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Thread: 100 Years Ago Today

  1. #3201

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    Blimey Neil - that is one heck of a follow up - VC-tastic old boy. Thank you

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  2. #3202

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    24th and 28th March now complete (from latest site down problems) - just 29th to go - apologies for the delay but real life keeps getting in the way

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  3. #3203

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    Tuesday 23rd April 1918
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    Armistice Countdown 202 days
    St George’s Day:

    A happy St George’s Day to all who celebrate this day around the world.

    Saint George's Day, also known as the Feast of Saint George, is the feast day of Saint George as celebrated by various Christian Churches and by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron Saint. (Not always on the 23rd of April depending on the Gregorian or Julian calendar).

    Today we lost: 2,461

    Today’s losses include:
    · Multiple Victoria Cross winners
    · A member of the England Rugby football team in 1914
    ·
    Multiple families that will lose two and three sons in the Great War
    · The brother of a Victoria Cross winner
    · Multiple sons of members of the clergy
    · The nephew of a General
    · The Inventor of the Brock Anti-Zeppelin bullet, color filter, Dover flare and smoke laying apparatus
    · An 8-victory ace
    · The son of a Justice of the Peace and stepson of a General
    · A medical student
    · A son of the 8th Duke of Grafton
    · A man whose son will be killed in the Second World War

    Today’s highlighted casualties include:

    · Major Edric C O Ross (Merwara Infantry) dies of wounds received in action in the Middle East at age 36. He is the son the late Reverend George Gould Ross, the Rector of Michaelstow, St Teath, Cornwall.
    · Captain Kenneth William Junor MC (Canadian Machine Gun Corps) an 8-victory ace is killed at age 24.
    · Lieutenant Christopher Lancelot Usher (Wiltshire Regiment) is killed at age 20. He is the son of the Reverend Robert Usher Rector of Fovant.
    · Lieutenant James Cairnes (Army Service Corps) is killed at age 28. His brother was killed in September 1917.
    · Second Lieutenant Charles John Dawson-Greene (Grenadier Guards) dies of wounds received in action at age 20. He is the son of Henry Dawson-Greene JP and stepson of Brigadier General Cecil Monck.
    · Second Lieutenant Archibald Mitchell Woodside (Highland Light Infantry) is killed in action at age 20. He was a medical student at Glasgow University, a son of the Reverend David Woodside DD and had two brothers killed in 1916. · Second Lieutenant ‘Viscount Ipswich’ William Henry Alfred Fitzroy (Coldstream Guards attached Royal Air Force) is accidentally killed in Wiltshire at age 33. He is a son of the 8th Duke of Grafton.
    · Second Lieutenant Charles Leslie Symons (Royal Engineers) is killed at age 19. His only brother will die on service in February 1919.
    · Corporal Ivan Cecil Whtielaw MM (Australian Infantry) is killed at age 23. He is the third of three brothers to be killed in the Great War.
    · Lance Corporal Frederick James Whitehead (Durham Light Infantry) is killed in action at age 21. His brother will be gassed to death in October of this year.
    · Private John Shields (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) is killed. His brother was killed on Gallipoli in August 1915.
    · Private Alexander Plummer (Durham Light Infantry) is killed at age 30. His two brothers were killed in 1916.
    · Gunner D G Gilbert (Royal Garrison Artillery) is killed at age 21. His brother was killed in August 1915 on Gallipoli.
    · Private Frederick Charles Metcalfe (Yorkshire Regiment) is killed in action. His son will be lose his life in the Second World War.

    Air Operations:


    Lieutenant Paul Baer shoots down his fifth aircraft, becoming the first ace of the American Expeditionary Force. He goes on to achieve nine confirmed victories with another seven unconfirmed. He is shot down on the day of his last victory and ends the war as a prisoner.
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    The son of Mrs. Emma Baer Dyer of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Paul Frank Baer was a mechanic with the Cadillac Automobile Company in Detroit, Michigan from 1912 to 1916. He volunteered for service on the Mexican border in July 1916 and, in February 1917, he joined the Lafayette Flying Corps. In August of that year, he was assigned to Spa80 where he remained until January 1918 when he was reassigned to Escadrille N124. In February the American pilots of N124 transferred to the United States Air Service to form the 103rd Aero Squadron. Baer scored his first victory during March and on 23 April 1918 he scored his fifth victory to become the first American ace of the United States Air Service. On the morning of 22 May 1918 Baer scored his ninth victory but was then shot down by a member of Jasta 18, possibly Hans Muller. Badly injured when his Spad XIII crashed near Armentičres, he was captured by the Germans.

    Toward the end of 1919 Baer spent much of his time in New York where he was a prominent member of the American Flying Club and recruited fliers for an air squadron to help Poland fight the Bolsheviks. Baer Field, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was named in honor of Paul Frank Baer.

    Paris raided by one aeroplane, which is brought down.

    Naval aircraft bomb docks at Zeebrugge and Ostend.

    Durazzo (Albania) bombed by Naval aircraft:- only one warship seen in harbour.

    General Headquarters.

    “On the 23rd inst. the weather was not very favourable for flying until 5 p.m., after which hour some sharp fighting took place in the air. Low reconnaissances and artillery work were carried out throughout the day, and Merville, Estaires, Steenwerck, La Gorgue, Chaulnes railway junction, and the docks at Ostend were heavily bombed. Fourteen hostile machines were brought down and two others driven down out of control. Another German machine was brought down in our lines by our anti-aircraft fire. One of our aeroplanes is missing.

    “During the night flying squadrons dropped over 20 tons of bombs on different targets, including Roulers, Merville, Armentičres, Bapaume, the railway station ait Chaulues, Thourout, Tournai, Courtrai, and the docks at Zeebrugge. Direct hits were obtained on all these targets; in several cases fires were started. All our machines returned."

    RAF Communiqué number 4:

    There were low clouds all day and visibility was very bad.

    Twelve reconnaissances and 17 contact patrols were carried out by Brigades.

    Eighteen hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and 15 neutralized; one gun-pit was destroyed, 11 explosions and eight fires caused. Eighty-eight zone calls were sent down.

    Ten and three quarter tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    1st Brigade: No 18 Squadron, 19 112-lb and 44 25-lb bombs on Merville, Estaires and La Gorgue. 1st Wing, 101 25-lb bombs.

    2nd Brigade: 6 112-lb and 41 25-lb bombs. No 98 Squadron, 7 230-lb bombs on Steenwerck.

    3rd Brigade: 28 25-lb bombs.

    5th Brigade: No 205 Squadron, 4 112-lb and 84 25-lb bombs on Chaulnes Railway Junction. 15th Wing, 75 25-lb bombs. 22nd Wing, 107 25-lb bombs.

    7th Brigade: No 49 Squadron, 12 112-lb bombs on docks at Ostend; 10 112-lb bombs on billets. No 211 Squadron, 10 25-lb bombs on docks at Ostend.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft activity was very slight, until 5 p.m., after which hour there was a good deal of fighting. One hostile machine was brought down in our lines by A.A. in addition to those brought down in combat.

    Enemy machines were driven down out of control by the following: Capt C N Lowe, No 24 Squadron; Lieut P K Hobson, No 84 Squadron; Lieut L de S Duke, No 84 Squadron; Capt T Colvill-Jones and 2nd-Lieut J M J Moore, No 48 Squadron; Major A D Carter, No 19 Squadron, Lieut G B Irving, No 19 Squadron (one); Lieut A B Fairclough, No 19 Squadron; Lieut C S Hall, No 19 Squadron; Capt E D G Galley, No 56 Squadron; Lieut A H Curtis and 2nd-Lieut P T Holligan, No 49 Squadron.

    Lieut F J W Mellersh, 209 Sqn, DFW C crashed south-west of Cerisy at 13:55/14:55 - Lieut F J W Mellersh, No 209 Squadron, on returning from a special mission, almost collided with an E.A. two-seater flying through the clouds. He got on the tail of the E.A. and opened fire; the E.A. fell over in a spin and was seen to crash south-west of Cerisy

    Capt C N Lowe, 24 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south of Warfusée at 14:15/15:15 -

    2nd-Lieut R T Mark, 24 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed south of Warfusée at 14:15/15:15 - 2nd-Lieut R T Mark, No 24 Squadron, attacked the rear machine of a formation of six E.A. scouts, firing two bursts into it; the E.A. went down in a spin and was seen to crash

    Capt G O Johnson, 24 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed south of Warfusée at 14:45/15:45 - Capt G O Johnson, No 24 Squadron, fired 100 rounds into an E.A. scout which was of a silver colour; the E.A. went down in a spiral dive and was seen to crash

    Capt I D R McDonald, 24 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed south of Warfusée at 14:45/15:45 - Capt I D R McDonald, No 24 Squadron, dived three times on a formation of E.A. scouts and then his engine choked. Two of the E.A. drove Capt McDonald down to 200 feet when his engine picked up again and he was able to zoom above one of the E.A. and fire 50 rounds into it, the E.A. being seen to crash in the corner of a field

    Lieut A H Curtis & Lieut P T Holligan, 49 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Nieuport at 15:50/16:50 -

    Capt T Colvill-Jones & 2nd-Lieut J M J Moore, 48 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control west of Bray at 15:50/16:50 -

    Lieut W B Elliott & AGL AM G Smith, 205 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Chaulnes at 16:20/17:20 -

    Capt J Todd, 70 Sqn, two-seater crashed south-east of Wancourt at 16:30/17:30 -

    Lieut L de S Duke, 84 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control north-east of Framerville at 16:35/17:35 -

    Lieut C L Stubbs, 84 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed east of Framerville at 16:40/17:40 – a patrol of No 84 Squadron engaged 10 E.A. triplanes. Lieut C L Stubbs got on the tail of one and fired a long burst from both guns at close range. The E.A. went down vertically followed by Lieut Stubbs who, from a height of 7,000 feet, saw the E.A. crash to the ground

    Lieut P K Hobson, 84 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Framerville at 16:40/17:40 -

    Lieut A F W Beauchamp-Proctor, 84 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed east of Framerville at 16:40/17:40 – a patrol of No 84 Squadron engaged 10 E.A. triplanes. Lieut A W B Proctor opened fire on the leader of the formation and after 200 rounds had been fired into it, the E.A. went down completely out of control and was seen to crash

    Lieut T Rose, 64 Sqn, two-seater in flames Ervillers at 17:50/18:50 - Lieut T Rose, No 64 Squadron, dived twice on an E.A. two-seater, apparently without effect. He then got into a good position in front and above and fired about 100 rounds at close range into the E.A., which turned over on its back and got into a slow spin quite out of control, emitting clouds of blue smoke which gradually increased all the way down

    Capt J Gilmour, 65 Sqn, Fokker DrI broke up Méricourt at 18:00/19:00 - Capt J Gilmour, No 65 Squadron, attacked four triplanes; he fired a burst into one of these which did a steep turn and went down vertically, its wings falling off in the air

    Capt E D G Galley, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Fricourt at 18:00/19:00 -

    Capt E Mannock, 74 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed east of Merville at 18:10/19:10 - Capt E Mannock, No 74 Squadron, attacked the rear machine of a formation of E.A. scouts; an explosion was observed in the E.A. pilot's seat and the machine turned upside down and descended vertically, emitting volumes of smoke and was seen to strike the ground east of Merville; Ltn d R Paul Lotz, Jasta 7, Wia ?

    Maj A D Carter, 19 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed north of La Bassée at 18:20/19:20 - Major A D Carter, No 19 Squadron, got onto the tail of an E.A. scout and when about 25 yards from the E.A. fired a long burst into it, whereupon it stalled and dived from 1,000 feet into the centre of a field and was seen to break to pieces

    Maj A D Carter, 19 Sqn, Pfalz Scout Destroyed north of La Bassée at 18:20/19:20 -

    Maj A D Carter, Lieut G B Irving and Lieut C S Hall, 19 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames north of La Bassée at 18:20/19:20 - not shared ?

    Lieut A B Fairclough, 19 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control north of La Bassée at 18:20/19:20 -

    Capt E R Tempest, 64 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Boiry-Notre-Dame at 18:35/19:35 - Capt E R Tempest, No 64 Squadron, dived on a formation of eight E.A. scouts, firing about 60 rounds from his Vickers gun into one of them from about 200 to 60 yards range. The E.A. fell completely out of control and was seen to crash

    2nd-Lieut T M Williams, 65 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames Morlancourt at 18:35/19:35 - 2nd-Lieut T Williams, No 65 Squadron, fired a burst of about 200 rounds into an E.A. scout at point blank range and the E.A. dived down vertically in flames

    Lieut O W Redgate, 209 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed south-east of Hangard at 19:20/20:20 -

    Capt C C Clark, 1 Sqn, Fokker DrI in flames south of Courtrai at 19:20/20:20 - Capt C C Clark, No 1 Squadron, dived on one of eight E.A. triplanes, firing a good burst into it at about 70 yards range. The E.A. burst into flames and went down over Aelbeke

    Lieut G E Siedle & Sergt W J H Middleton, 205 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Chaulnes Railway Station at 19:30/20:30 -

    Capt E ****son & AGL C V Robinson, 205 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Chaulnes at 19:40/20:40 -

    Capt J Gamon & 2nd-Lieut W H Scott, 205 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Chaulnes at 19:40/20:40 -

    Capt J Gamon & 2nd-Lieut W H Scott, 205 Sqn, DH4 N6004, Pfalz Scout broke up Chaulnes Railway Station at 19:50/20:50 and Fokker DrI in flames [by Scott] Chaulnes Railway Station at 19:50/20:50 - Capt Gamon & 2nd-Lieut Scott, No 205 Squadron, after dropping their bombs were attacked by a large formation of E.A. scouts. Fire was opened on one which was attempting to follow down one of our machines and the E.A. went down in flames. An E.A. scout then got on the tail of Capt Gamon's machine and after 50 rounds had been fired into the E.A. it went down in a spin and one of its wings was seen to be folded back

    Royal Flying Corps casualties today:

    2nd-Lieut W H Townsend (Wia; Dow) & 2nd-Lieut C Souchette (Kia), 57 Sqn, DH4 D8406 - hit by A.A. fire and rear of engine caught fire while gliding down at 100 feet nosedived and overturned and completely burned on return from bombing Bapaume

    2nd-Lieut H L Whiteside (Wia), 70 Sqn, Camel – combat?

    Lieut L M Whittington (Wia) & AG S Jones (Wia), 206 Sqn, DH9 B7586 - crashed near Busnes and destroyed by fire after bomb raid

    2nd-Lieut R K McConnell (Ok), 46 Sqn, Camel D6511 – took off 10:05/11:05 then longeron shot through on COP, returned aerodrome 11:35/12:35

    2nd-Lieut W E Woods (Ok), 70 Sqn, Camel D1829 - shot through on line patrol Aveluy Woods, returned aerodrome 14:45/15:45

    Lieut K W Junor MC (Kia), 56 Sqn, SE5a C1086 – took off 16:30/17:30 and last seen engaging Albatros Scouts below enemy triplanes near Bray on OP; Ltn d R Egon Koepsch, Js4, 2nd victory [north of Sailly – Laurette at 17:55/18:55]

    Lieut L de S Duke (Wia), 84 Sqn, SE5a B8403 – combat 16:35/17:35

    2nd-Lieut L F Cocks (Wia) & AG H F Taylor (Ok), 205 Sqn, DH4 A7933 – took off 17:30/18:30 then force landed Belleuse after shot about by EA on bombing raid to Chaulnes railway station

    Capt J A Middleton (Wia) & Lieut R E Smith (Kia), 101 Sqn, FE2b A6408 – took off 23:50/00:50 then crashed Dommartin during bomb raid
    Royal Flying Corps Losses today:
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    Claims: 43 confirmed (Entente 38 : Central Powers 5)

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    Home Fronts:


    Russia: April 22 1918, Tblisi–The Transcaucasian region of the former Russian Empire was not strongly linked to Russia proper, and the Bolshevik presence there was shaky at best; the Mensheviks still dominated in Georgia, and nationalist Armenian and Azerbaijani parties elsewhere. Although there were extreme disagreements among the nationalities (which had led to massacres in Baku at the end of March), none wanted continued Russian domination, and they now all faced a dire threat from the Ottomans. The Turks had begun an offensive to retake their own territory from the Russians in February, which had continued with little effective resistance since. In March the Russians signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which signed over to the Turks three provinces that the Russians had taken in 1878. The Transcaucasian government, however, believed the territories were rightfully theirs and the Bolsheviks had had no authority to sign them away. They underscored this point on April 22 by officially declaring independence from Russia. However, they had little real capability to resist the advancing Turks; after some severe miscommunication, a Turkish ultimatum to withdraw from the areas affected by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk had been refused in early April. The Turks had crossed the pre-war border in late March, and were by April 22 only days away from Kars and the frontiers defined by Brest-Litovsk; it did not seem likely they would stop there.

    Western Front:


    Violent artillery fire from Avre river to Albert, followed by heavy infantry attacks at Albert and in region between Somme and Avre.

    Special despatch from Sir Douglas Haig mentions 14 divisions: 102 German divisions employed against British alone during great offensive.

    Eastern Front:


    Finland: Finnish Western White Army reported to have reached Russian frontier.

    Bolshevik Government against protests against union of Bessarabia and Romania.

    Southern Front:


    Tunstills Men Tuesday 23rd April 1918:


    In tents and bivouacs at Stecchini.

    Setting out at 9am, on a beautiful morning, the Battalion marched a further twelve miles west to new billets at Cornedo. They marched via Isola Vicentina, Malo and Cereda, where they went over a very steep hill which “was found too steep for transport, except by doubling the mules. Practically all transport was therefore sent via Il Tezzone”. They would remain at Cornedo for the next four weeks, occupied in general training and specifically in training for ‘hill fighting’.

    Ptes. Charles William Groves (see 29th October 1917) and Roderick Harmer (see 27th March), were reported by Sgt. Edward Arthur Myers (see 15th April) for “not complying with an order, ie drinking on the line of march”; on the orders of Maj. William Norman Town (see 1st March), they would be confined to barracks for seven days.

    Pte. Horace Trinder (see 6th February) was discharged from Merry Flats War Hospital, Govan, Glasgow and granted a period of leave before reporting to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.

    Asiatic, African, Egyptian Front:


    Palestine:
    War Office reports progress in Hejaz.

    Bayazid (Armenia) occupied by Turks.

    Naval Operations:

    The Zeebrugge Raid on 23 April 1918, was an attempt by the Royal Navy to block the Belgian port of Bruges-Zeebrugge. The British intended to sink obsolete ships in the canal entrance, to prevent German vessels from leaving port. The port was used by the Imperial German Navy as a base for U-Boats and light shipping, which were a threat to Allied control of the English Channel and southern North Sea. Several attempts to close the Flanders ports by bombardment failed and Operation Hush, a 1917 plan to advance up the coast, proved abortive. As sinkings by U-boats increased, finding a way to close the ports became urgent and the Admiralty became more willing to consider a raid.

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    An attempt to raid Zeebrugge was made on 2 April 1918 but was cancelled at the last moment, after the wind direction changed and made it impossible to lay a smokescreen to cover the ships. Another attempt was made on 23 April, with a concurrent attack on Ostend. Two of three blockships were scuttled in the narrowest part of the Bruges Canal and one of two submarines rammed the viaduct linking the shore and the mole, to trap the German garrison. The blockships were sunk in the wrong place and after a few days the Germans had opened the canal to submarines at high tide. The British suffered 583 casualties and the Germans lost 24 men.

    At the end of 1916 a combined operation against Borkum, Ostend and Zeebrugge had been considered by Admiral Lewis Bayly, commander of the Coast of Ireland Station. The plan was rejected due to the difficulty of supplying a landing force and the vulnerability of such a force to a land counter-attack; subsequent proposals were rejected for the same reasons. A bombardment of the Zeebrugge lockgates under cover of a smoke screen was studied by Vice Admiral Sir Reginald Bacon, commander of the Dover Patrol and the Admiralty in late 1915 but was also rejected as too risky. In 1916, Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt proposed an attack to block Zeebrugge, which was rejected. Tyrwhitt suggested a more ambitious operation to capture the mole and the town as a prelude to advancing on Antwerp. Bacon was asked to give his opinion and rejected the plan, as did the Admiralty.

    Vice-Admiral Roger Keyes was appointed director of the Plans Division at the Admiralty in October 1917 and on 3 December, submitted another plan for the blocking of Zeebrugge and Ostend using old cruisers in a night attack in the period from 14–19 March. Bacon also proposed an operation on 18 December, which combined Tyrwhitt's landing on the mole with a blocking operation. A monitor, HMS Sir John Moore, was to land 1,000 troops on the mole, the monitor HMS General Craufurd was to bombard the lock gates and fortifications from short range; blockships were to enter the harbour in the confusion. The raid was proposed in 1917 by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe but was not authorised until Keyes adapted Bacon's plan for a blocking operation, to make it difficult for German ships and submarines to leave the port. The raid was approved in January 1918 and volunteer crews were obtained from the Grand Fleet "to perform a hazardous service".

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    Graphic depiction of the raid from Popular Science magazine, July 1918

    The possibility of a landing on the Belgian coast was not abandoned, despite the number of rejected plans and early in 1917, Bacon assisted in the planning of Operatin Hush, landings by the three brigades of the 1st Division around Middlekerke at the northern extremity of the Western Front. The operation was dependent on the advance of the British armies in the Third Battle of Ypres and had no influence on events at Zeebrugge and Ostend. If landings at the ports were successful, the forces involved would be doomed unless they were relieved by the advance of the armies in Flanders. Bacon devised a plan to destroy the lock gates at Zeebrugge by bombardment with the 15 inch guns of the monitors HMS Erebus, HMS Terror and HMS Marshal Soult.

    The bombardment would have to be undertaken at long range, because of the danger of return fire from the Kaiser Wilhelm battery at Knokke and meant aiming at a target 90 by 30 ft (27.4 by 9.1 m) in area at a range of 13 mi (11 nmi), using directions from an artillery-observation aircraft. Bacon calculated that 252 shells would be necessary and that it would take at least 84 minutes to fire them. If the attempt began with surprise and the bombardment ships were obscured by a smoke screen, the German guns at Knokke might not have time accurately to return fire before the bombardment ended. Bacon thought that the destruction of the lock gates was worth the sacrifice of a monitor but that risking all three for no result was impossible to avoid.

    The plan needed a rare combination of wind, tide and weather; to obtain surprise the monitors would need to be in position before dawn. Mist and low cloud would make artillery observation from an aircraft impossible and the wind would have to be blowing from a narrow range of bearings or the smoke screen would be carried over the ships and out to sea, exposing them to view from the shore. Such conditions were unlikely to recur for several days, making a bombardment on the following day most unlikely. The bombardment force sailed for Zeebrugge three times but changes in the weather forced a return to England each time. On 11 May, Bacon ordered another attempt for the next day; a buoy was laid 15 mi (24 km) to the north-west of the mole as a guide and a second buoy was placed in the bombardment position. A bearing was taken from the buoy to the base of the mole at Zeebrugge by a ship sailing from the buoy to the mole, despite a mist which reduced visibility to a mile and the ship advancing perilously close to German shore batteries. The ship returned to the buoy by 4:45 a.m., with the bearing and distance. The bombardment ships had taken position, the motor launches had formed a line, ready to generate the smokescreen and the escorts formed a square round the monitors. Five destroyers zigzagged around the fleet as a screen against U-boats, the minesweepers began operating around the monitors and the covering force cruised in the distance, ready to intercept a German destroyer sortie.

    The bombardment opened late because of the need to tow Marshal Soult, slowing the armada and also by haze off the harbour. Two RNAS artillery-observation aircraft from Dunkirk, which had taken off at 2:00 a.m., had to wait from 3:00 a.m. over Zeebrugge for almost two hours. The aircraft were met by seven Sopwith Pups from 4 (Naval) Squadron RNAS, which patrolled the coast from 5:45 a.m. as six Sopwith Triplanes of 10 (Naval) Squadron RNAS flew over the fleet. One of the artillery-observation aircraft had engine trouble and force-landed in the Netherlands; the other ran short of petrol. Firing from the monitors commenced just after 5:00 a.m. and at first fell short; many of the shells failing to explode, which left the aircraft unable to signal the fall of shot. The bombardment became very accurate soon after and Marshal Soult hit the target with its twelfth shell and Erebus with its twenty-sixth. Terror was most hampered by the loss of one of the aircraft and by dud shells; only forty-five of the 250 shells fired were reported and the aircraft had to return because of lack of fuel at 5:30 a.m., leaving the last half-hour of the bombardment reliant on estimated corrections of aim. Two relieving aircraft also had engine trouble and failed to arrive.

    In the first hour of the bombardment, the German response was limited to anti-aircraft fire and attempts to jam the wireless of the artillery-observation aircraft. When the Pups from 4 (Naval) Squadron arrived, twice the number of German Albatros fighters engaged them and some of the aircraft from over the fleet, which joined in the dogfight. The British claimed five German aircraft shot down and the fleet was enabled to complete the bombardment. A third patrol later shot down a German seaplane into Ostend harbour and lost one fighter. At 6:00 a.m. the ships weighed anchor, just as the Kaiser Wilhelm battery opened fire. Two seaplanes which attempted to approach the fleet were driven off by fighter seaplanes, which escorted the fleet home. Bacon returned with the impression that the bombardment had succeeded but aerial photographs taken the following week, revealed that about fifteen shells had landed within a few yards of the lock gates on the western side and four shells had fallen as close on the eastern side. The basin north of the locks had been hit and some damage caused to the docks but Zeebrugge remained open to German destroyers and U-boats. The Admiralty concluded that had the monitors been ready to fire as soon as the observer in the artillery-observation aircraft signalled or if the shoot had been reported throughout, the lock gates would have been hit; Bacon made preparations to bombard Ostend harbour.

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    Bruges docks and the approaches from Ostend and Zeebrugge

    Attempts to bombard Ostend on 26 and 27 May were abandoned because of poor weather but on 4 June, the bombardment ships sailed for the Ratel Bank off Ostend; the bombardment force was smaller and the covering force larger than for the Zeebrugge operation, since surprise was less likely. The Harwich Force provided four light cruisers, a flotilla leader and eight destroyers as a covering force off the Thornton Bank and a second wave of four light cruisers and eight destroyers to guard against an attack from the Schouwen Bank. The firing buoy and its bearing and range from the target were established using the Zeebrugge method and the escorting ships formed a square around the bombardment ships.

    German destroyers were sighted east of the Ratel Bank at 1:42 a.m. by HMS Lance and HMS Lochinvar which were steering towards Ostend, to establish the range and bearing of the target from the sighting buoy. The German destroyers frustrated two attempts to enter the harbour, which left the fleet without sighting data and reliant on dead reckoning. At about 2:30 a.m., gunfire was heard from the direction of the covering force to the north and at about 3:00 a.m. the bombardment force motor launches began to lay a smokescreen. At dawn the coast became visible and Bacon corrected the position by a bearing on Sint-Petrus-en-Pauluskerk. The bombardment commenced at 3:20 a.m., German coastal guns replied within minutes and fired accurately at Erebus and Terror but with no effect.
    The British bombardment ceased at 4:00 a.m., the fleet weighed anchor at 4:20 a.m. and withdrew northwards. The covering force guarded the ships from a point 5 mi (8.0 km) distant, having engaged two German destroyers as they tried to reach Zeebrugge, sinking S20 Ostend was a larger target than Zeebrugge and could be seen from the sea, which made accurate shooting easier. The dockyard was hit by twenty out of 115 shells and intelligence reports noted the sinking of a lighter, a UC-Boat and damage to three destroyers and that the German command had been made anxious about the security of the coast. Had Bacon been able to repeat the bombardments at short intervals, German naval operations from the Flanders coast would have severely been curtailed. More bombardments were planned but these were all postponed because essential conditions of tide and weather were not met. After several months the bombardments resumed but the Germans had been able to repair the damage. As the long methodical bombardments of Ostend and Zeebrugge had proved impractical, Bacon attached a large monitor to the forces which patrolled coastal barrages, ready to exploit opportunities of favourable wind and weather to bombard Zeebrugge and Ostend, which occurred several times but had no effect on the working of the ports.

    By 1917 the German defences on the Flanders coast included Kaiser Wilhelm II, a heavy artillery battery at Knocke, east of the Bruges Canal, of four 12 in (300 mm) guns, with a range of 41,000 yd (23 mi; 37 km) and the Tirpitz battery of four 11 in (280 mm) guns, with a range of 35,000 yd (32,000 m), 1.5 mi (2.4 km) west of Ostend. Two more batteries were being built in early 1917 and between the main defences were many mobile guns, entrenchments and machine-gun nests. The only vulnerable part of the German defensive system was the lock gates at Zeebrugge, the destruction of which, would make the canal to Bruges tidal and drastically reduce the number of ships and submarines which could pass along it.

    An appeal was made to the Grand Fleet for volunteers for special service on 23 February 1918. Very few of the participants were aware of the objective. The cruisers involved in the blockade, including HMS Vindictive were equipped in Chatham by over 2,000 workers for the special fitting out or stripping out (in the case of the ships to be sunk) of unnecessary equipment, including their masts. Iris, Daffodil and the submarines were converted in Portsmouth. The fleet made its rendezvous at Swin Deep, about 8 mi (7.0 nmi; 13 km) south of Clacton. The first opportunity for the raid was early April 1918 and on 2 April the fleet sailed and Zeebrugge was bombed by 65 Squadron from Dunkirk. The success of the raid depended upon smokescreens to protect the British ships from the fire of German coastal artillery but the wind direction was unfavourable and the attack was called off. Zeebrugge was visible to the fleet and the fleet to the Germans in Zeebrugge; seventy-seven ships of all sizes, some with their lights already switched off, had to make a sharp turn to the west to return to their bases.

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    The blocking of Zeebrugge

    On 23 April a second attempt was made, in conjunction with a raid on the neighbouring harbour of Ostend. The raid began with a diversion against the mile-long Zeebrugge mole. The attack was led by an old cruiser, Vindictive, with two Mersey ferries, Daffodil and Iris II. The three ships were accompanied by two old submarines, which were filled with explosives to blow up the viaduct connecting the mole to the shore. Vindictive was to land a force of 200 sailors and a battalion of Royal Marines at the entrance to the Bruges Canal, to destroy German gun positions. At the time of the landing the wind changed and the smokescreen to cover the ship was blown offshore. The marines immediately came under heavy fire and suffered many casualties. Vindictive was spotted by German gun positions and forced to land in the wrong location, resulting in the loss of the marines' heavy gun support. Eventually the submarine HMS C3 commanded by Lt. R.D. Sandford, destroyed the viaduct with an explosion. Sandford was awarded the VC (see yesterday) for this action.

    The attempt to sink three old cruisers, to block the flow of traffic in and out of the Port of Bruges-Zeebrugge failed. The failure of the attack on the Zeebrugge mole resulted in the Germans concentrating their fire on the three blocking ships, HMS Thetis, Intrepid and Iphigenia, which were filled with concrete. Thetis did not make it to the canal entrance, after it hit an obstruction and was scutlled prematurely. The two other ships were sunk at the narrowest point of the canal. The submarines C1 under Lieutenant A. C. Newbold and C3 under Sandford were old, each with a volunteer crew of one other officer and four ratings. They had five tons of amatol packed into their fore-ends and were to be driven into the viaduct and then blown up, to prevent reinforcement of the German garrison on the mole. The crews were to abandon their submarines shortly before the collision with the viaduct, leaving the submarines to steer themselves automatically. During the passage from Dover, C1 parted with its tow and arrived too late to take part in the operation. Sandford, in command of C3, elected to steer his ship into the viaduct manually instead of depending on the automatic system.

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    Channel obstructed after the raid; (Left to right) HMS Intrepid, HMS Iphigenia and HMS Thetis.

    In 1931, the official historian, Sir Henry Newbolt, wrote that before the raid, two submarines entered or left the Flanders bases each day and continued at that rate during the week after the raid. The block ships were sunk in the wrong position and the canal was only obstructed for a few days. The Germans removed two piers in the western bank of the canal near the block ships and dredged a channel through the silt near their sterns. At high tide, U-boats could move along the new channel past the block ships. The average number of passages was maintained until June, when the rate fell to about one submarine per day, to an extent due to a bombardment of Zeebrugge on 9 June. After the damage was repaired, the rate of U-boat traffic did not return to the pre-raid level. Newbolt considered that the reduced traffic was caused by the recall of some U-boats to Germany in June, after reports that operations in the Dover Straits had become too dangerous. The usual remedy of increased destroyer raids was not possible, because of the difficulty in using Zeebrugge as a harbour.

    Newbolt wrote that the raid on Zeebrugge was part of an anti-submarine campaign which had lasted for five months, using patrols and minefields to close the straits and which continued despite the most destructive sortie achieved by the Germans during the war. The British anti-submarine measures inflicted a steady attrition on the Flanders U-boats and the attack on Zeebrugge came when the German blockade of Britain was supposed to have reduced drastically the resources and endurance of the British Empire. News of the raid was skilfully exploited to raise Allied morale and to foreshadow victory Possunt quia posse videntur ("They can because they think they can"). Bacon wrote in 1931 that he was a seagoing commander with intimate knowledge of the tidal and navigational conditions in the Ostend and Zeebrugge areas; operational failures were due in part to the appointment of Keyes (an Admiralty man) and his changes to plans Bacon had laid.

    Casualties


    Of the 1,700 men involved in the operation, S. F. Wise recorded in 1981 that 300 were wounded and more than 200 killed. Kendall gave figures of 227 dead and 356 wounded. The destroyer, HMS North Star was sunk. Among the dead was Wing Commander Frank Brock, the man who devised and commanded the smoke screen. Most of the casualties were buried in England either because they died of their wounds en route or because the survivors recovered their bodies to repatriate them. The Zeebrugge plot of St James's Cemetery, Dover has nine unidentified men and fifty named men who died on 23 April 1918 but most fatalities were returned to their families for local burials. German casualties were eight dead and sixteen wounded.

    Victoria Cross (for details see yesterday)


    The Zeebrugge Raid was promoted by Allied propaganda as a British victory and resulted in the awarding of eight Victoria CrossesOf particular interest is the fact that the entire 4th Battalion Royal Marines was awarded the Victoria Cross for the action, triggering rule thirteen of the Victoria Cross warrant stipulating that a ballot must be drawn to select the recipients. Although the Victoria Cross rules specify that four Victoria Crosses should be awarded this way (one to an Officer, one to an NCO, and two to other ranks) they were not strictly adhered to and only two Victoria Crosses were awarded. It is also notable that this was the last time that Victoria Crosses were awarded by ballot, although the rule still exists within the Victoria Cross warrant. In a mark of respect to those involved in the raid the Royal Marines have never raised another 4th Battalion.

    Commemoration

    On 23 April 1964, some of the 46 survivors of the raid, families, the Mayor of Deal and a large Royal Marines honour guard held a service of commemoration for their fallen comrades at the Royal Marines barracks in Deal; a tree was planted near the officers' quarters in remembrance. A message from Winston Churchill to the ex-servicemen was read to those assembled and the event was reported in The Deal, Walmer and Sandwich Mercury newspaper on 23 and 30 April 1964. In Dover there are two memorials, the Zeebrugge Bell with memorial plaque in the Town Hall, given to Dover by the King of the Belgians in 1918 and the Zeebrugge Memorial in St James's Cemetery, where a regular memorial service is held.

    At Zeebrugge, Sergeant Norman Augustus Finch (Royal Marine Artillery) is second in command of the pom-poms and Lewis gun in the foretop of HMS Vindictive. At one period Vindictive is being hit every few seconds, but Sergeant Finch and the officer in command keep up a continuous fire, until two heavy shells make direct hits on the foretop killing or disabling everyone except Sergeant Finch who is, however, severely wounded. Nevertheless he remains in his battered and exposed position, harassing the enemy on the Mole until the foretop receives another direct hit, putting the remainder of the armament completely out of action.

    Captain Edward Bamford (Royal Marines) lands on the Mole from HMS Vindictive with three platoons of the Royal Marines storming force in the face of great difficulties. When on the Mole and under heavy fire, he commands his company with total disregard of personal danger and shows a magnificent example to his men. He first establishes a strong point on the right of the disembarkation and when satisfied that it is safe, leads an assault on a battery to the left. Both men will be awarded the Victoria Cross for their efforts on this day.

    Lieutenant Commander Arthur Leyland Harrison VC (HMS Lion, serving HMS Vindictive, Royal Navy) is killed while in the immediate command of the Naval Storming Parties embarked in HMS Vindictive. Immediately before coming alongside the Mole Lieutenant Commander Harrison is struck on the head by a fragment of a shell which breaks his jaw and knocks him senseless. Recovering consciousness he proceeds on the Mole and takes over command of his party, who are attacking the seaward end of the Mole. Though in a position fully exposed to the enemy’s machine gun he gathers his men together and leads them to the attack. His is killed at the head of his men all of whom are either killed or wounded. For his actions he is awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. He had been a member of the England Rugby Football Team in 1914 and dies at the age of 32.

    Lieutenant Commander George Nicholson Bradford (Royal Navy) becomes the third brother in his family to be killed in action. He is in command of the naval storming parties embarked on HMS Iris II and they find there is great difficulty in placing the parapet anchors when the ship comes along the Mole. Although securing the ship is not part of his duties he climbs a derrick which is projecting out over the Mole and under heavy fire with the derrick crashing against the Mole because of the violent tossing of the ship he picks a moment and jumps with the anchor. Just as he places it in position he is killed at age 30. For his actions he will be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross; the second won by his family, his brother Roland Boys Bradford who was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1916 was killed in action last November. ·

    Major Charles Edward Campbell Eagles DSO (Royal Marine Light Infantry) is killed at Zeebrugge at age 34. He is the only son of the Reverend Canon C F Eagles Vicar of Coughton and a nephew of General Eagles.

    Captain Henry Crosby Halahan DSO (Royal Navy) is killed on HMS Vindictive at age 34. His brother was lost in the Baltic in submarine E18 in June 1916.

    Lieutenant Charles Theodore Paynter (HMS North Star) is killed at age 22 when his ship gets lost in the smoke during the Zeebrugge raid and is sunk by shore batteries. He is the son of Canon Francis Samuel Paynter Rector of Springfield.

    Lieutenant George Spencer DSC (HMS Iris, Royal Naval Reserve) dies of wounds received at Zeebrugge. He is the son of the late Reverend A Eagles, the vicar of Accrington and was an officer of the White Star Line when war broke out and he immediately transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve.

    Wing Commander Frank Arthur Brock OBE (Royal Navy) is killed on the Mole at Zeebrugge. He was the inventor of the Brock anti-Zeppelin bullet, color filter, Dover flare, and the smoke apparatus used to cover the ships in the raid.

    Able Seaman Frederick William Bowlt (HMS Vindictive) is killed at age 19. His brother died on service in September 1915.

    Private Frederick Thomas Swan (Royal Marines Light Infantry) is killed at age 19. His brother was killed last July.

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    Political:

    Newfoundland: Conscription Bill introduced.

    Japan:
    Viscount Motono succeeded by Baron Goto as Foreign Minister.

    Hungarian Premier on Emperor's letter.

    Major-General Bridges, Military Adviser to Lord Reading in U.S.A.

    Guatemala declares war on Germany.

    Russian Bolshevik Government issue protest against union of Bessarabia and Rumania (see 9th and 16th, and December 10th).

    Anniversary Events:

    1348 The first English order of knighthood is founded.
    1500 Pedro Cabral claims Brazil for Portugal.
    1521 The Comuneros are crushed by royalist troops in Spain.
    1661 Charles II is formally crowned king, returning the monarchy to Britain, albeit with greatly reduced powers.
    1759 British forces seize Basse-Terre and Guadeloupe from France.
    1789 President George Washington moves into Franklin House, New York.
    1826 Missolonghi falls to Egyptian forces.
    1856 Free Stater J.N. Mace in Westport, Kansas shoots pro-slavery sheriff Samuel Jones in the back.
    1865 Union cavalry units continue to skirmish with Confederate forces in Henderson, North Carolina and Munford's Station, Alabama.
    1895 Russia, France, and Germany force Japan to return the Liaodong peninsula to China.
    1896 Motion pictures premiere in New York City.
    1914 The Federals defeat Kansas City 9-1 in the first major league game to be played in Chicago's Weeghman Park, later renamed Wrigley Field.
    1915 The ACA becomes the National Advisory Council on Aeronautics (NACA), the forerunner of NASA.
    Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 04-24-2018 at 03:38.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  4. #3204

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    Cheers Chris.

    Press seems to be working ok and DR's are ready to distribute the copies.

    (Lets hope the Hun lay off another bombardment for awhile yet).
    See you on the Dark Side......

  5. #3205

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    23rd April Post 3203, General headquarters, Air Operations; amended.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  6. #3206

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    Wednesday 24th April 1918
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    Armistice Countdown 201 days
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    Clifford William King Sadlier, VC (1892 – 28 April 1964) was born in the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell, before his family moved to Western Australia while he was still a youth.
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    Sadlier first embarked on board HT Nestor, posted to the Australian Medical Corps and allotted as a reinforcement to 1st Australian General Hospital, with which he served at Heliopolis. In February 1916 he returned to Australia on nursing duty, and on 9 November he re-embarked, on board HMAT AT Argyllshire then as a reinforcement to 51st Battalion.

    The 51st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force was raised at Tel-El-Kebir, Egypt, on 1 March 1916 from half of the 11th Battalion (veterans of the Gallipoli landings) and reinforcements of the 11th and 28th Battalions, all personnel being Western Australian volunteers. Sadlier joined the unit in France on 13 May 1917, was promoted to corporal a few days later and on 14 July 1917 was gazetted to a first appointment as a second lieutenant. Promotion to lieutenant came on 1 April 1918.

    He was 26 years old, and a lieutenant in the 51st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, when the following deed took place during the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneaux for which he was awarded the VC.

    War Office, 11th July, 1918.

    His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers and Non-Commissioned Officer: —

    On 24/25 April 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux, France, Lieutenant Sadlier's platoon had to advance through a wood where a strong enemy machine-gun post was causing casualties and preventing the advance. Although he was himself wounded, Lieutenant Sadlier at once collected his bombing section and led them against the machine-guns, killing the crews and capturing two of the guns. By this time his party were all casualties and alone he attacked a third enemy machine-gun with his revolver, killing the crew and taking the gun. In doing so, he was again wounded.The very gallant conduct of this officer was the means of clearing the flank, and allowing the battalion to move forward, thereby saving a most critical situation. His coolness and utter disregard of danger inspired all.

    Today we lost: 1,695

    Today’s losses include:
    · A Bradford City FC player
    · A Nursing Sister
    · Multiple families that will lose two children in the Great War
    · A battalion commander
    · The son of a former Aide de Camp to General Henderson
    · Multiple sons of members of the clergy
    · The brother of a Great War diarist
    · A man whose son will be killed in November 1943

    Today’s highlighted casualties include:

    · Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Grey Latham DSO MC (commanding 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment) is killed in action at age 46. He is the son of William Latham KC.
    · Captain John Patrick Francis Kennedy (Rifle Brigade) is killed in action at age 26. He is the son of ‘Sir’ John Kennedy KCMG of His Majesties Diplomatic Service and had served as Aide de Camp to General Sir Bruce Hamilton.
    · Captain Learo Aylmer Henry Hackett MC (Irish Rifles) is killed. Captain Norman Ansley Magor DSC (Royal Air Force) is killed in air combat over England at age 27. His brother was killed in air combat on the Western Front two days ago.
    · Captain Henry Harris Jago MC (Devonshire Regiment) is killed in action. His brother has been killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
    · Lieutenant Francis Sinclair Burt (Machine Gun Corps AIF) is killed in action. He is the son of the ‘Honorable’ Septimus KC and is 32 years of age.
    · Second Lieutenant John Webb Bocking (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry attached London Regiment) is killed at age 22. His brother will be killed in August and they are sons of the Reverend John Child Bocking Vicar of Gnosall.
    · Sergeant Frederick Charles Chandler (Bedfordshire Regiment) is killed at age 21. His two younger brothers will lose their lives in the Great War, the first in 1916 the second six days ago.
    · Corporal Ernest Bartholomew MM (King’s Royal Rifle Corps) is killed in action at age 24. His brother Percy was killed on 21st March
    · Lance Corporal George Henry Hainsworth (East Yorkshire Regiment) is killed at age 24. His brother will die of wounds in November.
    · Gunner Robert Torrance (Royal Field Artillery) is killed when the hospital he is in is hit by enemy shelling. He is a famous Bradford City center halfback, whose smash up tactics did a great deal to help with the Football Association English Cup for the Valley Parade Club when they met Newcastle United in the replayed final at Old Trafford in 1911. He played for the Bradford City and the Kirkintilloch Harp Football Clubs.
    · Private Joseph Swinburn (Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 37. His brother was killed last December.
    · Private Christian Munro (Australian Infantry) is killed at age 20. His brother was killed in July last year and a third brother will have his diaries published after the war as Diaries of a stretcher-bearer 1916-18.
    · Private John Edgar Garner (Leicestershire Regiment) dies of wounds at age 26. His brother was killed last month.
    · Bombardier Hary Pether Burton (Australian Field Artillery) is killed at age 21. He is the son of the Reverend Alfred Burton Rector of Swan West Australia.
    · Private Geoffrey William Edward Greatorex (Australian Infantry) is killed at age 20. He is the son of the Reverend Theophilius Greatorex Rector of Guildford Western Australia.
    · Private Edgar Woodman (Gloucestershire Regiment) is killed at age 31. His son will lose his life in November 1943 serving in the military.
    · Private Henry Fletcher Gallaher (Australian Infantry) is killed in action. His brothers were killed in June 1916 and October 1917.
    · Private Joseph Kitching (Lancashire Fusiliers) is killed at age 25. His brother died of wounds as a prisoner of war in November 1917.
    · Private Harold Edward Harrison (West Yorkshire Regiment) is killed at age 19. His step-brother was killed last October.

    Air Operations:


    Naval aircraft over Zeebrugge and Ostend.

    General Headquarters.

    “On the 24th inst. mist again hampered work in the air. Our aeroplanes on the southern part of the British front carried out several low reconnaissances, and engaged the enemy's attacking troops in the neighbourhood of Villers-Bretonneux with bombs and machine-gun fire from a very low height. Two hostile machines were brought down in combat and another was shot down in our lines by our infantry. Two of our machines are missing.

    “During the night the southern portion of the front was covered in mist, and our machines were unable to leave the ground. In the north, however, 5½ tons of bombs were dropped by us on Estaires, Armentičres, Roulers, and the railway stations at Courtrai and Thourout. All our machines returned."

    RAF Communiqué number 4:

    There were low clouds and mist all day and very little flying was possible.

    Machines of the 5th Brigade carried out several low reconnaissances and engaged with bombs and machine-gun fire the enemy's troops which were attacking in the neighbourhood of Villers-Bretonneux.

    Fifteen reconnaissances and eight contact patrols were carried out, of which five were by machines of the 5th Brigade.

    Twenty-two hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and 15 neutralized; one gun-pit was destroyed, one damaged, 14 explosions and 17 fires caused. Sixty-three zone calls were sent down.

    Twenty-six and three-quarter tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    Night 23rd/24th - 1st, Brigade: No 2 Squadron, 66 25-lb bombs on Provin, Richebourg St Vaast, Neuf Berquin and Estaires.

    3rd Brigade: No 102 Squadron, 459 25-lb bombs on roads in the neighbourhood of Bapaume.

    5th Brigade: No 101 Squadron, 126 25-lb bombs on Caix.

    7th Brigade: No 214 Squadron, 4 250-lb and 48 112-lb bombs on Courtrai Railway Station, 14 112-lb bombs on Roulers, 14 112-lb bombs on Tournai, 3 112-lb bombs on Cortemarck, 9 112-lb bombs on Lichtervelde, 16 112-lb bombs on Thourout Railway Station, and three 550-lb bombs on Zeebrugge, bursts being seen on Darse, a coke factory and the Mole.

    9th Brigade: No 58 Squadron, 16 112-lb and 115 25-lb bombs on Roulers Railway Station. No 83 Squadron, 18 112-lb and 142 25-lb bombs.

    Day 24th – 9th Brigade: No 18 Squadron, 15 112-lb and 36 25-lb bombs on Estaires, La Gorgue and Billy Montigny. 1st Wing, 46 25-lb bombs,

    2nd Brigade: No 206 Squadron, 8 230-lb bombs on Estaires. No 98 Squadron, 7 230-lb bombs on Armentičres. No 20 Squadron, 7 112-lb bombs. No 1 Squadron, 5 25-lb bombs. 2nd Wing, 28 25-lb bombs.

    3rd Brigade: No 57 Squadron, 12 112-lb bombs on Bapaume. 35 25-lb bombs.

    5th Brigade: No 205 Squadron, 4 112-lb and 24 25-lb bombs on Chaulnes Railway Junction. 15th Wing, 82 25-lb bombs. 22nd Wing, 296 25-lb bombs.

    7th Brigade: No 49 Squadron, 15 112-lb bombs on Ostend harbour and docks; 2 112-lb bombs on Westende. No 211 Squadron, 65 25-lb bombs on Ostend Harbour and docks.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft activity was very slight and no combats took place except on the front of the 5th Brigade, where a few low-flying E.A. were encountered. One E.A. was brought down in our lines by infantry, in addition to those brought down in combat.

    Capt R A Grosvenor, 84 Sqn, two-seater out of control Villers-Bretonneux at 18:10/19:10 - Capt R A Grosvenor, No 84 Squadron, shot down one E.A. out of control; Vfw Kurt Engel (Kia) & Ltn Julius Koslowski (Wia, Dow 28-Oct-1918), FA 238 ?

    Lieut C G Edwards, 209 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Warfusée - Abancourt at 18:50/19:50 - Lieut C G Edwards, No 209 Squadron, while dropping bombs near Warfusee-Abancourt, was attacked from behind by a Pfalz Scout. Lieut Edwards did a climbing turn to the right and the E.A. turned to the left and dived. Lieut Edwards then fired a short burst of 20 rounds at the E.A. which went down and crashed on the ground

    Royal Flying Corps casualties today:


    ? (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut F G Brown (Wia), 35 Sqn, AW FK8 - ground fire

    2nd-Lieut W L Thomas (Wia), 48 Sqn, Bristol F.2B – ground fire

    Lieut W L Sumison (Wia), 84 Sqn, SE5a B134 – ground fire

    Capt A W Beauchamp-Proctor (Ok), 84 Sqn, SE5a C1794 - damaged by machine-gun fire from ground on offensive patrol Amiens - St Quentin road

    Lieut H D Harrington (Pow), 65 Sqn, Camel D6436 – took off 11:20/12:20 and last seen over Villers-Bretonneux on patrol

    2nd-Lieut F C Ransley (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut C W Davies (Ok), 48 Sqn, Bristol F.2B C4886 – took off 11:25/12:25 then shot about by enemy machine-gun fire on LOP Villers-Bretonneux and returned aerodrome 12:00/13:00

    2nd-Lieut T G Jackson (Ok) & Lieut A E Ansell (Ok), 48 Sqn, Bristol F.2B A7114 – took off 13:10/14:10 then shot about by enemy machine-gun fire on LOP Villers-Bretonneux 14:10/15:10

    Capt K A Lister Kaye (Ok), 84 Sqn, SE5a C9623 – took off 15:30/16:30 then damaged by machine-gun fire from ground on offensive patrol Villers-Bretonneux and returned aerodrome 16:35/17:35

    Lieut F C Stovin (Kia), 209 Sqn, Camel B6311 – took off 16:45/17:45 then missing on special mission

    Lieut C G Edwards (Ok), 209 Sqn, Camel D3331 - shot through after dropping bombs on troops and shooting down Pfalz on special mission 18:50/19:50

    Royal Flying Corps Losses today:

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    Claims: 4 confirmed (Entente 2 : Central Powers 2)


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    Western Front:

    Battle very severe at Hangard; Germans finally capture village.

    Attacks beaten off east of Robecq and north-east of Bailleul.

    Heavy artillery fire in Woevre.

    Violent attacks on junction of British and French in Amiens sector south of Somme; Villers-Bretonneux lost.
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    The Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux (also Actions of Villers-Bretonneux, after the First Battles of the Somme, 1918) took place from 24 to 25 April 1918, during the German Spring Offensive, against the Allied lines to the east of Amiens. It is notable for the first major use of tanks by the Germans, who deployed fourteen of their twenty A7V’s and for the first tank-versus-tank battle in history. The tank battle occurred when three advancing A7Vs met and engaged three British Mark IV tanks, two of which were female tanks armed only with machine-guns. The two Mark IV females were damaged and forced to withdraw but the male tank, armed with 6-pounder guns, hit and disabled the lead A7V, which was then abandoned by its crew. The Mark IV continued to fire on the two remaining German A7Vs, which withdrew. The "male" then advanced with the support of several Whippet light tanks which had arrived, until disabled by artillery fire and abandoned by the crew. The German and British crews recovered their vehicles later in the day. A counter-attack by two Australian and one British brigade during the night of 24 April partly surrounded Villers-Bretonneux and on 25 April the town was recaptured. Australian, British and French troops restored the original front line by 27 April.

    In late 1917 and early 1918, the end of the fighting on the eastern Front allowed the Germans to transfer large numbers of men and equipment to the west. Buoyed by this but concerned that the entry of the United States into the war would negate their numerical advantage if they did not attack quickly and that massed tank attacks like that at Cambrai in November 1917 made far more areas on the Western Front vulnerable to attack, the German commander, Erich Ludendorff, chose to use the temporary numerical advantage to punch through the front line and then advance north towards the sea. In March, the Germans launched the Spring Offensive, against the Third Army and the Fifth Army on the Somme, which were understrength due to the small numbers of replacements being sent from Britain.

    In unfinished defences, the Fifth Army was forced back quickly after the first two days, as the Germans advanced under a heavy bombardment of high explosives and gas. As the Germans advanced steadily west, the Third Army also fell back on its southern flank and the railhead at Amiens was threatened with capture; Paris was bombarded by long-range guns. The Allies moved reinforcements to the Somme front and by the end of May, the German advance of the 1918 Battle of the Somme had been halted in front of Hamel. In preparation for a further attack, German railway construction companies were brought up and work undertaken to repair damaged railways in the captured ground.
    In early April, the Germans renewed their efforts, simultaneously beginning the Battle of the Lys in Flanders. The Germans managed to advance towards Villers-Bretonneux, a town on the high ground to the south of the Somme River. The terrain allowed artillery observers to see bombardments on Amiens, which was only 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) away, which was of great tactical value. On 4 April, the Germans attempted to capture the town with 15 divisions but were repulsed by troops from the British 1st Cavalry Divisiion and Australian 9th Brigade during the First Battle of Villers-Bretonneux. After the first battle, the forces that had secured the town were relieved and by late April the area around Villers-Bretonneux was largely held by the 8th Division. Although it had been one of the best British divisions it had suffered badly in the German attacks of March, losing 250 officers and about 4,700 men, reducing its infantry by half. Replacements in the latest draft from Britain included 18-year-olds with little training.

    German 2nd Army attack


    On 17/18 April, the Germans bombarded the area behind Villers-Bretonneux with mustard gas, causing 1,000 Australian casualties. On the evening of 23/24 April, an artillery barrage was fired, using mustard gas and high explosive rounds. Next morning, the Germans attacked the village with four divisions. The German infantry, with fourteen supporting tanks (one was unserviceable), broke through the 8th Division, making a 3-mile (4.8 km) wide gap in the Allied line. Villers-Bretonneux fell to the Germans and the railway junction of Amiens became vulnerable to capture. After the Germans took Villers-Bretonneux, the first engagement between opposing tanks took place. Three British Mark IV tanks from No. 1 Section, A Company, 1st Battalion, Tank Corps had been dispatched to the Cachy switch line, at the first reports of German advance and were to hold it against the Germans. One was a "male" (the No. 1 Tank of the section) armed with two 6-pounder guns and machine guns, under the command of Lieutenant Frank Mitchell. It was crewed by only four of the normal crew of eight, as the others had been gassed. The other tanks were "females" armed with 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine-guns, for use against infantry. All were advancing when they encountered a German A7V, "Nixe" of Abteilung III Imperial German Tank Force, commanded by 2nd Lieutenant Wilhelm Biltz.

    Nixe fired on the two "females", damaging them to the extent that it left holes in the hull leaving the crew exposed. Both retreated; their machine guns were unable to penetrate the armour on the German tank. Mitchell's "male" Mark IV continued to fire at the A7V, while on the move to avoid German artillery fire and the gun of the German tank. The movement meant Mitchell's gunner had difficulty in aiming the 6-pounders. The tanks fired at each other on the move, until the Mark IV stopped to allow the gunner a clear shot and the gunner scored three hits (a total of six shell hits). Nixe heeled over on its side, possible as a result of crossing an incline at the wrong angle. The surviving German crew (out of 18 men), including Biltz, alighted from the vehicle and the British fired at them as they fled on foot, killing nine.

    The British tank was next faced by two more A7Vs, supported by infantry; Mitchell's tank fired several ranging shots at the German tanks and they retreated. Mitchell's tank continued to attack the German infantry, firing case-shot. Seven of the new British Whippet medium tanks arrived, attacked the Germans, encountered some battalions "forming up in the open" and killed many infantry with their machine-guns and by running them down. Mitchell later remarked that when they returned their tracks were covered with blood. Only four of the seven Whippets came back, the rest were destroyed by artillery and five crew were killed.

    Being the last tank on the field and slow moving, the Mark IV became a target for German artillery and Mitchell ordered the tank back, manoeuvring to try to avoid the shells but a mortar round disabled the tracks. The crew left the tank, escaping to a British-held trench, much to the surprise of the troops in it. Leutnant Biltz and his crew boarded "Nixe" and withdrew. The tank was eventually broken up for spares in June 1918. Earlier in the day, another tank in the same group as Biltz, A7V No 506 "Mephisto", had fallen onto its side and been abandoned. The tank was recovered by Australian and British troops some three months later.

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    Update: April 24 1918, Villers-Bretonneux
    –After a respite of a few days to let his armies recuperate, Ludendorff ordered a final push to seize the heights south of Ypres. This was to be preceded by a resumption of the attack towards Amiens, stalled earlier in the month. This attack was to be supported by 13 of Germany’s new A7V–more than half the total Germany would produce during the war. The Germans took the town of Villers-Bretonneux on April 24, and while pushing on past the town, an A7V encountered three British Mark IV tanks. It quickly force the two “female” tanks (armed only with machine guns) to withdraw. The male tank, however, scored several hits on the A7V, forcing the crew to bail out. The British tank later engaged two more A7Vs later in the day, driving them off before being disabled by mortar fire; the Germans would capture the tank after the crew abandoned it. The Germans, however, would themselves lose two additional tanks that tipped over during the fighting due to their high center of gravity; the British would recover one from no man’s land three weeks later, and the other when the Germans lost the area during the summer.

    The Germans had lost three of their tanks (a full 15% of their wartime production) during the battle, and even their gains during the day proved ephemeral. An Australian-led counterattack at 10PM recaptured Villers-Brettoneux along with 600 German PoWs; Amiens would not be seriously threatened again during the war.

    Fourth Army counter-attack


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    A captured "female" Mark IV tank C14 in 1917

    About noon the 1st Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters had attempted a counter-attack. The British 25th Brigade was considered for an attack but this was cancelled. A tank with troops from the 2nd Royal Berskshires made a spontaneous attack from the north, pushing the German line back about 150 yards (140 m). General Henry Rawlinson had responded even before he received orders from Marshal Ferdinand Foch to recapture the town. At 9:30 a.m. he ordered an immediate counter-attack by the Australian 13th Brigade under General Thomas William Glasgow and the 15th Brigade under General H.E. “Pompey” Elliott, both in reserve, though the 13th Brigade had suffered many casualties at Dernancourt nearby. Rawlinson intended an enveloping attack, the 15th Brigade attacking north of the town and the 13th Brigade attacking to the south. British troops would support and the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment and the 22nd Durham Light Infantry would follow through in the gap between the Australians and "mop up" the town, once it was isolated. Artillery support was available but since German positions were unknown and to avoid alerting the Germans, there was no preparatory barrage to soften up the German positions. Instead the artillery would bombard the town for the hour once the attack began and then move its line of fire back beyond the line held by the Allies before the German attack.

    The attack took place on the night of 24/25 April, after a postponement from 8:00 p.m. Glasgow argued that it would still be light, with terrible consequences for his men and that the operation should start at 10:00 p.m. and "zero hour" was eventually set for 10:00 p.m. The operation began with German machine gun crews causing many Australian casualties. A number of charges against machine-gun posts helped the Australian advance; in particular, Lieutenant Cliffor Sadler of the 51st Battalion, was awarded the VC, after attacking with hand-grenades. The two brigades swept around Villers-Bretonneux and the Germans retreated, for a while escaping the pocket along a railway cutting. The Australians eventually captured the German positions and pushed the German line back, leaving the German troops in Villers-Bretonneux surrounded. The British units attacked frontally and suffered many casualties. By 25 April, the town had been recaptured and handed back to the villagers. The battle was a great success for the Australian troops, who had defeated the German attempt to capture Amiens and recaptured Villers-Bretonneux while outnumbered; the village remained in Allied hands to the end of the war.

    Fighting continued in Villers-Bretonneux and the vicinity for months after the counter-attack. The Australians spent ANZAC Day in hand-to-hand fighting and the town was not secured until 27 April.

    The fighting around Villers-Bretonneux in April resulted in the following Allied casualties: the Australian brigades had taken 2,473 casualties, British casualties were 9,529 and French losses were c. 3,500. German losses were 8,000–10,400 men.



    Eastern Front:

    Manchuria: Cossacks under Colonel Semenov defeat 500 armed Hungarian prisoners of war and drive them back towards Chita.

    Southern Front:

    Macedonia: Lively fighting west of Doiran and in Cherna Bend.

    Tunstills Men Wednesday 24th April 1918:


    Billets at Cornedo Vicentino

    The day was punctuated with heavy thunderstorms and it would be noted that, for the early part of the stay at Cornedo “owing to the bad weather very little training could be carried out, but in spite of this a large amount was done on improvised ranges and bayonet fighting courses”. The Brigade War Diary noted that, “On arrival in this area there were few training facilities and some difficulty was found in choosing good training grounds owing to cultivation. However, after careful reconnaissance one, 100 yards range per Battalion and one Divisional range, up to 1,200 yards, were constructed. Also, one bullet and bayonet course was made in the Brigade area. Schemes in hill warfare were practised on several occasions and a good deal of work with the helio was put in, there being no telephone communications whatever in this area”.

    Despite the inauspicious start, Pte. Harold Charnock (see 21st April) would later recall that, “At Cornedo, which was in beautiful country amid the foothills, we made and used a rifle range, practiced hill warfare and enjoyed good billets”. It was also noted that, “The weather here has been very changeable just lately, plenty of rain but we have had it hot now and again. We can get plenty to eat were we are just now, such as fruit and eggs. The scenery is also very pretty”.

    Pte. Benjamin Tetley (see 15th April) was appointed (unpaid) Lance Corporal.

    Pte. Willie Holmes (see 21st March) was reported by CQMS Edgar Shuttleworth (see 23rd September 1917) for “losing by neglect clasp knife and bully beef”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 22nd April) he was to be deprived of seven days’ pay and to pay for the lost items.

    Pte. Edwin Haley (see 16th December 1917) was reported by CQMS. Thomas Winder (see 5th January) for “losing by neglect his toothbrush”; on the orders of Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see 24th March) he was to pay for the lost item.

    Pte. James Grubb (see 25th November 1917) was reported by Sgt. William Walker Rossall MM (see 6th April) as being “late on parade and hesitating to obey an order, ie hesitating to fall in when required to”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see above) he was to undergo seven days’ Field Punishment no.2.

    Ptes. Joseph Foulkes (see 5th October 1917), Richard Henry Harris (see 3rd December 1917) and John William Mallinson (see 30th March) were also ordered to be deprived of seven days’pay; the details of their offences are unknown.

    Pte. Tom Lister Ellison (see 13th April) was discharged from 23rd Division Rest Station and re-joined the Battalion; he had been suffering from diarrhoea.

    Pte. Richard Cleasby Chorley (see 18th April) re-joined the Battalion, having been on attachment for almost a year to 223rd Employment Company.

    A payment of 10s. 11d. was issued to Anthony Gallagher, brother of the Pte. Michael Gallagher (see 27th August 1917), who had been killed in action on 22nd May 1917. This was the final payment to one of Gallagher’s siblings, the other payments having been issued in August 1917.

    A payment of £16 3s. 5d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Walter Robinson (see 4th January), who had been killed in action while serving with 1st/6th DWR in France; the payment would go to his father, Albert.

    A second payment, of £1, was authorised on the account of the late Pte. James Herbert Armstrong (see 21st February) who had been killed in action on 18th October 1917; the payment would go to his mother and father, Mary and James, as joint legatees.

    A second payment, of 11s. 11d., was authorised, on the account of the late Pte. Herbert Kitley (see 26th February) who had been killed in action on 9th October 1917; the payment would go to his father, John.

    Asiatic, African, Egyptian Front:


    During past week, a 53-mile section of Hejaz railway south of Maan effectively occupied by Arab troops.

    Naval Operations:


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    Political:

    Rectification of Anglo-Turkish agreement for exchange of prisoners announced.

    French papers publish Lichnowsky memorandum in full.

    Hungary: Count Serenyi tries to form Ministry; and fails next day.

    Anniversary Events:

    858 St. Nicholas I begins his reign as Catholic Pope.
    1519 Envoys of Montezuma II attend the first Easter mass in Central America.
    1547 Charles V's troops defeat the Protestant League of Schmalkalden at the Battle of Muhlberg.
    1558 Mary, Queen of Scotland, marries the French dauphin, Francis.
    1792 Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle composes "La Marseillaise". It will become France's national anthem.
    1800 The Library of Congress is established in Washington, D.C. with a $5,000 allocation.
    1805 U.S. Marines attack and capture the town of Derna in Tripoli from the Barbary pirates.
    1833 A patent is granted for the first soda fountain.
    1877 Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire.
    1884 Otto von Bismarck cables Cape Town, South Africa that it is now a German colony.
    1898 Spain declares war on United States, rejecting an ultimatum to withdraw from Cuba.
    1915 Turks of the Ottoman Empire begin massacring the Armenian minority in their country.
    1916 Irish nationalists launch the Easter Uprising against British occupation.
    Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 04-25-2018 at 14:06.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  7. #3207

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    Apologies still having internet problems wil post pics etc tonight.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  8. #3208

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    Got the pics in at last.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  9. #3209

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    Right last missing edition posted - all 100% up to date now. Thank you for your patience

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  10. #3210

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    Thursday 25th April 1918
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    Armistice Countdown 200 days
    Today we lost: 2,107
    Today’s losses include:

    · Multiple families that will lose two, three and four sons in the Great War
    · Multiple sons of members of the clergy
    · A 25-victory ace
    · The son of Albert Whelan a famous Australian entertainer of the era
    · The Assistant Scout Master of the 1st Chadwell Heath Boy Scouts

    Today’s highlighted casualties include:

    · Captain Henry Ellis Robinson (Royal Army Medical Corps attached West Yorkshire Regiment) is killed at age 32. His brother was killed in August 1916 and they are sons of the Reverend Edward Cecil Robinson.
    · Captain Stanley Wallace Rosevear DSC (Royal Air Force) is accidentally killed at age 23. He is a 25-victory ace.
    · Captain James Beverley Metcalfe DSO MC (Australian Army Medical Corps) dies of wounds. His brother died of wounds last October.
    · Lieutenant Cyril Whelan (Royal Air Force) is killed as the result of a mid-air collision at 19 in England. He is the son of Albert Whelan a famous Australian entertainer of the 1900’s.
    · Second Lieutenant Clifford Robinson Hames (Royal Air Force) is accidentally killed while landing at Dover at age 23. He is the son of the Reverend Arthur Benjamin Hames.
    · Second Lieutenant Joseph Holt Royley (West Yorkshire Regiment) is killed at age 27. His brother was killed in September 1916.
    · Second Lieutenant Aubrey Herbert Bower Webster (Northamptonshire Regiment) is killed at age 27. He is the son of the Reverend John Webster Vicar of Ombersley.
    · Sergeant Daniel Thomas Whetton (Yorkshire Regiment) is killed at age 22. His brother was killed last October.
    · Lance Corporal Thomas Augustus Paris (London Regiment) is killed in action at age 21. He is the Assistant Scout Master 1st Chadwell Heath Boy Scouts.
    · Lance Corporal Douglas S Hamilton (Royal Scots) is killed at age 18. He enlisted when he was 16 years old and was released when discovered to be under age and rejoined one month before his 18th
    · Lance Corporal Arthur William Souls MM (Cheshire Regiment) is killed in action at age 31, five days after his twin brother was killed. Three other brothers will also be killed in the Great War.
    · Gunner Leonard Twigg (Royal Garrison Artillery) is killed. His two brothers were killed in July 1916.
    · Gunner Charles Alfred Spivey (Royal Field Artillery) dies of wounds at age 30. His brother will be killed in September.
    · Gunner Albert Sprudd (Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 27. His brother will be killed next October.
    · Sapper Herbert Walburn (Royal Engineers) is killed in action at age 33. His brother was killed in August 1916.
    · Private Walter Joy Cleaver (Bedfordshire Regiment) is killed by a sniper at age 28. His brother was killed earlier this month in Palestine.
    · Private George Gordon (Australian Infantry) is killed at age 30. His brother was killed last January.
    · Private George T Wayman (East Yorkshire Regiment) is killed at age 23. His brother was killed last July.

    Air Operations:

    Captain John Robinson with Lieutenant Russell carries out a photo recon of Bruges and Zeebrugge. The photos expose eleven plates over Bruges dock and five plates over Zeebrugge Harbor and the Mole. Three enemy aircraft are observed off Ostend, which make towards the flight but they turn away when the British machines turn to attack. Heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire is experienced over Bruges, the machine being hit in several places, the main spar of the lower starboard plane being badly shattered and also the rear flying wire. A piece of shrapnel enters the pilots view finder, smashing the watch on the dashboard and scratching the pilot’s face, nevertheless the crew carry on and take their photographs of Zeebrugge

    Belgium's top-scoring ace, Willy Coppens, claims his first victory.
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    General Headquarters.

    “On the 25th inst. mist during the morning and thunderstorms later in the day prevented much flying being accomplished until the evening. In the northern area, however, the enemy's positions in the neighbourhood of Kemmel were reconnoitred by our machines, our pilots being compelled to fly within a few feet of the ground in order to make observation possible. Six hundred and fifty bombs were dropped by us on Menin, Roulers, Armentieres, and on the enemy's billets. Ten hostile machines were brought down in air fighting and two others were driven down out of control. Four other German machines were shot down by anti-aircraft gunfire and one by fire from our infantry. Two of our machines are missing."

    RAF Communiqué number 4:

    There were low clouds and mist with occasional bright intervals.

    Ten reconnaissances were carried out, the majority at a low height. Twenty-two contact patrols were carried out by machines of the 1st, 2nd and 5th Brigades and one long-distance photographic flight by the 9th Brigade.

    One hostile battery was successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation. Five zone calls were sent down.

    Fifteen tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    Night 24th/25th – 1st Brigade: No 214 Squadron, 56 112-lb and three 550-lb bombs on Courtrai Railway Station. 14 112-lb bombs on Thourout Railway Station.

    9th Brigade: No 58 Squadron, 2 112-lb and 14 25-lb bombs on Estaires. 8 112-lb and 53 25-lb bombs on Armentieres. No 83 Squadron, 10 112-lb and 78 25-lb bombs on Roulers.

    Day 25th – 1st Brigade: No 18 Squadron, 9 112-lb and 19 25-lb bombs on Laventies, Estaires, Pont du Hem and La Bassee. No 46 Squadron, 53 25-lb bombs. No 40 Squadron, 21 25-lb bombs. No 203 Squadron, 52 25-lb bombs. No 208 Squadron, 28 25-lb bombs. 1st Wing, 32 25-lb bombs.

    2nd Brigade: No 98 Squadron, 7 230-lb bombs on Armentieres and Gheluwe. No 206 Squadron, seven 230-lb bombs on Merville, Le Quesnoy and Estaires. No 20 Squadron, 9 112-lb bombs. No 74 Squadron, 46 25-lb bombs. No 1 Squadron, 26 25-lb bombs. No 54 Squadron, 20 25-lb bombs.

    3rd Brigade: 20 25-lb bombs.

    5th Brigade: 15th Wing, 47 25-lb bombs. 22nd Wing, 180 25-lb bombs.

    7th Brigade: No 49 Squadron, 8 112-lb bombs on Roulers, 6 112-lb bombs on Kayem, Slyppe and Moorslede Aerodrome. No 211 Squadron, 30 25-lb bombs on Roulers, 40 25-lb bombs on Beerst.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    In the early morning low-flying E.A. were active on the 2nd Brigade front; during the remainder of the day there was practically no activity until after 5 p.m., when the weather cleared considerably and several combats took place. Four hostile machines were brought down by A.A. and two by infantry in addition to those brought down in combat.

    Enemy machines were driven down out of control by the following: Capt R A Grosvenor, No 84 Squadron (two); Capt J V Sorsoleil. No 84 Squadron; Lieut H W L Saunders, No 84 Squadron; Capt G H Hackwill, No 54 Squadron; Capt C C Clark, No 1 Squadron.

    Capt G H Hackwill, 54 Sqn, LVG C out of control south-east of Bailleul at 07:30/08:30 - Dived on LVG and after firing 100 rounds went down out of control; confirmed by J Battery A.A.

    Capt C J Marchant, 2nd-Lieut J H Smith and 2nd-Lieut P M Tudhope, 46 Sqn, LVG C crashed north of Hinges at 08:30/09:30 – combat report marked 'No'

    Capt C J Marchant, 2nd-Lieut P M Tudhope and 2nd-Lieut J H Smith, 46 Sqn, LVG C crashed north of Hinges at 08:30/09:30 – combat report marked 'No'

    Lieut R Manzer, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout broke up north of Abancourt at 17:00/18:00 - Lieut R Manzer, No 84 Squadron, in a general engagement between his patrol and a formation of E.A. scouts, observed one E.A. on the tail of one of our machines. Lieut Manzer fired at it from both guns from a range of about 50 yards and continued his bursts until within about 30 yards of the E.A. which stalled and fell in a vertical dive, followed for a short distance by Lieut Manzer, who eventually had to leave the E.A. as he was attacked by three other scouts. The E.A. he had shot down out of control, was seen to collapse in the air

    Capt J V Sorsoleil, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Wiencourt at 17:00/18:00 -

    Lieut E A Clear, 84 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed south of Hangard Wood at 17:00/18:00 - Lieut E A Clear, No 84 Squadron, fired a good burst with both guns into one E.A. scout; he then dived at it and the E.A. went down in a very steep dive and crashed near the railway east of Wiencourt; Uffz August Meyer, Jasta 34b, Kia [?]

    Capt R A Grosvenor, 84 Sqn, Pfalz Scout broke up east of Wiencourt at 17:00/18:00 - Capt R A Grosvenor, No 84 Squadron, whilst on patrol observed five E.A. scouts upon which his formation dived; he engaged one E.A. at close range and it started to dive, followed by Capt Grosvenor to about 4,000 feet when the top right-hand plane of the E.A. crumpled up

    Capt R A Grosvenor, 84 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control east of Wiencourt at 17:00/18:00 -

    Capt R A Grosvenor, 84 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control east of Wiencourt at 17:00/18:00 -

    Lieut H W L Saunders, 84 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Wiencourt at 17:00/18:00 -

    Capt J V Sorsoleil, 84 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames Wiencourt at 17:05/18:05 - Capt J V Sorsoleil, No 84 Squadron, whilst on patrol observed five E.A. scouts, two of which were being engaged by one of our machines. He dived on one and fired along burst from both guns into it. The E.A. went down vertically, emitting smoke, and finally burst into flamesc1c1

    Lieut R H Little & A/Sergt W Beales, 48 Sqn, Rumpler C crashed [by Beales] east of Harbonnieres at 17:05/18:05 - Lieut R H Little & Sergt W Beales, No 48 Squadron, attacked an E.A. two-seater and fired a drum of Buckingham into it from a range of 300 yards. The E.A. put its nose down and flew into the ground, crashing one mile west of Harbonnieres

    Lieut E A Clear, 84 Sqn, two-seater crashed south of Hangard Wood at 17:10/18:10 - Lieut E A Clear, No 84 Squadron, while returning home, saw an E.A. two-seater flying around Hangard. He dived on it and fired a good burst from long range, the E.A. turning east and shortly afterwards coming back. Lieut Clear dived again without any apparent result and the E.A. again turned east. Lieut Clear then flew into the clouds for a short time, and finally made another attack on the E.A. which went down out of control and crashed south of Hangard Wood, bursting into flames upon hitting the ground; Vzfw Johannes Grunenberg (Kia) & ? (Ok), FA 223 [?]

    Capt J Gilmour, 65 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames north of Lamotte at 18:00/19:00 - Capt J Gilmour, No 65 Squadron, dived on a formation of seven E.A. scouts and attacked the rear machine. After firing a short burst into it the E.A. went down in flames

    Lieut K C Mills, 1 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed Becelaere at 18:45/19:45 - Lieut K C Mills, No 1 Squadron, with the rest of his patrol dived on a formation of E.A. scouts, but owing to engine trouble was cut off from his patrol. He was then attacked by two triplanes and two E.A. scouts; after manoeuvring for some time, he fired a good burst with both guns at close range into one of the triplanes which went down vertically with black smoke coming out and was seen to crash between Becelaere and Dadizeele

    Capt C C Clark, 1 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Houthem - Zillebeke at 18:50/19:50 - Dived on Pfalz scout and after firing 200 rounds it turned on its side and went down on its back, engine full on. Confirmed by Lieut C C Mills.

    Lieut F A S Nesbitt, 1 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Houthem at 18:55/19:55 -

    Lieut J C Bateman, 1 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Houthem at 18:55/19:55 -

    Lieut W Beaver & Corpl M.B.Mather, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames north of Ploegsteert Wood at 19:35/20:35 - Lieut W Beaver & Corpl M B Mather, No 20 Squadron, whilst on a long-distance reconnaissance, attacked five E.A. scouts over Ploegsteert Wood. Getting to within 200 yards of the nearest E.A., Lieut Beaver fired a burst of 100 rounds into it and the E.A. went down out of control and burst into flames on the ground just north of Ploegsteert Wood; Ltn King, Jasta 40, Kia [?]

    Royal Flying Corps casualties today:

    2nd-Lieut A E G Williams (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut N Bowden (Kia), 35 Sqn, AW FK8 C8552 - struck by a shell on artillery patrol Cachy

    Lieut C J Gillan (Pow) & Lieut W Duce (Pow), 48 Sqn, DH9 C6079 - last seen gliding down with engine ticking over at 300 feet over Gheluwe going west during bombing

    2nd-Lieut G J Hutcheson (Wia) & ? (Ok), 53 Sqn, RE8 – combat?; Vzfw Otto Gustav Wandelt, Js43, 3rd victory [Fletre at 08:40/09:40] or Vzfw Hans Schorn, Js16, 1st victory [Dyckebusch See at 10:15/11:15] ?

    2nd-Lieut C B Hunt (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut P H Whitwell (Kia), 4 Sqn, RE8 B5102 - attacked by EA and crashed Sh27.w.28.B.0.8 [north of Strazeele] 07:45/08:45 on contact patrol

    Lieut G W T Glasson (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut W W Porter (Ok), 53 Sqn, RE8 B7827 - shot through in attack by 2 EA 08:45/09:45 on CAP

    Capt H M Gibbs (Wia) & Lieut A Lomax (Wia), 53 Sqn, RE8 B6615 – took off 09:15/10:15 then wounded in combat on counter attack patrol Kemmel; Vzfw Fritz Schattauer, Js16, 6th victory [east of Reninghelst at 09:50/10:50], Reninghelst is south-east of Poperinghe and Kemmel is south-east of Reninghelst

    Lieut H W Holmes (Wia) & Lieut H G Hooker (Ok), 10 Sqn, AW FK8 C8553 - crashed into shell holes Sh28N5a38 [?] 10:45/11:45 after being damaged by machine-gun fire on counter attack patrol and last seen on fire

    Lieut C J Gillan (Pow) & Lieut W Duce (Pow), 98 Sqn, DH9 C6079 – took off 11:30/12:30 and last seen gliding down well over lines between Gheluvelt and Gheluwe going west during bomb raid

    2nd-Lieut A N Baker (Pow; Dow), 73 Sqn, Camel D1776 – took off 12:00/13:00 and last seen east of Messines under control just before engaging enemy Triplanes on patrol; Ltn Karl Bolle, Js2, 7th victory [Nieuwkerke - Wulverghen at 13:25/14:25] ?

    Capt T Colvill-Jones (Pow; Dow 24-May-18) & 1/AM F Finney (Pow), 48 Sqn, Bristol F.2B B1126 – took off 16:05/17:05 and last seen diving on EA at 8,000 feet over Wiencourt 17:00/18:00 on patrol Villers Brettoneux; Vzfw Kurt Kressner, Js5, 1st victory [Marcelcave, no time] ? Wiencourt is little more than 2 Km east of Marcelcave

    2nd-Lieut M L Newnham (Ok), 65 Sqn, Camel D1801 – took off 17:00/18:00 then attacked enemy 2-seater and was attacked by 5 Albatros Scouts and force landed Sh62d.T.24.b.6.8 [south of Gerntelles] on offensive patrol

    Capt K A Lister-Kaye (Wia), 84 Sqn, SE5a D276 - hit telegraph pole in forced landing Blangy Tronville 17:15/18:15 after engine hit by hostile fire from E.A. and seized during offensive patrol

    Lieut W Selwyn (Ok), 24 Sqn, SE5a C9518 – took off 16:15/17:15 then longeron shot through while attacking ground targets, returned aerodrome 17:25/18:25


    Royal Flying Corps Losses today:

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    Claims: 31 confirmed (Entente 25 : Central Powers 6)

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    Western Front:


    Very strong attack on British and French from Bailleul to Hollbeke.

    South of Somme Allies recapture Villers-Bretonneux with 600 prisoners.

    In the Woevre, after heavy bombardment, German attack is stopped.

    Germans reach Mt. Kemmel; Allied line forced back.

    Second Battle of Kemmel (25–26 April)


    French marshal, Foch, had recently assumed supreme command of the Allied forces and on 14 April agreed to send French reserves to the Lys sector. A French division relieved the British defenders of the Kemmelberg.

    From 25–26 April, the Fourth Army made a sudden attack on the Kemmelberg with three divisions and captured it. This success gained some ground but it made no progress toward a new break in the Allied line

    Whilst the Australians were enjoying their success on the Somme at Villers-Bretonneux, the French on Mont Kemmel were about to go through hell in Flanders.

    At 02:30 hours on 25 April 1918 over 250 batteries of German guns opened up on Allied artillery positions with a mixture of gas and high explosive. For the next two hours they concentrated solely on destroying gun emplacements.

    After a short pause, at 05:00 hours the German barrage was switched to the French front line.

    French soldiers who had survived the horrors of Verdun described it as the worst they had ever encountered.

    Opposite a single French Division were amassed three and a half German Divisions. An hour of such a furious bombardment was considered sufficient by the Germans and at 06:00 hours they launched their infantry to the attack.

    By 07:10 hours Kemmel Hill was theirs and by 10:30 hours it was all over.

    Even the German airforce had joined in with 96 aircraft dropping 700 bombs and machine gunning the French positions as the Leib Regiment of the élite Alpine Corps (In fact a Division) stormed forward.

    The fact that the French Ossuary on the hill contains the remains of more than 5000 unidentifiable soldiers, mostly, from fighting in this area in April says more about the fury of the bombardment than mere words.

    To the south and west of Ieper are a number of high hills, including the Kemmelberg (Mont Kemmel), Mont Noir (Zwarteberg) and the Mont des Cats (Identified today by its abbey and massive aerial).

    It was reasoned that if the Germans could take these hills that the British would be forced to relinquish Ieper.

    For those who have never seen this part of the frontier between France and Belgium, it is almost flat except for these great hills — Flanders actually means: the flooded land. Mont Kemmel at 159 metres gives out onto a truly commanding view of the entire battlefield and area south of Ieper.

    Eastern Front:

    Finland: Germans report junction with Finnish army 30 miles north of Helsingfors.

    Ukraine: Germans announced to be near Sevastopol.

    Southern Front:


    In Asiago basin British patrols force enemy detachments to retire.

    Tunstills Men Thursday 25th April 1918:

    Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

    A very hot day.

    2Lt. William George Wade (see 29th June 1917) was promoted Lieutenant.

    2Lt. James Henry Midgley reported for duty with the Battalion. He was 21 years old, originally from Halifax, and had first enlisted in December 1915, having spent eight months with the University of London OTC while training as a teacher. He had served in France with 21st (Pioneer) Battalion, West Yorks. between June 1916 and July 1917, rising to the rank of Acting Lance Sergeant. He had then been posted back to England for a course of officer training with 16th Officer Cadet Battalion at Rhyl and had been commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant on 30th January 1918.

    Pte. James Grubb (see 24th April), who had been put on a charge the previous day, was now reported by Sgt. John William Wardman MM (see 7th January), Cpl. Stanley Vyvyan Golledge (see 2nd February) and Pte. Albert Reynolds (see 27th March) as being “absent from billets at 8.30am”; he would be apprehended by Wardman at 8.45pm. Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 24th April) would order Grubb to undergo a further seven days’ Field Punishment no.2.

    Pte. Louis Charles Preen (see 21st March) was also reported as absent from his billet at 8.30am, but he had been detained by 9.45am. However, Preen had then escaped from confinement and had not been apprehended.

    Pte. Joseph Haywood (see 22nd April) was reported by Sgt. Fred Perry (see below) as “when on active service, drunk in the village”; on the orders of Lt. Col. Lethbridge he was to undergo seven days’ Field Punishment no.2.

    Sgt. Fred Perry had previously served with 8DWR and 2DWR; the circumstances under which he had joined 10DWR are unknown and I am, as yet, unable to make a positive identification of this man.

    Pte. James Butterworth (see 21st March) was reported as having “dirty SAA on inspection”; on the orders of Lt. Thomas Beattie (see 30th March) he was to be confined to barracks for seven days.

    Pte. Claude Wilfred Norman (see 21st October 1917) was ordered to be deprived of seven days’ pay; the nature of his offence is unknown.

    Pte. Bertram Edwin Earney (see 24th March) re-joined from leave; the reason for his delayed return is unclear.

    Capt. Hugh William Lester MC (see 19th March) was posted to France on secondment as Brigade Major to 11th Infantry Brigade.

    Ptes. Frank Dunn (see 23rd March) and Frank Tucker (see 8th January) were posted to XIV Corps Reinforcement Camp at Arquata Scrivia.

    Pte. John Henry Evison (see 31st December 1917) was admitted via 69th Field Ambulance to 23rd Division Rest Station; he was suffering from “ICT (inflammation of connective tissue) general”.

    2Lt. Charles Leonard Chorley (see 31st July 1917), serving with 2nd/5th Lancashire Fusiliers, was killed in action near Givenchy; he was a former member of 10DWR and brother of L.Cpl. Richard Cleasby Chorley (see 18th April). The circumstances of his death would be reported in the History of the Lancashire Fusiliers, “At 2.30 p.m. a company from the 2nd/5th Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel G.S. Brighten, D.S.O.) under Captain L.J. Sutton and one from the 1st/4th King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment attacked under a heavy barrage. The King's Own were successful in gaining their objectives, but the 2nd/5th were less fortunate, partly owing to the barrage not covering two important points on the frontage attacked. Nevertheless, distinguished gallantry was shown by a number of men, particularly by Private N. Turner who, when the advance of his party up a trench was checked, climbed on to the parapet under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and bombed the Germans back, enabling his platoon to get forward. He was wounded early in the operation, but refused to go back and continued to bring messages to his platoon commander, Second-Lieutenant C.L. Chorley, and supplies of bombs to the forward troops, in spite of heavy shelling and machine-gun fire. Chorley fell mortally wounded, but Turner refused to leave him although the enemy, who had brought up reserves and had begun a counter-attack, were advancing. Indeed Turner, almost single-handed, held the Germans off for some time so as to enable Chorley to be taken back. For nearly six hours altogether from start to finish Turner was engaged in bombing encounters, often at very close quarters. The German counter-attack proved too strong and the company had to fight its way back to its starting point... Private Turner received the Distinguished Conduct Medal”. Although it would appear that Chorley would most likely have been buried, the site of his grave was lost in subsequent fighting and he is now commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

    Pte. Edmund Peacock (see 6th February) was posted back to France from 3DWR at North Shields; he would join 1st/4th DWR.

    Pte. Arthur Butterfield (see 5th July 1916), who had been wounded in July 1916, was posted to 2/6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry; in the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish what had happened to him on the intervening period.

    2Lt. Charles George Edward White (see 31st August 1917), who had been in England since having been accidentally wounded in August 1917, was promoted Lieutenant.

    George Henry Roberts (see 28th September 1917), formerly of 10th Battalion, who had relinquished his commission in September 1917 following a serious injury sustained while playing football, applied for a commission in the Royal Defence Corps. His application would be rejected on account of the number of officers already available.

    Naval Operations:


    Four small British war vessels are lost. The sloop Cowslip is torpedoed and lost, losing five officers and one man. Meanwhile, Torpedo boat #90 founders during heavy weather with the loss of one officer and twelve men. Also lost is the St Seiriol taking 12 of her crew down with her. The special service ship Willow Branch, also known as Bombala is also lost

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    Political:


    Mr. Churchill reviews work of Ministry of Munitions.

    Lord Rothermere (Air Ministry) resigns.

    Australia: Mr. Hughes and Mr. Cook appointed to represent Australia at War Conference.

    Mr. Loudon, Dutch Foreign Minister, says relations with Germany difficult.

    German demands for use of Limburg railway agreed to.

    Red Cross sale ļæ½151,000.

    Anniversary Events:

    1590 The Sultan of Morocco launches a successful attack to capture Timbuktu.
    1644 The Ming Chongzhen emperor commits suicide by hanging himself.
    1707 At the Battle of Almansa, Franco-Spanish forces defeat the Anglo-Portugese forces.
    1719 Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe is published in London.
    1792 The guillotine is first used to execute highwayman Nicolas J. Pelletier.
    1859 Work begins on the Suez Canal in Egypt.
    1862 Admiral David Farragut occupies Hew Orleans, Louisiana.
    Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 04-25-2018 at 14:21.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  11. #3211

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    Post 3206, 24th April updated.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  12. #3212

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    Friday 26th April 1918
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    Armistice Countdown 199 days
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    James Hewitson VC (15 October 1892 – 2 March 1963) was born in Coniston, Lancashire, 15 October 1892, He was a 25 years old lance-corporal in the 1/4th Battalion, The King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
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    On 26 April 1918 at Givenchy, France, in a daylight attack on a series of crater posts, Lance-Corporal Hewitson led his party to their objective, clearing the enemy from both trench and dug-outs, killing six who would not surrender. After capturing the final objective he saw a hostile machine-gun team coming into action against his men and working his way round the edge of the crater he attacked the team, killing four and capturing one. Shortly afterwards he routed a bombing party which was attacking a Lewis gun, killing six of them.
    He died 2 March 1963 in Ulverston and is buried at St Andrew's Churchyard, Coniston. His medal is privately held.

    Today we lost: 1,422

    Lieutenant Colonel John Ebenezar Stewart (Border Regiment attached South Staffordshire Regiment) is killed in action at age 29 at Kemmel. He is a Great War Poet.

    Before Action

    Over the down the road goes winding,
    A ribbon of white in the corn –
    The green, young corn. O, the joy of binding
    The sheaves some harvest morn!
    But we are called to another reaping,
    A harvest that will not wait.
    The sheaves will be green. O, the world of weeping
    Of those without the gate!
    For the road we go they may not travel,
    Nor share our harvesting;
    But watch and weep. O, to unravel
    The riddle of this thing!
    Yet over the down the white road leading
    Calls; and who lage behind?
    Stout are our hearts; but o, the bleeding
    Of hearts we may not bind!

    Today’s losses include:

    · A Great War Poet
    · A musician, composer and friend of Gustav Holst
    · A battalion commander
    · Multiple sons of members of the clergy
    · A man whose son will be born in July
    · The son of a General
    · A Lancashire Cricket player
    · Multiple families that will lose two, three and four sons in the Great War
    · A man whose son was killed two years ago

    Today’s highlighted casualties include:

    · Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Thomas Kay Robinson (commanding the 13th Sussex Regiment) is killed in action. He is the son of the late Reverend William Kay Robinson Rector of Walwyn’s Castle.
    · Major Algernon George Parsons (Royal Field Artillery) is killed in action at age 32. He is the son of Honorable ‘Sir’ Charles A Parsons.
    · Captain Harold Faulder (York and Lancaster Regiment) is killed in action at age 33. His son will be born 5th
    · Captain Harold Godfrey Massy-Miles MC (Royal Army Medical Corps attached London Regiment) is gassed to death at age 32. He is the son of the Reverend Joseph Henry Massy-Miles Rector of Pangbourne.
    · Captain Philip Lloyd Stockley (Machine Gun Corps) is killed in action at age 21. He is the son of the Reverend Joseph John Gabbett Stockley Rector of Wolverhampton.
    · Lieutenant James Christopher Francis Lewis (HMS Castor) drowns at age 28. He is the son of Brigadier General Bridges Lewis CB DSO.
    · Lieutenant Owen Hewett Dampier Bennett (Royal Air Force) is accidentally killed at age 18. He is the son of the Reverend Owen Cyril Dampier Bennett Vicar of Abberley.
    · Lieutenant William Knowles Tyldesley (North Lancashire Regiment) is killed in action at age 30. He was a player for the Lancashire Cricket club from 1908 until 1914.
    · Sergeant and Bandmaster Cecil Frederick Coles (London Regiment) is killed as a stretcher bearer at age 29 by a sniper. He is a Scottish musician and composer and friend of Gustav Holst and dies humming Beethoven. He attended the Royal College of Music on a scholarship and also studied at Edinburgh University and Stuttgart Conservatory. After completing his studies he became assistant conductor to the Stuttgart Royal Opera and organist of St Katherine’s an English church in the city. While on active service he sent manuscripts home to Holst.
    · Lance Corporal Geoffrey Townsend (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) is killed at age 24. His brother was killed in August 1917.
    · Lance Corporal William Wallis (Cheshire Regiment) is killed at age 19. His brother was killed in April 1917.
    · Lance Corporal Arthur Wrench (Cheshire Regiment) is killed at age 23. He is the middle of three brothers who are killed in the war.
    · Private George Spencer Maryon Smith (Sussex Regiment) is killed at age 32. He is the final of four brothers who will lose their lives in the Great War.
    Private Walter Henry Crook (Royal Fusiliers) is killed in action almost two years after his son was killed.
    · Private Edgar Stooke (Sherwood Foresters) is killed in action at age 18. He is one of four brothers who will be killed in the Great War.
    · Private George Sidney Robinson (East Kent Regiment) dies of wounds at age 19. His brother was killed in November 1916.

    Air Operations:

    General Hedquarters.
    Tbc

    Royal Flying Corps casualties today:
    tbc

    Royal Flying Corps Losses today:

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    Claims: 2 confirmed (Entente 2: Central Powers 0)


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    Western Front:

    Locre is lost and retaken by French.

    Ypres-Comines Canal, Allied line falls back; at Voormezeele (Ypres) heavy fighting results in repulse of Germans.

    In Luce Valley and at Givenchy, fighting is to the advantage of the Allies.

    Hangard Wood recaptured.

    In Kemmel region, Germans occupy Kemmel Hill and village and Dranoutre after very severe fighting.
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    Mt. Kemmel, after the fighting.

    April 25-26, Ypres–After a short respite and a diversion to the south near Amiens, the Germans attacked again south of Ypres. Their primary objective for the day was Mt. Kemmel, the highest point in the vicinity of Ypres; from there the Germans hoped they could push down the other side and force the British to withdraw from Ypres entirely. With elite mountain troops in the vanguard, the Germans attacked at 6AM with a large artillery bombardment, and had secured the summit from its French defenders in little over an hour. They did not push on further, however–the objectives for the day were limited, and reserves could not be made ready in time. Attacks over the next few days made met with determined resistance from Allied reinforcements, and Georgette as a whole was called off after a last attack on April 29. The Allies did, on the same day, consider a withdrawal to St. Omer, abandoning Ypres and Dunkirk, but dismissed such thoughts once it became apparent the German offensive had stopped. As a result, although the Germans had gained much ground around Flanders, and won another important propaganda victory, they had again lengthened their lines and suffered heavy casualties in their most elite units without inflicting a strategic defeat on the allies.

    Southern Front:

    Tunstills Men Saturday 30th March 1918:


    Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

    The poor weather returned, with rain all day.

    2Lt. Arthur Lilley (see 5th April) left the Battalion to return to the UK for transfer to the RAF.

    Pte. George Mather (see 5th October 1917) was reported by L.Cpl. James Edward Hollingworth (see 1st November 1917) as being “deficient of bully beef”; on the orders of Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see 24th April) he was to be deprived of three days’ pay and to pay for the deficiency.

    Pte. Frederick George Westlake (see 7th March) was reported for “loss by neglect of iron rations”; on the orders of Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see above) he was to pay for the lost items.

    Pte. Alfred Shaw (see 3rd April) was transferred from 29th Stationary Hospital at Cremona to 62nd General Hospital at Bordighera; he was now diagnosed as suffering from an abcess to his abdominal wall.

    Pte. George Green (22749) (see 30th March) was discharged from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.

    Pte. Patrick Conley (see 20th September 1917), serving in France with 298th Reserve Labour Company, Labour Corps, was transferred to 948th Area Employment Company.

    Three weeks after arriving in Alexandria, 2Lt. William Edmondson Gaunt (see 3rd April) reported for duty with 2nd/4th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment.

    The weekly edition of the Craven Herald reported that Pte. Robert Cresswell (see 21st March), serving with 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, was missing; he had in fact been taken prisoner.

    There was also news of Pte. Tom Smith, the younger brother of Pte. Johnny Smith (see 10th June 1917) and the late Pte. Reuben Smith (see 5th September 1917), both of whom had been original members of Tunstill’s Company.

    “Pte. Tom Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Smith of Church Street, Addingham, is a prisoner of war in Germany. Pte. Smith is one of six brothers – five in the army and one in the navy; one of whom, Reuben, was killed in action”.

    Naval Operations:


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    Political:


    Ministry of Reconstruction issues report of Balfour Committee on commercial and industrial policy after the war.

    Anniversary Events:

    757 Stephen II ends his reign as Catholic Pope.
    1478 Pazzi conspirators attack Lorenzo and kill Giuliano de' Medici.
    1514 Copernicus makes his first observations of Saturn.
    1564 William Shakespeare is baptized.
    1607 The British establish a colony at Cape Henry, Virginia.
    1865 Joseph E. Johnston surrenders the Army of Tennessee to General William T. Sherman.
    1915 Second Lieutenant William Rhodes-Moorhouse becomes the first airman to win the Victoria Cross after conducting a successful bombing raid.
    Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 04-25-2018 at 23:15.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  13. #3213

    Default

    So just General Headquarter in Aur Operations to update. I Hand back the typewriter and press to Chris as I am off on a jolly to Canterbury to celebrate my sons 21st. See you a week Sunday.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  14. #3214

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Skafloc View Post
    So just General Headquarter in Aur Operations to update. I Hand back the typewriter and press to Chris as I am off on a jolly to Canterbury to celebrate my sons 21st. See you a week Sunday.
    and here I was ready to do today's and you have beaten me to it, have a geat time in Canterbury Neil

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  15. #3215

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    Yes, have a great weekend and see you Monday afternoon Neil.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  16. #3216

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    Might be late(r) afternoon Rob is that ok?

    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Yes, have a great weekend and see you Monday afternoon Neil.
    Rob.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  17. #3217

    Default

    That will be fine.
    Will you need feeding?
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  18. #3218

    Default

    Not after midnight I tend to turn into one of those furbie things with teeth.

    I'll give you a ring on the way up. Could you PM me your mobile Rob?

    Neil
    See you on the Dark Side......

  19. #3219

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    27th April 1918

    British forces capture Kifri in Mesopotamia.

    At 04:30 the Germans attack the positions held the positions held by the Bedfordshire Regiment. A heavy barrage falls on the positions prior to an infantry assault. Eight men are killed including

    Second Lieutenant Ambrose Ethelston Peel (Bedfordshire Regiment) killed at age 20. His brother was killed in July 1917.
    The Newfoundland House of Assembly unanimously passes the Conscription Bill.

    Western Front
    France: First contingent of Italian II Corps arrives.

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    Eastern Front
    USSR: Soviet Central Executive Committee abolishes rights of inheritance. At Petrograd White plotters name Grand Duke Alexis Nikolaievich ruler of Russia.

    Home Fronts
    India: Delhi War Conference (until April 29).
    Britain: Wheat acreage highest since 1882 but only 500,000 bales of cotton (11 weeks supply) left.

    The Battle of Vyborg

    The Battle of Vyborg was a 1918 Finnish Civil War battle, fought 24–29 April between the Finnish Whites against the Finnish Reds in Vyborg (Finnish: Viipuri). Together with the Battle of Tampere and Battle of Helsinki, it was one of the three major urban battles of the Finnish Civil War. The battle is also remembered because of its bloody aftermath, as the Whites executed up to 400 non-aligned military personnel and civilians of Russian and associated ethnicities in an effort to kill all of the suspected Red Guards.

    At the time of the Finnish Civil War, Vyborg was the second-largest city in Finland, with about 80,000 people. The surrounding Viipuri Province was the largest Finnish province with a population of 540,000. Vyborg was also the most multicultural city in Finland with a large minority of Russians and smaller minorities of Swedes, Germans, Tatars and Jews. Its location at the Karelian Isthmus near the Russian capital Saint Petersburg made the city an important center of transport and trade. During the Civil War, Vyborg was under Red control from its beginning in late January. Since 9 April, Vyborg was the capital of Red Finland as the Red Government and the Red Guard general staff left Helsinki. The White Army formed a new unit for the offensive. The 18,300-men-strong Eastern Army (Itäarmeija) was under the command of the former Savo Division leader general major Ernst Löfström. It was composed of three regiments; the Western Unit was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Aarne Sihvo, the Northern by General Major Karl Fredrik Wilkman and the Eastern by the German Colonel Eduard Ausfeld. The defense of Vyborg was first led by the head of the Red Government Kullervo Manner. After Manner fled to the Soviet Russia on 25 April, he was followed by Edvard Gylling. The Red Guard leader was Oskar Rantala, with the Russian colonel Mikhail Svechnikov as his military advisor. On the days of the battle, there were more than 12,000 Reds and their families in Vyborg. About 10,000 were refugees who had fled from the western parts of Finland. The combat units had up to 5,000 fighters, including forces retreating from the Karelian Front and some members of the Vyborg Women's Red Guard.

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    The offensive against Vyborg was launched on 19 April when colonel Ausfeld's unit marched to south from Rautu, in order to block the Reds' connection to Russia. On 23 April Ausfeld cut the St. Petersburg railroad in Raivola, 75 kilometres east of Vyborg. During the following evening, his troops took the villages of Terijoki and Kuokkala by the Bay of Finland. Terijoki Red Guard, commanded by the infamous Heikki Kaljunen, was the last Red unit to escape and cross the border. On the same day, the Northern Regiment headed towards Vyborg from Antrea, which is located 30 kilometres north of Vyborg.

    In the evening of 23 April, the Red general staff in Vyborg ordered all forces of the Karelian front to retreat to Vyborg. The Reds of Joutseno, Antrea and Taipalsaari first marched to Lappeenranta and were then transported to Vyborg by train on the night of 24–25 April. At the same time, most of the Red Government fled to St. Petersburg by sea. Edvard Gylling was the only Red leader to stay in Vyborg. Gylling had negotiations with the German colonel Ulrich von Coler, but von Coler did not promise to treat the Reds by the Hague Convention. The Reds then had a meeting at the Vyborg Castle, where they decided to defend the city. Red units were divided into three units; the Northern Battalion was commanded by the worker Otto Vuoristo, Eastern by the Lappeenranta Red Guard leader Viktor Ripatti and the Western by the actor Jalmari Parikka. On 24 April a company led by von Coler took the Tali railway station 10 kilometres north of Vyborg, cutting the Vyborg–Joensuu railroad. His unit then evaded Vyborg and took the two nearest railway stations of the St. Petersburg railway. In the evening, von Coler defied his orders by attacking the city, but could not break through the Red defense on the eastern side of the Papula Bay. As the Sihvo's regiment blocked the city from the west, Vyborg was now encircled by the White Army and the only way out was by the sea.

    On the night of 23–24 April, the underground Vyborg White Guard was activated. The Guard took the artillery fort in the Patterinmäki Hill, but in the morning they had to surrender, as the Whites could not hold the governmental buildings. The White Army made its first efforts to enter the city on 25–26 April but the Reds managed to push them back. The Whites had great losses, as they used conscripted units without former combat experience. Some of the men even had sympathies for the Reds.

    The Whites launched their decisive attack on 27 April at 12 noon. It was preceded by hours of artillery fire, which destroyed the Patterinmäki Fort and the working-class neighbourhood of Kolikkoinmäki. The conscripts were now mostly replaced by White Guards who had been fighting at the Karelian Front and White Army soldiers from the Savo Front.On the night of 27–28 April, a group of Reds entered the Vyborg Prison, where leading Whites had been kept for several weeks. After hours of heavy drinking, they shot more than 30 prisoners. Among the victims were two members of the Finnish Parliament, Leander Ikonen and Matti Pietinen. The Whites finally took the city after heavy street fighting on the morning of 29 April. 1,000 Reds managed to break through the siege and headed west but they were soon captured. 500 of them were found shot dead. Some of the Reds were also evacuated to Saint Petersburg by sea.

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    White victims of Red terror at Vyborg county jail

    As the Whites took Vyborg under their control, they conducted a large mass execution. Some 1,200 people were shot, including up to 400 Russians and people of associated ethnicities. Today their execution is considered as an ethnic cleansing. Ironically, most of the Russian victims were White supporters and even had greeted them as liberators. Included in the number are plenty of other foreign nationalities who were also executed, as the Whites possibly mistook them as Russians. Other nationalities included Ukrainians, Polish, Estonian, Tatars, Jews and Italians. The largest mass executions were carried out in the Annenkrone fort on the western side of the city. Youngest of the executed were only 12–13-year-old children and at least three civilian women were also shot. On the next few days after the battle, more than 10,000 Reds and their family members were captured. During the next five months, more than 800 Reds died in the Vyborg Prison Camp of executions, hunger and disease.

    The War in The Air

    SATURDAY, 27 APRIL 1918


    General Headquarters, April 28th.


    "On the 27th inst. thick fog again prevented flying except for a few low reconnaissances of the battle front. Only two flights took place, in one of which a hostile machine was brought down. None of our machines is missing."

    RAF Communiqué number 4:


    Flying was rendered almost impossible owing to a thick mist, but the 5th Brigade carried out 11 reconnaissances and five contact patrols, and neutralized one hostile battery. Eight zone calls were sent down.

    One ton of bombs was dropped as follows:-

    1st Brigade: 6 25-lb bombs.
    5th Brigade: 15th Wing, 18 25-lb bombs. No 48 Squadron, 3 25-lb bombs on enemy troops, etc.; No 209 Squadron, 20 20-lb bombs on troops, etc; No 84 Squadron, 48 25-lb bombs.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft activity was very slight and only two combats took place.

    Lieut O W Redgate and Lieut M S Taylor, 209 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed east of Villers-Bretonneux at 14:45/15:45 – a patrol of No 209 Squadron attacked five E.A. Lieut O W Redgate and Lieut M S Taylor singled out one, both firing at close range. The E.A. was seen to go down out of control and was later seen crashed on the ground.

    Capt R M Foster, 209 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Villers-Bretonneux at 14:45/15:45 -
    Lieut C P Brown, 213 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Uytkerke at 15:15/16:15 -

    Casualties:

    Lieut J A E R Daley (Ok), 24 Sqn, SE5a B79 – took off 10:15/11:15 then shot down near Longueau 11:15/12:15 on OP
    Lieut F W Nesbitt (Wia), 1 Sqn, SE5a C1104 – took off 18:00/19:00 then shot about in aerial combat and force landed Rexpoede on offensive patrol
    2nd-Lieut J Stuart (Ok) & Lieut H L Cox (Ok), 8 Sqn, AW FK8 D5015 – took off 17:15/18:15 then badly shot about by machine-gun fire on line patrol, returned aerodrome 18:45/19:45

    The following claims were made despite the weather

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    There were still 10 British Airmen lost on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men: Pte. Thomas Henry Cox (see 16th February) was admitted via 9th Casualty Clearing Station to 29th Stationary Hospital at Cremona, suffering from inflammation to his right forearm.

    Pte. Walter Ralph (see 6th July 1917), elder brother of Pte. Kit Ralph (see 30th April 1917) who had been killed at Le Sars in October 1916, was wounded in action while serving with 1st/5th York and Lancasters; he suffered a severe wound to his right knee.

    Pte. Greenwood Speak (see 16th April), who had been in England since having been wounded on 10th June 1917, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service; he was granted a pension of 27s. 6d. per week to be reviewed after six months.

    A payment of £4 13s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Frederick James Farthing (see 17th October 1917), who had been killed in action on 17th October 1917; the payment would go to his father, Frederick.

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    I hadn't spotted until, now that we had dipped into the LAST 200 DAYS
    Last edited by Hedeby; 04-28-2018 at 12:27.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  20. #3220

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    28th April 1918


    Lieutenant Commander Alexander Nevile Lubbock (Royal Navy, HMS Donegal) drowns while serving as commodore of the convoy while he was employed on the liner Oronsa, when she is torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine. He is the son of ‘Sir’ Nevile Lubbokc KCMG, grandson of ‘Sir’ John Herschel Baronet and 34-years old and one of three killed in the attack. Other vessels sunk today include the trawler Emley which strikes a mine and sinks with the loss of eight killed and the steamships Elba and Upcerne both sunk by submarines with ten and 16 killed respectively.

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    Captain Alexander Murray MacGregor Bell
    (Royal Scots Fusiliers) dies of wounds in London received at Ypres on 19th February at age 37. From May 1904 to May 1905 he was Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Natal and was Superintendent Gymnasia Scottish Command from February 1913 to November 1914.

    Lieutenant Harold Grant-Dalton MC
    (Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve) dies of wounds as a prisoner of war received in action on 24th March at age 28. He is the son of the late Reverend Colin Grant-Dalton, Rector of Wincanton, Somerset.

    WESTERN FRONT
    Flanders: Belgian troops repulse raid at Langemarck.

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    Machine gunners at the edge of Hangard Wood, Picardy, France, 28 April 1918

    EASTERN FRONT
    Finland: Reds shoot 26 White PoWs in Viborg prison. Red Guard night attacks throw back Germans, taking 2 guns, but held at Lahti.
    Southern Russia: *German troops reach Taganrog, Sea of Azov, in Donetz coal basin.

    HOME FRONTS

    Austria: Death of Gavrilo Princip (the assassin of Sarajevo 1914), age 22, in hospital of tuberculosis, Theresienstadt.

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    The assassin of Sarajevo, the student Gavrilo Princip, who eradicated an entire era. At time of the crime with an age of 18 years, which precluded a death sentence against him, he dies in prison of tuberculosis.

    Gavrilo Princip (Serbian Cyrillic: Гаврило Принцип, pronounced [ɡǎʋrilo prǐntsip]; 25 July [O.S. 13 July] 1894[1] – 28 April 1918) was a Bosnian Serb member of Young Bosnia, a Yugoslavist organization seeking an end to Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Sophie, in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914, continuing a chain of events that would lead to outbreak of the First World War. Princip and his accomplices were arrested and implicated the Serbian nationalist secret society known as the Black Hand, leading Austria-Hungary to issue a démarche to Serbia known as the July Ultimatum. This was used as pretext for Austria-Hungary's invasion of Serbia, which then led to World War I. Princip was a Yugoslav nationalist associated with the movement Mlada Bosna (Young Bosnia) which predominantly consisted of Serbs, but also Bosniaks and Croats. During his trial he stated: "I am a Yugoslav nationalist, aiming for the unification of all Yugoslavs, and I do not care what form of state, but it must be freed from Austria." Princip died on April 28, 1918, from tuberculosis caused by poor prison conditions that had cost him a limb earlier.

    On 28 June 1914, Gavrilo Princip participated in the assassination in Sarajevo of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Duchess Sophie Chotek of Austria. The emperor of Austria-Hungary, Emperor Franz Joseph told his nephew, the Archduke to oversee military training in Bosnia. Franz Ferdinand knew that the visit would be dangerous; his uncle, Emperor Franz Joseph, had been the subject of an assassination attempt by the Black Hand in 1911. Just before 10 a.m. on Sunday, the royal couple arrived in Sarajevo by train. The royal couple were then to take an automobile into the city. In the front car was Fehim Čurčić, the mayor of Sarajevo and Dr. Edmund Gerde, the city's Commissioner of Police. Franz Ferdinand and Sophie were in the second car with Oskar Potiorek and Lieutenant Colonel Count Franz von Harrach. The car's top was rolled back in order to allow the crowds a good view of its occupants.

    The six conspirators lined the route. They were spaced out along the Appel Quay, each one with instructions to try to kill Franz Ferdinand when the royal car reached his position. The first conspirator on the route to see the royal car was Muhamed Mehmedbašić. Standing by the Austro-Hungarian Bank, Mehmedbašić lost his nerve and allowed the car to pass without taking action. Mehmedbašić later said that a policeman was standing behind him and feared he would be arrested before he had a chance to throw his bomb. At 10:15, when the six-car procession passed the central police station, nineteen-year-old student Nedeljko Čabrinović hurled a hand grenade at the Archduke's car. The driver accelerated when he saw the object flying towards him, but the bomb had a 10-second delay and exploded under the wheel of the fourth car. Two of the occupants, Eric von Merizzi and Count Alexander von Boos-Waldeck, were seriously wounded. About a dozen spectators were also hit by bomb shrapnel. After Čabrinović's bomb missed the car, five other conspirators, including Princip, lost an opportunity to attack because of the heavy crowds and the car's high speed. To avoid capture, Čabrinović swallowed a cyanide capsule and jumped into the Miljacka river to make sure he died. However, the cyanide pill was decayed and only made him sick, and the river was only 10 centimetres (4 in) deep.He was soon hauled out and detained by police.

    Franz Ferdinand later decided to go to the hospital and visit the victims of Čabrinović's grenade attack. In order to avoid the city centre, General Oskar Potiorek decided that the royal car should travel straight along the Appel Quay to the Sarajevo Hospital. However, Potiorek forgot to inform the driver, Leopold Loyka, about this decision. On the way to the hospital, Loyka took a right turn into Franz Josef Street. Princip was standing near Moritz Schiller's café when he spotted the car as it drove past, having taken the wrong turn. After realizing the mistake, the driver put his foot on the brake, and began to reverse. In doing so the engine stalled and the gears locked, giving Princip his opportunity. Princip stepped forward, drew his pistol, an FN Model 1910, and at a distance of about 1.5 metres (5 ft) fired twice into the car, first hitting Franz Ferdinand in the neck, and then hitting his wife Sophie in the abdomen, after she covered his body. They both died before 11:00 am.

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    FN Model 1910

    Princip attempted suicide with a cyanide pill, but it was out-of-date (as also Čabrinović's had been, leading the police to believe the group had been deceived buying the poison), then tried to shoot himself, but the pistol was wrestled from his hand before he had a chance to fire another shot. Princip was nineteen years old at the time and too young to receive the death penalty, being twenty-seven days short of the twenty-year minimum age limit required by Habsburg law. Instead, he received the maximum sentence of twenty years in prison. He was held in harsh conditions which were worsened by the war, and contracted tuberculosis. He died on 28 April 1918 at Terezķn 3 years and 10 months after the assassination. At the time of his death, weakened by malnutrition and disease, he weighed around 40 kilograms (88 lb; 6 st 4 lb). His body had become wracked by skeletal tuberculosis that ate away his bones so badly that his right arm had to be amputated.

    Fearing his bones might become relics for Slavic nationalists, Princip's prison guards secretly took the body to an unmarked grave, but a Czech soldier assigned to the burial remembered the location, and in 1920 Princip and the other "Heroes of Vidovdan" were exhumed and brought to Sarajevo, where they were buried together beneath a chapel "built to commemorate for eternity our Serb Heroes" at St. Mark's Cemetery.

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    The war in the air was something of a non event on this day

    General Headquarters, April 29th.

    “Beyond carrying out one or two low-flying reconnaissances and dropping a few bombs on various targets, our aeroplanes were unable to do any flying on the 238th inst. on account of low clouds, mist, and rain."

    RAF Communiqué number 4:

    Low clouds, mist and rain almost entirely prevented flying.

    Machines of the 2nd Brigade carried out five reconnaissances, and seven contact patrols were carried out by the 1st, 2nd and 5th Brigades.

    One hostile battery was neutralized, and 12 zone calls were sent down.

    One and three quarter tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    1st Brigade: No 42 Squadron, 32 25-lb bombs on Paradis. No 46 Squadron, 30 25-lb bombs on Paradis.

    2nd Brigade: 2nd Wing, 16 25-lb bombs. 11th Wing, 61 25-lb bombs.

    5th Brigade: 15th Wing, 6 25-lb bombs. No 209 Squadron, 20 25-lb bombs on Wiencourt.

    Enemy Aircraft:

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

    Casualties:

    None.

    There were only two confimed kills on this day

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    Despite the poor weather there were still 10 British airmen lost on this day

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    Home Front:

    WORCESTER WOMAN’S SUICIDE – Worried by Heavy Munition Work – An inquiry into the death of Mrs Mary Gadd of Wylds Lane, Worcester who was reported missing on March 22nd and whose body was recovered from the Severn at Upton upon Severn on Monday morning. The husband, Matthew Gadd, of Little Fish Street, Worcester, who is employed at the Royal Porcelain Works, stated that his wife was aged 48. She had been living apart from him since August last. Alice Gadd, daughter, stated that she last saw her mother when she left home to go to work, her mother being then in bed, as she did not feel well. Her mother had been working in the munitions works at Shrub Hill and had been worried as she said the work was too heavy for her. When witness returned from work her mother had gone, leaving the following note on the piano: “Dear Al, by the time you get this I hope I shall be in Heaven. All that is in this house belongs to you, as you have helped me to get it. I asked Mr G to move me, as I can’t do that heavy work. I have not got anything to live for. I hope F will be good to you, as you have been to your broken hearted mother”.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 04-28-2018 at 12:50.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  21. #3221

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    29th April 1918

    After a winter of relative inactivity, the British commander in Mesopotamia, General Marshall, resumed the offensive on his eastern flank in March, defeating the Ottoman forces. On 27 April, he ordered his western flank to march on Kirkük in northern Iraq. Their first enemy encounter was at Kulawand, meeting little resistance; but the waterlogged conditions impeded the British cavalry and motorized vehicles. Aerial reconnaissance then established the Ottoman forces entrenched along a 4-mile (11-km) line from Tuz Khurmatu to Yanija Kuchuk, blocking the road to Kirkuk from behind the Aq Su River. While infantry made a frontal assault under cover of artillery fire, the mounted 13th Hussars, and 21st and 22nd Cavalry circled behind enemy lines from the west, cutting off their line of retreat along the road to Tauq. Within a few hours, the Ottoman forces had surrendered, 1,200 prisoners being taken: the way to Kirkuk was now clear.

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    This evening two British battalions attack Bulgarian positions at Macukovo (on the east of the Vardar River) into which they have previously thrown more than 50,000 shells. Both sides suffer casualties and a few prisoners are brought back to our lines.

    AIR WAR
    Western Front: First of Rickenbacker’s 26 victories; an Albatros fighter at Baussant. German aircraft losses since March 21 are 659; RAF/RFC in March and April 1,032 planes. The son of Swiss immigrants, Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was the American "Ace of Aces." He recorded 26 official victories against German aircraft during World War I and was awarded the Medal of Honor. Between WWI and WWII, Rickenbacker bought and administered the Indianapolis Speedway and became president of Eastern Airlines. In October 1942, he was aboard a B-17 bomber that crashed in the Pacific Ocean while on a secret mission to New Guinea. "Iron Man Eddie" and six companions survived 24 days afloat on life rafts. In 1995, the United States Postal Service issued a postage stamp in honor of Rickenbacker's accomplishments as an aviation pioneer.

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    When, in 1917, the United States declared war on Germany, Rickenbacker had enlisted in the United States Army and was soon training in France with some of the first American troops. He arrived in France on June 26, 1917, as a Sergeant First Class.

    Most men chosen for pilot training had college degrees and Rickenbacker had to struggle to gain permission to fly because of his perceived lack of academic qualifications. Because of his mechanical abilities, Rickenbacker was assigned as engineering officer at the 3rd Aviation Instruction Center at Issoudun, the US Air Service's pursuit training facility, where he practiced flying during his free time. He learned to fly well, but because his mechanical skills were so highly valued, Rickenbacker's superiors tried to prevent him from attaining his wings with the other pilots. Rickenbacker demonstrated that he had a qualified replacement, and the military awarded him a place in one of America's air combat units, the 94th Aero Squadron, informally known as the "Hat-in-the-Ring" Squadron after its insignia. Originally he flew the Nieuport 28, at first without armament. On April 29, 1918, Rickenbacker shot down his first plane. On May 28, he claimed his fifth to become an ace. Rickenbacker was awarded the French Croix de Guerre that month for his five victories.

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    Claiming his 20th Victory on this day was Edward Corringham "Mick" Mannock VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC & Bar

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    Edward Corringham "Mick" Mannock VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC & Bar (24 May 1887 – 26 July 1918) was a British flying ace in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force during the First World War. Mannock was a pioneer of fighter aircraft tactics in aerial warfare. At his death he had amassed 61 aerial victories, the fifth highest scoring pilot of the war.

    Mannock was born in 1887 to an English father, Edward Mannock, and an Irish mother. Mannock's father served in the British Army and the family moved to India when Mannock was a small child. Mannock was sickly and developed several ailments in his formative years. Upon his return to England he became a fervent supporter of Irish nationalism and the Irish Home Rule movement but became a member of the Independent Labour Party where he satisfied his interest in politics.

    In 1914 Mannock was working as a telephone engineer in Turkey. After the Ottoman Empire's entry into the war on the side of the Central Powers he was interned. Mannock was badly treated and soon fell ill. Turkish authorities repatriated him to Britain believing him to be unfit for war service.

    Mannock recovered and joined the Royal Engineers and then Royal Army Medical Corps. He moved services again and in 1916 joined Royal Flying Corps (RFC). After completing his training he was assigned to No. 40 Squadron RFC. Mannock went into combat on the Western Front participating three separate combat tours. After a slow start he began to prove himself as an exceptional pilot, scoring his first victory on 7 May 1917.

    By February 1918 Mannock had achieved 16 victories and was appointed Flight Commander of No. 74 Squadron. He amassed 36 more victories from 12 April—17 June 1918. After returning from leave Mannock was appointed commanding officer of No. 85 Squadron in July 1918, and scored nine more victories that month. Days after warning fellow ace George McElroy about the hazards of flying low into ground fire, that fate befell Mannock and he was killed in action dogfighting too close to the ground on 26 July 1918.

    Mannock was among the most decorated men in the British Armed Forces. He was honoured with the Military Cross twice, was one of the rare three-time recipients of the Distinguished Service Order, and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

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    MONDAY, 29 APRIL 1918

    General Headquarters, April 30th.


    “On the 29th inst. Low reconnaissance work was again carried out by our aeroplanes. East of Locre the enemy’s troops offered good targets to our pilots, who dropped 275 bombs on them, and engaged them with machine-gun fire. Seven hostile machines were brought down in air fighting, and one other was shot down by our infantry. Two of our aeroplanes are missing.”

    RAF Communiqué number 5:

    Despite low clouds and bad visibility, a certain amount of flying was carried out.

    Thirteen reconnaissances were carried out by Brigades and 10 contact patrols by machines of the 2nd and 5th Brigades.

    Four hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and nine neutralized; one explosion and one fire were caused. Seventy zone calls were sent down.

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

    1st Brigade: 1st Wing, 45 25-lb bombs.
    2nd Brigade: No 1 Squadron, 32 25-lb bombs. No 74 Squadron, 34 25-lb bombs. No 210 Squadron, 36 25-lb bombs. No 98 Squadron, 2 230-lb bombs. 2nd Wing, 71 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: 27 25-lb bombs.
    5th Brigade: 15th Wing, 30 25-lb bombs.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft activity was slight, but a few enemy two-seaters were seen attempting to do low work and reconnaissance. One was brought down by our infantry in addition to those brought down in combat.

    Enemy aircraft were driven down out of control by the following: Capt C C Clark, No 1 Squadron, and 2nd-Lieut T Rose, No 64 Squadron.

    Capt H A Rigby, 1 Sqn, Albatros C broke up Wytschaete at 06:45/07:45 - Capt H A Rigby, No 1 Squadron, dived on one of three E.A. two-seaters, started firing at about 200 yards and by the time he had fired 150 rounds into the E.A., he almost collided with it. The lower plane of the E.A. crumpled up near the fuselage and it went down in a spin. Confirmed by another pilot

    Capt C C Clark and Lieut P J Clayson, 1 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Kemmel - Wytschaete at 06:50/07:50 - Gfr Peisker, Jasta 7, Ftl [?]

    Capt I P R Napier, 2nd-Lieut D P Learoyd 2nd-Lieut L H Sutton, 40 Sqn, DFW C captured west of Béthune at 07:20/08:20 - Capt I P R Napier, No 40 Squadron, together with 2nd-Lieut D P Learoyd and 2nd-Lieut L H Sutton, of the same Squadron, observed an E.A. two-seater near Bruay. They flew towards the E.A. keeping between it and the lines. Capt Napier obtained a good position behind and below the E.A. and fired a drum of Lewis from close range; he zoomed above the E.A. and the hostile observer was not to be seen. He then changed drums and fired a further burst into the E.A. from above and behind. 2nd-Lieut Sutton fired two bursts of about 100 rounds each from both guns from above the E.A. 2nd-Lieut Learoyd then attacked and fired a long burst of Lewis and continued to fire short bursts from his Vickers until the E.A. was forced to land under control on our side of the lines. The E.A. was found to be riddled with bullet holes and the observer hit in two places; ? & Ltn Heidelmeyer, FA 7

    Capt J Gilmour, 65 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed ? Hamel at 10:30/11:30 - Capt J Gilmour, No 65 Squadron, whilst on offensive patrol with his formation, encountered 15 E.A. (scouts and two-seaters). He attacked one scout from slightly behind and fired 250 rounds into it. The E.A. dived vertically into the clouds and was lost to sight. No 15 Observation Company confirm an E.A. scout falling out of control in this vicinity and smoke rising from the ground immediately afterwards

    Capt C B Glynn, 74 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed south of ****ebusch Lake at 11:40/12:40 - Capt C B Glynn, No 74 Squadron, observed an E.A. triplane approaching from behind trying to get above him. Capt Glynn zoomed and turned towards the E.A., firing long bursts from the Vickers gun and a short burst from the Lewis gun. The E.A. triplane was seen a few seconds afterwards by Capt Mannock and Lieut Dolan to dive vertically into the ground just south of the scene of the engagement; Ltn Heinrich Bongartz (Wia), Js34

    Capt E Mannock, 74 Sqn, Fokker DV [?] broke up south of ****ebusch Lake at 11:40/12:40 - Capt E Mannock, No 74 Squadron, fired about 40 rounds at close range into an E.A. scout which immediately burst into flames and was observed to fall in pieces. Confirmed by two other pilots of formation; Ltn d R Ludwig Vortmann, Js 2, Kia

    Lieut H E Dolan, 74 Sqn, Albatros Scout broke up south of ****ebusch Lake at 11:40/12:40 - Lieut H E Dolan, No 74 Squadron, engaged one E.A. scout and fired about 50 rounds into it from a range of about 20 yards. The E.A. was seen to break to pieces and fall to earth. Confirmed by two other pilots of the formation

    Capt C C Clark, 1 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Wytschaete at 11:45/12:45 – A patrol of No 1 Squadron dived on a formation of Albatros scouts. Capt C C Clark fired 120 rounds into one which went in vertical nose-dive with the engine full on
    Lieut B Roxburgh-Smith, 74 Sqn, LVG C crashed ****ebusch Lake at 11:50/12:50 -

    Capt J G Manuel, 210 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north-east of Hollebeke at 14:45/15:45 - Capt J G Manuel, No 210 Squadron, with his patrol attacked nine E.A., the majority of which spun down under control. Capt Manuel got on the tail of one and fired into it at close range. The E.A. went down out of control and crashed north-east of Hollebeke

    Lieut T Rose, 64 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Wancourt at 17:35/18:35 - Drove an enemy machine down out of control.
    Capt C C Clark, 1 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Kemmel at 18:50/19:50 - Ltn Ludwig Vortmann, Jasta 2, Kia [?]

    Capt J Todd and 2nd-Lieut V C Chapman, 70 Sqn, Lieut H W L Saunders, Lieut C F Falkenberg and Lieut H P Smith, 84 Sqn, two-seater captured north-east of Querrieu at 19:10/20:10 - while on a practice formation, Lieut J Todd, No 70 Squadron, and 2nd-Lieut V C Chapman, of the same squadron, observed an E.A. two-seater being engaged by our A.A. guns over Villers-Bretonneux. They manoeuvred to the east of the E.A. and both dived together, intercepting the E.A. as it turned east and firing 400 rounds into it. This E.A. was then attacked by Lieut H W L Saunders, No 84 Squadron, and Lieut C F Falkenberg, No 84 Squadron, who both fired bursts into the E.A. at very close range, and by continuous firing, prevented the E.A. from turning east and forced it down to the ground on our side of the lines; Uffz Krug & Ltn Adler, FAA218, Kia

    Casualties:

    Lieut H L Nelson (Kia), 210 Sqn, Camel B3809 - shot down by A.A. fire and crashed at 36a.F.11 [north-east of Nooteboom] on offensive patrol and bombing
    Lieut H A Patey (Ok), 210 Sqn, Camel B7195 - damaged by enemy aircraft fire on offensive patrol and bombing
    Lieut C G Tysoe (Wia, Pow) & 2nd-Lieut C V Carr (Wia) (Pow), 98 Sqn, DH9 D5571 - last seen between Gheluwe and Wervicq flying east during bombing
    2nd-Lieut E J Smith (Kia), 46 Sqn, Camel C1617 - seen by patrol to go down in flames and crash 51b.B.4 [north-east of Willerval] this side of line apparently by fire from ground on COP
    Lieut R W Trubridge (Wia) & 2nd-Lieut H Gittins (Ok), 35 Sqn, AW FK8 B5789 - force landed Sh62d.O.19.D.0.0 [west of Villers-Bretonneux] after attack by EA on contact patrol
    Lieut F W Bur**** (Ok) & Prob A C Clinton (Ok), 10 Sqn, AW FK8 B3327 - force landed M2a77 [?] after direct hit by shell on flash reconnaissance
    Lieut T D Henderson (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut A Fleming (Wia, dow), 4 Sqn, RE8 C4555 - force landed Sh27.q.23.a.7.5 [south-west of Godewaersvelde] after attack by 6 EA soon after crossing lines on patrol

    13 British Airmen lost their lives on this day

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    Flight Sub-Lieutenant Ernest William Norton received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 1476 on a Maurice Farman biplane at Central Flying School, Upavon on 29 July 1915. On this day he scored three victories his 7th 8th and 9th (and final)

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    WESTERN FRONT
    Flanders – Battle of the Lys ends: 13 German divisions attack at 0540 hours on 10-mile front but only capture Scherpenberg, a knoll 2 miles northwest of Mt Kemmel from French and 2-mile stretch of British-held Salient outpost line, 3 miles south of Ypres. Haig and Plumer contemplate retreat to prepared St Orner line. Ludendorff suspends the offensive at 2200 hours.
    Lorraine*: US codebreakers give Doughboys 1/2 hour warning of attack.

    On 23 March, Haig had ordered Plumer to make contingency plans to shorten the line along the Ypres Salient and release troops for the other armies. On 11 April, Plumer authorised a withdrawal of the southern flank of the Second Army and ordered the VIII and II corps in the Passchendaele Salient to retreat the next day into the Battle Zone, behind outposts left in the Forward Zone of the British defensive system. The divisional commanders were ordered that the Forward Zone must be held and that the Germans must not be given the impression that a withdrawal was in progress. At noon on 12 April, the VIII Corps ordered the infantry retirement to begin that night and the 59th Division was withdrawn and transferred south, to be replaced by part of the 41st Division. The II Corps had begun to withdraw its artillery at the same time as VIII Corps on the night of 11/12 April and ordered the 36th and 30th divisions to conform to the VIII Corps withdrawal which were complete by 13 April, without German interference; VIII Corps HQ was transferred to reserve.

    During 13 April, General Headquarters (GHQ) discussed the retirements in the Lys valley, which had lengthened the British front line and Plumer agreed to a retirement in the Ypres Salient to the Mt Kemmel, Voormezeele (2.5 mi (4.0 km) south of Ypres), White Chāteau (1 mi (1.6 km) east of Ypres) to Pilckem Ridge defence line but ordered only that artillery ammunition be carried to the rear; the 4th Army reported on 14 April, that the British were still occupying the Passchendaele Salient. The next day was quiet in the salient and the withdrawal of the II Corps and XXII Corps divisions was covered by the outposts in the original front line and artillery, which was divided into some active batteries which fired and a greater number of batteries kept silent, camouflaged and not to fire except in an emergency.[b] Plumer gave orders to begin the retirement by occupying the line before the night of 15/16 April, while maintaining the garrisons in the outpost line and holding the Battle Zone with a few troops as an intermediate line. During the night of 15/16 April, the outpost line garrisons were to be withdrawn behind the new front line at 4:00 a.m. and the intermediate line in front of the Battle Zone was to be held as long as possible, to help the troops in the new line to get ready.

    On 16 April, patrols went forward during the morning and found the area between the old and new front lines to be empty, the Germans still apparently in ignorance of the retirement; one patrol captured a German officer scouting for observation posts who did not know where the British were. Only in the late afternoon did German troops begin to close up to the new line and the British troops in the Battle Zone easily repulsed the German infantry, the 4th Army diary recorded that patrols discovered the withdrawal at 4;40 a.m. that afternoon. Next day, the Belgian Army defeated an attack from Houthulst Forest (The Battle of Merckem) against the 10th and 3rd Belgian divisions from Langemarck to Lake Blankaart by the 58th, 2nd Naval and the 6th Bavarian divisions, with help from the II Corps artillery. The Germans captured Kippe but were forced out by counter-attacks and the line was restored by nightfall. On the afternoon of 27 April, the south end of the outpost line was driven in when Voormezeele was captured, re-captured and then partly captured by the Germans; another outpost line was set up north-east of the village.

    From 13–15 April, the Germans drove forward in the centre, taking Bailleul, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) west of Armentičres, despite increasing British resistance. Plumer assessed the heavy losses of Second Army and the defeat of his southern flank and ordered his northern flank to withdraw from Passchendaele to Ypres and the Yser Canal; the Belgian Army to the north conformed.

    French marshal, Foch, had recently assumed supreme command of the Allied forces and on 14 April agreed to send French reserves to the Lys sector. A French division relieved the British defenders of the Kemmelberg. From 25–26 April, the Fourth Army made a sudden attack on the Kemmelberg with three divisions and captured it. This success gained some ground but it made no progress toward a new break in the Allied line. On 29 April, a final German attack captured the Scherpenberg, a hill to the north-west of the Kemmelberg. More French reinforcements arrived in the latter part of April, the Germans had suffered many casualties, especially among the stoßtruppen and attacks toward Hazebrouck failed. It was clear that Georgette could not achieve its objectives; on 29 April the German high command called off the offensive.

    In 1937 C. B. Davies, J. E. Edmonds and R. G. B. Maxwell-Hyslop, the British official historians gave casualties from 9–30 April as c. 82,000 British and a similar number of German casualties. Total casualties since 21 March were British: c. 240,000, French: 92,004 and German: 348,300. In 1978 Middlebrook wrote of 160,000 British casualties, 22,000 killed, 75,000 prisoners and 63,000 wounded. Middlebrook estimated French casualties as 80,000 and German as c. 250,000 with 50–60,000 lightly wounded. In 2002 Marix Evans recorded 109,300 German casualties and the loss of eight aircraft, British losses of 76,300 men, 106 guns and 60 aircraft and French losses of 35,000 men and twelve guns. In 2006 Zabecki gave 86,000 German, 82,040 British and 30,000 French casualties

    EASTERN FRONT
    Finland:- Mannerheim captures Viborg.
    Ukraine: *General Groener establishes military dictatorship (Kiev martial law from April 26) under landowner Hetman (ex-Tsarist) General Skoropadski, having arrested anti-German League dissolved Rada.

    USS Lea (DD-118) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. She was named in honor of Edward Lea, a US Navy officer killed during the American Civil War.

    Lea was laid down on 18 September 1917 by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia. The ship was launched on 29 April 1918, sponsored by Mrs. Harry E. Collins. The destroyer was commissioned on 2 October 1918, Lieutenant Commander Willis Augustus Lee in command.

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    After service in the Atlantic with DesRon 19 during 1919, Lea transferred to the Pacific Fleet in 1920 and served primarily along the West Coast during the years between the wars. She was out of commission at San Diego from 22 June 1922 to 1 May 1930 and 7 April 1937 to 30 September 1939. With Lieutenant Commander F. W. Slaven in command, she sailed for the East Coast to join the Neutrality Patrol, guarding the western Atlantic through the tense months before the US entry into World War II. She served in the force guarding transports carrying marines for the occupation of Iceland on 8 July 1941.

    For the first 2​1⁄2 years of U.S. participation in the war, Lea had convoy escort duty in the North Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea, and along the eastern seaboard, hazarded by peak U-boat activity and dangerous weather conditions. She rescued survivors from stricken merchant ships as well as fighting off submarines and joining in several successful attacks. The first of her many wartime rescues at sea came in February 1942, when she took on board the crew of Soviet merchant vessel Dvinoles, abandoned after collision damage. Later that month, 24 February, came a daylong battle with submarines when Lea and fellow escorts again and again dashed out from their convoy screen to keep down attacking U-boats which had sunk four of the merchantmen. Between 22 April 1943 and 30 May, Lea joined the hunter-killer group formed around the escort carrier Bogue in the first mission of such a group. On 21 May and 22 May, Bogue's aircraft became the first to engage a wolfpack attempting to rendezvous for a mass attack on a convoy. So successful were their six attacks in protecting the convoy that the group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation in which Lea shared.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 04-29-2018 at 13:28.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  22. #3222

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    Thanks guys - the show goes on. A short break abroad and there's a great deal to read to do you justice. Love it

  23. #3223

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    30th April 1918

    In Flanders a train of ammunition has been placed at an ammunition refilling point, and after the engine has been detached, and is being run off the train, the second truck suddenly bursts into flames. Sapper (acting Company Sergeant Major) Alfred Henry Furlonger immediately orders Lance Corporal John Edward Bigland, the driver, to move the engine back on to the train for the purpose of pulling away the two trucks nearest the engine. Bigland does so without hesitation, and the engine is coupled up by Furlonger, assisted by Sapper Joseph Collinton Farren, while the burning truck is uncoupled from the remainder of the train by Sapper Thomas Henry Woodman. The two trucks are then drawn away clear of the ammunition dump, it being the intention to uncouple the burning wagon from the engine and the first wagon and so isolate it, with the object of isolating the fire as far away as possible. The uncoupling is about to be done when the ammunition explodes, completely wrecking the engine and both trucks, killing Furlonger, Farren and Sapper George Edward Johnson (a member of the train crew), and seriously wounding Bigland. All five participants are members of the Royal Engineers and all will be awarded the Albert Medal for their actions on this day.

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    British forces east of the River Jordan begin an advance towards the Hedjaz Railway against enemy troops holding the foothills south of Es Salt. By midday cavalry are within two miles of the Turkish post and have taken two hundred sixty prisoners. West of the River Jordan the British line has been advanced at Mezrah, near the Jerusalem-Shechem road. In attacks on the Hedjaz railway near Maan, Arab forces take five hundred prisoners.

    In Mesopotamia, British forces reach the Tauk River, one hundred forty miles north of Baghdad.

    British patrols raid the enemy trenches at two places southwest of Canove and south of Asiago, inflicting losses on the garrisons.

    HMS Coreopsis sinks the German submarine UB-85 in the Irish Sea.

    HMS Coreopsis was an Anchusa-class sloop and Q-ship of the Royal Navy, built at the yards of Barclay Curle on Clydeside and launched on 15 September 1917. Employed as a decoy ship with concealed armament, she served with the Grand Fleet or in the Mediterranean operating from Gibraltar under the false names Beardsley and Bigott. After the end of the First World War, she was laid up before being sold for breaking on 6 September 1922, but did not arrive at Thos W Ward's yard in Preston, Lancashire until 5 May 1924.

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    HMS Coreopsis is sometimes confused with HM Drifter Coreopsis II, which is credited with sinking the German

    The steamer Umba (Master James William Young) is torpedoed and sunk with the loss of twenty of her crew of twenty-five. Her Master is lost at age 57.

    AIR WAR
    Western Front: 180 German triplanes available. Allied April losses 232 aircraft and 16 balloons to Germans’ 136 aircraft.
    Britain: Since April 27 flights of obsolete DH6s on anti*-U-boat patrol.

    WESTERN FRONT
    Flanders: Ludendorff halts Operation Georgette. OHL decides on major diversionary offensive (Goerz) against French designed to draw Allied reserves south from Flanders. Once achieved, a further heavy attack will be mounted to encompass BEF’s destruction.
    France: During April 118,000 US troops sail for France, BEF losses 143,168 soldiers, only 48 of 61 divisions battleworthy.

    EASTERN FRONT
    USSR: Ex-Tsar and family brought to Ekaterinburg in the Urals.
    Finland: Red Western Army cut in half by German-White Guard attacks.
    Russia: *By now 386,000 Austro*-German PoWs returned home. Turkestan Soviet Republic proclaimed.

    MIDDLE EAST
    Palestine – Second Trans*-Jordan ‘Raid’ (until May 4): Chauvel’s 13,000 men with 66 guns vs 9,000 Turks and Germans and c.70 guns. 60th Division and NZ Mounted Brigade only take first line of Turk Nimrin position east of Jordan, 3rd ALH (Australian Light Horse, mounted infantry) Brigade captures Es Salt (Turk Fourth Army HQ) but 4th ALH Brigade checked at Jisr-ed-Damieh bridge.
    South Persia – Sykes’ Mission: 3,344 British troops and 7,898 South Persia Rifles (292 British-Indian officers and NCOs).

    The War in the air

    The weather was again bad, there being low clouds, mist and rain.

    Seven reconnaissances were carried out and seven contact patrols.

    Five hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and three neutralized; three explosions were caused, and 96 zone calls sent down. Machines of the 2nd Brigade carried out reconnaissances and bombed the enemy’s troops.

    Nearly four tons of bombs were dropped as follows:

    1st Brigade: 1st Wing, 46 25-lb bombs.
    2nd Brigade: No 1 Squadron, 32 25-lb bombs. No 74 Squadron, 56 25-lb bombs. No 210 Squadron, 84 25-lb bombs. No 20 Squadron, 5 112-lb bombs. No 98 Squadron, 3 230-lb bombs. 2nd Wing, 69 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: Four 25-lb bombs.
    5th Brigade: 15th Wing, 16 25-lb bombs.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft activity was very slight all day.

    Capt E Mannock and Lieut H E Dolan, 74 Sqn, Halberstadt CL captured south-east of ****ebusch Lake at 14:40/15:40 – Observed an E.A. flying west over ****ebusch Lake. Lieut Dolan fired 70 rounds from the rear at close range. The E.A.'s engine stopped and it crashed down at Onderdom in our lines; Vzfw Speer (Pow) & Flgr Anton Zimmermann (Pow, Dow 1-May-18), Sch 28b, G/2 Bde/6 [a new numbering scheme had been introduced with the birth of the RAF and each Brigade now allocated its own number to machines brought down in its area of operations]

    Casualties:

    ? (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut R A Carter (Wia), 53 Sqn, RE8 -

    2nd-Lieut J H Mitchell (Wia), 2 Sqn, AW FK8 –

    The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 was a British two-seat general-purpose biplane built by Armstrong Whitworth during the First World War. The type served alongside the better known R.E.8 until the end of the war, at which point 694 F.K.8s remained on RAF charge.

    The aircraft, originally designated the F.K.7, was designed by Dutch aircraft designer Frederick Koolhoven as a replacement for the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c and the Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3. It was a sturdier aircraft than the F.K.3, with a larger fuselage and wings, and was powered by a 160 hp (110 kW) Beardmore water-cooled engine. The undercarriage used oleo shock absorbers and the observer was equipped with a Scarff ring mounting for a .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis machine gun. No armament was initially provided for the pilot. The rudder featured a long, pointed horn-balance. The type was fitted with basic dual controls for the observer to control the aircraft if the pilot became incapacitated. The first example, A411, flew in May 1916 and was delivered to the Royal Flying Corps Central Flying School at Upavon on 16 June. Because its rival, the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 was an unknown quantity, it was decided that fifty of the Armstrong Whitworth design, renamed the F.K.8., would be ordered for the RFC.

    The production aircraft were identical in most respects to A411, with the addition of a forward-firing .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun to port of and slightly behind the engine. The Armstrong Whitworth gun synchronising mechanism was incomplete at the time the first example A2636 arrived in France and some early production F.K.8s may have used the Arsiad interrupter gear instead. The Armstrong Whitworth mechanism (like other early mechanical synchronising systems) proved unreliable and was later replaced by the Constantinescu gear.From the fifth production aircraft, the rudder balance was shortened and the shape of the fin was modified. The type had several teething troubles: the oleo undercarriage was unable to withstand rough use on the front line airfields, tail skids frequently broke and the original radiators blocked up quickly. Following instructions issued on 30 April 1917, some F.K.8s were refitted with simplified vee-undercarriages from Bristol F.2 Fighters. This soon led to a temporary shortage of these undercarriages and the practice had to be discontinued until May 1918, after which several F.K.8s were fitted with revised undercarriages. Most production F.K.8s had modifications to the wings, gunner's seat and the exhaust system. The tall inverted vee radiators incorporated improved tubes which reduced the blockages. On later aircraft the nose cowling was redesigned and smaller box radiators were standardised.

    In service the F.K.8 (nicknamed the "Big Ack") proved to be effective and dependable, being used for reconnaissance, artillery spotting, ground-attack, contact-patrol and day and night bombing. It was reputedly easier to fly than the R.E.8 and was sturdier but its performance was even more pedestrian and it shared the inherent stability of the Royal Aircraft Factory types. While the pilot and observer were placed reasonably close together, communication between the two lacked the "tap on the shoulder" intimacy of the Bristol Fighter (or the R.E.8 for that matter). The F.K.13 seems to have been the name of a reconnaissance version of the F.K.8 but it may have been no more than a project. A total of 1,650 were built.

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    The first squadron to take the type to France was 35 Squadron RFC, in January 1917. The type eventually served with several squadrons on operations in France, Macedonia, Palestine and for home defence, proving more popular in service than its better known contemporary the R.E.8. The F.K.8 was principally used for corps reconnaissance but was also used for light bombing, being capable of carrying up to six 40 lb (20 kg) phosphorus smoke bombs, up to four 65 lb (29 kg) bombs or two 112 lb (51 kg) bombs on underwing racks.

    Two Victoria Crosses were won by pilots of F.K.8s; one by Second Lieutenant Alan Arnett McLeod of No. 2 Squadron RFC, on 27 March 1918 and the second by Captain Ferdinand Maurice Felix West of No. 8 Squadron RAF on 10 August 1918.

    With the R.E.8, the F.K.8 was scheduled to be replaced for corps reconnaissance by a version of the Bristol Fighter with a Sunbeam Arab engine. Unfortunately the engine was unsatisfactory and this version of the Bristol never saw service. Like the R.E.8, the F.K.8 was quickly discarded with the end of the war – the last squadron, No. 150 Squadron RAF, being disbanded at Kirec in Greece on 18 September 1919. One F.K.8 was purchased by a pilot named Sydney Stewart in the early 1920s, who took the aircraft to Buenos Aires and gave flying lessons. There he met Francisco Cusmanich, a Paraguayan pilot. Stewart and Cusmanich offered their services to the Paraguayan government during the Revolution of 1922. The F.K.8 was taken to Paraguay by ship and called "Presidente Ayala" in honor of the President of Paraguay, Dr. Eusebio Ayala. Both pilots flew several reconnaissance and light bombing sorties over the rebel positions. In one of those sorties, the F.K.8 was hit several times with ground fire causing an explosion on board, killing Stewart and Cusmanich instantly.

    Claiming is 3rd victory on this (very quiet day) was Lieutenant Dieudonne Costes

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    On 6 February 1928, Lieutenant Dieudonné Costes and Lieutenant Commander Joseph Lebrix landed at Boiling Field, Washington, D.C., in the plane which had carried them from Paris across the South Atlantic and over South America to Mexico and the United States. In 1930 Costes and Maurice Bellonte made the first Paris to New York flight. The following year Costes was named the world's No. 1 airman by the International League of Aviation. In 1949 a French military court acquitted Costes on charges of spying for the Nazis during World War II. Needing six votes for a conviction under French military law, four judges voted to convict while five judges voted to free Costes.

    There were only a handful (well 4) of claims on this day

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    Despite this there were still seven British airmen lost

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    Mather Air Force Base (Mather AFB) was a United States Air Force Base, which was closed in 1993. It was located 12 miles (19 km) east of Sacramento, on the south side of U.S. Route 50 in Sacramento County, California. Mather Field was one of 32 Air Service training camps established after the United States entry into World War I in April 1917. The Mather AFB land has various post-military uses including Sacramento Mather Airport, established in 1995. Some of the land was included in the City of Rancho Cordova, when it was incorporated in 2003. Mather Air Force Base was named after Second Lieutenant Carl Spencer Mather, a 25-year-old army pilot killed in a mid-air collision while training at Ellington Field, Texas on January 30, 1918. Mather learned to fly in 1914 at the Curtiss Flying School in Hammondsport, New York, and became an instructor there at the age of 20. He enlisted as an aviation cadet in August 1917 and as a licensed pilot was commissioned with part of his class as a second lieutenant on 20 January 1918. He continued training to earn a Reserve Military Aviator rating and promotion to first lieutenant but was killed ten days later. The remainder of his class requested that Mills Field be renamed in Mather's honor.

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    In January 1918, the Department of War sent a cadre of officers to the Sacramento, California area to survey sites for an aviation school. The group decided on a location about 12 miles southeast of Sacramento called Mills Station. An agreement to lease the land to the Army was concluded, and the construction of some 50 buildings began on 15 March 1918. Mills Field, named after the local community was opened on 30 April 1918. It covered over 700 acres and could accommodate up to 1,000 personnel. Dozens of wooden buildings served as headquarters, maintenance, and officers’ quarters. Enlisted men had to bivouac in tents. Mather Field's first commander was 1st Lieutenant Sam P. Burman, who assumed command on 15 March 1918. The first unit stationed there was the 283d Aero Squadron, which was transferred from Rockwell Field, North Island, California.

    During the Cold War, Mather AFB became the sole aerial navigation school for the United States Air Force after its companion navigation schools at Harlingen Air Force Base, Texas, and James Connally Air Force Base, Texas, were closed and Ellington Air Force Base was converted into a joint Air National Guard Base, Coast Guard Air Station and NASA flight facility in the 1960s.

    The 3535th Navigator Training Wing of Air Training Command (ATC), was responsible for bombardier training beginning in 1946 and later transitioned to undergraduate navigator training (UNT), advanced navigator bombardier training, electronic warfare officer training and weapon systems officer training after the closure of the other navigator training bases. Renamed the 3535th Flying Training Wing, the wing initially flew the Convair T-29 for Air Force navigator training until the early 1970s, when it was replaced by the Boeing T-43A (Boeing 737-200) aircraft.

    The 3535th was replaced by the 323d Flying Training Wing on 1 April 1973. In 1976, following the decommissioning of Training Squadron Twenty-Nine (VT-29) at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, the 323d began training student Naval Flight Officers in the Advanced Maritime Navigation training pipeline. Navy students in this pipeline were destined to fly land-based naval aircraft such as the Lockheed P-3 Orion, Lockheed EP-3 Aries and Lockheed EC-130 and Lockheed LC-130 Hercules aircraft. This resulted in the UNT course being redesignated as Interservice Undergraduate Navigator Training (IUNT). The Navy also activated Naval Air Training Unit (NAVAIRTU) Mather as the parent activity for United States Navy instructors, USN students and NATO/Allied naval aviation students assigned to the 323d at Mather. The Marine Aerial Navigation School also relocated to Mather in order to train enlisted United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard navigators for Marine Corps KC-130 and Coast Guard HC-130 aircraft. Cessna T-37 aircraft were added to the IUNT curriculum in the late 1970s for USAF students destined for high performance aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom II/RF-4, F-111/FB-111 and B-1 Lancer.

    The 323d continued training USAF navigators, Naval Flight Officers, NATO/Allied students, and conducting advanced training for radar navigator/bombardiers, electronic warfare officers and weapons systems operatorss until it was inactivated on 30 September 1993. Concurrent with the wing's inactivation, all USAF Navigator and Naval Flight Officer maritime navigation pipeline training was moved to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas and consolidated under the 12th Flying Training Wing, which up until that time trained and certified instructor pilots.

    On 1 April 1958, the Strategic Air Command (SAC)'s 4134th Strategic Wing composed of the 72d Bombardment Squadron and 904th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned to Mather AFB, the latter flying the KC-135A Stratotanker. The Strategic Wings were formed in the late 1950s as part of SAC's plan to disperse its heavy bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike. The wing had one squadron of B-52 Stratofortresses with 15 aircraft. Half of the planes were maintained on 15-minute alert, fully fueled, armed, and ready for combat. The remaining planes were used for training in bombardment missions and air refueling operations. The wing also had a squadron of KC-135 tankers. The 4134th Strategic Wing was discontinued on 1 February 1963.

    Det. 1 320 BW operated at the old bomber alert area at Mt. Home AFB, from 1969 until the spring of 1975 when it disbanded and the two bombers and two tankers returned to Mather.

    Concurrent with the inactivation of the 4134th, the 320th Bombardment Wing was activated and absorbed its assets. It operated as a tenant unit from 1963 to 1989, initially with the B-52F Stratofortress before converting in 1968 to the B-52G. The 441st Bombardment Squadron replaced the 72d and the 904th Air Refueling Squadron was transferred from the 4134th to the 320th.. In addition to SAC nuclear alert, the 320th also conducted conventional operations, including maritime missions in support of the Navy with aerial mines and AGM-84 Harpoon missiles. The 320th was inactivated on 30 September 1989. The 940th Air Refueling Group, an Air Force Reserve unit, moved to Mather AFB from McClellan Air Force Base in 1977, shortly after it transitioned to the KC-135A. Operationally-gained by SAC, the unit upgraded to the KC-135E in 1986. With SAC's inactivation in 1992, the unit was then gained by the Air Mobility Command and redesignated the 940th Air Refueling Wing in 1993. Following the closure of Mather AFB, the 940th relocated back to McClellan AFB in 1993. When McClellan closed in 1998 the wing then moved to its current station at Beale Air Force Base.

    Parts of the airfield were listed on the National Priorities List as a Superfund site on 22 July 1987. The entire site was listed on 21 November 1989. On 30 September 1993, the 5,845 acres (2,365 ha), including 129 acres (522,000 m²) of easements, of Mather AFB was decommissioned under the 1988 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Most of the base was transferred to Sacramento County, California.

    Captain Tunstill's Men: There was a marked improvement in the weather and the day became very hot.

    It was reflected that “The area as a whole was perhaps more ‘out of the war’ and restful than any the Division had lived in since September 1914. Billets were good and the inhabitants most friendly and hospitable … games could be played in the few fields left free of vines, and evenings could be spent at the Arzignano Theatre listening to the latest performance of the ‘Dumps’ (the Divisional Concert Party)”.

    L.Cpl. James Edward Hollingworth (see 26th April) was reported by Sgt. Frank Shelah Gilleard (see 8th January) as being “absent off CO’s parade, ie, lecture to Officers and NCOs at 5.30pm”; on the orders of Lt.Col. Francis Washington Lethbridge DSO (see 25th April) he was deprived of his Lance Corporal’s stripe and reduced to Private.

    The Battalion War Diary noted the award of the Military Medal to Cpl. Alexander Wallace; the cricumstances under which he had gained the award are unknown. He had originally served with the Army Cyclist Corps before transferring to 9DWR and then 10DWR (date and details unknown); I am unable to make a positive identification of this man.

    Pte. James Tuddenham, known to all as ‘Tudd’ (see 21st July 1916), who had been wounded while serving with 10DWR in July 1916, was killed in action while serving with 1st/6th DWR. The circumstances of his death were reported in a letter to his family from letter from Lt. H.E. Lowther, commanding ‘A’ Company; "He was killed by a shell in the early morning of April 30th and can have suffered no pain whatever. He was buried with two of his comrades, and the grave was marked by a cross made by the men of his own platoon. He was one of our company stretcher bearers who are always men picked specially for their bravery. He always did the job well, however dangerous the circumstances, and always thought of the wounded men he tended before himself. I know how hard it will be for you, but I want you to realise how deeply we feel his loss. 'A' Company will never forget 'Tudd', as he was known to everyone”. The site of James Tuddenham’s grave would be lost in subsequent fighting and he is now commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

    Casualties for the month of April (1918) were officially recorded as being:

    Killed 0
    Accidentally killed 0
    Died of wounds 0
    Wounded 7 (1 in action; 4 at duty; 2 self-inflicted)
    Accidentally wounded 0
    Missing 0

    The official cumulative casualty figures since arriving in France in August 1915 were thus:

    Killed 275
    Accidentally killed 5
    Died of wounds 21
    Wounded 1,287
    Accidentally wounded 53
    Missing 178

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 04-30-2018 at 08:34.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  24. #3224

    Default

    Yet another very interesting day Chris.
    Thank you.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  25. #3225

    Default

    We try and mix it up finding stories linked to days etc.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  26. #3226

    Unhappy

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    May 1st 1918

    Just over six months to go, but so much more yet to happen - although does seem odd not having Von Richthofen around any more (Manfred that is obviously)

    Thionville is bombed with a ton of bombs by British airmen. Bombs are seen to burst on the Carlshutt works where a fire starts. Several bursts are observed on the barracks and the railway station and sidings. All our machines return safely.

    The Newfoundland Legislative Council unanimously passes the second reading of the Conscription Bill.

    Early this morning operations east of the River Jordan are resumed. Australian mounted troops capture Es Salt; the enemies post half way between the Jordan and Hedjaz railways. They capture thirty-three Germans and three hundred seventeen Turkish prisoners. The infantry attacks the enemy in the foothills south and southwest of the village. A mounted brigade is sent northward to watch the crossing of the Jordan at Jisr el Damieh. This is sixteen miles north of the new bridge constructed at El Ghoraniyeh the main crossing of the River Jordan, by the road east from Jericho. The object of this precaution is to prevent the arrival of enemy reinforcements from Shechem, but the measure fails because a force superior in numbers is sent from the Shechem garrison.

    A British detachment in Portuguese East Africa captures an important German convoy retreating from Mwalia (130 miles from the coast at Port Amelia) on the Nanungo containing all the reserve small ammunition of an enemy column. Mounted infantry patrols rush an enemy post in which are collect a large number of local natives, impressed by the enemy for service as carriers. These are released and en enemy supply depot is burned.

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    Surgeon Robert William Brander (HMS Crescent, Royal Navy) dies of injuries at age 25. His brother has been killed in action in November 1916. They are the sons of the Procurator Fiscal of Fifeshire at Cupar.

    HOME FRONTS
    Britain: RFP 107% (March level). New War Pensions Warrant issued. Anglo*-Australian zinc agreement for 250,000t per year for duration of war plus 1 year. In May record month’s gun production: 1750 pieces with 1275 carriages.
    France*: 35,000 armaments workers in May Day strike at Saint-Etienne and vicinity.
    Turkey*: Fist war loan in Constantinople (until May 31 and until Juni 30 outside) raises T17.8m.
    Germany: In May Ludendorff Fund for War Wounded opens.
    Hungary*: General strike, marches in 4 towns despite ban.

    EASTERN FRONT

    Southern Russia: Germans occupy Sevastopol and seize part of Black Sea Fleet. Hoffmann diary on difficulties of repatriating Austro-German PoWs and 3-4 million Baltic and Polish refugees. During May 2 German divisions transfer to Western Front (until May 10).
    USSR: Lenin addresses first May Day rally in Red Square and attends flying display.
    Finland: *Mannerheim holds victory parade in Viborg.

    SEA WAR
    South Atlantic: During May Brazilian squadron of 2 cruisers, 4 destroyers and a tender sails for European waters, but crew illness delays them at Sierra Leone.
    Adriatic: Austrians suppress plot in Tb80 at Pola.
    Germany: In May light cruiser Stuttgart converted to carry 3 seaplanes on davits (since January).
    Britain: During last of 44 P-Boat type patrol craft launched (since October 1915), serve with Dover Patrol, Portsmouth and Nore commands.

    AIR WAR
    Occupied Belgium: During May RAF bombs Zeebrugge with 32t of bombs (and on May 2,6,12 with Ostend on May 22) aiming for lock gates. Bruges docks also attacked on May 25 with 36t of bombs.
    Britain: In May first flight of super-Handley Page V/1500 ‘Berlin Bomber’ at Belfast, but crashes in June, second prototype tested mid-October and 3 of 255 ordered ready in Norfolk (No 166 Squadron) on Armistice Day.

    The Handley Page V/1500 was a British night-flying heavy bomber built by Handley Page towards the end of the First World War. It was a large four-engined biplane, which resembled a larger version of Handley Page's earlier O/100 and O/400 bombers, intended to bomb Berlin from East Anglian airfields. The end of the war stopped the V/1500 being used against Germany, but a single aircraft was used to carry out the first flight from England to India, and later carried out a bombing raid on Kabul during the Third Anglo-Afghan War. It was colloquially known within the fledgling Royal Air Force as the "Super Handley". The V/1500 which was shipped to Canada to attempt a transatlantic flight was flown in the USA beyond its flight to New York. In 1919 it crash-landed in a field at Mount Jewett, Pennsylvania. Photos appeared in the 20 February 1969 issue of the Bradford Journal newspaper.

    The V/1500 was produced to meet a 1917 British Air Board requirement for a large night bomber capable of reaching deeper into Germany than the Handley Page O/100 which had recently entered service, carrying a 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) bombload. This implied the ability to bomb Berlin from bases in East Anglia.

    While the V/1500 had a similar fuselage to that of the O/400, it had longer-span, four-bay biplane wings and was powered by four 375 hp (280 kW) Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines mounted in two nacelles, with two engines pulling in the conventional manner and two pushing, rather than the two Eagle engines of the smaller bomber. Construction was of wood and fabric materials. A relatively novel design feature was the gunner's position at the extreme rear of the fuselage, between the four fins. Owing to pressure of work at Handley Page's Cricklewood factory and to ensure security, the first prototype was constructed by Harland and Wolff at Belfast, Northern Ireland, being assembled at Cricklewood and first flying on 22 May 1918.[3] Orders were placed with a number of companies (including Harland and Wolff, Beardmore, Handley Page, Grahame-White and Alliance Aircraft for a total of 210 V/1500s at £12,500 apiece, although only 40 aircraft were completed, with a further 22 produced as spares

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    North Sea*: Blackburn Kangaroos of No 246 Squadron at RNAS Seaton Carew (Tees) fly 600 hours on anti-submarine patrols from May 1 to November 11; 12 U-boats sighted, 11 attacked.
    Salonika: RAF bomb Bulgar airfields in Vardar valley.
    Palestine: No 1 Squadron AFC aircraft forced to land and burnt near Amman. 1 German strafing attack on May 4.
    Western Front: In early May Fokker DVIIs reach German fighter units in quantity, 828 by August 31. Germans have 2,551 pilots at front.

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    The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the second half of 1918. In service with the Luftstreitkräfte, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft. The Armistice ending the war specifically required Germany to surrender all D.VIIs to the Allies.[1] Surviving aircraft saw much service with many countries in the years after World War I.

    Fokker's chief designer, Reinhold Platz, had been working on a series of experimental V-series aircraft, since 1916. The aircraft were notable for the use of cantilever wings. Junkers had originated the idea in 1915 with the first all-metal aircraft, the Junkers J 1, nicknamed Blechesel (Sheet Metal Donkey or Tin Donkey). The wings were thick, with a rounded leading edge. The wing shape gave greater lift and more docile stalling behavior than the thin wings commonly in use.

    Late in 1917, Fokker built the experimental V 11 biplane, fitted with the standard Mercedes D.IIIa engine. In January 1918, Idflieg held a fighter competition at Adlershof. For the first time, front line pilots participated in the evaluation and selection of new fighters. Fokker submitted the V 11 along with several other prototypes. Manfred von Richthofen flew the V 11 and found it tricky, unpleasant and directionally unstable in a dive. Platz lengthened the rear fuselage by one structural bay and added a triangular fin in front of the rudder. Richthofen tested the modified V 11 and praised it as the best aircraft of the competition. It offered excellent performance from the outdated Mercedes engine, yet was safe and easy to fly. Richthofen's recommendation virtually decided the competition but he was not alone in recommending it. Fokker immediately received a provisional order for 400 production aircraft, which were named D.VII by Idflieg. Fokker's factory was not up to the task of meeting all D.VII production orders and Idflieg directed Albatros and AEG to build the D.VII under license, though AEG did not ultimately produce any aircraft. Because the Fokker factory did not use detailed plans as part of its production process, Fokker simply sent a D.VII airframe for Albatros to copy. Albatros paid Fokker a five percent royalty for every D.VII they built under license. Albatros Flugzeugwerke and its subsidiary, Ostdeutsche Albatros Werke (OAW), built the D.VII at factories in Johannisthal [Fokker D.VII (Alb)] and Schneidemühl [Fokker D.VII (OAW)] respectively. Aircraft markings included the type designation and factory suffix, immediately before the individual serial number.

    Some parts were not interchangeable between aircraft produced at different factories, even between Albatros and OAW. Each manufacturer tended to differ in nose paint styles. OAW produced examples were delivered with distinctive mauve and green splotches on the cowling. All D.VIIs were produced with either the five-color Fünffarbiger or less often, the four-color Vierfarbiger lozenge camouflage covering, except for early Fokker-produced D.VIIs, which had a streaked green fuselage. Factory camouflage finishes were often overpainted with colorful paint schemes or insignia for the Jasta or for a pilot. In September 1918, eight D.VIIs were delivered to Bulgaria. Late in 1918, the Austro-Hungarian company Magyar Įltalįnos Gépgyįr (MĮG, Hungarian General Machine Company) commenced licensed production of the D.VII with Austro-Daimler engines. Production continued after the end of the war, with as many as 50 aircraft completed.

    The D.VII entered squadron service with Jasta 10 in early May 1918. When the Fokker D.VII appeared on the Western Front in April 1918, Allied pilots at first underestimated the new fighter because of its squarish, ungainly appearance but quickly revised their view. The type quickly proved to have many important advantages over the Albatros and Pfalz scouts. Unlike the Albatros scouts, the D.VII could dive without any fear of structural failure. The D.VII was also noted for its high manoeuvrability and ability to climb at high angles of attack, its remarkably docile stall and reluctance to spin. It could literally "hang on its prop" without stalling for brief periods of time (yes that bloody turn card !!! - editor), spraying enemy aircraft from below with machine gun fire. These handling characteristics contrasted with contemporary scouts such as the Camel and SPAD, which stalled sharply and spun vigorously.

    Several aircraft suffered rib failures and fabric shedding on the upper wing. Heat from the engine sometimes ignited phosphorus ammunition until cooling vents were installed in the engine cowling and fuel tanks sometimes broke at the seams. Aircraft built by the Fokker factory at Schwerin were noted for their lower standard of workmanship and materials. Despite faults, the D.VII proved to be a remarkably successful design, leading to the familiar aphorism that it could turn a mediocre pilot into a good one and a good pilot into an ace. Richthofen died days before the D.VII began to reach the Jagdstaffeln and never flew it in combat. Other pilots, including Erich Löwenhardt and Hermann Göring, quickly racked up victories and generally lauded the design. Aircraft availability was limited at first but by July there were 407 in service. Larger numbers became available by August, when D.VIIs achieved 565 victories. The D.VII eventually equipped 46 Jagdstaffeln. When the war ended in November, 775 D.VII aircraft were in service. The Allies confiscated large numbers of D.VII aircraft after the Armistice. The United States Army and Navy evaluated 142 captured examples. Several of these aircraft were re-engined with American-built Liberty L-6 motors, very similar in appearance to the D.VII's original German power plants. France, Great Britain and Canada also received numbers of war prizes.

    Other countries used the D.VII operationally. The Polish deployed approximately 50 aircraft during the Polish-Soviet War, using them mainly for ground attack missions.The Hungarian Soviet Republic used a number of D.VIIs, both built by MAG and ex-German aircraft in the Hungarian-Romanian War of 1919. The Dutch, Swiss, and Belgian air forces also operated the D.VII. The aircraft proved so popular that Fokker completed and sold a large number of D.VII airframes that he had smuggled into the Netherlands after the Armistice. As late as 1929, the Alfred Comte company manufactured eight new D.VII airframes under license for the Swiss Fliegertruppe


    General Headquarters, May 2nd.


    "On the 1st inst. the unfavourable weather continued, and only short distance reconnaissances, carried out by our aeroplanes at a very low height, and bombing were possible. None of our machines are missing.”

    RAF Communiqué number 5:

    Low clouds and mist again prevailed.

    Seven reconnaissances were carried out (all by the 2nd Brigade) and seven contact patrols.

    Six hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction and four neutralized, and three explosions were caused. Fifty-two zone calls were sent down.

    Three tons of bombs were dropped follows:-

    1st Brigade: 1st Wing, 47 25-lb bombs.
    2nd Brigade: No 1 Squadron, 57 25-lb bombs. No 74 Squadron, 24 25-lb bombs. No 20 Squadron, two 112-lb bombs. 2nd Wing, 72 25-lb bombs.
    5th Brigade: No 35 Squadron, 8 25-lb bombs.
    7th Brigade: No 211 Squadron, 60 25-lb bombs on billets at Westende and Middelkerke.

    Enemy Aircraft:


    Enemy aircraft activity was practically nil all day.

    Casualties:


    None

    The following claims were made on this day

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    Star of the day was Oberleutnant Benno Fiala Ritter von Fernbrugg with 4 victories

    Fiala volunteered for service in 1910. After serving with an artillery regiment, he joined Fliegerkompanie 1 on 28 July 1914. On 30 March 1918, Fiala scored his 14th confirmed victory near Gorgo del Molino, forcing down a Sopwith Camel flown by English ace Alan Jerrard.

    Hauptmann (Captain) Benno Fiala Ritter von Fernbrugg (16 June 1890 – 29 October 1964) was an Austro-Hungarian fighter ace with 28 victories to his credit during World War I. He was the third ranking ace of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His honours and decorations included the Order of the Iron Crown, Order of Leopold, Military Merit Cross, Military Merit Medal, Gold Medal for Bravery and the Iron Cross. He was also a technical innovator who pioneered the use of machine guns, radios, and cameras in airplanes. His forty-year aviation career also included aircraft manufacture, airport management, and the establishment of commercial airlines.

    Benno Fiala von Fernbrugg was born in Vienna to an aristocratic family with a tradition of military service. His father was an artillery officer and his brother in naval aviation. Fiala attended primary and secondary school in Vienna, and went on to major in mechanical engineering at the local University of Technology, becoming an Ingenieur. He had an early fascination with aviation but was initially refused aviation service,[4] instead being gazetted as an officer in the engineers and assigned to Fort Artillery Regiment 1 in 1910.

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    Being assigned to the artillery didn't quash his interest in aviation; his brother was a naval aviator, and Fiala visited airports. While at one, he met Emil Uzelac, Commander of the fledgling air force of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Uzelac arranged Fiala's transfer to Fliegerkompagnie 1 of the Luftfahrtruppen as a technical officer. Fiala completed training as a flying observer on 28 July 1914, the very day Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. In November 1914, Fiala took charge of the locomotive of a supply train and drove it to safety even though it was under attack by Russian troops and he was wounded in the action. He was awarded the Silver Military Merit Medal for this. On 10 November, he was also received a most unusual promotion to leutnant (Second Lieutenant) ahead of his sequence in seniority. Although trained as an observer, Fiala's duties in this beginning of the war consisted mainly of arming planes with machine guns, and experimenting with aerial cameras. He also rigged a 30 kilogram (66 pound) radio transmitter in an unarmed plane. It was used in May 1915 at the Battle of Gorlice-Tarnow on the Russian Front; by sending corrections to a receiver on the ground, it successfully adjusted mortar fire. Fiala was briefly attached to the testing section of the air arsenal before being reassigned to a flying unit.

    Fiala had had a couple of unconfirmed victories on the Russian Front. Now he was transferred to Fliegerkompany 19 on the Italian Front in January 1916. There he flew a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I two seated reconnaissance plane, scoring his first confirmed triumph on 29 April 1916.

    On 4 May 1916, he was flying as an observer in a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I flown by Adolf Heyrowsky when they teamed with a second C.I to shoot down the Italian airship M-4. The semi-rigid dirigible had been returning from a bombing raid when Fiala shot it down above Gorizia, Italy, killing the entire crew of six. Fiala was wounded by anti-aircraft fire in the beginning of 1917.It was during this recuperation that he decided to apply for pilot's training. After he recovered, he moved into Fliegerkorps 41J, then into a Hansa-Brandenburg D.I fighter in Fliegerkorps 12D. Beginning 9 August 1917, he ran off a string of five confirmed and two confirmed wins for the month. He scored once more, in October, before changing squadrons once again in November, to move into an Albatros D.III with Fliegerkorps 56J. He notched win number nine with 56J, but didn't spend long with them; he transferred into command of Fliegerkorps 51J in January, 1918. His steady accretion of victories helped shape Flik 51J into the premier squadron of the Austro-Hungarians. Especially notable was his 14th win; on 30 May 1918, he downed British ace Alan Jerrard in an action that was so fierce, it won the loser the Victoria Cross. Fiala racked up number 28 on 20 August 1918. He continued to fly until October, but then was posted to nonflying staff duties until war's end. The engineer turned fighter pilot had flown on two fronts which had more hazardous flying conditions and less opportunity for air combat than the Western Front in France. His victory roll included a dirigible, three observation balloons, and a predominance of enemy fighters among the planes he had felled. He claimed at least five unconfirmed victories. He had won the Order of the Iron Crown, Order of Leopold, Military Merit Cross, Military Merit Medal, Gold Medal for Bravery, and the Iron Cross.

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    He died in Vienna on 29 October 1964 and was buried in the Fiala-Fernbrugg family vault in Vienna's Central Cemetery. The Austrian air force base at Aigen im Ennstal is named for him.

    A total of 12 British airmen were lost on this day

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    and finally on this day....

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    Robert Edward Cruickshank VC
    (17 June 1888 – 30 August 1961) was an Anglo-Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for combat gallantry of the British and Commonwealth forces. Cruickshank was born in Winnipeg in 1888, the first of 5 children. He moved to England with his family when he was 3 where he moved frequently. In the First World War he initially volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps, but transferred to the London Scottish Regiment. After being injured in the Battle of the Somme he was returned home to recuperate before transferring to Egypt. While in Egypt, on 1 May 1918, he volunteered to carry a message along the front line where he was hit several times by a sniper. For his continued attempts at climbing the slopes of a wadi whilst wounded and under sniper fire, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. After the war he returned to business work before moving to Southend. After serving in the Home Guard as a Major in the Second World War, he served on several local organisations and committees before dying in Leicestershire in 1961. His medal was donated to his regimental museum.

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    After war was declared, he initially volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps, but transferred to the London Scottish Regiment. After training he was initially posted to the 1st Battalion in France, where he was wounded at the Battle of the Somme in September 1916 at Leuze Wood.

    He was evacuated to England, but after recovering, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion and joined them first in Salonika prior to it embarking to Egypt.

    Victoria Cross
    He was 29 years old, and a Private in the 2/14th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Scottish), British Army when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

    On 1 May 1918 east of the Jordan River, Palestine, in the midst of a pitched battle against Turkish troops, Private Cruickshank volunteered to take a message to company headquarters from his platoon which was in the bottom of a wadi, with its officer and most of the men casualties. The official War Office citation gave the following account:

    The platoon to which Private Cruickshank belonged came under very heavy rifle and machine-gun fire at short range and was led down a steep bank into a wadi, most of the men being hit before they reached the bottom. Immediately after reaching the bottom of the wadi the officer in command was shot dead, and the sergeant who then took over command sent a runner back to Company Headquarters asking for support, but was mortally wounded almost immediately after; the corporal having in the meantime been killed, the only remaining N.C.O. (a lance-corporal), believing the first messenger to have been killed, called for a volunteer to take a second message back. Private Cruickshank immediately responded and rushed up the slope, but was hit and rolled back into the wadi bottom. He again rose and rushed up the slope, but, being again wounded, rolled back into the wadi. After his wounds had been dressed he rushed a third time up the slope and again fell badly wounded. Being now unable to stand he rolled himself back amid a hail of bullets. His wounds were now of such a nature as to preclude him making any further attempt and he lay all day in a dangerous position, being sniped at and again wounded here he lay. he displayed the utmost valour and endurance, and was cheerful and uncomplaining throughout. Citation for Private Robert Edward Cruickshank, Lond. R. (Harringay)

    Following the action he was evacuated back to England where he recovered from his wounds, and was feted as a hero. He received his VC at Buckingham Palace on 24 October 1918, his mother and fiancée attending.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 05-02-2018 at 13:19.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  27. #3227

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    May 2nd 1918

    Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Stearne Tighe Edwards DSC, while leading a patrol of four scouts, encounters a hostile formation of eight enemy scouts and drives down one enemy machine completely out of control. Soon afterwards he engages another formation of six enemy scouts, driving down one to its destruction while his patrol accounts for another. He only breaks off the fight owing to lack of ammunition.

    Major Roderic Stanley Dallas (Royal Air Force) flies to the German aerodrome at Le Breayelle, fires on hangars on the south side of the aerodrome to attract the attention of the enemy and drops a parcel containing a pair of boots and a note saying, “If you won’t come up here and fight, herewith one pair of boots for work on the ground, pilot for the use of”. Climbing into the mist he circles until the Germans gather around the parcel and then, dives on them, drops two bombs and fires one hundred rounds at them. General panic follows. To cap it all Dallas then shoots down two Albatros DVs on his return journey.

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    Lieutenant Merril Samuel Taylor (Royal Air Force) shoots down a white Fokker Triplane piloted by German ace Hans Weiss.

    At night three heavy bombs are dropped from a low altitude on the Zeebrugge lock gates. German positions and railway stations are also heavily bombed. Also during the night five and one half tons of bombs are dropped by the Royal Air Force on Chaulnes, Juniville railway junction, and Caix.

    Several important reconnaissances are carried out and many photographs are taken well in the rear of the enemy lines. Three and a half tons of bombs are dropped on Bapaume and other targets in the battle area. At times, fighting in the air is severe.

    THURSDAY, 2 MAY 1918

    General Headquarters, May 2nd.


    "On the 2nd inst. a ton of bombs were dropped on the railway station and sidings at Thionville. One burst was seen on the Carlshutt Works, where a fire was started. Several bursts were observed on the barracks and on the railway station and sidings. All our machines returned."

    General Headquarters, May 3rd.

    "Although the weather was fine on the 2nd inst., a thick haze interfered with the work of our aeroplanes and artillery. Several important reconnaissances were carried out, and many photographs were taken well in rear of the enemy's lines. Three and a half tons of bombs were dropped on Bapaume and other targets in the battle areas. At times fighting in the air was severe. Fourteen hostile machines were brought down and four others were driven down out of control. Five of our machines are missing. During the night five and a half tons of bombs were dropped by us on Chaulnes, Juniville railway junction. Bapaume, and Caix. Three very heavy bombs were dropped also from a low height on the lock gates at Zeebrugge. On the 3rd inst. another most successful raid was carried out by us against the railway station and sidings at Thionville. Carlshutte works were again hit, and several bursts were seen on the station, in the sidings, and on the gasworks. All our machines returned."

    RAF Communiqué number 5:

    The weather was fine but the visibility very bad.

    Six reconnaissances and eight contact patyrols were carried out.

    One hostile battery was successfully engaged for destruction and one neutralized; two explosions and two fires were caused. Nine zone calls were sent down.

    Over 3½ tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    1st Brigade: 1st Wing, 28 25-lb bombs. No 40 Squadron, 2 25-lb bombs on La Brayelle Aerodrome.
    2nd Brigade: 2nd Wing, 35 25-lb bombs. No 98 Squadron, 6 230-lb bombs. No 20 Squadron, 5 112-lb bombs. No 1 Squadron, 20 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: 4 25-lb bombs. No 57 Squadron, 18 112-lb bombs on Bapaume.
    5th Brigade: 15th Wing, 28 25-lb bombs.
    7th Brigade: No 211 Squadron, 30 25-lb bombs on billets at Leke and Middelkerke.
    9th Brigade: 2 25-lb bombs.

    8th Brigade: Eleven machines of No 55 Squadron dropped 2 230-lb and 18 112-lb bombs on the railway station and sidings at Thionville. Bursts were seen on the railway station and sidings and in the barracks. One bomb hit the Carlshutte works, starting a fire. Sixteen photographs were taken. All machines returned.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft were not very active considering the fine weather, although a number of enemy machines were encountered on the 5th Brigade front about noon.

    Enemy machines were driven down out of control by the following: Lieut P J Clayson, No 1 Squadron; Capt L W Jarvis, 2nd-Lieut C Parry, No 56 Squadron (one); Capt D V D Marshall and Lieut H A Lamb, No 98 Squadron; Capt S T Edwards, No 209 Squadron; Capt J Leacroft, No 19 Squadron; Lieut L W Hustings, No 19 Squadron; Major A D Carter, No 19 Squadron; Capt C J Marchant, 2nd-Lieut J H Smith, No 46 Squadron (one); Capt C B Ridley, No 201 Squadron; Lieut H PGuard, No 201 Squadron; one by a patrol of No 201 Squadron, the following officers taking part in the combat: - Capt S M Kinkead, Lieuts H L Wallace, R E Bright, H Riddell, G C Brading and A G A Spence; Lieut T Durrant, No 56 Squadron; Lieut H J Burden, No 56 Squadron; Lieut W A Southey, No 84 Squadron.

    Flt Sub-Lieut L F Pendred & Lieut N H Jenkins, 202 Sqn, E.A. out of control -
    Capt S M Kinkead, Lieut H le R Wallace, Lieut R E Bright, Lieut H Riddell, Lieut R C B Brading and Lieut A G A Spence, 201 Sqn, Albatros C out of control north of Albert at 10:10/11:10 -
    Lieut H P Guard, 201 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control south-east of Albert at 10:30/11:30 -

    Capt L W Jarvis, 56 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed south-east of Martinpuich at 11:25/12:25 - Capt L W Jarvis, No 56 Squadron, led his patrol against seven E.A. scouts and three triplanes. Capt Jarvis engaged a triplane, and after firing 50 rounds into it at cose range the E.A. turned on its back and was seen to crash

    Capt L W Jarvis and 2nd Lieut C Parry, 56 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Martinpuich at 11:25/12:25 -
    Lieut T Durrant, 56 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south of Pozičres at 11:25/12:25 -
    Lieut H J Burden, 56 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames south-east of Martinpuich at 11:25/12:25 -

    Capt J Gilmour, 65 Sqn, two-seater in flames south-east of Bois l'Abbe at 11:50/12:50 - Capt J Gilmour, No 65 Squadron, with his flight attacked a formation of eight E.A. two-seaters, engaged one which was separated from the rest; this E.A. went down and crashed in flames near the south-east edge of Bois l’Abbe

    2nd Lieut W F Scott-Kerr, 65 Sqn, two-seater crashed Monument Wood at 11:55/12:55 - 2nd Lieut W F Scott-Kerr, No 65 Squadron, fired about 250 rounds into one E.A. two-seater which went down vertically through the clouds emitting a stream of smoke, and was confirmed by the Australian Corps to have fallen in Monument Wood

    2nd Lieut T M Williams, 65 Sqn, two-seater in flames Villers Bretonneux at 11:55/12:55 - 2nd Lieut T M Williams, No 65 Squadron, fired a burst of about 100 rounds into one E.A. two-seater which was seen to crash in flames; Ltn Rudolf Schermuly (Kia) & Ltn Hans Seeling (Kia), BG 7 [?]

    Lieut M S Taylor, 209 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed south of Cerisy at 12:00/13:00 - Lieut M S Taylor, No 209 Squadron, with his patrol dived on eight E.A. triplanes and fired a burst at about 20 yards’ range into one E.A. which went down on its back out of control and was seen to crash by another pilot of the patrol and also by No 65 Squadron

    Capt J Gilmour, 65 Sqn, two-seater captured Villers Bretonneux at 12:05/13:05 - Capt J Gilmour, No 65 Squadron, with his flight attacked a formation of eight E.A. two-seaters, one of which he shot down in flames almost at once
    Capt O W Redgate, 209 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control south of Cerisy at 12:15/13:15 -
    Capt C B Ridley, 201 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control east of Villers-Bretonneux at 12:50/13:50 -
    Lieut J E L Hunter, 204 Sqn, Rumpler C out of control south of Dixmude at 13:15/14:15 -
    Lieut J C Bateman and Lieut K C Mills, 1 Sqn, LVG C out of control Houthulst at 13:25/14:25 -
    Capt L E Whitehead, 65 Sqn, two-seater out of control smoking Cerisy - Lamotte at 13:25/14:25 -
    Lieut P J Clayson, 1 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south-east of Bailleul at 13:50/14:50 - attacked one of seven Pfalz scouts, followed it down to 4,000 feet, firing 200 rounds into it. The E.A. went into steep left-hand spiral then spun into clouds. Confirmed by patrol.
    Capt H A Rigby, 1 Sqn, Pfalz Scout broke up north of Estaires at 13:50/14:50 - Capt H A Rigby, No 1 Squadron, attacked one of seven Pfalz scouts, firing 150 rounds into it. The bottom port plane crumpled up, then the whole machine broke up

    Lieut E R Jeffree, 4 AFC, Albatros Scout crashed west of Bailleul at 14:20/15:20 - Lieut E R Jeffree, 4th Squadron AFC, observing an E.A. scout below him, left his patrol and dived on the E.A., opening fire from close range. After diving twice and firing two bursts into the E.A., Lieut Jeffree saw it put its nose down and dive steeply towards the ground and eventually crash. This is confirmed by another member of the patrol [Lieut Newland]

    Capt R W Bell & Lieut A A Malcolm, 98 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south-east of Ypres at 14:45/15:45 -

    Lieut W A Southey, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control east of Abancourt at 14:50/15:50 -

    Maj R S Dallas, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed near Brebičres at 14:50/15:50 - Major R S Dallas, No 40 Squadron, encountered two E.A. scouts slightly below and ahead of him; he fired a burst of 50 rounds into the nearest E.A. which fell out of control and crashed near Brebičres

    Capt D V D Marshall & Lieut H A Lamb, 98 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Becelaere at 15:00/16:00 -

    Capt D V D Marshall & Lieut H A Lamb, 98 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames Becelaere at 15:00/16:00 - Capt D V D Marshall & Lieut H A Lamb, No 98 Squadron, while returning from a bomb raid encountered six E.A. scouts. Capt Marshall dived on the leading E.A. firing a burst of 130 rounds into it from 100 yards’ range. The E.A. did a steep turn to the left then nose-dived vertically emitting a cloud of black smoke, and was observed by another pilot to go down in flames

    Lieut W Hubbard and Lieut W D Tipton, 3 Sqn, DFW C out of control Arras at 16:15/17:15 -

    Capt C J Marchant and 2nd Lieut J H Smith, 46 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Estaires at 17:00/18:00 -

    Lieut A W Blake and Lieut A B Fairclough, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames south of Armentičres at 17:45/18:45 – Lieut A W Blake; No 19 Squadron, during a big fight, got on the tail of an E.A. scout and fired several burts at it from close range, whereupon the E.A. turned in front of him and he followed it, firing the whole time. Lieut A B Fairclough, No 19 Squadron, then attacked the E.A. from the side, and it eventually burst into flames and broke up into many pieces; Uffz Ernst Messtorff, Jasta 26, Kia [?]

    Lieut N W Hustings, 19 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control south of Armentičres at 17:45/18:45 -
    Capt J Leacroft, 19 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south of Armentičres at 17:45/18:45 -
    Maj A D Carter, 19 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control south of Armentičres at 17:45/18:45 -
    Capt S T Edwards, 209 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brie at 18:15/19:15 -
    Lieut J H Siddall, 209 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Cayeux at 18:30/19:30 -
    Capt E B Drake, 209 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Cayeux at 18:45/19:45 -

    The following claims were made on this day

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    11 British airmen were lost on this day

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    Amongst those pilots claiming their first victory toay we have Captain James 'Jimmy' Armand Meissner

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    The son of Carl A. Meissner of Brooklyn, New York, James Armand Meissner left Sibley College to enter the first squadron of the United States Army's School of Military Aeronautics at Cornell University. He graduated from ground school on 14 July 1917 and left Cornell in his junior year to volunteer for aviation duty overseas. He was trained in France where he received his commission as First Lieutenant in January 1918. On 17 March 1918 he was assigned to the 94th Aero Squadron in France, scoring four confirmed victories flying the Nieuport 28. In July 1918 he assumed command of the 147th Aero Squadron, scoring four more victories while flying the SPAD XIII. Post-war Meissner graduated from Cornell with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1919. He organized the Alabama National Guard in 1920 and, for a time, served as its commanding officer. He died at his home in Birmingham, Alabama. He was 39.

    Gunner Ernest Frederick Parker (Australian Field Artillery) is killed at age 34 near Caėstre, He is an tennis Australian tennis champion, winner of the 1913 Australiasian championships which is now know as the Australian Open. He lost the finals in 1909 to Anthony Wilding who lost his life in the Royal Marines in 1915. As a versatile athlete Parker practiced successfully in both golf and cricket. After the outbreak of the War he was called to the army, initially exempted from service because of an eye injury, but eventually joined the artillery and was sent to the European front.

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    EASTERN FRONT
    Don: Cossacks cable Kaiser for help against Bolsheviks.
    Finland: Red Western Army collapses, 20,000 PoWs; 50 guns and 200 MGs.

    SOUTHERN FRONTS

    Italy: Foch’s authority extended to Italian Front.

    SEA WAR

    Atlantic: U-boat sinks transport Tuscania (211 of 2,400 US troops lost) 7 miles north of Rathlin island.
    Channel*: Dover Barrage sinks coastal submarine UB-31 and on May 8 also UC-78.

    SS Tuscania was a luxury liner of the Cunard Line subsidiary Anchor Line, named after Tuscania, Italy. She was torpedoed in 1918 by the German U-boat UB-77 while transporting American troops to Europe and sank, sending 210 people to their deaths.

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    Tuscania carried passengers between New York City and Glasgow while in service with the Anchor Line, on a route that had previously been assigned to her sister ship Transylvania. She continued to run this route even as World War I broke out in Europe in August 1914 and Germany initiated a submarine campaign against merchant shipping in waters near the United Kingdom. Tuscania made international headlines for rescuing passengers and crew from the burning Greek steamer SS Athinai on 20 September 1915. In 1916, Tuscania was refitted and pressed into service as a troopship. She made the news again in March 1917 by evading a submarine and a suspected Imperial German Navy armed merchant cruiser.

    On 24 January 1918, Tuscania departed Hoboken, New Jersey, with 384 crew members and 2,013 United States Army personnel aboard. On the morning of 5 February 1918, she turned south for the North Channel en route Liverpool. The German submarine UB-77 sighted Tuscania′s convoy during the day and stalked it until early evening. Under the cover of darkness at about 6:40 p.m., the submarine′s commanding officer, Korvettenkapitän Wilhelm Meyer, ordered two torpedoes fired at Tuscania. The second of these struck home, sending her to the bottom of the Irish Sea within about four hours. Tuscania sank nearly three years to the day after her maiden voyage as a passenger liner. Approximately 210 of the troops and crew were lost,[4] while many others were rescued by the Royal Navy destroyers Mosquito and Pigeon. The wreck of Tuscania lies between Scotland's Islay and Northern Ireland′s Rathlin Island, about 7 nautical miles (13 km) north of Rathlin lighthouse, at roughly 55.41°N 06.185°W under 330-foot (100 m) of water. Many of the bodies of the drowned servicemen, washed up on the shores of Islay and were buried there. After the First World War, many were re-interred in Brookwood Military Cemetery or repatriated to the United States. Just one grave is left on the island today. In 1919, the American Government unveiled a memorial to the dead on the southernmost tip of the island


    HOME FRONTS

    Germany: Prussian Landtag votes 235-183 against equal suffrage; pro-equal suffrage meetings banned on May 25.
    USA: Montana bans German language teaching and textbooks, half states curtail German by summer, much book burning.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  28. #3228

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    May 3rd 1918

    Another successful air raid is carried out against the railway station and sidings at Thionville. The Carlshutte works are again hit and several bursts are seen on the station, in the sidings and on the gas works. All aircraft return safely.

    The Turkish forces from Shechem cross the River Jordan and drive back the mounted brigade. The Royal Horse Artillery batteries supporting the brigade are forced to abandon nine guns in the river valley and the left flank of the Es Salt column is uncovered. The Shechem troops afterward attack our positions at Es Salt, without success. The subsequent arrival from the northeast of more enemy reinforcements, which have been brought down the railway from Damascus, eventually cause another general retirement to the Jordan.

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    Captain Derwas Goring Charles Cumming (Australian Infantry) is killed at age 27. He is a former Australian rules footballer who played with University scoring 34 goals in 21 matches.

    Two air aces were lost on this day

    Sous Lieutenant Omer Paul Demeuldre Enlisting in 1912, Demeuldre was a mechanic in the French Air Service when the war began. He flew missions as a gunner/observer, shooting down his first enemy aircraft, before becoming a pilot in October 1916. He was posthumously awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur. He had 13 victories at the time of his death.

    "An exceptional pursuit pilot whose high morals, initiative, and bravery excite the admiration and emulation of his comrades in combat. He has downed thirteen enemy planes, ten of them in four months. On 3 May 1918, he fell in an all out battle during an attack at close quarters with an enemy two-seater, leaving behind the highest example of gallantry and young ardor." Légion d'Honneur citation

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    Lieutenant Samuel Parry
    62 Squadron RAF (Bristol Fighters)

    The son of Henry and Gwonllian Parry, who were living at Neath, Glamorgan, in 1901, Samuel Parry married Althea Lake at St. Andrews, Whitehall Park, London, on 31 October 1916. He scored 5 victories as an observer with 62 Squadron. He died in a crash on 3 May 1918. His pilot, Hugh Nangle, was injured in the same crash. He had nine victories when he was killed.

    In a remarkable day of aerial combat we have 81 pilots claiming over 110 victories.

    There were four hat tricks on the day, Lieutenant Sam Parry (see above) who alas died the same day .

    Captain George Everard Gibbons MC, DFC - 62 Squadron RAF (Bristol Fighters)

    T./Capt. George Everard Gibbons, Gen. List and R.A.F.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has lately destroyed three enemy machines and driven down others out of control. He has always shown great gallantry and keenness, and has commanded his flight with distinction, performing invaluable services in training young officers in the squadron

    Lieut. (A./Capt.) George Everard Gibbons, M.C. (FRANCE)
    On 4th August, when leading a patrol, his formation was attacked by twenty enemy aeroplanes. Seeing one of our Bristol fighters, in difficulties with its propeller, being attacked by one of the enemy machines, he dived and drove it down to crash; when climbing back to join his formation his observer shot down another enemy machine. In addition to the foregoing Capt. Gibbons has destroyed four enemy aeroplanes and driven down three out of control. The gallantry in action he invariably displays sets an inspiriting example to those with whom he serves.

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    It was a good day for 62 Squadron and their Bristol Fighters

    Captain Trevor Durrant 56 Squadron RAF - SE5a

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    The son of Edward Marling and Lilian (Ellis) Durrant, Trevor Durrant joined the Royal Flying Corps on 5 August 1916. Serving first with 55 Squadron, he scored his first victory as an observer aboard a D.H.4. After becoming a pilot, he was reassigned to 56 Squadron on 7 December 1917. Flying the S.E.5a, he scored ten more victories before he was shot down while fighting several Fokker DR.Is northeast of Albert.

    Captain Euan ****sonDSC & Bar, DFC - 205 Squadron RAF - DH.4

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    When the war began, Euan ****son was a young engineer living in New Zealand. Giving up his job as foreman in a machine shop, he returned to England in 1915 and joined the Royal Naval Air Service. Flight Sub-Lieutenant ****son received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 3966 on a Maurice Farman biplane at Royal Naval Air Station, Cranwell on 12 December 1916. On 31 March 1917, he was posted to 10 Naval Squadron but was reassigned to 5 Naval Squadron in France on 29 April 1917. Apart from a two week leave of absence and a brief stay in the hospital, he remained on combat duty until August 1918. During that time he flew the D.H.4 on more than 150 missions and was credited with downing 14 enemy aircraft. When the war ended, ****son returned to New Zealand, took a job with the Canterbury Aviation Company and was the first person to fly across Cook Strait in 1920. He later became chairman of the Eden Motor Company in Auckland and retired in 1964.

    Flt. Sub-Lieut. Charles Roger Lupton, R.N.A.S.
    Flt. Sub-Lieut. Euan ****son, R.N.A.S.
    Obs. Sub-Lieut. William Lawrence Hill, R.N.A.S.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a bombing raid on Thourout Railway Station and Varsennaere Aerodrome on the 25th October, 19X7. These officers volunteered for the expedition in spite of extremely unfavourable weather conditions. They have all previously taken part in many bombing raids.

    Flt. Lieut. Euan ****son, D.S.C., R.N.A.S.
    For conspicuous gallantry in attacking enemy aircraft and in carrying out bombing raids. On the 16th March, 1918, he went to the assistance of a machine of his formation which was being attacked at close quarters by twelve enemy scouts. Despite the fact that all the guns on his machine were useless owing to lack of ammunition, he turned and charged the hostile formation, splitting it up and diverting their attention from the other machine, thus undoubtedly saving it. On other occasions he has brought down enemy machines and taken part in many daylight bombing raids, at all times showing utter fearlessness and great determination.

    Lieut. (Hon. Capt.) Euan ****son, D.S.C. (late R.N.A.S.).
    Since 17th April, 1918, this officer has led eighty-four successful bombing raids. His leadership has been conspicuous for remarkable bravery, skill, and determination. On one raid directed, against a town in occupation by the enemy, he obtained seven direct hits on the railway station and four on a dump outside. Thrice on a prior date he led his flight to attack enemy billets and horse lines, descending to low altitudes and engaging enemy troops on the ground.

    Today's claims

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    It was inevitable that RAF losses would be high on such a day - 30 airmen were killed - alas I only have 20 names

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    AIR WAR
    Germany: DH4s of No 55 Squadron seriously damage goods statin rail tracks and rolling stock at Thionville.
    Western Front*: RAF claim 36 German aircraft, Germans admit loss of 22 for 33 Allied.

    General Headquarters, May 3rd.

    "On the 3rd inst. another most successful raid was carried out by us against the railway station and sidings at Thionville. Carlshutte works were again hit, and several bursts were seen on the station, in the sidings, and on the gasworks. All our machines returned."

    General Headquarters, May 4th.

    “On the 3rd inst. a most successful day's work was accomplished by our aeroplanes. Reconnaissances were carried out over all important areas and a great many photographs were taken. Good visibility assisted the co-operation of our aeroplanes with the artillery. Bombing was carried out with the utmost vigour, and a total weight of over 20 tons of bombs was dropped on Chaulnes, Tournai, and La Bassee railway stations, and on Estaires, Marcelcave, Menin, Comines, and Middelkerke. Fierce fighting continued all day. Twenty-eight German machines were brought down and five others were driven down out of control. In addition, our anti-aircraft guns shot down three of the enemy's machines within our lines. Eleven of our aeroplanes are missing. After dark a thick mist set in on most parts of the front. Over two tons of bombs were dropped by us, however, on Chaulnes and Juniville railway junctions. In spite of the very bad weather encountered, all our machines returned."

    RAF Communiqué number 5:

    The weather was fine and enabled a great deal of work to be done.

    Forty-two reconnaissances and nine contact patrols were carried out by Brigades and nine long distance flights by machines of the 9th Brigade.

    Seventeen hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction and six neutralized; six gun-pits were destroyed, three damaged, six explosions and five fires caused. Twenty zone calls were sent down.

    On the 3rd instant, balloons engaged 20 targets, five hostile batteries being successfully engaged for destruction and nine neutralized. Eight hostile batteries were located.

    Twenty-five and a half tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    Night, 2nd/3rd: The weather was very misty thus greatly interfering with flying.

    3rd Brigade: No 102 Squadron, 220 25-lb bombs on Bapaume and neighbourhood.
    5th Brigade: No 101 Squadron, 2 230-lb, 12 112-lb and 8 25-lb bombs on Chaulnes Railway Junction; 3 112-lb bombs on Bayonvillers, and 14 25-lb bombs on Caix.
    7th Brigade: No 214 Squadron, 3 550-lb bombs on Bruges Docks.

    Day 3rd -
    1st Brigade: 1st Wing, 78 25-lb bombs. No 18 Squadron, 9 112-lb and 4 25-lb bombs on Estaires.
    2nd Brigade: No 74 Squadron, 84 25-lb bombs. No 20 Squadron, 16 112-lb bombs. No 98 Squadron, 8 230-lb bombs. No 206 Squadron, 24 230-lb bombs. No 1 Squadron, 100 25-lb bombs. 2nd Wing, 72 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: Twenty-seven 25-lb bombs. No 57 Squadron, 54 112-lb bombs on Bapaume.
    5th Brigade: No 205 Squadron, 32 112-lb and 8 23-lb bombs on Chaulnes Railway Junction. Nos 8 and 82 Squadrons, 25 112-lb and 3 25-lb bombs on Marcelcave. 15th Wing, 61 25-lb bombs. 22nd Wing, 40 25-lb bombs.
    7th Brigade: No 211 Squadron, 56 25-lb bombs on billets at Middelkerke and Slypebrug; 64 25-lb bombs on Bruges Docks.
    9th Brigade: No 25 Squadron, 8 112-lb and 22 22 25-lb bombs on Warneton; 8 112-lb and 9 25-lb bombs on lwuy Dump. No 27 Squadron, 10 112-lb and 20 25-lb bombs on Menin and Comines; 38 112-lb bombs on Tournai, Don and La Bassée Railway Stations.

    8th Brigade: On night of the 2nd/3rd instant, 18 machines of No 100 Squadron left the ground at 9.45, but 11 machines were forced to return owing to weather conditions. The remaining seven machines dropped 18 112-lb bombs on the railways at Amagny-Lucquy, Juniville and Warneville. The visibility was bad, but several good bursts were observed, including two O.K.'s on the railway at Anmagny-Lucquy.

    On the 3rd, 12 machines of No 55 Squadron bombed the railway stations and sidings at Thionville; 24 112-lb bombs were dropped and bursts seen on the station and sidings and on the gas works. The Carlshutte Works were again hit. Thirty-three photographs were taken. All machines returned.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft were active, especially about noon and after 4 p.m., when large formations were encountered in the neighbourhood of Armentieres and south of Arras. Three E.A. were brought down by A.A. in our lines, in to those brought down in combat.

    Enemy machines were driven down out of control by the following: Lieut W A Tyrrell, No 32 Squadron (two); Lieut T Durrant, Lieut W R Irwing, No 56 Squadron (one); Capt H Rees-Jones and 2nd-Lieut J Bruce-Norton, No 62 Squadron; Capt T L Purdom and Lieut P V G Chambers, No 62 Squadron; Lieuts C H Arnison and S Parry, No 62 Squadron (two); Lieut W Hubbard, Lieut W D Tipton, No 3 Squadron (one); Lieut G A Lingham, No 43 Squadron; Lieut G G Bailey, No 43 Squadron; Lieut A G Vlasto, No 46 Squadron; Lieut H C M Nangle and 2nd-Lieut T C Cooper, No 62 Squadron; Capt G A H Pidcock, No 73 Squadron; Lieut G L Graham, No 73 Squadron; Capt H F Beamish, No 203 Squadron; Lieut (Hon Capt) E T Hayne, No 203 Squadron.

    Capt L E Whitehead and 2nd Lieut S W Crane, 65 Sqn, Hannover CLIII captured Heilly at 06:45/07:45 - Capt L E Whitehead, No 65 Squadron, dived on one of two E.A. two-seaters and coming up under the tail of the E.A. fired a long burst from both guns, whereupon the E.A. went down under control and landed on our side of the lines near Heilly; Vfw Karl Peez (Kia) & Gfr Michael Lang (Kia), Schusta 31b

    Lieut K C Mills and Lieut E E Owen, 1 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Steenwerck at 07:30/08:30 -

    Capt H A Rigby and Lieut B D Clark, 1 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Wytschaete at 07:37/08:37 -

    Lieut T Durrant, 56 Sqn, Rumpler C crashed south of Pozičres at 09:40/10:40 - Lieut T Durrant, No 56 Squadron, fired two bursts of about 40 rounds into an E.A. two-seater which went down out of control and crashed just south of Pozičres

    Capt E D Atkinson, Lieut T Durrant and Lieut W R Irwin, 56 Sqn, Rumpler C crashed Montauban at 09:55/10:55 -

    Lieut E R Jeffree, 4 AFC, Albatros Scout crashed Steenwerke at 10:15/11:15 - Lieut E R Jeffree, 4th Squadron A.F.C., dived on to an E.A. scout at 4,000 feet, and opened fire from close range, following the E.A. down to about 500 feet when E.A. side-slipped to the ground and was seen to crash

    Lieut T Durrant, Capt E D Atkinson and Lieut W R Irwin, 56 Sqn, Rumpler C out of control Beaucourt at 10:15/11:15 – after shooting down an E.A. two-seater that crashed, Lieut T Durrant, No 56 Squadron, attacked another two-seater, firing short bursts from both guns. He was then compelled to break off the combat owing to jams. The E.A. observer was seen hanging over the side of the cockpit. The E.A. dived steeply, followed by Capt E D Atkinson and Lieut W R Irwin, No 56 Squadron, who both fired at it. Lieut Irwin continued firing at the E.A. and saw it crash at Montauban

    Lieut H C M Nangle & 2nd Lieut T C Cooper, 62 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Armentičres at 10:45/11:45 -

    Capt P S Burge, Lieut W C Daniel and Lieut B A Walkerdine, 64 Sqn, Rumpler C crashed Mercatel at 10:55/11:55 - Capt P S Burge, No 64 Squadron, attacked an E.A. two-seater underneath its tail. Lieuts W C Daniels and B A Walkerdine, of the same squadron, dived on either side of the E.A. firing about 30 rounds from close range. Lieut Daniels then fired a burst of about 100 rounds into the E.A.’s fuselage at point blank range and Lieut Walkerdine also fired about 50 rounds. The E.A. fell in flames after Lieut Daniels had fired, the tail falling off before the enemy machine reached the ground; Gfr Hans Gaul (Kia) & Ltn Fritz Perner (Kia), FA 208s [?]

    Capt T P Middleton & Capt F Godfrey, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed [by Middleton] south of Ploegsteert Wood at 10:55/11:55 - Capt T P Middleton & Capt F Godfrey, No 20 Squadron, dived on one E.A. scout and followed it down to 2,000 feet, opening fire from 100 feet range. About 200 rounds were fired into the E.A. which turned over on its back and crashed south of Ploegsteert Wood

    Capt T P Middleton & Capt F Godfrey, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control La Touquet at 10:55/11:55 -

    Capt T L Purdom & 2nd Lieut P V G Chambers, 62 Sqn, Albatros C crashed north of Merville at 11:00/12:00 and Albatros Scout out of control south of Armentičres at 11:00/12:00 - Capt T L Purdom & 2nd Lieut P V G Chambers, No 62 Squadron, attacked an E.A. two-seater and fired two bursts into it, whereupon the E.A. went down in a fast spin and crashed north of Merville

    Capt H Rees-Jones & 2nd Lieut J Bruce-Norton, 62 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed south of Armentičres at 11:00/12:00 and Albatros Scout out of control south of Armentičres at 11:00/12:00 - Capt H Rees-Jones & 2nd Lieut J Bruce-Norton, No 62 Squadron, whilst on offensive patrol were attacked by three E.A. scouts; they fired at one of the E.A. which went down in a nose dive and was seen to crash and burst into flames south of Armentičres

    Capt W Beaver & Capt N W Taylor, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Gheluvelt at 11:05/12:05 - Capt W Beaver & Capt N W Taylor, No 20 Squadron, whilst on offensive patrol with 10 other Bristol Fighters, dived on 12 E.A. scouts. They opened fire at one from about 200 yards’ range, and after 200 rounds had been fired into it the E.A. went down completely out of control and was seen to crash near Gheluvelt



    WESTERN FRONT

    Somme: Germans fire 10,000 rounds (15t) mustard gas at US 1st Division opposite Cantigny, 693 gassed (4 deaths).
    France: Maj*or-General James W McAndrew AEF (American Expedition Force) Chief of Staff.

    EASTERN FRONT

    Finland: Whites occupy Kouvola. White ministers meet Mannerheim at Haapamaeki.

    Vyborg massacre – Finnish commander Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim sent a telegram to the town commandment in Vyborg, Finland with an order to stop the massacre Red Guard prisoners and ethnic Russians civilians in the town. In all, 1,200 people had been shot dead when the violence stopped, including more than 800 Red Guard prisoners and between 360 and 420 civilians of Russian or affiliated ethnicity

    Battle of Ahvenkoski – With the Kymi Valley now the last stronghold for the Red Guards in Finland, negotiations for surrender began with the Germans

    The Battle of Ahvenkoski was fought during the Finnish Civil War between 10 April and 5 May 1918 at Ahvenkoski (Swedish: Abborfors; lit. perch rapids), Finland between the German Empire and the Red Guards (Finnish: punakaartit) of the Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic, more commonly known as Red Finland. For most of the battle both sides occupied trenches along the Kymi river. Ahvenkoski and the surrounding Kymi valley region were the last strongholds of the Reds. The battle ended with the surrender of the last of the Red Guards on May 5, which ended the war with White Finland and Germany defeating Red Finland.

    The German Empire supported White Finland, the precursor of the modern Finnish state, during the civil war against Red Finland and its paramilitary army, the Red Guards. Thus, Germany launched a military campaign in southeast Finland on 7 April 1918 with the landing of Detachment Brandenstein (German: Abteilung-Brandenstein) in Loviisa. Their goal was to take the coastal town of Kotka situated 40 kilometres (25 mi) east of Loviisa, then move north along the vital Saint Petersburg railway to the railway junction of Kouvola. The next morning, a 300-soldier reconnaissance unit reached the outskirts of Kotka, but was stopped in the Battle of Kyminlinna. As the Germans waited for reinforcements, they tapped enemy telephone lines and mistakenly believed that the Red Guards had a reserve of 10,000–30,000 soldiers heading to Kotka from the northern Kymi valley region. In reality the Reds were strengthened by only 450 men. The German unit retreated to Ahvenkoski, 20 km (12 mi) east of Kotka. As they were soon followed by the Reds, they moved 8 km (5.0 mi) further west, where they dug into defensive positions by the Taasianjoki river. The Reds did not advance past Ahvenkoski, where they occupied 18th-century fortifications by the Kymi river. They were soon reinforced by units who had retreated from the Karelian front.

    The next ten days were quiet, as the fighting was focused north of Loviisa in the Eastern Uusimaa region. On 22 April the Germans moved up to Ahvenkoski and attacked the next morning. The battle lasted two days, but they were not able to break through the Red lines. On 25 April, the Reds left their positions on the western side of the Kymi river and retreated across it, destroying bridges behind them. The Germans occupied the trenches on the western side of the Kymi river, and the battle paused for the next eight days. The Reds' front in Karelia collapsed after the Battle of Vyborg (Finnish: Viipuri) on 29 April and they suffered a decisive loss at the Battle of Lahti. This meant that the Kymi valley region was now the last Red stronghold. A ceasefire was established on 3 May, and the parties started negotiations for a Red surrender.

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    The Reds in Kymenlaakso started surrendering on 4 May, first in the village of Inkeroinen in Anjalankoski. The same evening the Whites entered Kotka, where 4,000 Reds surrendered with hardly any resistance. The last Reds left were now the 800–900 fighters in Ahvenkoski. The negotiations in Ahvenkoski were mediated by foreign representatives based in Kotka. The Red delegation was led by Juho Kaven, a 24-year-old carpenter from Malmi, Helsinki. The Finnish Whites demanded an unconditional surrender, but according to the agreement concluded with the Germans, the individual soldiers would be released and only the leaders would be made prisoners. The Reds were to surrender their weapons by 6 p.m. on 5 May at the latest. The surrender became effective at midday of 5 May, as 800 Reds marched behind their commander Oskar Vinter towards the German lines on the western bank of the Kymi river. After crossing the Rajasilta ("border bridge"), they surrendered their weapons. Despite the agreement, the Red fighters were not released. After capturing the Reds, the Whites separated the staff members, platoon leaders and trade union activists from the crowd, and took them to the Svartholm fortress, where they were immediately shot. The rest were kept overnight in the Vähä-Ahvenkoski village, and then transported to various White prison camps in Southern Finland. The following week, the Whites executed nearly 300 Reds in Kymi valley.

    According to a list of Germans who were killed in action during the war, at least 13 Germans died during the attack of 22 and 23 April.[9] According to a Finnish casualty database, at least 13 Reds died during the battle within the Pyhtää municipality. Seven Germans were buried in Ahvenkoski Cemetery, as well as an unknown number of Reds. A memorial on the Red mass grave was erected in 1946. In September 2013, a memorial to the end of the Civil War was unveiled at the site where the last Reds surrendered. The Battle of Ahvenkoski was the last action of the Civil War, but the White Army Commander-in-Chief C. G. E. Mannerheim did not declare the war over until 16 May, when the Russians had left Fort Ino near Petrograd

    MIDDLE EAST
    Palestine: Allenby orders retreat from Es Salt (until May 4); British back over Jordan minus 1,649 casualties but plus 981 PoWs and 29 MGs captured. EEF railway reaches Beersheba.
    Georgia: British military mission leaves Tiflis for Vladikavkas.

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    A flight of DH.4s

    Captain Tunstill's Men:


    Ptes. Roderick Harmer (see 23rd April) and Frederick Sharp (see 31st March) were admitted to 71st Field Ambulance, suffering from scabies. Harmer would be discharged after four days and re-joined the Battalion but Sharp would remain in hospital.
    Ptes. James Arthur Markinson MM (see 15th April) was posted from one of the Base Depots at Etaples to re-join 2DWR.

    The weekly edition of the Craven Herald carried news of two original members of Tunstill’s Company who had been caught up in the German Spring Offensive in France. Pte. Tom Swales (see 22nd March), serving with 9DWR near Havrincourt, had been reported wounded and missing on 22nd March; he would subsequently be presumed to have been killed on or around this date. Pte. Robert Cresswell (see 26th April), serving with 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment had been taken prisoner on 26th April.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 05-03-2018 at 15:56.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  29. #3229

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    Another mammoth edition today Chris.

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

  30. #3230

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    One does one's best sir

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  31. #3231

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    Good to see a Bristol again Chris Thanks yet again

  32. #3232

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    May 4th 1918

    Happy Star Wars day to all our X-Wing Players - obviously not 100 years ago....

    British and Italian airmen fly to Cavedine, northeast of Riva (Trentino) and drop such a weight of explosives on the great water-power electricity station that it will be some time before it can again supply a considerable amount of current. The central powerhouse is seen to be destroyed. The attack lasts from 08:00 to 12:00. An important effect of the raid will be the stopping of the electric railway from Trentino up the Val di Sole, to Fucine, which is an important link in the Austrian Army’s communications for the Adamello sector.

    General Headquarters, May 5th.

    “On the 4th inst. there was a dense mist till the afternoon, when the weather cleared slightly. Reconnaissances, photography, and bombing were carried out. Nine tons of bombs were dropped on Chaulnes railway junction, on Bapaume, Armentičres, Meryille, and Estaires. There was very little fighting in the air. One hostile machine was brought down by our atrpolanes and four others were driven down out of control. Two of our machines are missing. Two of our aeroplanes, which were reported missing on the 3rd inst., have since returned. After dark, although the weather continued to be unfavourable for flying, over three tons of bombs were dropped on Chaulnes railway junction and Bapaume. All our machines returned."

    RAF Communiqué number 5:

    There was a thick mist and rain.

    Nineteen reconnaissances and 23 contact patrols were carried out by Brigades and three long distance photographic flights by machines of the 9th Brigade.

    Forty-nine hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and 13 neutralized; five gun-pits were destroyed and 10 damaged, 20 explosions and 18 fires caused. Fifty-five zone calls were sent down.

    On the 4th instant, four balloons of the 1st Brigade carried out five successful shoots; two hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction and one neutralized. Three targets were registered and four active hostile batteries located. Three balloons of the 3rd Brigade carried out six successful shoots; one hostile batteries battery was successfully engaged for destruction and three targets for effect. Two registrations were carried out and two active hostile batteries located. Two balloons of the 5th Brigade carried out two successful registrations.

    Over 12 tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    Night 3rd/4th – 5th Brigade: No 101 Squadron, 2 230-lb 12 112-lb and 38 25-lb bombs on Chaulnes Railway Junction, Rosieres, Harbonnieres and Guillancourt.

    Day 4th –
    1st Brigade: 1st Wing, 63 25-lb bombs. No 5 Squadron, 2 112-lb bombs on Oppy Wood. No 18 Squadron, 6 112-lb bombs on Estaires.
    2nd Brigade: 2nd Wing, 81 25-lb bombs. No 1 Squadron, 91 25-lb bombs. No 20 Squadron, 10 112-lb bombs. No 206 Squadron, 10 230-lb bombs. No 210 Squadron, 28 25-lb bombs. 4th Squadron A.F.C., 32 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: No 57 Squadron, 16 112-lb bombs on Bapaume. No 12 Squadron, 8 25-lb bombs.
    5th Brigade: 15th Wing, 33 25-lb bombs. No 205 Squadron, 16 112-lb bombs on Chaulnes, 2 112-lb bombs on Lamotte Aerodrome. No 8 Squadron, 2 112-lb bombs on Marcelcave.

    9th Brigade: No 25 Squadron, 10 25-lb bombs on a dump north of Bapaume. No 27 Squadron, 24 112-lb bombs on Armentičres and Merville.

    8th Brigade: On the night of the 3rd/4th instant, nine machines of No 100 Squadron dropped 18 112-lb bombs from as height of 1,500 feet on Juniville, Amagny-Lucquy and Asfeld Railway Junctions. All machines returned.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft were driven down out of control by the following: Capt H T Fox-Russell, No 41 Squadron; one by a patrol of No 46 Squadron, the following taking part in the combat – Capt D R MacLaren, 2nd-Lieut R K McConnell, and Lieut H L M Dodson; Capt W L Saunders, No 208 Squadron.

    Capt O C Le Boutillier, 209 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control east of Villers-Bretonneux at 15:55/16:55 -

    Capt R M Foster, 209 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south of Hamel at 15:55/16:55 -

    Capt D R MacLaren, Lieut R K McConnell, Lieut H L M Dodson and 2nd Lieut V M Yeates, 46 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north of Bullecourt at 18:00/19:00 -

    Lieut J H Weingarth, 4 AFC, Albatros Scout forced to land Vieux Berquin at 18:00/19:00 -

    Lieut H A Hay & Sgt P A Sherlock, 11 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames Marquion at 18:40/19:40 - Lieut H A Hay & Sgt P A Sherlock, No 11 Squadron, whilst on reconnaissance were attacked by six E.A. scouts; they opened fire on the leading E.A. which dived steeply after a burst of 50 rounds had been fired into it and was later observed to burst into flames

    2nd Lieut W C Lambert, 24 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Bray - Dompierre at 18:45/19:45 -
    Capt H T Fox-Russell, 41 Sqn, E.A. out of control south-east of La Bassée at 18:50/19:50 -
    Capt G O Johnson, 24 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Bray - Dompierre at 19:00/ 20:00 -
    Capt W L Jordan, 208 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control south-east of La Bassée at 19:30/ 20:30 -

    Casualties:

    ? (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut G A Hunter (Wia), 2 Sqn RAF, AW FK8 – ground fire
    2nd-Lieut R Fitton (Wia), 11 Sqn RAF, Bristol F.2B – combat?
    Capt G W Biles (Ok) & Lieut E E Gowing (Wia), 202 Sqn RAF, DH4 N5989 - shot up in combat Zeebrugge while escorting bombers
    Lieut S F Pickup (Ok) & Lieut C E Lovick (Ok), 53 Sqn, RE8 A4452 – took off 10:30/11:30 hit by rifle and machine-gun fire from ground on counter attack patrol Kemmel, returned aerodrome
    Lieut R A Slipper (Pow), 24 Sqn RAF, SE5a C1793 – took off 17:30/18:30 last seen near Dompierre on patrol; Ltn d R Alois Heldmann, Js10, 5th victory [Mametz at 18:50/19:50] ?
    2nd-Lieut B W Wright (Kia), 4 Sqn AFC, Camel B5629 – took off 17:35/18:35 then shot down in flames by E.A. and crashed near Berquin 18:05/19:05 during patrol and bombing; Ltn d R Hans Müller, Js18, 4th victory [Nieppe Wald at 17:50/18:50]
    Lieut J P Everitt (Wia) & Lieut W R Stennett (Kia), 202 Sqn RAF, DH4 N5985 - combat with 2 Albatros scouts 18:20/19:20 and crashed in sea in forced landing Bray Dunes

    Another busy day in the air is noticeable because of one Leutnant Arthur Rahn - familiar to may of you as his Fokker DR.1 was one oof the original series 1 aircraft for Wings of War

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    Leutnant Arthur Rahn (18 July 1897 – 27 April 1962) was a German World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He served as a fighter pilot for about two years before being wounded in action on 27 July 1918. Exiting hospital after war's end, he married in 1919. In 1928, the Rahns emigrated to the United States and became naturalized citizens. On 21 December 1916, Rahn was forwarded to a fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 19. On 5 February, he broke his nose in a crash from 75 meters altitude, earning a short hospitalization.[4] He scored his first aerial victories when he shot down two enemy observation balloons over Reims, France on 30 April 1917. On 5 May 1917, he destroyed a Caudron at Cormacy.

    On 20 October 1917, Rahn transferred fighter squadrons to Jagdstaffel 18. On 18 March 1918, he transferred again, to Jagdstaffel 15. He was on an evening sortie southeast of Amiens, France ten days later; at 1730 hours, he downed a Breguet 14.The following day, 29 March 1918, he was posted back to Jasta 19 in Rudolf Berthold's Jagdgeschwader II in an effort to give the squadron some offensive punch.[5] On 1 April 1918, he shot down another Brequet 14, this one over Montdidier, for his fifth confirmed victory. He temporarily took squadron command of Jasta 19 from 11—19 April 1918 after its commander, Walter Göttsch, died in action. He relinquished the command to Hans Martin Pippart. On 4 May 1918, he scored his last victory above Piennes; the victim was an Escadrille 77 SPAD[2] that he set aflame. On 7 June 1918, Rahn filed a combat claim for a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a, but it went unconfirmed. Leutnant Arthur Rahn was awarded the Iron Cross for his feats.In his latter assignment with Jasta 19, Rahn flew a distinctively painted Fokker Triplane, serial number 433/17 (as seen at right). Its fuselage had a white and a black band about it, with a stack of lighter diamonds upon the latter. Rahn was shot in the shin and hand on 17 July 1918,[2] but managed to fly back to base at Leffincourt. He was hospitalized and never returned to combat. Two weeks after his wounding, he received the House Order of Hohenzollern.

    One ace was lost on this day...

    Oberleutnant Karl Patzelt

    Oberleutnant Karl Patzelt was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.

    Patzelt's birthplace is often incorrectly given as Crajova, Bohemia. This was caused by an error in his Austrian personal documents deposited in Vienna, which state "Crajova, Böhmen". In fact, no such place exists in Bohemia. According to Patzelt's qualification document deposited in Prague, he was born in Craiova, Romania, and his legal domicile was Mladį Boleslav, Bohemia, where his father came from. The same source also gives his exact date of birth as February 3, 1893, and spoken languages as German, Romanian and Czech. Patzelt was killed in action on May 4 when his Albatros D.III was shot down during a skirmish over Montello, a hill in the Treviso province of Italy. The credit for the victory has been disputed. At least one author gives it to Corpo Aeronautico Militare pilot Sergente Giovanni Nicelli of 79a Squadriglia and another credits Royal Air Force pilot Lt. Gerald Birks of 66 Squadron.

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    Today's claims

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    13 British Airmen lost their lives on this day

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    WESTERN FRONT
    Flanders: Allied positions in Locre and south of Ypres sectors heavily shelled.

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    EASTERN FRONT
    Austria: Officials seize German food from Rumania and Ukraine.
    Russia: Russo-Ukrainian armistice signed at Kovenevo.
    Siberia: Novonikolayevsk Soviet arrests Czech Captain Gajda.
    Finland: Whites take Kotka and 3 Red evacuation ships (4,000 PoWs, 3B guns and mortars, 50 MGs).

    HOME FRONTS
    Austria: Emperor closes Reichsrat.
    France*: 440 Renault FT-17 tanks delivered, only 216 with units.

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    Worcestershire and The War – How a Worcester Reporter won the D.C.M. – Sergt. R. Pegg, Gloucestershire Reg (Birmingham) on one occasion, when one of a party of four had been sent out with the object of siting and hostile posts, he succeeded in wading across a river and discovering an enemy post. Having accurately determined his position, he split up his party and rushed the post from the flanks, capturing two prisoners, who were brought back to our lines. On the following night he accompanied an officer on a similar mission and having waited in one of the hostile posts for some time, they rushed two of the enemy, who were seen to be approaching, took them prisoners and brought them back across the river to our lines. During both these operations he displayed exceptional courage, coolness and determination. Sergt Pegg was a reporter on the staff of this newspaper.

    Bigger Ration of Fats – It is stated that lard will be included in national rations when the new book of food tickets come into use in July. The allowance is not yet fixed, but will be somewhere in the region of 1 ½ ozs per week. The rationing of tea remains a more open question. The scale in local schemes is 1 ½ ozs, but it is thought that supplies may permit a general consumption of 2ozs.

    Captain Tunstill's Men: Maj. James Christopher Bull MC (see 26th April), Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips MC (see 18th April) and Bull’s servant, Pte. Harold Charnock (see 24th April) departed on ten days’ leave to Rome.

    At some point in May 2Lt. Norman Roberts MM (see 24th March), who had been taken prisoner on 24th March while serving with the Machine Gun Corps, was moved to a new camp, as described in a subsequent account:

    “Lt. Roberts was kept at the Rastatt Camp until May, when he was removed to Mayence. This necessitated a three-days journey in a slow travelling train, and during the whole of this time his food consisted of one bowl of soup. Whenever they pulled up at a station the German people jeered at them and at one place a German soldier, on his way back to the Front, spat in his eye and called him a swinehunde. On arrival at Mayence they were provided with a good meal and the English officers were in hopes that it was the forerunner of better treatment. Their hopes were quickly dashed to the ground, however, for their treatment was no better than it had been at the previous camp. Their food consisted of the same old distasteful substitute for coffee, black bread and what in England we should describe as vegetable refuse. A loaf of bread was given out to each man once every five days, and more often than not the famished Englishmen ate the loaf at the first meal and then went without bread during the next four days. Not content with pining their prisoners, the Germans practised all kinds of devilish tricks upon them, and the Englishmen in particular were subjected to petty annoyances of every description”.

    A payment of 6s. 10d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. James Jackson (see 21st September 1917), who had been killed in action on 21st September 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Rachel.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  33. #3233

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    May 5th 1918

    RAF Communiqué number 5:

    Low clouds, mist and rain greatly interfered with flying.

    Seventeen reconnaissances were carried out by Brigades, including three long-distance photographic flights by machines of the 9th Brigade. Fifteen contact and counter-attack patrols were carried out and one night reconnaissance.

    Twenty-three hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, and six neutralized; one gun-pit was destroyed, four damaged, 20 explosions and 12 fires caused. Twenty-nine zone calls were sent down.

    Eleven and a quarter tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    Night 4th/5th -
    3rd Brigade: No 102 Squadron, 213 25-lb bombs on Bapaume, and the Albert – Bapaume – Ervillers – St Leger roads.
    5th Brigade: No 101 Squadron, I 230-lb bomb on Harbonnieres; 3 112-lb bombs on Cauxvillers, and 6 112-lb bombs on Guillaucourt.
    9th Brigade: No 83 Squadron, 3 112-lb and 24 25-lb bombs on Chaulnes. No 58 Squadron, 4 25-lb bombs on lights near Arras.

    Day, 5th - 1st Brigade: 1st Wing, 40 25-lb bombs.

    2nd Brigade: 2nd Wing, 40 25-lb bombs. 4th Squadron A.F.C., 17 25-lb bombs. No 210 Squadron, 57 25-lb bombs. No 20 Squadron, four 112-lb bombs. No 1 Squadron, 17 25-lb bombs.

    3rd Brigade: No 57 Squadron, 16 112-lb bombs. No 12 Squadron, 6 25-lb bombs

    5th Brigade: No 205 Squadron, 18 112-lb bombs on Chaulnes Railway Junction. Nos 8 and 82 Squadrons, 41 112-lb and 13 25-lb bombs on Albert. No 35 Squadron, 26 25-lb bombs on Meaulte. 3rd Squadron A.F.C., 16 25-lb bombs on Morlancourt. 15th Wing, 24 25-lb bombs. 22nd Wing, 70 25-lb bombs.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft, activity was very slight; no combats took place.

    Casualties:

    None.

    It was a very quiet day with only one claim registered

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    One flying ace was killed on this day

    Sergente Giovanni Nicelli

    Sergente Giovanni Nicelli was an Italian World War I flying ace. He was credited with eight or nine confirmed aerial victories (sources vary), and died in service to his nation on 5 May 1918. Nicelli was born on 27 October 1893 in Lugagnano Val d'Arda, Province of Piacenza, the Kingdom of Italy. First records available of Nicelli show him as a Caporale, piloting a Nieuport 17 for 79a Squadriglia in April 1917. His first aerial victory claim was reported for 14 June 1917. He would post 11 more claims before his death.

    As 79a Squadriglia was drawn into the Battle of Caporetto towards the end of 1917, Nicelli forced down two Austro-Hungarian airplanes and won his first Silver award of the Medal for Military Valor. On 30 January 1918, he claimed his sixth victory and was once again awarded the Silver Medal for Military Valor. He continued his successes until 4 May 1918, when he tackled seven enemy aircraft singlehandedly, and was credited with downing one of them. He was also credited with a second victory that day, in a separate action. The following day, 5 May 1918, Giovanni Nicelli's Nieuport 27 broke up while in flight, killing him.

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    Five British Airmen were lost on this day

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    Western Front

    Artillery fire on both sides and local encounters on whole front.

    British line advanced at Morlancourt between Ancre and Somme.

    A German long-range gun put out of action by French guns.

    Naval and Overseas Operations

    Von Lettow-Vorbeck defeated at Nanungu (East Africa) by General Northey's forces; enemy driven to north-east with much loss.

    Political, etc.

    Lord French appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland; Mr. Ed. Shortt, Chief Secretary.

    Battle of Ahvenkoski – The final force Red Guards of Finland surrendered at Ahvenkoski, Finland, with 800 soldiers laying down their arms to the German detachment force in Finland. The battle became the final military action of the Finnish Civil War

    An estimated 15,000 people attended an anti-conscription meeting in County Roscommon, Ireland, where John Dillon, leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and Éamon de Valera of Sinn Féin shared the platform in a united cause against conscription.

    German Submarine: SM UB-119 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 9 February 1918 as SM UB-119. UB-119 was rammed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Rathlin Island, County Donegal, Ireland, United Kingdom, at (55°16′N 6°24′W) by the steamer Green Island with the loss of all 34 members of her crew.

    She was built by AG Weser of Bremen and following just under a year of construction, launched at Bremen on 13 December 1917. UB-119 was commissioned early the next year under the command of Oblt.z.S. Walter Kolbe. Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-119 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun. UB-119 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 7,280 nautical miles (13,480 km; 8,380 mi). UB-119 had a displacement of 512 t (504 long tons) while surfaced and 643 t (633 long tons) when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at 13.9 knots (25.7 km/h; 16.0 mph) when surfaced and 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) when submerged.

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    SM UB-70 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 29 October 1917 as SM UB-70. UB-70 was serving in the Mediterraneanwhen she departed on her last patrol on 16 April 1918. She was last heard from on 5 May 1918 when she reported herself to be in the Mediterranean Sea east of Gibraltar. She was never seen or heard from again. Her entire crew of 33 men was lost.

    UB-70 was built by Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft of Kiel and following just under a year of construction, launched at Kiel on 17 August 1917. UB-70 was commissioned later that same year under the command of Kptlt. Johannes Remy. Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-70 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun. UB-70 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 9,090 nautical miles (16,830 km; 10,460 mi). UB-70 had a displacement of 513 t (505 long tons) while surfaced and 647 t (637 long tons) when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at 13.2 knots (24.4 km/h; 15.2 mph) when surfaced and 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) when submerged.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 05-05-2018 at 12:55.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  34. #3234

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    I think that's over to Neil for a few days - if not I'll be back tomorrow

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  35. #3235

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    Yes Chris over to me for the next 3 days. Thanks for covering. Do we have any takers for the end of the month when we are both away
    ?
    See you on the Dark Side......

  36. #3236

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    Monday 6th May 1918
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    Armistice Countdown 189 days
    Today we lost: 466
    Today’s losses include:
    · A 10-victory ace
    · Multiple families that will lose two and three sons in the Great War
    · A Welsh International footballer

    Today’s highlighted casualties include:

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    Portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) Henry Douglas Eyre Ralfe, Royal Australian Garrison Artillery (RAGA), in the cockpit of a Bristol Biplane at the Central Flying School at Werribee, Victoria. Lt Ralfe, from Sydney, served in the RAGA from 1911 and gained his Aviators' Certificate (No 1419) at the Central Flying School on 12 May 1915. He enlisted in the AIF at the age of 25 on 21 May 1915 and was appointed a Lieutenant in the Siege Artillery Brigade [see image PB1402]. He embarked for overseas from Melbourne on 17 July 1915 aboard HMAT Orsova and after serving with the Artillery in Egypt, he was promoted to Captain and transferred to England on 10 August 1916 for duties with the Australian Flying Corps (AFC). On 16 December 1916 he was transferred to No 69 Squadron AFC to be the Flight Commander.

    ·
    Captain Henry Douglas Eyre Ralfe (Australian Flying Corps) is killed when he is shot down in flames at age 28. His cousin was killed in April 1915 and his uncle in December 1915. He is the son of the Honorable Mrs. Holmes a Court.
    · Captain William Lewis Wells MC (Royal Air Force) a ten victory ace dies of wounds.
    · Lieutenant Alexander Claud Garden Brown (Royal Air Force) dies of wounds as a prisoner of war at age 27 received three days prior during an air combat versus six enemy aircraft. He was still able to land safely thus saving the life of his observer. His brother was killed in February 1915.
    · Private Leonard T Mosley (Hampshire Regiment) is killed in action at age 22. His brother will be killed in four months.
    · Private Harry Walker (Sherwood Foresters) is killed at age 24 becoming the last of three brothers who are killed in the war.
    · Private William James Jones (Welsh Fusiliers) is killed on Salonika at age 41. He is a Welsh International footballer who earned 4 caps and also played for Kettering and West Ham United.

    Air Operations:


    General Headquarters.


    “Rain prevented flying on the 6th inst: until 5 p.m. Atter this hour some fighting took place, in which six hostile machines were brought down. One of our aeroplanes is missing. After dark 100 bombs were dropped by us on targets in the neighbourhood of Bapaume. One of our machines has not returned."

    RAF Communiqué number 6:

    The weather was again bad, with low clouds, mist and rain.

    Fourteen reconnaissances, 19 contact patrols and counter-attack patrols were carried out by Brigades.

    Five hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and three neutralized; two explosions and two fires were caused. Forty-three zone calls were sent down.

    One and a half tons of bombs were dropped by day as follows:-

    1st Brigade: 1st Wing, 25 25-lb bombs.

    2nd Brigade: No 74 Squadron, 28 25-lb bombs. 2nd Wing, 24 25-lb bombs.

    3rd Brigade: No 59 Squadron, 6 25-lb bombs on Serre.

    5th Brigade: 15th Wing, 38 25-lb bombs. No 82 Squadron, 4 112-lb bombs on Albert.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    Enemy aircraft activity was practically nil until the evening when a certain amount of fighting took place.

    Enemy machines were driven down out of control by the following: 2nd-Lieuts G W Bulmer and H E Elsworth, No 22 Squadron; 2nd-Lieuts E C Bromley and J H Umney, No 22 Squadron.

    2nd-Lieut W S Hill-Tout & 2nd-Lieut A G H Williams, 22 Sqn, Scout crashed Le Fresnoy - 2nd-Lieuts W S Hill-Tout & A G H Williams, No 22 Squadron, dived on one E.A. scout, which they shot down out of control. Another pilot of No 22 Squadron confirms this E.A. as having crashed near Fresnoy

    2nd-Lieut F H Baguley & Lieut C A Horn, 2 Sqn, Scout captured - 2nd-Lieut F H Baguley & Lieut C A Horn, No 2 Squadron, whilst on artillery patrol were attacked by an E.A. scout. Fire was opened on the E.A. at a range of about 200 yards; the E.A. dived to within 20 yards then zoomed up. Immediately afterwards it dived down steeply and when about 100 feet from the ground burst into flames and finally crashed on our side of the lines

    Capt E Mannock, 74 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed Gheluvelt at 09:20/10:20 - Capt E Mannock, No 74 Squadron, attacked a formation of four Triplanes and Albatros scouts. He dived onto one Triplane, firing short bursts, and forced it into a spin. He followed the E.A. down, firing short bursts, and the E.A. finally turned on its back and crashed; Ltn Gunther Derlin, Jasta 20, Kia [?]

    2nd-Lieut G W Bulmer & Lieut H E Elsworth, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Fresnoy at 10:25/11:25 -

    Lieut B Roxburgh-Smith, 74 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed north-east of Ypres at 15:20/16:20 - Lieut B Roxburgh-Smith, No 74 Squadron, dived on two E.A. triplanes and fired short bursts into one. He saw bursts of flame coming from the E.A. which went down out of control. Confirmed by another pilot of the patrol and A.A.

    Lieut H E Dolan, 74 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed east of ****ebusch Lake at 15:25/16:25 - Lieut H E Dolan, No 74 Squadron, fired about 130 rounds at close range into an E.A. triplane, which was seen to crash near the east corner of Zillebeke Lake

    Lieut H A R Biziou, 87 Sqn, Rumpler C in flames Gheluvelt at 17:40/18:40 - Lieut H A R Biziou, No 87 Squadron, dived on an E.A. two-seater and followed it down to 3,000 feet. The E.A. then emitted clouds of black smoke and was seen to crash

    Capt D R MacLaren, Capt C J Marchant, 2nd-Lieut J H Smith, 2nd-Lieut V M Yeates and 2nd-Lieut H T W Manwaring, 46 Sqn, DFW CV crashed St Venant at 18:00/19:00 – a patrol of No 46 Squadron attacked an E.A. two-seater, which they shot down on our side of the lines. The following officers took part in the combat:- Capt D R MacLaren, Capt C J Marchant, 2nd-Lieut J H Smith, 2nd-Lieut V M Yeates and 2nd-Lieut H T W Manwaring; Ltn Junemann & Ltn Barth, FA 14

    Lieut E C Bromley & Lieut J H Umney, 22 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Roeux at 18:45/19:45 -

    Lieut W J A Duncan and 2nd-Lieut J S Griffith, 60 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Guillaucourt at 19:15/ 20:15 - Lieut W J Duncan, 60 Squadron, together with 2nd-Lieut J S Griffith, of the same squadron, engaged an E.A. scout which they followed to within 200 feet of the ground, firing continuously at it. The E.A. appeared to be very well-handled, but it suddenly dived vertically and crashed just behind a line of trenches

    Capt J de C Paynter, 213 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Wenduyne at 19:50/ 20:50 -

    Royal Flying Corps casualties today:

    ? (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut R D Stewart (Wia), 5 Sqn, RE8 - shot up on artillery observation

    Capt H D E Ralfe (Kia) & Lieut W A J Buckland (Kia), 3 Sqn AFC, RE8 A4404 – took off 06:35/07:35 then attacked by 4 enemy Triplanes and fell out of control in flames at Sh62d.J.18.b.2.9 [south-west of Morlancourt] on counter attack patrol; Ltn Victor von Pressentin, Js4, 5th victory [south of Méricourt at 07:15/08:15]

    Lieut K C Mills (Ok), 1 Sqn, SE5a C5374 – took off 13:40/14:40 then shot about by A.A. fire over lines on offensive patrol

    206 Sgt A S Cardno (Pow, Dow), 29 Sqn RAF, SE5a D5956 – took off 14:15/15:15 and last seen in combat over Foret de Nieppe 14:45/15:45 on patrol Hazebrouck - Poperinghe

    Lieut B D Clark (Inj), 1 Sqn, SE5a C1074 – took off 14:55/15:55 then shot through petrol tank and crashed into trees in storm in forced landing near Clairmarais North aerodrome on offensive patrol

    Lieut J Hollick (Ok), 210 Sqn, Camel D3374 – took off 17:25/18:25 then force landed Sh20s.28 [north-west of Woesten] 18:20/19:20 after aileron controls shot away by A.A. on offensive patrol

    Lieut S A Hustwitt (Pow) & Lieut N A Smith (Pow), 101 Sqn RAF, FE2b C9787 – took off 21:10/22:10 missing from special road reconnaissance Estrees - Brie; anti-aircraft fire


    Royal Flying Corps Losses today:

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    Claims: 25 confirmed (Entente 16: Central Powers 9)


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    Western Front:


    French repulse raids south of Locre.

    Eastern Front:


    Russian ships bombard Germans in Mariupol Harbour (Azov).

    Russian Black Sea Fleet arrives at Odessa, surrenders to local authorities.

    Rostov (South Russia) captured by German forces.

    Germans Confront Polish Troops in Ukraine:

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    General Józef Haller (1873-1960), pictured c. 1918. Commander of the Polish II Corps, he managed to fake his own death during the battle and escaped imprisonment. He fled to France, commanding Polish troops there in the final month of the war.

    Kaniv–Protesting the Central Powers’ treaty with Ukraine that gave the latter concessions at Polish expense, a number of Austrian Polish Legion troops mutinied and crossed over to the Russian side of the front in February. There, they joined with the Polish II Corps, a military unit comprised of Russian Polish troops formed in the aftermath of the October Revolution. They refused to lay down their arms, and steadily headed east, further into Ukraine. The Germans, advancing through the Ukraine, had no particular desire to fight the Poles, and instead got their puppet government in Poland, the Regency Council (which had replaced the last puppet government in August), to order the Polish II Corps to halt, hoping that nearby German troops could disarm it without controversy.

    On May 6, the Germans issued an ultimatum to the Polish II Corps, demanding that it surrender. The Poles refused, and the Germans brought in more reinforcements and attacked the Polish positions on May 10. The Poles successfully resisted for a day, but realizing they were surrounded and essentially out of ammunition, accepted a German ceasefire offer. Most of the Polish soldiers were placed in German PoW camps, though a few thousand, including its commander, managed to escape.

    Southern Front:

    Tunstills Men Monday 6th May 1918:


    Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

    Pte. Willie Holmes (see 24th April) was admitted to 24th Casualty Clearing Station, suffering from dental caries.

    At the Church School in Austwick a presentation of “a handsome silver wristlet watch” was made to 2Lt. Wilson Pritchard M.M. (see 1st May) of the Army Cyclist Corps. According to a subsequent report, “The presentation on behalf of the villagers was made by the Rev. A. Ingilby, who said he was proud of the part which the Lieutenant had played. He was a man he was pleased to shake hands with. He then detailed the circumstances under which Second Lieutenant Pritchard won the Military Medal. Second Lieutenant Pritchard modestly claimed that he had only done his duty, and said that he should always value the beautiful present they had given him”.

    Pte. Mark Beaumont (see 13th April), who, being no longer fit for active service, had been serving with ‘E’ Provisional Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps was transferred to 169th Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps.

    Sir William Priestley, MP, wrote to the Infantry Record Office in regard to Pte. Claude Prosser (see 24th October 1917), who was on indeterminate leave while awaiting the provision of an artificial arm. Priestley requested that Prosser be discharged from the Army as soon as possible.

    Mrs. Elizabeth Dewhurst, sister-in-law of the late L.Cpl. Arthur Milner (see 20th September 1917), who had been officially missing in action since 20th September 1917, wrote to the War Office asking for information regarding her late brother-in-law’s will. She had been acting as guardian to his two children (Arthur’s wife had died in 1910) and she was enquiring whether this arrangement was to continue.

    A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Norman Holmes (see 2nd April), who had been killed in action on 18th October 1917; his widow, Hannah, was awarded 13s. 9d. per week.

    Asiatic, African, Egyptian Front:


    Turko-German delegates arrive at Batum to negotiate peace with Georgia.

    Political:

    Nicaragua declares war on Germany and on Austria-Hungary (see May 18th, 1917).

    Anniversary Events:

    1527 German troops begin sacking Rome. Libraries are destroyed, the Pope is captured and thousands are killed.
    1529 Babur defeats the Afghan Chiefs in the Battle of Ghaghra, India.
    1682 King Louis XIV moves his court to Versailles, France.
    1856 U.S. Army troops from Fort Tejon and Fort Miller prepare to ride out to protect Keyesville, California, from Yokut Indian attack
    1861 Arkansas becomes the ninth state to secede from the Union.
    1862 Henry David Thoreau dies of tuberculosis at age 44.
    1864 In the second day of the Battle of the Wilderness between Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Confederate General James Longstreet is wounded by his own men.
    1877 Chief Crazy Horse surrenders to U.S. troops in Nebraska. Crazy Horse brought General George A. Custer to his end.
    Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 05-06-2018 at 11:52.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  37. #3237

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    Tuesday 8th May 1918
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    Armistice Countdown 188 days
    Today we lost: 449
    Today’s losses include:
    · A Victoria Cross winner
    · A Reading FC player
    · A man whose uncle was previously killed serving in the Merchant Navy

    Today’s highlighted casualties include:

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    · Sergeant James Somers VC (Army Service Corps) dies in Ireland of lung problems as a result of an accident while demonstrating the use of gas earlier this year. As a member of the Inniskilling Fusiliers he was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions on Gallipoli on the night of 1st July 1915. He is 24 years old.

    · Corporal Heber P Slatter (Royal Garrison Artillery) dies of wounds received four days earlier. He is a member of the Reading Football Club.
    · Able Seaman James Henry Watterson (SS Princess Dagmar) is killed at age 38 when his ship is sunk by a submarine. His uncle will be killed later this month also serving in the merchant marine.

    Air Operations:

    A unique incident occurs which will go down in aviation history as the “two against twenty” fight. Two Bristol F.2b pilots of No. 22 Squadron, Alfred C Atkey, with gunner C G Gass, and John E Gurdon, with gunner A John H Thornton, while conducting an observation patrol in the late afternoon just northeast of Arras are engaged by a group of German scouts at about 18:45. In the initial dive, both Atkey and Gurdon claim an enemy machine downed, while Gurdon’s gunner got one during the climb out of the attack. During the running battle, two other German formations join in, numbering about twenty aircraft. Eight enemy aircraft are either destroyed in the air or shot down in flames, with Atkey and his gunner claiming five, while Gurdon claims three. They eventually break off the action when the rear gunners exhausted their ammunition.

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    A rare colour photo of 22 Squadron

    Atkey was transferred to No. 22 Squadron to fly the Bristol F.2b fighter/reconnaissance aircraft in "A" Flight, paired with Lieutenant Charles George Gass as his gunner/observer. On 7 May 1918 Atkey and Gass took part in an historic dogfight north-east of Arras, known as the "Two Against Twenty", when Atkey and Gass, with John Gordon and Anthony Thornton, fought twenty German scout aircraft. Atkey and Gass shot down five enemy aircraft while Gurdon and Thornton accounted for three. Two days later, Atkey and Gass again shot down five enemy aircraft in a single day. The next day, 10 May, Atkey was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain. Atkey claimed a further 19 aircraft between 15 May and 2 June 1918, and was then was posted to back to the Home Establishment in England.

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    Bristol F.2b Fighter of 22 Squadron

    Atkey was subsequently twice awarded the Military Cross.

    The first was gazetted on 22 June 1918. His citation read:

    Second Lieutenant Alfred Clayburn Atkey, RFC, Special Reserve.
    "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When engaged on reconnaissance and bombing work, he attacked four scouts, one of which he shot down in flames. Shortly afterwards he attacked four two-seater planes, one of which he brought down out of control. On two previous occasions his formation was attacked by superior numbers of the enemy, three of whom in all were shot down out of control. He has shown exceptional ability and initiative on all occasions."

    His second was gazetted on 13 September 1918:

    Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Alfred Clayburn Atkey, MC, RAF.
    "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During recent operations he destroyed seven enemy machines. When engaged with enemy aircraft, often far superior in numbers, he proved himself a brilliant fighting pilot, and displayed dash and gallantry of a high order."

    Atkey was transferred to the RAF unemployed list on 3 May 1919

    Second Lieutenant Charles George Gass MC (1898-1977) was the highest scoring observer ace during World War I, with a total of 39 victories (16 solo) scored serving as a gunner flying with various pilots.

    1898 April 18th. Born at Chelsea the son of Charles Gass, master baker, and his wife Ellen. Both parents were born in Germany.

    Gass originally joined the London Regiment of the British Territorial Army as a Second Lieutenant. He transferred to the RFC in 1917.

    On 26 March 1918, he was assigned to No. 22 Squadron as an observer on Bristol F.2bs, flying in France. The two seater "Brisfit" had a maximum speed of 123 mph, which made it as fast or faster than most enemy fighters, and was maneuverable to boot. It had a forward pointing Vickers machine gun for the pilot, and two or three Lewis machine guns that could be slid around on their Scarff ring mount by the observer/gunner to cover a wide field of fire.
    Gass soon showed his proficiency with the Lewis guns. He began by driving an Albatros D.V down out of control on 22 April 1918. Then he began one of the most spectacular months in World War I aerial warfare.

    On 7 May, Gass was gunner on a Bristol piloted by ace Alfred Atkey. It was one of two Brisfits that took on 20 German scouts. Gass and Atkey destroyed five of the attackers, sending two of them down in burning meteors of falling wreckage.

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    "Not good odds"

    He nailed another German on the 8th. Then on the 9th, he and Atkey repeated themselves. Once again they flamed two Germans; additionally, they destroyed another German and drove two down out of the battle.
    They then reeled off a series of multiple victory days. Two on the 15th; three on the 19th; three more on the 20th; two each on the 22nd, 30th, and 31st; three on the 27th. Gass had scored 28 times in the month, all but one in conjunction with Atkey.

    Gass and Atkey scored another double on 2 June, which were Atkey's final victories. Then Gass was teamed with another pilot, and scored twice on the 5th. On 26 July, he shot down another German while teamed with still a different pilot.

    In August, he was teamed with Lieutenant John Everard Gurdon, who had been the pilot of the other Brisfit on 7 May. They tallied five wins together, with the last coming on 13 August. Gass was transferred for pilot training soon after, and the war ended before he qualified for his wings.

    Gass's final tally totaled 39. Broken down, they amounted to 5 destroyed in flames, including one victory which was shared with other planes; 12 others destroyed; 22 down 'out of control'.

    It was the sort of performance that had garnered multiple decorations for single seat fighter pilots. For Gass, it brought a Military Cross awarded after the fact, on 16 September 1918.

    Gass left the Air Force in April 1919 and lived in South London after the war.

    General Headquarters.

    “On the 7th inst. flying was again impossible until after 5 p.m. owing to rain. The weather then cleared suddenly, and machines were sent out on reconnaissances and bombing nights. Four hundred bombs were dropped by our aeroplanes on different targets all along the front. Twelve hostile machines were brought down in air fighting, eight of which were accounted for in a big encounter in the neighbourhood of Douai. One German observation balloon was brought down in flames. None of our machines is missing."

    RAF Communiqué number 6:

    Rain impeded flying.

    Ten reconnaissances and 10 contact patrols were carried out.

    Eight hostile batteries were destroyed, five damaged, one explosion and one fire caused. Sixteen zone calls were sent down.

    Six and three quarter tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    Night 6th/7th - 3rd Brigade: No 102 Squadron, 111 25-lb bombs on [the] Warlencourt – Ervillers – St Leger Road, Bapaume and neighbourhood.

    Day 7th - 1st Brigade: No 18 Squadron, 12 112-lb and 20 25-lb bombs on Vitry and Pont-ą-Vendin. 1st Wing, 42 25-lb bombs.

    2nd Brigade: No 1 Squadron, 36 25-lb bombs on Comines. No 74 Squadron, 18 25-lb bombs on Wervicq. 2nd Wing, 28 25-lb bombs.

    3rd Brigade: No 59 Squadron, 6 25-lb bombs on Aveluy

    5th Brigade: 15th Wing, Nos 8 and 82 Squadrons, 176 25-lb bombs on targets in Becordel Valley. No 205 Squadron, 12 112-lb bombs on Rosieres.

    7th Brigade: No 211 Squadron, 24 25-lb bombs on Beerst and Middelkerke.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    There was practically no enemy aircraft activity until the evening when a large formation was encountered by No 22 Squadron in the vicinity of Douai.

    Lieut D H Phillips & Lieut A J Ord, 8 Sqn, Scout crashed - Lieut D H Phillips & Lieut A J Ord, No 8 Squadron, fired 200 rounds into one E.A. scout which went down in a slow spin and was seen to crash

    Lieut H N Young & 2nd-Lieut H B Davies, 8 Sqn, Scout crashed - Lieut H N Young & 2nd-Lieut H B Davies, No 8 Squadron, were attacked by two E.A. scouts into one of which they fired about 120 rounds, and the E.A. was observed to crash

    Capt R N C Fenton & Lieut P H Clarke, 21 Sqn, two-seater crashed [by Clarke] - Capt R N C Fenton & Lieut P H Clarke, No 21 Squadron, whilst on patrol were attacked by an E.A. two-seater into which they fired one drum, opening fire at about 70 yards range. The E.A. stopped firing, banked and was lost to sight in the mist. Shortly afterwards an E.A. of the same type was seen lying on its back on the ground in the vicinity of the combat. 3rd Division report that they saw an E.A. crash in the same locality which they think was hit in aerial combat

    Lieut C R Pithey & Lieut H Rhodes, 12 Sqn, Pfalz scout broke up [by Rhodes] Sheet 57c.B.8 [north-east of Ervillers] at 09:20/10:20 -

    Lieut S C Joseph, 210 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Armentičres at 10:55/11:55 -

    Lieut H E Dolan, 74 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed east of Zillebeke Lake at 15:25/16:25 - Lieut H E Dolan, No 74 Squadron, engaged an E.A. triplane over ****ebuch Lake and fired 130 rounds in short bursts at close range. The E.A. crashed east of the lake

    Lieut K C Mills, 1 Sqn, Hannover CL crashed east of Kemmel at 16:45/17:45 - Lieut K C Mills, No 1 Squadron, got on the tail of an E.A. scout and kept there for some time, firing continuously. The E.A. dived very steeply and was followed down to 50 feet by Lieut Mills who saw the E.A. crash vertically into some trees about one mile east of Kemmel

    Capt C C Clark, 1 Sqn, two-seater out of control south of ****ebusch at 16:45/17:45 - Dived on E.A. and fired 450 rounds from 60 to 12 yards range. E.A. fell in steep nose-dive and was seen to crash by the infantry.

    Capt A A N D Pentland, Lieut C K Oliver and Lieut L Murray Stewart, 87 Sqn, Rumpler C out of control Gheluvelt at 17:40/18:40 -

    2nd-Lieut J E Gurdon & 2nd-Lieut A J H Thornton, 22 Sqn, Scout destroyed east of Arras at 18:45/19:45 and Scout in flames east of Arras at 18:45/19:45 -

    2nd-Lieut A C Atkey & Lieut C G Gass, 22 Sqn, Scout in flames [by Gass] north-east of Arras at 18:45/19:45, Scout in flames north-east of Arras at 18:45/19:45, Scout crashed north-east of Arras at 18:45/19:45, Scout crashed north-east of Arras at 18:50/19:50 and Scout crashed north-east of Arras at 18:50/19:50 -

    2nd-Lieut J E Gurdon & 2nd-Lieut A J H Thornton, 22 Sqn, Scout destroyed east of Arras at 18:50/19:50 -

    2nd-Lieuts A C Atkey and C G Gass, No 22 Squadron, encountered seven E.A. in the vicinity of Henin-Liétard. These E.A. were also attacked by 2nd-Lieuts J E Gurdon and A J H Thornton, No 22 Squadron, and a general engagement ensued during which the E.A. were reinforced by two other formations which made their total up to twenty. During the fierce fight, which lasted half an hour, several E.A. were seen to spin away. Eight E.A. were accounted for as follows: 2nd-Lieuts Atkey and Gass, two E.A. in flames and three crashed; 2nd-Lieuts Gurdon and Thornton, two E.A. in flames and one crashed

    Capt J V Sorsoleil, 84 Sqn, Fokker DrI in flames Bray-sur-Somme at 19:15/ 20:15 – an enemy machine was driven down out of control by Capt J V Sorsoleil, No 84 Squadron


    Royal Flying Corps casualties today:

    James Norman Hall is shot down by an Albatros over Vieville-en-Haye and made a prisoner of war. He survives and with Charles Nordhoff, writes several original works, including The Lafayette Flying Corps in 1920 and Mutiny on the Bounty in 1932.

    Lieut G W T Glasson (Wia), 53 Sqn RAF, RE8 - ground fire

    Lieut W Hughes (Ok) & Lieut H G Hooker (Wia), 10 Sqn, AW FK8 C8521 - attacked by E.A. and force landed Peselhoek 14:45/15:45 on flash reconnaissance

    2nd-Lieut K C Mills (Wia), 1 Sqn RAF, SE5a C1849 – shot up in combat with E.A. two-seater east of Kemmel 16:45/17:45

    Royal Flying Corps Losses today:


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    Claims: 31 confirmed (Entente 29 : Central Powers 2)

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    Western Front:

    Rain prevents all but artillery fighting at front.

    Eastern Front:


    Peace of Bucharest signed by Romania and Central Powers. Final Treaty of Peace signed between Rumania and Bulgaria, Central Powers and Turkey (see March 5th), together with various supplementary treaties between the separate contracting parties (see November 10th).

    Frederickshamn (South Finland) captured by Finnish White Guards: End of the Finnish Civil War.[The civil war may be said to have begun about March 1st, 1918.]

    Southern Front:


    British successfully raid enemy trenches near Lake Doiran, on Balkan front.

    Tunstills Men Tuesday 7th May 1918:


    Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

    Pte. George Bell (see 29th October 1917) was reported by Sgt. Edward Arthur Myers (see 23rd April) as having been “unshaven on CO’s parade”; on the orders of Capt. Henry Kelly VC (see 23rd March) he would be confined to barracks for seven days.

    Pte. Joseph Haywood (see 25th April) was admitted to 71st Field Ambulance, suffering from scabies; he would be discharged to duty after two days’ treatment.

    Following two weeks’ treatment, Pte. John Henry Evison (see 25th April) was discharged from 23rd Division Rest Station and re-joined the Battalion.

    Asiatic, African, Egyptian Front:


    A portion of our troops enter Kirkuk without opposition. The Turks, who retire toward the Lesser Zab River, leave six hundred men in hospital in the town and abandon three damaged aircraft.

    Political:

    Nicaragua declares war on Germany.

    Letter of Major-General Sir F. Maurice in "Times" charging Ministers with mis-statements on the military position.

    Anniversary Events:

    558 The dome of the church of St. Sophia in Constantinople collapses. Its immediate rebuilding is ordered by Justinian.
    1274 The Second Council of Lyons opens in France to regulate the election of the pope.
    1429 Joan of Arc breaks the English siege of Orleans.
    1525 The German peasants' revolt is crushed by the ruling class and church.
    1763 Indian chief Pontiac begins his attack on a British fort in present-day Detroit, Michigan.
    1800 Congress divides the Northwest Territory into two parts. The western part will becomes the Indiana Territory and the eastern section remains the Northwest Territory.
    1824 Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" premieres in Vienna.
    1847 The American Medical Association is formed in Philadelphia.
    1862 Confederate troops strike Union troops at the Battle of Eltham's Landing in Virginia.
    1864 The Battle of the Wilderness ends with heavy losses to both sides.
    1877 Indian chief Sitting Bull enters Canada with a trail of Indians after the Battle of Little Bighorn.
    1915 The German submarine U-20 torpedoes the passenger ship Lusitiania, sinking her in 21 minutes with 1,978 people on board.
    Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 05-07-2018 at 08:16.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  38. #3238

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    Thanks Neil - here's to 2nd Lts Charles Gas MC and Lt Alfred Atkey MC & Bar Bristols strike again huh

    Re the end of the month - when are you guys away, because I'm away for a short while then too? If I'm around I could do a few, but you'll need to remind me of the links again.

  39. #3239

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    Ok chaps both chris and I are off for a recce of points south and west.

    Dates we require cover for are the following:

    27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st May and 1st June.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  40. #3240

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    OK, Mike has stepped in to cover 30th, 31st and 1st June.

    Can anyone cover 27th, 28th & 29th May please?
    See you on the Dark Side......

  41. #3241

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    Afraid we are down in Bristol for an event Neil.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  42. #3242

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    Wednesday 8th May 1918
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    Armistice Countdown 187 days
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    William Gregg VC, DCM, MM (27 January 1890 – 10 August 1969) was 28 years old, and a sergeant in the 13th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) when he performed a deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

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    William Beesley VC (left) and William Gregg VC, DCM, MM

    On 8 May 1918 at Bucqouy, France, when all the officers of Sergeant Gregg's company had been hit during an attack on an enemy outpost, he took command, rushing two enemy posts, killing some of the gun teams, taking prisoners and capturing a machine-gun. He then started to consolidate his position until driven back by a counter-attack, but as reinforcements had by now come up, he led a charge, personally bombed a hostile machine-gun, killed the crew and captured the gun. When driven back again, he led another successful attack and held on to his position until ordered to withdraw.

    His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets Museum in Winchester, England.

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    William Beesley VC (5 October 1895 – 23 September 1966) was 22 years old, and a private in the 13th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
    On 8 May 1918 at Bucqouy, France, when Private Beesley's platoon sergeant and all the section commanders were killed he took command. Single-handed he rushed a post, shot four of the enemy, took six prisoners and sent them back to his lines. He and a comrade then brought his Lewis gun into action, inflicting many casualties and holding their position for four hours until the second private was wounded. Private Beesley, by himself, maintained his position until nightfall, when he returned to the original line with the wounded man and the Lewis gun which he kept in action until things had quietened down.

    He later achieved the rank of sergeant.

    His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets Museum in Winchester, England.

    Today we lost: 500

    Today’s losses include:
    · A man whose brother was killed earlier in the Great War
    · The son of a Baronet
    · The grandson of a former Member of Parliament
    · Multiple sons of members of the clergy
    · A 5-victory ace
    · A Naval Chaplain
    Today’s highlighted casualties include:

    · Major W K H Campbell (Indian Pioneers) dies on service at age 45 at home. His brother was killed in September 1915. · Captain Christopher York Pease (Yorkshire Hussars attached West Yorkshire Regiment) is killed in action at age 32. He is the younger son of ‘Sir’ Alfred Pease, Baronet and grandson of the late ‘Sir’ R N Fowler Member of Parliament.
    · Captain Henry Aldwin Guildford Sprigg (Hampshire Regiment) is killed in Palestine at age 38. He is the son of the Reverend Herbert Guildford Sprigg Rector of Emsworth and Rural Dean of Havant.
    · Captain Charles Roger Lupton DFC (Royal Air Force) is killed at age 20. He is a five victory ace.
    · Second Lieutenant Kenneth William Allan Duncan (Liverpool Regiment) is killed at age 23. He is the son of the Reverend George Allan Duncan Vicar of Weston Point.
    · Chaplain William Lewis Ford (HMS Suffolk) is accidentally shot to death in Vladavostock.

    Air Operations:

    The designations of the newly established Areas are revised to reflect their geographical locations within the United Kingdom:

    · No.1 Area became South-Eastern Area - Major General F.C. Heath-Caldwell
    · No.2 Area became South-Western Area - Major General M.E.F. Kerr
    · No.3 Area became Midland Area - Major General J.F.A. Higgins
    · No.4 Area became North-Eastern Area - Major General the Honorable Sir F. Gordon
    · No.5 Area became North-Western Area - Major General G.C. Cayley

    Following up a five-victory day two days prior, Alfred Clayburn Atkey and his observer Charles George Gass (Royal Air Force) again shoot down five more enemy aircraft today.

    General Headquarters.

    “On the 8th inst. the weather was fine, but little work in the air was possible south of Arras owing to the heavy mist which hung over the lines. On the northern portion of the front our aeroplanes were actively employed all day reconnoitring, taking photographs, co-operating with the artillery, and bombing. Ten tons of bombs were dropped by us on Le Cateau, Cambrai, Bapaume, and on the docks and mole at Zeebrugge. In the northern area strenuous fighting took place throughout the day. Twenty-two hostile machines were brought down and seven others were driven down out of control. Another German machine was shot down by machine-gun fire from the ground. Seven of our aeroplanes are missing. Owing to the mist, only a few of our aeroplanes were able to go out after dark. A ton of bombs were dropped, however, on the railway stations at Douai and Marcoing. All our machines returned."

    RAF Communiqué number 6:

    The weather was fine, but there was a certain amount of ground mist during the morning, which, however, lifted in the north, but continued thick throughout the day in the south.

    Seventeen reconnaissances and 30 contact patrols were carried out by Brigades, and three long distance photographic flights by machines of the 9th Brigade,.

    Eighteen hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, and three neutralized; five gun-pits were damaged and one fire caused. Fifty-six zone calls were sent down.

    Ten and a quarter tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    1st Brigade: 1st Wing, 62 25-lb bombs. No 18 Squadron, 8 112-lb bombs on Meurchin.

    2nd Brigade: 2nd Wing, 51 25-lb bombs. No 20 Squadron, 28 112-lb bombs. No 74 Squadron, 24 25-lb bombs. No 98 Squadron, 7 230-lb bombs. No 206 Squadron, 5 230-lb and 1 112-lb bombs. No 1 Squadron, 49 25-lb bombs.

    3rd Brigade: No 12 Squadron, 4 25-lb bombs. No 57 Squadron, 20 112-lb bombs. No 59 Squadron, 6 25-lb bombs.

    5th Brigade: 15th Wing, 24 25-lb bombs. No 8 Squadron, 26 112-lb bombs on Meaulte.

    7th Brigade: No 211 Squadron, 10 112-lb and 10 25-lb bombs on Zeebrugge, 16 25-lb bombs on billets at Westende.

    9th Brigade: No 25 Squadron, 10 112-lb and 10 25-lb bombs on Le Cateau, 2 112-lb bombs on Cambrai. No 27 Squadron, 16 112-lb bombs on Vitry.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    There was considerable enemy aircraft activity in the north, but practically none in the south. One E.A. was brought down in our lines by infantry fire.

    Enemy aircraft were driven down out of control by the following:- Major C Draper, No 208 Squadron; Lieut G K Cooper, No 208 Squadron; Lieut H H S Fowler, No 208 Squadron; Lieut W E G Mann, No 208 Squadron; Lieut J B White, No 208 Squadron; Lieut J Adam, 2nd Squadron A.F.C.; 2nd-Lieuts N Garland and H Rhodes, No 12 Squadron; Lieut S W Taylor and Sergt V Cummings, No 27 Squadron; Capt S B Simpson, No 32 Squadron; Lieut H C Leese, No 32 Squadron; Lieut R G Landin, att No 40 Squadron (U.S.A. Air Service); Capt C F King, No 43 Squadron; Lieut C Banks, No 43 Squadron; Major R S Dallas, No 40 Squadron; Capt D R MacLaren, No 46 Squadron; Lieut G K Runciman and 2nd-Lieut A J Todd, No 62 Squadron; Lieuts D Latimer and T C Noel, No 20 Squadron (two); Lieut J E Pugh and 2nd-Lieut W Dixon, No 25 Squadron; Capt A Claydon, No 32 Squadron; Lieuts C D Taylor and J R Jackman, No 98 Squadron; Lieuts F Smethurst and E G T Chubb, No 98 Squadron

    2nd-Lieut N Garland & 2nd-Lieut H Rhodes, 12 Sqn, E.A. out of control -

    Capt I N C Clarke & Capt R S St John, 206 Sqn, Scout in flames - Capts Clarke and St John, No 206 Squadron, fired about 50 rounds into an E.A. scout that flew across the tail of their machine. The E.A. stalled, went down in a spin and burst into flames, and the wings were seen to break off

    Lieut G K Runciman & 2nd-Lieut A J Todd, 62 Sqn, E.A. out of control -

    Lieut J E Pugh & 2nd-Lieut W L Dixon, 25 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames Thorout at 08:10/09:10 - Lieut J E Pugh & 2nd-Lieut W L Dixon, No 25 Squadron, whilst returning from a long-range reconnaissance were attacked by a formation of six E.A. They fired 40 rounds into the leader which went down emitting smoke; following it down they fired a further 50 or 60 rounds into the E.A. which continued its dive and burst into flames

    Lieut J E Pugh & 2nd-Lieut W L Dixon, 25 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Thorout at 08:20/09:20 -

    Capt T P Middleton & Capt F Godfrey, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed [by Godfrey] south-east of Bailleul at 08:45/09:45 and Fokker DrI crashed [by Godfrey] east of Dranoutre at 09:30/10:30 - Capts T P Middleton and F Godfrey, No 20 Squadron, dived on an E.A. scout, but their front gun jammed. A further 80 rounds were fired into the E.A. from the back gun and it went down out of control, and is confirmed by another pilot of No 20 Squadron to have crashed south-east of Bailleul. Later, they engaged a Fokker Triplane and fired 200 rounds into it from the back gun. The E.A. went down in a slow glide which suddenly turned into a nose dive and it was seen to hit the ground east of Dranoutre

    Capt A Claydon, 32 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Dury - Vitry at 09:35/10:35 -

    Lieut H C Leese, 32 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Dury at 09:35/10:35 -

    Capt H P Simpson, 32 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Dury at 09:35/10:35 -

    Lieut K G P Hendrie, 32 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames Dury at 09:40/10:40 - Lieut K G P Hendrie, No 32 Squadron, dived on to the rear machine of a formation of E.A. scouts and fired 80 rounds into it at point blank range; the E.A. was seen to go down in flames

    Lieut W A Tyrrell, 32 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Sailly-en-Ostrevent at 09:40/10:40 - Lieut W A Tyrrell, No 32 Squadron, fired about 100 rounds at point blank range into an E.A. scout which went down in a steep spiral and afterwards in a vertical nose-dive and was seen to crash in the neighbourhood of Sailly-en-Ostrevent

    Lieut E C Bromley & Lieut J H Umney, 22 Sqn, two-seater crashed [by Umney] south-east of Arras at 10:05/11:05 – 2nd-Lieuts E C Bromley & Lieut J H Umney, No 22 Squadron, dived on an E.A. two-seater, then pulled out of the dive and fired two bursts from the back gun into the E.A., which went down in a nose-dive and was seen to crash

    Capt A Claydon, 32 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames Vitry at 10:15/11:15 - Capt A Claydon, No 32 Squadron, engaged one E.A. scout and fired about 150 rounds into it at point blank range and saw the E.A. pilot fall over in his seat; shortly afterwards the E.A. burst into flames

    2nd-Lieut S F H Thompson & Sgt L Kendrick, 22 Sqn, two-seater in flames [by Kendrick] Arras at 10:15/11:15 - 2nd-Lieut S F H Thompson & Sgt L Kendrick, No 22 Squadron, engaged one E.A. two-seater. The E.A. observer was almost immediately seen to collapse into the cockpit. A burst was then fired into the E.A. from the back gun, and the enemy machine immediately burst into flames and crashed south-east of Arras

    2nd-Lieut G W Bulmer & 2nd-Lieut P S Williams, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout broke up Brebičres at 10:15/11:15 - 2nd-Lieut G W Bulmer & 2nd-Lieut P S Williams, No 22 Squadron, dived on one E.A. scout, which went down out of control, and finally crumpled up

    Maj A D Carter and Lieut G B Irving, 19 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed south-east of Bailleul at 10:20/11:20 - Major A D Carter, No 19 Squadron, dived on to an E.A. scout and fired a long burst into it at long range. Lieut G B Irving, of the same squadron, also fired several bursts into the E.A., which went down in a vertical dive, and pieces were seen to come off the fuselage of the E.A.

    Lieut L P Coombes, 210 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Armentičres at 10:55/11:55 -

    Capt A W Carter, 210 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Armentičres at 10:55/11:55 -

    Lieut F V Hall, 210 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Bac Saint Maur at 10:55/11:55 - Lieut F V Hall, No 210 Squadron, fired 200 rounds into one E.A. scout which went down out of control and was seen to crash by another pilot of No 210 Squadron [7 May?]

    Lieut E G Johnstone, 208 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Meurchin at 11:15/12:15 - Lieut E G Johnstone, No 208 Squadron, fired a short burst at one E.A. scout at close range. He then attacked it again, firing a further 200 rounds into it, whereupon the E.A. turned on its back side-slipped and fell completely out of control, finally crashing near Meurchin

    Lieut G A Cox, 208 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Provin at 11:15/12:15 - Lieut G A Cox, No 208 Squadron, fired two bursts of 100 rounds each into an E.A. scout which fell out of control and crashed near Provin

    Lieut W E G Mann, 208 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Provin at 11:15/12:15 -

    Lieut J B White, 208 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Provin at 11:15/12:15 -

    Lieut H H S Fowler, 208 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Provin at 11:15/12:15 -

    Lieut G K Cooper, 208 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Provin - Pont-ą-Vendin at 11:15/12:15 -

    Lieut C C Banks, 43 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control SE Bailleul at 13:15/14:15 -

    Capt C F King, 43 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control SE Bailleul at 13:15/14:15 -

    Lieut D Latimer & Lieut T C Noel, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames south-east of Wervicq at 13:20/14:20 - Lieuts D Latimer and T C Noel, No 20 Squadron, dived onto the rear machine of a formation of five Albatros scouts and fired 100 rounds from 50 to 20 yards range. The E.A. went down out of control, and later burst into flames

    Lieut S W Taylor & Sgt V Cummins, 27 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Douai at 16:00/17:00 -

    Lieut D Latimer & Lieut T C Noel, 20 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Comines - Wervicq at 16:40/17:40 -

    Lieut D Latimer & Lieut T C Noel, 20 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed Comines - Wervicq at 16:40/17:40 - Lieuts D Latimer and T C Noel, No 20 Squadron, fired a long burst at close range into an E.A. triplane, which went down out of control and was seen to crash between Comines and Wervicq

    Lieut D Latimer & Lieut T C Noel, 20 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Comines - Wervicq at 16:41/17:41 -

    Lieut V E Groom & 2nd-Lieut E Hardcastle, 20 Sqn, Fokker DrI in flames [by Hardcastle] north-west of Wervicq at 16:45/17:45 - Lieut V E Groom & 2nd-Lieut E Hardcastle, No 20 Squadron, fired bursts of 200 rounds from the front gun and 100 rounds from the rear gun into an E.A. triplane which fell completely out of control and crashed between Comines and Wervicq

    Capt D G Cooke & Lieut H G Crowe, 20 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed [by Crowe] Comines - Wervicq at 16:50/17:50 - Capt D G Cooke & Lieut H G Crowe, No 20 Squadron, dived on an E.A. triplane and fired 100 rounds into it from the front gun at close range. They then turned and fired another 50 rounds into it from the rear gun and the E.A. went down out of control and crashed between Comines and Wervicq [the 2 Brigade summary gives the map reference 28.p.29.d]

    Lieut L Seymour, 40 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Vitry-en-Artois at 17:45/18:45 - Lieut L Seymour, No 40 Squadron, drove down one E.A. scout to a height of 2,000 feet and finally fired a long burst from both guns into the E.A. which crashed into the ground near Vitry-en-Artois

    Maj R S Dallas, 40 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Brebičres at 17:45/18:45 -

    Lieut R G Landis, 40 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Vitry-en-Artois at 17:45/18:45 -

    Lieut J A Adam, 2 AFC, Fokker DrI out of control Houplines at 17:45/18:45 -

    Lieut J I T Jones, 74 Sqn, two-seater in flames near Nieppe at 18:25/19:25 - Lieut J I T Jones, No 74 Squadron, observed an enemy two-seater which was flying at about 4,000 feet and dived at it from the sun; about 60 rounds were fired into the E.A. from close range and it fell in flames and crashed 400 yards north-east of the village of Nieppe

    2nd-Lieut J E Gurdon & 2nd-Lieut C G Gass, 22 Sqn, DFW C crashed Cuincy (north-west of Douai) at 18:45/19:45 - 2nd-Lieut J E Gurdon & 2nd-Lieut C G Gass, No 22 Squadron, fired a burst of about 100 rounds into an E.A. two-seater, which went down steeply and was seen to crash near Cuincy

    Capt D R MacLaren, 46 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control north of Laventie at 19:00/ 20:00 -

    2nd-Lieut S H Wallage & Lieut G Thomson, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed north of La Bassée at 19:00/ 20:00 - 2nd-Lieut S H Wallage & Lieut G Thomson, No 22 Squadron, engaged a formation of five E.A. scouts, one of which they shot down and observed to crash north of La Bassée

    Lieut R E Dubber & Sgt E R Macdonald, 98 Sqn, Scout in flames [by Macdonald] Menin - Wervicq at 19:25/ 20:25 -
    Capt E A Fawcus & Lieut G D Dardis, 98 Sqn, Scout broke up Menin - Wervicq at 19:25/ 20:25 –
    Lieut C C MacDonald & Lieut C P Harrison, 98 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames [by Harrison] Menin - Wervicq at 19:25/ 20:25 -

    Whilst returning from a bomb raid, a formation of No 98 Squadron were attacked by 20 E.A. scouts. One E.A. dived on to Lieut R E Dubber and Sgt E R Macdonald, who fired one drum into it and the E.A. was seen to burst into flames and fall to pieces about 2,000 feet below. Another E.A. was engaged by Capt E A Fawcus and Lieut G D Dardis. Two bursts were fired at close range into this E.A. which immediately dived and the planes folded back and then broke off. A third E.A. was attacked by Lieuts C C MacDonald and C P Harrison who fired one drum into it, the E.A. immediately bursting into flames and falling to pieces in the air

    Capt R W Bell & Lieut A A Malcolm and Lieut Baker & Pte Wentworth, 98 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames east of Menin at 19:10/ 20:10 - both crews fired 100 rounds into E.A. which wallowed, spun and then caught fire

    Lieut F Smethurst & Lieut E G T Chubb, 98 Sqn, Scout out of control Menin - Wervicq at 19:20/ 20:20 -

    Lieut C D Taylor & Lieut J R Jackman, 98 Sqn, Scout out of control Menin - Wervicq at 19:20/ 20:20 -

    Maj C Draper, 208 Sqn, DFW C out of control Scarpe River at 19:45/ 20:45 -

    Lieut C P Brown, 213 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Wenduyne at 19:50/ 20:50 -

    Capt J de C Paynter, 213 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Wenduyne at 19:50/ 20:50, Albatros Scout crashed Wenduyne at 19:50/ 20:50 and Albatros Scout in flames Wenduyne at 19:50/ 20:50 –

    Royal Flying Corps casualties today:

    2nd-Lieut S Morey (Wia), 4 Sqn RAF, RE8 - shot up on reconnaissance

    Lieut E A Burn (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut A H Mitchener (Ok), 206 Sqn, DH9 B7595 - damaged by A.A. on line patrol

    Capt E S Arnold (Ok), 210 Sqn, Camel B6276 - badly shot about by E.A. fire during general engagement on offensive patrol

    Lieut J R Piggott (Ok), 74 Sqn, SE5a B8502 – took off 04:35/05:35 then totally destroyed by hostile gunfire and force landed XX16B94 on offensive patrol

    Lieut P J Clayson (Ok), 1 Sqn, SE5a C1095 – took off 06:15/07:15 then shot about on offensive patrol

    Capt C C Clark (Pow), 1 Sqn RAF, SE5a B8410 – took off 06:15/07:15 and last seen north-east of Kemmel at 07:45/08:45 on offensive patrol

    Lieut J C Wood (Wia), 1 Sqn RAF, SE5a C6408 - last seen over lines north-east of Kemmel at 07:45/08:45 on offensive patrol;

    Lieut R E Bright (Kia), 74 Sqn RAF, SE5a B8373 – took off 07:35//08:35 and last seen in dogfight with 10 E.A. east of Zillebeke at 08:35/09:35 on patrol;

    Lieut P J Stuart-Smith (Kia), 74 Sqn RAF, SE5a C1078 – took off 07:35/08:35 and last seen in dogfight with 10 E.A. east of Zillebeke at 08:35/09:35 on patrol;

    Claims at this location and time are: Ltn Karl Bolle, Js2, 9th victory [south of St Eloi at 07:20/08:20]; Ltn d R Harry von Bulow-Bothkamp, Js36, 6th victory [Kemmel at 07:35/08:35]; Vfw Erich Buder, Js26, 2nd victory [Zillebeker See at 08:40/09:40]; Ltn d R Fritz Loerzer, Js26, 10th victory [Zillebeker See at 08:40/09:40]; Vzfw Fritz Classen, Js26, 3rd victory [Zillebeker See at 08:40/09:40]; Ltn Helmut Lange, Js26, 2nd victory [Zillebeker See at 08:45/09:45]

    Capt R McDonald (Kia), 208 Sqn RAF, Camel D1852 – took off 10:30/11:30 and last seen near Proven at 11:15/12:15 being attacked by E.A. on special low reconnaissance

    2nd-Lieut T M O'Neill (Kia), 43 Sqn RAF, Camel C8298 – took off 12:20/13:20 and last seen east of Baillieul going down apparently out of control on OP; Ltn Karl Bolle, Js2, 10th victory [west of Steenwerk at 13:20/14:20] or Ltn d R Friedrich Paul Kempf, Js2, 4th victory [Steenwerk at 13:20/14:20] ?

    Lieut W E Shields (Ok), 41 Sqn, SE5a B138 – took off 13:15/14:15 then shot about by E.A. on offensive patrol Bethune, returned aerodrome at 15:15/16:15

    Lt G L Dobell (Ok) & Lieut C E Willows (Ok), 53 Sqn, RE8 B8097 - shot through petrol tank and force landed P25c 16:45/17:45 on counter attack patrol Kemmel

    2nd-Lieut N C Macdonald (Wia) & Lieut C P Harrison (Ok), 98 Sqn RAF, DH9 C6108 - shot up in combat at 19:25/20:25 during bombing; Ltn d REmil Thuy, Js28, 20th victory [Zillebeker See at 19:15/20:15] or Ltn d R Gerhard Wilhelm Flecken, Js43, 4th victory [Richebourg – Zillebeke at 19:30/20:30] ?

    Royal Flying Corps Losses today:


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    Claims: 65 confirmed (Entente 54 : Central Powers 11)


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    Western Front:


    Strong local attack by enemy between La Clytte and Voormezeele; they enter front line at certain points south of Morlancourt.

    Australians push forward.

    Activity in Avre valley.

    Eastern Front:


    German forces occupy Rostov, on the Don.

    Southern Front:


    In Balkans, Allied airmen bomb aerodrome at Drama and cantonments at Beranci.

    Tunstills Men Wednesday 8th May 1918:


    Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

    The second part of the Brigade Sports were to have been held, but were postponed until the following Sunday, 12th May.

    Pte. Herbert Newton (see 18th March), serving in France with 5DWR was admitted to hospital (cause unknown); he would be discharged after four days.

    Pte. Joseph Leonard Holmes (see 10th April), serving in France with 2DWR, who had recently been noted as being “unfit for military service having been an inmate of an asylum” was posted back to England.

    Pte. Frank Blakeborough (see 26th January), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, appeared before an Army Medical Board at Ripon; the Board found him unfit for further service and recommended that he be discharged from the Army

    Asiatic, African, Egyptian Front:


    Operations continued on Baghdad-Mosul road.

    Enemy troops attacked by British airmen on Tigris, north of Tekrit.

    Naval Operations:

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    Political:


    Nicaragua declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary.
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    Emiliano Chamorro Vargas (1871-1966), President of Nicaragua 1917-1921 and 1926.

    Managua
    –The United States had joined the war to protect the rights of neutral nations, and yet relatively few other neutral countries had joined the war since–apart from their puppet states in Cuba and Panama, only Liberia, China, Brazil and Siam (Thailand) had declared war. The US exerted considerable diplomatic effort in the Americas to get countries to declare war on Germany, or at least break off diplomatic relations with them. Guatemala declared war on Germany on April 23, 1918. Nicaragua, which had been occupied by the US in 1912, and still had a contingent of Marines in Managua, followed with declarations of war on Germany and Austria-Hungary on May 8. Costa Rica followed later in May, and Honduras and US-occupied Haiti in July. None of these countries contributed anything to the Allied war effort, but they did bolster the Americans’ case that this was a war of the whole free world against Germany and her allies–and American businesses were able to expand and take the place of German ones.

    Anniversary Events:

    1450 Jack Cade's Rebellion--Kentishmen revolt against King Henry VI.
    1541 Hernando de Soto discovers the Mississippi River which he calls Rio de Espiritu Santo.
    1559 An act of supremacy defines Queen Elizabeth I as the supreme governor of the church of England.
    1794 The United States Post Office is established.
    1846 The first major battle of the Mexican War is fought at Palo Alto, Texas.
    1862 General “Stonewall” Jackson repulses the Federals at the Battle of McDowell, in the Shenendoah Valley.
    1864 Union troops arrive at Spotsylvania Court House to find the Confederates waiting for them.
    1886 Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton invents Coca Cola.
    1895 China cedes Taiwan to Japan under Treaty of Shimonoseki.
    1904 U.S. Marines land in Tangier, North Africa, to protect the Belgian legation.
    Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 05-09-2018 at 07:48.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  43. #3243

  44. #3244

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    May 9th 1918

    Lets start with three Victoria Cross Awards on this day - all to members of the Royal Navy !

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    Rowland Richard Louis Bourke, VC, DSO (28 November 1885 – 29 August 1958) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross.

    At the outbreak of World War I, Bourke volunteered to enlist in the Canadian military. He was rejected by all three arms of service due to poor eyesight. Undeterred, Bourke returned to England, at his own expense, where he successfully joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve serving on motor launches. In April 1918, Bourke volunteered his motor launch to participate in the blockading of the Belgian harbour of Zeebrugge-Ostend, during the First Ostend Raid. The motor launches were detailed to rescue personnel from ships sunk in the blockade effort. Initially rejected from participating due to his eyesight, Bourke continued to volunteer his launch, despite knowing that volunteering put him and his crew in great peril. During action on the night of 23 April, Bourke’s launch picked up 38 sailors from the blockship HMS Brilliant and towed the crippled ML 532 out of the harbour.[3] For showing "the greatest coolness and skill in handling his motor-launch", Bourke was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

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    On 9 and 10 May 1918 at Ostend, Belgium, after the crew of HMS Vindictive had been taken off, Bourke, commanding Motor Launch 276, went into the harbour to check that everybody had got away. After searching and finding no one, he withdrew, but hearing cries from the water he turned back, found an officer and two seamen clinging to an up-turned boat, and rescued them. During this time the motor launch was under very heavy fire and was hit 55 times, once by a 6-inch shell which killed two of her crew and did considerable damage. Lieutenant Bourke, however, managed to take her into the open sea, and was taken in tow. In recognition of his gallantry and devotion to duty, Bourke was gazetted the Victoria Cross on 27 August 1918.

    Prior to the start of World War II, Bourke was instrumental in organizing a Fishermen's Reserve, to patrol the west coast of Canada. He served as a recruiting officer for a period of time but in 1941 he returned to sea, with the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve. He served as Commander of HMCS Givenchy, HMCS Esquimalt, and HMCS Burrard, Vancouver.[3] He ended his naval career in 1950 in the rank of Commander serving with the Royal Canadian Navy.

    Admiral Sir Victor Alexander Charles Crutchley VC, KCB, DSC, DL (2 November 1893 – 24 January 1986) was a senior Royal Navy officer during the Second World War and a First World War recipient of the Victoria Cross,

    In September 1915 Crutchley was promoted to lieutenant and posted to a battleship of the Grand Fleet, HMS Centurion. Centurion participated in the Battle of Jutland. After the battle Roger Keyes assumed command of Centurion and acquired a highly favorable impression of Crutchley. Keyes selected Crutchley for the Zeebrugge Raid of 23 April 1918; he was assigned by Keyes as First Lieutenant to Commander Alfred Godsal, also of Centurion, on the obsolete cruiser Brilliant. Brilliant and Sirius were to be sunk as blockships at Ostend. The Germans had moved a navigation buoy, and so the ships were beached in the wrong place under heavy fire. But Crutchley performed well and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

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    Crutchley volunteered for the Second Ostend Raid on 9 May, and was posted to the cruiser Vindictive, again commanded by Godsal. When Godsal was killed and the navigating officer incapacitated, Crutchley took command. When a propellor was damaged on the quay, preventing the vessel fully closing the canal, Crutchley ordered its scuttling and personally oversaw the evacuation under fire. Crutchley transferred to the damaged motor launch ML 254. When its wounded captain Lieutenant Geoffrey Drummond collapsed, Crutchley took command. Crutchley oversaw bailing operations, standing in water up to his waist, until the destroyer HMS Warwick, carrying Admiral Keyes, came to its aid. Although the second raid also failed fully to close the Bruges Canal to submarine traffic, Crutchley, Drummond and Bourke were awarded Victoria Crosses for the action. When there were more worthy recipients than VCs to award, the men were allowed to elect those to receive a VC. Crutchley was one of the last elected VCs. During the final months of the war, Crutchley served on HMS Sikh in the Dover Patrol, the Channel force commanded by Keyes.

    Lieutenant-Commander Geoffrey Heneage Drummond VC (25 January 1886 – 21 April 1941) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross.

    Drummond was born on 25 January 1886. He was 32 years old, and a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during the First World War, and was awarded the VC for his part in the Second Ostend Raid.

    On 9/10 May 1918 at Ostend, Belgium, Lieutenant Drummond commanding HMML (Motor Launch) 254, volunteered for rescue work and was following HMS Vindictive to the harbour when a shell burst on board killing an officer and a deck hand and badly wounding the coxswain and Lieutenant Drummond. Notwithstanding his wounds, this officer brought M.L. 254 alongside Vindictive and then took off two officers and 38 men, some of whom were killed or wounded while embarking. He retained consciousness long enough to back his vessel away from the piers and towards the open sea before collapsing exhausted from his wounds.

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    Despite suffering from his severe wounds received in his VC action, Drummond served with the Royal Naval Patrol Service in World War II, but died on 21 April 1941 from a fall. His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

    One British air ace was killed on this day.

    Captain Charles Roger Lupton DSC & Bar 205 Squadron RAF

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    The only son of Charles and Katherine Lupton, of Carn Head, Roundhay, Leeds, Charles Roger Lupton was educated at Hillbrow and at Mr. G. F. Bradby's house at Rugby. He was 17 years old when he left school in July 1916 to join the Royal Naval Air Service. Flight Sub-Lieutenant Lupton received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 3734 on a Maurice Farman biplane at the Royal Naval Air Station, Eastbourne on 14 September 1916. He served at home stations until a serious accident in April 1917 and was incapacitated for two months. When he recovered, he joined Naval 5 in Flanders in August 1917. With this unit he received the Distinguished Service Cross and was made an acting Flight Commander in January 1918. In March 1918, his squadron was moved and shortly afterwards, Lupton received a Bar to the D.S.C. Upon his transfer to the Royal Air Force, he was promoted to Captain. He was 20 years old when he was killed in action on 9 May 1918.

    Flt. Sub-Lieut. Charles Roger Lupton, R.N.A.S.
    Flt. Sub-Lieut. Euan ****son, R.N.A.S.
    Obs. Sub-Lieut. William Lawrence Hill, R.N.A.S.
    For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a bombing raid on Thourout Railway Station and Varsennaere Aerodrome on the 25th October, 1917. These officers volunteered for the expedition in spite of extremely unfavourable weather conditions. They have all previously taken part in many bombing raids.

    Flt. Lieut, (act. Flt. Cdr.) Charles Roger Lupton, D.S.C., R.N.A.S.
    For conspicuous bravery and skill in leading bombing formations, especially on 26th March, 1918, when he carried out at low altitudes four bombing raids on enemy communications. In the course of these raids he caused great damage to enemy transport, and inflicted serious casualties on large numbers of their reinforcements. He has carried out very many bombing raids, and by his courage and resource has instilled a spirit of confidence and daring in all those who have flown with him.

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    The business end of an 'upgunned' Bristol F2B

    It was a really busy day in the air and there were a few outstanding achievements, most noticeable of which comes from Lieutenant Charles George Gass MC and Lieutenant Alfred Atkey MC- just three days on from claiming FIVE kills in a single day, they have only gone and DONE IT AGAIN !!! - Looks like I am not the only person who like the Bristol Fighter !

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    The following claims were made on this day

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    Not many pilots get to open their account with a hat trick - one who did was Eugene Seeley Coler

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    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.

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    However a remarkable amendment to the above list and I can only assume there has been some sort of huge FUBAR is the omission from the list of RENE FONCK who on this day went one better than Atkey and Gass and claimed SIX victories on the day - a number unsurpassed in the war.

    "Remarkable officer from every point of view; of admirable fighting ardor. Pilot of the highest order, for reconnaissance missions and artillery range intelligence, as well as for surveillance service that he completed many times despite very unfavorable atmospheric conditions. He demonstrated, during the course of an uninterrupted series of aerial combats, an exceptional strength and will to win, which sets an example for the French chasse pilots of today. Has downed thirty six enemy planes. Seventeen citations, Médaille Militaire and Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur for feats of war." Officier de la Legion d'Honneur citation, 12 May 1918

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    Today's spectacular performance was sparked by a disagreement between Fonck and two of his squadronmates, Edwin C. Parsons and Frank Baylies. Perturbed by Fonck's lectures on aerial success, the two Americans bet Fonck a bottle of champagne that one of them would shoot down an enemy plane before Fonck. Baylies took off despite hazy weather and shot down a Halberstadt CL.II. Back at the airfield, rather than pay off the bet, a sulky Fonck badgered the Americans to change the terms of the bet so that whoever shot down the most Germans that day would win. Lingering fog kept Fonck grounded most of the day. It was well into the afternoon before it cleared enough for him to take off at 1500 hours.[10] Between 1600 and 1605 hours, he shot down three enemy two-seater reconnaissance planes. A couple of hours later, he repeated the feat. Understanding the importance of reconnaissance planes, with their potential to direct intensive artillery fire onto French troops, Fonck concentrated his attentions upon them; six shot down within a three-hour span proved it.

    AIR WAR
    Western Front: French ace Fonck in 5min 50sec (in Spad) destroys 6 German aircraft (again on September 26) over the Somme firing only 52 rounds.
    France: Allied Supreme War Council first discusses air policy. 3 of 4 ‘Giant’ bombers flying raids on coastal targets destroyed in crash-landings (fog).

    General Headquarters, May 10th.

    “On the 9th inst. cloudless weather enabled our aeroplanes to carry out a full day's work. Machines were in the air all day, observing for the artillery, reconnoitring, and taking photographs of the enemy's back areas. Our bombing machines displayed great activity on the whole front. A total of over 24 tons of bombs was dropped by us on different targets, including important railway stations at Tournai, Douai, Marcoing, Chaulnes, and Cambrai, and the billets of Carvin, Peronne, and Chipilly, and the docks at Zeebrugge. Fighting in the air took place more or less continuously, but became particularly fierce towards dusk. Twenty-seven German machines were brought down and 12 others were driven down out of control. A hostile observation balloon also was destroyed. Six of our machines are missing. During the night 4½ tons of bombs were dropped by us on the docks and the entrance to the canal at Ostend, and a further 3½ tons on Peronne, Chaulnes, and Bapaume. All our machines returned."

    RAF Communiqué number 6:


    The weather was fine with considerable haze.
    Thirty-one reconnaissances were carried out by Brigades and four long distance photographic reconnaissances by machines of the 9th Brigade.
    Seventy-one hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and three neutralized; two gun-pits were destroyed, 13 damaged, 12 explosions and 18 fires caused. Forty-six zone calls were sent down.
    Twenty-seven tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    Night 8th/9th – 9th Brigade: No 58 Squadron, 6 112-lb and 44 25-lb bombs on Douai and Marcoing Stations.

    Day 9th –
    1st Brigade: No 18 Squadron, 30 112-lb and 44 25-lb bombs on Salome, Sallaumines, Carvin and Provin. 1st Wing, 110 25-lb bombs.
    2nd Brigade: 2nd Wing, 54 25-lb bombs. No 1 Squadron, 92 25-lb bombs. No 74 Squadron, 34 25-lb bombs. No 20 Squadron, 32 112-lb bombs. No 98 Squadron, 25 230-lb bombs. No 206 Squadron, 19 230-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: No 57 Squadron, 14 112-lb and 120 25-lb bombs on Bapaume and 16 112-lb [bombs] on Sailly-en-Ostrevent. Nos 12 and 15 Squadrons, 10 25-lb bombs.
    5th Brigade: Nos 6, 8 and 82 Squadrons, 39 112-lb and 197 25-lb bombs on Chipilly. No 49 Squadron, 10 112-lb bombs on Bray, 3 112-lb bombs on Mezieres, 12 112-lb bombs on Peronne. No 205 Squadron, 38 112-lb bombs on Chaulnes and Harbonnieres. No 65 Squadron, 21 25-lb bombs. 15th Wing, 47 25-lb bombs.

    7th Brigade: No 211 Squadron, 40 25-lb bombs on Zeebrugge and Ostend.
    9th Brigade: No 25 Squadron, 9 112-lb and 20 25-lb bombs on Tournai. No 27 Squadron, 34 112-lb bombs on Douai, Cambrai and Dechy.

    Enemy Aircraft:


    Enemy aircraft were fairly active on the whole front and especially so on the fronts of the 1st and 3rd Brigades.

    Enemy aircraft were driven down out of control by the following: 2nd-Lieut D W Beard and Sergt V H Davis, No 11 Squadron; Capt A C Atkey and 2nd-Lieut C G Gass, No 22 Squadron (three); 2nd-Lieuts J E Gurdon and A V Bollins, No 22 Squadron (two); 2nd-Lieut T G Jackson and Lieut A E Ansell, No 48 Squadron; Lieuts C H Arnison and H E Merritt, No 62 Squadron; 2nd-Lieut H R Gould and Capt M S E Archibald, No 18 Squadron; Lieut J D Hardman, No 19 Squadron; 2nd-Lieuts L W King and H E Elsworth, No 22 Squadron; 2nd-Lieuts E C Bromley and J H Umney, No 22 Squadron; Lieut S F Thompson and Sergt L Kendrick, No 22 Squadron; 2nd-Lieuts J E Gurdon and A J H Thornton, No 22 Squadron; Lieuts R F Mullins and N F Brace, No 11 Squadron; Lieuts E S Coler and C W Gladman, No 11 Squadron (three); Lieuts D C M Brooks and H R Kincaid, No 11 Squadron; Lieuts J S Chick and E C Gilroy, No 11 Squadron (two); Lieut G D Daly, No 43 Squadron; Capt D R Mac Laren, No 46 Squadron; Lieut A G Vlasto, No 46 Squadron; Capt E D G Galley, No 56 Squadron; Lieut T Rose, No 64 Squadron; Lieut C A Bisonette, No 64 Squadron (two); Lieut J H Forman, No 201 Squadron; Lieut H H S Fowler, Lieut G A Wightman, No 208 Squadron (one); Lieut W E G Mann, No 208 Squadron; Capt C N Lowe, No 24 Squadron

    Lieut W Gilman & 2nd-Lieut R Lardner, 211 Sqn, Fokker DrI in flames Zeebrugge Mole - Lieut W Gilman and 2nd-Lieut R Lardner, No 211 Squadron, whilst returning from a bomb raid encountered an E.A. triplane. A few rounds were fired into the E.A. and it went down in flames over Zeebrugge Mole

    Lieut C H Arnison & Lieut H E Merritt, 62 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control north-east of La Bassée and Pfalz Scout crashed south of Herlies - Lieut C H Arnison and Lieut H E Merritt, 62 Squadron, fired about 30 rounds into an E.A. scout which was attacking another Bristol fighter. Tracers were seen going into the cockpit of the E.A. which went down in a dive and was seen to crash south of Herlies

    Lieut R F Mullins & Lieut N F Brace, 11 Sqn, E.A. out of control -
    Lieut D C M Brooks & Lieut H R Kincaid, 11 Sqn, E.A. out of control -

    2nd-Lieut J E Gurdon & 2nd-Lieut A V Bollins, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout in flames north of Douai at 08:40/09:40, Pfalz Scout out of control north of Douai at 08:40/09:40 and Pfalz Scout out of control north of Douai at 08:40/09:40 - 2nd-Lieut J E Gurdon & 2nd-Lieut A V Bollins, No 22 Squadron, in an engagement with a formation of seven E.A. scouts, shot down one E.A. in flames

    Capt A C Atkey & Lieut C G Gass, 22 Sqn, Scout in flames Lille at 09:40/10:40, Scout out of control Lille at 09:40/10:40 and Scout out of control Lille at 09:40/10:40 - Capt A C Atkey & Lieut C G Gass, No 22 Squadron, fired a short burst into one E.A. scout which immediately went down in flames in a vertical nose-dive

    2nd-Lieut J E Gurdon & 2nd-Lieut A J H Thornton, 22 Sqn, Scout out of control south-east of Lille at 09:40/10:40 -
    Lieut J D I Hardman, 19 Sqn, Albatros C out of control Plouvain at 10:30/11:30 -

    Lieut T Rose, 64 Sqn, Rumpler C crashed Boiry at 10:40/11:40 - Lieut T Rose, No 64 Squadron, dived into position under the tail of a Rumpler two-seater and fired about 50 rounds at a range of between 75 and 5 yards. The E.A. went down in a spinning nose-dive and was seen to crash and burst into flames on hitting the ground

    Lieut C A Bissonette, 64 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Boiry at 10:40/11:40 and Halberstadt CL out of control Monchy at 10:42/11:42 -
    Lieut T Rose, 64 Sqn, Halberstadt CL out of control Boiry at 10:42/11:42 -
    Capt E D G Galley and Lieut T Durrant, 56 Sqn, Rumpler C out of control Achiet-le-Grand at 10:50/11:50 -

    Capt A T Whealy, 203 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed east of Herlies at 11:30/12:30 - Capt A T Whealy, No 203 Squadron, got on to the tail of one E.A. scout and fired a good burst into it. The E.A. fell out of control and is reported by the rest of No 203 Squadron’s patrol to have crashed about one mile east of Herlies

    Capt H F Beamish, 203 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed east of Herlies at 11:40/12:40 - Capt H B Beamish, No 203 Squadron, fired a burst of about 100 rounds at close range into an E.A. triplane which was diving on one of our machines. The E.A. fell completely out of control and crashed in the vicinity of Herlies

    Capt O C Le Boutillier, 209 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed south of Bray at 11:45/12:45 - Capt O C Le Boutillier, No 209 Squadron, encountered a formation of E.A. triplanes and got on the tail of one, firing about 150 rounds into it at 50 yards’ range. The E.A. went down in a vertical nose-dive and was later seen crashed on the ground; Ltn Johan Jantzen (Ok)

    Capt A W Carter, Capt E S Arnold and Lieut S C Joseph, 210 Sqn, Rumpler C out of control Bailleul at 11:45/12:45 -
    2nd-Lieut H R Gould & Capt M S E Archibald, 18 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Phalempin at 11:50/12:50 -
    Lieut G E Ezard & Sergt H Barfoot, 49 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control E Bray at 12:00/13:00 -

    Lieut H L M Dodson and 2nd-Lieut J H Smith, 46 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed south of Lestrem at 12:00/13:00 – two E.A. triplanes dived on a patrol of No 46 Squadron. One of the E.A. got on the tail of Lieut R K McConnell’s machine and fired a burst into it which shot both spars through and a centre section wire. In order to entice the E.A. down Lieut McConnell let his machine fall as though out of control, swerving aside, however, each time the E.A. dived and fired. This ruse having succeeded, Lieut H L M Dodson attacked the E.A., firing 150 rounds into it a close range. The E.A. stalled and went down in a spin for about 1,000 feet then came out of the spin and almost immediately went into another as though its controls had been shot away. It went down alternately spinning and recovering, and eventually crashed badly in attempting to land. Lieut J H Smith, No 46 Squadron, also fired a burst of 50 rounds into this E.A.

    Lieut N Braithwaite & 2nd-Lieut F P Bellingham, 49 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control east of Bray at 12:10/13:10 -
    Lieut F W Lowen & 2nd-Lieut J Sharp, 49 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control east of Bray at 12:10/13:10 -
    Lieut E S Coler & Lieut C W Gladman, 11 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Albert - Combles at 12:20/13:20, Pfalz Scout out of control Albert - Combles at 12:20/13:20 and Pfalz Scout out of control Albert - Combles at 12:20/13:20 -
    2nd-Lieut D W Beard & Sergt V H Davies, 11 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Albert - Combles at 12:20/13:20 -
    Lieut J S Chick & Lieut E C Gilroy, 11 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control [by Chick] south of Albert at 12:20/13:20 and Pfalz Scout out of control [by Gilroy] south of Albert at 12:20/13:20 -

    2nd-Lieut D W Beard & Sergt V H Davies, 11 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed west of Combles at 12:25/13:25 - 2nd-Lieut D W Beard & Sergt V H Davies, No 11 Squadron, in a general engagement between a patrol of Bristol Fighters and a formation of E.A. scouts, dived on one E.A., fired about 60 rounds into it at 50 yards’ range and later another 40 rounds at very close range into the same E.A. The E.A. side-slipped and turned on its back and was followed down to 7,000 feet and was then observed to crash one mile west of Combles

    Capt J Gilmour, 65 Sqn, two-seater crashed north-east of Albert at 13:00/14:00 - Capt J Gilmour, No 65 Squadron, dived on two E.A. two-seaters and fired a short burst at one which went down vertically. He then attacked the other E.A. and on turning observed the first E.A. crashing to the ground north-east of Aubercourt; ? (Ok) & Ltn Gerhard Teltz (Kia), FA 40 [?]

    Lieut M H Findlay, 201 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Bapaume at 13:15/14:15 - Lieut M H Findlay, No 201 Squadron, led his flight against eight E.A. scouts. He fired 200 rounds into one E.A. which immediately went down in a spin and crashed near Bapaume; Ltn d R Karl Hertz, Jasta 59, Kia [?]

    Lieut R McLaughlin, 201 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Bapaume at 13:15/14:15 - Lieut R McLaughlin, No 201 Squadron, singled out one E.A. and fired a burst of about 50 rounds into it at close range. The E.A. immediately went down in a slow spin and finally broke up in the air. The wreckage of this E.A. was seen by another pilot to crash; Ltn d R Karl Hertz, Jasta 59, Kia [?]

    Lieut J H Forman, 201 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Bapaume at 13:15/14:15 - Ltn d R Karl Hertz, Jasta 59, Kia [?],

    Capt W Beaver & Sergt E A Deighton, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed east of Warneton - Comines at 13:30/14:30 - Capt W Beaver & Sergt E A Deighton, 20 Sqn, dived onto one E.A. and fired 200 rounds into it at close range. E.A. fell out of control and crashed near the canal.

    Lieut W M Thomson & 2nd-Lieut G H Kemp, 20 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed [by Kemp] west of Comines at 13:30/14:30 - Lieut W M Thomson & 2nd-Lieut G H Kemp, No 20 Squadron, were cut off from their formation by an E.A. scout; they emptied a whole drum into the E.A. which side-slipped and nose-dived, eventually crashing into the ground between Comines and Wervicq

    Lieut H H S Fowler and Lieut G A Wightman, 208 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Phalempin at 13:45/14:45 -
    Lieut W E G Mann, 208 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Phalempin at 13:45/14:45 -
    Lieut B Stefannson, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control west of Villers Bretoneux at 15:10/16:10 -
    Capt A F W Beauchamp-Proctor, 84 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control west of Villers-Bretonneux at 15:10/16:10 -

    Capt H W Woollett, 43 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed south of La Gorgue at 15:10/16:10 - Capt H W Woollett, No 43 Squadron, led his patrol against six E.A. scouts. The E.A. almost immediately turned east, chased by the patrol, and Capt Woollett fired 40 rounds into one E.A. which spun and crashed just south of La Gorgue

    Lieut G G Bailey, 43 Sqn, Albatros Scout broke up south of Nieppe Forest at 15:10/16:10 - Lieut G G Bailey, No 43 Squadron, dived with rest of his patrol on six E.A. scouts and dived on one which was diving east. After a burst had been fired into it the E.A. turned over on its back and broke up in the air

    Capt H W Woollett, 43 Sqn, Balloon in flames north-east of La Gorgue at 15:20/16:20 - Capt H W Woollett, No 43 Squadron, whilst returning from patrol, fired about 50 rounds into a hostile balloon (just north-east of La Gorgue). The balloon immediately fell in flames – no one was seen to jump out

    Capt C G D Napier & Sergt W Beales, 48 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Wiencourt - Méricourt at 15:40/16:40, Fokker DrI out of control Wiencourt - Méricourt at 15:40/16:40 and Fokker DrI out of control Wiencourt - Méricourt at 15:40/16:40 -

    2nd-Lieut T G Jackson & Lieut A E Ansell, 48 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Vauvillers at 15:45/16:45 and Pfalz Scout out of control Wiencourt at 15:45/16:45 - 2nd-Lieut T G Jackson and Lieut A E Ansell, No 48 Squadron, fired a long burst into one of several E.A. scouts. The E.A. went down in a spin and was seen to crash close to Vauvillers

    Capt A W Carter, Capt E S Arnold and Lieut F V Hall, 210 Sqn, Albatros C crashed north of Aubers at 16:15/17:15 - Capt A W Carter, No 210 Squadron, got close to an E.A. two-seater before he was observed. He withheld his fire until within 15 yards and then fired a burst of about 50 rounds into the cockpit which immediately dived vertically. Capt Carter then fired a further 100 rounds into the E.A. and Capt E S Arnold and Lieut F V Hall, of the same squadron, also fired bursts into it as it dived. The E.A. fell completely out of control and is confirmed by all the pilots of the flight to have crashed

    Lieut D E Smith & Pbr F J Ralph, 20 Sqn, Fokker DrI crashed south-west of Menin at 16:50/17:50 - Lieut D E Smith & Pbr F J Ralph, No 20 Squadron, dived on one E.A. triplane which is confirmed by another pilot of the patrol to have crashed near the Canal south-west of Menin

    2nd-Lieut D W Beard & Sergt V H Davies, 11 Sqn, Fokker DrI in flames [by Mills] west of Lille at 16:50/17:50 - 2nd-Lieut D W Beard & Sergt V H Davies, No 11 Squadron, whilst on offensive patrol with nine other Bristol Fighters, engaged a formation of E.A. triplanes. One of the E.A. got on to the tail of their machine and two drums were fired into it, whereupon the E.A. burst into flames and fell burning

    Lieut R H V Fowler & Lieut I H McClure, 202 Sqn and Lieut G D Smith, 213 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames north of Ostende at 17:45/18:45 -

    Lieut J A Adam and Lieut F R Smith, 2 AFC, Pfalz Scout crashed Marcoing at 17:50/18:50 - Lieut J A Adam, 2nd Squadron A.F.C., manoeuvred to cut off one E.A. scout from its formation. He Then dived on it and fired a burst of about 50 rounds whereupon the E.A. turned over on its side. Lieut F R Smith, of the same squadron, then engaged the E.A. and fired a burst of about 90 rounds into it. The E.A. went down out of control and crashed near Marcoing

    Capt G F Malley and patrol, 4 AFC, Pfalz Scout broke up Voormezele at 18:05/19:05 – a patrol of the 4th Squadron A.F.C. were dived on by nine E.A. scouts one of which shot through the petrol tank of Lieut P K Scharfer’s [sic] machine and forced it to descend, diving vertically followed by two E.A. scouts. One of the latter broke up in the air and crashed east of St Eloi and burst into flames on hitting the ground

    Lieut E C Bromley & Lieut J H Umney, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control north of Douai at 18:40/19:40 -

    Capt A C Atkey & Lieut C G Gass, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout destroyed north of Douai at 18:40/19:40 and Pfalz Scout in flames north of Douai at 18:40/19:40 - Capt A C Atkey & Lieut C G Gass, No 22 Squadron, in a later patrol, dived on a formation of eight E.A. and fired about 50 rounds into one at close range. The E.A. at which they had fired was seen to dive steeply, with flames issuing from behind the pilot’s seat, and this is confirmed by another pilot and observer of the same patrol

    2nd-Lieut L W King & Lieut H E Elsworth, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control N Douai at 18:45/19:45 -
    2nd-Lieut S F H Thompson & Sergt L Kendrick, 22 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control north of Douai at 18:45/19:45 -
    Capt C N Lowe, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control Hangard Wood at 18:45/19:45 -
    Capt H G Forrest, 2 AFC, DFW C out of control Ervillers at 19:00/ 20:00 - Dark green
    Lieut G D Daly, 43 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control east of Albert at 19:00/ 20:00 -
    Lieut F D Nevin & Lieut F C Aulagnier, 49 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Chaulnes at 19:15/ 20:15 -
    Lieut A G Vlasto, 46 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Neuf-Berquin at 19:15/ 20:15 -
    Capt D R MacLaren, 46 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Neuf-Berquin at 19:15/ 20:15 -

    2nd-Lieut J E A R Daley, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Hangard Wood at 19:15/ 20:15 - 2nd-Lieut J E A R Daley, No 24 Squadron, fired about 180 rounds into an E.A. scout, which spun down through a thin layer of clouds, flattened out, and finally crashed into a wood

    Lieut E F Peacock, 65 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control La Motte at 19:30/ 20:30 -
    Lieut J L M White, 65 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control (driven down?) Lamotte at 19:30/ 20:30 -
    2nd-Lieut G O D Tod, 65 Sqn, Albatros Scout out of control (driven down?) east of Villers-Bretonneux at 19:40/ 20:40 -

    2nd-Lieut T T B Hellett and 2nd-Lieut W C Lambert, 24 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed Hangard Wood at 19:45/ 20:45 - 2nd-Lieut T T B Hellett, No 24 Squadron, dived on an E.A. scout, firing about 160 rounds into it. 2nd-Lieut W C Lambert, of the same squadron, also dived on this E.A. and fired 100 rounds into it. The E.A. went down in a spin from 5,000 feet and was seen to crash in a field

    2nd-Lieut A A Leitch, 65 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control (Indecisive?) Wiencourt at 19:50/ 20:50 -

    Casualties:


    Capt J R Duigan (Wia) & Lieut A S Paterson (Wia), 3 Sqn AFC, RE8 - combat with 4 E.A. triplanes during photography, force landed Cachy; Vzfw Franz Hemer, Js6, 8th victory [east of Cachy at 11:30/12:30]
    2nd-Lieut H G Jackson (Wia), 10 Sqn RAF, AW FK8 – machine-gun fire
    Lieut C J Venter (Ok), 29 Sqn, SE5a D301 - damaged in combat on OP Armentičres
    Capt C D G Napier (Ok) & 2565 A/Sergt W Beales (Ok), 48 Sqn, Bristol F.2B C4750 - badly shot about in aerial combat on OP
    Capt C R Lupton (Kia) & G/L 1/AM A G Wood (Kia), 205 Sqn, DH4 N6009 – combat Amiens; Ltn Victor von Rautter, Js4, 6th victory [Wiencourt at 12:15/13:15]
    Lieut F J Islip (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut E Cooke (Inj), 211 Sqn, DH9 B7637 - attacked by E.A. and shot up on bomb raid Ostende - Nieuport
    Lieut G A Leckie (Kia) & Lieut G R Cuttle MC (Kia), 49 Sqn RAF, DH4 C6094 – took off 09:40/10:40 and last seen gliding down under control east of Bray during combat on bomb raid to Peronne

    2nd-Lieut T Ratcliffe (Pow), 29 Sqn RAF, SE5a D3566 – took off 08:40/09:40 and last seen with patrol engaged in combat over Armentičres 09:50/10:50 on OP; Ltn d R Günther Schuster, Js29, 5th victory [Riez Bailleul – south-west of Laventie at 09:05/10:05] time ?

    2nd-Lieut F Newton (Kia), 201 Sqn RAF, Camel D3375 – took off 10:30/11:30 and last seen in engagement with 8 Pfalz on offensive patrol Bapaume
    Lieut E P Pycroft (Inj), 43 Sqn, Camel D6588 – took off 11:25/12:25 then hit by A.A. and force landed Sh36.a.36.c.4.2 [Le Doulieu] during practice formation, fainted on landing

    Lieut R L Johnson (Kia) & Lieut A J Melanson (Kia), 2 Sqn RAF, AW FK8 B5792 – took off 11:15/12:15 then report that AW shot down in flames by 4 E.A. north of Illies 12:00/13:00 on artillery observation Rue de Marais; Ltn d R Paul Billik, Js52, 16th victory [Neuve Chapelle at 11:55/12:55]

    Lieut C M Powell (Ok) & P16300 Sergt E E A G Bridger (Ok), 57 Sqn, DH4 A8068 – took off 09:30/10:30 then attacked by 15 E.A. 12:15/13:15 and wrecked on landing from photography
    2nd-Lieut L de V Wiener (Inj) & Lieut R W Rumsby (Killed), 57 Sqn, DH4 D8411 - controls shot away by E.A. 12:20/13:20 and spun near aerodrome on landing from photography

    Lieut J H Forman (Ok), 201 Sqn, Camel B7280 - crashed Bertrancourt 13:05/14:05 after engine shot through on offensive patrol
    Lieut S Birch (Pow), 43 Sqn RAF, Camel D1790 – took off 14:25/15:25 then missing on offensive patrol; Uffz Karl Pech, Js29, 5th victory [Lacouture – south-east of Lestrem at 15:15/16:15] ?
    Lieut S B Eckert (Ok), 84 Sqn, SE5a C5446 – took off 13:30/14:30 then damaged in fight with Albatros Scout and offensive patrol Villers Bretonneux 15:30/16:30

    Lieut A H Whitford-Hawley (Kia), 43 Sqn RAF, Camel D1821 – took off 17:40/18:40 then thought to have been shot down in flames by E.A. south-east of Albert on patrol; Hpt Wilhelm Reinhard, JGI, 13th victory [west of Morlancourt at 19:00/20:00] ?

    Lieut S F H Thompson (Ok) & Sergt L Kendrick (Wia), 22 Sqn RAF, Bristol F.2B B1164 - shot through in combat on OP 18:45/19:45


    WESTERN FRONT
    Flanders: German attacks in La Cytte-Voormezeele sector.
    Somme: French success at Grivesnes northwest of Montdidier.

    SOUTHERN FRONTS

    Piave: Lieutenant Carlo Sabatini and 4 Arditi lead Italians onto Mt Corno (Vallarsa valley) and retain it with 100 PoWs against counter*-attacks on May 11.

    SEA WAR
    Channel: Troop transport Queen Alexandra rams and sinks coastal submarine UB-78 north of Cherbourg.

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 05-11-2018 at 08:12.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  45. #3245

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    May 10th 1918

    By Royal Warrant the Guards Machine Gun Regiment is formed. It is composed of four Machine Gun Battalions.

    The Guards Machine Gun Regiment was a regiment of the British Army. It was initially formed in 1915 when machine gun companies were formed in the Guards Division. In April 1917, the four companies were grouped together as a single battalion of the Machine Gun Guards, before being re-designated by Royal Warrant in May 1918 as the 6th, or Machine Gun, Regiment of Foot Guards. In June, the regiment was reorganised into battalions.

    1st Battalion - Conversion of 1st Life Guards
    2nd Battalion - Conversion of 2nd Life Guards
    3rd Battalion - Conversion of Royal Horse Guards ("The Blues")
    4th Battalion - Re-designation of the existing Guards Machine Gun battalion
    5th (Reserve) Battalion - Re-designation of Guards Machine Gun Training Centre

    The first three battalions served with the 1st Army of the British Expeditionary Force, while the 4th Battalion remained with the Guards Division. In 1918, after the end of the war, the three Household Cavalry battalions resumed their old role as cavalry, with the 4th Battalion being disbanded in February 1919. The regimental establishment of HQ and four machine gun companies was retained until 1920, and the regiment took part in the Trooping the Colour ceremony in Hyde Park, London to mark the King's Official Birthday in June 1919 alongside the other regiments of foot guards. On 26 February 1920 an army order was issued announcing that the regiment was to be immediately disbanded and the 1918 royal warrant cancelled.

    Battle of Kaniv, or Battle of Kaniów
    took place during World War I on the night of 10–11 May 1918, near Kaniv, Ukraine (Ukrainian: Канів, Polish: Kaniów) between Polish and German army troops. The fighting pitted the Polish II Corps in Russia (including Brigade II of the Polish Legions), under General Józef Haller von Hallenburg, against the German Imperial Army (including the 28th Landwehr Brigade), under General Franz Hermann Zierold. Ultimately the Germans were victorious with about half of the Polish forces surrendering and the rest retreating in disarray.

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    On 15 February, protesting against the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk which reduced the chances for the creation of an independent Poland, the II Brigade of the Polish Legions, formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Army, broke through the frontline near Rarańcza and merged with the Polish units formerly in the Russian Army, joining the newly formed Polish II Corps in Russia. The Germans, however, saw the II Corps as troublesome, and decided to ensure it would be disarmed, or would otherwise be incapacitated. On 18 April the II Corps was ordered by the Regency Council to stop near Kaniv in Ukraine; in a triangle between Potik, Kozyn and Stepantsi. Soon it begun to be surrounded by a nearby German units. On 6 May the commander of the 28th German Landwehr Brigade, General Zierold, subordinate of Marshal Hermann von Eichhorn, issued an ultimatum to the II Corps, demanding it lay down its arms and surrender. II Corps readied for battle, and surprised Zierold, who was unprepared for battle. Zierold backed down saying that the ultimatum was a miscommunication. Soon however Zierold received reinforcements, which convinced him he had enough strength to force the issue.

    On the night of the tenth of May to the eleventh of May 1918, II Corps was surrounded and attacked by German units. Polish units, initially surprised, formed on the village of Yemchykha and took defensive positions. The II Corps resisted for about a day, and both sides sustained heavy losses. By the evening of 11 May the Germans, who did not expect the Poles to put such a stiff resistance, proposed a ceasefire and negotiations.With supplies running low the Poles accepted the offer to negotiate, and eventually agreed to an honorable capitulation.

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    The battle resulted in heavy losses for the Germans, estimated at about 1,500 dead and 273 wounded. Polish losses are estimated to be much smaller, at about few dozen killed and about 150 wounded. Half of the Polish survivors were arrested and sent to prisoner of war camps (number of prisoners is estimated at about 3,250; another estimate suggests 4,000 imprisoned, and 1,500-2,000 who escaped), but the others managed to escape.Those who escaped included the Polish commander Józef Haller de Hallenburg, who faked his death in the battle, and fled to France where he was later appointed commander of the new Polish unit, the Blue Army (or Haller's Army). In the Second Polish Republic, several units would adopt the name "of Kaniów" in honor of that battle: the 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st Infantry Regiments (of Kaniów Rifleman, Polish: Pułki Strzelców Kaniowskich") and 6th Uhlan Kaniów Regiment (6 Pułk Ułanów Kaniowskich)

    German Zeppelin L 62 exploded and broke in half before crashing in flames over the North Sea with the loss of all hands. The German Naval Airship Service blamed her loss on an accident, while the Royal Air Force claimed one of its flying boats shot her down.

    at 8.50, L62 departed Nordholz to patrol to the north. L62 was seen to rise at once to 3,300 feet, and at 9.25 was heard signalling to the Commander0-in-Chief of the Fleet, "Takeoff, course for Dogger Bank North Lightship." Forty minutes later, at 10.05am, she flew over some German patrol craft about ten miles north-west of Heligoland at an altitude of only a thousand feet, and disappeared into a towering cumulus cloud. Almost immediately there was a heavy explosion, and the shattered remains of L62, blasted in two , fell blazing into the sea. The trawler Bergedorf was directly under the cloud, and the wreckage plunged into the water a bare 100 feet from her, while fragments landed on her deck. Five bodies were recovered, but non survivors were found. Strasser was unable to determine the cause pf L62's destruction. Since she was flying well under the 'pressure height' she had established after taking off from Nordholz, there could be no question of an escape of hydrogen. Strasser believed that an electrical charge in the thundercloud had caused an explosion of either fuel or bombs. General opinion today among surviving naval airship men is that one of the bomb fuses - three-foot tubes inserted in the tail of the weapons after leaving the German coast - had been sabotaged to explode when the bomb was armed."

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    German submarine SM UB-16 was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by Royal Navy submarine HMS E34 with the loss of 13 of her 14 crew.

    SM UB-16 was a German Type UB I submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. The submarine was sunk by a British submarine in May 1918.

    UB-16 was ordered in November 1914 and was laid down at the AG Weser shipyard in Bremen in February 1915. UB-16 was a little under 28 metres (92 ft) in length and displaced between 127 and 141 tonnes (125 and 139 long tons), depending on whether surfaced or submerged. She carried two torpedoes for her two bow torpedo tubes and was also armed with a deck-mounted machine gun. UB-16 was broken into sections and shipped by rail to Antwerp for reassembly. She was launched in April 1915 and commissioned as SM UB-16 in May. UB-16 spent her entire career in the Flanders Flotilla and sank 23 merchant ships, about half of them British fishing vessels. The U-boat was also responsible for sinking the new British destroyer Recruit in 1917. In 1918, UB-16 was converted into a minelayer with the replacement of her torpedo tubes with four mine chutes. On 10 May 1918, UB-16 was torpedoed by the British submarine E34 off the British east coast. Of the 16 men on board, only UB-16's commander survived the attack.

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    UB-16 departed Zeebrugge for what would be the final time on 6 May 1918 for a patrol off Harwich. At 18:50 on 10 May, the British submarine E34 spotted UB-16 on the surface near Harwich. Although E34's commanding officer Lieutenant Pulleyne initially believed that UB-16 was a British submarine, he submerged out of caution because of UB-16's proximity to Harwich. After identifying the submarine as a German boat, Pulleyne maneuvered to attack. At 19:15, E34 launched two torpedoes at UB-16 from a distance of 400 yards (370 m). The first hit UB-16's bow and failed to detonate, but the second hit below the conning tower and exploded, sinking UB-16 at position 52°6′N 2°1′ECoordinates: 52°6′N 2°1′E in less than five minutes. After a further five minutes, E34 surfaced near where UB-16 had gone down, and rescued von der Lühe from the oily water; he was the only survivor. Von der Lühe was imprisoned in a British prisoner of war camp, where he died of influenza on 1 March 1919.[64] British divers dispatched to the site of UB-16's demise a week later could only find some plating and a few pipes and concluded that UB-16 had disintegrated after the torpedo hit.

    The Air War

    General Headquarters, May 11th.

    “On the 10th inst. low clouds and mist prevented flying till 5 p.m., and after this hour the weather cleared on a small part of the front and great aerial activity took place in this sector until dark. Over 14 tons of bombs were dropped by us on Peronne, Bapaume, Thielt, Douai, Zeebrugge, and the docks at Bruges. Hostile scouts were very active and made repeated attacks on our bombing machines. Eight German aeroplanes were brought down in air fighting and six others were driven down out of control. Nine of our machines are missing. One of our aeroplanes reported missing on the 7th inst. has since returned."

    General Headquarters, May 12th.

    “It has been ascertained that three other German machines were brought down on the 10th inst. in addition to the eight previously reported."

    Admiralty, May 13th.


    “On May 10th one of our seaplanes in the North Sea sighted a Zeppelin on patrol. An indecisive action lasting half an hour took place, and ended in the retreat of the Zeppelin to its base."

    RAF Communiqué number 6:

    The weather was fine but very misty, and practically no flying was possible in the north.

    Fourteen reconnaissances and 39 contact patrols were carried out by Brigades and two long-distance photographic flights by machines of the 9th Brigade.

    Thirty-six hostile batteries were successfully engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation and seven neutralized; three gun-pits were destroyed, four damaged, 15 explosions and 12 fires caused. Forty-nine zone calls were sent down.

    Twenty-one and three-quarter tons of bombs were dropped as follows:-

    Night 9th/10th -
    3rd Brigade: No 102 Squadron, 167 25-lb bombs on Ervillers, St. Leger and Croisilles.
    5thBrigade: No 101 Squadron, 15 112-lb and 16 25-lb bombs on Chaulnes, Rosieres, Maricourt and Brie.
    7th Brigade: No 214 Squadron, 6 550-lb, 53 112-lb and 21 25-lb bombs on Docks and entrance of canal Ostend.
    9th Brigade: No 58 Squadron, 1 112-lb and 8 25-lb bombs on lights. No 83 Squadron, 5 112-lb and 47 25-lb bombs on Peronne.

    Day 10th –
    1st Brigade: 1st Wing, 73 25-lb bombs. No 18 Squadron, 14 112-lb and 33 25-lb bombs on Douai, Sailly, Billy Montigny and Pont-ą-Vendin.
    2nd Brigade: 2nd Wing, 20 25-lb bombs. No 20 Squadron, 9 112-lb bombs. No 74 Squadron, 10 25-lb bombs. No 98 Squadron, 10 230-lb bombs. No 206 Squadron, 8 230-lb bombs. No 210 Squadron, 84 25-lb bombs.
    3rd Brigade: 12th Wing, 16 25-lb bombs. No 57 Squadron, 92 25-lb bombs on Bapaume.
    5th Brigade: Nos 6, 8 and 82 Squadrons, 27 112-lb and 104 25-lb bombs on Morlancourt. No 82 Squadron, 88 25-lb bombs on targets in the Cerisy Valley. No 49 Squadron, 10 112-lb bombs on Chaulnes and 10 112-lb bombs on Rosieres. No 209 Squadron, 24 25-lb bombs on Bayonvillers. No 205 Squadron, 12 112-lb bombs on Cappy, and 14 112-lb bombs on Chaulnes. 15th and 22nd Wings, 157 25-lb bombs.

    7th Brigade: No 211 Squadron, 32 25-lb bombs on Bruges Docks and Zeebrugge.

    9th Brigade: No 27 Squadron, 12 112-lb bombs on Thielt and Estaires.

    Enemy Aircraft:

    There was some enemy aircraft activity in the south during the late afternoon.

    Enemy machines were driven down out of control by the following:- Lieut R H Little and 2nd-Lieut F H Lumb, No 48 Squadron; Lieut A W Saunders, No 60 Squadron; 2nd-Lieut G E Ffrench and 2nd-Lieut F A Gledhill, No 27 Squadron

    Capt A F W Beauchamp-Proctor, 84 Sqn, Rumpler C crashed south-east of Bray at 14:10/15:10 - Capt A W B Proctor, No 84 Squadron, observed an E.A. two-seater getting its height. Capt Proctor stalked the E.A. and waited for it to cross the lines; but the E.A. dived east on observing the formation of No 84 Squadron. Capt Proctor immediately dived at the E.A. and fired a burst of 50 rounds into it. The E.A. observer disappeared into the cock-pit and did not fire again. Capt Proctor then got closer to the E.A. and again opened fire, and the E.A. appeared to be out of control. After a further burst had been fired into it the E.A. went down in a vertical nose-dive and was watched down to 4,000 feet and was then lost owing to haze, but is confirmed by another pilot of No 84 Squadron to have crashed near the River Somme south-east of Bray

    Capt W A McMichael & 2nd-Lieut W Hart, 48 Sqn, Scout out of control Curlu at 15:40/16:40 -

    Lieut R H Little & 2nd-Lieut H F Lumb, 48 Sqn, Fokker DrI in flames [by Lumb] Suzanne at 15:40/16:40 - Lieut R H Little and 2nd-Lieut H F Lumb, No 48 Squadron, whilst on patrol engaged one of a formation of E.A. triplanes, diving upon it and firing a burst of 50 rounds into it. As they came out of the dive two E.A. passed under the tail of their machine; a long burst was fired from the back gun into the first of the two E.A. and it fell over on to one wing and went down out of control, emitting smoke and later burst into flames

    2nd-Lieut N Roberts & 2nd-Lieut W F Hanna, 48 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Suzanne at 15:45/16:45 -

    Lieut R H Little & 2nd-Lieut H F Lumb, 48 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Méricourt at 15:55/16:55 -

    Lieut A W Saunders, 60 Sqn, Pfalz Scout crashed Bapaume - Péronne at 17:35/18:35 -

    Capt H Southeran & 2nd-Lieut J Galbraith, 48 Sqn, two-seater out of control Foucaucourt at 17:50/18:50 -

    Lieut G H Blaxland, 2 AFC, DFW C out of control Morcourt at 18:10/19:10 - Black and white checks

    Capt G F Hughes & Capt H Claye, 62 Sqn, Rumpler C out of control Combles - Péronne at 18:35/19:35 -

    2nd-Lieut H V Barker, 80 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Morcourt at 18:55/19:55 -

    Capt O C Bridgeman, 80 Sqn, Fokker DrI in flames Morcourt at 18:55/19:55 and Pfalz Scout crashed Morcourt at 18:55/19:55 - Capt O C Bridgeman, No 80 Squadron, with his patrol was attacked by a large number of E.A. scouts and triplanes. He immediately turned to meet the attack and engaged one E.A. scout at close range. The E.A. went down in a spin and is confirmed by two other pilots to have burst into flames. Capt Bridgeman was then attacked from above by a triplane and succeeded in getting a good burst into the E.A. at close range, whereupon the E.A. went down in a spin and is confirmed by other pilots of No 79 [?] Squadron to have crashed

    Lieut F W Knight & Cpl F Y McLaughlin, 27 Sqn, Fokker DrI in flames south-west of Péronne at 19:15/20:15 - Lieut F W Knight and Cpl F Y McLaughlin, No 27 Squadron, whilst returning from a bomb raid with a formation of their squadron were attacked by about thirty E.A. triplanes and scouts. They fired 350 rounds into one triplane which was seen to fall in flames

    Lieut G E Ffrench & 2nd-Lieut F A Gledhill, 27 Sqn, E.A. out of control Bray at 19:15/20:15 -

    Capt M L Doyle & Lieut G S Chester, 27 Sqn, E.A. in flames Péronne at 19:15/20:15, E.A. in flames Péronne at 19:15/20:15, E.A. out of control Péronne at 19:15/20:15, E.A. out of control Péronne at 19:15/20:15 and E.A. out of control Péronne at 19:15/20:15 -

    Capt J Gilmour, 2nd-Lieut T M Williams, 2nd-Lieut H E Browne, 2nd-Lieut W F Scott-Kerr, 2nd-Lieut H Spreadbury and 2nd-Lieut M A Newnham, 65 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north of Villers-Bretonneux at 19:30/20:30 – a patrol of No 65 Squadron dived on a single E.A. scout. The whole patrol fired into the E.A. which went down out of control and was last seen spinning below 1,000 feet, and has since been confirmed by A.A. as having crashed. The following officers took part in the combat:- Capt J Gilmour, 2nd-Lieuts T Williams, H Brown, W F Scott-Kerr, Spreadbury and M A Newnham

    Lieut H J Burden, 56 Sqn, Albatros Scout in flames south of Bray at 19:30/20:30 - Lieut H J Burden, No 56 Squadron, fired a long burst into an E.A. scout which was attacking one of our machines. The E.A. went down in a steep spiral with smoke coming from its cock-pit, and when at about 6,000 feet burst into flames, went down in a spin and was seen to crash

    Capt S M Kinkead, 201 Sqn, Albatros Scout crashed north-east of Villers-Bretonneux at 19:50/20:50 - Capt S M Kinkead, No 201 Squadron, attacked one of three E.A. scouts and fired a burst of about 50 rounds into it at point blank range. Tracers were seen to enter the cock-pit and the E.A. stalled and went down out of control. Capt Kinkead was unable to watch this E.A. crash owing to the presence of other E.A., but A.A. report having seen it crashed

    Lieut C S L Coulson, 80 Sqn, Fokker DrI out of control Morcourt at 19:55/20:55 -

    The following claims were made on this day

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    A total of 15 British airmen were lost on this day

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    Captain Tunstill's Men:


    Lt. Cyril William Wildy (see 18th April) completed and submitted an application for secondment to the Signal Service, Royal Engineers. He supported his application with an additional statement of specific qualifications:

    “I hold a 2nd Class Instructor’s Certificate (distinguished) (Northern Army Signal School, Cambridge); a Windsor and Power Buzzer Cerificate (2nd Army Signal School)”. Four days letter the application would be forwarded to 69th Brigade with the endorsement of Maj. William Norman Town (see 9th May), who stated, “This officer has been with the Battalion since 6.7.1917 and during that time he has efficiently carried out his duties and his character has been good. I recommend the application”. It would be further endorsed at Brigade by Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 24th March) and by the Major commanding signals with 23rd Division, who added, “This application is strongly recommended. Lt. Wildy has been an excellent battalion signalling officer since he has been with the Division. It is recommended that he should be attached to Signal Companies of various descriptions for short courses to enable him to gain experience prior to his being posted to any one unit”.

    Pte. Herbert Williams (see 20th April) was briefly admitted to hospital (cause unknown), but discharged to duty the same day.

    Pte. Ernest Townsend (see 8th February) was briefly admitted to 71st Field Ambulance with a recurrence of the scabies for which he had been treated on previous occasions; he would be discharged to duty the following day.

    Much sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. George Binns and family, Park Cottage, Barden, who have received official notice that their second son, Private G. Binns, West Riding Regiment, has been killed in action in France. Private Binns enlisted September 20th 1914, went to France August 1915 was wounded July 1916 and came to England, returning to the Front again as soon as fit. He had seen much hard fighting, had served on the Ypres front, in the 'push' on the Somme, and was present at Vimy Ridge. He was killed April 14th, and had he lived till Saturday last, would have been 21 years of age. He is the first Barden lad to be killed. Private Binns was of a genial disposition, and of very smart appearance, and had an exemplary character. As a boy he was a member of the Barden Church Choir. Prior to enlisting, he was in the employ of Mr. Geo. Atkinson, Low House, Barden. His brother, Private C. Binns, M.G.S., who was one of the first batch of Bolton Abbey lads to join the Colours, is now stationed at Belton Park, Grantham. He has seen much hard fighting, and has been wounded three times. He has only recently been discharged from hospital.

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    More to come

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    Last edited by Hedeby; 05-18-2018 at 14:01.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  46. #3246

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    May 11th 1918

    The first of 12 air raids on the enemy naval base at Cattaro is made today. It involves a 400 mile round trip over sea by land aircraft. Six DH4s bomb ships and submarines with one crew being lost and made prisoners.

    An Atlantic escort submarine E35 on duty while proceeding to meet a convoy, sights and sinks a German cruiser type submarine U-154. A heavy sea is running in the latitude of Cape St Vincent at the time and there are no survivors. Shortly afterwards another enemy submarine is sighted, but by swift diving she escapes.

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    The submarine cruiser ‘U-154’ was originally designed as a transport submarine and received later torpedo tubes and two 15-cm and two 8.8-cm guns.

    Italian troopship Verona was sunk by German submarine SM UC-52, killing 880 passengers and crew

    SS Verona was an Italian passenger steamer, built in 1908 by Workman, Clark and Company in Belfast, and operated by the Navigazione Generale Italiana, of Genoa. SS Ancona was her sister ship. On 11 May 1918, the ship left Messina for Tripoli with on board some 3,000 soldiers, most of them deserters which were sent to a detention camp in the Italian colony of Libya. She was torpedoed by German submarine UC-52, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hellmuth von Doemming off Cape Peloro at 37°04′N 16°19′ECoordinates: 37°04′N 16°19′E. The ship sank within 25 minutes, but many soldiers were saved because land was relatively close and several ships came to their rescue. Still around 880 lives were lost.

    French Navy troopship Sant Anna was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea by German submarine SM UC-54, killing 605 passengers and crew.

    SS Sant′ Anna was an Transatlantic ocean liner converted into a troopship in 1915, torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea on 11 May 1918 with 605 casualties.

    Sant′ Anna was built as an ocean liner for service between France and New York City. The ship was operational between 1912 and 1915, when she was requisitioned by the French Army and refitted as troopship for use in World War I. On 19 September 1915 a fire broke out on board, which was thought to be an act of German sabotage. On 12 April 1916 Sant′ Anna made her first trip to the Salonika Front with 1,027 Serbian Army soldiers and 129 horses on board. On 11 May 1918 she was again steaming in the Mediterrean Sea on a voyage from Bizerte for Thessaloniki under the escort of two British sloops, HMS Cyclamen and HMS Verhana, with 2,025 soldiers on board (574 Senegalese, 429 Kabyle, 194 Annamite, nine Greek, and the rest French). She was torpedoed at 3:15 AM by the Imperial German Navy submarine SM UC-54, commanded by Heinrich XXXVII Prinz Reuß zu Köstritz, and sank at 3:58 AM off the coast of French Tunisia, some 26 nautical miles east of Cape Bon, killing 605 of the soldiers. The survivors were rescued by the two British sloops, the French Navy destroyer Catapulte, a British gunboat, the French sloop Saint Jean, and the vessels Auguste Leblond and Marguerite Marie.


    Battle of Kaniów
    – After a full day of stiff resistance from the Polish II Corps in Russia, the German command offered a ceasefire. German suffered an estimated 1,500 casualties while Polish forces sustained around 1,000 casualties. Another 3,250 Polish troops were taken prisoner although many thousands, including commanding officer Józef Haller, managed to escape

    One hundred thirty three officers and men of the Labour Corps are fatally gassed while laying cables in the Fonquevillers area

    MIDDLE EAST

    Hejaz Railway: Arab regulars (+ 3 RAF planes) capture Jerdun Station with 140 PoWs, but another attack cut short by Turk train arriving on May 17. Nasir destroys 2 stations to north (May 23-24) without loss. Partial Arab success against bridges 80 miles northwest of Medina on May 23.
    Persia: *Dunsterville cables Baghdad that Baku’s seizure possible, leaves Hamadan for Kazvin and Tehran visits (May 12*-18).
    Armenia: Peace Conference resumes at Batumi, Turk delegates arrive (May 6) and demand Aleksandropol’s evacuation within 24 hours (May 14). Ludendorff gets Chancellor’s agreement to sending a few battalions from Crimea to Caucasus.

    AIR WAR
    Western Front: First ‘Liberty Plane’ (US-built DH4) reaches AEF.
    Adriatic: First of 12 RAF raids on Cattaro (only 4 Austrian Phoenix fighters, Italians bomb on May 12) and 7 on Durrazo (until August 31). U-boat Commander at former requests 2 squadrons of German fighters.

    The Austro Hungarian Air Ace Kurt Nachod died on this day

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    Nachod joined the Army Air Service in September 1915 and scored five victories as an observer with Flik 20. Having obtained his Filed Pilot's Badge in the second half of 1917, Nachod was badly injured in a crash on the night of 9 May 1918. He died from his injuries two days later.

    The following claims were made on this day

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    Sixteen British airmen were lost on this day

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    More to come

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  47. #3247

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    May 12th 1918

    At a point approximately midway between Guernsey and Portland Bill the German submarine UB-72 is observed at 04:30 while on patrol by the British submarine D4. The German is traveling on the surface in a southerly direction some two miles away. At 04:50 Lieutenant Claud Barry of the D4 fires a torpedo and after lowering periscope for a few moments he releases a second torpedo. Ten seconds later the crew of the D4 hears an explosion and feels a violent concussion. Barry brings his boat to the surface and heads towards three men swimming in a batch of oil. He succeeds in picking up these men who are the only survivors of UB-72’s crew of three officers and thirty-one men.

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    Lieutenant Edward Stanley Ashcroft (Liverpool Regiment) dies of wounds as a prisoner in the hands of the Germans received 29th His brothers were killed in March of this year and April 1917.

    SEA WAR

    St George’s Channel: White Star liner and troopship Olympic (46,359t) rams and sinks U-103 after she summons 4 others to intercept convoys (coastal submarine UB-72 sunk at Royal Navy submarine D4).

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    In the early hours of 12 May 1918, U-103 prepared to launch torpedoes from her stern tubes at RMS Olympic, a sister ship of RMS Titanic, which was en route for France with US troops on board. The crew was unable to flood the two stern torpedo tubes, and the submarine was sighted on the surface by Olympic, whose gunners opened fire as Olympic turned to ram. U-103 started to crash dive to 30 m (98 ft) and turned to a parallel course, but almost immediately afterwards was struck just aft of her conning tower and Olympic's port propeller sliced through U-103's pressure hull. The crew of U-103 blew her ballast tanks and scuttled and abandoned their sinking submarine. Nine crewmen lost their lives. Olympic did not stop to pick up the survivors, but continued on to Cherbourg. USS Davis later sighted a distress flare and took 35 survivors to Queenstown. U-103's wreck lies at position 49°16′N 4°51′WCoordinates: 49°16′N 4°51′W.

    Eastern Atlantic – ‘Invasion of St Kilda’: U-19 (Spiess) shells remote Scottish Western Island’s only settlement; then lands armed party to shoot sheep.
    Adriatic: Italian destroyers sink transport from Austrian convoy off Durazzo.
    Mediterranean: *British transport Omrah sunk by U-boat off Cape Spartivento (Sardinia); transports Leasowe Castle (99 lives lost; May 26) and Missir (44 lives lost; May 29) similarly sunk off Alexandria.

    AIR WAR

    Western Front: Mannock’s SE5a flight of No 74 Squadron destroy 6 of 8 German fighters encountered, Mannock scores over 20 victories during May including 3 Pfalz fighters and a Hannover two-seater (May 21).

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    On a quiet day the following claims were made

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    Despite it being a quiet day there were still 13 British airmen lost on this day

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    POLITICS
    Germany: Kaiser and Emperor Charles sign Austro-German Waffenbund at Spa (including economic cooperation especially in Ukraine; Charles agrees to major offensive in Italy; one draft of ‘Charles’ journey to Canossa’ extends political treaty to January 1, 1940.

    Capt. Tunstill's Men: The second part of the Brigade sports competition was held and it was noted that, “A large number of officers from outside formations attended, including H.R.H. Prince of Wales, Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in Italy and the Commander of the 6th Italian Army”. The event was to be held on the hilltop of Monte Verlaldo, north-east of Cornedo; it was noted that the venue was “about 1 ½ hours steep climb on foot from Cornedo”.

    In the morning, to take advantage of favourable conditions, there was to be a heliograph signalling competition, but the main events wwere to begin from mid-afternoon. Starting at 3pm, there was to be a pack mule competition, simulating the transport of ammunition and supplies by 16 mules per unit to the top of Monte Verlaldo, with marks awarded for turnout, march discipline, loading and unloading. The same scenario was to be used for a Yukon pack carrying competition, involving 12 NCO’s and men from each Battalion. There were also Lewis Gun competitions for battalions and also for attached Italian Lewis Gun Companies. At 4pm, starting at the top of the hill, there was to be a khud race, with teams comprising of 40 officers and men from each battalion, followed half an hour later by a similar event for ‘novices’ (defined as being “men who have joined the Brigade since it arrival in Italy”) in teams of 20. For a further 10 officers and men who had not competed in the khud races there was to be a relay race. In addition to the silver and bronze medals which were to be awarded for each of the events, points would also be won towards the overall award of the Brigade trophy, in the form of the shield which Brig. Genl. Lambert (see 11th May), had originally provided for Brigade Sports held in March 1917. The massed bands of the Brigade provided entertainment.

    Pte. Harold Charnock (see 4th May) remembered that, “The second part of the Brigade sports was held at which the Prince of Wales was present. We won the relay and Khud races”. This is confirmed by the Brigade War Diary, which also records that the Battalion teams were placed third in the Lewis Gun competition and fourth in the Yukon pack event. Overall, across the whole range of events conducted since March the Battalion finished second to the 11West Yorks.

    Pte. Herbert Bibby (see 16th December 1917) was admitted to 71st Field Ambulance, suffering from scabies; he would be discharged to duty after two days.

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    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  48. #3248

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    Monday 13th May 1918
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    Armistice Countdown 182 days
    Today we lost: 399
    Today’s losses include:
    · The son of a Count
    · Multiple families that will lose two sons in the Great War


    Today’s highlighted casualties include:

    · Major Gerald Robert Spencer (Royal Defence Corps) dies in England at age 63. He is the son of the Honorable Robert and Lady Spencer. He retired twenty years prior but rejoined at the outbreak of the war.
    · Lieutenant Louis Paul Bryant D’Etchegoyen (Royal Air Force) is killed at age 21. His is the son of Count Paul D’Etchegoyen of Mayenne, France. · Private Alexander Redford McIntosh (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) dies of wounds received in action at age 31. His brother will die of influenza in 1919. · Private Eldred Waite (Labour Corps) dies of wounds at age 37. His younger brother was killed in November 1914.

    Air Operations:


    Increased raids and bombing activity on Balkan front.

    11 enemy planes destroyed on Italian front.


    General Headquarters:
    Tbc

    Royal Flying Corps casualties today:

    tbc


    Royal Flying Corps Losses today:


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    Claims:14 confirmed (Entente 13 : Central Powers 1)


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    Western Front:

    German artillery active on Lys and Somme battlefields; heavy rain throughout day.


    Local fighting north of Kemmel.


    Southern Front:


    Tunstills Men Monday 13th May 1918:


    Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.


    A Brigade exercise was carried to simulate a British attack against Austrian positions on the Asiago Plateau. The exercise involved 10DWR and both 8th and 9th Yorks. and was be carried out on the wooded slopes of the hills south-east of Cornedo Vicentino. 10DWR were to advance to the village of Madonetta Vicario, at the top of a wooded spur of land. The difficulties of operating in a highly-cultivated area were emphasised in the Brigade order which specified that, “No crops or standing grass are to be crossed. Till the woods are reached roads and tracks only will be used”.

    Pte. Sidney John Rainbow (see 30th March) was admitted via 69th Field Ambulance to 23rd Division Rest Station, suffering from inflammation to both legs; he would re-join the Battalion eight days later.

    Pte. George Edward Chapman (see 2nd April), serving with 3DWR at North Shields, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service as a result of ‘shellshock’; he was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. per week for four weeks, reducing to 13s. 9d. per week and to be reviewed in six months.

    A pension award was made in the case of the late Pte. Ernest Smith (25187) (see 7th March), who had been killed in action on 20th September 1917; his widow, Marian, was awarded 20s. 5d. per week for herself and her son.

    Naval Operations:


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    The armed trawler HMT Balfour is escorting the Lancs & Yorks Railway owned steamer Nidd to Dieppe. At 21:45 the master of the Nidd suddenly feels a large shock from beneath and immediately wonders what he has hit. A few minutes later a lookout shouts “submarine astern about 400 yards”. It is obvious that the submarine has been forced to surface by the collision with Nidd’s keel. The Captain orders the engine to full ahead and passes word to the gunners to fire at will. Their firsts shot appear to hit the submarine. On the Balfour the Captain puts his ship hard to starboard to enable an attack on the submarine. Men rush to their quarters, guns are manned and depth charges brought to the ready. In fact so much attention is paid to the submarine that no thought is given to where the steamer Nidd is. By the time a member of the Nidd’s crew first notices the approaching Balfour there is not enough time to take evasive action. A moment later the Nidd’s bows are embedded in the port side of the Balfour and she is pushed through the water by Nidd. The steamer recoils but her master puts the engines ahead to plug the hole and allow the men of the Balfour to climb about the Nidd. The Balfour sinks quickly with no loss of life.

    H M Trawler Loch Naver (Skipper Edmund Artis Butler, Royal Naval Reserve) is sunk by a mine near Mandili Point in the Aegean Sea. Her skipper is killed at age 45.


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    Political:


    Government announce policy denouncing all commercial treaties which contain "most favoured nation" clauses.


    The United States issues its first air mail stamps to the public. They bear a picture depicting a Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny". This stamp becomes even more famous when many sheets are printed with the Jenny upside down, which immediately becomes the “Inverted Jenny.”


    Anniversary Events:

    1607 English colonists land near the James River in Virginia.
    1648 Margaret Jones of Plymouth is found guilty of witchcraft and is sentenced to be hanged.
    1779 The War of Bavarian Succession ends.
    1846 The United States declares war on Mexico after fighting has already begun.
    1861 Britain declares its neutrality in the American Civil War.
    1864 The Battle of Resaca commences as Union General William T. Sherman fights towards Atlanta.
    1888 Slavery is abolished in Brazil.
    1912 The Royal Flying Corps is established in England.
    1913 Igor Sikorsky flies the first four-engine aircraft.
    Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 05-13-2018 at 06:40.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  49. #3249

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    Tuesday 14th May 1918
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    Armistice Countdown 181 days
    Today we lost: 457

    Air Operations:


    It is announced that an Independent Air Force (IAF), under the command of Major General Sir Hugh Trenchard, will be formed from 6 Jun 1918. This is the first time that an Air Force had been formed for the express purpose of conducting a war, without reference or subordination to Army or Navy Commands.

    The IAF operates by day and night against industrial targets in Germany and enemy aerodromes. In five months, the nine squadrons of the IAF, equipped with de Havilland DH4, DH9, and DH9A, Handley Page 0/400 and Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b bombers, with one squadron of Sopwith Camels for escort work, drop a total of 550 tons of bombs, 390 tons by night.

    General Headquarters:

    tbc

    Royal Flying Corps casualties today:

    tbc

    Royal Flying Corps Losses today:


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    Claims: 31confirmed (Entente 23 : Central Powers 8)


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    Western Front:


    Germans attack on a mile front south-west of Morlancourt; fine counter-attacks by Australians.

    Southern Front:

    Great massing of enemy troops and artillery along Alpine lines and Friuli Plains for new offensive.

    Tunstills Men Tuesday 14th May 1918:


    Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

    L.Cpl. Ernest Gee (see 3rd April), who had been absent without leave from 3DWR at North Shields for the previous six weeks, returned to duty and was placed in detention awaiting trial.

    Pte. Harry Crawshaw (see 2nd April) reported for duty at Northern Command Depot at Ripon and was immediately admitted to hospital as still suffering from nephritis.

    Pte. George King (25833) (see 6th February), who had been evacuated to England three months previously suffering from Addison’s disease, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service. He was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. per week for four weeks, reducing to 13s. 9d. and to be reviewed in one year.

    A payment of £5 6s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Arthur Cawley (see 18th October), who had been killed in action on 18th October 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Mary.

    Naval Operations:


    First million tons of ships ordered by U.S.A. on the seas.

    Daring Italian sea-raid into military post of Pola; enemy warship torpedoed.
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    The Grillo

    Pola–The success of the tank on land led some to consider developing a naval version–a “landship of the sea,” as it were. The Italians had developed a series of fast motorboats to attack and harass the Austrian fleet, but these were useless in attacking their harbors, which were protected by artificial booms designed to prevent access to any unauthorized craft. The Italians therefore built a handful of naval tanks, designed to crawl over these booms and then launch torpedoes within the Austrian harbors.

    On the night of May 13, the naval tank Grillo successfully crawled over four of the five defensive booms at the main Austrian naval base at Pola. However, the Austrians were on high alert due to previous failed raids (foiled due to mechanical difficulties), and the loud noise of the Grillo’s crawling attracted Austrian attention. Coming under heavy Austrian fire, the Italian crew scuttled the vessel, though the Austrians were able to raise it and began designing their own version.


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    The destroyer HMS Phoenix (Lieutenant Richard Harter) becomes the only British warship to be sunk by the Austrian Navy in the Great War. She is torpedoed by U-27 with the loss of two crew members. · ERA4 Charles Arthur Freeman age 28 · Leading Stoker Thomas Roland Courtney

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    Anniversary Events:
    1264 King Henry III is captured by his brother-in-law, Simon de Montfort, at the Battle of Lewes.
    1509 At the Battle of Agnadello, the French defeat the Venitians in Northern Italy.
    1610 French King Henri IV (Henri de Navarre) is assassinated by Franēois Ravaillac, a fanatical monk.
    1796 English physician Edward Jenner gives the first successful smallpox vaccination.
    1804 Explorer William Clark sets off from St. Louis, Missouri.
    1853 Gail Borden applies for a patent for condensed milk.
    1863 Union General Nathanial Banks heads towards Port Hudson along the Mississippi River.
    1897 Guglielmo Marconi sends the first communication by wireless telegraph.
    1897 "Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Phillip Sousa is performed for the first time in Philadelphia.
    Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 05-14-2018 at 16:05.
    See you on the Dark Side......

  50. #3250

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    Wednesday 15th May 1918
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    Armistice Countdown 180 days

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    William Henry Johnson (circa July 15, 1892 – July 1, 1929), commonly known as Henry Johnson, was a soldier who performed heroically in the first African American unit of the U.S. Army to engage in combat in World War I. On watch in the Argonne Forest on May 14, 1918, he fought off a German raid in hand-to-hand combat, killing multiple German soldiers and rescuing a fellow soldier while experiencing 21 wounds.

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    On June 2, 2015 he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barrack Obama in a posthumous ceremony at the White House.

    In 1918, racism against African Americans was common among white U.S. soldiers in the U.S. military, while French soldiers welcomed them. Johnson was recognized by the French with a Croix de guerre with star and bronze palm, and was the first U.S. soldier in WW1 to receive that honor.

    Johnson died, poor and in obscurity, in 1929. From 1919 on, Henry Johnson's story has been part of wider consideration of treatment of African Americans in the Great War.There was a long struggle to achieve awards for him from the U.S. military. He was finally awarded the Purple Heart in 1996. In 2002, the U.S. military awarded him the Distinguished Service Cross. Previous efforts to secure the Medal of Honor failed, but in 2015 he was posthumously honored with the award.

    Johnson said that he was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on July 15, 1892, when he registered for the World War I draft, but he used other dates on other documents, so he might not have known the exact date of his birth. He moved to Albany, New York, when he was in his early teens. He worked as a redcap porter at the Albany Union Station on Broadway.

    Johnson enlisted in the United States Military on June 5, 1917, joining the all-black New York National Guard 15th Infantry Regiment, which, when mustered into Federal service was redesignated as the 369th Infantry Regiment based in Harlem.

    The 369th Infantry joined the 185th Infantry Brigade upon arrival in France, but the unit was relegated to labor service duties instead of combat training. The 185th Infantry Brigade was in turn assigned on January 5, 1918, to the 93rd infantry Division.

    Although General John J. Pershing wished to keep the U.S. Army autonomous, he "loaned" the 369th to the 161st Division of the French Army. Supposedly, the unreported and unofficial reason he was willing to detach the Afro-American/Negro regiments from U.S. command was that vocal white U.S. soldiers refused to fight alongside black troops. These regiments suffered considerable harassment by white U.S. soldiers and even denigration by the AEF headquarters which went so far as to release the notorious pamphlet Secret Information Concerning Black American Troops, which "warned" French civilian authorities of the alleged inferior nature and supposed tendencies of African-American troops to commit sexual assaults. Johnson arrived in France on New Year's Day, 1918.

    The French Army and people had no such problem and were happy and welcoming to accept the reinforcements.Among the first regiments to arrive in France, and among the most highly decorated when it returned, was the 369th Infantry (formerly the 15th Regiment New York Guard), which later became famous as the "Harlem Hellfighters." The 369th was an all-black regiment under the command of mostly white officers including their commander, Colonel William Hayward. The idea of a black New York National Guard regiment was first put forward by Charles W. Fillmore, a black New Yorker. Governor Charles S. Whitmore, inspired by the brave showing of the black 10th Cavalry in Mexico eventually authorized the project. He appointed Col. William Hayward to carry out the task of organizing the unit, and Hayward gave Fillmore a commission as a captain in the 15th Infantry Regiment, New York National Guard. The 15th New York Infantry Regiment became the 369th United States Infantry Regiment prior to engaging in combat in France.

    The 369th got off to a rocky departure from the United States, making three attempts over a period of months to sail for France before finally getting out of sight of land. Even then, their transport, which had stopped and anchored because of a sudden snow storm which arose before they could get out of the harbor, was struck by another ship due to the poor visibility. The captain of the transport, the Pocahontas, wanted to turn back, much to the dismay of his passengers. The by now angry and impatient members of the 369th, led by Col. Hayward, took a very dim view of any further delay. Since the damage to the ship was well above the water line, the ship's captain admitted that there was no danger of sinking. Col. Hayward then informed the captain that he saw no reason to turn back except cowardice. Col Hayward's men repaired the damage themselves and the ship sailed on, battered but undaunted. According to Col. Hayward's notes, they "landed at Brest. Right side up" on December 27, 1917. They acquitted themselves well once they finally got to France. However, it was a while before they saw combat.

    The French Army assigned Johnson's regiment to Outpost 20 on the edge of the Argonne Forest in the Champagne region of France and equipped them with French rifles and helmets. While on observation post duty on the night of May 14, 1918, Private Johnson came under attack by a large German raiding party, which may have numbered as many as 24 German soldiers. Johnson displayed uncommon heroism when using grenades, the butt of his rifle, a bolo knife, and his bare fists, he repelled the Germans, thereby rescuing Needham Roberts from capture and saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. Johnson suffered 21 wounds during this ordeal. This act of valor earned him the nickname of "Black Death", as a sign of respect for his prowess in combat.

    Returning home, now Sergeant Johnson participated (with his regiment) in a victory parade on Fifth Avenue in New York City in February 1919. Sergeant Johnson was then paid to take part in a series of lecture tours. He appeared one evening in St. Louis, and instead of delivering the expected tale of racial harmony in the trenches, he instead revealed the abuse which black soldiers had suffered, such as white soldiers refusing to share trenches with blacks. Soon after this a warrant was issued for Johnson's arrest for wearing his uniform beyond the prescribed date of his commission and paid lecturing engagements dried up.

    Veterans Bureau records show that a "permanent and total disability" rating was granted to Johnson on September 16, 1927, as a result of his tuberculosis. Additional Veterans Bureau records refer to Johnson receiving monthly compensation and regular visits by Veterans Bureau medical personnel until his death.

    He died on July 1, 1929, of myocarditis. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetary on July 6, 1929, where he remains today.

    On June 2, 2015, U.S. President Barrak Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Command Sgt. Maj. Louis Wilson of the New York National Guard on behalf of Private Johnson. The award was presented to Command Sgt. Maj. Louis Wilson instead of next-of-kin due to Private Johnson having no living relatives.

    The official citation reads:

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to
    Private Henry Johnson
    United States Army
    For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
    Private Johnson distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a member of Company C, 369th Infantry Regiment, 93rd Division, American Expeditionary Forces, during combat operations against the enemy on the front lines of the Western Front in France on May 15, 1918. Private Johnson and another soldier were on sentry duty at a forward outpost when they received a surprise attack from a German raiding party consisting of at least 12 soldiers. While under intense enemy fire and despite receiving significant wounds, Private Johnson mounted a brave retaliation, resulting in several enemy casualties. When his fellow soldier was badly wounded, Private Johnson prevented him from being taken prisoner by German forces. Private Johnson exposed himself to grave danger by advancing from his position to engage an enemy soldier in hand-to-hand combat. Wielding only a knife and gravely wounded himself, Private Johnson continued fighting and took his Bolo knife and stabbed it through an enemy soldier's head. Displaying great courage, Private Johnson held back the enemy force until they retreated. Private Johnson's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army
    .
    The French government awarded Johnson the Croix de Guerre with a special citation and a golden palm. This was France's highest award for bravery and he was the first American to receive it.

    In 1919 co-founder of the American Legion Theodore Roosevelt, Jr, son of former United States President Theodore Roosevelt, referred to Johnson as one of the "five bravest Americans" to have served in World War I.

    In June 1996, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart by President Bill Clinton. In February 2003, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second highest award, was presented to Herman A. Johnson, one of the Tuskegee Airmen, on behalf of his father. John Howe, a Vietnam War veteran who had campaigned tirelessly for recognition for Johnson, and U.S. Army Major General Nathaniel James, President of the 369th Veteran’s Association, were present at the ceremony in Albany.

    As of December 3, 2014, the national defense bill included a provision, added by Senator Chuck Schumer, to award Johnson the Medal of Honor.

    On May 14, 2015, the White House announced that Sgt. Johnson would be receiving the Medal of Honor posthumously, presented by President Barrack Obama. In the June 2nd ceremony, Johnson's medal was received on his behalf by the Command Sgt. Maj. Louis Wilson of the New York National Guard. Obama said, "The least we can do is to say, 'We know who you are, we know what you did for us. We are forever grateful.'"

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    Needham Roberts (April 28, 1901 – April 18, 1949) was an American soldier in the Harlem Hellfighters and recipient of the Purple Heart and the Croix de Guerre for his valor.

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    Roberts was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey.

    While on guard duty on May 14, 1918, Roberts and private William Henry Johnson fought off a 24-man German patrol, though both were severely wounded. Both were awarded the Croix de Guerre for their actions. They also received the Pruple Heart in 1932; for Johnson, this was a posthumous award. In 2002, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross; in 2015, this award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

    Roberts was disabled by his wounds, and unable to maintain steady employment. He occasionally gave paid lectures about his wartime experiences, and in the early 1940s gave radio addresses and other speeches as part of the Army's effort to recruit African-Americans for WW2.

    Roberts died in Newark, New Jersey on April 18, 1949, and was buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Newark. According to news accounts, Roberts and his wife Iola jointly decided to commit suicide, and hung themselves in the basement of their home. Newspaper accounts also indicated that they may have been motivated by the fact that he had been accused of molesting a child the day before. In fact, Roberts had previously been arrested on a similar charge, which led to his first wife divorcing him. Roberts had also been arrested in the 1920s for wearing his Army uniform after the post-war demobilization, something which had also happened to Johnson. As a result of this record, some authors believe it possible that the criminal charges against Needham and arrests were motivated by racism, rather than actual misconduct.

    Today we lost: 462

    Air Operations:

    General Headquarters:

    tbc

    Royal Flying Corps casualties today:

    tbc

    Royal Flying Corps Losses today:

    Eighteen members of the Royal Air Force are killed on the Western Front today, plus 12 others making today’s losses for the RAF 30 in total.

    · Captain William Geoffrey Chambers (Lincolnshire Regiment attached) is killed along with his American observer, Lieutenant R J Burky when their DH9 is shot down this morning. He is the grandson of ‘Sir’ Thomas Chambers MP and nephew of both Lady Southwark and Lady Roxburgh.
    · Captain Charles George Douglas Napier (Royal Air Force) a nine-victory ace is killed in an action near Lamotte.
    · Captain John Vincent Aspinall (Royal Air Force) is shot down and killed.
    · Lieutenant Frederick Vincent Hall (Lincolnshire Regiment attached Royal Air Force) a seven-victory ace is killed in a collision with another Camel at age 20. He was awarded a medal by the citizens of Dunkerque for bravery in defending the town from hostile aircraft on 2nd May 1917.
    · Lieutenant John Basil Robert Langley (Royal Air Force) is accidentally killed in England at age 29. He is the son in law of ‘Sir’ Oliver Lodge the son of the Reverend John Langley and leaves a three-week-old son.
    · Lieutenant Cecil Martin Sankey MC (East Kent Regiment attached Royal Air Force) is accidentally killed in England at age 21. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in leading his men at Loos on 27th January 1917.
    · Lieutenant Geoffrey Wilson (Royal Air Force) is killed at age 23. He is the son of Dr Henry Wilson JP.
    · Lieutenant Herbert Whiteley Sellars MC and his observer Lieutenant Charles Robson shoot down two enemy aircraft including 16-victory ace Ludwig Hanstein who is killed.
    Lieutenant Sellars an eight-victory ace is killed when their Bristol F2b is shot down over Bouchou later in the day at age 21. His brother will be killed later in the Great War

    Claims: 107 confirmed (Entente 90 : Central Powers 17)


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    Home Fronts:


    USA:
    The first regular United States air mail service commences, between New York and Washington, D.C. Lieutenant Geoffrey Boyle makes the first flight in a Curtiss JN-4H.

    Western Front:


    Heavy artillery fire on whole front; infantry actions locally.

    North of Kemmel, French advance their line; capture a wood south of Hailles in Avre Valley.

    At Vaire-Sous-Corbie at 21:30 Sergeant David Emmett Coyne (Australian Infantry) is instructing a platoon post in the support line. Being doubtful as to the quality of some Mills Grenades in the trench, he decides to test some by throwing one over the parapet. He does this but by some mischance or other the grenade falls back into the trench among a Lewis Gun team. Coyne cries “Go for your lives boys, the bomb is in the trench” and endeavors to find the bomb in order to throw it out of the trench. Due to the darkness he cannot put his hand on the bomb, which has rolled some little distance away. Realizing the danger to those around him who have not gotten clear of the trench, he throws himself on top of the bomb which explodes, inflicting on him injuries from which he will die. His last words to the men around him are “I layed on the bomb. I thought you didn’t have time to get out.” For this act he will be awarded a posthumous Albert Medal in Gold the only award of its type presented to a member of the Australian Infantry in the war.

    Eastern Front:


    Czechs Fight Hungarians and Bolsheviks in Chelyabinsk


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    A train car used by the Czech Legion.

    Chelyabinsk–The sudden end of the war in the East had left many soldiers from both sides stranded in Russia. German and Austro-Hungarian PoWs were trying to make their way back west. Meanwhile, soldiers from various nationalities oppressed by the Central Powers that had volunteered to serve alongside the Russians now had to figure out where to go. The bulk of the Polish volunteer forces in Russia surrendered to the Germans (many without a fight). Most of the Czech forces were determined to keep fighting, and reached an agreement with the Bolsheviks in March to leave Russia via the Trans-Siberian Railway to Vladivostok (followed by a long sea voyage to the Western Front).
    On May 14, Czechs heading east clashed with a group of Hungarian PoWs heading west in Chelyabinsk in the Urals. Representatives of the local Soviet arrested some of the Czechs involved; their fellow Czechs soon liberated them from jail and took over the town. This was the first direct confrontation between the Czechs and the Bolsheviks, though tension had been growing for some time. The Bolsheviks had held up the Czechs’ trains and tried to confiscate their weapons. They were also worried that they were trying to turn them around and force them to surrender to the Germans, as the Poles had done; this was not helped by efforts to divert them towards the northern port of Arkhangelsk (though this was actually done at the behest of the Allies). The Bolsheviks, meanwhile, were worried that the Czechs were Allied agents and would be used to overthrow them. The incident at Chelyabinsk helped to confirm both sides’ suspicions of each other.

    Southern Front:

    Reconnoitring raids on both sides along Italian front.

    In Balkans lively artillery actions near Lake Doiran; British airmen bomb depots near Seres.

    British successfully raid enemy trenches near Lake Doiran, on Balkan front.

    Tunstills Men Wednesday 15th May 1918:


    Billets at Cornedo Vicentino.

    L.Cpl. Ernest Gee (see 3rd April), who had been absent without leave from 3DWR at North Shields for the previous six weeks, returned to duty and was placed in detention awaiting trial.

    Pte. Harry Crawshaw (see 2nd April) reported for duty at Northern Command Depot at Ripon and was immediately admitted to hospital as still suffering from nephritis.

    Pte. George King (25833) (see 6th February), who had been evacuated to England three months previously suffering from Addison’s disease, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer physically fit for service. He was awarded a pension of 27s. 6d. per week for four weeks, reducing to 13s. 9d. and to be reviewed in one year.

    A payment of £5 6s. 7d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Arthur Cawley (see 18th October), who had been killed in action on 18th October 1917; the payment would go to his mother, Mary.

    Asiatic, African, Egyptian Front:


    A portion of our troops enter Kirkuk without opposition. The Turks, who retire toward the Lesser Zab River, leave six hundred men in hospital in the town and abandon three damaged aircraft.

    Naval Operations:

    Official account of Ostend raid issued.

    German submarine bombards St. Kilda (Hebrides).

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    Political:

    "Bonnet Rouge" trial ends in Paris; Duval sentenced to death, other accused men imprisoned.

    Chino-Japanese Agreement signed at Pekin to ensure co-operation in Far East against German menace.

    Dr. S.B.C. da Paes, Portuguese Premier, resigns (see 16th, and December 10th, 1917).

    Anniversary Events:

    756 Abd-al-Rahman is proclaimed emir of Cordoba, Spain.
    1213 King John submits to the Pope, offering to make England and Ireland papal fiefs. Pope Innocent III lifts the interdict of 1208.
    1602 English navigator Bartholomew Gosnold discovers Cape Cod.
    1614 An aristocratic uprising in France ends with the Treaty of St. Menehould.
    1618 Johannes Kepler discovers his harmonics law.
    1702 The War of Spanish Succession begins.
    1730 Following the resignation of Lord Townshend, Robert Walpole becomes the sole minister in the English cabinet.
    1768 By the Treaty of Versailles, France purchases Corsica from Genoa.
    1795 Napoleon enters the Lombardian capital of Milan in triumph.
    1820 The U.S. Congress designates the slave trade a form of piracy.
    1849 Neapolitan troops enter Palermo, Sicily.
    1862 The Union ironclad Monitor and the gunboat Galena fire on Confederate troops at the Battle of Drewry’s Bluff, Virginia.
    1864 At the Battle of New Market, Virginia Military Institute cadets repel a Union attack.
    1886 Emily ****inson dies in Amherst, Mass., where she had lived in seclusion for the previous 24 years.
    1916 U.S. Marines land in Santo Domingo to quell civil disorder.
    1918 Pfc. Henry Johnson and Pfc. Needham Roberts receive the Croix de Guerre for their services in WW1. They are the first Americans to win France's highest military medal.
    Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 05-15-2018 at 15:30.
    See you on the Dark Side......

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