuterne in the Somme Area of France to examine points in the German lines where information was required. As the patrol was about to retire, Ned Smith saw a party of about 40 Germans about to take up outpost duty. Despite being heavily outnumbered by the German soldiers, Corporal Smith led his small party of men and engaged the enemy, breaking up the German party and causing severe casualties. As well as receiving the Distinguished Conduct Medal for this action, Ned Smith was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant.

    Victoria Cross

    Only 11 days later, during the period 21/23 August 1918, east of Serre, France, Lance-Sergeant Smith while in command of a platoon, personally took a machine-gun post at The Lozenge (Hill 140), rushing the garrison with his rifle and bayonet. The enemy on seeing him coming, scattered to throw hand grenades at him, but heedless of all danger and almost without halting in his rush, this NCO shot at least six of them. Later, seeing another platoon needing assistance, he led his men to them, took command and captured the objective. During an enemy counter-attack the following day he led a section forward and restored a portion of the line. According to the London Gazette Supplement of 18 October 1918:

    "His personal bravery, skill and initiative were outstanding, and his conduct throughout an inspiring example to all."

    France: ALLIED OFFENSIVE RENEWED (until September 3). Haig tells Churchill chances of 1918 victory good.
    Somme: *SECOND BATTLE OF ALBERT (until August 29) opened on 10-mile front at 0455 hours by BEF Third Army’s 9 divisions with 1,294 guns (486 heavy), 500 tanks, c.120 aircraft in intensely hot weather. Prelim fog and smoke-aided advance of 2-3 miles, gains 2,000 PoWs and reaches Arras-Albert railway as planned. German Seventeenth Army counter*-attack held on August 22.

    AIR WAR
    Western Front: All 80 parasol-wing Fokker D VIII (EV) withdrawn due to structural failures (reinstated after modifications October 24). Fog hampers RAF support of tank-led BEF Albert Offensive, but No 73 Squadron does attack German anti-tank guns (and on August 23). Germans claim 37 Allied aircraft for loss of 7. Night bombing including 12t bombs on Cambrai rail junction (repeated August 22-23).

    First flight of French Nieuport-Delage NiD 29 fighter.

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    The NiD.29 was an equal-span biplane with ailerons on both upper and lower wings. It had a fixed tailskid landing gear, a nose-mounted engine and a single open cockpit for the pilot. The prototype NiD 29 was evaluated by the French Air Force in July 1918 and a pre-production batch was ordered on 21 August 1918. It was powered by a Hispano-Suiza 8Fb engine piston engine, it performed well in test but could not achieve the required ceiling. The second prototype was modified with an increased wingspan and on achieving the required ceiling it was ordered into production in 1920, becoming the fastest service fighter in the world at that time. Production aircraft did not have ailerons on the upper wing and the lower wing ailerons were increased in size. The first mass production deliveries were made in 1922 to the French Air Force and the type was popular although it did have a tendency to enter a flat spin. The French military bought 250 aircraft which were built by Nieuport and seven other companies. The Ni-D 29 was to become an important fighter in the 1920s with purchases of 30 by Spain (including 10 Spanish licence built aircraft), 108 by Belgium (87 licensed built by SABCA). The Italian Regia Aeronautica bought 175 aircraft including 95 built by Macchi as the Macchi-Nieuport 29 and 80 built by Caproni. Sweden bought nine aircraft and designated them J 2. The Japanese company Nakajima bought a pattern aircraft and built 608 for the Imperial Japanese Army as the Ko-4. Racing versions of the aircraft were developed and they gained eight world speed records and won the 1920 Gordon Bennett Trophy and the 1922 Coupe Deutsch de la Meurthe competition.

    Three NiD 29s were modified for reserve Captain Joseph Sadi-Lecointe in November 1925 and used on seventy sorties against insurgents in Morocco using bomb racks with six 10 kg bombs. Spanish aircraft were also involved in similar operations in North Africa.

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    The following claims were made today

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    The top performance on the day was from Lieutenant Frances James Ralph DFC 20 Squadron RAF - flying Bristol Fighter E2467

    "2nd Lt. Francis James Ralph.
    A brave and skilful observer who has taken part in many combats with enemy aircraft, invariably displaying cool courage and presence of mind. On a recent occasion our patrol of eleven machines, after bombing a railway junction, was attacked by fifteen enemy scouts. One of these, which was engaged by this officer's pilot, crumpled and fell. The formation was then attacked by seven Fokkers from above, one of which was shot down by 2nd Lt. Ralph."

    15 British Airmen were lost on this day

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  31. #3531

    Default

    Well, we will have to see how it goes.

    Neil

    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Just happy to see you posting again Neil.
    Rob.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  32. #3532

    Default

    Just don't try to do too much.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  33. #3533

    Default

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    22nd August 1918

    Second Battle of the Somme – British and Allied forces captured the French village of Albert from the Germans, while combined British and American divisions advanced on German-held Arras, France

    Battle of Albert (21–23 August 1918) was the third battle by that name fought during World War I, following the First Battle of Albert and the Second Battle of Albert, with each of the series of three being fought roughly two years apart. This smaller third battle was significant in that it was the opening push that would lead to the Second Battle of the Somme and involved the Australian Corps. This attack opened the advance, with the main attack being launched by the Third Army along with support from the Fourth Army. The Second Battle of Bapaume, from 25 August to 3 September, was a continuation of this battle.

    The attacks developed into an advance, which pushed the German 2nd Army back along a 50-mile (80 km) front line. On 22 August, the 18th (Eastern) Division took Albert, with the British and Americans advancing on Arras. On 29 August, during the Second Battle of Bapaume, the town of Bapaume fell into New Zealand hands. This resulted in an advance by the Australian Corps, who crossed the Somme River on 31 August and broke the German lines during the Battle of Mont St. Quentin. The Westheer (German armies on the Western Front) was pushed back to the Hindenburg Line, from which they had launched their spring offensive.

    Britain: Haig diary ‘Foch’s strategy is a simple straight forward advance by all troops … to keep the enemy on the move’.
    Somme: British Fourth Army (including 66 tanks) recaptures Albert with 18th Division. 1st Australian Division shatters 2 German counter*-attacking divisions. Haig tells army commanders ‘It is no longer necessary to advance … step by step’. 32 Allied divisions have beaten 42 German divisions on 47-mile front since August 8.

    Lieutenant Frederick Stanley Gordon (Royal Air Force) achieves his fifth victory when he shoots down an LVG C over Estaires.

    Lieutenant Commander Victor James Bowden-Smith (HMML #403, Royal Navy) is killed at age 31 when his ship is blown up in Runswick Bay while endeavouring to salve a German torpedo. He is the son of the late Reverend F H Bowden-Smith.

    Second Officer Alfred Buchanan Cheetham (SS Prunelle, Mercantile Marine) is killed at age 51 when his ship is sunk after being torpedoed. He was a member of several Antarctic expeditions and served as the third officer for both the Nimrod and the 1914 to 1917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. His son William Alfred Cheetham was killed at sea when SS Adriatic disappeared in 1916. Eleven others on the Prunelle including the master are also killed.

    Captain ‘the Honorable’ Oswald Cawley (Shropshire and Cheshire Yeomanry) is killed in action near Merville at age 35. He is the son of the 1st Baron Cawley of Prestwich a Member of Parliament. The Captain was elected Member of Parliament for Prestwich Division in February of this year to succeed his father and has had two brother previously killed in the Great War.

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    Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Ralph Dominic Gamble MC (Coldstream Guards) age 21 is killed in action while leading his company into heavy fog and taking an enemy position without the aid of the tanks allocated to support him at Moyenville. He is the son of ‘Sir’ Reginald Arthur Gamble and brother-in-law of General ‘Sir’ Kenneth Arthur Noel Anderson KCB MC commander of the First Army during Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of Tunisia.

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    George Onions VC (2 March 1883 – 2 April 1944) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross.

    Onions first served with the 3rd Hussars and was involved in the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916. Onions was 35 years old, and a Lance-Corporal in the 1st Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

    On the foggy morning of 22 August 1918, south of Achiet-le-Petit, France, Lance-Corporal Onions was sent out with Private Henry Eades to reconnoitre the area in front of his unit's position. They saw the enemy advancing in large numbers and, seizing the opportunity, they boldly placed themselves on the flank of the advancing enemy and opened fire. When the enemy were about 100 yards from them the line wavered and some hands were thrown up, whereupon the lance-corporal rushed forward and helped by his comrade, took about 200 of the enemy prisoners and marched them back to his company commander.

    Private Eades was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal but died of wounds that he received only a few days later. He was later commissioned into the Rifle Brigade. After World War I, Onions served in the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary.[4] In 1939 he was commissioned a Captain in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment for National Defence, but resigned his commission in 1941. His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester, Dorset, England.

    SEA WAR
    Britain: Battlecruiser Hood launched by John Brown yard on Clyde, completed May 1920.
    North Sea: U-boat sinks US Belgian Relief Commission ship Gasconier off Haugusemb in Norwegan waters, kills 6 and wounds others firing on lifeboats.

    HMS Hood

    HMS Hood (pennant number 51) was the last battlecruiser built for the Royal Navy. Commissioned in 1920, she was named after the 18th-century Admiral Samuel Hood. One of four Admiral-class battlecruisers ordered in mid-1916, Hood had design limitations, though her design was revised after the Battle of Jutland and improved while she was under construction. For this reason she was the only ship of her class to be completed. Despite the appearance of new and more modern ship designs over time, Hood remained the largest and most powerful warship in the world for twenty years after her commissioning and her prestige was reflected in her nickname "The Mighty Hood".

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    Hood was involved in several showing the flag exercises between her commissioning in 1920 and the outbreak of war in 1939, including training exercises in the Mediterranean Sea and a circumnavigation of the globe with the Special Service Squadron in 1923 and 1924. She was attached to the Mediterranean Fleet following the outbreak of the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. When the Spanish Civil War broke out, Hood was officially assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet until she had to return to Britain in 1939 for an overhaul. By this time, advances in naval gunnery had reduced Hood's usefulness. She was scheduled to undergo a major rebuild in 1941 to correct these issues, but the outbreak of World War II in September 1939 forced the ship into service without the upgrades.

    When war with Germany was declared, Hood was operating in the area around Iceland, and she spent the next several months hunting for German commerce raiders and blockade runners between Iceland and the Norwegian Sea. After a brief overhaul of her propulsion system, she sailed as the flagship of Force H, and participated in the destruction of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir. Relieved as flagship of Force H, Hood was dispatched to Scapa Flow, and operated in the area as a convoy escort and later as a defence against a potential German invasion fleet. In May 1941, she and the battleship Prince of Wales were ordered to intercept the German battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, which were en route to the Atlantic where they were to attack convoys. On 24 May 1941, early in the Battle of the Denmark Strait, Hood was struck by several German shells, exploded and sank within three minutes, with the loss of all but three of her crew. Due to her perceived invincibility, the loss affected British morale.

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    The Royal Navy conducted two inquiries into the reasons for the ship's quick demise. The first, held soon after the ship's loss, concluded that Hood's aft magazine had exploded after one of Bismarck's shells penetrated the ship's armour. A second inquiry was held after complaints that the first board had failed to consider alternative explanations, such as an explosion of the ship's torpedoes. It was more thorough than the first board and concurred with the first board's conclusion. Despite the official explanation, some historians continued to believe that the torpedoes caused the ship's loss, while others proposed an accidental explosion inside one of the ship's gun turrets that reached down into the magazine. Other historians have concentrated on the cause of the magazine explosion. The discovery of the ship's wreck in 2001 confirmed the conclusion of both boards, although the exact reason the magazines detonated is likely to remain unknown since that area of the ship was destroyed in the explosion.

    AIR WAR
    Germany: No 104 Squadron loses 7 DH9s over Karlsruhe and Mannheim.

    The German Air Ace Ernst Udet claimed his 58th and 59th victories on this day

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    Udet's recollections of his combat actions: We had orders to puncture every gas bag we could. The Allied artillery was giving our infantry a lot of trouble with the aid of these balloons. One day when the ceiling was unusually low, I went after one that was riding jauntily just underneath a big, white cloud. My idea was, that by flying through the cloud I could get almost within range without being seen. I tried it but when I emerged from the cloud, five Sopwiths were waiting for me. I dodged back into the cloud, flew around for a few minutes and then came out from the top of it. The Sopwiths had outguessed me. Two of them were waiting for me up there, and when I dove back and ventured out again at the bottom, the other three were ready for me. It was just like a game of hide-and-go-seek. Finally I gave up all hope of getting the balloon and concentrated on getting away. I climbed back into the cloud and resolved to keep moving in what I thought was the direction of our lines.

    After I had flown for several minutes, I became confused. We didn't know as much about flying through fog in those days as we do now, and our compasses were not so accurate. After a time, I began to realize that I had lost all sense of direction. I dropped down out of the clouds to have a look around. The country below was unfamiliar. I kept on going in what, according to my compass, should have been the right direction, but was unable to spot a single familiar landmark. I flew for more than an hour over towns and villages that I could not identify, and then I began to get worried. My gas was getting low. Obviously my compass was hopelessly upset. The sun was obliterated. There was no way for me to get my bearings. I decided that the best thing I could do was turn sharply about and fly back the way I had come. I did so but unknown country still flowed beneath me. When I realized there were only a few liters of gas left in my tank, I resolved to take a chance on veering off at a right angle. It was pure guesswork, but with a forced landing inevitable before many more minutes would pass, it seemed worthwhile to take a chance. A moment later, I let out a whoop of joy. I saw a church spire looming up that looked familiar. When I got a little closer I realized that my hopes were well founded. It was Lens. Five minutes later my motor began to sputter and I was just able to coast over the opposing front lines and reach a landing area occupied by a Bavarian battalion. I had come down more than 100 miles away from where I had set out. I had picked a mighty pleasant place to land, though. The Bavarians are my kinsmen and the battalion headquarters where I was put up entertained me royally. Their mess was well stocked with good Bavarian beer, and the next morning, when I pulled out, I was really sorry to leave.

    Not long after that incident I again became confused in the fog and landed in what I thought was our territory. No sooner did I hit the ground than I saw a crowd of uniformed men running toward me. I gave them a friendly wave but a moment later, when they got a little closer, I realized with a shock that they were English Tommies. They must have been just as surprised too, because I was already roaring down the takeoff before they started shooting. A couple of rifle bullets tore through my wings and the next second I did a hedgehop over their heads so close that I almost knocked some of them down. My own guns were jammed from an encounter earlier that day, and I was unable to shoot back. Also, for some reason, my ship was very slow in making altitude. A hundred yards distant there was a group of soldiers' huts. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to clear them. My undercarriage struck a tin smoke stack on one of them, but I got over. By that time troops were running about down below in every direction and the next minute machine gun bullets began singing through the air uncomfortably close. My Fokker was hit several times, but not in a vital spot. A short stretch of woodland showed up ahead. I went for it, cleared the tree tops by a scant few feet, and glided down inside our own lines just as my motor went dead.

    The British Ace - Lieutenant Tom Cecil Knowle MC & Bar of 20 Squadron RAF was killed on this day.

    Educated at Eton College, Tom Cecil Noel served with the 3rd King's Own Scottish Borderers before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in 1917. In 1918, he scored 24 victories as a Bristol F.2b observer with 20 Squadron before he was killed in action near Westroosbeke

    Military Cross (MC)
    Lt. Tom Cecil Noel, K.O.S.B., Spec. Res.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Previous to laying a forming-up tape for his battalion he reconnoitred the ground under exceptionally difficult circumstances, under heavy hostile fire. Later, he successfully and accurately laid the tape, and throughout the action of the following day led his men with the utmost ability and contempt of danger, setting a splendid example to all.

    Military Cross (MC) Bar
    Lt. Tom Cecil Noel, M.C.. K.O.S.B., Spec. Res., attd. R.A.F.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In four days he and his pilot destroyed seven enemy machines and drove down three out of control. His courage and skill are of the first order, and of inestimable value to his squadron.

    Also lost was the French Ace: Adjutant Chef Antoine Laplasse

    Having obtained a Civil Pilot's Brevet on 11 July 1914, Laplasse was soon transferred to the French Air Service. After serving with Escadrille 461CRP, he was reassigned to Spa75 on 20 October 1917, scoring his first victory by the end of that year. Before he was killed in action in 1918, he downed six balloons and one more enemy aircraft.

    Médaille Militaire
    "Excellent pilot full of energy and spirit, has shown real qualities of audacity and courage in the course of numerous combats, strafing the German trenches and batteries at a low altitude, and returning often with his plane riddled by bullets." Médaille Militaire citation

    Top performance of the day went to Captain Elliot White Springs DFC.DSC.

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    The son of Colonel Leroy Springs, a wealthy textile manufacturer, Elliott White Springs attended the Culver Military Academy and Princeton. He enlisted in the army in 1917 and was sent to England for training with the Royal Flying Corps. In 1918, he was one of several pilots hand picked by William Bishop to fly the S.E.5a with 85 Squadron in France. After recovering from wounds received in action on 27 June 1918, he was reassigned to the 148th Aero Squadron which was still under the operational control of the RFC. When the war ended, Springs returned to the United States where he barnstormed while writing "Warbirds: The Diary of an Unknown Aviator." His book was largely based upon a collection of letters written by his friend, John McGavock Grider, who was killed in action while serving with 85 Squadron. "Warbirds" was a bestseller and Springs continued writing books based on his experiences during World War I. At his father's request, he returned to work at the family textile business in 1931. Recalled to active duty in 1941, Springs served with the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He died, age 63, at Memorial Hospital in New York following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    On 3 August 1918, whilst leading his patrol, which was escorting DH9s to Bruges, this officer shot down in flames three Fokker biplanes which were diving on the DHs and succeeded in driving off the rest of the EA and escorted the bombers safely back to our lines. On the morning of 22 August [1918], he attacked five Fokker biplanes, one of them he shot down which was seen to crash in a wood south of Velu. He engaged another EA and sent it down out of control and immediately turned to attack another which he drove east. Having shot away all his ammunition, Lieutenant Springs pulled out of the fight. On the afternoon of 22 August [1918], he engaged three Fokker biplanes that were diving on a lower flight. One of the three pulled out of his dive; another turned east and the third Lieutenant Springs shot down out of control. It was last seen by one of the patrol diving into the ruins of Bapaume. Lieutenant Springs has been on active service in France since 22 May 1918. He has destroyed five EA and driven down out of control, two. This officer has at all times shown the greatest determination and courage and his work as Flight Commander in this squadron has been marked by a rare combination of cool judgement and most aggressive fighting tactics.

    Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
    The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Elliott White Springs, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bapaume, France, August 22, 1918. Attacking three enemy planes (type Fokker), who were driving on one of our planes, Lieutenant Springs, after a short and skillful fight, drove off two of the enemy and shot down the third. On the same day he attacked a formation of five enemy planes (type Fokker), and after shooting down one plane was forced to retire because of lack of ammunition.

    The following claims were made today:

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    19 British airmen were lost on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men: Pte. William Hutchinson (see 16th August), who had been late reporting back from leave, was awarded 14 days’ Field Punishment no.2 and forfeited four days’ pay.
    Pte. Frederick Thorn (see 6th February), serving as an officer’s servant at XIV Corps reinforcement camp, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.
    Ex-Tunstill’s Man, Dvr. Arthur Overend (see 11th August), now serving in France with the ASC, was posted from the Army Service Corps Depot in France to join 52nd Divisional Train.
    Sgt. Ellis Rigby (see 18th June), who had been posted back to England as a candidate for a commission, reported to no.16 Officer Cadet Battalion at Rhyl.
    Pte. William Postill Taylor (see 19th August), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was admitted to Brighton Grove Military Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne, suffering from gonorrhoea.
    Pte. Michael Henry Rourke (see 8th August), who had been wounded in June 1917, was formally discharged from the Army due to his wounds; he was awarded a weekly pension (amount unknown) which was to be reviewed in six months.

    Annie Odell Dawson, wife of L.Cpl. William Neville Dawson (see 17th July 1917), who was now serving with 16th (Transport Workers) Battalion York and Lancasters, died at the South London Hospital for Women, Clapham Common; she was just 31 years old. She was the older sister of 2Lt. Maurice Tribe MC (see 23rd December 1916), who had been severely injured at Le Sars in October 1916.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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    23rd August 1918

    During the Second Battle of Albert the 1st Hertfordshire Regiment assaults and captures a railway cutting near the village of Achiet Le Grand. Among those killed in the assault is

    Private Edward Reuben Campkin (Hertfordshire Regiment) is killed at age 25. He has two brothers who have previously been killed.
    Second Lieutenant Thomas Godwin Hobbs (Royal Air Force) though wounded by anti-aircraft fire, manages to force land on our side of the lines, thus saving the life of his observer, Lieutenant C R A Wallis, though he has use only of his left arm. Second Lieutenant Hobbs will die of his wounds tomorrow.

    Lieutenant Colonel Walter Lorrain Brodie VC MC (commanding 2nd Highland Light Infantry) is killed in action at age 33 near Moeuvres. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions near Becclaere, Belgium on 11th November 1914 when he led a charge to evict the enemy from a portion of our trenches which they had recently occupied. He bayoneted several of the enemy himself and relieved a dangerous situation in an action that killed 80 of the enemy and captured 51.

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    Lieutenant Colonel Robert Edward Frederic Shaw MC (commanding 13th London Regiment) is killed in action at age 26. He is the son of the Reverend Robert Villiers George Shaw Vicar of Langlebury.
    Captain Edward Charles Cunnington (Royal Army Medical Corps) is killed at age 28. He is the son of Benjamin Howard Cunnington British Archaeologist famous for his work on prehistoric Wiltshire and the great grandson of the famous antiquarian William Cunnington.

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    Three Victoria Crosses were awarded on this day...

    William Donovan Joynt, VC (19 March 1889 – 6 June 1986) was a printer, publisher, author and an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross.

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    Joynt was born at Elsternwick, Melbourne and educated at The Grange Preparatory School and later Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. After working in a number of office jobs in Melbourne, in 1909 he sailed to Rockhampton and worked as a farm labourer in North Queensland, the Victorian Mallee, Western Australia and Flinders Island. Joynt enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 21 May 1915, was commissioned on 24 December 1915, and arrived in France in May 1916. He fought in France until August 1918, where he was commended in divisional orders, shot in the shoulder, and promoted to lieutenant. On 23 August 1918, he was 29 years old, and a lieutenant in the 8th Battalion (Victoria), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War, when the following events occurred.

    Lieutenant Joynt took charge when his company commander had been killed. When the leading battalion had been demoralized by heavy casualties, he rushed forward and reorganized the remnants of the battalion. Having discovered that heavy fire on the flanks was causing delay and casualties, he led a frontal bayonet attack on the wood, capturing it and over eighty prisoners, thus saving a critical situation. Later, at Plateau Wood, after severe hand-to-hand fighting, he turned a stubborn defence into an abject surrender.

    He was badly wounded by a shell on 26 August and evacuated to England. He was promoted to captain in October 1918, and posted to AIF Headquarters in London in March 1919. He returned to Melbourne in February 1920, and was discharged on 11 June.

    Having studied agriculture and sheep-breeding in England in 1919, in 1920 Joynt became a soldier settler, dairy farming near Berwick. By 1929 he was pursuing business interests in Melbourne, where he was a pioneer of colour printing in Australia. About 1920 he had formed Queen City Printers Pty Ltd, and subsequently formed Colarts Studios Pty Ltd and bought the rights to a German colour-printing process. Under various business names, Joynt remained a printer and publisher for over sixty years. He married Edith Amy Garrett, a trained nurse, in a civil ceremony at Hawthorn on 19 March 1932, his forty-third birthday. Joynt was one of a number of ex-servicemen who in 1923 founded the Legacy Club of Melbourne, the first of fifty Legacy Clubs. He helped lead the club’s successful campaign to have Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance built in its present form on its present site. He was active in the Militia in 1926–33, being promoted to major in February 1930.

    Lawrence Dominic McCarthy, VC (21 January 1892 – 25 May 1975) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross

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    Lawrence Dominic McCarthy was born in York, Western Australia, on 21 January 1892. The son of Florence McCarthy of Cork, Ireland, and his wife Anne (née Sherry), he was orphaned at a young age and was brought up in Clontarf Orphanage in Perth and educated in Catholic schools. After completing his schooling, from the age of 13 he worked on a farm as an apprentice at Jennacubbine, near Northam. Later, he served with the 18th Light Horse, a Militia unit, for two and a half years before moving to Lion Mill, Perth. He subsequently worked as a contractor sawmiller, losing three fingers on his left hand in an accident. McCarthy was initially rejected due to his injuries when he attempted to join the Australian Imperial Force; however, he was later accepted after proving he had won a number of shooting competitions.[3] Enlisted on 16 October 1914 as a private, he was subsequently posted to the 16th Battalion, joining the newly formed unit at Blackboy Hill Camp. His large build later earned him the nickname "Fats". Sailing for Egypt in December, the battalion landed at Gallipoli on 26 April 1915 on the second day of the campaign against the Turkish. McCarthy remained on the peninsula until illness forced his evacuation in September. By then he had been promoted to sergeant. He returned to duty in November and was among the last in his battalion to leave Gallipoli on 20 December.

    The 16th Battalion arrived in France in June 1916 where they took part in the fighting against the Germans at Pozières and Mouquet Farm in August.[2] McCarthy was appointed company sergeant major in March 1917 and the following month was commissioned as a second lieutenant. The day after receiving his commission, McCarthy was wounded at Bullecourt and evacuated to England where he spent three months in hospital and convalescing.[5] Rejoining his unit on 9 July, he was promoted to lieutenant on 1 November and was awarded the French Croix de guerre two days later.[2] Between February and August 1918 he was posted the 13th Training Battalion at Tidworth, England where he trained troops, before rejoining his battalion in time for the Allied Hundred Days Offensive that began on 8 August.

    On 23 August 1918, McCarthy performed what was later described in the official history as being the most effective piece of individual fighting in the history of the AIF, next to Albert Jacka's Military Cross-winning feat at Pozières. Near Madam Wood, east of Vermandovillers, France, the battalion was heavily opposed by well-posted German machine-guns. McCarthy, realizing the situation, dashed across the open ground with two men to the nearest post, where, having out-distanced his companions, he put the gun out of action, then continued fighting his way down the trench. Later, having been joined by one of his men, together they bombed their way along the trench until contact was established with an adjoining unit.

    During this action McCarthy had killed 20 of the enemy, taken 50 prisoners and captured 5 machine-guns and 500 yards (460 m) of the German front. The battalion historian wrote that following McCarthy's feat, "the prisoners closed in on him from all sides ... and patted him on the back!" For this McCarthy was awarded the Victoria Cross that, within his battalion and in some quarters of the London press, came to be known as the "super-VC".

    Ten days after the war ended, on 21 November 1918, McCarthy was evacuated to England with influenza, where he was subsequently informed that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his action. After recovering he rejoined his battalion on 7 January 1919, subsequently receiving the award from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 12 July 1919.

    Hugh McIver VC MM & Bar (21 June 1890 – 2 September 1918) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

    He was 28 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Lothian Regiment), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

    On 23 August 1918 east of Courcelle-le Compte, France, Private McIver was employed as a company-runner and under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire carried messages regardless of his own safety. Single-handed he pursued an enemy scout into a machine-gun post and having killed six of the garrison, captured 20 prisoners and two machine-guns. Later he succeeded, at great personal risk, in stopping the fire of a British tank which was directed in error against our own troops. He was killed in action 10 days later. He was killed in action, near Courcelles, France, on 2 September 1918. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Scots Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. In 2015, Kier Homes named a street in their Hawkhead Village development in Paisley, Hugh McIver Avenue, in memory of him.

    Second Battle of Bapaume
    – The New Zealand Division captured the French village of Grévillers held by the Germans.

    WESTERN FRONT

    Somme: Main attack by BEF Third and Fourth Armies now on 33-mile front supported by 100 tanks, former advances 2 miles, across Arras-Bapaume road (5,000 PoWs taken); Australians capture 2,000 PoWs and 23 guns, Bray and Chuignes (including one 15-inch gun, disabled 9, used from July to shell Amiens 15 miles to West); 4 Fourth Army divisions continue advance by moonlight.

    EASTERN FRONT
    USSR: Lenin tells Moscow Polytechnic Museum meeting that world revolution will come, time not predictable.
    Volga: Red First Army defeats Czechs, retakes 3 villages south of Kazan.
    Siberia: *Battle of Dukhovskaya (until August 24), Allies win first real action vs Reds, regain Krevsk position, take 2 MGs and destroy 2 armoured trains but little Japanese co-operation.

    AIR WAR
    Western Front: 2 German Jasta 34b fighters disable 2 British tanks with armour-piercing ammo, one is Bavarian Oblt Ritter von Greim’s 23rd (of 26) victories (last Luftwaffe C-in-C in 1945). Wireless Central Info Bureau co-ordinates RAF ground attacks.

    There were two air aces killed on this day:

    Captain John Playford "Jack" Hales

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    The son of Alfred Hales, John Playford Hales graduated from Ontario Agricultural College in 1915. He joined the Royal Naval Air Service in July 1916. Posted to France with 9 Naval Squadron in September 1917, he scored 4 victories in 4 months flying the Sopwith Camel. He then became a ferry pilot, flying aircraft from England to France. In April 1918 he was promoted to Captain and returned to combat with 203 Squadron in the summer. Twelve days after he scored his 5th victory, Hales was killed in action over the Somme by anti-aircraft fire.

    Captain James Martin Child MC

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    James Martin Child, brother of Jack Escott Child, was the son of Tylney Harris and Constance Octavio (Oxley) Child. He moved to Canada where he worked in banking and mining. When the war began, he enlisted in the Canadian militia but was unable to deploy with the Canadian contigents and returned to England at his own expense. He served with the Manchester Regiment before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. 2nd Lieutenant Child received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 2377 on 31 January 1916. After serving with 4 Squadron, he was posted to 19 Squadron in July 1916. With this unit Child scored three victories flying SPADs in 1917. Later that year, he joined 84 Squadron as a captain and downed five more enemy aircraft flying the S.E.5a. In February 1918, he returned to England and whilst serving as an instructor at Turnberry.

    When death finally claimed James Child, it was in somewhat bizarre circumstances. At about 5.30 p.m. on 23 August 1918, a DH9 flown by 2nd Lieutenant Archibald McFarlan, with Flight Cadet Andrew Anderson Hepburn acting as observer, collided in mid-air with another aircraft over Drakemyre, causing both aircraft to crash and killing the pair outright. A report in the Daily Record (Glasgow) on 29 August 1918 stated: "Their machine collided at a considerable height with another one, the occupant of which had a miraculous escape." The pilot of the second aircraft survived the impact and Child was on hand to help rescue him from the wreckage. A good deed done, he then set off on his motorcycle to return to Turnberry, but while riding along the Kirkoswald Ro

    Military Cross (MC)
    Lt. (T./Capt.) James Martin Child, Manch. R. and R.F.C.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While leading a patrol he encountered four enemy scouts, one of which he destroyed. On another occasion he attacked one of two enemy two-seater machines which he encountered over the enemy's lines. He disabled the machine, and skilfully turned it towards our lines, where the enemy pilot was forced to land and he and his observer were taken prisoner. On another occasion he attacked five enemy scouts, one of which he destroyed. He showed the greatest judgment and determination.

    The following claims were made on this day

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    The stand out performance of the day came from Lieutenant Arthur Rowe Spurling DFC 49 Squadron RAF - flying a DH.9 (3056) He shot down five aircraft and in doing so earned the Distinguised Flying Cross (DFC)

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    2nd Lieutenant Arthur Rowe Spurling received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 5148 at Edgware on 21 August 1917.

    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    "Lieut. Arthur Rowe Spurling.
    On his return from a recent bombing raid, this officer was separated from his formation owing to clouds. After flying for some twenty minutes, and thinking that he was over our lines, he came down to find his position; seeing an aerodrome, he was preparing to land when, at 2,000 feet, a Fokker biplane attacked his machine; Lieut. Spurling then observed some thirty machines of the same type heavily camouflaged; with great gallantry he dived through the centre of the formation, shooting down one machine in flames; two others were seen to be in a spin, one of which crashed. Five of them then closed on his machine, but by skilful manoeuvring Lieut. Spurling enabled his observer to shoot down two of these in flames. The three remaining aircraft broke off the combat and disappeared in the mist. A fine performance, reflecting the greatest credit on this officer and his observer."

    Despite the lack of claims there were still 28 British Airmen lost on this day (obviously many to non aces whose records we don't have)

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    Captain Tunstill's Men: Plans were prepared for a large-scale trench raid to take place on the Austrian lines east of Canove, in an area known as the Vaister Spur,on the 26th. The plan is best described in the words of the Battalion orders which were to be issued. (See also the map below).

    1. INTENTION

    The Battalion, simultaneously with a Battalion of the 48th Division on the right, will carry out a raid on Manchester and Middlesex trenches from H.448.558 to H.518.568; the Railway Cutting, H.456.582 to H.518.567; the quarry at about H.485.573 and all the dugouts, trenches, etc. in the area enclosed within the following map references - H.448.558 to H.460.597 to H.487.597 to H.487.577 to H.518.568.

    2. COMPOSITION OF PARTIES

    The raid will be carried out by three parties under the command of Capt. **** Bolton MC (see 11th August), Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne MC (see 5th August) and 2Lt. William Johnson Simpson (see 21st January) respectively. The parties will be made up as follows:

    "A" Party - 2Lts. Simpson and Wilfred Frederick John Thomson (see 31st July) with two platoons (seventy other ranks) of B Company.

    "B" Party – Capt. Bolton, Lts. Arthur Neill (see 24th May) and Lt. Andrew Aaron Jackson (see 7th August); 2Lts. George Clifford Sugden (see 1st October 1917) and Edwin Everingham Ison (see 5th July) with three platoons (ninety other ranks) of A Company and one platoon (thirty other ranks) of C Company.

    "C" Party - Capt Payne, MC, 2Lts. Vincent Edwards MC (see 25th July), Edward Kent Waite MC (see 19th February), Mark Allan Stanley Wood (see 19th August) and Bernard Garside (see 18th August) with three platoons (ninety other ranks) of D Company and one platoon (thirty other ranks) of C Company.

    3. OBJECTIVES

    "A" Party will raid the trenches, railway cutting, embankments and intervening ground between H.50.569 and H.518.568. "B" and "C" Parties will raid the remainder of the area, the dividing line for this purpose being from H.474.597 to H.474.578 in the railway cutting to H.480.562 in Manchester Trench.

    4. DISPOSITIONS FOR ASSAULT

    At Zero minus twenty the parties will be formed up ready to advance by platoons as follows:

    "A" Party in two platoons on a line about H.488.520 facing about twenty degrees East of North (exact compass bearing will be notified later).

    "B" and "C" Parties in two lines of two platoons each on a line from H.476.526 to H.466.527.

    At Zero the assault will commence.

    "A" Party will advance on a point at the west end of its area. One platoon will mop up the trench as rapidly as possible and the Railway Embankment to the east, its Lewis Gun taking up a position to guard the right flank, whilst the other platoon will go straight to the Railway Embankment on the west and the Cutting and mop up the dugouts, etc. The platoon mopping up the trench etc. less its Lewis Gun and rifle grenadiers, will, as soon as possible, go to help in the mopping up of the Railway Cutting from the eastern end and will provide a guard for prisoners taken.

    "B" Party will enter Manchester Trench at about the south-west corner of its area. One platoon will at once mop up Manchester Trench, and, at the conclusion of that duty, will help the other platoons in the guarding of their prisoners, carrying etc. Two platoons will go direct for the Railway Cutting and Quarry respectively. The fourth platoon will go for the area north of the cutting.

    "C" party will enter Manchester Trench at about its apex at H.475.550. One platoon will mop up the trench to the west of the area north towards the Cutting and thereupon act as guard for prisoners and carrying purposes. One platoon will mop up a position at Little Spur guarding the western flank. Meanwhile the other two platoons will go through to the Railway Cutting mopping that up and the area north and south of the same.

    Officers commanding "B" and "C" Parties will detail at least one Lewis Gun to take up the best possible position on the north side of the Railway Cutting in their respective areas to prevent a counter attack from the north. Four rifle grenadiers will accompany the Lewis Gun section guarding "A" Party's right flank and six rifle grenadiers will be included in the platoon guarding "C" Party's left flank.

    Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 11th August) DSO will superintend assembly of raiding parties and report to Advanced Battalion HQ on completion of duty.

    5. DRESS

    The men of the raiding parties will carry the following. Rifle with bayonet fixed, one bandolier of S.A.A., steel helmets and box respirators. Each section commander and one picked man per section will carry two bombs in his pocket. Rifle grenadiers detailed for A and C Parties will each carry six rifle grenades.

    6. METHOD OF WITHDRAWAL

    Officer Commanding Raiding Parties will inform Advanced Battalion HQ as well as signal, medical and other parties that they are withdrawing. Officers Commanding B and C Raiding Parties will detail one platoon each to cover the retirement. A and B Parties, Battalion HQ party, signallers and prisoners convoy will return to our lines by number four gap, covered by the covering platoon of B Party. C Party and medical personnel will return by Hill 1002 and Camberwell Green Gap covered by the covering platoon of C Party. The signal to withdraw will be given by the Officers Commanding the three parties by repeated blasts on the siren whistles at Zero plus fifty. Flares will be lit on Roncalto Spur about 100 yards west of Line House between Zero plus fifty and Zero plus seventy five to indicate direction of return.

    7. ADVANCED HQ.

    Advanced Battalion HQ will be established in the dugout on eastern slope of Hill 1002 at H.445.485 at Zero minus 90. Advanced Brigade HQ for the operation will be in the HQ dugout of the right front line battalion of the right brigade of the divisional front.

    Maj. William Norman Town (see 7th July) will be in charge of Battalion rear HQ during the absence of the Commanding Officer at Advanced BHQ.

    8. MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS

    Company Stretcher Bearers with stretchers will accompany the raiding parties as follows:

    Four bearers with two stretchers of B Company with A Party; four bearers with two stretchers of A Company and two bearers with one stretcher of C Company with B party; four bearers with two stretchers of D Company and one stretcher with two bearers of C Company with C Party. A Stretcher Bearers Relay Post will be established at Advanced Battalion HQ. An Advanced Dressing Station and Regimental Aid Post will be in the two dugouts immediately south of Hill 1002 at about H.433.458.

    9. COMMUNICATIONS

    Two advanced signal stations will be established: D Station in the Quarry on the eastern slope of Vaister Spur at about H.478.536; E Station behind the small excavation on the south-west side of Post Spur at about H.495.535. D Station will be connected by wire through Advanced Battalion HQ with Signal Station on Hill 1002 and thence with Advanced Brigade HQ. E Station will be connected by wire through Advanced Battalion HQ. D and E Stations will be connected laterally by wire to further ensure proper communication. Capt. Frederick Lowther Dawson Barker (see 31st January) will be in charge of E Signal Station. 2Lt. James Henry Midgley (see 25th April) will be in charge of intelligence at D Signal Station with Sgt. James Walker MM (see 15th February) in charge of the signals.

    10. PRISONERS AND TROPHIES.

    A Prisoner Collecting Station will be formed in the trench about 300 yards north-east of Advanced Battalion HQ and marked by stakes with luminous paint. Raiding Parties will send all prisoners and trophies direct there to Maj. Herbert St. John Carr West (see 8th August) who will be in charge with RSM Charles Edward Parker, MM (see 13th March; it is unclear exactly when he had been promoted RSM) and Regimental Police. Maj. Carr West will give receipts for all prisoners and trophies handed over. The raiding parties will provide escort for prisoners, etc, as ordered by Maj. Carr West.

    11. CASUALTIES.

    Officers Commanding Raiding Parties will, on their way back, advise Advanced Battalion HQ through the nearest Advanced Signal Station of the number of their casualties if any.

    12. ARTILLERY

    A barrage map and time table accompanies this (a copy does not survive in the Battalion War Diary) for the information of those immediately concerned. The barrage will last 60 minutes and will include heavy counter battery work on the enemy batteries.

    13. REFRESHMENT

    Officers Commanding Companies will arrange to give all men going on the raid a hot meal at the latest possible moment. Hot tea and rum will be issued to the raiders on their return.

    14. PASS WORD

    The pass word will be “Dukes”.

    15. PROTECTION

    Officer Commanding C Company will arrange for a reconnoitring patrol to patrol No Mans Land near the assembly points between dusk and Zero hour. The composition of the patrol will be three reliable men from each of A, B and D Companies, with a reliable NCO from C Company, all under the command of 2Lt. Herbert Edwin James Biggs (see 15th June 1917). This patrol must on no account get engaged and will report to Maj. Borrow at the assembly point of "A" Party at Zero minus 30.

    16. TIME

    Each party will send an officer with two reliable watches to synchronise them at Battalion HQ at 6pm on Zero day.

    17. IDENTIFICATION MARKS

    Officers Commanding Companies will see that no member of the raiding parties takes with him any numerals, badges, papers, reports, orders or identification of any kind whatsoever.

    18. ZERO

    Zero Day and hour will be notified later; also orders for the 58th Division Raid.
    The map below indicates the approximate positions of the area to be attacked (shaded yellow); the assembly points of the three parties (A, B, C); the advanced signal stations (D, E); Advanced Battalion HQ; and the Advanced Dressing Station and Regimental Aid Post.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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    23rd August 1918

    During the Second Battle of Albert the 1st Hertfordshire Regiment assaults and captures a railway cutting near the village of Achiet Le Grand. Among those killed in the assault is

    Private Edward Reuben Campkin (Hertfordshire Regiment) is killed at age 25. He has two brothers who have previously been killed.
    Second Lieutenant Thomas Godwin Hobbs (Royal Air Force) though wounded by anti-aircraft fire, manages to force land on our side of the lines, thus saving the life of his observer, Lieutenant C R A Wallis, though he has use only of his left arm. Second Lieutenant Hobbs will die of his wounds tomorrow.

    Lieutenant Colonel Walter Lorrain Brodie VC MC (commanding 2nd Highland Light Infantry) is killed in action at age 33 near Moeuvres. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions near Becclaere, Belgium on 11th November 1914 when he led a charge to evict the enemy from a portion of our trenches which they had recently occupied. He bayoneted several of the enemy himself and relieved a dangerous situation in an action that killed 80 of the enemy and captured 51.

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    Lieutenant Colonel Robert Edward Frederic Shaw MC (commanding 13th London Regiment) is killed in action at age 26. He is the son of the Reverend Robert Villiers George Shaw Vicar of Langlebury.
    Captain Edward Charles Cunnington (Royal Army Medical Corps) is killed at age 28. He is the son of Benjamin Howard Cunnington British Archaeologist famous for his work on prehistoric Wiltshire and the great grandson of the famous antiquarian William Cunnington.

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    Three Victoria Crosses were awarded on this day...

    William Donovan Joynt, VC (19 March 1889 – 6 June 1986) was a printer, publisher, author and an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross.

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    Joynt was born at Elsternwick, Melbourne and educated at The Grange Preparatory School and later Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. After working in a number of office jobs in Melbourne, in 1909 he sailed to Rockhampton and worked as a farm labourer in North Queensland, the Victorian Mallee, Western Australia and Flinders Island. Joynt enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 21 May 1915, was commissioned on 24 December 1915, and arrived in France in May 1916. He fought in France until August 1918, where he was commended in divisional orders, shot in the shoulder, and promoted to lieutenant. On 23 August 1918, he was 29 years old, and a lieutenant in the 8th Battalion (Victoria), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War, when the following events occurred.

    Lieutenant Joynt took charge when his company commander had been killed. When the leading battalion had been demoralized by heavy casualties, he rushed forward and reorganized the remnants of the battalion. Having discovered that heavy fire on the flanks was causing delay and casualties, he led a frontal bayonet attack on the wood, capturing it and over eighty prisoners, thus saving a critical situation. Later, at Plateau Wood, after severe hand-to-hand fighting, he turned a stubborn defence into an abject surrender.

    He was badly wounded by a shell on 26 August and evacuated to England. He was promoted to captain in October 1918, and posted to AIF Headquarters in London in March 1919. He returned to Melbourne in February 1920, and was discharged on 11 June.

    Having studied agriculture and sheep-breeding in England in 1919, in 1920 Joynt became a soldier settler, dairy farming near Berwick. By 1929 he was pursuing business interests in Melbourne, where he was a pioneer of colour printing in Australia. About 1920 he had formed Queen City Printers Pty Ltd, and subsequently formed Colarts Studios Pty Ltd and bought the rights to a German colour-printing process. Under various business names, Joynt remained a printer and publisher for over sixty years. He married Edith Amy Garrett, a trained nurse, in a civil ceremony at Hawthorn on 19 March 1932, his forty-third birthday. Joynt was one of a number of ex-servicemen who in 1923 founded the Legacy Club of Melbourne, the first of fifty Legacy Clubs. He helped lead the club’s successful campaign to have Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance built in its present form on its present site. He was active in the Militia in 1926–33, being promoted to major in February 1930.

    Lawrence Dominic McCarthy, VC (21 January 1892 – 25 May 1975) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross

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    Lawrence Dominic McCarthy was born in York, Western Australia, on 21 January 1892. The son of Florence McCarthy of Cork, Ireland, and his wife Anne (née Sherry), he was orphaned at a young age and was brought up in Clontarf Orphanage in Perth and educated in Catholic schools. After completing his schooling, from the age of 13 he worked on a farm as an apprentice at Jennacubbine, near Northam. Later, he served with the 18th Light Horse, a Militia unit, for two and a half years before moving to Lion Mill, Perth. He subsequently worked as a contractor sawmiller, losing three fingers on his left hand in an accident. McCarthy was initially rejected due to his injuries when he attempted to join the Australian Imperial Force; however, he was later accepted after proving he had won a number of shooting competitions.[3] Enlisted on 16 October 1914 as a private, he was subsequently posted to the 16th Battalion, joining the newly formed unit at Blackboy Hill Camp. His large build later earned him the nickname "Fats". Sailing for Egypt in December, the battalion landed at Gallipoli on 26 April 1915 on the second day of the campaign against the Turkish. McCarthy remained on the peninsula until illness forced his evacuation in September. By then he had been promoted to sergeant. He returned to duty in November and was among the last in his battalion to leave Gallipoli on 20 December.

    The 16th Battalion arrived in France in June 1916 where they took part in the fighting against the Germans at Pozières and Mouquet Farm in August.[2] McCarthy was appointed company sergeant major in March 1917 and the following month was commissioned as a second lieutenant. The day after receiving his commission, McCarthy was wounded at Bullecourt and evacuated to England where he spent three months in hospital and convalescing.[5] Rejoining his unit on 9 July, he was promoted to lieutenant on 1 November and was awarded the French Croix de guerre two days later.[2] Between February and August 1918 he was posted the 13th Training Battalion at Tidworth, England where he trained troops, before rejoining his battalion in time for the Allied Hundred Days Offensive that began on 8 August.

    On 23 August 1918, McCarthy performed what was later described in the official history as being the most effective piece of individual fighting in the history of the AIF, next to Albert Jacka's Military Cross-winning feat at Pozières. Near Madam Wood, east of Vermandovillers, France, the battalion was heavily opposed by well-posted German machine-guns. McCarthy, realizing the situation, dashed across the open ground with two men to the nearest post, where, having out-distanced his companions, he put the gun out of action, then continued fighting his way down the trench. Later, having been joined by one of his men, together they bombed their way along the trench until contact was established with an adjoining unit.

    During this action McCarthy had killed 20 of the enemy, taken 50 prisoners and captured 5 machine-guns and 500 yards (460 m) of the German front. The battalion historian wrote that following McCarthy's feat, "the prisoners closed in on him from all sides ... and patted him on the back!" For this McCarthy was awarded the Victoria Cross that, within his battalion and in some quarters of the London press, came to be known as the "super-VC".

    Ten days after the war ended, on 21 November 1918, McCarthy was evacuated to England with influenza, where he was subsequently informed that he had been awarded the Victoria Cross for his action. After recovering he rejoined his battalion on 7 January 1919, subsequently receiving the award from King George V at Buckingham Palace on 12 July 1919.

    Hugh McIver VC MM & Bar (21 June 1890 – 2 September 1918) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

    He was 28 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Lothian Regiment), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

    On 23 August 1918 east of Courcelle-le Compte, France, Private McIver was employed as a company-runner and under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire carried messages regardless of his own safety. Single-handed he pursued an enemy scout into a machine-gun post and having killed six of the garrison, captured 20 prisoners and two machine-guns. Later he succeeded, at great personal risk, in stopping the fire of a British tank which was directed in error against our own troops. He was killed in action 10 days later. He was killed in action, near Courcelles, France, on 2 September 1918. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Scots Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. In 2015, Kier Homes named a street in their Hawkhead Village development in Paisley, Hugh McIver Avenue, in memory of him.

    Second Battle of Bapaume
    – The New Zealand Division captured the French village of Grévillers held by the Germans.

    WESTERN FRONT

    Somme: Main attack by BEF Third and Fourth Armies now on 33-mile front supported by 100 tanks, former advances 2 miles, across Arras-Bapaume road (5,000 PoWs taken); Australians capture 2,000 PoWs and 23 guns, Bray and Chuignes (including one 15-inch gun, disabled 9, used from July to shell Amiens 15 miles to West); 4 Fourth Army divisions continue advance by moonlight.

    EASTERN FRONT
    USSR: Lenin tells Moscow Polytechnic Museum meeting that world revolution will come, time not predictable.
    Volga: Red First Army defeats Czechs, retakes 3 villages south of Kazan.
    Siberia: *Battle of Dukhovskaya (until August 24), Allies win first real action vs Reds, regain Krevsk position, take 2 MGs and destroy 2 armoured trains but little Japanese co-operation.

    AIR WAR
    Western Front: 2 German Jasta 34b fighters disable 2 British tanks with armour-piercing ammo, one is Bavarian Oblt Ritter von Greim’s 23rd (of 26) victories (last Luftwaffe C-in-C in 1945). Wireless Central Info Bureau co-ordinates RAF ground attacks.

    There were two air aces killed on this day:

    Captain John Playford "Jack" Hales

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    The son of Alfred Hales, John Playford Hales graduated from Ontario Agricultural College in 1915. He joined the Royal Naval Air Service in July 1916. Posted to France with 9 Naval Squadron in September 1917, he scored 4 victories in 4 months flying the Sopwith Camel. He then became a ferry pilot, flying aircraft from England to France. In April 1918 he was promoted to Captain and returned to combat with 203 Squadron in the summer. Twelve days after he scored his 5th victory, Hales was killed in action over the Somme by anti-aircraft fire.

    Captain James Martin Child MC

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    James Martin Child, brother of Jack Escott Child, was the son of Tylney Harris and Constance Octavio (Oxley) Child. He moved to Canada where he worked in banking and mining. When the war began, he enlisted in the Canadian militia but was unable to deploy with the Canadian contigents and returned to England at his own expense. He served with the Manchester Regiment before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. 2nd Lieutenant Child received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 2377 on 31 January 1916. After serving with 4 Squadron, he was posted to 19 Squadron in July 1916. With this unit Child scored three victories flying SPADs in 1917. Later that year, he joined 84 Squadron as a captain and downed five more enemy aircraft flying the S.E.5a. In February 1918, he returned to England and whilst serving as an instructor at Turnberry.

    When death finally claimed James Child, it was in somewhat bizarre circumstances. At about 5.30 p.m. on 23 August 1918, a DH9 flown by 2nd Lieutenant Archibald McFarlan, with Flight Cadet Andrew Anderson Hepburn acting as observer, collided in mid-air with another aircraft over Drakemyre, causing both aircraft to crash and killing the pair outright. A report in the Daily Record (Glasgow) on 29 August 1918 stated: "Their machine collided at a considerable height with another one, the occupant of which had a miraculous escape." The pilot of the second aircraft survived the impact and Child was on hand to help rescue him from the wreckage. A good deed done, he then set off on his motorcycle to return to Turnberry, but while riding along the Kirkoswald Ro

    Military Cross (MC)
    Lt. (T./Capt.) James Martin Child, Manch. R. and R.F.C.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While leading a patrol he encountered four enemy scouts, one of which he destroyed. On another occasion he attacked one of two enemy two-seater machines which he encountered over the enemy's lines. He disabled the machine, and skilfully turned it towards our lines, where the enemy pilot was forced to land and he and his observer were taken prisoner. On another occasion he attacked five enemy scouts, one of which he destroyed. He showed the greatest judgment and determination.

    The following claims were made on this day

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    The stand out performance of the day came from Lieutenant Arthur Rowe Spurling DFC 49 Squadron RAF - flying a DH.9 (3056) He shot down five aircraft and in doing so earned the Distinguised Flying Cross (DFC)

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    2nd Lieutenant Arthur Rowe Spurling received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 5148 at Edgware on 21 August 1917.

    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    "Lieut. Arthur Rowe Spurling.
    On his return from a recent bombing raid, this officer was separated from his formation owing to clouds. After flying for some twenty minutes, and thinking that he was over our lines, he came down to find his position; seeing an aerodrome, he was preparing to land when, at 2,000 feet, a Fokker biplane attacked his machine; Lieut. Spurling then observed some thirty machines of the same type heavily camouflaged; with great gallantry he dived through the centre of the formation, shooting down one machine in flames; two others were seen to be in a spin, one of which crashed. Five of them then closed on his machine, but by skilful manoeuvring Lieut. Spurling enabled his observer to shoot down two of these in flames. The three remaining aircraft broke off the combat and disappeared in the mist. A fine performance, reflecting the greatest credit on this officer and his observer."

    Despite the lack of claims there were still 28 British Airmen lost on this day (obviously many to non aces whose records we don't have)

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    Captain Tunstill's Men: Plans were prepared for a large-scale trench raid to take place on the Austrian lines east of Canove, in an area known as the Vaister Spur,on the 26th. The plan is best described in the words of the Battalion orders which were to be issued. (See also the map below).

    1. INTENTION

    The Battalion, simultaneously with a Battalion of the 48th Division on the right, will carry out a raid on Manchester and Middlesex trenches from H.448.558 to H.518.568; the Railway Cutting, H.456.582 to H.518.567; the quarry at about H.485.573 and all the dugouts, trenches, etc. in the area enclosed within the following map references - H.448.558 to H.460.597 to H.487.597 to H.487.577 to H.518.568.

    2. COMPOSITION OF PARTIES

    The raid will be carried out by three parties under the command of Capt. **** Bolton MC (see 11th August), Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne MC (see 5th August) and 2Lt. William Johnson Simpson (see 21st January) respectively. The parties will be made up as follows:

    "A" Party - 2Lts. Simpson and Wilfred Frederick John Thomson (see 31st July) with two platoons (seventy other ranks) of B Company.

    "B" Party – Capt. Bolton, Lts. Arthur Neill (see 24th May) and Lt. Andrew Aaron Jackson (see 7th August); 2Lts. George Clifford Sugden (see 1st October 1917) and Edwin Everingham Ison (see 5th July) with three platoons (ninety other ranks) of A Company and one platoon (thirty other ranks) of C Company.

    "C" Party - Capt Payne, MC, 2Lts. Vincent Edwards MC (see 25th July), Edward Kent Waite MC (see 19th February), Mark Allan Stanley Wood (see 19th August) and Bernard Garside (see 18th August) with three platoons (ninety other ranks) of D Company and one platoon (thirty other ranks) of C Company.

    3. OBJECTIVES

    "A" Party will raid the trenches, railway cutting, embankments and intervening ground between H.50.569 and H.518.568. "B" and "C" Parties will raid the remainder of the area, the dividing line for this purpose being from H.474.597 to H.474.578 in the railway cutting to H.480.562 in Manchester Trench.

    4. DISPOSITIONS FOR ASSAULT

    At Zero minus twenty the parties will be formed up ready to advance by platoons as follows:

    "A" Party in two platoons on a line about H.488.520 facing about twenty degrees East of North (exact compass bearing will be notified later).

    "B" and "C" Parties in two lines of two platoons each on a line from H.476.526 to H.466.527.

    At Zero the assault will commence.

    "A" Party will advance on a point at the west end of its area. One platoon will mop up the trench as rapidly as possible and the Railway Embankment to the east, its Lewis Gun taking up a position to guard the right flank, whilst the other platoon will go straight to the Railway Embankment on the west and the Cutting and mop up the dugouts, etc. The platoon mopping up the trench etc. less its Lewis Gun and rifle grenadiers, will, as soon as possible, go to help in the mopping up of the Railway Cutting from the eastern end and will provide a guard for prisoners taken.

    "B" Party will enter Manchester Trench at about the south-west corner of its area. One platoon will at once mop up Manchester Trench, and, at the conclusion of that duty, will help the other platoons in the guarding of their prisoners, carrying etc. Two platoons will go direct for the Railway Cutting and Quarry respectively. The fourth platoon will go for the area north of the cutting.

    "C" party will enter Manchester Trench at about its apex at H.475.550. One platoon will mop up the trench to the west of the area north towards the Cutting and thereupon act as guard for prisoners and carrying purposes. One platoon will mop up a position at Little Spur guarding the western flank. Meanwhile the other two platoons will go through to the Railway Cutting mopping that up and the area north and south of the same.

    Officers commanding "B" and "C" Parties will detail at least one Lewis Gun to take up the best possible position on the north side of the Railway Cutting in their respective areas to prevent a counter attack from the north. Four rifle grenadiers will accompany the Lewis Gun section guarding "A" Party's right flank and six rifle grenadiers will be included in the platoon guarding "C" Party's left flank.

    Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 11th August) DSO will superintend assembly of raiding parties and report to Advanced Battalion HQ on completion of duty.

    5. DRESS

    The men of the raiding parties will carry the following. Rifle with bayonet fixed, one bandolier of S.A.A., steel helmets and box respirators. Each section commander and one picked man per section will carry two bombs in his pocket. Rifle grenadiers detailed for A and C Parties will each carry six rifle grenades.

    6. METHOD OF WITHDRAWAL

    Officer Commanding Raiding Parties will inform Advanced Battalion HQ as well as signal, medical and other parties that they are withdrawing. Officers Commanding B and C Raiding Parties will detail one platoon each to cover the retirement. A and B Parties, Battalion HQ party, signallers and prisoners convoy will return to our lines by number four gap, covered by the covering platoon of B Party. C Party and medical personnel will return by Hill 1002 and Camberwell Green Gap covered by the covering platoon of C Party. The signal to withdraw will be given by the Officers Commanding the three parties by repeated blasts on the siren whistles at Zero plus fifty. Flares will be lit on Roncalto Spur about 100 yards west of Line House between Zero plus fifty and Zero plus seventy five to indicate direction of return.

    7. ADVANCED HQ.

    Advanced Battalion HQ will be established in the dugout on eastern slope of Hill 1002 at H.445.485 at Zero minus 90. Advanced Brigade HQ for the operation will be in the HQ dugout of the right front line battalion of the right brigade of the divisional front.

    Maj. William Norman Town (see 7th July) will be in charge of Battalion rear HQ during the absence of the Commanding Officer at Advanced BHQ.

    8. MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS

    Company Stretcher Bearers with stretchers will accompany the raiding parties as follows:

    Four bearers with two stretchers of B Company with A Party; four bearers with two stretchers of A Company and two bearers with one stretcher of C Company with B party; four bearers with two stretchers of D Company and one stretcher with two bearers of C Company with C Party. A Stretcher Bearers Relay Post will be established at Advanced Battalion HQ. An Advanced Dressing Station and Regimental Aid Post will be in the two dugouts immediately south of Hill 1002 at about H.433.458.

    9. COMMUNICATIONS

    Two advanced signal stations will be established: D Station in the Quarry on the eastern slope of Vaister Spur at about H.478.536; E Station behind the small excavation on the south-west side of Post Spur at about H.495.535. D Station will be connected by wire through Advanced Battalion HQ with Signal Station on Hill 1002 and thence with Advanced Brigade HQ. E Station will be connected by wire through Advanced Battalion HQ. D and E Stations will be connected laterally by wire to further ensure proper communication. Capt. Frederick Lowther Dawson Barker (see 31st January) will be in charge of E Signal Station. 2Lt. James Henry Midgley (see 25th April) will be in charge of intelligence at D Signal Station with Sgt. James Walker MM (see 15th February) in charge of the signals.

    10. PRISONERS AND TROPHIES.

    A Prisoner Collecting Station will be formed in the trench about 300 yards north-east of Advanced Battalion HQ and marked by stakes with luminous paint. Raiding Parties will send all prisoners and trophies direct there to Maj. Herbert St. John Carr West (see 8th August) who will be in charge with RSM Charles Edward Parker, MM (see 13th March; it is unclear exactly when he had been promoted RSM) and Regimental Police. Maj. Carr West will give receipts for all prisoners and trophies handed over. The raiding parties will provide escort for prisoners, etc, as ordered by Maj. Carr West.

    11. CASUALTIES.

    Officers Commanding Raiding Parties will, on their way back, advise Advanced Battalion HQ through the nearest Advanced Signal Station of the number of their casualties if any.

    12. ARTILLERY

    A barrage map and time table accompanies this (a copy does not survive in the Battalion War Diary) for the information of those immediately concerned. The barrage will last 60 minutes and will include heavy counter battery work on the enemy batteries.

    13. REFRESHMENT

    Officers Commanding Companies will arrange to give all men going on the raid a hot meal at the latest possible moment. Hot tea and rum will be issued to the raiders on their return.

    14. PASS WORD

    The pass word will be “Dukes”.

    15. PROTECTION

    Officer Commanding C Company will arrange for a reconnoitring patrol to patrol No Mans Land near the assembly points between dusk and Zero hour. The composition of the patrol will be three reliable men from each of A, B and D Companies, with a reliable NCO from C Company, all under the command of 2Lt. Herbert Edwin James Biggs (see 15th June 1917). This patrol must on no account get engaged and will report to Maj. Borrow at the assembly point of "A" Party at Zero minus 30.

    16. TIME

    Each party will send an officer with two reliable watches to synchronise them at Battalion HQ at 6pm on Zero day.

    17. IDENTIFICATION MARKS

    Officers Commanding Companies will see that no member of the raiding parties takes with him any numerals, badges, papers, reports, orders or identification of any kind whatsoever.

    18. ZERO

    Zero Day and hour will be notified later; also orders for the 58th Division Raid.
    The map below indicates the approximate positions of the area to be attacked (shaded yellow); the assembly points of the three parties (A, B, C); the advanced signal stations (D, E); Advanced Battalion HQ; and the Advanced Dressing Station and Regimental Aid Post.

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  36. #3536

    Default

    Right - duplication deleted, as I am looking at the post now all attachments are present and correct - lets hope it stays that way.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  37. #3537

    Default

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    24th August 1918

    Blimey, everything stayed put on yesterday's post, the attachment fairy must be working overtime. Lets see if we can have a similar result today.

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    Sergeant Samuel Forsyth (No. 3 Field Company, New Zealand Pioneers attached Auckland Infantry) is shot by a sniper and killed at age 25. On nearing the objective, his company comes under heavy machine-gun fire. Through Sergeant Forsyth’s dashing leadership and total disregard of danger, three machine-gun positions are rushed and the crews taken prisoner before they can inflict many casualties on our troops. During a subsequent advance his company comes under heavy fire from several machine guns, two of which he locates by a daring reconnaissance. In his endeavour to gain support from a tank, he is wounded, but after having the wound bandaged, he again gets in touch with the tank, which in the face of very heavy fire from machine guns and anti-tank guns he endeavours to lead with magnificent coolness to a favorable position. The tank, however, is put out of action. Sergeant Forsyth then organizes the tank crew and several of his men into a section, and leads them to a position where the machine guns can be outflanked. Always under heavy fire, he directs them into positions which brings about a retirement of the enemy machine guns and enables the advance to continue. It is at this moment he is killed by a sniper. For his actions he will be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

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    Samuel Forsyth was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 3 April 1891, one of four children of Thomas Forsyth of Thorndon, who was a night watchman on the SS Maori. He attended Thorndon School and later Terrace School. After completing his education, he found employment as a gold amalgamator for the Monowai Gold Mining Company based at Thames. Forsyth participated in charity work, volunteering for the Sailor's Friend Society. He was also interested in the military and in 1910, joined the Territorial Force in which he served as a field engineer. Shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, Forsyth enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and embarked for the Middle East in October 1914 as a sapper with the New Zealand Engineers. He landed at Gallipoli in May 1915 during the Gallipoli Campaign, but was medically evacuated two months later. He returned to duty at Gallipoli and was lightly wounded during the August offensive later that year, but remained in the front-line. He was medically evacuated in November 1915 to the island of Lemnos and then onto England, where he spent several months in various hospitals around the country. On recovering his health, in April 1916 Forsyth was posted to the 3rd Field Company of the New Zealand Engineers, which was serving with the New Zealand Division on the Western Front. The same year he spent a period of leave in the United Kingdom and struck up a relationship with a Glaswegian, Mary, who he soon married. The next year, he was promoted to corporal. During operations around the village of La Basseville, he was noted for his service. By May 1918, Forsyth had attained the rank of sergeant.

    The Cunard steamship Flavia is torpedoed twice by the German submarine U-107 thirty miles northwest by west from Tory Island, Ulster. Although the ship will remain afloat for two hours it sinks with the loss of one life.

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    Lieutenant Colonel John Hay Maitland Hardyman DSO MC (commanding 8th Somerset Light Infantry) is killed at age 23. He is the youngest battalion commander killed in the Great War. (Lt. Colonel at 23 ????? blimey thats some going - editor)

    On Leave

    The mad breeze laughs the clouds along,
    The young ash shouts his clean-limbed song,
    Nibbling green and chocolate slopes
    Silvery brown the old hedge gropes,
    I with wakening nature cry,
    “Why should I die?” “Why should I die?”

    Out there its different: we don’t fear to die;
    We kill, yet hate not, live, yet wonder why,
    Till, worn with waiting, spent with ceasless strain,
    With present issues each man drugs his brain;
    The daily letter’s homely happenings,
    Life’s three and twenty unimportant things,
    The third-back dug-out’s need of strengthening,
    How the deep mine is slowly lengthening,
    Poor Freddie’s death, the latest hand-grenade –
    Of such is life in mud-bound Flanders made.

    WESTERN FRONT
    Somme: British 38th Division recaptures Thiepval Ridge and reaches Bapaume outskirts. British 99th Brigade (2nd Division) captures Mory Copse.
    Flanders: British 55th Division captures Givenchy Craters.

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    EASTERN FRONT
    Siberia: General Horvath topples Colonel Tolstov from White command in Vladivostok (Allies disarm 400 Horvath men on August 26). Clemenceau appoints General Janin (still in France) C-in-C Allied Forces, Major-General Knox to head British Military Mission.

    SOUTHERN FRONTS

    Albania: Austrians recapture Fieri and Berat as Italians withdraw to Malakastra heights north of river Voyusa (until August 26). French conform.
    Salonika: Tank Corps Captain D Mackay arrives to investigate possible use of tanks, rules it out on September 14.

    AFRICA

    Mozambique: Lettow crosses river Likungo and storms Numarroe from 2 KAR coys and 6 MGs (44 killed and 43 PoWs plus 2 MGs lost).

    AIR WAR
    Western Front: Both sides’ night bombers active, RAF vs 4 rail junctions, Boulogne hit by 37 bombs; but 2 German aircraft downed by No 151 Squadron Sopwith Camel. No 48 Squadron loses 10 Bristol Fighters on ground to 5 German raiders (night August 24-25).

    Lieutenant Louis Bennett (Royal Air Force) is shot down by anti-aircraft fire while attacking a balloon at Hantay. He crashes near Marquallas and is dragged from the wreckage, dying soon after of his injuries. His twelve victories in only twenty five sorties is perhaps the most rapid rate of scoring by any Allied pilot of the Great War. However his combat career only lasted 9 days.

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    The son of Louis and Sallie Maxwell Bennett of Weston, West Virginia, Louis Bennett's father, a prominent Lewis county politician, was the Democratic nominee for governor of West Virginia in 1908. Louis Bennett Jr. attended Cutler and St. Luke's preparatory schools in Pennsylvania before enrolling at Yale in 1913. In October 1917 he joined the Royal Flying Corps at Toronto, Ontario. Like fellow American Frank Luke, Bennett was fond of shooting down balloons. During his brief but remarkable nine day career, Bennett flew 25 sorties against the Germans, shooting down nine enemy balloons from an S.E.5a. On 24 August 1918, after destroying his last two balloons, his aircraft burst into flames when it was hit by ground fire. Bennett crashed but was pulled from his plane shortly before he died from his injuries. Bennett received no medals for his actions in combat.

    As a memorial to her husband and son, Sallie Maxwell Bennett donated the Bennett mansion on Court Avenue to the city of Weston, West Virginia in December 1921, to be held in perpetuity as "The Louis Bennett Public Library and Welfare Center." She also commissioned The Aviator, a bronze statue by Augustus Lukeman, which was unveiled on the grounds of the Linsly School in Wheeling, West Virginia on Armistice Day, 1925. Louis Bennett Field, in Weston, West Virginia, was also named in honor of Louis Bennett Jr.

    On a day of very few claims - 4 aces were lost (including Lt. Bennett - see above)

    Leutnant Konrad Schwartz of Jasta 66 died of his wounds in a prisoner of war camp. Assuming command of Jasta 66 on 15 July 1918, Schwartz scored his 5th victory two day later but was wounded in action on 18 July when he was shot down and captured by the French. He died from his wounds in a POW camp.

    1st Lieutenant Lloyd Andrews Hamilton DFC. DSC. 17th Aero Squadron USAF

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    The son of the Rev. John A. and Jennie B. (Andrews) Hamilton, Lloyd Andrews Hamilton was a brilliant student and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1916, magna cum laude, from Syracuse University. He was fatally wounded by ground fire after shooting down a balloon near Lagnicourt. Hamilton Field at Novato, California was named in honor of Lieutenant Hamilton in 1932.

    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    On 13 August 1918, Lt. Hamilton led his flight on a special mission against Varssenaere aerodrome. He dropped four bombs from 200 feet on some aeroplane hangars, making two direct hits and causing a large amount of damage. He then machine gunned the German officers' billets and made four circuits of the aerodrome, shooting up various targets. On the first circuit, he destroyed one EA on the ground which burst into flames when he shot it up. On the third circuit he repeated this performance, setting afire another Fokker biplane. His dash and skill very materially helped in the success of the operation. In addition this officer destroyed a Fokker biplane over Armentières on 7 August 1918. On 12 July he brought down two EA in flames and on two other occasions has driven down out of control enemy machines. He is an excellent patrol leader.

    Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
    The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Lloyd A. Hamilton, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Varssenaere, Belgium, August 13, 1918. Leading a low bombing attack on a German aerodrome, 30 miles behind the line, Lieutenant Hamilton destroyed the hangars on the north side of the aerodrome and then attacked a row of enemy machines, flying as low as 20 feet from the ground despite intense machine-gun fire, and setting fire to three of the German planes. He then turned and fired bursts through the windows of the chateau in which the German pilots were quartered, 26 of whom were afterwards reported killed.

    Lieutenant Edgar Taylor 79 Squadron RAF
    The son of English parents, Peter E. and Esther A. Taylor, Edgar Taylor, from Central Falls, Rhode Island, joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and was posted to 79 Squadron in April 1918. A Sopwith Dolphin pilot, he served with fellow American aces Francis Gillet and Frederick Lord. In August 1918, Taylor was credited with one Fokker D.VII followed by four German balloons. Killed in action on 24 August 1918, he was shot down by ground fire as he attacked and destroyed his fourth balloon.

    The following claims were reported on this day

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    22 British airmen were lost on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men:

    A number of alterations were made to the plan for the forthcoming raid on the Austrian lines (see 23rd August). The eastern boundary of the raid was extended, doubling the area of “A” party’s operations and taking the eastern boundary to the railway line and trenches at H.525.569. As a consequence of this extension the size of “A” party was increased to three platoons (90 other ranks) of B Company and one platoon (20 other ranks) of C Company, and the addition of two more officers, 2Lts. Keith Sagar Bain (see 31st July) and Alfred Ernest Pass (known as ‘Alf’) (see 27th July). The arrangements for the formation and advance of "A" Party were now to be as follows: “In two lines of two platoons. One platoon will go straight through to the west end of the main railway cutting, and thence along the cutting to mop up the eastern end of it and the embankment beyond. One platoon will mop up to the western part of the cutting and the embankment to the west. One platoon will go straight to the small cutting near the eastern boundary and mop that up. The rifle sections of the four platoons less rifle grenadiers will mop up Middlesex Trench, and afterwards act as escort for prisoners and carriers while the Lewis Gun section plus rifle grenadiers will take up a position to cover the left flank. Officer Commanding "A" Party will also detail a Lewis Gun to guard against a counter attack from the north”. The arrangements for the withdrawal of the parties were now to be as follows, “Officer Commanding "A" Party will detail one platoon to cover the retirement of the party and that of the signalling party at E Signal Station. The covering platoon from “B" party will cover the retirement of "B" Party, the party at "D" Signal Station, the convoy of prisoners and Battalion HQ.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  38. #3538

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    Well that's a relief... landed at holiday cottage in the middle od deepest darkest Devon and the wi-fi works fine, so publication can continue (at least until Neil picks up the reins around the 27th)

    25th August 1918

    During a patrol, Captain Frank Belway (Royal Air Force) observes an enemy two seater calling for flares. He attacks the machine and drives it off, the enemy infantry having lit their flares, Lieutenant Belway descending to a very low altitude in the face of heavy machine gun fire, is able to obtain most accurate information as to the location of the enemy line. Second Lieutenant James Herbert Grahame (Royal Air Force) bombs the Somain railway junction and obtains two direct hits causing considerable dislocation of traffic through Somain station.

    At Martinpuich during a strong counter-attack Sergeant Harold John Colley MM (Lancashire Fusiliers) company is holding an advanced position with two platoons in advance and two in support. The forward platoons are ordered to hold at all costs and Sergeant Colley goes without orders to help these two platoons. He rallies the men and then forms a defensive flank and holds it although out of the two platoons only three men remain unwounded and the sergeant himself is dangerously wounded and will die later today. His actions prevent the enemy from breaking through and for these actions he will be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

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    Harold John Colley VC MM (26 May 1894 – 25 August 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross. He lived at 74 Cheshire Road in Smethwick on the 1911 Census and this was his home address during the First World War. Colley was 24 years old, and an acting sergeant in the 10th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers,[2] British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

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    Second Battle of Bapaume – New Zealand forces began battling the Germans block by block through the French town of Bapaume, but failed to dislodge them.

    Western Front

    British advance on Bapaume; on north capture Behagnies, Sapignies and Favreuil; on south hold Albert-Bapaume road.

    Eastern Front

    Czecho-Slovaks occupy Kazan (on River Volga).

    Coup d'Etat of General Horvath.

    Southern Front


    Austrians recapture Fieri and Berat (southern Albania).

    Political, etc.

    Germany accepts Spanish terms re: Spanish losses caused by submarines.

    HOME FRONTS
    Germany: Berlin rioters smash pictures of the Kaiser.
    USA: War Industries Board exempts movie industry employees from draft.
    Hungary: Government expels Jews and confiscates their assets.

    WESTERN FRONT
    Somme: British troops now again hold Albert-Bapaume road, Mametz Wood, 2nd Division recaptures Behagnies and Sapignies, north of Bapaume.

    AIR WAR
    Germany: 2 Handley Page bombers (Lawson and Purvis) devastatingly dive-bomb Mannheim Badische Anilin Works from 200ft and 500ft (night August 25-26).
    Western Front: RAF attack two German airfields, loses 2 DH9s but shoots down 3 German fighters. Germans claim 19 Allied aircraft for loss of 10.
    Palestine: Germans unable to fly any recon over British lines (until September 14) after loss of 2 aircrafts from Jasta 301 between August 25 and 31.

    It was a quiet day in the skies with only a handful of claims

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    Australian flying ace Jerry Pentland of the No. 87 Squadron shot two German aircraft – a DFW two-seater and a Fokker fighter using a Sopwith Dolphin before being shot down himself and wounded in the foot. They were his last victories, but he emerged from World War One as Australia′s fifth-highest-scoring ace with 23 kills.

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    Alexander Augustus Norman Dudley "Jerry" Pentland, MC, DFC, AFC (5 August 1894 – 3 November 1983) was an Australian fighter ace in World War I. Born in Maitland, New South Wales, he commenced service as a Lighthorseman with the Australian Imperial Force in 1915, and saw action at Gallipoli. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps the following year, rising to captain. Credited with twenty-three aerial victories, Pentland became the fifth highest-scoring Australian ace of the war, after Robert Little, Stan Dallas, Harry Cobby and Roy King. He was awarded the Military Cross in January 1918 for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty" on a mission attacking an aerodrome behind enemy lines, and the Distinguished Flying Cross that August for engaging four hostile aircraft single-handedly.

    Pentland served in the fledgling Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and later the Royal Air Force, before going into business in 1927. His ventures included commercial flying around the goldfields of New Guinea, aircraft design and manufacture, flight instruction, and charter work. In the early 1930s, he was employed as a pilot with Australian National Airways, and also spent time as a dairy farmer. Soon after the outbreak of World War II, he re-enlisted in the RAAF, attaining the rank of squadron leader and commanding rescue and communications units in the South West Pacific. Perhaps the oldest operational pilot in the wartime RAAF, Pentland was responsible for rescuing airmen, soldiers and civilians, and earned the Air Force Cross for his "outstanding courage, initiative and skill". He became a trader in New Guinea when the war ended in 1945, and later a coffee planter. Retiring in 1959, he died in 1983 at the age of eighty-nine.

    Military Cross (MC)
    T./2nd Lt. Alexander Augustus Norman Pentland, Gen. List and R.F.C.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On a recent occasion he flew to an aerodrome fifteen miles behind the enemy lines, descended to within twenty feet of the ground, and fired into eight hostile machines. On his return journey he attacked a train with considerable effect from a low altitude. He has in addition brought down several enemy machines, and has always set a splendid example of fearlessness and devotion to duty in attacking enemy balloons and troops on the ground.

    Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    Lt. (T./Capt.) Alexander Augustus Norman Pentland, M.C.
    A gallant flight commander, who in the last three months has destroyed two enemy machines and driven down four out of control. Recently, whilst on special patrol, he, single-handed, attacked four enemy aeroplanes; having driven down one out of control, he engaged the leader, damaged his engine, and compelled him to glide to his lines. One of the remaining machines followed the leader, but he attacked the other and drove it down in a steep dive.

    16 British airmen were lost on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men:

    Pte. Frederick George Westlake (see 14th July) was admitted to 69th Field Ambulance after suffering a bullet wound to his right foot. The circumstances were described by Cpl. William Harry Hall (see below), “I was seated in a Lewis gun position when I heard the report of a rifle close at hand. I found Pte. Westlake lying on his right side. The muzzle of his rifle was against the middle of his back, with the butt close to his feet and he was bleeding from his right foot. The butt trap of the rifle was open and the pull-through partially pulled out as though Pte. Westlake was preparing to clean the rifle. I unloaded the rifle, finding four rounds in the magazine and an empty cartridge case in the breech. The cut-off was also open and the safety catch forward”. Battalion Medical Officer Capt. N. R Davis (see 7th August) reported Pte. Westlake’s injury as, “Gun shot wound penetrating right foot through the arch; injury trivial”. Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 31st July) would consider whether Pte. Westlake was to blame for the injury and would conclude, “Doubtful, but probably accidental, as the man has a good character”. The case would then be referred for judgement by Brig. Genl. Archibald Bentley Beauman DSO (see 29th July), commanding 69th Brigade.

    Cpl. William Harry Hall had previously served with 1st/4th DWR, but, in the absence of a surviving service record, I am unable to make a positive identification of this man or to establish when and under what circumstances he had joined 10DWR.

    Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see 8th August), who had been in temporary command of 8Yorks since 22nd June, re-joined the Battalion.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 08-25-2018 at 09:12.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  39. #3539

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    Thanks for the good read. Keep it up the War is almost over.

  40. #3540

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    26th August 1918

    If I had realised this was likely to have been a large edition I would have started it before 11:36pm - doh !

    The Battle of Baku

    The Battle of Baku (Azerbaijani: Bakı döyüşü, Russian: Битва за Баку, Turkish: Bakü Muharebesi) was a battle in World War I that took place on August–September 1918 between the Ottoman–Azerbaijani coalition forces led by Nuri Pasha and Bolshevik–Dashnak Baku Soviet forces, later succeeded by the British–Armenian–White Russian forces led by Lionel Dunsterville and saw briefly Soviet Russia renter the war. The battle was fought as a conclusive part of the Caucasus Campaign, but as a beginning of the Armenian–Azerbaijani War.

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    In 1917, the Russian Caucasus Front collapsed following the abdication of the Tsar. On 9 March 1917, the Special Transcaucasian Committee was established to fill the administrative gap in areas occupied in the course of the war on the Caucasian front by the Russian Provisional Government in the Transcaucasia. This administration, which included representatives of Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian groups, did not last long. In November 1917, the first government of the independent Transcaucasia was created in Tbilisi and named the Transcaucasian Commissariat following the Bolshevik seizure of power in St. Petersburg. On 5 December 1917, this new "Transcaucasian Committee" gave endorsement to the Armistice of Erzincan which was signed by the Russians with the command of the Ottoman Third Army. Russian soldiers mainly left the front and returned to their homes. A number of Russian troops left for the Persian Campaign, contrary to the rules of the Armistice. General Nikolai Baratov remained in Hamadan and at Kermanshah, a Russian colonel named Lazar Bicherakhov remained with 10,000 troops. Both forces were supplemented by British liaison officers.

    In 1918, the British invited the Armenians to hold out and picked officers and non-commissioned officers to form an "advisory" force, organizing them under the command of Lionel Dunsterville at Baghdad. It was named the Dunsterforce. The military goal of Dunsterforce was to reach the Caucasus via Persia while the Persian Campaign was active. The British planned to organize an army to be recruited from the Armenians and other pro-Allied elements that still existed in the Caucasus.[8] On 10 February 1918, the Sejm gathered and made the decision to establish independence. On 24 February 1918, the Sejm proclaimed the Transcaucasia as independent under the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. The Transcaucasian Commissariat was anti-Bolshevik in its political goals and sought the separation of Transcaucasia from Bolshevik Russia. On 27 January 1918, the British mission Dunsterforce set out from Baghdad with officers and instructors to the region. Dunsterforce was ordered to keep the Caucasus-Tabriz front intact and put a stop to Enver Pasha's plans. On 17 February, Dunsterforce arrived at Enzeli; here they were denied passage to Baku by local Bolsheviks, who cited the change in the political situation. On 3 March 1918, the Grand Vizier Talat Pasha signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Russian SFSR. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk stipulated that the border be pulled back to prewar levels and that the cities of Batum, Kars, and Ardahan be transferred to the Ottoman Empire. Between 14 March – April 1918, the Trabzon peace conference was held between the Ottoman Empire and the delegation of the Sejm.

    On 30 March 1918, the tenth day of Trabzon peace conference, the news of the internecine conflict & massacre of Azerbaijanis and other Muslims in Baku and adjacent areas of the Baku Governorate arrived. The following days witnessed the inter-ethnic warfare referred to as the March Days. It resulted in the massacre of up to 12,000 Azerbaijanis by the Bolsheviks and armed Dashnaks in the city of Baku and other locations in the Baku Governorate. While before the "March Days" Azerbaijani leaders claimed autonomy within Russia, after these events they demanded only independence and placed their hopes no longer in the Russian Revolution, but in support from Ottoman Empire. On 5 April 1918, Akaki Chkhenkeli of the Transcaucasian delegation to the Trabzon peace conference accepted the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk as a basis for more negotiations and wired the governing bodies urging them to accept this position. The mood prevailing in Tiflis (where the assembly located) was very different. Tiflis acknowledged the existence of a state of war between themselves and the Ottoman Empire. Shortly after, the Third Army began its advance and took Erzerum, Kars and Van. The situation was especially dire in the Caucasus, where Enver Pasha had wanted to place Transcaucasia under Ottoman suzerainty as part of his Pan-Turanian plan. This would give the Central Powers numerous natural resources, including the oilfields of Baku. The control of the Caspian would open the way to further expansion in Central Asia, and possibly British India. On 11 May 1918, a new peace conference opened at Batum. At this conference Ottomans extended their demands to include Tiflis as well as Alexandropol and Echmiadzin through which they wanted a railroad to be built to connect Kars and Julfa with Baku. The Armenian and Georgian members of the Republic's delegation began to stall. Beginning on 21 May, the Ottoman army moved ahead once again. The conflict led to the Battle of Sardarapat (21–29 May), the Battle of Kara Killisse (1918) (24–28 May), and the Battle of Bash Abaran (21–24 May).

    On 26 May 1918, the federation dissolved initially with the Georgian declaration of independence (Democratic Republic of Georgia), quickly followed by those of the Armenian (First Republic of Armenia), and Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan Democratic Republic) representatives on 28 May. On 28 May 1918, Georgia signed the Treaty of Poti with Germany and welcomed the German Caucasus Expedition, seeing in the Germans protectors against the post-Russian Revolution havoc and the Ottoman military advances. The government of Azerbaijan moved from Tiflis to Ganjak (or Ganja). At the same time, Germany turned to negotiations with the Soviet Russia and offered to stop the Islamic Army of the Caucasus in return for guaranteed access to Baku's oil. They reached an agreement on 27 August whereby Germany was to receive a quarter of Baku's oil production. The German government requested that the Ottoman Empire delay any offensive into Azerbaijan; Enver Pasha ignored this request.

    In May, on the Persian Front, a military mission under Nuri Pasha, brother of Enver Pasha, settled in Tabriz to organize the Islamic Army of the Caucasus to fight not only Armenians but also the Bolsheviks. Nuri Pasha's army occupied large parts of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic without much opposition, influencing the fragile structure of the newly formed state. Ottoman interference led some elements of Azerbaijani society to oppose Turks. On 4 June 1918, Azerbaijan and the Ottoman Empire signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation, clause 4 of which held that the Ottoman Empire would provide military assistance to Azerbaijan, if such assistance was required for maintaining peace and security in the country

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    The Ottoman Islamic Army of the Caucasus was under the command of Nuri Pasha. It was formed in Ganja. It included the Ottoman 5th Caucasian and 15th divisions, and the Azerbaijani Muslim Corps under general Ali-Agha Shikhlinski. There were roughly 14,000 Ottoman troops with 500 cavalrymen and 40 pieces of artillery. 30% of the newly formed army consisted of Ottoman soldiers, the rest being Azerbaijani forces and volunteers from Dagestan.

    The Baku forces were commanded by the former Tsarist General Dokuchaev, with his Armenian Chief of Staff, Colonel Avetisov. Under their command were about 6,000 Centrocaspian Dictatorship troops of the Baku Army or Baku Battalions. The vast majority of the troops in this force were Armenians, though there were some Russians among them. Their artillery comprised some 40 field guns. Most of the Baku Soviet troops and practically all their officers were Armenians of Dashnak leanings, and often outright Dashnaks. One of the Red Army commanders was the notorious Amazasp, who had fought as a guerrilla leader against the Turks, and for whom any Muslim was an enemy simply because he was a Muslim. The British mission, Dunsterforce, was headed by Major-General Lionel Dunsterville, who had arrived to take command of the mission force in Baghdad on 18 January 1918. The first members of the force were already assembled. Dunsterville set out from Baghdad on 27 January 1918, with four NCOs and batmen in 41 Ford vans and cars. The British troops in battle under Dunsterville numbered roughly 1,000. They were supported by a field artillery battery, machine gun section, three armoured cars, and two airplanes. He was to proceed through Persia (began from Mesopotamian Campaign through Persian Campaign) to the port of Anzali.

    On 6 June 1918, Grigory Korganov, People's Commissar of Military and Naval Affairs of the Baku Soviet, issued an order to the Red Army to begin offensive operations against Ganja.[18] Being unable to defend the independence of the country on their own, the government of Azerbaijan asked the Ottoman Empire for military support in accordance with clause 4 of the treaty between the two countries. The Baku Soviet troops looted and killed Muslims as they moved towards Ganja. However many of the troops Shahumian requested from Moscow for the protection of Baku did not arrive because they were held up on the orders of Joseph Stalin in Tsaritsyn. Also, on Stalin's orders, grain collected in Northern Caucasus to feed the starving people in Baku was directed to Tsaritsyn. Shahumian protested to Lenin and to the Military Committee about Stalin's behavior and he often stated: "Stalin will not help us". Lack of troops and food would be decisive in the fate of the Baku Soviet.

    On 27 June - 1 July 1918, in the battle near Goychay, the Ottoman Islamic Army of the Caucasus defeated the Red Army and started advancing towards Baku. At this point, earlier in June, Bicherakhov was in the vicinity of Qazvin, trying to go north. After defeating some Jangalis, he proceeded to check the situation in Baku. Returning on 22 June, he planned to save the situation by blocking the Army of the Caucasus at Alyaty Pristan'. However, he arrived too late, and instead went farther north to Derbent, planning to attack the invading Army of the Caucasus from the north. At Baku, he left only a small Cossack contingent. Beside the Russians, the Jangalis also harassed elements of the Dunsterforce going to Anzali on their way to Baku. Once defeated, the Jangalis dispersed. On reaching Anzali in late July, Dunsterville also arrested the local Bolsheviks who had sided with the Jangalis. On 26 July 1918, a coup d'état overthrew the Bolsheviks in Baku. The new body, the Central Caspian Dictatorship, wanted to arrest Stepan Shahumian, but he and his 1,200 Red Army troops seized the local arsenal and 13 ships, and began heading to Astrakhan. The Caspian fleet, loyal to the new government, turned them back. By 30 July 1918, the advance parties of the Islamic Army of the Caucasus had reached the heights above Baku, causing Dunsterville to immediately send contingents of his troops to Baku, which arrived on 16 August. On 17 August 1918, Dokuchaev started an offensive at Diga. He planned for 600 Armenians under Colonel Stepanov to attack to the north of Baku. He would further be reinforced by some Warwicks and North Staffords, eventually taking Novkhani. By doing this, they planned to close the gap to the sea, and control a strongly defensible line from one end of the Apsheron Peninsula to the other. The attack failed without artillery support, as the "Inspector of Artillery" had not been given warning. As a result of the failure, the remnants of the force retired to a line slightly north of Diga.

    While Baku and its environs had been the site of clashes since June and into mid-August, the term Battle of Baku refers to the operations of 26 August - 14 September, On 26 August, the Ottoman Islamic Army of the Caucasus launched its main attack against positions at the Wolf's Gate. Despite a shortage of artillery, British and Baku troops held the positions against the Army of the Caucasus. Following the main assault, the Ottoman forces also attacked Binagadi Hill farther north, but also failed. After these attacks, reinforcements were sent to the Balajari station, from where they held the heights to the north.However, faced with increased artillery fire from Ottoman forces, they retired to the railway line.

    Over the period 28–29 August, the Ottoman forces shelled the city heavily, and a ttacked the Binagadi Hill position. 500 Ottoman soldiers in close order charged up the hill, but were repulsed with the help of artillery. However, the under-strength British troops were forced to retire to positions further south.

    29 August– 1 September, the Ottoman forces managed to capture the positions of Binagadi Hill and Diga. Several coalition units were overrun, and losses were heavy. By this point, allied troops were pushed back to the saucer-like position that made up the heights surrounding Baku. However, Ottoman losses were so heavy that Mürsel Bey was not immediately able to continue his offensive. This gave the Baku Army invaluable time to reorganize. Faced with an ever-worsening situation, Dunsterville organized a meeting with the Centrocaspian Dictators on 1 September. He said that he was not willing to risk more British lives and hinted at his withdrawal. However, the dictators protested that they would fight to the bitter end, and the British should leave only when troops of the Baku Army did. Dunsterville decided to stay until the situation became hopeless. Meanwhile, Bicherakhov captured Petrovsk, allowing him to send help to Baku. The reinforcements consisting of 600 men from his force, including Cossacks, raised hope.

    1–13 September, the Ottoman forces did not attack. During this period, the Baku force prepared itself and sent out airplane patrols constantly. In his diary, Dunsterville reported the atrocities against the Muslim population perpetrated by Armenian militants. On 12 September, an Arab officer from the Ottoman 10th Division deserted, giving information suggesting the main assault would take place on 14 September. On the night of 13/14 September, the Ottoman forces began their attacks. The Ottoman forces nearly overran the strategic Wolf's Gate (Azerbaijani: Qurd qapısı) west of Baku, from which the whole battlefield could be seen. However, their advance was halted by a counterattack. The fighting continued for the rest of the day, and the situation eventually became hopeless. By the night of 14 September, the remnants of the Baku Army and Dunsterforce evacuated the city for Anzali.

    On 30 October, The Armistice of Mudros was signed by the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman forces left the city.

    More: At about 10:30 the British defenders outside Baku spot a long line of about 1,000 Turkish infantry and cavalry moving towards their positions at Baku along a defensive line at the crest of a local geological formation known as the Mud Volcano. This is followed by a barrage of artillery striking the British lines. Five different attempts are made against the British defenses before, when outflanked on the north side of the volcano and while coming under heavy machine gun fire, D Company of the 7th North Staffordshire Regiment is forced to retire to a secondary defensive position among the oil derricks northeast of Baku. Dunsterville rushes reinforcements from Baku though they arrive too late to stem the tide. The position atop the volcano being the key to Dunsterville’s entire 19-mile line, he is obliged to fall back to an inner line of prepared positions. By early afternoon the volcano is under Turkish control.

    At the same time as the attack on the volcano, the Turks move out from the village of Novkhany on the north side of the peninsula, where a sunken road has allowed them to approach close to the British lines under cover. They charge a hill east of the village of Binagadi held by a group of Armenian conscripts who unbeknownst to the British have deserted their positions. A company of the North Staffords is told to abandon their positions at Digaa and reinforce the Armenians only to find it deserted. Two assaults by 250 Turks are thrown back with a loss of ten men killed and wounded in the Staffords.

    The Battle of the Scarpe

    The Battle of the Scarpe was a World War I battle that took place during the Hundred Days Offensive between 26 and 30 August 1918. On the 26 August The Canadian Corps advanced over 5 kilometers and captured the towns of Monchy-le-Preux and Wancourt.

    Lt. Charles Smith Rutherford VC MC MM from the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division performed actions that would earn him the Victoria Cross. He captured a German party of 45, including two officers and three machine-guns, then captured another pill-box along with another 35 prisoners and their guns.

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    Rutherford was born on a farm in Colborne, Ontario on 9 January 1892. He joined The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada in 1916 and was posted to the 5th Battalion. He began his service in the ranks, and as a sergeant was awarded the Military Medal on 23 February 1918. After being commissioned, he was also awarded the Military Cross, the full citation was not published until after that of his VC, in a supplement to the London Gazette of 10 January 1919 (dated 11 January 1919):

    As our right flank was " in the air " for over 4,000 yards, this officer was detailed with his platoon and a Tank to clear up a village. This he did most successfully, killing a large number of the enemy and taking several prisoners. The coolness and determination which he displayed in clearing up the village and his marked control over his men at all times cannot be too highly commended.

    Rutherford was 26 years old serving in the 4th Battle of the Scarpe near Monchy, France when he was awarded the Victoria Cross. On 26 August 1918, while commanding an assaulting party, he found himself a considerable distance ahead of his men and at the same moment saw a fully armed strong enemy party outside a pill-box in front of him. By masterly bluff he managed to persuade the enemy that they were surrounded and the whole party of 45, including two officers and three machine-guns, surrendered. The lieutenant then observed that gun fire from another pill-box was holding up the assault, so with a Lewis gun section he attacked it capturing another 35 prisoners and their guns. The full citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 12 November 1918 (dated 15 November 1918):

    For most conspicuous bravery, initiative and devotion to duty. When in command of an assaulting party Lt. Rutherford found himself a considerable distance ahead of his men, and at the same moment observed a fully armed strong enemy party outside a " Pill Box " ahead of him. He beckoned to them with his revolver to come to him, in return they waved to him to come to them. This he boldly did, and informed them that they were prisoners. This fact an enemy officer disputed and invited Lt. Rutherford to enter the " Pill Box," an invitation he discreetly declined. By masterly bluff, however, he persuaded the enemy that they were surrounded, and the whole party of 45, including two officers and three machine guns, surrendered to him.

    Subsequently he induced the enemy officer to stop the fire of an enemy machine-gun close by, and Lt. Rutherford took advantage of the opportunity to hasten the advance of his men to his support.

    Lt. Rutherford then observed that the right assaulting party was held up by heavy machine-gun fire from another " Pill Box." Indicating an objective to the remainder of his party he attacked the " Pill Box " with a Lewis gun section and captured a further 35 prisoners with machine guns, thus enabling the party to continue their advance.

    The bold and gallant action of this officer contributed very materially to the capture of the main objective and was a wonderful inspiration to all ranks in pressing home the attack on a very strong position.

    He later achieved the rank of captain.

    There were three other Victoria Crosses awarded on this day

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    Henry Weale VC[/B] (2 October 1897 – 13 January 1959) was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross.

    He was 20 years old, and a Lance-Corporal in the 14th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 26 August 1918 at Bazentin-le-Grand, France, when the advance of the adjacent battalion was held up by enemy machine-guns, Lance-Corporal Weale was ordered to deal with hostile posts. When his Lewis gun failed him, on his own initiative, he rushed the nearest post and killed the crew, then went for the others, the crews of which fled on his approach. His dashing action cleared the way for the advance, inspired his comrades and resulted in the capture of all the machine-guns.

    He later achieved the rank of sergeant. The TA centre in Queensferry, North Wales is now named the Henry Weale VC TA Centre. He was born in Shotton, Flintshire and is buried at Rhyl. In 2010 a memorial garden was opened in Shotton in memory of Henry Weale.

    Reginald Stanley Judson, VC, DCM, MM (29 September 1881 – 26 August 1972) was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross.

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    He was awarded the VC for his actions in the Second Battle of Bapaume during the First World War.

    Born in Wharehine, Judson was a boiler maker when he enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force for service in the First World War. He was severely wounded in September 1916 during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. After two years of medical treatment and recovery, he returned to active duty in France in June 1918. Prior to the Second Battle of Bapaume, he had already received the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal, with all three medals being earned in a four-week period between July and August 1918. After the war he joined the New Zealand Staff Corps as a commissioned officer. He retired in 1937 and performed secretarial work as well as becoming involved in local body politics. He returned to the military during the Second World War and served on the home front. After retiring from the military for a second time in 1946, he took up farming at Mangonui in Northland. He died in Auckland in 1972, at the age of 90.

    Bernard Sidney Gordon, VC, MM (16 August 1891 – 19 October 1963) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross.

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    Gordon was 27 years old, and acting as a lance corporal in the 41st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force when, during the Battle of Amiens, the following deeds leading to him being awarded the Military Medal occurred.

    On the 8/8/18 during the attack east of Hamel Pte Gordon single-handedly attacked a machine gun crew which was holding up his section. He killed the crew and captured the gun. Later on in the day he stalked and killed an enemy sniper.

    Throughout the operation he displayed much bravery and devotion to duty.

    Brigadier General J.H. Cannan, 11th Brigade AIF

    This action occurred on the "Black Day" of the German Army, in which the Australian Corps destroyed their opposition. As a result of this, on 9 August 1918 the Canadian Corps advance lead to a general retreat by the German troops. The Australian 3rd Division continued to advance toward the bend in the River Somme. During this period the following action, for which Gordon was awarded the Victoria Cross, took place:

    During the operations of the 26/27th August 1918 East of Bray this N.C.O showed most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the face of the enemy.

    He led his Section through heavy enemy shelling to the objective which he consolidated. Then single handed he attacked an enemy machine gun which was enfilading the Company on his right, killing the man on the gun and captured the post which contained one Officer (a Captain) and 10 men. After handing these over at Company Headquarters he returned alone to the old system of trenches, in which were many machine guns, entered a C.T. and proceeded to mop it up, returning with 15 prisoners in one squad and 14 in an other, together with two machine guns.

    Again he returned to the system, this time with a T.M. gun and crew, and proceeded to mop up a further portion of the trench, bringing in 22 prisoners including one Officer and 3 Machine guns. This last capture enabled the British troops on our left to advance, which they had not been able to do owing to Machine Gun fire from these posts.

    His total captures were thus 2 Officers and 61 other ranks, together with 6 machine guns, and with the exception of the Trench Mortar assistance it was absolutely an individual effort and done entirely on his own initiative.

    Brigadier General J.H. Cannan, 11th Brigade AIF

    Gordon was wounded on 1 September 1918 (Bouchavesnes Spur – Battle of Mont St Quentin). He was evacuated and sent to England on 4 September 1918, where he was awarded the Military Medal on 15 September 1918. He was not awarded the Victoria Cross until 20 December 1918 (after the Armistice), the citation for which states:

    His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, N.C.O.'s and Men:-

    No.23 L/Cpl. Bernard Sidney Gordon, M.M, 41st Bn., A.I.F.

    For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 26/27th August, 1918, east of Bray.

    He led his section through heavy shell fire to the objective, which he consolidated. Single-handed he attacked an enemy machine gun which was enfilading the company on his right, killed the man on and captured the post, which contained one officer and ten men. He then cleared up a trench, capturing twenty-nine prisoners and two machine guns. In clearing up further trenches he captured twenty-two prisoners, including one officer and three machine guns.

    Practically unaided, he captured, in the course of these operations, two officers and sixty-one other ranks, together with six machine guns, and displayed throughout a wonderful example of fearless initiative.

    Brigadier General Edgar William Cox DSO (General Staff) drowns when he goes for a swim at Berck Plage at age 36.

    Colonel Bertram Hopkinson CMG (Royal Air Force) is accidentally killed at age 44 in an airplane crash in bad weather at home. He had served under the Ministry of Munitions (Aircraft Production). His brother died at home in February 1917. He is survived by his wife and six daughters. In 1903 he was elected to the Cambridge chair in mechanism and applied mechanics, and in 1910 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. During the War he joined the Royal Engineers and opened a research establishment at Orford Ness where he and his team researched weapons, sights, and ammunition. He learned to fly and was killed when his Bristol Fighter crashed en route from Martlesham Heath to London.

    Lieutenant Cyril Biddulph (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry) is killed at age 31 leading his battalion into action in Pas de Calais near the communes of Vis-en-Artois and Haucourt. He is a Canadian stage actor who frequently performed in the United States. As a young man Biddulph moved to New York City where he found employment as an actor. He appeared in numerous productions across the United States in the early 1910s, including performances on Broadway and at the National Theatre in Washington D.C. His last appearance on stage in the United States was in the fall of 1914. Biddulph is married to Broadway actress Cissie Sewell.

    Captain William Carrall Hilborn 66 Squadron RAF a Canadian air ace with seven victories to his name is killed on this day

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    Of German ancestry on his father's side, William Carrall Hilborn was the son of Stephen L. and Josephine (Huot de St. Laurent) Hilborn. He was raised on a 1600 acre ranch near Quesnel, British Columbia and joined the Royal Flying Corps, receiving a commission on 23 July 1917. He was posted to the Central Flying School on 15 August 1917 and was confirmed to the rank of temporary 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) on 3 October 1917. He completed flying school on 14 October 1917 and joined 66 Squadron on 10 November 1917, his unit being sent to Italy a few days later. There he scored 6 victories flying the Sopwith Camel. He was posted to 28 Squadron on 2 August 1918, scoring his final victory ten days later. Reassigned to 45 Squadron, where he replaced Lt. Alan Rice-Oxley on 13 August 1918, he was practicing night flying at Grossa 16 August 1918 and collided with a tree. He fractured his skull in the crash and died from his injuries ten days later.

    Also listed as William Carroll Hilborn in the London Gazette.

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    The following claims were made on this day - well there is record of just the one claim by an ace

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    There were still 14 British airmen lost on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men saw action at last .....

    In accordance with the plan the three raiding parties, comprising in total of more than 350 officers and men, formed up in No Man’s Land, about 300 yards from the Austrian front line. Many years later 2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 23rd August) would relate to his niece and nephew how the raid was to begin, “The night came and we all left our front line very carefully and stole like lines of ghosts out of sight towards the Austrians. I had my own platoon of course. In front of us the Austrian line could be told because of the ‘Very lights’ which they usually sent up all night to have a look at anything there might be moving in front and machine gun it. When these went up we kept very still and then went on again. Presently, we were all in position. I could only see my own platoon and a few others of my Company, ‘D’ Company. But, stretching away to the right I knew there were many others of our Companies scattered on the ground for perhaps four hundred yards. All was very still and the night fair and warm. I forget what I thought about as I waited. Perhaps your Grandma and Pa and your Mummy and Uncle Stanley and Auntie May. Before I left our lines I had written a letter for Grandpa and Ma and to Auntie May in case I didn’t come back – a very queer kind of letter to write”.

    At 11.40pm the barrage commenced and the raiding parties advanced on their objectives. 2Lt. Garside remembered, “Then the whole business began. Suddenly, instead of quiet all around, a great hell of sound broke loose. Just over our heads scores of shells whined from our guns behind and dropped on and behind the Austrian trenches in front of us. At the same time machine guns of ours opened up on each side, firing across and away from us on the Austrian lines. Almost immediately the Austrians sent up dozens of Very lights bursting in the air and throwing out brilliant lights like rockets at a firework show. Also, when they were certain they were being attacked, they sent up coloured lights which told their HQ and artillery to prepare to send help – men and shells. All this time we lay waiting for the moment we were due to attack – five minutes I think, after our guns started. As five minutes ended the guns were to ‘lift’ their shells and drop them further back and we were to ‘go in’.

    On the right, all four platoons of “A” party succeeded in reaching the trenches and railway near Post Spur. Several strong Austrian posts were mopped up, and prisoners taken, but the main body of the Austrian garrison withdrew to trenches on and to the north of the Asiago-Canove road. There was intense machine gun fire from Austrian positions to the north and east and the raiding party suffered considerable casualties. 2Lt. Keith Sagar Bain (see 24th August) later described the circumstances under which he had been wounded and 2Lt. Alfred Ernest Pass (known as ‘Alf’) (see 24th August) and Pte. William Northrop (see below) had been wounded and, it was believed, subsequently killed.

    “In the raid carried out by the 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment on August 26th 1918 my Company had the right front of the Battalion of which my platoon was the left. Behind me followed No.6 Platoon under the command of 2Lt. A.E. Pass. I spoke a few words to Mr. Pass a few minutes before Zero, 11pm (sic.). I saw nothing more of him until our work was nearing completion about twenty minutes later when I ordered the few remaining men with me to evacuate the position we held at the Railway Cutting at “Post Spur”. It was as the last few men were scrambling up the embankment and as I looked round to see if all the men were clear, that I saw one figure slip back. I stopped the last man near me, Pte. Northrop, afterwards killed, to help me if required. The figure I recognised as the late 2Lt. Pass and I spoke to him.

    The position we were in was being heavily swept by the fire of about 15 Austrian machine guns and much trench mortar and artillery fire. 2Lt. Pass was suffering from abdominal wounds and unable to walk or help himself. How many or of what kind I cannot say. The state of the position making it inadvisable to attend to them there and then if anyone was to return with a report, I decided to carry him with the help of Pte. Northrop and we proceeded slowly over about 50 yards to the outside edge of the inner belt of the Austrians wire defences. Here, Northrop was wounded for the second time during the evening in the shoulder supporting 2Lt. Pass, rendering him of no further help to me, so I ordered him to cut along alone whilst I made an effort to carry 2Lt. Pass myself. I was not very strong by this time with the exertion and excitement of the raid and the three wounds I had received giving more trouble to me. I carried 2Lt. Pass however to the outer belt of the enemy defence about another hundred yards when an Austrian heavy shell burst behind us, throwing us both into a shell hole.

    Being in need of breath we rested a few moments and when I enquired whether we should continue 2Lt. Pass was unconscious, haemorrhage having set up and blood oozing from his mouth. I was arrested from investigating whether he was still living by a Very light burning on the ground showing up two live Austrians about twenty-five yards away, who had evidently seen us, covering us with their rifles, there was nothing left for me but to go for them. I did, and killed them both. After this my mind had turned itself to my own men and getting away from that dangerous area having given 2Lt. Pass up as died from wounds.

    When I eventually arrived at Raid HQ I reported how and in what condition I left 2Lt. Pass and afterwards plotted out, whilst in hospital, where he finally fell”.

    In the centre, “B” party entered and secured the Austrian front line. Two platoons then attacked the railway cutting at H.493.573. This was found to be very strongly held by riflemen and four machine guns. The first attack failed, with a number of wounded, among them both Lts. Arthur Neill (see 23rd August) and Andrew Aaron Jackson (see 23rd August). CSM Edward Arthur Myers (see 31st July) then organised a second attack, which, although pushed through with great gallantry again did not succeed, CSM Myers himself being badly wounded. Eventually the two platoons took up a position in shell holes facing the Austrians, and, by rifle and Lewis Gun fire kept this position engaged. To their left, another platoon took the Quarry at H.485.576 in which it was found that only a few Austrians remained alive. The remaining platoon attacked and captured the railway at H.470.580 and advanced as far as the road at H.490.590. This platoon cleared many dugouts, taking large numbers of prisoners and killing many more.

    On the left, “C” party was confronted with wire which had only been partially cut, but still managed to break into the Austrian front line. 2Lt. Garside remembered, “At the right moment we rose and rushed forward. I remember roaring out, “Come on 13!, Come on 13!” to my platoon, no.13, and tearing forward”. We found the wire had been partly broken up by our guns and some we had quickly to cut. On we went beyond it and some Austrians in the post line were firing at us and machine gun bullets whistled by. I felt rather queer as we rushed at them, firing as we ran, and preparing to use our bayonets. I carried a rifle, not a revolver, or rather, as well as a revolver. Then, I felt a relief somewhere inside me, for they were putting up their hands. Quickly we bundled them into a shell hole and I set a man to guard them. And then we leapt into the Austrian front line”.

    After mopping up an Austrian post in the front line, the party, as planned, left one platoon in the Austrian front line, while the remainder of the party attacked three separate objectives. The right-hand platoon attacked the railway at H.470.580 but was met with very strong machine gun fire and only a few men succeeded in reaching their objective. The centre platoon advanced and captured the railway cutting at H.460.583 and then proceeded north to the road at H.462.586. About 12 large dugouts and shelters were cleared by this platoon; many Austrians being killed and captured. 2Lt. Vincent Edwards MC (see 23rd August), described the clearing of one of the dugouts, “We sent a hand grenade down one entrance to a dugout and then heard voices. But no-one came up into the trench. We wanted prisoners, so it was no good sending any more hand grenades down. I decided to go down myself and “persuade” our enemies to come up and be taken by our chaps at the top. With an electric torch in one hand and a loaded revolver in the other, I descended into the darkness with a man or two behind me. It was a deep dugout. Trying out my German I shouted “Aus schnell” (get out quickly). No response. So I tried English, “Come along out, we shall not hurt you”, in a milder tone. One by one they pushed past me and crawled up into the trench, where they were taken prisoner, having left their weapons behind in the dugout”. Meanwhile the third platoon, on the left, had mopped up the Austrian front line to the west, as far as Little Spur. This platoon overcame several enemy posts and was able to establish a defensive flank at Little Spur. The Austrians attempted a bombing attack from Canove, but this was driven off Lewis Gun fire from Little Spur.

    2Lt. Garside had command of the platoon which had been clearing the Austrian front line and collecting prisoners, “My job – we all had our parts – was now to get my platoon quickly to work ‘mopping up’ the front line whilst the other platoons went on. I suppose this was because I was the youngest platoon commander and the others had a great deal more experience of heavy fighting. But it was a responsible job I had, now and later. The ‘mopping up’ meant organising my platoon to go quickly along the stretch of front line trench we were allotted, calling down the dug-outs for people to come out and surrender, and, without waiting long for a reply, to fling Mills bombs down and follow in, bayoneting or shooting any people left, if they put up any fight. In this way we collected quite a few. I ordered them to be collected in one or two shell holes and when the number got to a dozen or so, I sent a couple of men back with them. Soon they began to come in from the people ahead and these too I collected and presently sent back in batches. All this work meant walking or running about, calling an order there and a direction there, and I remember hearing the bullets whizzing by. Also, by this time the Austrian artillery knew their men were driven out of their front line and they were shelling it too. It was a pretty hot place. I suppose one of my narrowest shaves in the war was about this time. I was standing in the open shouting an order to a man, my legs apart, when suddenly the earth between my legs came spurting up into my face and I heard a sort of swishing sound. I was too busy to worry and just brushed the dirt off my face – but next morning, thinking about it, I became sure what had happened. A stream of machine gun bullets had passed straight between my legs. Next morning I also found a lot of tiny grit driven right under the skin of my hands – and I don’t know to this day how that happened. You see you haven’t time to think what’s happening to you – you have a job to do and must do it.

    All this time our Very lights were going up from farther back; our men were advancing ahead of the front line where I was; the air was thick with bullets, shells were screaming overhead and some bursting near. It was quite light usually, with sudden bursts of darkness. And all the time the clock was going steadily on. Prisoners were coming back and I was getting them in shell holes until there were a group and then sending them off towards our lines with guards.

    I remember one rather awful incident. A man came back, an Austrian, and when I shouted to him to get into the shell hole, he must have thought I was going to shoot him, for he flung his equipment at my feet and got down and grovelled, asking me to spare him I suppose. All I wanted him to do was to get into the shell hole with the others – out of the way of the bullets incidentally. So when he didn’t, I got hold of him and flung him in and oh how he screamed. For, without knowing it, I had gripped an arm that was all bloody and, I should think, half off”.

    At 12.30am the signal was given for the raiding party to retire. This, of course, was one of the most hazardous phases of the operation as evidenced by 2Lt. Bain’s experiences (see above). 2Lt. Garside described the withdrawal of the men of his platoon, “Presently, the rest of my Company began to come back. It was getting time to go back, 12.30. My job was now to stay where I was with my men until all the rest of the Company, the other platoons, were clear of the Austrian lines and off back to ours. When the last had gone, unless the Austrians had followed them and were attacking us, I could follow them with my men. If the Austrians had followed, I had to beat off the attackers and prevent them following our Company towards our lines.

    Fortunately, no further firing came after the men who were coming back through us and when I had seen the last off through the haze, I ordered my sergeant to follow with my men, I bringing up the rear. The Austrians knew we were off back through ‘No Man’s Land’ and so they plastered the ground in front of their own trenches with shells; they were screaming down all over the place and throwing up earth. So we were very glad to be going back – very glad indeed. Now just then as I hurried along in the tail of my string of men, the sergeant leading the way to our lines at the other end, I got a queer feeling he was not going in the right direction. I hesitated a moment to halt them, because there were a lot of shells overhead and dropping near, for the Austrians knew we were on our way back through ‘No Man’s Land’. Fortunately, I passed the word up the hurrying line of men to get down. I then took what anyone knowing a compass calls a bearing in the dark, for the officers had set their compasses before leaving our line. I found to my horror (in one sense) and huge relief in the other that we were going too much to our right. Why horror you say? Because we were going in a line that would have taken us very near an Austrian machine gun nest we knew and almost certainly my men would have suffered badly. I passed word up quickly to change direction and off we set at a smart pace for our line. Well, we weren’t ‘home’ yet. I have said the Austrians were shelling when I halted my men. They were shelling their own line, knowing there were no Austrians there and also the space in front of it, nearer our line, where they suspected we were passing. They were also shelling very hard the space just in front of our front line, where they knew we must cross to get home. The shelling was very heavy here, a real barrage”.

    Once having got their men, along with prisoners, safely back into the British lines, all officers were to report to Battalion HQ; this would entail them again leaving the front line and going forward to the Advanced Battalion HQ, which was located in No Man’s Land. In the words of 2Lt. Garside, “The rather cruel thing was that our Colonel (a nasty old man, I thought generally) had fixed his headquarters in a kind of semi-cavern some little distance in front of our line in ‘No Man’s Land’. It was cruel because he should have known what the Austrians would do and yet he ordered the officers taking part to see their men into our lines and then report to him – that is, going through the barrage and then come back through it again to him. This each of us did on his own as soon as he had seen his men ‘home’. I shall never forget it. It was very heavy and I remember staggering through the smoke with dirt flying up from shells all round, the air full of burnt powder, stinging my nose, and a devilish noise of whining and bursting shells all round. It seemed impossible that I should not be hit; yet I wasn’t. My feet seemed as heavy as lead, as they are in a nasty dream, my arms too. I floundered in to the cavern in the end and reported. There it was safe, as the Colonel knew. When all had reported we waited till the barrage had died down and then, weary but in high spirits, we were dismissed and went off to bed. I always remember waking next morning destroying the letters I had written in case I was killed”.

    It was estimated that at least 80 Austrians had been killed, including one officer; and five officers and 60 other ranks had been taken prisoner. Two Austrian machine guns had also been brought back by the raiding party.

    Despite the large scale of the raid and the vigour, in places, of the Austrian resistance, casualties on the British side had been relatively light. Two men were confirmed killed. One of them was Pte. William Northrop (see above), who had helped 2Lt. Bain; Pte. Northrop had been an original member of the battalion. He had enlisted aged 33, married with one daughter and living in Bradford where he worked as a woolcomber. He would be buried at Boscon British Cemetery. The other was Pte. Edwin Kenyon (see 4th August); a letter to his widow from an (unnamed) N.C.O. reported the circumstances of his death: “The company was ordered to make a raid on enemy trenches. This took place and I saw your husband after we had reached our objective. After a short time we were ordered back again and he was all right until he got within a short distance of our own lines, when a bullet struck him in the head, killing him instantly.” Pte. Kenyon has no known grave and is commemorated on the Giavera Memorial.

    2Lt. Pass (see above) and seven other ranks were reported missing in action. Pass and six of the others would subsequently be presumed to have been killed. Pass and five of the other men have no known grave and are commemorated on the Giavera Memorial.

    Sgt. James Robinson (see 24th July).

    Cpl. Reginald Robinson (see 1st August)

    L.Cpl. Arthur Clark (25966) (see 29th October 1917).

    L. Cpl. Charles Dowson; he was 34 years old. Pte. Dowson had previously served with both 2DWR and 8DWR; but in the absence of a surviving record it has not been possible to make a positive identification of this man nor to establish when and under what circumstances he had joined 10DWR.

    Pte. Edward Percy Webb (see 21st June); he had been recommended for the Military Medal for his part in the raid on 21st June, but notice of the award had not yet been published.

    The sixth man killed was Cpl. John Kennedy MM; he was a 37 year-old widower from Seghill. He had previously served with 1st/5th DWR; in the absence of a surviving service record the date and circumstances of his joining 10DWR are unknown. In 1924 his remains would be exhumed from a Military Cemetery at Canove, which had been behind the Austrian lines in August 1918 and re-buried at Boscon British Cemetery.

    The seventh man reported missing was L.Sgt. Jonathan Richardson Sunderland (see 2nd August); he would later be confirmed as having been taken prisoner by the Austrians.

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    Four officers had been wounded in action.

    Lt. Andrew Aaron Jackson (see above) suffered wounds to his right shoulder; the details of his treatment in Italy are unknown, but he would, in due course be evacuated to England.

    Lt. Arthur Neill (see above); the details of his wounds and treatment are unknown, but he would, in due course be evacuated to England.

    2Lt. Keith Sagar Bain (see above) had suffered wounds to his right leg and buttock; he would be admitted via 69th Field Ambulance to 62nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia.

    2Lt. Mark Allan Stanley Wood (see 23rd August); the details of his treatment are unknown, but he would, in due course be evacuated to England.

    2Lt. Edward Kent Waite MC (see 23rd August) was also reported ‘wounded at duty’; the details of his injuries and treatment are unknown, but he would remain with the Battalion.

    Forty other ranks were reported wounded in action and a further three wounded at duty. It has only been possible to positively identify around a quarter of these men.

    CSM Edward Arthur Myers (see above); the details of his treatment are unknown.

    Sgt. Albert Blackburn (see 25th May); his wounds were relatively minor and he remained with the Battalion.

    L.Cpl. Robert Whitaker (see 21st March) suffered wounds to his left thigh; the details of his treatment in Italy are unknown.

    Pte. Robert Clarke (see 9th May) was wounded (details unknown) and evacuated to 24th Casualty Clearing Station.
    Pte. William Thomas Foley (see 15th April) suffered wounds to his left arm; the details of his treatment in Italy are unknown.

    Pte. Charles William Groves (see 7th July) suffered wounds to his left hand; he would be admitted via 69th Field Ambulance and 24th Casualty Clearing Station to 11th General Hospital in Genoa.
    Pte. Richard Henry Harris (see 24th April) suffered a wound to his left hand; he would be admitted via 69th Field Ambulance and 24th Casualty Clearing Station to 62nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia.
    Pte. Louis Hodgson (see 11th September 1917) suffered facial wounds which would result in the loss of his left eye; the details of his treatment in Italy are unknown.

    Pte. Thomas James Hogben (see 29th October 1917) suffered wounds to his left elbow; the details of his treatment in Italy are unknown.
    Pte. Lancelot Johnson (see 22nd March) suffered shrapnel wounds to his left arm and thigh; he would be admitted via 69th Field Ambulance and 9th Casualty Clearing Station to 29th Stationary Hospital in Cremona.

    Pte. John O’Gara (see 29th October 1917) suffered wounds to his right eye; the details of his treatment in Italy are unknown.

    Pte. James Percival (see 14th July) suffered wounds to his left leg; he would be admitted via 69th Field Ambulance and 24th Casualty Clearing Station to 62nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia.

    Pte. Harry Pullin (see 24th March) suffered abdominal wounds; the details of his treatment in Italy are unknown.

    Pte. Francis Titcombe (see 15th April); the details of his treatment in Italy are unknown.

    A large number of gallantry awards would subsequently made to those involved in the raid.

    Capt. John Edward Lennard Payne MC (see 23rd August), commanding “C” party, would be awarded the DSO; “Although the objective was continuously swept by enfilade machine-gun fire, he carried out the operation successfully and withdrew his party in perfect order, capturing a large number of prisoners. He exhibited great coolness and ability to command”.

    All the surviving officers of “A” party would be awarded the Military Cross.

    2Lt. William Johnson Simpson (see 23rd August); “It was largely due to his splendid leadership, when the company was in a critical position through heavy enfilade fire from its right flank, that many prisoners were taken and the company extricated from a most difficult position without serious losses”.

    2Lt. Keith Sagar Bain (see above); “He led his platoon with great coolness and skill through very heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. Though twice wounded, he refused to leave his men until he had successfully withdrawn from a very critical position. He showed marked courage under very difficult circumstances”.

    2Lt. Wilfred Frederick John Thomson (see 23rd August) “He led his platoon through very heavy machine-gun fire to his objective, took up a defensive position, and by his fire caused the enemy great losses and prevented him from counter-attacking. He personally killed most of a strong enemy post and captured the rest. He did splendid work”.

    Capt. **** Bolton MC (see 23rd August), commanding “B” party would be awarded a Bar to the Military Cross; “He led his company with great determination to the capture of its objectives. His fine leadership and coolness under very heavy machine-gun and rifle fire inspired all ranks, and were largely responsible for the capture of a machine gun as well as a large number of prisoners by his company”.

    Among “C” party, in addition to Capt. Payne’s DSO, 2Lt. Mark Allan Stanley Wood (see 23rd August) would also be awarded the Military Cross; “He led his platoon with the greatest dash through very heavy fire to its final objective. His bearing inspired his men, and was largely responsible for the capture of a number of prisoners. Though twice wounded, he remained with his men to the end of the raid, withdrew them in perfect order, and would not hand over till he had brought his platoon back to advanced battalion headquarters. He behaved splendidly”.

    Pte. Harold Charnock (see 26th July), remembered that, “all the men spoke most highly of the work of 2Lt. Edward Kent Waite MC (see above), but he did not receive any further award from the British”.

    There was also a Military Cross for Acting CSM Frank Shelah Gilleard (see 10th July); he rallied his platoon under very heavy fire and successfully led them to their objective. Although early severely wounded, he continued to lead his platoon up to the end of the action, and skilfully withdrew in perfect order, after which he collapsed from the severity of his wound”.

    CSM Fred Pattison DCM (see 3rd June) would be awarded a Bar to the DCM, “He led his men through heavy rifle and machine gun fire to a cutting about 500 yards behind the enemy’s front line system, where he captured a large number of prisoners. Throughout he showed the greatest disregard for danger and, by his dash and leadership, he ensured the complete success of the raid on his objective”.

    Five NCOs would also be awarded the DCM.

    CSM Edward Arthur Myers (see above); “After two officers of his Company had been wounded he led two platoons through heavy fire against a strongly held position. He was subsequently badly wounded but refused to be carried back until the signal to return had been given. He showed great coolness and initiative throughout”.

    Sgt. Albert Blackburn (see above); “Although severely wounded in the head before reaching the enemy wire, he remained with his platoon which he led to the final objective. He organised the mopping up of dug-outs, killing many of the enemy and personally capturing an officer. His coolness and utter disregard of danger instilled great confidence into his men”.

    Sgt. Ernest Craddock (see 25th May); “He was Acting Company Sergeant Major and showed great fearlessness in carrying out his duties under heavy machine gun fire. When the situation was critical he was of the utmost assistance in rallying small detached bodies of men and again leading them to the attack. No one could have been of greater help to his Company commander”.

    Cpl. Abel Roberts (see 14th July); “He kept his platoon well in hand under very heavy machine gun fire during the preliminary stages of the advance, and, finally, with a few others, pushed right through the enemy position to the final objective, although the enemy was holding out on both sides of him. His conduct throughout was splendid”.

    Pte. Stanley Barker (see 8th December 1917); “when his platoon in the early stages of the action encountered an enemy post, he went forward and engaged the enemy with rapid fire, thus enabling the others to outflank the post and capture the garrison. Throughout, he displayed great skill and initiative and utter disregard of personal danger”.

    Three men who had previously been awarded the Military Medal would now receive a second award. They were:

    L.Cpl. James Walker MM (see 15th February).

    L.Cpl. John Smith Hodgson MM (see 16th August 1917).

    Pte. William Dennison MM (see 30th January).

    A further 23 men would be awarded the Military Medal.

    Sgt. Wilson Allinson (see 28th June).

    Sgt. Richard Everson (see 15th February).

    Sgt. William Allan Sayer (see 28th June).

    Sgt. Frank Brierley (see 28th July).

    Cpl. Harold Best (see 10th June).

    Cpl. Charles Carrack; he was an original member of the Battalion, having enlisted in 1914 aged 18 while working as a ‘time office clerk’ in Horsforth.

    Cpl. Stanley Vyvyan Golledge (see 23rd July).

    Cpl. Harry Wood (see 21st March).

    L.Cpl. Arthur Clark (25966) (see above); he was officially missing in action.

    Pte. Newton Dobson (see 10th June)

    Pte. Richard Harrison (see 14th February).

    Pte. John Henderson (see 30th October 1917).

    Pte. Thomas Charles Jaques (see 18th December 1917).

    Pte. Albert Jeffrey (see 25th May).

    Pte. Thomas Edward Laycock (see 25th May).

    Pte. Charles Frederick Marsden; he was 21 years old and from Halifax, where he had previously worked as a ‘finisher’s labourer’ in a brass works. He had previously served with 9DWR but in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to establish when, and under what circumstances, he had joined 10DWR.

    Pte. William Francis Murphy; he was 36 years old. Originally from Ireland he had been living in Wolverhampton before the war where he had been a detective constable in the Borough Police. In the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to establish when, and under what circumstances, he had joined 10DWR.

    Pte. Ben Pedder (see 24th August).

    Pte. James Percival (see above).

    Pte. William Noel Simpson (see 10th October 1917).

    Pte. Herbert Sloane (see 2nd October 1917)

    Pte. John Robert Weightman; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man beyond the fact that he had been an original member of the Battalion.

    Pte. Smith Stephenson Whitaker (see 7th July); “during the raid showed great ingenuity in handling his Lewis gun. Acting on his own initiative when the final objective was reached he rushed forward a considerable distance to his left flank and successfully brought fire to bear on enemy reinforcements coming up, inflicting heavy losses on them. In addition, he captured one prisoner”.

    A number of Italian gallantry awards would also be made to men involved in the raid.

    The Italian Silver Medal for Valour would be awarded to Maj. Maj. Edward Borrow DSO (see 23rd August) DSO and Capt. Bolton (see above).

    The Italian Bronze Medal for Valour to Capt. Paul James Sainsbury (see 24th February), 2Lt. Bain (see above), and 2Lt. Simpson (see above).

    The Italian Croce di Guerre to Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 25th August), A/CSM Gilleard (see above) and CSM Myers (see above),

    The Croce di Guerra would also be awarded to:

    CSM Fred Pattison DCM (see above).

    Cpl. Frank Flynn 202979; in the absence of a surviving service record I am unable to make a positive identification of this man.

    L.Cpl. Stanley Arthur Bones (see 27th March).

    Pte. Brian Devnil; he was 30 years old and from Huddersfield. In the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish when or under what circumstances he had joined the battalion.

    Pte. Henry Fielding (see 15th July).

    Pte. Arthur Whincup; he was a 26 year-old married man with one son from Skipton. In the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish when or under what circumstances he had joined the battalion.

    The official account of the raid would reflect on a number of key aspects, as recorded in the Battalion War Diary:

    5. The raid was excellently organised by Lt. Col. F W Lethbridge, DSO and except where the enemy's resistance proved too strong proceeded exactly as arranged. The arrangements for forming up, evacuation of prisoners, withdrawal, etc had been carefully thought out, with the result that in spite of the heavy fire there was at no time any confusion.

    6. The Artillery fired most accurately. The C.R.A. and staff and Lt. Col. G. Badham-Thornhill, DSO took an infinity of trouble over the artillery arrangements and not a single case of short shooting occurred. The number of Field Guns available, however, was rather too few for a raid on such a broad front.

    7. The Machine Gun support was satisfactory.

    8. The following points may be of interest:

    (a) The enemy were fully prepared for attack and for the most part put up a determined and well organised resistance. Rifle fire and machine guns were most freely used.

    (b) The enemy swept not only his own front line, but a considerable area in rear of it with heavy enfilade machine gun fire, entirely disregarding his own posts in the front line.

    (c) The following localities displayed troublesome nests of machine guns – Canove Station and Bellocohio. Gaiga North and Coda Spur. Trench mortars fired from the regions of Coda Spur.

    (d) The enemy barrage was heavy round Vaister Houses and Hill 1002; otherwise moderate.

    (e) A Field Gun (Tank Gun?) is reported to have fired from the neighbourhood of Exeter Trench.

    (f) The enemy's accommodation in the Railway Cutting consists of huts, shelters and some dugouts about 20 feet deep.

    Attachment 253339

    Pte. Alfred Ellis (see 22nd July), who had been under treatment for impetigo for five weeks, was transferred from 11th General Hospital in Genoa to hospital in Marseilles.

    Ptes. Harry Clay (see 6th April) and Victor Hillam (see 6th April) were both killed in action while serving in France with 9DWR; the Battalion had been engaged in an attack near Flers on the Somme. The remains of both men were originally interred by their colleagues. The site of Pte. Hillam’s grave was subsequently lost and he is now commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial; Pte. Clay’s remains on the other hand would be exhumed after the war and re-interred at Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont.

    L.Cpl. Thomas Lloyd (see 7th July), serving in France with 1st/7th DWR, departed on two weeks’ leave to England.

    Ptes. Tom Clay and John Lee were posted from 3DWR back to France, en route to joining 10DWR in Italy; it is unclear exactly when they reported to the Battalion in Italy. Pte. Tom Clay was from Huddersfield and had enlisted, aged 18, in July 1916. He had been posted to 2DWR in France in February 1917 and had served two months before being posted back to England (reason unknown). He had remained in England until December 1917 when he had returned to France and joined 2nd/4th DWR. He had again been posted back to England in March 1918, suffering from trench fever. After spending some time in hospital and at Northern Command Depot at Ripon he had been with 3DWR at Tynemouth since 27th July. Pte. John Lee was a 34 year-old labourer from Leicester and had served four years’ with King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry before the war. He had been called up in May 1916 and posted to 14th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment for training. After five weeks he had been reported as a deserter and, on return, had been sentenced to six month’s detention, later reduced to three. In February 1917 he had been convicted of a civil felony and sentenced to three months with hard labour. He had been released in May 1917, transferred to DWR and posted to France in August 1917, joining 1st/5th DWR. He had then been posted back to England in October 1917, having been wounded. He had been posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon in May 1918 but had again been reported as a deserter and had been sentenced to two years military detention with hard labour in July.

    The American Expeditionary Forces established the First Army Air Service to support American ground troops on the Western Front.[128]
    The U.S. Army established the 41st Field Artillery Brigade at Fort Monroe, Virginia

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    The First Army Air Service was an Air Service, United States Army unit that fought on the Western Front during World War I as part of the Air Service, First United States Army. The First Army Air Service was the largest and most diverse Air Service combat organization of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, and most American Air Service combat units were assigned to it when assigned to the front.

    The organization was demobilized in France on 15 April 1919 with the demobilization of the United States First Army. There is no modern United States Air Force unit that shares its lineage and history.

    The history of the First Army Air Service dates to the first American Air Service personnel arriving in France. On 15 January 1918, Colonel William Mitchell was appointed Chief of the Air Service, I Corps, First Army. At this time, the I Corps was being formed for the purpose of administratively handling all of the American troops then on the Western Front. Headquarters was located at Neufchâteau, France. When the first American Aero Squadrons arrived at the front in April 1918, they were assigned to the quiet Toul Sector. At this time, the American Air Service on the front consisted of only a few Aero Squadrons of the 1st Pursuit Group. At the end of June, 1918, Air Service, I Corps moved from the Toul Sector to the Château-Thierry Sector as part of I Corps. The I Corps Observation Group was already in the Chateau-Thierry Sector was under the command of First Army. The Assistant Chief of Air Service, Zone of Advance, felt it was necessary to coordinate the observation groups of First Army with the pursuit groups. On 10 August 1918, the First American Army Air Service was established.

    The unit was formally organized on 26 August at Ligny-en-Barrois, France. It consisted of the French Aerial Division, which consisted of a large number of pursuit and day bombardment squadrons. In addition, there was one other French pursuit group and three American pursuit groups-one American day-bombardment group-the 1st Army observation, and one French Army artillery group for the adjustment of long-range artillery fire. Eight night-bombardment squadrons of the British Royal Air Force. were to cooperate with the First Army Air Service whenever the tactical situation made such action expedient. The establishment of the First Army Air Service marked the first concentration of American air forces under its own commander.

    The front of the First Army, extending from Châtillon-sous-les-Côtes to Pont-sur-Seille, insofar as aviation was concerned, had been very quiet for some time. The enemy performed his photographic reconnaissances with single aircraft, flying at high altitudes, and his pursuit patrols were small and infrequent. In the matter of aerodromes, the enemy was better off than the First American Army, and possessed many small fields within access of any part of the front line. Several aerodromes were unoccupied, and were in such condition that they could be utilized quickly by reinforcements, their barracks and hangars being more or less serviceable.

    For the Americans, almost every available field had been taken up and they were short in hangars and billet space, so that by the time the allocation of aviation units had been made to the First Army, the problems of locating and housing the units was a serious one.

    The Corps Air Service of each corps operating under First Army was made up of one squadron for each division and one squadron for the corps. The Air Service of the 2d Colonial Corps consisted entirely of French squadrons. The I Corps observation group was made up of the 1st, 12th, and 50th Aero Squadrons and two French squadrons. In the IV Corps group were the 8th, 135th, and 90th Aero Squadrons and one French squadron. The V Corps group consisted of the 88th, 99th, and 104th Aero Squadrons, only one of which had had a considerable experience in active front-line operations, the corps chief of Air Service and staff remained at the location of the group.[4]

    The I Corps group was located in the vicinity of Toul on two aerodromes. The 1st and 12th Aero Squadrons were stationed at Gengault Aerodrome just east of Toul, which had formerly been occupied by the 1st Pursuit Group in the spring of 1918. The 50th Aero and 211th (French) Squadrons occupied the newly constructed Bicqueley Aerodrome, just south of Toul. The IV Corps group entire occupied Ourches Aerodrome. The French squadrons of the Air Service of the 2d French Colonial Corps were located at Rumont, to the northeast of Bar-le-Duc. The V Corps group occupied Souilly Aerodrome. With the exception of the V Corps group, each Corps Air Service was established and ready for operations by the first week in September. The V Corps group was not completed until the day of the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, when the 88th Squadron arrived from the Vesle. The one new squadron of the I Corps group, the 50th Aero, had but recently arrived at the front. It was equipped with Airco_DH.4 airplanes with the new Liberty engine. Two of the three American squadrons of the IV Corps group were also equipped with the De Havilland DH.4 Liberty; the 90th Squadron had French Salmson 2.A2 airplanes. In the V Corps group all squadrons were equipped with the Salmson.

    to be continued in tomorrow's edition - either by myself or Neil

    and with the time closing in on 01:00hrs its time for the publishing team to hit the sack...

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 08-27-2018 at 08:58.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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    I see that the attachment fairley snuck back in un-noticed!

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    Tuesday 27th August 1918
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    Armistice Countdown 77 days

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    David Lowe Macintyre VC, CB (18 June 1895 – 31 July 1967) was 23 years old, and a temporary lieutenant in The Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, was attached to 1/6th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry when the following deeds took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 24 August 1918, and three days later, on 27 August near Henin and Fontaine-Les-Croisilles, Lieutenant Macintyre, when acting as adjutant of his battalion, was constantly in evidence in the firing line and by his coolness under most heavy shell and machine-gun fire inspired the confidence of all ranks. On one occasion when extra strong barbed wire entanglements were encountered, he organised and took forward a party and under heavy fire supervised the making of gaps. Subsequently, when relieved of command of the firing line and an enemy machine-gun opened fire close to him, he rushed it single-handed, putting the team to flight, and then brought in the gun.

    The full citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 25 October 1918, and read:

    War Office, 26th October, 1918.

    His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officer, Non-commissioned Officers and Man : —

    T./Lt. David Lowe Macintyre, Arg. & Suth'd Highrs.

    For most conspicuous bravery in attack when, acting as Adjutant of his battalion, he was constantly in evidence in the firing line, and by his coolness under most heavy shell and machine-gun fire inspired the confidence of all ranks.
    Three days later he was in command of the firing line during an attack, and showed throughout most courageous and skilful leading in face of heavy machine-gun fire. When barbed wire was encountered, he personally reconnoitred it before leading his men forward. On one occasion, when extra strong entanglements were reached, he organised and took forward a party of men. and under heavy machine-gun fire supervisedthe making of gaps.

    Later, when the greater part of our line was definitely held up, Lt. Macintyre rallied a small party, pushed forward through the enemy barrage in pursuit of an enemy machine-gun detachment, and ran them to earth in a "pill-box" a short distance ahead, killing three and capturing an officer, ten other ranks and five machine guns. In this redoubt he and his party raided three "pill-boxes" and disposed of the occupants, thus enabling the battalion to capture the redoubt.

    When the battalion was ordered to take up a defensive position, Lt. Macintyre, after he had been relieved of command of the firing line, reconnoitred the right flank which was exposed. When doing this an enemy machine gun opened fire close to him. Without any hesitation he rushed it singlehanded, put the team to flight and brought in the gun. On returning to the redoubt he continued to show splendid spirit while supervising consolidation.

    The success of the advance was largely due to Lt. Macintyre's fine leadership and initiative, and his gallantry and leading was an inspiring example to all.


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    Bernard Sidney Gordon, VC, MM (16 August 1891 – 19 October 1963) was 27 years old, and acting as a lance corporal in the 41st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force when, during the Battle of Amiens, the following deeds leading to him being awarded the Military Medal occurred.

    On the 8/8/18 during the attack east of Hamel Pte Gordon single-handedly attacked a machine gun crew which was holding up his section. He killed the crew and captured the gun. Later on in the day he stalked and killed an enemy sniper.

    Throughout the operation he displayed much bravery and devotion to duty.

    Brigadier General J.H. Cannan, 11th Brigade AIF
    This action occurred on the "Black Day" of the German Army, in which the Australian Corps destroyed their opposition. As a result of this, on 9 August 1918 the Canadian Corps advance lead to a general retreat by the German troops. The Australian 3rd Division continued to advance toward the bend in the River Somme. During this period the following action, for which Gordon was awarded the Victoria Cross, took place:

    During the operations of the 26/27th August 1918 East of Bray this N.C.O showed most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the face of the enemy.

    He led his Section through heavy enemy shelling to the objective which he consolidated. Then single handed he attacked an enemy machine gun which was enfilading the Company on his right, killing the man on the gun and captured the post which contained one Officer (a Captain) and 10 men. After handing these over at Company Headquarters he returned alone to the old system of trenches, in which were many machine guns, entered a C.T. and proceeded to mop it up, returning with 15 prisoners in one squad and 14 in an other, together with two machine guns.
    Again he returned to the system, this time with a T.M. gun and crew, and proceeded to mop up a further portion of the trench, bringing in 22 prisoners including one Officer and 3 Machine guns. This last capture enabled the British troops on our left to advance, which they had not been able to do owing to Machine Gun fire from these posts.
    His total captures were thus 2 Officers and 61 other ranks, together with 6 machine guns, and with the exception of the Trench Mortar assistance it was absolutely an individual effort and done entirely on his own initiative.
    Brigadier General J.H. Cannan, 11th Brigade AIF

    Gordon was wounded on 1 September 1918 (Bouchavesnes Spur – battle of Mont St Quentin). He was evacuated and sent to England on 4 September 1918, where he was awarded the Military Medal on 15 September 1918. He was not awarded the Victoria Cross until 20 December 1918 (after the Armistice), the citation for which states:
    His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, N.C.O.'s and Men:-

    No.23 L/Cpl. Bernard Sidney Gordon, M.M, 41st Bn., A.I.F.

    For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 26/27th August, 1918, east of Bray.
    He led his section through heavy shell fire to the objective, which he consolidated. Single-handed he attacked an enemy machine gun which was enfilading the company on his right, killed the man on and captured the post, which contained one officer and ten men. He then cleared up a trench, capturing twenty-nine prisoners and two machine guns. In clearing up further trenches he captured twenty-two prisoners, including one officer and three machine guns.

    Practically unaided, he captured, in the course of these operations, two officers and sixty-one other ranks, together with six machine guns, and displayed throughout a wonderful example of fearless initiative.

    Gordon's Victoria Cross was sold at auction in Sydney on 28 November 2006 for Aus $478,000. The medal was sold by one of Gordon's daughters, who needed money to keep the family farm in operationThe VC was purchased by an agent of media tycoon Kerry Stokes, the same man who paid a world record price of A$1 million in July 2006 for the VC awarded to Alfred Shout, A$180,000 for the George Cross of Lieutenant Commander George Gosse, and in conjunction with the South Australian Government, the VC of Major Peter Badcoe. All four medals are on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.


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    William Hew Clark-Kennedy, VC, CMG, DSO, & Bar, ED (3 March 1879 – 25 October 1961) was 39 years old, and a lieutenant colonel commanding the 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles of Canada), Canadian Expeditionary Force.

    On 27/28 August 1918 on the Fresnes-Rouvroy line, the brigade of which Lieutenant Colonel Clark-Kennedy's battalion was a central unit suffered heavy casualties. At this juncture the colonel encouraged his men and led them forward, then by controlling the direction of neighbouring units and collecting stragglers he enabled the whole brigade front to advance. Next day he was severely wounded, but despite intense pain and loss of blood, he refused to be evacuated until he had gained a position from which the advance could be resumed.

    Clark-Kennedy is buried at Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Pine Hill Section, Reford Family Plot, Lot 258).

    Today we lost: 1,922

    • Lieutenant Colonel ‘Lord’ Alfred Eden Browne DSO (186th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 39 when in command of his Brigade near Vis-en-Artois while supporting the Canadian attack. He is the son of the 5th Marquess of Sligo.



    • Lieutenant Hugh D’Alton Livingston (Central Ontario Regiment) is killed leading an attack on Bois de Vert at age 27. With Oswald Grant (killed in June 1916) they were the Canadian Inter-Collegiate Tennis Champions representing the University of Toronto in 1912.



    • Acting Sergeant Ewart Arthur Blatchford (Central Ontario Regiment) is killed at age 25 when hit by machine gun bullets. He is the son of the Reverend Thomas W Blatchford who lost another son in April 1916.


    Today’s losses include:

    • A journalist, author, traveler and editor of The Aeroplane
    • The son of the 5th Marquess of Sligo
    • The son of a Member of Parliament and Baronet
    • The 1912 Canadian Inter Collegiate Doubles Tennis Champion
    • Multiple sons of members of the clergy
    • Multiple families that will lose two and three sons in the Great War
    • A 7-victory ace
    • A member of the Penarth Rugby Club


    Today’s highlighted casualties include:

    • Second Lieutenant William Arthur Barr (Royal Garrison Artillery) is killed at Croiselles by a shell case he was firing exploding in the gun turret as a result of an enemy shell landing nearby. The 36-year old is a journalist, author and traveler who wrote for the Idler magazine and was the editor of The Aeroplane.


    • Captain John Arthur Gascoyne-Cecil MC (Royal Field Artillery) is killed in action at age 25. He is the son of the Right Reverend ‘Sir’ William Gascoyne-Cecil, the Bishop of Exeter and has two brothers who been previously killed in the Great War.
    • Lieutenant Cyril Gwyer (Grenadier Guards) is killed at age 32. His brother was killed in August 1915.
    • Lieutenant Hugh Reginald Baldwin (Irish Guards) is killed at age 20. His brother was killed on HMS Queen Mary at Jutland.
    • Lieutenant Francis Wycliffe Russell MC (London Regiment) is killed at age 20. He is the son of the Reverend Canon Alfred Francis Russell Rector of Chingford.
    • Lieutenant Cedric George Edwards DFC (Royal Air Force) is killed by ant-aircraft fire at age 19. He is a 7 victory ace.
    • Second Lieutenant Gerard Charles Brassey (Coldstream Guards) is killed in action at age 19. He is son of ‘Sir’ Leonard Brassey, the 1st Baronet and a Member of Parliament.
    • Private George Herbert De La Mare (Berkshire Regiment) is killed in action at age 20 three years after his older brother has been killed in Gallipoli.
    • Private Charles Whittemore (Bedfordshire Regiment) is killed in action at age 23 the day after his brother was killed.
    • Private James Douglas Stone (Bedfordshire Regiment) is killed in action at age 24. His brother died of wounds in May 1915.
    • Private Walter Frank Hermon (West Surrey Regiment) is killed at age 22. His brother will die of wounds next November.
    • Private Arthur Chick (Welsh Fusiliers) is killed at age 19. He is a member of the Penarth Rugby Club.
    • Private Edwin Lawrence Crofts (East Kent Regiment) is killed in action. His brother was killed in April 1917.


    Air Operations:


    August in General:

    Allied air forces mount concerted attacks on enemy airfields, especially those occupied by the German Schlachtstaffeln (Close Air Support Squadrons).

    The Royal Air Force (RAF) suffers heavy casualties (approaching 25%) amongst low flying aircraft. There was also intense air-to-air combat with the Royal Air Force losing 150 aircraft in the second week of August and claiming 177 German aircraft shot down.
    Fighter sweeps are instituted over the Western Front. These were usually composed of Sopwith Camel squadrons at 10,000 feet, Royal Aircraft Factory SE5 squadrons at 14,000 feet and Bristol Fighter squadrons at 18,000 feet.
    In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, the Russian army that had previously blocked Turkish forces in the south Caucasus collapses and a British force under the command of Major-General L. Dunsterville 'Dunsterforce' is deployed to the Caspian Sea port off Baku to stiffen the remaining White Russian forces in the region.
    Headquarters of the Aviation Services Ireland, previously under the Army's Irish Command, is renamed Royal Air Force Ireland and placed under direct Air Ministry control. Later in the same month Royal Air Force Ireland is renamed No.11 (Irish) Group.

    August-September

    No.5 (Operations) Group (Headquarters, Dover) is removed from South-Eastern Area and granted the status of an independent command. The Group is responsible for units in the Kent and Dunkirk area.

    General Headquarters:
    Tbc
    Royal Flying Corps casualties today:
    tbc
    Royal Flying Corps Losses today:

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    Claims: 1 confirmed (Entente 1: Central Powers 0)

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    Home Fronts:

    USA – First 2 cases of American ‘Spanish ‘flu’: 2 sailors at Boston, USN Receiving Ship has 106 by August 31. All over East Coast by mid-September.

    Fuel Administrator bans Sunday driving east of Mississippi.

    Western Front:

    British capture Cherisy, Bois du Sart (south of Scarpe), Roeux, etc (north of Scarpe).

    Somme:
    British III Corps recaptures Delville and Trones Woods and Greenland Hill. French recapture Roye and Chauny (Oise).

    Vis-En-Artois and Haurcourt are taken by the Canadian Corps.

    Severe fighting north and south of Bapaume.

    British take Trones Wood (east of Albert).

    South of Somme, British advance towards Peronne, reaching line Fontaine-les-Coppy-Vermandovillers.

    According to official reports, the Allies had captured nearly 50,000 prisoners and 500 guns by 27 August. Field Marshal Haig refused the request of Marshal Foch to continue the offensive, preferring instead to launch a fresh offensive by Byng's Third Army between the Ancre and Scarpe.

    The Battle of Amiens was a major turning point in the tempo of the war. The Germans had started the war with the Schlieffen Plan before the Race to the Sea slowed movement on the Western Front and the war devolved into trench warfare.

    The German Spring Offensive earlier that year had once again given Germany the offensive edge on the Western Front. Armoured support helped the Allies tear a hole through trench lines, weakening once impregnable trench positions: the British Third Army, with no armoured support, had almost no effect on the line, while the Fourth, with fewer than a thousand tanks, broke deep into German territory. Australian commander John Monash was knighted in the days following the battle.

    British war correspondent Philip Gibbs noted Amiens' effect on the war's tempo, saying on 27 August that, "the enemy...is on the defensive" and, "the initiative of attack is so completely in our hands that we are able to strike him at many different places." Gibbs also credits Amiens with a shift in troop morale, saying, "the change has been greater in the minds of men than in the taking of territory. On our side the army seems to be buoyed up with the enormous hope of getting on with this business quickly" and that, "there is a change also in the enemy's mind. They no longer have even a dim hope of victory on this western front. All they hope for now is to defend themselves long enough to gain peace by negotiation."

    Eastern Front:

    GERMANY AND RUSSIA SIGN SUPPLEMENTARY PEACE TREATY: Russia promises to fight Allies in North Russia and can free troops to move East; Germany to prevent Finland attacking; Russia to pay £300 million in more reparations and allow Germans’ secret use of Black Sea Fleet remnants. Russia to export to Germany 1/3 of her oil once Turks return Baku. Red negotiator Joffe regards terms as ‘… worse than Brest-Litovsk’.

    Southern Front:

    Tunstills Men Monday 27th August 1918:
    Support positions in the Lemerle Switch line

    In the morning the Battalion was relieved by 12DLI and marched to the Brigade reserve camp near Cavalletto.

    Pte. Robert Clarke (see 26th August), who had been wounded the previous day, died at the Advanced Operating Centre at 24th Casualty Clearing Station; he would be buried at the nearby Cavalletto British Cemetery.

    Following the casualties of the previous day, there was a round of promotions.

    Sgt. Albert Blackburn (see 26th August) was promoted Acting Company Sergeant Major.

    Cpl. Harold Best (see 26th August) was promoted Acting Lance Sergeant.

    Cpls. Abel Roberts (see 26th August) and Thomas Anthony Swale (see 16th July) were promoted Acting Lance Sergeant.

    L.Cpl. Stanley Arthur Bones (see 26th August) was promoted Corporal.

    L.Cpls. Bertie Thurling (see 18th August), who was on leave in England, and Frederick James Lynch (see 20th March), John Wright Pollard (see 5th January) and Frank Revell (see 14th July) and Pte. Alfred Bradbury (see 27th March) were all appointed Acting Corporal.

    L.Cpls. Alfred Hanson (see 6th June), Fred Oldroyd (see 13th August) and William Robinson (see 13thAugust) began to be paid according to their rank, having previously held the post unpaid.

    Pte. William Dennison (see 26th August) was appointed Lance Corporal.

    Pte. Noah Davis (see 29th October 1917) was admitted via 69th Field Ambulance to 9th Casualty Clearing Station, he was suffering from pneumonia and jaundice.

    Pte. Willie Holmes (see 11th August), who was home on leave, was admitted to the War Hospital in Dewsbury; he was suffering from carbuncles.

    Pte. Thomas Walter Mellin (see 15th May), serving with 9DWR in France, was wounded in action; he suffered shrapnel wounds to his back and would be admitted via 34th Casualty Clearing Station to 2ndCanadian General Hospital at Le Treport.

    Following ten days’ treatment for malaria, Pte. James Wilson (see 16th August), serving with 728thEmployment Company, based at Hitchin, Herts., was discharged from hospital and returned to duty. However, just four days later, he would be admitted to hospital in Cambridge suffering from a recurrence of his symptoms.

    The Infantry Records Office in York wrote to Leeds City Police, requesting their assistance in locating Pte.James Robert Ingleson (see 3rd August 1917), who had been absent without leave from Beckett Park Hospital, Leeds for the previous three weeks. The Police would reply that having, “made careful enquiries for the above named at all places in this city frequented by soldiers, I have not been able to find any trace of his being now in Leeds”. In actual fact Ingleson had, at 7.30pm the same day, reported back at the hospital. He would be fined 20 days’ pay and have his pass stopped for ten days.

    The family of Pte. Herbert Newton (see 22nd July), who had been reported missing in action five weeks’ previously while serving in France with 5DWR, wrote to the War Office informing them of a change of their home address and asking, “if you hear anything further about him will you kindly send straight here and greatly oblige his sorrowing mother”.

    Asiatic, African, Egyptian Front:

    Constantinople bombed by British airmen.

    British force occupies Krasnovodsk on Caspian Sea.

    Naval Operations:
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    Political:

    German and Russian Governments conclude Supplementary Treaty of Peace.

    Anniversary Events:

    1626 The Danes are crushed by the Catholic League in Germany, marking the end of Danish intervention in European wars.
    1776 The Americans are defeated by the British at the Battle of Long Island, New York.
    1793 Maximilien Robespierre is elected to the Committee of Public Safety in Paris, France.
    1813 The Allies defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Dresden.
    1861 Union Troops make an amphibious landing at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
    1862 As the Second Battle of Bull Run rages, Confedera soldiers attack Loudon County, Virginia.
    1881 New York state's Pure Food Law goes into effect to prevent "the adulteration of food or drugs."
    1894 The United States congress passes an income tax law as part of a general tariff act, but it is found unconstitutional.
    1910 Thomas Edison demonstrates the first "talking" pictures--using a phonograph--in his New Jersey laboratory.
    1912 Edgar Rice Burrough’s's Tarzan of the Apes first appears in a magazine.
    1916 Italy declares war on Germany.
    Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 08-27-2018 at 08:55.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  43. #3543

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    My apologies but the edit side of this is throwing everything anywhere but where I want it. Center justification has gone haywire and the spacing is where it wants not where I want it. Will try and sort it out later.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  44. #3544

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rebel View Post
    I see that the attachment fairley snuck back in un-noticed!
    Sorted - apologies

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  45. #3545

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    Welcome back Neil - plenty more info on the US Corps Air Service if you are short of material over the next day or so.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  46. #3546

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    Welcome back Neil!
    Now Chris you can have a well earned rest.

  47. #3547

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    Link?

    Quote Originally Posted by Hedeby View Post
    Welcome back Neil - plenty more info on the US Corps Air Service if you are short of material over the next day or so.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  48. #3548

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    Another comparitively small incident on 27th August 1918 was the Battle of Ambos Nogales, which was a border skirmish between the U.S.A. and Mexico. There was a suspicion of involvement of German agents. The U.S. forces consisted of soldiers from the 35th Infantry Regiment, who were reinforced by the Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Cavalry Regiment (an African American regiment).

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ambos_Nogales

  49. #3549

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    Wednesday 28th August 1918

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    Armistice Countdown 76 days


    Today we lost: 1,543

    Private Thomas E Atkinson (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) is killed in action at age 35. He was the gardener to ‘Sir’ Evan McGregor a grandson of Admiral Nelson’s Captain at Trafalgar, Hardy, to whom Nelson’s last words were “Kiss me Hardy”. His brother died of wounds in November 1917, while another was a prisoner of war and a fourth lost an eye.

    Today’s losses include:

    • The gardener to the grandson of Captain Hardy in whose arms Lord Nelson died at Traffalgar
    • Multiple families that will lose two and three sons in the Great War
    • A battalion commander
    • Two sons of Generals
    • A member of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
    • The son of a Member of Parliament
    • Multiple sons of members of the clergy


    Today’s highlighted casualties include:


    • Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Ernest Graham McKenzie DSO (commanding 26thNew Brunswick Regiment) is killed at age 39. He is the son of Archibald McKenzie who represented Restigouche County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1875-78.
    • Major Norman MacLeod Adam MC (commanding 19th Battery Royal Field Artillery) dies of wounds at home at age 28. He is the son of the late Major General F A Adam CB.
    • Captain Thomas Vivian Bartley Denniss (Berkshire Regiment) dies of a cerebral hemorage from wounds received in March 1915 at age 26. He is the son of Edmund Robert Bartley Denniss MP.
    • Lieutenant Robert Burleigh (Royal Engineers attached Royal Air Force) is killed at age 23. He is the last of three brothers who are killed in the war.
    • Lieutenant Frederick Norman Grandy (Central Ontario Regiment) is killed by a sniper at age 26. He is the son of the Reverend Thomas Grandy.
    • Lieutenant Gordon Keith Patrick Sheehan (Northamptonshire Regiment) is killed at age 20. He is the son of the Reverend Thomas Moore Sheehan Vicar of Temple Bruer.
    • Second Lieutenant Alfred Melbourne Coate (Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 19. He is the son of the Reverend Harry Coate Vicar of Sharnbrook who lost another son last October.
    • Second Lieutenant John Maurice Harold Gerrard, (Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 19. He is the son of Major General J J Gerrard CB CMG.
    • Lance Corporal Morgan Jones Jenkins (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry) is killed at age 32. He is the third son of the late Reverend John Jenkins Vicar of Llantwit to be killed in the Great War, the other two being killed in 1916.
    • Rifleman Lawrence Dryden Pritchard (London Rifle Brigade) is killed in action at age 26. His brother was killed in September 1915.
    • Private Robert Nash (Cambridgeshire Regiment) is killed in action. His brother was killed in May of this year.
    • Rifleman Kenneth Aubrey Hooker (New Zealand Rifle Brigade) is killed at age 20. His brother will be killed in October.
    • Rifleman A Turner (Rifle Brigade) is killed in action. His brother was killed last year.


    Air Operations:

    John D. Ryan is appointed first Director of the U.S. Army Air Service and serves until November 27, 1918.

    General Headquarters:
    Tbc

    Royal Flying Corps casualties today:

    tbc

    Royal Flying Corps Losses today:

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    Claims: 1 confirmed (Entente 1 : Central Powers 0)

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    Western Front:

    GENERAL GERMAN RETREAT FROM THE SCARPE TO ABOVE R AISNE.

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    The 2nd and 3rd Canadian Infantry Divisions seized an important portion of the German Fresnes-Rouvroy defence system after three days of intense fighting. Total casualties are reported as 254 officers and 5,547 other ranks. They captured more than 3,300 prisoners, 53 guns and 519 machine guns.

    Lt-Col. William Hew Clark-Kennedy, 24th Battalion, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, earned a Victoria Cross by personally driving the advance despite being severely wounded, and suffering from intense pain and loss of blood. (See yesterday)

    Lt-Col. A. E. G. McKenzie, Commanding Officer of the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion, was killed during action on August 28. He was posthumously awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Order.

    Somme: Chaulnes reoccupied by French. Crown Prince William Special Order claims ‘There is no reason for depression. Even 24 enemy states [actually 23] will not overcome the German nation.’

    Artois: Canadian 2nd and 3rd Divisions (5,801 casualties) have fought more than 5 miles forward astride Arras*-Cambrai road since August 26, capturing over 3,300 PoWs, 53 guns and 519 MGs, but II Bavarian Corps clings to part of Fresnes*-Rouvroy line.

    Eastern Front:

    Russia: Miliukov leaves Cadets and forms Constitutional Monarchist Party.

    Volga: Colonel Kappel’s 2,000 Whites just fail to seize Romanov railbridge (Moscow*-Kazan line) and Trotsky’s HQ train in Red Fifth Army rear. On August 29 Trotsky shoots 20 men from Red regiment that fled on.

    Trans-Caspia: 500 Punjabis (32 casualties) and Whites repel Reds from Merv near Kaakhka.

    Mr. Miliukov leaves Cadets and forms Constitutional Monarchist Party.

    General Semenov capture Borzia Station (Siberia); Bolsheviks retreat towards Onon River.

    Japanese report retreat of Bolsheviks to Ussuri.

    Southern Front:

    Tunstills Men Wenesday 28th August 1918:

    In Brigade reserve camp near Cavalletto.

    Pte. Edward Henry Chant (see 21st July), who had been under treatment for pleurisy, was discharged from 9th Casualty Clearing Station and posted to XIV Corps Reinforcement Camp at Arquata Scrivia.

    Pte. Charles William Hird (see 18th July), who had been wounded six weeks’ previously while serving in France with 2DWR, was posted back to England and would be admitted to East Leeds War Hospital and later transferred to the Red Cross Hospital in Northallerton.

    2Lt. Eric John Lassen (see 23rd August 1916), who had briefly served with the Battalion in May/June 1916, serving with the Army Signals Service, a branch of the Royal Engineers, was promoted Acting Captain.

    A payment of £1 5s. 11d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late L.Cpl.Norman Wright (see 12th June), who had been officially missing in action since September 1917; the payment would go to his father, Henry. He would also receive a parcel of his son’s personal effects comprising of, “wallet, letters, cards, photos, cap badge, disc, cigarette case”. I am unable to explain the despatch of personal effects for a man posted as missing in action almost a year previously.

    Naval Operations:

    North Sea: Destroyer HMS Ouse with help of Blackburn Kangaroo seaplane depth charges and sinks UC-70 off Yorkshire coast.

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    Political:

    Announcement of retirement of Mr. Page, U.S.A. Ambassador in London.

    Anniversary Events:

    1676 Indian chief King Philip, also known as Metacom, is killed by English soldiers, ending the war between Indians and colonists.
    1862 Mistakenly believing the Confederate Army to be in retreat, Union General John Pope attacks, beginning the Battle of Groveton. Both sides sustain heavy casualties.
    1914 Three German cruisers are sunk by ships of the Royal Navy in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, the first major naval battle of World War 1.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  50. #3550

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    Neil. Input August 1918 into search engine, go to wiki select 25th and link is embedded into one liner about corps creation

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

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