The transport home is just around the corner. (ex-squaddies will get this).
The transport home is just around the corner. (ex-squaddies will get this).
See you on the Dark Side......
Tuesday 29th October 1918
Armistice Countdown 13 days
Today we lost: 1,371
Today’s losses include:
- The 16-year-old newsboy selling morning papers and holding the banner headline on the street-corner in London on the April morning in 1912 which announced the sinking of the Titanic in the photo above
- The son of a General
- Multiple sons of members of the clergy
- Multiple families that will lose two and three sons in the Great War
Today’s highlighted casualties include:
- Major William Henry Egerton ****inson (Royal Field Artillery) dies of wounds at age 38. He is the son of the late Major General William Rice ****inson (Royal Engineers).
- Gunner Edward John Parfett MM (Royal Field Artillery) is killed at age 22. Ned Parfett was the 16-year-old newsboy selling morning papers and holding the banner headline on the street-corner in London on the April morning in 1912 which announced the sinking of the Titanic. The photograph has become an iconic image, symbolising the shock and disbelief that greeted news of the disaster. Parfett joined the British Army in 1916, serving as a dispatch-rider and an observer on the Western Front, being mentioned in dispatches. Today he is about to head home on leave when he pauses to collect some fresh clothes from a quartermaster’s store just behind the lines near Valceniennes. At that moment, it is struck by an artillery shell and Parfett is killed. He is one of four brothers all of whom served in the war, the other three survived.
- Captain George Hugh Richardson (Manchester Regiment) is killed at age 38 in Italy. He is the son of the Reverend William Richardson Vicar of Poulton le Fylde.
- Captain John Towlson Morgan (Welsh Fusiliers attached Royal Air Force) is killed at age 19. He is the son of the Reverend Ernest Arundell Morgan Vicar of St Andrew’s.
- Lieutenant Harold Francis Box (Essex Regiment attached Royal Engineers) is killed in action at age 23. His is the son of the late Reverend C F Box Vicar of South Benfleet and had been an undergraduate of Keble College, Oxford.
- Company Sergeant Major Daniel Evershed (Australian Infantry) is killed at age 33 becoming the third brother to be killed this year.
- Corporal Arthur Newton Hooker (New Zealand Rifle Brigade) is killed at age 23. His brother was killed last August.
- Lance Corporal Tom Buckle (King’s Royal Rifle Corps) is killed at age 22. He is the third brother to be killed since September 1916.
- Private William W Swan (Army Service Corps) dies of pneumonia at age 26 at home. His brother was killed in December 1914. +Driver James Wishart Gorrie (Australian Field Artillery) dies of pneumonia at age 30. His brother was killed in April 1916.
Air Operations:
Germany: 14 Independent Air Force aircraft bomb 9 different targets (night October 29-30, over 40 casualties).
Western Front: German fighters (2 lost) turn back No 107 Squadron’s DH9s (1 escort lost) from Mariembourg, but bombed on October 30.
Italian Front: Seaplane squadron commander Lieutenant Casagrande Eugenio completes last of 15 agent landing and recovery operations behind Austrian Piave lines since July 30.
The Danish airline Det Danske Luftfartselskab is founded. The firm is trading in the English-speaking world as Danish Air Lines and is the oldest airline that still exists. It will begin flight operations in August 1920.
General Headquarters:
“On October 29th fine weather enabled flying operations to be continued actively on the whole front. Many targets were indicated to our artillery, and the machines observing the effect of our fire reported that much damage was caused to enemy gun positions. Reconnaissance and photographic work was continued, and our bombing machines dropped over 9½ tons of bombs on centres of enemy activity. Hostile aircraft showed considerable activity during the day. In air fighting 17 German machines were shot down and seven were driven down out of control. In addition, one enemy machine was shot down by our anti-aircraft guns. Eight of our machines are missing. During the night our squadron dropped 12½ tons of bombs on important railway stations and junctions on the enemy's lines of communication, obtaining many direct hits. One of our machines has not returned.”
Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force, October 29th.
“To-day the railway junction at Longuyon and the aerodrome at Jametz were attacked with very good results. Three of our machines are not yet located.”
RAF Communiqué No 31:
Weather: Fine with some clouds.
Thirty-one reconnaissances, fifty contact and counter-attack patrols.
Eight hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, 26 neutralized, 112 zone calls sent.
One and a half tons of bombs dropped by night, and 9¼ tons by day.
On the 29th instant, five targets engaged with balloon observation.
Enemy Aircraft:
2nd-Lieut G T Richardson & 2nd-Lieut L J B Ward, 55 Sqn IF, Fokker out of control south of Longuyan -
Capt F M Carter & Lieut A W H Arundell, 107 Sqn, E.A. out of control -
Lieut T S Horry, 92 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Mareilles at 09:15/10:15 -
Capt W E Reed, 92 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Mormal Wood at 09:30/10:30 -
Capt W E Reed, 92 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Mormal Forest at 10:00/11:00 -
Capt W Hubbard, 3 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Sh51.M.21 (north-east of Le Quesnoy) at 10:05/11:05 -
Lieut E F Crabb, 92 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control east of Least of Quesnoy at 10:30/11:30 -
Capt W E Reed, 92 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed east of Least of Quesnoy at 10:30/11:30 -
Lieut T S Horry, 92 Sqn, Halberstadt CL out of control east of Least of Quesnoy at 10:35/11:35 -
Capt I W Leiper & 2nd-Lieut L G Best, 104 Sqn IF, Fokker DVII broke up Ecouvier at 12:40/13:40 -
Lieut J R Tansey & 2nd-Lieut J M Scott, 104 Sqn IF, Fokker DVII broke up Ecouvier at 12:40/13:40 -
Capt E J Garland & Lieut W E Bottrill, 104 Sqn IF, Pfalz Scout out of control Jametz at 12:45/13:45 -
2nd-Lieut J H Cuthbertson & 2nd-Lieut A B Rattray, 104 Sqn IF, Fokker DVII destroyed Jametz at 12:45/13:45 -
2nd-Lieut L Hart & 2nd-Lieut T Bailey, 104 Sqn IF, Pfalz Scout out of control Jametz at 12:45/13:45 -
Capt J W Pearson, 23 Sqn, Halberstadt CL out of control north-east of Landrecies at 13:00/14:00 -
Capt F J Gibbs, 64 Sqn, LVG C crashed Estreaux at 14:00/15:00 -
Lieut W A Smart, 1 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Landrecies at 14:20/15:20 -
Capt D Grinnell-Milne, 56 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control (shared with Snipe?) Mormal Woods at 14:20/15:20 -
Capt R T C Hoidge, 1 Sqn, Fokker DVII pilot parachuted Pommereuil at 14:30/15:30 -
Capt W H Longton, 24 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Favril at 14:30/15:30 -
Capt D Grinnell-Milne, 56 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed south of Boisouth of de Levoque at 14:30/15:30 -
Lieut R F McRae and 2nd-Lieut T L Jones, 46 Sqn, DFW C crashed north of Esquerchies at 14:40/15:40 -
2nd-Lieut S J Mason, 60 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed south-west of Mormal Wood at 14:40/15:40 -
2nd-Lieut E A Burbidge, 60 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control south-west of Mormal Wood at 14:40/15:40 -
Capt A Beck, 60 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Mormal at 14:50/15:50 -
Capt J Palmer, 24 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed east of Noyelles at 15:00/16:00 -
Capt W H Longton, 2nd-Lieut T M Harries and 2nd-Lieut H V Evans, 24 Sqn, two-seater crashed Bois l'Évêque at 15:00/16:00 -
Sergt W G Jones, 203 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Bruay at 15:15/16:15 -
Capt L H Rochford, 203 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control east of Bruay at 15:15/16:15 -
Lieut W Sidebottom, 203 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Bruay at 15:15/16:15 -
Capt R King, 4 AFC, LVG C crashed La Tombe at 15:45/16:45 -
Capt W S Philcox, Lieut J V Gascoyne, Lieut W S Rogers and Lieut O J Rose, 92 Sqn, DFW C destroyed Favril at 16:05/17:05 -
Lieut T C R Baker, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII crashed Marcourt - Tournai at 16:10/17:10 -
Lieut A J Palliser, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII crashed north-east of Tournai at 16:10/17:10 -
Lieut G Jones, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII crashed north-east of Tournai at 16:10/17:10 -
Lieut A J Palliser, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII out of control north-east of Tournai at 16:10/17:10 -
Lieut G Jones, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII in flames north-east of Tournai at 16:10/17:10 -
Lieut A J Palliser, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII in flames north-east of Tournai at 16:10/17:10 -
Lieut C H Thornton, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII out of control north-east of Tournai at 16:10/17:10 -
Lieut H W Ross, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII crashed north-east of Tournai at 16:10/17:10 -
Lieut P J Sims, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII in flames north-east of Tournai at 16:10/17:10 -
Lieut O Lamplough, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII crashed north-east of Tournai at 16:10/17:10 –
A patrol of 15 machines of 4th Squadron A.F.C., led by Lieut T C R Baker, engaged a formation of about 15 Fokker biplanes. A fierce fight took place in which eight of the hostile machines were brought down. Lieut G Jones brought down one of the EA which was seen to crash and shot a second down in flames. Lieut A J Palliser also destroyed two, one of which fell in flames. Lieuts T C R Baker, P J Sims, O Lamplugh, and H W Ross each accounted for one of the E.A.
Royal Flying Corps casualties today:
(Ok) & 2nd-Lieut G G Shaw (Wia), 2 Sqn, AW FK8 - machine-gun fire
2nd-Lieut A V Heslop (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut R W Lane (Ok), 4 Sqn, RE8 H7021 - reported missing on counter attack patrol but okay
2nd-Lieut J J Luckley (Wia), 70 Sqn, Camel - combat
2nd-Lieut H D Arnott (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut B Johnson (Kia), 104 Sqn IF, DH9 E8978 - missing from food drop on Stadenburg; Ltn d R Georg Meyer, Ja27, 23rd victory [no location, no time] ?
? (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut R B Williamson (Wia), 107 Sqn, DH9 - combat with Fokkers over Anor on bomb raid Mariembourg
2nd-Lieut J B Vickers (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut S J Goodfellow (Pow) & Sergt R E Culshaw (Pow), 215 Sqn IF, HP O/400 C9720 - anti-aircraft fire on bomb raid Thionville Railway Junction
Capt R Harrison (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut JA Guymer (Ok), 52 Sqn, RE8 E254 - took off 05:55/06:55 then damaged by machine-gun fire from ground on patrol, returned aerodrome 07:50/08:50
Lieut V L Watts (Wia) & Lieut J Evans (Wia; dow), 13 Sqn, RE8 F6218 - took off 08:15/09:15 then driven down by E.A. at Sh57b.R.8.c [Bazuel] and unsalvable on contact patrol
2nd-Lieut J Hampton (Pow), 3 Sqn, Camel C8375 - took off 09:30/10:30 and last seen over Sh51a.F.19 [north of Saultain] 10:30/11:30 at 1,500 feet in flames after combat with Fokkers on OP; Ltn d R Ernst Bormann, Ja2, 14th victory [east of Valenciennes, no time] ?
2nd-Lieut H C Maisey (Kia), 3 Sqn, Camel H7270 - took off 09:30/10:30 and last seen over Sh51a.K.9 [Famars] 10:30/11:30 at 1,500 feet apparently in flames after combat with Fokkers on OP; Ltn d R Paul Blunk, Ja2, 2nd victory [Marly – Préseau, no time] ?
Lieut W T Wyly (Ok), 148 USASCamel F6191 - took off 10:30/11:30 then crashed at Sh51a.Q.5.b [south-west of Sepmeries] after petrol tank shot through by E.A. on OP
Lieut C L Bissell (Ok), 148 USAS, Camel E7329 - took off 10:30/11:30 then shot up by E.A. on OP, returned 13:45/14:45
Lieut W Newby (Kia), 1 Sqn, SE5a F5476 - last seen in combat near Landrecies 14:30/15:30 on offensive patrol; Ltn d R Hans von Freden,, Ja50, 18th victory [Catillon at 14:40/15:40] ?
Capt C H Stokes (Wia, dow 07-Nov-1918) & 2nd-Lieut L H Eyres (Pow), 57 Sqn, DH4 D8398 - hit by A.A. over 51.U.2 [presume Sh57b.U.2 intended - west of Elincourt] 14:30/15:30 and go down apparently under control during bombing and photography
Lieut I O Gaze (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut C W Newstead (Ok), 48 Sqn, Bristol F.2B E2367 - force landed near Deerlyck 15:00/16:00 after hit by A.A. on line patrol Escauassles
Lieut P J Sims (Kia), 4 Sqn AFCSnipe E8070 - took off 14:30/15:30 and last seen in combat north-east of Tournai 16:10/17:10 on offensive patrol; Oblt Theodor Hermann Dahlmann, Ja26, 6th victory [west of Valenciennes at 15:05/16:05] ?
Capt G W T Glasson (Wia) & Lieut W J Hagen (Wia), 42 Sqn, RE8 C2695 - damaged by machine-gun fire in combat with 8 E.A. during photography 16:30/17:30, returned aerodrome; Ltn d R Hermann Frommherz, Ja27, 29th victory [no location, no time] ?
Lieut J Malley-Martin (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut T L W Leonard (Kia), 101 Sqn, FE2b E7056 - took off 22:25/23:25 then missing on bomb raid
Royal Flying Corps Losses today 49, of which the following 20 are recorded:
Claims: 89 confirmed (Entente 60 : Central Powers 29)
Western Front:
Successful French attack on 7.5-mile front north-west of Chateau Porcien (west of Rethel).
Southern Front:
Main Italian (and British) forces advance five miles on 30-mile front. Enemy are weakening.
The Battle on the Piave turns as the Austrian forces attempt a final resistance on the Monticano but are broken. Although enemy reinforcements are brought up to hold the line a breach is made which fundamentally splits the two Austrian Armies and a rout quickly develops.
Italian Front – AT 0830 HOURS AUSTRIANS SEEK ARMISTICE: Captain Ruggera takes white flag to Italian lines at Serravak in Adige valley.
Piave: Calabria Brigade storms Mt Asolone (Grappa), but loses it to Austrians; Italians suspend operations in sleet and fog after 24,500 casualties. All 21 Italian Eighth Army bridges rebuilt as Austrian guns fall silent (night October 28-29) and British troops cross river Monticana by intact bridge after beating 2-division counter-attack. Italians play for time as Austrian collapse worsens. French troops capture Segusina with 3,000 pow and 18 guns. Austrian GHQ announces decision ‘to evacuate the Veneto … to show its goodwill towards peace’. Italian general 5*mile advance captures Conegliano and Susegana.
Wounded Italians receive front-line medical aid during the Battle of Vittorio Veneto.
Salonika: Lieutenant-General T M Bridges arrives to be British Military Mission Chief to Franchet d’Esperey.
pic
Tunstills Men Tuesday 29th October 1918:
Borgo Malanotte
The advance of 69th Brigade was being pushed forward by 8Yorks and 11WYR but they were encountering stiff Austrian resistance on the line of the Monticano River, just north of Vazzola. In support of this advance 10DWR marched to a point on the main road just south of Vazzola and at 12.50pm two companies were sent forward to support 11WYR.The river ran between steep banks, at an average width of around 30 feet and was crossed by a stone bridge 1,500 yds north-east of Vazzola. Eventually, after fierce fighting the Brigade front was advanced, by the end of the day, to the line of the road from Saccon to Fontanelle.
There were a number of casualties among the two companies fighting alongside 11WYR.
L.Cpl. William Arthur Hutchinson (see 28th July) was severely wounded, suffering wounds to his left leg which would result in amputation of the limb; the details of his medical treatment are unknown.
Pte. Ernest Jones (see 19th January) suffered wounds to his head and leg; the details of his treatment are unknown.
Pte. John Newton (see 23rd July) suffered shrapnel wounds to his left leg; he would be admitted via 21stField Ambulance and 9th Casualty Clearing Station to 38th Stationary Hospital in Genoa.
Pte. John James Pickering (see 23rd June) suffered wounds to his left foot; he would be admitted via 21stField Ambulance and 9th Casualty Clearing Station to 11th General Hospital in Genoa.
Pte. Thomas Prince (see 22nd January) suffered relatively minor wounds to his back; he would be admitted via 21st Field Ambulance to 9th Casualty Clearing Station.
Pte. Harry Simpson (see 7th October) suffered a compound fracture of his left foot; he would be admitted via 21st Field Ambulance and 9th Casualty Clearing Station to 38th Stationary Hospital in Genoa.
Meanwhile the remaining two companies of 10DWR, along with Battalion HQ, remained in billets south of Vazzola. 2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 28th October), recalled how,
“By now we were in reserve – other troops had taken up the front line advance. So we had to run up after them and off we went presently, I still with my new Company. That march was terrible. All along the road our airmen had strafed the Austrians (not our artillery for very little was yet across the river, I believe). The Austrians had bombed our efforts to bridge the river and I was told later that the wounded had been very badly off for any treatment, apart from first aid during the first 24 hours after crossing the stream. Well, the airmen had done a lot to them, of course, the infantry. Whoever had done it, there it was and the march was terrible. All along the road were broken vehicles and all the litter out of them, dead horses, sometimes with limbs off or bellies ripped open, corpses of men on the roads and in the fields where they had run to escape the machine guns and bombs from the planes, all the litter from men’s pockets for some reason. I don’t want to go into what I saw too much, but it was terrible.
Well the march ended presently in a farm house where we were billeted for the night (29th/30th). There were other farm houses in the area for Battalion HQ etc. I remember as we went into our farm house, all with our Company officers, the old man of the house who had been living under the Austrians for ages, knelt by the door and seized our hands as we went in and kissed them. We settled in and presently we were told we could take our boots off that night and no more. Our clothes were still stiff damp, but that didn’t prevent many of us sharing one bed that night. It was a big Italian bed and I woke up in the middle of the night all warm and sticky and oh the fusty smell coming up from that bed”.
Pte. Andrew Davidson (see 27th October), who had been wounded two days’ previously, died of his wounds at 39th Casualty Clearing Station; he would be buried at Giavera British Cemetery, Arcade.
Pte. William Naylor (see 10th June) was admitted via 69th Field Ambulance and 39th Casualty Clearing Station to 51st Stationary Hospital; he was suffering from influenza.
Pte. John Charles Clarke (see 17th October) was transferred from 11th General Hospital in Genoa to 57thGeneral Hospital in Marseilles; he was suffering from influenza.
Pte. Jack Edgar Hall (see 7th October) was transferred from 38th General Hospital in Genoa to 81stGeneral Hospital in Marseilles; he was suffering from “I.C.T.” (Inflammation of the connective tissue) to both legs.
Ptes. Joseph Binns (19614) (see 14th October) and Joseph Barber Taylor (see 16th October) were both discharged from 29th Stationary Hospital in Cremona and posted to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano.
Pte. George Allen Holroyd (see 14th October) was discharged from 62nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia and posted to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano.
Pte. Harry Briggs (19286) (see 3rd August), serving at the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia, departed for England on two weeks’ leave.
Pte. Francis Titcombe (see 30th September), who was in England having been wounded on 26th August, was discharged from Queen Mary’s Military Hospital, Whalley, Lancs; he would have ten days’ leave before reporting to 3DWR at North Shields.
Asiatic, African, Egyptian Front:
Pursuit of Turks continues: position cut-off and captured.
Mesopotamia: British 7th Cavalry Brigade (c.3,100 strong) storms Cemetery Hill on foot taking 990 pow and 12 MGs as 3,000 men of 17th Division (509 casualties) make slow progress vs 4000 Turks.
Syria and Palestine: EEF has 4,345 motor vehicles and 1,523 motor cycles.
Naval Operations:
Allied Naval Council prepares naval armistice terms (until November 4).
North Sea: High Seas Fleet prepares for ‘death or glory sortie’, but already passive resistance hampering it in all battleships and 3 small cruisers. Red Flags hoisted in dreadnoughts Thueringen and Helgoland.
The Admiralty trawler Thomas Cornwall (Skipper John Slater RNR) is sunk after a collision off Flamborough Head with a loss of twenty. Her skipper is killed at age 29.
Political:
Austria: Independence of Croatia and Yugo-Slav lands agreed to by Croat Congress at Agram.
Slovak National Council votes for union.
EMPEROR CHARLES ASKS DIAZ FOR ARMISTICE. Arz cables Hindenburg that Austrian Army in Italy finished, over half divisions refuse to fight.
Archduke Joseph charged by Emperor Karl with scheme for independence of Hungary.
Indictment of Caillaux in French Senate.
Anniversary Events:
1618 Sir Walter Raleigh is executed. After the death of Queen Elizabeth, Raleigh's enemies spread rumors that he was opposed the accession of King James. 1787 Mozart's opera Don Giovanni opens in Prague. 1814 The Demologos, the first steam-powered warship, launched in New York City. 1901 Leon Czolgosz is electrocuted for the assassination of US President William McKinley. Czolgosz, an anarchist, shot McKinley on September 6 during a public reception at the Temple of Music in Buffalo, N.Y. Despite early hopes of recovery, McKinley died September 14, in Buffalo, NY.
Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 10-30-2018 at 11:16.
See you on the Dark Side......
Thanks Neil
Great job love the read keep it up
Post 3702 updated.
Neil
See you on the Dark Side......
It occurs to me Neil, that you never seem short of printers' ink for these mammoth issues.
Kyte.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Its amazing what the lads come up with to make the 'ink' go that little bit further.
Or would you like briefer editions?
See you on the Dark Side......
Wednesday 30th October 1918
Armistice Countdown 12 days
Today we lost: 1.185
Today’s losses include:
- Two families that will lose FIVE sons in the Great War
- Multiple families that will lose two and three sons in the Great War
- A man whose son will be killed in October 1940
- Multiple sons of members of the clergy
- The grandson of a member of the clergy
- A man whose father was killed in August 1916
- An Australian Rules footballer
- A Midlands Rugby XV player versus the All-Blacks
Today’s highlighted casualties include:
- Major Henry Wyndham Francis Blackmore Farrer MC (Royal Field Artillery) is killed in action at age 24. He is the son the Reverend Canon Farrer. He played for the Midlands Counties Rugby XV versus the New Zealand All Blacks and was wounded six times previously.
- Captain George Reinhold Barclay (General List, formerly Suffolk Regiment) is killed in action at age 36. He is the son of ‘Sir’ Thomas Barclay Kt.
- Captain Norman Langley Buckham (Royal Army Ordnance Corps) is killed in action at age 29. He is the son of ‘Sir’ George Thomas Buckham.
- Dentist and Lieutenant Jack Lindsay Doubleday (Australian Dental Corps) a former Australian rules footballer who played 43 games scoring 21 goals for University and Melbourne dies of influenza at sea en route to the front at age 28.
- Lieutenant Frederick Arthur Hamilton Sharp (Royal Field Artillery) is killed in action at age 24. His father was killed in August 1916 and he is the grandson of the Reverend J P Sharp.
- Second Lieutenant Augustus Paget DFC (Royal Air Force) is killed in action in Italy at age 20. He was a three-time victor over enemy aircraft, brought down one enemy kite balloon and sent one machine down out of control before his death. Two of his four brothers have been previously killed in the Great War.
- Sapper Walter Henry Nudds (Royal Engineers) is killed in action at age 20. His brother died of wounds in July 1916.
- Writer 1st Class Herbert Francis Prior (HMS Pembroke, Royal Navy) becomes the last of six brothers to die in the service of their country when he dies at Chatham. Four of his brothers were killed in the Great War while the eldest was accidentally killed in 1912 while serving on HMS King Edward VII.
- Private Arthur Edward Lewis (Canadian Machine Gun Corps) dies of wounds at age 46. He is the son of the Very Reverend Evan Lewis the Dean of Bangor.
- Private Daniel Munn (Highland Light Infantry) dies of wounds in Baghdad at age 34. He is the last of five brothers to be killed in the Great War.
- Private Stephen Alfred Twyman (Labour Corps) is killed at age 38. His son will be killed in October 1940.
Air Operations:
Western Front: Sopwith Dolphin fighters of No 19 Squadron and DH9s (No 98 squadron) attacked by many German fighters (10 lost) covering vital rail targets; 10 Dolphins and 4 DH9s lost; 2 DH9s crash-land, but 12 Bristol Fighters (88 Squadron) destroy 9 of c.17 Fokker fighters over Tournai for no loss. 62 RAF aircraft (3 lost) attack Rebaix airfield north of Ath, hit 4 hangars and destroy 9 aircraft in air. c.30 German fighters scatter 2 DH9 squadrons (2 bombersand 4 fighter escorts shot down}. Lieutenant Degelow downs RAF DH4, wins last of 75 air Pour le Merite awards. RAF claims record 67 German aircraft for the loss of 41.
Lieutenant Frederick Stanley Gordon (Royal Air Force) achieves his last victory when he shoots down an enemy balloon over Quaremont. Lieutenant V Voss and Sergeant Ernest Antcliffe (Royal Air Force) achieve a victory over a victory a Fokker D.VII in their BF2b north of Beciers, while Lieutenant J Baird and Sergeant Charles Hill of the same squadron achieve a victory over a Fokker at Herquegnies.
Eddie Rickenbacker shoots down a German observation balloon near Remonville, France, for his 26th and final aerial victory. His 26 victories (21 aircraft and five balloons) will make him the top-scoring American ace of World War I. Six of his victories were in a Nieuport 28 and 20 in the SPAD XIII.
General Headquarters:
“On October 30th our squadrons displayed intenseactivity along the whole front. Over 3,000 photographs were taken, and nearly22 tons of bombs were dropped. A very successful attack was carried out on aGerman aerodrome, in which two hangars containing machines were completelydemolished by bombs dropped from a very low altitude, and two other machinesstanding on the aerodrome were also destroyed. Many casualties were caused topersonnel on the aerodrome by our machine-gun fire, and horse transport in thevicinity was stampeded. The outstanding feature of the day was the heavy andcontinuous air fighting, which resulted greatly to our advantage. No fewer than64 German machines were destroyed, 15 more were driven down out of control, andone balloon was shot down in flames. After dark, our night-flying squadronscontinued operations, dropping 5½ tons of bombs on important railway junctions.One German night-flying machine which was encountered was shot down in flames.Including the two machines destroyed on the ground, the total of 67 Germanaeroplanes known to have been accounted for, without considering those drivendown out of control, establishes a record for one day's fighting. Moreover,this was accomplished with the proportionately small loss of 18 of our machinesmissing, one of which failed to return from a night-bombing raid.”
Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force;
“On the night of the 29th-30th inst., in addition to targetsalready reported as attacked, the chemical factories at Worms were bombed withgood effect. On the afternoon of the 30th our machines attacked a hostileaerodrome. Results could not be observed. All our machines returned. On thenight of the 30th-31st our machines attacked two hostile aerodromes, obtainingfour direct hits on hangars, and starting a fire. The railways at Baden, thechemical factories at Karlsruhe, and the blast furnaces at Burbach were alsosuccessfully attacked. Mist and fog which have been prevalent throughout thepast week, and have made long-distance work exceptionally difficult, againprevented accurate observation of results. All our machines returned.”
RAF Communiqué No 31:
Weather: Fine.
Forty-five reconnaissances, 59 contact and counter-attackpatrols.
Eighteen hostile batteries engaged for destruction withaeroplane observation, 17 neutralized, 142 zone calls sent.
Thirteen tons of bombs dropped by night and 23½ tons by day.
On the 30th instant, two hostile batteries were engaged fordestruction with balloon observation and fire observed on 31 other targets.
A raid was carried out on Namur Railway Station b y No 205Squadron, who dropped 24 112-lb bombs, obtaining direct hits on the station,siding and sheds.
A raid was carried out on Rebaix Aerodrome by all squadronsof the 80th Wing. Bombs were dropped from a very low altitude, machines in somecases descending to 20 feet. Major Nethersole and 2nd Lieut Corey dropped one230-lb bomb between two hangars, which demolished one hangar and destroyed two machines.Another hangar and a building were also destroyed and a large number of directhits obtained; targets around the aerodrome were heavily shot up by machine gunfire and horses were stampeded. On the return journey five hostile machineswere brought down by No 103 Squadron.
Enemy Aircraft:
Capt J W Wright, 4 AFC, Snipe, out of control ? -
Lieut J Reid, 65 Sqn, Camel E7193, Fokker DVII crashed northof Audenarde -
Lieut I G Fleming & AM W J Spaulding, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVIIout of control -
Lieut I G Fleming & AM W J Spaulding, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVIIout of control -
Capt H Saunders & Lieut G H Power, 99 Sqn IF, E.A. out ofcontrol -
Patrol, 206 Sqn, E.A. destroyed -
Patrol, 206 Sqn, E.A. destroyed -
Lieut C H Millar & 2nd-Lieut C D Macdonald, 211 Sqn,destroyed -
Capt A C Kiddie, 74 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Wortegem at08:20/09:20 -
2nd-Lieut F J Hunt, 74 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed De Klype at08:25/09:25 -
Maj K L Caldwell, 74 Sqn, Fokker DVII destroyed Quaremont at08:25/09:25 -
2nd-Lieut F J Hunt, 74 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Wortegem at08:25/09:25 -
Lieut W T Carew, 74 Sqn, and Lieut W C Goudie, 74 Sqn, FokkerDVII out of control Quaremont at 08:30/09:30 -
Lieut J E Ferrand, 74 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Quaremont at08:30/09:30 -
Lieut W T Carew, 74 Sqn, and Lieut W C Goudie, 74 Sqn, FokkerDVII out of control Quaremont at 08:30/09:30 -
2nd-Lieut F S Gordon, 74 Sqn, Balloon in flames Wortegem at08:35/09:35 - Brought down a hostile balloon in flames.,
A patrol of No 74 Squadron engaged seven hostile machines andbrought down five of them. 2nd Lieut F J Hunt accounted for two, and Capt A CKiddie, Lieut W C Goudie and Lieut J E Ferrand brought down one each
Capt E L Simonson, 2 AFC, Fokker DVII out of control north ofTournai at 08:45/09:45 -
Capt C Findlay & Lieut I W F Agabeg, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVIIin flames Havinnes at 08:55/09:55 -
Capt C Findlay & Lieut I W F Agabeg, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVIIin flames Havinnes at 08:55/09:55 -
Lieut K B Conn & 2nd-Lieut K C W Craig, 88 Sqn, FokkerDVII crashed Péruwelz at 08:55/09:55 -
Lieut K B Conn & 2nd-Lieut K C W Craig, 88 Sqn, FokkerDVII crashed Péruwelz at 08:55/09:55 -
Lieut A H Berg & Lieut W I N Grant, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVIIin flames Beclers at 08:55/09:55 -
Lieut V Voss & Sergt E Antcliffe, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVIIcrashed Beclers at 09:00/10:00 -
Lieut T S Horry, 92 Sqn, DFW C in flames Mormal Forest at09:05/10:05 -
Lieut O J Rose, 92 Sqn, DFW C in flames west of Noyelles at09:05/10:05 -
Lieut G F Anderson & Lieut C W M Elliott, 88 Sqn, FokkerDVII out of control east of Tournai at 09:10/10:10 -
Lieut G F Anderson & Lieut C W M Elliott, 88 Sqn, FokkerDVII in flames east of Tournai at 09:10/10:10 -
Capt M D Allen & 2nd-Lieut W A Owens, 49 Sqn, Fokker DVIIin flames St Denis at 09:15/10:15 -
Capt C L Veitch, 32 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Ghislain at09:20/10:20 -
Lieut E C Spicer, 32 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of controlnorth-west of Mons at 09:20/10:20 -
Capt H K Simpson & Lieut A Tranter, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVIIcrashed Péruwelz at 09:20/10:20 -
Capt H K Simpson & Lieut A Tranter, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVIIin flames Péruwelz at 09:20/10:20 -
Lieut J L DesLauriers & ?, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVII out ofcontrol Havinnes at 09:25/10:25 -
Capt B McEntegart, 60 Sqn, LVG C destroyed Mormal at09:30/10:30 -
Capt W A Southey, 84 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Forêt deNouvion at 09:30/10:30 -
Lieut H O Macdonald, 84 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Lechelles at09:30/10:30 -
Lieut J Baird & Sergt C Hill, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashedHerquegnies at 09:30/10:30 -
Lieut W A Wheeler & 2nd-Lieut W B Clarke, 88 Sqn, FokkerDVII out of control Péruwelz at 09:30/10:30 -
A patrol of No 88 Squadron engaged a large number of enemyscouts. Lieut K B Conn and 2nd Lieut K C W Craig dived on one which they shotdown and saw crash, and on the way homesent down another down in flames. Capt K R Simpson and Lieut A Trantor broughtone down in flames and were afterwards attacked by 17 more, one of which wentdown and crashed. Lieut G F Anderson and Lieut C M W Elliott, after followingone E.A. down for a considerable distance, were attacked by six scouts and wereboth wounded, but succeeded in bringing one of the E.A. down in flames beforethey were compelled to land just our side of the lines. Lieut V Voss and SergtE Antcliffe crashed one Fokker, as also did Lieut J Baird and Sergt C Hill.Lieut A H Berg and 2nd Lieut W I N Grant, Capt C Findlay and Lieut I W F Agabegeach brought one down in flames
Lieut R E Dodds & 2nd-Lieut I B Corey, 103 Sqn, Fokker DVIIout of control Mainvault at 09:35/10:35 -
Capt S W Highwood, 84 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Forêt de LeChelles at 09:45/10:45 -
Sergt A Shepherd & Sergt W J Westcott, 103 Sqn, FokkerDVII crashed Mainvault at 09:55/10:55 -
Sergt Mech W J McNeill & Sergt Mech E G Stevens, 103 Sqn,Fokker DVII out of control by McNeill Mainvault at 09:55/10:55 -
2nd-Lieut D S Cramb & Lieut T A Chilcott, 25 Sqn,destroyed at 10:05/11:05 -
Lieut E R Miller, 84 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control north ofMormal Wood at 10:30/11:30 -
Lieut C L Stubbs, 84 Sqn, Halberstadt CL out of control northof Mormal Wood at 10:30/11:30 -
Lieut K R Unger, 210 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed east of Rombiesat 11:15/12:15 -
Capt S C Joseph, 210 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Rombies -Estreaux at 11:15/12:15 -
Lieut R C Davies, 19 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Mons at11:20/12:20 -
Lieut W F Hendershot, 19 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Mons at11:20/12:20 -
Lieut C Montgomery-Moore, 19 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Monsat 11:20/12:20 -
Capt V F Symondson, 210 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed south ofOnnezies at 11:20/12:20 –
Lieut W F Hendershot, 19 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Mons at 11:25/12:25-
Capt J D I Hardman, 19 Sqn, Dolphin D5237, Fokker DVII inflames Mons at 11:30/12:30 and Fokker DVII in flames near Mons at 11:30/12:30 -a bomb raid of No 98 Squadron’s, while returning from Mons, were attacked byabout 30 enemy scouts, who were also engaged by machines of 19 Sqn. The leaderof the latter, Capt J D I Hardman, attacked one of the EA, which was on thetail of one of the DH9s and shot it down in flames, and just before reachingthe lines brought down another in flames also. Heavy fighting took place thewhole way from the objective to our lines, in the course of which Lieuts R CDavies, C M Moore and W F Hendershot each brought down an enemy machine.
Capt W E Shields, 41 Sqn, SE5a C1912, Fokker DVII crashedeast of Tournai at 11:30/12:30 -
Lieut M P MacLeod, 41 Sqn, SE5a H683, Halberstadt CL crashedBarisoeul at 11:30/12:30 -
2nd-Lieut J M Brown & Sergt Mech T Tedder, 98 Sqn, DH9D557, Fokker DVII crashed Mons at 11:30/12:30 -
2nd-Lieut W V Thomas & 2nd-Lieut W S Woodall, 98 Sqn, DH9D3239, Fokker DVII in flames west of Mons at 11:30/12:30 -
2nd-Lieut F C Wilton & Capt G H Gillis, 98 Sqn, DH9 D692,Fokker DVII crashed west of Mons at 11:30/12:30 -
Lieut W H Whitlock & Sergt F Sefton, 98 Sqn, DH9 E672,Fokker DVII in flames west of Mons at 11:30/12:30 -
2nd-Lieut F C Wilton & Capt G H Gillis, 98 Sqn, DH9 D692,Fokker DVII in flames west of Mons at 11:30/12:30 –
A bomb raid of No 98 Squadron's, while returning from Mons,were attacked by about 30 enemy scouts, who were also engaged by machines of 19Sqn. Heavy fighting took place the whole way from the objective to our lines.The D.H.9’s also had heavy fighting, and 2nd Lieut F C Wilton and Capt G HGillis brought down two machines in flames, and 2nd Lieuts W V Thomas and W SWoodall one in flames; 2nd Lieut J W Brown and Sergt T Tedder crashed one, anda fifth E.A. was shot down in flames by Lieut W H Whitlock and Sergt F Sefton
Capt W E Shields, 41 Sqn, DFW C crashed Mansart Station at11:45/12:45 -
Lieut R B Tapp & 2nd-Lieut W H Welsh, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVIIcrashed by Welsh La Croix at 12:05/13:05 -
Capt H P Lale & Lieut C G Boothroyd, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVIIdestroyed south of Avesnes at 12:05/13:05 -
Capt W H Longton, 24 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Merville at12:20/13:20 -
Lieut R T O Hawthorn & Sergt P Hoolihan, 108 Sqn, FokkerDVII out of control smoking Ledeberg at 12:20/13:20 -
Lieut N H Witter & 2nd-Lieut A E E Lee, 202 Sqn, RumplerC out of control Zele - Termonde at 13:05/14:05 -
Lieut C P Allen, 204 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Nazareth at13:15/14:15 -
Lieut H G Clappison, 204 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of controlNazereth at 13:15/14:15 -
Lieut J D Lightbody, 204 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of controlNazereth at 13:15/14:15 -
Capt E D Crundall, 204 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Nazereth at13:15/14:15 -
2nd-Lieut H L Taillon, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Audenarde- Ghent at 13:20/14:20 -
2nd-Lieut W H Bland, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control westof Audenarde at 13:20/14:20 -
Capt M A Newnham, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control west ofMullem at 13:20/14:20 -
2nd-Lieut W H Bland, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of controlAudenarde at 13:20/14:20 -
Capt M A Newnham, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII destroyed west ofMullem at 13:22/14:22 -
Lieut P Greenwood, 40 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed north-east ofValenciennes at 13:30/14:30 -
Sergt N Hunt & Sergt C F Levett, 48 Sqn, Fokker out ofcontrol south-west of Audenarde at 13:30/14:30 -
Lieut C C Banks, 43 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Aulnoyeat 13:35/14:35 -
Capt C F King, 43 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Aulnoye at13:35/14:35 -
Capt G R Howsam, 43 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Aulnoye at13:40/14:40 -
Maj M H B Nethersole & 2nd-Lieut I B Corey, 103 Sqn,Fokker DVII out of control Rebaix at 14:20/15:20 -
Maj M H B Nethersole & 2nd-Lieut I B Corey, 103 Sqn, LVGC out of control Rebaix at 14:20/15:20 -
Capt J S Stubbs & 2nd-Lieut C G Bannerman, 103 Sqn,Fokker DVII crashed Montreuil au Bois (north of Leuze) at 14:30/15:30 -
Sergt T W Haines & 2nd-Lieut D C McDonald, 98 Sqn, FokkerDVII crashed Chapelle-à-Wattines at 14:35/15:35 -
Lieut C Hallawell & Sergt E J W Watkinson, 103 Sqn,Fokker DVII crashed Chapelle-à-Wattines at 14:40/15:40 -
Lieut G B Hett & 2nd-Lieut J J Nicholls, 103 Sqn, FokkerDVII crashed north-east of Leuze at 14:40/15:40 -
Lieut G B Hett & 2nd-Lieut J J Nicholls, 103 Sqn, FokkerDVII crashed north-west of Leuze at14:40/15:40 –
2nd-Lieut H A Wilkinson, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII in flames Leuzeat 14:55/15:55 -
Lieut N C Trescowthick, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII crashed west ofLeuze at 14:55/15:55 -
Lieut T C R Baker, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII out of control Leuze at14:55/15:55 -
Capt R King, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII crashed Leuze at 14:55/15:55-
Capt R King, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII crashed Leuze at 14:55/15:55-
Capt R King, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII out of control Leuze at14:55/15:55 -
Capt V F Symondson, 210 Sqn, Fokker DVII destroyed Mareke at15:15/16:15 -
2nd-Lieut A McHardy & Lieut W A Rodger, 20 Sqn, FokkerDVII out of control south-east of Aulnoye at 15:30/16:30 -
Sergt G Packman & 2nd-Lieut J W Kennedy, 206 Sqn, FokkerDVII broke up Aeltre - Pucques at 15:35/16:35 -
2nd-Lieut A J Garside & Sergt J Chapman, 206 Sqn, FokkerDVII in flames west of Sotteghem at 15:40/16:40 -
Lieut T G Rae & Lieut R Watson, 48 Sqn, Fokker crashedsouth-west of Audenarde at 15:45/16:45 -
Lieut M P MacLeod, 41 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed north ofBeclers at 16:00/17:00 -
2nd-Lieut B E Harmer, 41 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Bois StMartin at 16:20/17:20 -
Lieut R M Atwater, 70 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames north-eastof Tournai at 16:30/17:30 -
Maj C J Q Brand, 151 Sqn, Friedrichshafen GIII in flames LeCateau at 19:04/20:04 – Major C J Q Brand, No 151 Squadron, attacked an enemynight bombing machine which was caught in our searchlights; the E.A. burst intoflames, but continued flying level for some time, until the fuselage broke intwo, when it fell on our side of the lines
Royal Flying Corps casualties today:
Lieut VL Watts (Wia) & 2nd-Lieut J Evans (Killed), 13 Sqn, RE8 F6218 - driven down by E.A. at Sh57b.R.8.c [Bazuel] and unsalvable on contact patrol
2nd-Lieut H Walmsley (Wia), 19 Sqn, Dolphin - injured?
Capt C C Banks (Ok), 43 Sqn, Snipe E8028 - shot about by enemy fire on OP Aulnoye
100626 Sergt-Mech J M Tarver (Wia), 84 Sqn, SE5a H7256 - badly shot by enemy aircraft on offensive patrol Bavai - La Capelle
2nd-Lieut W G Davies (Wia) & ? (Ok), 98 Sqn, DH9 - hit by anti-aircraft fire on bomb raid
Lieut E W Langford (Ok) & Lieut J Andrews (Ok), 98 Sqn, DH9 D7335 - force landed Odamez and hit by enemy shell after heavy attack by enemy aircraft on bombing raid Mons
2nd-Lieut R C Creamer (Wia) & Sergt Hazell (Ok), 107 Sqn, DH9A C1179 - force landed Busigny on bomb raid
? (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut W J Jackson (Wia), 206 Sqn, DH9 - combat
Sergt Packman (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut Kennedy (Ok), 206 Sqn, DH9 C6240 - crashed after radiator shot by A.A. fire during bombing Poucques
2nd-Lieut B W Cotterell (Kia) & 177051 Sergt W H Gumbley (Kia), 49 Sqn, DH9 D502 - took off 07:25/08:25 then seen going down in flames south-west of Mons due E.A. gunfire during bombing St Denis; Ltn d R Otto Loffler, Ja2, 15th victory [north of Quieuvain, no time] ?
2nd-Lieut E W C Densham (Ok), 60 Sqn, SE5a D361 - took off 07:30/08:30 then force landed 92 Sqn after 18 inches of propeller shot away on offensive patrol
99749 Sergt-Mech W T McNeill (Ok) & 9-26297 Sergt-Mech EG Stevens (Ok), 103 Sqn, DH9 D5569 - took off 07:50/08:50 then reported missing from bombing raid but okay
21840 Sergt C S Silvester (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut H Lansdale (Pow), 103 Sqn, DH9 D5749 - took off 07:50/08:50 and last seen at 2,000 feet south of Tournai flying west during bombing
Lieut G F Anderson DFC (Wia) & 2nd-Lieut C W M Elliot (Wia), 88 Sqn, Bristol F.2B E2451 - took off 07:55/08:55 then force landed 400 yards from enemy outpost north-east of Friedmont [Froidmont?] after both petrol tanks pierced by bullets from E.A. on OP; Vzfw Alfred Hubner, Ja36, 6th victory [Tournai at 09:10/10:10] ?
Lieut O H Williamson (Ok) & Capt G B Crawford (Ok), 22 Sqn, Bristol F.2B F6040 - took off 06:00/07:00 then longeron shot through by E.A. on OP, returned 08:10/09:10
Lieut L H Phinney (Ok), 1 Sqn, SE5a C8846 - took off 08:15/09:15 then shot through in aerial combat on offensive patrol
Lieut G B Wootten (Wia), 80 Sqn, Camel H831 - took off 09:00/10:00 then struck shell hole in forced landing near Pommereuil after being wounded on offensive patrol Catillion - Prechies
2nd-Lieut H J C Thorn (Wia; Dow 31-Oct-18), 84 Sqn, SE5a B7902 - took off 09:00/10:00 and last seen going east over Étreux on offensive patrol Bavai - La Capelle; wrecked and abandoned
2nd-Lieut W Amory (Pow), 32 Sqn, SE5a D3440 - took off 08:25/09:25 and last seen at 12,000 feet over Ghislain 09:20/10:20 on offensive patrol; Ltn Carl Degelow, Ja40, 29th victory ?
Lieut R W Farquhar (Kia), 32 Sqn, SE5a D6132 - took off 08:25/09:25 and last seen fighting at 1,000 feet Ghislain 09:20/10:20 on offensive patrol; Ltn Ernst Bormann, Ja2, 15th victory ?
Capt A A Callender (Wia; dow), 32 Sqn, SE5a E6010 - last seen fighting at 1,000 feet over Ghislain 09:20/10:20 on offensive patrol; Oblt von Griesheim, Ja2 ?
Lieut H H Blackwell (Ok) & Lieut P G Hutson (Wia), 53 Sqn, RE8 C2558 - took off 09:25/10:25 then force landed Coucou Aerodrome after shot through by A.A. fire during photography
Capt H Ford (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut J Whitehead (Ok), 49 Sqn, DH9 D3260 - took off 07:25/08:25 then damaged by E.A. during bombing St Denis, returned 09:25/10:25
Lieut E A R Lee (Kia) & Lieut A A Douglas (Kia), 98 Sqn, DH9 D7323 - took off 09:30/10:30 then formation heavily attacked by enemy aircraft on return from bombing raid Mons
Lieut D W Holmes (Kia) & Lieut J E Prosser (Kia), 98 Sqn, DH9 D7325 - took off 09:30/10:30 then formation heavily attacked by enemy aircraft on return from bombing raid Mons; Ltn Helmut Lange, Ja26, 8th victory [Crespin at 11:30/12:30] ?
Lieut H F Mulhall (Pow) & Lieut J C Pritchard (Kia), 98 Sqn, DH9 E8863 - took off 09:30/10:30 then formation heavily attacked by enemy aircraft on return from bombing raid Mons
Lieut T W Sleight (Pow) & Lieut E P W Dyke (Kia), 98 Sqn, DH9 F6055 - took off 09:30/10:30 then formation heavily attacked by enemy aircraft on return from bombing raid Mons
2nd-Lieut J F Higgins (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut E N Andrews (Ok), 49 Sqn, DH9 D3265 - took off 07:25/08:25 then shot through by E.A. during bombing St Denis, returned 09:45/10:45
Lieut D S Cramb (Ok) & Lieut TA Chilcott (Ok), 25 Sqn, DH4 F5739 - took off 07:20/08:20 then shot through by E.A. on reconnaissance Mauberge, returned 10:05/11:05
Capt J W Crane (Kia), 19 Sqn, Dolphin B7855 - took off 10:15/11:15 and last seen in combat near Mons on patrol; Sgt Willy Kahle, Ja27, 5th victory [Mons at 11:20/12:20] ?
Lieut R W Duff (Pow), 19 Sqn, Dolphin D3768 - took off 10:15/11:15 then missing - escaped and returned to (Pow) Rec Camp Calais
Lieut F Lynn (Pow), 19 Sqn, Dolphin E4511 - took off 10:15/11:15 and last seen in combat near Mons on patrol; Ltn d R Wilhelm Neuenhofen, Ja27, 13th victory [Mons at 11:20/12:20] ?
2nd-Lieut C N Boyd (Pow), 19 Sqn, Dolphin E4552 - took off 10:15/11:15 and last seen in combat near Mons on patrol
2nd-Lieut R B Murray (Pow), 19 Sqn, Dolphin E4637 - took off 10:20/11:20 and last seen in combat near Mons on patrol; Fw Willy Kahle, Ja27, 5th victory [Monas at 11:20/12:20] ?
Lieut A L Pink (Wia; Dow), 41 Sqn, SE5a E5804 - force landed Sh37.C.1.b [west of Bois Jacquet] 10:45/11:45 after pilot severely wounded by E.A. and A.A. on offensive patrol Renaix (also given as Sh37.C.16 [Cavrinnes])
Lieut A Buchanan DFC (Pow), 210 Sqn, Camel F3242 - last seen at commencement of engagement with 7 E.A. east of Valenciennes 11:15/12:15 on line patrol; Vzfw Michael Hutterer, Ja23, 7th victory [south-east of Valenciennes at 11:20/12:20] ?
2nd-Lieut W V Thomas (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut W S Woodall (Wia), 98 Sqn, DH9 D3239 - took off 09:15/10:15 then shot through by enemy aircraft on bombing raid Mons, returned aerodrome 11:30/12:30
Lieut E A Goodwill (Inj) & 2nd-Lieut H J Andrews (Inj), 42 Sqn, RE8 C2970 - crashed in forced landing [Sh37].H.20.d.3.9 [south-east of Orchies] 14:05/15:05 after engine failure probably due to machine-gun fire on artillery patrol
Lieut T A Priestly (Wia), 64 Sqn, SE5a C1135 - took off 14:30/15:30 and reported missing on OP but okay
Lieut G B Hett (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut J J Nichols (Kia), 103 Sqn, DH9 D7249 - combat with Fokkers north-west of Leuze 14:40/15:40
2nd-Lieut M J Kilsby (Pow), 4 Sqn AFC, Snipe E8071 - took off 13:55/14:55 and last seen in combat over Leuze 14:55/15:55on offensive patrol
Royal Flying Corps Losses today 59, of which the following are recorded:
Other Losses:
Claims: 108 confirmed (Entente 76: Central Powers 32)
Western Front:
Over 30,000 prisoners taken in Flanders during past month.
Region above Valenciennes flooded by Germans.
Mannheim bombed by British.
Southern Front:
Piave: Italian Firenze lancers and Bersaglieri cyclists enter Vittorio Veneto (old Austrian Sixth Army headquarter). Third Army storms Lower Piave at four points as Italian cavalry and armoured cars begin pursuit; Austrian Sixth Army split in two. PoW total 33,000. Austrian Belluno Group begins general retreat (night October 30-31). Austrian Armistice Delegates reach Villa Giusti near Padua at 2000 hours.
Austrian POW being treated
Adriatic:Hungarians surrender Fiume to Croats.
Balkans: 122,000 Austrian troops (5 ½ infantry and 1 cavalry division) with 540 guns in Albania and Serbia vs 144,000 Italians and 373 guns among 730,850 Allies with 1,883 guns.
Serbs reach Danube east of Semendria and occupy and Pozharevats.
Italian advance continues between Upper Brenta and sea; 33,000 prisoners.
Severe fighting at Grappa.
Fiume surrendered to the Croats by the Hungarians.
Tunstills Men Wednesday 30th October 1918:
In billets south of Vazzola.
The British advance was carried forward by units of 70th Brigade, advancing as far as Sacile. Meanwhile, in the afternoon, the Battalion marched three miles north, via Soffrata, Zoppe and San Fior di Sotto to billets at Casa Dal Cin on the road between Pianzano and Baver. En route, as they crossed the Monticana, the two detached companies, which had been advanced the previous day in support of 11WYR, re-joined the Battalion.
2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 29th October) remembered an incident during the move,
“we moved up towards the front in reserve and a very nasty incident occurred. We were lying in reserve not far behind the fighting – in an orchard hidden purely by the fruit trees – and single file and each file a little way from the next. A plane came flying over with British markings on it and we watched it idly. It circled over us and flew a little way off. Then it came swooping down along our line now. It had just nicely passed over me when bang, a bomb dropped among our men, I suppose a hundred yards up the line and I heard screams and confusion. Nine men were killed they said and some badly wounded. We never knew the explanation of this incident”.
He also recalled the more mundane, “I was orderly officer and I remember the Colonel laughing when he came in and I had a big tray or lid with all my bacca spread out on it before the Orderly Room fire, trying to dry it out. I had put it right in the top of my ‘Battle Order’ but crossing the river the water had washed right over my shoulders and wet everything.
That day some Italian refugees passed the HQ, going back to friends. They had come from houses occupied just before by Austrians and now liberated. They had some sad stories to tell. Two girls had only escaped by throwing some Austrian bombs at Austrians who had tried to take them away with them”.
Sgt. William Allan Sayer (see 27th October), who had been wounded three days’ previously, died of his wounds at 9th Casualty Clearing Station; he would be buried at Giavera British Cemetery, Arcade.
Pte. Ramsden Pyrah (see 29th September) died of wounds at 9th Casualty Clearing Station; he would be buried at Giavera British Cemetery, Arcade; it is unclear exactly when he had been wounded.
Pte. Joseph Haywood (see 18th October) died at 11th Stationary Hospital in Genoa; he had been under treatment for influenza and broncho-pneumonia. Pte. Haywood would be buried at Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa.
Pte. Ernest Mallinson died of wounds at one of the hospitals in Marseilles and would be buried at Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles; in the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish details of his service with the Battalion or when he had been wounded. He was 24 years old and from Halifax.
Sgt. Alfred Dolding (see 8th October) was appointed Acting Warrant Officer Class II and Company Sergeant Major.
Cpl. Albert Reynolds (see 29th September) was promoted Lance Sergeant.
A/Cpl. Frank Revell (see 27th August) was confirmed in his post and began to be paid accordingly.
Pte. William Gordon Johnston (see 28th July) was admitted via 69th Field Ambulance and 39th Casualty Clearing Station to 51st Stationary Hospital; he was suffering from influenza.
Pte. George William Ball (see 7th July) was transferred from 38th Stationary Hospital in Genoa to 57thGeneral Hospital in Marseilles; he was suffering from influenza.
Pte. William Hill (see 19th October 1917) was transferred from 38th Stationary Hospital in Genoa to 57thGeneral Hospital in Marseilles; he was suffering from diarrhoea.
Pte. John Henry Fidler (see 19th October) was discharged from 51st Stationary Hospital and posted to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano.
Pte. Arthur Clarke (see 14th October), who had been taken ill whilst on home leave, was discharged from East Leeds War Hospital with a railway warrant and instructions to report at Southampton on 31st in preparation for a return to Italy.
Lt. John William Headings (see 11th October), the former Battalion Quartermaster, who had been in England since having been injured in an accident in September, appeared before an Army Medical Board at 2nd Northern General Hospital, Beckett Park, Leeds. The Board found that, “While walking on duty was compelled to get off the road to avoid a limber coming towards him. Fell into a ditch and so twisted the left knee. There was tenderness and some effusion into the knee joint”. He was diagnosed as suffering from synovitis in the knee joint and referred for further treatment.
The London Gazette published notice of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to Sgt. Ernest Stead MM (see 21st October), who had earned the award for his actions during the trench raid on 26thAugust; “he led his party with great skill and gallantry to the first objective and personally captured the sentry posted there. He then led his party forward to the main line of trenches in front and mopped up ground left by another party. He showed fine courage and initiative”.
The same edition also published notice of the award of the DCM to the late L.Cpl. Dennis Waller MM (see 22nd October), who had died of wounds at Edmonton General Military Hospital on 22nd October. He had been awarded the decoration for his conduct on 8th August while serving in France with 2DWR, “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. He set a splendid example of courage and determination under heavy fire. By getting round with two sections in rear of the enemy and clearing him out he enabled a village to be occupied. Whilst consolidating he was wounded by a sniper, but refused to be moved for fear of drawing fire on the position”.
Asiatic, African, Egyptian Front:
TURKEY: ARMISTICE SIGNED AT 2140 HOURS aboard battleship HMS Agamemnon in Mudros harbour; 25 clauses begin with Dardanelles opening and occupation (published November 2).
Mesopotamia – Turk Tigris Group (Colonel Ismail Hakki Bey) surrenders at Sharqat: 11,321 pow 51 guns; 130 MGs; 2,000 animals for 1,886 British casualties since October 23 including 7th Cavalry Brigade 16-mile north pursuit taking 1,200.
Naval Operations:
North Sea: Room 40 intercepts German High Seas Fleet 0800 hours signal ‘All officers on board the Flagship’ as first hint of mutiny. Order to leave port defied five times and crews too denuded by 1,000 arrests to do so (until October 31). Hipper disperses Fleet to the Elbe, Kiel and Wilhelmshaven.
HMCS Galiano (Lieutenant Robert Mayes Pope RNCVR) goes down in the Pacific Ocean with a loss of thirty-eight officers and men. The wireless station at Triangle, British Columbia, receives an urgent message from Galiano requesting immediate assistance. A heavy southeast gale is raging in Barkley Sound at the time. As soon as the message is received, all ships in the immediate vicinity and approaching the direction of Galiano, are notified, but nothing further is seen or heard of her.
Political:
Germany: Government note to US says armistice terms awaited.
Austria: Fiume declares independence and desires union check with Italy.
Emperor Charles gives Fleet to Yugoslav National council, Danube Flotilla to Hungarians; allows officers to serve in new national armies.
Serious influenza epidemic in London; 2,200 deaths last week.
Hungarian Republic proclaimed: Count Hadik Prime Minister.
Armistice between Turkey and Entente Powers signed at Mudros.
Anniversary Events:
1270 The Seventh Crusade ends by the Treaty of Barbary. 1485 Henry VII of England crowned. 1697 The Treaty of Ryswick ends the war between France and the Grand Alliance. 1838 Oberlin Collegiate Institute in Lorian County, Ohio becomes the first college in the U.S. to admit female students. 1899 Two battalions of British troops are cut off, surrounded and forced to surrender to General Petrus Joubert's Boers at Nicholson's Nek. 1905 The czar of Russia issues the October Manisfesto, granting civil liberties and elections in an attempt to avert the burgeonng supprot for revolution. 1918 The Italians capture Vittorio Veneto and rout the Austro-Hungarian army. 1918 Turkey signs an armistice with the Allies, agreeing to end hostilities at noon, October 31.
Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 10-31-2018 at 10:34.
See you on the Dark Side......
No Colonel. The Editions are just fine.Originally Posted by Skafloc
Carry on old chap.
Kyte.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
What he said - they are just great
Post 3708 amended/updated.
See you on the Dark Side......
Thursday 31st October 1918
Armistice Countdown 11 days
Thomas Caldwell VC (10 February 1894 – 6 June 1969) was 24 years old, and a sergeant in the 12th (Ayr & Lanark Yeomanry) Battalion, the Royal Scots, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. The full citation was published in a supplement to the London Gazette of 3 January 1919 (dated 6 January 1919) and read:
War Office, 6th January, 1919.
His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, Noncommissioned Officers and Men: —
No. 295536 Sgt Thomas Caldwell, 12th Bn, R. Sc. Fus. (Carluke).
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack near Audenarde on the 31st October 1918 near Audenarde, Belgium, when in command of a Lewis gun section engaged in clearing a farmhouse. When his section came under intense fire at close range from another farm, Sjt. Caldwell rushed towards the farm, and, in spite of very heavy fire, reached the enemy position, which he captured single-handed, together with 18 prisoners.
This gallant and determined exploit removed a serious obstacle from the line of advance, saved many casualties, and led to the capture by his section of about 70 prisoners, eight machine guns and one trench mortar.
He later achieved the rank of company sergeant-major.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Museum of the Royal Highland Fusiliers in Glasgow.
He died in Adelaide, South Australia on 6 June 1969 and was cremated then interred with full military honours at the Centennial Park Garden Cemetery, in the Returned & Services League Memorial Wall 130, Niche E012. (Confirmed by personal visit 6 May 2013)
Today we lost: 1,342
Today’s losses include:
- A man whose sister will die on service
- A Military Chaplain
- A YMCA Chaplain
- Multiple families that will lose two and three sons in the Great War
Today’s highlighted casualties include:
- Captain Robert Archibald Fitzgerald Law MC (Wiltshire Regiment) dies of wounds received in action at age 21. He is the son of ‘Sir’ Archibald Law Kt. and Lady Law. His brother was killed last August.
- Second Lieutenant William Knox (Royal Air Force) is accidentally killed at age 19. His sister will die in eleven days and both are buried in the same cemetery.
- Second Lieutenant Francis Joseph Dodd (Machine Gun Corps) dies at home at age 29. His older brother was killed in November 1916 while his younger brother was killed one year ago to the day.
- Civilian Chaplain “the Reverend” Edward Masters Poole (Young Men’s Christian Association) dies at Le Treport at age 31. He was the Congregational Minster at Holly Mount Church, Malvern Worcestershire.
- Chaplain Walter Philip Montagu (Royal Garrison Artillery) dies of wounds at 45th Casualty Clearing Station at age 32.
- Private Stanley Thomas Whitehead (Royal Air Force) is gassed to death at age 27. His brother was killed in April of this year.
- Private William MacGregor (Seaforth Highlanders) dies of wounds at age 30. His two brothers have already been killed in the Great War.
- Private Frederick James Bull (East Surrey Regiment) dies on service in India. His brother will die of wounds at the end of next month.
- Sapper Enos Owen Coles (Royal Engineers) is killed at age 30 becomes the third brother to lose his life in the Great War.
Air Operations:
Germany: 9 bombs from No 55 squadron DHs cause 86 casualties at Bonn.
Western Front: In October record of 5,360,000 leaflets dropped by Allied balloons; AEF reports 80% German PoWs with one by October 15, BEF say 12% of theirs. RAF losses 164 aircraft, French 46.
General Headquarters:
“On October 31st low clouds and mist somewhat restricted operations, but reconnaissance and photographic work was completed, and accurate observation of artillery fire resulted in considerable damage being caused to enemy battery positions. Our bombing machines continued to bombard enemy railways and other targets, dropping over 6½ tons-of bombs. After the severe fighting of the previous day the enemy's machines showed very little activity. In air fighting two hostile machines were destroyed and one was driven down out of control. Two of our machines are missing. Owing to weather conditions no night-bombing operations were possible.”
Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force:
“On the 31st weather conditions were again bad for long-distance work, but, in spite of this, our machines, flying through low clouds and rainstorms, reached Bonn, and attacked the railway station in the centre of the town. Other machines attacked the railway at Treves, and Frescaty aerodrome. Two of our squadrons attacked Buhl aerodrome, obtaining direct hits on and near hangars. All our machines returned safely.”
RAF Communiqué No 31:
Weather: Lows clouds and mist.
Thirty-seven reconnaissances, 55 contact and counter-attack patrols.
Twenty-four hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, 37 neutralized, 195 zone calls sent.
Six and a half tons of bombs dropped by night and six tons by day.
Capt C L Morley, No 204 Squadron, destroyed a hostile balloon.
A large amount of photographic work was carried out by No 25 Squadron, 237 photographs being taken of areas urgently required.
Enemy Aircraft:
Very few seen.
Capt C L Morley, 204 Sqn, Balloon in flames Huysee at 07:25/08:25 -
2nd-Lieut J S Hughes & 2nd-Lieut L F Williamson, 7 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames north of Tiegen at 09:15/10:15 - brought down an EA
Capt F O Soden, 41 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control south of Audenarde at 10:10/11:10 -
Capt E D Cummings and Lieut E E Davies, 2 AFC, LVG C out of control Antoing at 14:15/15:15 –
Royal Flying Corps casualties today:
Lieut E M Mullen (Wia) & ? (Ok), 21 Sqn, RE8 - machine-gun fire
2nd-Lieut H J Gemmell (Pow), 204 Sqn, Camel F3928 - took off 06:15/07:15 and last seen 4 miles east of Deynze losing height while returning to lines from patrol and bombing; ground fire
Lieut C Wilderspin (Wia), 32 Sqn, SE5a E1303 - took off 08:25/09:25 then shot down in combat on offensive patrol Solesmes; Uffz Paul Rüggeberg, Ja43, 2nd victory [no location, no time] ?
Lieut L Reader (Wia) & 2nd-Lieut F Fletcher (Wia), 10 Sqn, AW FK8 F625 - crashed Sh29.O.3.b.3.2 [east of Sweveghem] 09:05/10:05 after hit in combat with E.A. on flash reconnaissance
2nd-Lieut C D Neill (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut M G Ryan (Ok), 10 Sqn, AW FK8 F622 - force landed Sh29.V.13.b.7.8 [Bossuyt] 11:50/12:50 after hit by machine-gun fire from ground on flash reconnaissance and photography
‘English two-seaters’ were credited to:
Ltn Karl August von Schönebeck, Ja33, 8th victory [no location, no time]
Vzfw Emil Schäpe, Ja33, 18th victory [no location, no time]
Royal Flying Corps Losses today:
Claims: 12 confirmed (Entente 7: Central Powers 5)
Home Fronts:
Britain: In October over 10,000 ships reported as repaired since June 1917. Shipbuilding up nearly 50% over 1917, little change in jobs or days lost.
Hungary: Emperor Charles appoints Count Karolyi new Prime Minister.
Austria: Death of Egon Schiele, Expressionist painter and soldier, aged 28 from flu at Vienna. 700,000 PoWs have returned from Russia since March 3.
Western Front:
France: In October ALLIES have CAPTURED 108,343 pow and 2,064 gunsUNS. Since August 1 BEF has taken 172,659 pow; 2,378 guns; 17,000 MGs; 2,750 mortars and suffered 358,149 casualties (121,046 in October). Foch tells Supreme War Council: ‘… since July 18 we have forced the enemy to retreat. We have attacked him along 400 kilometres and we are continuing to do so … we can continue it if the foe desires it right up to their complete defeat …’.
Germany: Kaiser leaves Berlin (for last time) by train for OHL at Spa.
Flanders: British Second Army success at Tieghem takes 1,000 pow as it reaches river Scheldt. Allies have taken 19,000 pow and advanced 31 miles since October 14.
British captures in last three months: 172,659 prisoners, 2,378 guns, 17,000 machine guns, 2,750 trench mortars, etc.
British successful attack south-west of Audenarde (Courtrai), carrying all objectives; 1,000 prisoners.
Southern Front:
Piave: Italian Fourth and Sixth Armies occupy empty Austrian Grappa and Asiago lines, by 1700 hours 2 Alpini battalions clear Feltre. British and Italians reach river Livenza. British recapture Sacile.
Austrians in Trentino and Venetian Alps separated and chased back, losing all positions between the Brenta and Piave.
Austrian Commander-in-Chief applies to General Diaz for an Armistice
Albania: Italians and Serbs capture Scutari.
Bulgaria: 2 British and 1 French division on river Maritsa close to Turk frontier.
Tunstills Men Thursday 31st October 1918:
The Battalion remained in billets at Casa Dal Cin on the road between Pianzano and Baver.
The British advance was again carried forward by units of 70th Brigade, capturing the village of Sacile and forcing the crossing of the River Livenza.
Pte. Harold Wall (see 10th October), who had been held in confinement for the previous three weeks on a charge of “writing an officer’s name on an envelope addressed to England with intent to deceive the censor”, was released ‘without prejudice’, pending further action.
L.Cpl. Richard Cleasby Chorley (see 22nd October) was transferred from 62nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia to 81st General Hospital in Marseilles; he was suffering from influenza.
Pte. Frederick George Westlake (see 15th October), who had suffered an accidental gunshot wound to his right foot on 25th August, was evacuated to England from 57th General Hospital in Marseilles; he would travel onboard the Hospital Ship Gloucester Castle.
Pte. Charles William Groves (see 25th October) was transferred from 1st Birmingham War Hospital to Derriford Hospital, Devon.
Pte. John Beaumont (see 18th October), serving with the Motor Transport Section of the Army Service Corps in France, was discharged from Southport Convalescent Hospital and posted to Northern Command Depot at Ripon.
Casualties for the month were officially recorded as being:
Killed 3 officers and 22 other ranks
Accidentally killed 0
Died of wounds 1
Wounded 1 officer and 70 other ranks
Accidentally wounded 0
Missing 5
The official cumulative casualty figures since arriving in France in August 1915 were thus:
Killed 305
Accidentally killed 5
Died of wounds 24
Wounded 1,448
Accidentally wounded 53
Missing 194
Asiatic, African, Egyptian Front:
TURKEY: HOSTILITIES CEASE NOON LOCAL TIME. Liman hands over to Kemal at Adana, repatriation of 10,000 Germans begins.
Mesopotamia: Only 3,280 Turks with 44 guns estimated in Mosul or en route. General Lewin occupies Altun Kopri on Little Zab.
South Persia: 600 British troops (35 casualties), 4 guns and 2 MGs take Lardeh village and 30 pow (until November 1).
Naval Operations:
Austria: Fleet at Pola transferred to Southern Slav National Council in Agram. Non S-Slavs free to go home, ships fully illuminated for first time, Admiral Horthy makes farewell signal, relinquishes command at c.1645 hours.
Allied and neutral shipping October losses to U-boats: 52 ships (23 British with 318 lives) worth 112,427t (British total all causes 25 ships worth 59,229t); U-boat figure 73 ships worth 116,237t. Lowest monthly tonnage score since July 1916; 5 U-boats sunk.
Austrian Fleet handed to Yugo-Slav Council and Danube flotilla to Hungarians.
Other ships lost during October with no confirmed date.
Political:
Austria: REVOLUTIONS IN VIENNA AND BUDAPEST; Red Guards murder/assassinate Count Tisza in latter.
Polish troops occupy Cracow.
Slovenes in Laibach National Assembly proclaim independence.
Hostilities between Turkey and Entente cease at noon.
End of the Dual Monarchy.
Italians and Slovenes take over Trieste.
Anniversary Events:
1517 Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the door of the church at Wittenberg in Germany. Luther's theories and writings inaugurate Protestantism, shattering the external structure of the medieval church and at the same time reviving the religious consciousness of Europe. 1803 Congress ratifies the purchase of the entire Lousiana area in North America, adding territory to the U.S. which will eventually become 13 more states. 1838 A mob of about 200 attacks a Mormon camp in Missouri, killing 20 men, women and children. 1864 Nevada becomes the 36th state.
Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 10-31-2018 at 10:45.
See you on the Dark Side......
and so I pass the typewriter and ink over to Chris for his penultimate stretch.
See you on the Dark Side......
Thanks for another stirring stint Neil, and just ten to go now!
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Cheers Neil - Nearly home!
Surely 11 actual, but 10 to get to the actual day itself unless you discount today actual from the actual total leaving you with said 10 actual.
Actually I'm not quite sure.......keep taking the pills Neil.
Neil or is it actually Neil
See you on the Dark Side......
So we move into the last month of the war November 1918. There are now only a few days remaining, however I find it incredulous that there was so much fighting carrying on when those 'in the know' knew that the end was in sight (1261 allied lived lost today alone) Now that is surely a war crime ! (editor)
1st November 1918
Before Valenciennes a platoon of the Saskatchewan Regiment has a machine-gun open up on it. Without hesitation Sergeant Hugh Cairns DCM seizes a Lewis gun and single-handed in the face of direct fire he rushes the post killing the crew of five and capturing the gun. Later when the line is held up by machine gun fire he again rushes forward killing 12 enemy and capturing 18 and two guns. Subsequently when the advance is held up by more machine guns and field guns, although wounded, he leads a small party to outflank them, killing many, forcing about 50 to surrender and capturing all the guns. After consolidation he accompanies a battle patrol to exploit Marly and forces 60 of the enemy to surrender. While disarming this party he is severely wounded. Nevertheless, he opens fire and inflicts heavy losses. Finally he is rushed by about ten enemy and collapses from weakness and loss of blood. He will be awarded the last Canadian Victoria Cross earned in the war and will die of his wounds tomorrow.
Sergeant Hugh Cairns VC. DCM
He was born in Ashington, Northumberland, England. The Cairns family immigrated to Canada and settled in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1911. He was a keen footballer, playing for the Christ Church Intermediate Boys Football club, reaching the championship of the Sunday School League. He also played for the St. Thomas Church team when they won the Saskatoon League Championship in 1915. Hugh and his older brother Albert enlisted in the army in August 1915. Cairns was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his actions at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. At the time DCM was the second highest award for gallantry in the British honours system.
He was 21 years old, and a sergeant in the 46th (South Saskatchewan) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
For most conspicuous bravery before Valenciennes on 1st November, 1918, when a machine gun opened on his platoon. Without a moment's hesitation Serjt. Cairns seized a Lewis gun and single-handed, in the face of direct fire, rushed the post, killed the crew of five, and captured the gun. Later, when the line was held up by machine-gun fire, he again rushed forward, killing 12 enemy and capturing 18 and two guns.
Subsequently, when the advance was held up by machine guns and field guns, although wounded, he led a small party to outflank them, killing many, forcing about 50 to surrender, and capturing all the guns. After consolidation he went with a battle patrol to exploit Marly and forced 60 enemy to surrender. Whilst disarming this party he was severely wounded. Nevertheless, he opened fire and inflicted heavy losses. Finally he was rushed by about 20 enemy and collapsed from weakness and loss of blood. Throughout the operation he showed the highest degree of valour, and his leadership greatly contributed to the success of the attack. He died on the 2nd November from wounds.
With the German surrender and armistice on 11 November, ten days later, Sergeant Cairns would prove to be the last of seventy-one Canadians to earn the Victoria Cross for his actions in the Great War. Cairns was also awarded the Légion d'honneur by the Government of France. Cairns is buried in the Auberchicourt British Cemetery, seven kilometers east of Douai, France, roughly sixteen kilometers north of Cambrai, (Plot I, Row A, Grave 8).
France: FOCH’S PLAN FOR FINAL PHASE OF GENERAL OFFENSIVE (until November 11): major thrusts by BEF in North and AEF in South, both supported by French armies on their flanks. BEF is to force the Scheldt, advance to Maubeuge and press on to seize Meuse crossings from Namur to Dinant. If taken before Germans evacuate Flanders they are to be pressed back against border of neutral Holland and captured. In south, US First and French Fourth Armies to advance by forced marches to seize Mezieres and Sedan, so isolating Germans facing French Centre Army Group and sever the great lateral railway Bruges-Ghent-Maubeuge*Mezieres–Metz, key artery to half of Western Front.
A captured British tank supports the attack of German infantrymen.
Scheldt*: BATTLE OF VALENCIENNES (until November 3): Haig turns Scheldt defences (Hermann position) and pushes east and north to Maubeuge, Mons and river Dendre. BEF Third and First Armies attack on 6-mile front and reach Valenciennes outskirts (4th Canadian Division captures Mont Houy) despite German 28th Reserve Division counter-attack with 4 (captured BEF) tanks (2 lost), last such effort. BEF Fourth Army’s 32nd Division and 3 tanks attacks Happegarbes Spur southwest of Landrecies. Constant rain (until November 11).
Aisne and Meuse – FRANCO-US OFFENSIVE begins: US First Army (7 divisions) with 19 tanks and right wing of French Fourth Army; US V Corps in centre, drives a 5-mile deep wedge into German lines astride Bourgogne Wood including first AEF use of mustard gas (41t of gas, 36,000 round), as 4 German divisions overrun. US 5th Division crosses Meuse isolating Dun*-sur-Meuse.
EASTERN FRONT
Germany: Between 1-11 November 2 German divisions transfer to Western Front.
North Russia*: In November A A Samoilo made C-in-C Sixth Detached Red Army (headquarter Vologda). Red Western Front formed and Ukrainian Soviet Army (late November).
Don: Red Army takes offensive vs Denisov’s Great Don Host (50,000 men).
Trans*-Caspia: British and White troops reoccupy Merv around date.
Siberia: British War Cabinet decide to recognize Provisional Government.
Russia: Early November Communist Youth League Kom somol founded; 100,000 members by end of 1919.
SOUTHERN FRONTS
SERB TROOPS LIBERATE BEL*GRADE AND WHOLE SERBIA: Bojovic’s First Army enters as last Austrian boats reach Hungarian shore and engages Austrian monitors from Topcider batteries; Second Army reaches river Drina in West.
Italian Front: Comando Supremo receives Allied armistice terms by telephone from Paris by 0615 hours, Badoglio tells Austrians’ actual text available only on November 2. Allies progress on Asiago plateau, Italians reoccupy Belluno and Longarone. Last Austrian GHQ communique ‘In the Veneto the evacuation operations proceed’.
SEA WAR
Adriatic: Italian frogmen Paolucci and Rossetti mine, capsize and sink former Austrian flagship Viribis Unitis (Captain Vukovic, Yugoslav Fleet commander) in Pola harbour and liner Wien.
The Raid on Pula was a maritime raid undertaken on 1 November 1918 during the end of World War I. It was carried out by two officers of the Italian Regia Marina with the goal of damaging the Austro-Hungarian fleet anchored in the bay of Pula. The fleet was handed by the Austrians to the newly established State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs only a couple of hours before the raid, with Janko Vuković, previously an officer of the Austro-Hungarian navy, being declared the commander-in-chief of the new state's navy. State of SHS, declared neutrality in the war and informed the Allies shortly after taking over armed forces on 31 October. However, the attackers were not aware of this, and had rigged the main ship SMS Viribus Unitis (renamed to Jugoslavija) with explosives, which ended in the ship's sinking and the death of Vuković.
SMS Viribus Unitis was an Austro-Hungarian dreadnought battleship, the first of the Tegetthoff class. "Viribus Unitis", meaning "With United Forces", was the personal motto of Emperor Franz Joseph I.
Viribus Unitis was ordered by the Austro-Hungarian Navy in 1908 and was laid down in Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino shipyard in Trieste on 24 July 1910. Viribus Unitis was launched from the shipyard on 24 June 1911 and was formally commissioned into the Austro-Hungarian Navy on 5 December 1912. During World War I, Viribus Unitis took part in the flight of the German warships SMS Goeben and Breslau. In May 1915, she also took part in the bombardment of the Italian port city of Ancona. Viribus Unitis was sunk by a limpet mine planted by Raffaele Rossetti, an Italian engineer and military naval officer of the Regia Marina on 1 November 1918.
Viribus Unitis was ordered in 1908 as the first of a class of four, the first dreadnoughts to be built for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. Initially intended to be named Tegetthoff, she was renamed on the personal order of Emperor Franz Josef; following this, the second ship of the class was named Tegetthoff. The ship was laid down in the Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino shipyard in Trieste on 24 July 1910. Following eleven months of construction, Viribus Unitis was launched on 24 June 1911. Following her fitting out, she was commissioned into the Austro-Hungarian Navy on 5 December 1912.
Prior to the war, Viribus Unitis was assigned to the 1st Battleship Division of Austro-Hungarian Navy. During World War I, the battleship saw limited service due to the Otranto Barrage which prohibited Austro-Hungarian battleships from leaving the Adriatic sea. As a result, she hardly ever left Pola. Viribus Unitis, along with her sister ships Tegetthoff, Prinz Eugen and the remainder of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, was mobilized on the eve of World War I to support the flight of SMS Goeben and Breslau. The two German ships were stationed in the Mediterranean and were attempting to break out of the strait of Messina, which was surrounded by British troops and vessels and make their way to Turkey. After the Germans successfully broke out of Messina, the navy was recalled. The fleet had by that time advanced as far south as Brindisi in south eastern Italy. Viribus Unitis also participated in the bombardment of the Italian city of Ancona in May 1915. Following these operations Viribus Unitis remained in Pola for most of the remainder of the war. Her tenure in Pola was livened up by a visit from the new Emperor Charles I on 15 December 1916 and another by Kaiser Wilhelm II on 12 December 1917 during his inspection of the German submarine base there. The Italians conducted eighty air raids on Pola between 1915 and 1917.
The Otranto Raid
By 1918, the new commander of the Austrian fleet, Konteradmiral Miklós Horthy, decided to conduct another attack on the Otranto Barrage to allow more German and Austro-Hungarian U-boats to safely get through the heavily defended strait. During the night of 8 June, Horthy left the naval base of Pola with Viribus Unitis and Prinz Eugen. The other two dreadnoughts, Szent István and Tegetthoff, along with one destroyer and six torpedo boats departed Pola on 9 June. At about 3:15 on the morning of 10 June, two Italian MAS boats, MAS 15 and MAS 21, spotted the Austrian fleet. The MAS platoon was commanded by Capitano di fregata Luigi Rizzo while the individual boats were commanded by Capo timoniere Armando Gori and Guardiamarina di complemento Giuseppe Aonzo respectively. Both boats successfully penetrated the escort screen and split to engage each of the dreadnoughts. MAS 21 attacked Tegetthoff, but her torpedoes failed. MAS 15 managed to hit Szent István with her torpedoes at about 3:25 am. Both boats were then chased away from the scene by the Austrian escort vessels.
Despite attempts to take the crippled Szent István into tow by Tegetthoff, the ship continued to sink and the attempt was abandoned. A few minutes after 6:00 am Szent István sank. Admiral Horthy, commander of the proposed attack, soon canceled the attack because he thought that the Italians had discovered his plan and ordered the ships to return to Pola. On the contrary, the Italians did not even discover that the Austrian dreadnoughts had departed Pola until later on 10 June when aerial reconnaissance photos revealed that they were no longer there. This was the last military operation that the Viribus Unitis was to take part in and she spent the rest of her career at port in Pola. By October 1918 it had become clear that Austria-Hungary was facing defeat in the war. The Austrian government decided to give Viribus Unitis, along with much of the fleet, to the newly formed State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs. This was considered preferential to handing the fleet to the Allies, as the new state had declared its neutrality. The transfer to the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs took place in the evening of 31 October, and Viribus Unitis was renamed Jugoslavija.
On 1 November 1918, two men of the Italian Navy, Raffaele Paolucci and Raffaele Rossetti, rode a primitive manned torpedo (nicknamed Mignatta or "leech") into the Austro-Hungarian naval base at Pola. They had sailed from an Italian port some time before, and were unaware of the transfer of the Austro-Hungarian fleet the previous day. Traveling down the rows of Austrian battleships, the two men encountered Jugoslavija at around 4:40 am. Rossetti placed one canister of TNT on the hull of the battleship, timed to explode at 6:30 am. He then flooded the second canister, sinking it on the harbour floor close to the ship. The men had no breathing sets, and therefore had to keep their heads above water. They were discovered and taken prisoner just after placing the explosives under the battleship's hull. Taken aboard Jugoslavija, they informed the new captain of the battleship of what they had done but did not reveal the exact position of the explosives. Admiral Janko Vuković arranged for the two prisoners to be taken to Tegetthoff, and ordered Jugoslavija to be evacuated. The explosion did not happen at 6:30 as predicted and Vuković returned to the ship with many sailors, mistakenly believing that the Italians had lied. The mines exploded at 6:44, sinking Jugoslavija in 15 minutes. Vuković and 300–400 of her crew were killed in the sinking. The explosion of the second canister also sank the Austrian freighter Wien. Paolucci and Rossetti were interned until the end of the war a few days later, and were honoured by the Kingdom of Italy with the Gold Medal of Military Valor.
German submarine SM U-72 was scuttled at Kotor, Montenegro.
AIR WAR
Western Front: DH9s bomb Brussels rail station and Maubeuge.
North Russia: In November 2 air squadrons (White and RAF plus 6 Sopwith Camel fighters form late November) go into action above Dvina Force.
Western Front: Fonck’s 75th and final victory, a German leaflet-dropping two-seater.
Germany, Black Sea and Mediterranean: *German Naval Air Service 1,478 aircraft and seaplanes with 16,122 men (2,116 aircrew) at 32 seaplane 17 land air bases strong.
French flying ace René Fonck scored his 75th and final aerial victory, ending the war as the highest-scoring Allied ace and second-highest scoring ace overall of World War One after German ace Manfred von Richthofen.
Fonck was the highest scoring ace for France and the Allies. As a boy growing up in the foothills of the Vosges, he was fascinated by stories of men and their flying machines. Yet when he was conscripted in August 1914, he refused to serve in the French Air Service, choosing instead to go to the trenches. By early 1915, he had changed his mind and began his flight training in a Penguin at Saint-Cyr. Displaying an inherent talent for flying, he was soon serving with Escadrille C47, flying an unarmed Caudron on reconnaissance missions over the lines. In April 1917, after more than 500 hours of flight time, Fonck was assigned to Spa103. Flying the SPAD VII, he developed a reputation for studying the tactics of his opponents and conserving ammunition during a dogfight. On two separate occasions, he shot down six enemy aircraft in one day. As his fame grew, so did his ego and Fonck never achieved the admiration and popularity of Georges Guynemer. Even French ace Claude Haegelen, one of Fonck's few friends, felt he boasted too much and too often; but no one could deny that Fonck was an excellent pilot and superb marksman. In 1944 he was arrested and charged with being a collaborator. Fonck died at home from a stroke. He was 59.
Fonk was the most prolific fighter pilot of 1918. To summarize, he claimed 56 victories during the whole of 1918, attaining a total of 36 kills before May 1918. His 1918 list by itself would have made him France's leading ace. By the end of the war, he had accounted for all but 36 of Escadrille SPA.103's 111 claimed victories. Unlike many leading French aces, Fonck's score contained only three shared victories. Also unlike most aces, he remained unwounded; indeed, only a single enemy bullet had ever hit his aircraft. He had also forgone the most hazardous air-to-air combat: he had shot down no balloons.
Yet for all his skill and success, Fonck never captured the heart of the French public as Guynemer had. Fonck was ascetic and withdrawn. Instead of drinking or socializing with the other pilots, he planned his flying missions and tactics, ironed his uniforms, and stayed physically fit through calisthenics. He seemed to overcompensate for his shyness by constantly mentioning his exploits. As a result, he seemed distant, arrogant, even abrasive. His comrades respected his skills, but even one of his few friends, Marcel Haegelen, considered him a braggart and shameless self-promoter. Fonck may have resented the fact that Guynemer remained more popular in the French press even after he surpassed him in victories. Fonck also seemed to lack insight into the effect his personality had upon his image or career. However he and he alone carried the flag of the French Air Force at the victory parade on the Champs-Elysées.
The following other claims were made on this day
Unbelievably another 49 men of the RAF lost their lives on this day - 10 days before the war was due to end....
These included
The French Navy expanded its French Naval Aviation arm to 37 airships, 1,264 airplanes, and over 11,000 men
POLITICS
Bulgaria: King Boris of Bulgaria abdi*cates; Peasant Party leader Stamboliski becomes Prime Minister at Tirnova.
Serbia: Great Serb National Council proclaimed at Sarajevo.
France: Versailles Conference opens. Around date Supreme Allied Council for Supply and Relief formed.
Austria: Baron Flotow provisionally succeeds Count Andrassy as Austrian Foreign Minister.
HOME FRONTS
Turkey: Talaat Pasha addresses last Congress of Party of Union and Progress, admits massacre of innocent Armenians by many officials.
USA: 306,719 Army flu cases since September 12; 19,429 deaths.
Britain: RFP up 4% to 133%. Shipbuilding control transferred from Admiralty to Shipping Ministry.
Captain Tunstill's Men:
The British advance was halted temporarily on the line of the River Livenza to allow for supplies and the artillery to be brought forward. The Battalion was at one hours’ notice to move as the Division was in Corps Reserve.
Pte. John William Berry died of wounds suffered in one of the recent actions; in the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish exactly when he had been wounded. He would be buried at Giavera British Cemetery, Arcade. He was 42 years old and from Bradford and had been an original member of the Battalion.
Pte. James Pidgeley (see 27th October) was discharged from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.
Pte. George William Ball (see 30th October) was transferred from 57th General Hospital in Marseilles to 16th Convalescent Depot, also in Marseilles.
Pte. Herbert Newton (see 27th August), who had been reported missing in action in July while serving in France with 5DWR, was officially reported as being a prisoner of war in German hands; he had originally been held at Friedrichsfeld Camp before being transferred to a camp at Crossen.
Pte. Albert John Start (see 31st July), serving in England with the Non-Combatant Labour Corps, was posted to 360th Reserve Employment Company, based at Ripon.
Pte. Jesse Eli Lemon was formally discharged from the Army as no longer fit for service due to wounds; he had served with 10DWR, but in the absence of a surviving service record it has not been possible to establish any details of his service with the Battalion. He was 36 years old and married had enlisted in December 1915. Prior to joining the Army he had been working as a gardener in Huddersfield, although he was originally from Surrey.
Pte. Harry Walsh (see 14th September), who had been wounded on 6th June 1917, was formally discharged from the Army as no longer fit for service due to wounds; he was awarded a pension of 8s. 3d. per week, to be reviewed in six months’ time.
A payment of £2 7s. 9d. was authorised, being the amount due in pay and allowances to the late Pte. Fred Hargreaves (20214) (see 30th May), who had been officially missing in action since 1st October 1917; the payment would go to his widow, Phyllis, for herself and their two children.
The weekly edition of the Craven Herald reported news of the death of Sgt. Richard Wharton; he was the younger brother of Sergt. Allan Wharton (see 12th October), who had been one of Tunstill’s orginal volunteers but was now serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers. A third brother, Percy, had been missing, presumed dead, since September 1917.
EARBY - A Third Bereavement
Sergeant Richard Wharton, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, killed in France on October 12th, was the second son lost in the war by Mr. and Mrs. Michael Wharton, 8 George Street, Earby, who have also lost a son-in-law. Sergt. Wharton, who was 27 years of age and unmarried, enlisted immediately after the outbreak of hostilities, and had spent three years and four months on the Western Front. Three other sons and a son-in-law are still in the ranks, one of these (Sergeant Allan Wharton) being in France. Amongst the letters of sympathy received by the bereaved family is one from Second-Lieutenant Honeyman, who writes:- "Sergeant Wharton was our company Lewis gun sergeant, and was attached to my platoon. He was a brave soldier, who never shirked his duty - far from it. He was always keen about his work and encouraged many of our young recruits to take a deep interest in Lewis gunnery. He was buried at Neuvilly." Sergeant Wharton was formerly employed by Messrs. A. J. Birley Ltd., Albion Shed.
Armistice Countdown 10 days
Never Knowingly Undergunned !!
Another very interesting edition Chris - Thanks
Ashington my home town. Cairns went to Bothal School. There is a lovely plaque and picture in the school foyer.
See you on the Dark Side......
It is always more poignant when you have a personal connection with one of the actual protagonists Neil. Hence my deep regard for Albert Ball having been brought up under his shadow so to speak.
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
A CAMPAIGN to pay tribute to a war hero in his Northumberland home town is being revived.
The Northumberland Western Front Association is attempting to get Sergeant Hugh Cairns honoured in Ashington.
Sgt Cairns was born in Ashington in 1896 but moved to Canada. During the First World War, he joined the Canadian forces and was stationed in France. In 1917, he was involved in the famous battle for Vimy Ridge, winning the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry.
Sgt Cairns’ brother was killed in battle and it is said that from this point, he had no interest in returning home, only in avenging his sibling’s loss.
In battle at Valienciennes in 1918, Sgt Cairns was credited with killing, capturing or forcing to surrender scores of Germans.
He was shot and killed in the battle but was awarded the Victoria Cross in honour of his bravery. A street was named after him in France – Avenue Sergeant Cairns – and a memorial statue erected in the Canadian town where he grew up, Saskatoon.
However, in Ashington, Sgt Cairns is only a name in the afterthoughts section of the town’s war memorial, and mentioned on a plaque at the school he went to, Bothal Middle.
Now, the Northumberland Western Front Association has taken up the fight to have Sgt Cairns remembered.
The association’s secretary David Easton approached Ashington Town Council asking for the authority’s help.
Mr Easton said: “I just think it is very important that we remember what happened to him, it is 100 years ago now.”
Council chairman John McCormack said: “We would look favourably at anything to acknowledge what this gentleman has achieved – whether it was a memorial or some other way of recognising it.”
Two commemorative stones will be unveiled on November 1 at 11am in the Ashington Memorial Garden to recognise Sergt Cairns and both the town’s contribution to the First World War and those who served at the Ashington Airfield, and the important role it played as part of Britain’s home defence.
Hugh, the third of 11 children, attended Bothal County Middle School, and emigrated in 1911 to Canada with his parents and siblings. The family settled in Saskatchewan, in the rapidly growing town of Saskatoon.
A talented footballer, Hugh played for the Christ Church Intermediate Boys team in his teenage years, winning a championship.
And in the last year before his enlistment, Hugh won the Saskatoon league with the St. Thomas Church team.
He has several buildings and locations named after him in Saskatoon, including the Hugh Cairns V.C. School and a statue of him as a footballer in the city’s Kinsmen Park. It is believed to be the only war memorial featuring a football player in full kit in the world.
Hugh and his brother Albert signed up on the same day. Albert died on September 10, 1918 from wounds and Hugh died on November 2 in Valenciennes, France. Another brother, Henry, survived the war.
He was also awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his part at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April, 1917. Hugh took the initiative to recover a pair of lost guns and attacked the enemy with them. He was wounded, but recovered to participate in the campaigns of 1918.
The citation for his Victoria Cross describes his actions on November 1, 1918.
“For most conspicuous bravery before Valenciennes on 1st November, 1918, when a machine gun opened on his platoon. Without a moment’s hesitation Sergt. Cairns seized a Lewis gun and single-handed, in the face of direct fire, rushed the post, killed the crew of five, and captured the gun.
“Later, when the line was held up by machine-gun fire, he again rushed forward, killing 12 enemy and capturing 18 and two guns. Subsequently, when the advance was held up by machine guns and field guns, although wounded, he led a small party to outflank them, killing many, forcing about 50 to surrender, and capturing all the guns.
“After consolidation he went with a battle patrol to exploit Marly and forced 60 enemy to surrender. Whilst disarming this party he was severely wounded. Nevertheless, he opened fire and inflicted heavy losses. Finally he was rushed by about 20 enemy and collapsed from weakness and loss of blood.
“Throughout the operation he showed the highest degree of valour, and his leadership greatly contributed to the success of the attack. He died on the 2nd November from wounds.”
In March 1936, the town of Valenciennes renamed one of its principal streets “Avenue du Sergent Cairns”.
In organising the commemoration service, Ashington Town Council has worked in partnership with the Ashington Branch of the Royal British Legion, Northumberland County Council and the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust.
See you on the Dark Side......
Fantastic to see our heroes getting the recognition they deserve - shame it is not the same throughout the rest of the country.
Apparantly honoring your heroes and your war dead is simply not PC enough these days...
Never Knowingly Undergunned !!
2nd November 1918
Captain Alleyne Kingsley Conan Doyle (Hampshire Regiment) dies of influenza at home aggravated by wounds received in action at age 24. He is the son of the Arthur Conan Doyle.
James Clarke VC (6 April 1894 – 16 June 1947) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross.
He was born in Winsford, Cheshire. Leaving school at the age of 14, he worked as a day-labourer, before enlisting in the Lancashire Fusiliers in October 1915. He was 24 years old and an acting company sergeant major in the 15th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, British Army during the First World War when he performed the deeds which resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross. His citation reads:
No. 37721 Sjt. John [sic] Clarke, 15th Bn., Lanc. Fus (Rochdale).
For most conspicuous bravery and initiative during the attack at Happegarbes on 2 November 1918, when in command of a platoon, he led his men forward with great determination, and, on being held up by heavy machine-gun fire, rushed forward through a thick, strongly held ridge, captured in succession four machine guns, and single-handed bayonetted the crews. Later, he led the remnants of his platoon to the capture of three machine guns and many prisoners. In the later stages of the attack on the same day, when his platoon was held up by enemy machine guns, he successfully led a Tank against them over very exposed ground. Continuing the attack on 3rd November, after capturing many prisoners and gaining his objective, he organised his line most skilfully and held up the enemy. On 4th November, in the attack on the Oise-Sambre Canal, under heavy fire from the Canal bank, he rushed forward with a Lewis gun team in the face of an intense barrage, brought the gun into action, effectively silenced the enemy's fire, thus enabling his company to advance and gain their objectives. Throughout the whole of these operations Sjt. Clarke acted with magnificent bravery and total disregard of personal safety, and by his gallantry and high sense of duty set an inspiring example to all ranks.
— London Gazette, 6 January 1919.
The forename in the original citation was subsequently corrected.
He did not find much success in civilian life. On 8 June 1946, Clarke participated in the World War II Victory Parade. He died the following year of pneumonia. His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.
SOUTHERN FRONTS
Italy: Allied Supreme War Council approves plan (until November 4) for up to 40 Italian divisions (including 5 British and French) to invade Bavaria from Innsbruck and Salzburg areas in early 1919 under Foch’s direction.
Italian Front*: Italian First Army begins advance, occupies Rovereto and Calliano in Adige valley (night November 1-2) and Col Santo. Italian Seventh Army begins advance west of Lake Garda, captures Mt Pari near it. First armistice meeting 2100-0300 hours (night November 2-3), Austrians reluctantly accept 24-hour delay for end of hostilities.
Liberation of Serbia, Albania and Montenegro – Allied forces reached Bosnia and stopped as the ceasefire with Austria-Hungary had been signed.
Italian troops advance across the Assiago plateau.
WESTERN FRONT
Aisne and Meuse: Germans retreat before US I Corps which captures Buzancy and links with French Fourth Army.
Sambre: Mutiny of Eastern Front reinforcements for German Seventeenth Army; they have to be disarmed by a storm battalion.
Scheldt: Canadian Corps (c.380 casualties) captures Valenciennes with 1,800 PoWs and 7 guns, over 800 Germans killed.
Battle of Przemyśl – Ukrainian and Polish soldiers clashed at Przemyśl in the former region of Galicia
The Battle of Przemyśl - a struggle for the control over the city of Przemyśl in former Austro-Hungarian Galicia and local river crossings on the San river, between Ukrainian and Polish militias and regular troops, from 2 to 12 November 1918, during the Polish-Ukrainian War. In 1918 the city of Przemyśl (Ukrainian: Peremyshl) formed a part of the Austrian province Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria and was its third biggest city after Krakow and Lviv (Polish: Lwów, German: Lemberg). It was also the biggest Austro-Hungarian fortress north of the Carpathians (and the site of a 1914-1915 famous siege in World War I), and contained key road and railway crossings on the San River, linking Krakow and Lviv.
The San River also marked the border between the eastern and western parts of the province; the western part was overwhelmingly Polish while the eastern part was ethnically more mixed. Ukrainians dominated the rural areas, while ethnic Poles were a majority in the cities, which also continued a substantial Jewish minority. At the turn of the 20th century Poles constituted 78.7% of the population of western Galicia, Ukrainians 13.2%, Jews 7.6%, Germans 0.3% and others 0.2%. The population data for eastern Galicia was Ukrainians 64.5%, Poles 21.0%, Jews 13.7%, Germans 0.3% and others 0.5%. According to the Austro-Hungarian census of 1910, Przemyśl had 54,692 permanent inhabitants, of whom 47% were Roman Catholics, 30% Jews and 22% Greek Catholis.
In the waning days of the Habsburg Empire, both Polish and Ukrainian populations were preparing to form their own separate states in the former Austrian territories. The mixed ethnic populations resulted in large parts of Galicia being perceived as Polish or Ukrainian simultaneously, which was the main reason for the coming conflict. Due to the collapse of the Habsburg monarchy, the soldiers garrisoning Przemyśl's fortress deserted in droves, and those not taking part in revolutionary activities were in the process of returning to their homelands. This, along with the disintegration of civil authority, created a vacuum in government. Polish, Jewish and Ukrainian areas of the city began to form their own militias, to protect their respective populations.
On the night of October 29 Gen. Stanislaw Puchalski, recently appointed by the Polish Regency Council to command Polish forces in Galicia, arrived in the city with the task of organizing Polish military forces and a civil administration. In response to what they perceived as a coming Polish takeover, approximately 600 mostly Ukrainian soldiers from the former Austro-Hungarian 9th Infantry Regiment, stationed in nearby Żurawica and led by Ukrainian nationalists supporting the Ukrainian National Rada (UNR) movement, marched into the city, seizing military strongpoints and interning non-Ukrainian military personnel. Soon afterward, however, most of the Ukrainian troops left the city and headed home. On the night of October 31/November 1, 1918, the Ukrainian National Rada in Lviv issued a proclamation in the name of the Ukrainian state in Galicia. Immediately afterward Ukrainian forces attempted to seize Lviv, resulting in the uprising of Lviv's Polish majority, which continued into 1919. Ukrainian nationalists also attempted a takeover of Przemyśl, but they lacked sufficient troops to accomplish that goal and soon halted the action. The ongoing battle in Lviv and the attempt to seize Przemyśl further contributed to the antagonisms between Ukrainian and Polish residents in the city. Polish fighters from Polish Military Organisation (POW) began to seize the city's key points, such as the railroad station. By the end of November 1 most of Przemyśl's crucial areas were in Polish hands.
To forestall further clashes, cease-fire talks were started between the two sides. The Poles were represented by Aleksander Skarbek and Zygmunt Lasocki, while the Ukrainians were represented by Volodymyr Zahaikevych. An agreement was soon reached, and a bilateral commission was created to govern the city. The commission was composed of four Polish and four Ukrainian members and also included one representative of Przemyśl's Jewish community. A mixed Polish-Ukrainian-Jewish police force was formed to maintain order within the city. However, this did not stop the growing tensions, which eventually resulted in demonstrations and sporadic clashes that resulted in injuries and deaths on both sides. On the night of November 3/4, 220 armed Ukrainian farmers from the nearby villages of Medyka, Nehrybka, Pikulice and Sielec arrived in Przemyśl. Supported by the local Ukrainian militia and a group of 30 Ukrainian Sich Riflemen, they drove Polish forces out of the city center, and by 4:00 a.m. the Ukrainians controlled the eastern half of the city. They captured Puchalski and his staff and placed them in custody. The city's west bank known as the Zasanie, was still in Polish hands, defended by POW soldiers led by Lt. Leon Kozubski, together with a mixed force of volunteers—mostly scouts—students and youngsters. They were later dubbed the "Przemyśl Eaglets" (Polish: Orlęta Przemyskie), in honor of the more famous Lwów Eaglets.
On November 4 a cease-fire was signed in which the Ukrainians agreed to release detained Polish officers, including Gen. Puchalski, and turn over a portion of food rations from the fortress' stores to the Polish side. The San River was to form a provisional demarcation line. The armistice was not kept very long, however, and clashes between both sides continued, including a Ukrainian attempt to cross the river on November 6. On November 10 approximately 400 Polish reinforcements from Krakow (the so-called "San Group") with four artillery pieces arrived by train, commanded by Julian Stachiewicz. The armored train Śmiały also accompanied the troops. On November 11 an ultimatum was issued by the Polish leadership in which they demanded that the Ukrainian forces withdraw from Przemyśl, effectively ceding control of the city to the Poles. The ultimatum was rejected, and at noon on November 11 Polish forces unleashed an artillery barrage on the Ukrainian-controlled right bank of the San. This was followed by Polish forces using the bridges across the river—which the Ukrainians had failed to blow up—to assault the city. By that evening the Poles had taken over the main railway station, the market square and most of the town itself. By November 12 all Ukrainian forces had either withdrawn from or had been driven out of the city.
The successful takeover of Przemyśl enabled the Poles to send reinforcements to the besieged Lviv—which up to that time was virtually cut off from central Poland—via the Przemyśl-Lviv railway line, enabling them to eventually free the city.
The town had previously endured siege back in 1914-1915
The Siege of Przemyśl was the longest siege of the First World War,[4] and a crushing defeat for Austria-Hungary against the Russian attackers. Przemyśl (German: Premissel) was a fortress town on the River San and a Galician stronghold. The investment of Przemyśl began on September 16, 1914, and was briefly suspended on October 11 due to an Austro-Hungarian offensive. The siege resumed again on November 9 and the Austro-Hungarian garrison surrendered on March 22, 1915, after holding out for a total of 133 days.
MIDDLE EAST
Turkey: Enver, Talaat and Djemal leave Constantinople in German naval ship for Ukraine.
Mesopotamia: Marshall gets full armistice terms; General Cassels sees Ali Ihsan, arranges advance to within 2 miles of Mosul.
AFRICA
Rhodesia: Lettow bombards Fife in Northern Rhodesia but declines to assault (premature shell explodes mortar) while 1/4th King’s African Rifles 23 miles to east. Lettow advances into Northern Rhodesia with 400 cattle; at Mwenzo Mission increases quinine
supply to over 30lb (enough to last to June 1919).
SEA WAR
Baltic: Mass meeting of 3rd Squadron sailors in Waldweisse meadow, Kiel. Stoker Karl Artelt urges men to persist for their imprisoned shipmates’ release and gain support from shipyard workers; 5 other speakers demand continuing resistance and refusal to obey orders (reactionary officers deserve to be ‘clubbed to death’), and an immediate end to war. Kiel Governor Admiral Souchon (of Goeben fame) attempts to disperse the crowd with 2 naval infantry coys, but both units refuse to open fire.
Constantinople*: Germans hand over battlecruiser Goeben and U-boats to Turks.
AIR WAR
Western Front – First attempted ‘cloud’ (blind) bombing (using dead reckoning): lone DH9a of No 99 Squadron RAF drops 3 x 112lb bombs in area of Avricourt rail junction and nearby dump.
A selection of DH.9s (99 Squadron can be seen at the top)
General Headquarters, November 3rd.
"On November 2nd low clouds and rain considerably interfered with flying operations, but some valuable reconnaissance and photographic work was accomplished. Our machines, working in conjunction with our artillery, reported many targets to them, of which they took full advantage, and under the accurate observation thus afforded caused considerable damage to hostile gun positions, active batteries, transport and troops. The confusion caused was materially added to by our aeroplanes with bombs and machine-gun fire. Five and three-quarter tons of bombs were dropped during the day, chiefly in the enemy's forward areas. There was very little activity on the part of the enemy's aircraft. One German machine was destroyed in air fighting, and one was shot down by our anti-aircraft guns. Three of our machines are missing. No operations could be carried out at night on account of weather conditions."
RAF Communiqué No 31:
Weather: Low clouds and rain.
Twenty-six reconnaissances, 55 contact and counter-attack patrols.
Twenty-two hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, 25 neutralized, 353 zone calls sent.
Two and a quarter tons of bombs dropped by night and 5½ tons by day.
Enemy Aircraft:
Activity very slight.
Capt R B Bannerman, 79 Sqn, Halberstadt CL crashed Sulsique at 10:00/ 11:00 -
Casualties:
2nd-Lieut L Reader (Wia), 19 Sqn, Dolphin – combat
Lieut J W Bell (Ok), 64 Sqn, SE5a E5941 - shot through bottom longeron by E.A.A fire on OP
Lieut H R Abey (Pow), 54 Sqn, Camel H7079 - last seen at 6,000 feet going down under control south of Tournai 15:30/16:30 on offensive patrol
The following claims were made on this day
It was another bad day however for the RAF with 45 the loss of another 45 airmen - the ravages of influenza are really beginning to be seen now as I can find very few of these men who died in combat or in air related incidents.
HOME FRONTS
Austria: 69th Hungarian Infantry Regiment deserts Schoenbrunn Palace (Hungarian troops later officially allowed to go home) but Wiener Neustadt military cadets (military academies close) replace them. Emperor Charles refuses Archduke Joseph’s call to abdicate as King of Hungary. Slovenes take over Carniola Province.
Germany: Hindenburg appeals for unity. Unions and industrialists demand demobilization office instead of Imperial Economic Office.
USA: New York’s worst subway accident (97 killed, 100 injured).
The Malbone Street Wreck, also known as the Brighton Beach Line Accident, was a rapid transit railroad accident that occurred November 1, 1918, on the Brighton Beach Line beneath the intersection of Flatbush Avenue, Ocean Avenue, and Malbone Street (now known as Empire Boulevard), in the community of Flatbush, Brooklyn. At least 93 people died, making it one of the deadliest train crashes in the history of the United States, as well as the deadliest in the history of the New York City Subway. The wreck occurred the evening of November 1, 1918, at 6:42 p.m., during the last days of World War I. An elevated train, consisting of five cars constructed primarily of wood, entered the tunnel portal beneath Malbone Street going toward the Prospect Park station, negotiating a curve designated to be taken at 6 miles per hour (10 km/h) at a speed estimated at between 30 and 40 mph (48 and 64 km/h). The trailing truck of the first car derailed, and the two following cars completely left the tracks, tearing off their left-hand sides and most of their roofs. The first and fourth cars sustained relatively minor damage, while the second and third cars were severely damaged. The fifth suffered no damage at all. The motorman was not injured and left the scene of the accident.
The Malbone Street Wreck was the result of a series of individual circumstances, as follows:
BLE strike
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE), representing some of the motormen operating elevated trains of the BRT, went on strike from the company on the morning of November 1 over issues involving union organization and the discharge from employment of a number of BLE members. This created a shortage of motormen to operate the system.
Motorman's lack of experience
The motorman was Edward Luciano, a crew dispatcher with limited experience operating elevated trains, who was pressed into service during the strike emergency. He had never operated an elevated train in passenger service before. He was not familiar with the Brighton Beach Line, and his only experience moving trains was parking non-revenue trains in a train yard a year earlier. He had been taken over the line earlier by a motorman instructor as part of his two hours of training. Normally a motorman in that era received sixty hours of training before being allowed to control a revenue-generating train.
Tunnel layout
The single-track tunnel in which the wreck occurred had been opened only weeks prior to the accident. It consisted of a sharp reverse curve designed to take Coney Island-bound trains of the Brighton Beach Line around a new mainline, which was under construction. Previously, trains entered Prospect Park through an older tunnel, which provided a straighter, more direct route. Trains going northbound continued to come straight out of Prospect Park and used the original track that led onto the BMT Franklin Avenue Line via a straight tunnel, still in use.
Train coupling
The train consisted of three motor cars and two trailer cars. The motor cars were about twice as heavy as the trailer cars, and the trailers were significantly more top-heavy, especially with a passenger load. Standard procedure was to avoid coupling two trailer cars together by having a single trailer between two motor cars. The heavier motor cars provided stability for the lighter trailers. In the Malbone Street wreck train, two trailers were coupled together, and it was these two cars, in order numbers 80 and 100, that sustained the bulk of the damage, both to the cars and to the passengers.
Train speed
The train was operating at a speed of at least 30 mph (48 km/h) when it derailed. The accident occurred within the reverse curve, which had a speed limit of 6 mph (10 km/h). The motorman stated during his interview that he had attempted to slow the train, but the subsequent investigation of the wreck indicated that no attempt to engage the emergency brake had been made and that he had not attempted to reverse the train's motors. Witnesses interviewed by The New York Times also stated that the train had not slowed approaching or in the S-curve until the cars left the tracks. In the minutes leading up to the wreck, the motorman had difficulty timing the train's progress, overshooting multiple stations.
The accident placed more pressure on the BRT to remove wooden equipment from routes that operated through tunnel sections or in subways, though this use was already limited. Wooden cars returned to use in the tunnel for another nine years, and cars of partial wooden construction remained in elevated service until 1969. Additional safety devices were added to the subway and elevated system over the years, including more effective dead-man's controls to halt runaway trains, and signalling and automatic trackside devices called trippers or train stops to reduce the likelihood of trains operating too fast for conditions. The three motorized cars involved in the wreck—lead car 726, fourth car 725, and final car 1064—were repaired and returned to service. The severely damaged trailers, 100 and 80, were scrapped; car 80 was cut up during the wreck cleanup. In the wake of the tragedy, the majority of Malbone Street was renamed Empire Boulevard, a name it still bears today. A detached one-block section of the street in Crown Heights, Brooklyn still bears the original "Malbone Street" name. The Malbone Street tunnel in which the wreck occurred continued in daily passenger operation for 40 years, although it was no longer part of the main line after 1920. The tunnel today is part of the Franklin Avenue Shuttle, but is not used in regular service.
In 1974, another accident at the same site, involving a split switch rather than an overspeed condition, occurred when a slow-speed train of R32 subway cars derailed and hit the wall. There were no injuries, but a damaged car was scrapped.
In 2018, Dave Kelly and Simon Fraser began serializing a Tales of the Night Watchman comic entitled "The Ghost Train" in the Park Slope Reader, a local Brooklyn paper, about the elevated train involved in the infamous wreck returning to terrorize the city in the present. The story debuted in the paper's Spring 2018 edition, number 64.
and finally...
Captain Tunstill's Men: The British advance resumed, towards the River Tagliamento, meeting little resistance as the Austrians had withdrawn beyond the river. Following the attacking units, the Battalion marched 16 miles north-east, via Sacile and Tamai to Porcia, where the whole Battalion was billeted in one farm on the western edge of the village. 2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 30th October) remembered “we moved up, following the fighting and reached a new village. The cig issue was still practically nil and I remember here the men sat in little groups sharing a cig between them – a good ‘draw’ each and pass it on”.
Armistice Countdown 9 days
Never Knowingly Undergunned !!
Yet another phenomenal edition Chris.
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
One does one's best - takes a bit of trawling sometimes to find enough stories to make a good edition.
Thank you
Never Knowingly Undergunned !!
Only caught this one because it featured on today's BBC News. And we thought that Snipers' Times was a bit slow getting out its late edition.
Rob.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-40175696
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
3rd November 1918
The Beginning of The End
SOUTHERN FRONTS
Italian Front: AUSTRIAN ARMISTICE SIGNED AT 1800 HOURS by Generals Weber and Badoglio at Diaz’s Villa Giusti headquarter near Padua. Austrian Army group commanders suspend hostilities from 0330 hours. Italians (from Venice) land at Trieste, occupy Trento. British 48th Division completes haul of 23,000 PoWs with 14 battalions. Italian cavalry cross Tagliamento and regain Udine.
Austria-Hungary signed the Armistice of Villa Giusti with the Allies in Padua to end the war on the Italian Front.
The Armistice of Villa Giusti ended warfare between Italy and Austria-Hungary on the Italian Front during World War I. The armistice was signed on 3 November 1918 in the Villa Giusti, outside Padua in the Veneto, northern Italy, and took effect 24 hours later. By the end of October 1918, the Austro-Hungarian Army was so fatigued that its commanders were forced to seek a ceasefire.
In the final stage of the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, a stalemate was reached and the troops of Austria-Hungary started a chaotic withdrawal. From 28 October onwards, Austria-Hungary sought to negotiate a truce but hesitated to sign the text of armistice. In the meantime, the Italians reached Trento, Udine, and landed in Trieste. After the threat to break off negotiations, the Austro-Hungarians, on 3 November, accepted the terms.
The cease-fire would start at 3pm on 4 November, but a unilateral order of the Austro-Hungarian high command made its forces stop fighting on 3 November.
Under the terms of the armistice, Austria-Hungary’s forces were required to evacuate not only all territory occupied since August 1914 but also South Tirol, Tarvisio, the Isonzo Valley, Gorizia, Trieste, Istria, western Carniola, and Dalmatia. All German forces should be expelled from Austria-Hungary within 15 days or interned, and the Allies were to have free use of Austria-Hungary’s internal communications. They were also obliged to allow the transit of the Entente armies, to reach Germany from the South. Beginning in November 1918, the Italian Army with 20,000-22,000 soldiers occupied Innsbruck and all North Tyrol.
After the war, the Kingdom of Italy annexed the Southern Tyrol (now Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol), according to the secret Treaty of London terms as well as Trieste and the Austrian Littoral.
The list of signatories:
Italy:
Tenente Generale Pietro Badoglio
Maggior Generale Scipione Scipioni
Colonnello Tullio Marchetti
Colonnello Pietro Gazzera
Colonnello Pietro Maravigna
Colonnello Alberto Pariani
Capitano di Vascello Francesco Accinni
Austria-Hungary:
General Viktor Weber Edler von Webenau
Oberst Karl Schneller
Fregattenkapitaen Johannes Prinz von und zu Liechtenstein
Oberstleutnant J.V. Nyékhegyi
Korvettenkapitaen Georg Ritter von Zwierkowski
Oberstleutnant i.G. Victor Freiherr von Seiller
Liberation of Serbia, Albania and Montenegro – Allied forces reached Bosnia and stopped as the ceasefire with Austria-Hungary had been signed.
Battle of Vittorio Veneto – The battle ended as soon as the armistice between the Allies and Austria-Hungary was signed. At that point, the Central Power has suffered 30,000 killed and wounded with another 300,000 taken prisoner. Italy sustained 37,461 casualties, with most from the attempt to recapture Monte Grappa.
Bombing campaigns between Italy and Austria-Hungary ended. Since 1915, Austria-Hungary conducted 343 bombing raids on Italy, killing 984 people and injuring 1,193
Hauptmann i.G. Camillo Ruggera.
The Kiel Mutiny
The Kiel mutiny was a major revolt by sailors of the German High Seas Fleet on 3 November 1918. The revolt triggered the German revolution which was to sweep aside the monarchy within a few days. It ultimately led to the end of the German Empire and to the establishment of the Weimar Republic.
By September 1918, Germany's military situation was close to hopeless. Kaiser Wilhelm II was advised to request the Entente for an immediate cease fire and put the government on a democratic footing, hoping for more favorable peace terms. On 3 October, the Kaiser appointed Prince Maximilian of Baden as the new imperial chancellor. In his cabinet the Social Democrats (SPD) also took on responsibility. The most prominent and highest-ranking was Philipp Scheidemann, a prominent leader of the SPD as undersecretary without portfolio. Following the Battle of Jutland, the capital ships of the imperial navy had been confined to inactive service in harbor. Many officers and crewmen had volunteered to transfer to the submarines and light vessels which still had a major part to play in the war. The discipline and spirit of those who remained, on lower rations, with the battleships tied up at dock-side, inevitably suffered. On 2 August 1917, 350 crewmen of the dreadnought Prinzregent Luitpold staged a protest demonstration in Wilhelmshaven. Two of the ringleaders were executed by firing squad while others were sentenced to prison. During the remaining months of the war, secret sailors' councils were formed on a number of the capital ships.
In October 1918, the imperial naval command in Kiel under Admiral Franz von Hipper planned to dispatch the fleet for a final battle against the Royal Navy in the English Channel. The naval order of 24 October 1918 and the preparations to sail triggered a mutiny among the affected sailors and then a general revolution which was to sweep aside the monarchy within a few days.
The sailors' revolt started on the Schillig Roads off Wilhelmshaven, where the German fleet had anchored in expectation of a planned battle. During the night from 28 to 30 October 1918 some crews refused to obey orders. Sailors on board three ships from the Third Navy Squadron refused to weigh anchor. Part of the crew on SMS Thüringen and SMS Helgoland, two battleships from the First Navy Squadron, committed outright mutiny and sabotage. However, when, a day later, some torpedo boats pointed their cannons at these ships, the mutineers gave up and were led away without any resistance. Nevertheless, the naval command had to drop its plans as it was felt that the crew's loyalty could no longer be relied upon. The Third Navy Squadron was ordered back to Kiel.
The squadron commander, Vizeadmiral Hugo Kraft, exercised a maneuver with his battleships in the Heligoland Bight. When it "functioned perfectly (tadellos funktionierte)" he believed he was master of his crews again. While moving through the Kiel Canal he had 47 sailors from the Markgraf, who were seen as the ringleaders, imprisoned. In Holtenau (end of the canal in Kiel) they were brought to the Arrestanstalt (the military prison in Kiel) and to Fort Herwarth in the north of Kiel. The sailors and stokers were now pulling out all the stops to prevent the fleet from setting sail again and to achieve the release of their comrades. Some 250 met in the evening of 1 November in the Union House in Kiel. Delegations sent to their officers requesting the mutineers' release were not heard. The sailors were now looking for closer ties to the unions, the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD) and the SPD. Thereupon the Union House was closed by police, leading to an even larger joint open-air meeting on 2 November, at the large drill ground (Großer Exerzierplatz).
Led by the sailor Karl Artelt, who worked in the repair ship yard for torpedo boats in Kiel-Wik and by the mobilized shipyard worker Lothar Popp, both USPD members, the sailors called for a large meeting the following day at the same place. This call was heeded by several thousand people on the afternoon of 3 November with workers' representatives also being present. The slogan "Frieden und Brot" (peace and bread) was raised showing that the sailors and workers demanded not only the release of the imprisoned but also the end of the war and the improvement of food provisions. Eventually the people supported Artelt's call to free the prisoners and they moved in the direction of the military prison. Sublieutenant Steinhäuser, who had orders to stop the demonstrators, ordered his patrol to give warning shots and then to shoot directly into the demonstrators. Seven men were killed and 29 were seriously injured. Some demonstrators also opened fire. Steinhäuser was severely injured by rifle-butt blows and shots, but contrary to later statements, he was not killed. After this incident, commonly viewed as the starting point of the German revolution, the demonstrators dispersed and the patrol withdrew.
Wilhelm Souchon, the governor of the naval station, initially asked for outside troops but revoked his request for military assistance when his staff claimed the situation was under control. Souchon had been deployed to Kiel only a few days earlier on 30 October 1918 and therefore had to rely heavily on his staff. On 4 November, however, the request was renewed, resulting in six infantry companies being brought to Kiel. Some units stayed in the city quarter Wik and in the Marinestation der Ostsee. However, these troops also showed signs of disintegration and some joined the revolutionaries or went back.
On the morning of 4 November groups of mutineers moved through the town. Sailors in a large barracks compound in a northern district of Kiel (Wik Garnison: Tirpitz Hafen) refused obedience: after a division inspection of the commander, spontaneous demonstrations took place. Karl Artelt organized the first soldiers' council, and soon many more were set up. The governor of the navy station had to negotiate and to order the withdrawal of the units. The imprisoned sailors and stokers were freed.
Soldiers and workers brought public and military institutions under their control. When, against Souchon's promise, different troops advanced to quash the rebellion, they were intercepted by the mutineers and were either sent back or joined the sailors and workers. By the evening of 4 November, Kiel was firmly in the hands of approximately 40,000 rebellious sailors, soldiers and workers, as was Wilhelmshaven two days later... More tomorrow
The Imperial German Navy scuttled several destroyers including SMS V47 near Ghent, Belgium
SEA WAR
Baltic – GERMAN NAVY MUTINY AT KIEL: 3,000 sailors and workers converge on Waldweisse in Kiel; a USPD representative and shipyard workers proclaim solidarity. The elated crowd then marches towards Feldstrasse naval gaol, but is fired on in Karlstrasse by 48 officer cadets and shipmates (Lieutenant Steinhauser), 8 killed, 39 wounded. Crowd retaliates with stones and a few rifle shots (Steinhauser killed), then disperses.
Adriatic*: Italian Navy from Venice, Ancona, Brindisi and Albania begins occupying 32 Dalmatian Islands and Adriatic ports (until December 5) beginning with Trieste and Pelagosa Island (4 small craft) and Lissa island.
WESTERN FRONT
Flanders: Belgians reach outskirts of Ghent.
Aisne and Argonne: Franco-American offensive ends; Lille-Metz rail line severed. French IX Corps takes Basancourt Farm.
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Rumania: Mackensen proposes immediate evacuation (US decrypt message, Mackensen receives Rumanian ultimatum on November 9 and begins pullout November 10).
POLITICS
Austria: AUSTRIAN ARMISTICE WITH ALLIES signed at noon (effective November 4, published November 6) after Emperor Charles relin*quishes supreme command to Arz (Kovess nominated November 4).
Allies agree to Germans request for armistice.
Poland: Republic declared at Warsaw.
Serbia: Serb Government re-enters Belgrade. Yugoslav Republic declared at Agram.
THE AIR WAR
General Headquarters, November 4th.
"On November 3rd, low clouds and rain greatly restricted flying operations, but some reconnaissance and artillery observation work was successful and nearly 1¾ tons of light bombs were dropped on enemy camps, transport, and other suitable targets. Hostile aircraft showed only slight activity during the day. In air fighting, six German machines were shot down and two were driven down out of control. Three of our machines are missing. At night, in spite of very unfavourable weather conditions, some of our machines succeeded in attacking important railway junctions on the enemy's lines of communications, dropping nearly 6½ tons of bombs. One of these machines failed to return."
Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force, November 3rd.
"Our machines to-day carried out heavy attacks on the railways in and around Saarburg. Several bursts were seen on railway lines, but owing to unfavourable weather, results were most difficult to observe. One squadron attacked Buhl with good results, hits being obtained on and near the hangars. All our machines returned."
RAF Communiqué No 31:
Weather; Low clouds and rain.
Twenty-four reconnaissances, 27 contact and counter-attack patrols.
Six hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, 13 neutralized, 124 zone calls sent.
No night bombing carried out, 1½ tons of bombs dropped by day.
On the 3rd instant, two targets engaged with balloon observation.
Enemy Aircraft:
Activity slight.
Lieut F J Stevenson, 79 Sqn, Halberstadt CL crashed Hoorbeke at 10:20/ 11:20 -
Lieut W Sidebottom, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII Destroyed north of Prisches at 10:30/ 11:30 -
Capt J Cottle, 45 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Herbeville at 11:55/ 12:55 -
Capt D Grinnell-Milne, 56 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control north-east of Valenciennes at 12:00/ 13:00 -
Capt D R G Mackay & Lieut H C T Gompertz, 55 IF, Fokker DVII out of control Metz - Montoy at 12:15/ 13:15 -
Lieut H E Johnston & 2nd Lieut W H Dawkes, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Forêt de Mormal at 13:30/ 14:30 -
Lieut H J Gye & Lieut S P B de Moyse-Backnall, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Forêt de Mormal at 13:30/ 14:30 -
Lieut G E Randall & Lieut G V Learmond, 20 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed south-west of Berlaimont at 13:30/ 14:30 -
2nd Lieut A W Emery & 2nd Lieut F Nottingham, 35 Sqn, two-seater crashed east of Landrecies at 14:15/ 15:15 -
Lieut E G Davies, 29 Sqn, DFW C in flames Celles at 14:30/ 15:30 -
Capt J C Speaks, 56 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed west of Brie at 15:05/ 16:05 -
2nd Lieut C F C Wilson, 84 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed (pilot parachuted) Mormal Wood at 15:30/ 16:30 -
Lieut F H Taylor, 84 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Mormal Wood at 15:30/ 16:30 -
2nd Lieut F M Stieber, 73 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Leval (north-east of Landrecies) at 15:45/ 16:45 -
Casualties:
? (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut C A Stubings (Wia), 12 Sqn, RE8 - ground fire
Lieut A C Macaulay (Ok), 43 Sqn, Snipe E8004 - missing from OP last seen gliding west near Maubeuge at 9,000 feet, reported missing but okay
Lieut A H Alban (Wia) & ? (Ok), 53 Sqn, RE8 - combat?
2nd-Lieut F W Dey (Wia) & ? (Ok), 59 Sqn, RE8 - machine-gun fire
2nd-Lieut R R Thomson (Killed), 70 Sqn, Camel E7198 - spun into ground in forced landing Sh29.P.32.c [west of Avelghem] after shot through main petrol tank at 1,000 feet on line patrol
Capt W E Reed (Wia), 92 Sqn, SE5a - anti-aircraft fire
Lieut E Milner (Wia) & 2nd-Lieut D E Coe (Kia), 5 Sqn, RE8 E1107 - took off 13:25/14:25 then missing on artillery patrol and subsequently located Sh44.W.18.b.9.2 [east of Bruay sur l'Escaut]; Vzfw Erich Buder, Ja26, 11th victory [Onnaing at 13:50/14:50] Onnaing is 5 Km south-east of Bruay sur l'Escaut
Lieut J Bullough (Pow), 64 Sqn, SE5a F864 - took off 14:20/15:20 then missing on OP 1st Army Front
Lieut P Greenwood (Pow), 40 Sqn, SE5a E5739 - took off 13:05/14:05 and last seen over St Amand 15:45/16:45 going north-west with E.A. on tail after engagement with Fokker formation on patrol
The following claims were made on this day
Another 39 British airmen were lost - again most to influenza rather than to combat or combat related reasons, including:
The Robespierre Monument (Russian: Памятник Робеспьеру) was one of the first monuments erected in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (later part of the Soviet Union), raised in Moscow on 3 November 1918 – just ahead of the first anniversary of the October Revolution, which had brought the Bolsheviks to power. It depicted Maximilien de Robespierre, a prominent figure of the French Revolution. Located in Alexander Garden, it had been designed by the sculptor Beatrice Yuryevna Sandomierz (Russian: Беатриса Юрьевна Сандомирская). Created as part of the "monumental propaganda" plan, the monument was commissioned by Vladimir Lenin, who in an edict referred to Robespierre as a "Bolshevik avant la lettre". It was only one of several planned statues depicting French revolutionaries – others were to be made of Georges Danton, François-Noël Babeuf and Jean-Paul Marat, although only the one of Danton was ever completed. Another, also featuring Robespierre, was raised in Petrograd.
Created in the context of the ongoing Russian Civil War and with the country in a state of war communism, there were few materials available to make the statue. Lacking bronze or marble, the monument was instead constructed using concrete, with hollow pipes running through it.This design proved frail, lasting only a few days. On the morning of 7 November only a pile of rubble remained. Over the following days different newspapers supplied varying versions as to why it collapsed, with Znamya Trudovoi Kommuny and others saying it was the work of "criminal" (counter-revolutionary) hands, and Izvestia stating the statue's demise was caused by improper construction.
Captain Tunstill's Men - with the signing of the Armistice on the Italian front - the war (for them at least) was now over...
The whole of 23rd Division had originally been ordered to advance, but the orders were subsequently cancelled, and the Battalion remained in billets.
Meanwhile, the Anglo-Italian advance had continued and, with the Austrian position now hopeless, an armistice was signed, to come into effect at 3pm the following day.
2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 2nd November) remembered, “One picture is very clear in my mind, however, connected with the village which represented our battalions’ farthest advance into enemy held territory – it was well beyond the River Piave and towards the River Tagliamento and not far from Udine. The picture was of a constant stream of Austrian prisoners passing through the village on their way back to the prisoners’ cages. I have never seen such a wretched sight. They slouched along, four deep, haggard, ragged, dirty, sullen (some), sad (all), some carried on stretchers, others hobbling and helped by pals, hopeless and hungry for they were being taken back in large numbers and probably could only be fed properly farther back. On and on the procession went; no end to it. It depressed me very much. How stupid war is!
I remember once – amongst other times – when this feeling of the senselessness of war came on me. I wandered off alone and sat down and thought of home and Skipton. For some reason my thoughts turned to Rankin’s Well on the moor and I actually wrote several verses about it and the good times we had and father and mother (your grandpa and grandma) had had there. I’m sorry I can’t remember a single line now and the reason I wrote them may have been that I felt ill of a slight fever soon after”.
2Lt. John William Pontefract (see 27th October) and Pte. Richard Harrison (see 27th October), who had been wounded a week previously, were transferred from 62nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia to 81st General Hospital in Marseilles.
Cpl. Alfred Bradbury (see 27th October), who had been wounded a week previously, was transferred from 11th General Hospital in Genoa to 57th General Hospital in Marseilles.
Pte. Michael Newton (see 19th October) was transferred from 38th Stationary Hospital in Genoa to 57th General Hospital in Marseilles; he was suffering from diarrhoea.
Capt. Hugh William Lester MC (see 3rd September), serving in France as Brigade Major to 11th Infantry Brigade, departed on eight days’ leave to Paris.
Armistice Countdown 8 days
Never Knowingly Undergunned !!
4th November 1918
The Second Battle of the Sambre (4 November 1918) (which included the Second Battle of Guise (French: 2ème Bataille de Guise) and the Battle of Thiérache (French: Bataille de Thiérache) was part of the final European Allied offensives of World War I.
At the front, German resistance was falling away. Unprecedented numbers of prisoners were taken in the Battle of the Selle, and a new attack was quickly prepared. The French First Army and the British First, Third, and Fourth Armies were tasked with advancing from south of the Condé Canal along a 30-mile (48 km) front toward Maubeuge-Mons, threatening Namur. Together with the American forces breaking out of the forests of Argonne, this would, if successful, disrupt the German efforts to reform a shortened defensive line along the Meuse. At dawn on November 4th, 17 British and 11 French divisions headed the attack. The Tank Corps, its resources badly stretched, could provide only 37 tanks for support.
The first barrier to the northern attack was the 60–70-foot (18–21 m)-wide Sambre Canal and the flooded ground around it. It was there that the BEF had fought over four years earlier. The XIII and IX Corps reached the canal first. German guns quickly ranged the attackers, and bodies piled up before the temporary bridges were properly emplaced under heavy fire. The 1st and 32nd Divisions of IX Corps lost around 1,150 men in the crossing, including celebrated war poet Wilfred Owen. Even after the crossing the German forces defended in depth amid the small villages and fields, and it was not until midday that a 2-mile-deep (3 km) by 15-mile-wide (24 km) breach was secured. Lieutenant Colonel D.G. Johnson was awarded the Victoria Cross for leading the 2nd Battalion Sussex Regiment's crossing of the canal.
Further north, IV and V Corps attacked into Forêt de Mormal. At Le Quesnoy, the Germans defence was haphazard: the 13th Royal Welsh Fusiliers hardly needed to use their guns, while the 9th Battalion of the 17th Division lost all but two officers and 226 of 583 soldiers.[citation needed] Despite this, the advance continued and the battle objectives were reached on the 4th or the following day. To the south, the French First Army attacked, capturing the communes of Guise (the Second Battle of Guise) and Origny-en-Thiérache (the Battle of Thiérache). This resulted in a bridgehead almost 50 miles (80 km) long being made, to a depth of 2–3 miles (3–5 km). From this point, the northern Allies advanced relentlessly, sometimes more than five miles a day, until the Armistice Line of 11 November from Ghent, through Hourain, Bauffe, Havré, to near Consoire, and Sivry.
The Capture of Le Quesnoy
The Capture of Le Quesnoy was an engagement of the First World War that took place on 4 November 1918 as part of the Battle of the Sambre. Elements of the New Zealand Division scaled the fortified walls of the French town of Le Quesnoy and captured it from the defending German garrison. Beginning at 5:30 am, the New Zealand Rifle Brigade advanced from its starting positions east of the town, aiming to surround it and link up on the far side. By late morning, the linkup had been achieved and other elements of the New Zealand Division moved further west into the Mormal Forest, leaving the Rifle Brigade to capture the town itself. After mopping up outlying outposts, the New Zealanders moved up to the ramparts of the town, but were held back by machine-gun fire. Late in the afternoon, a scouting party located an unguarded section of the walls and the brigade's 4th Battalion managed to climb the ramparts and move into the town, quickly seizing it. The capture of Le Quesnoy was the last major engagement of the war for the New Zealanders.
By mid-1918, the German Army had been fought to a standstill after its Spring Offensive and the Allies had sought to take the initiative. Accordingly, the Hundred Days Offensive began on 8 August, with an attack on Amiens which marked the beginning of a series of advances by the Allies that ultimately ended the war. By late October, the New Zealand Division, commanded by Major General Andrew Russell, along with part of the British Third Army, had advanced to the west of the town of Le Quesnoy. The Battle of the Sambre, which was planned to begin on 4 November, was the next phase of the Allied advance. The battle was to consist of a series of engagements mounted by the British First, Third and Fourth Armies across a 30-mile (48 km) front, extending from Oisy to Valenciennes, that were conceptualised to cut off the German line of retreat from the French Army front. IV Corps, with the New Zealand Division and the 37th Division, was to surround Le Quesnoy[4] and its garrison of over 1,500 soldiers. The 37th Division was on the southern flank of the New Zealand Division while to its north, 62nd Division, of VI Corps, moved south to shorten the New Zealand front. The New Zealand Division was to extend the front line to and around Le Quesnoy and into the Mormal Forest.
The walls of Le Quesnoy, scaled by New Zealand troops when taking the town from German forces on 4 November 1918.
Positioned on high ground between the Ecaillon and Rhonelle Rivers, Le Quesnoy was a medieval town that had been fought over several times in previous centuries. It guarded a natural approach across plains to the north-east and had fortress walls with ramparts designed by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, a 17th-century military engineer. A moat surrounded the town and was in fact two distinct ditches, with 20–30-foot (6.1–9.1 m) high fortifications, effectively an outer rampart, separating them. The town could be entered by three roads, guarded by gates. Le Quesnoy had a population of 5,000 and had been in German hands since August 1914. The Germans also held the Cambrai railway line to the west of Le Quesnoy, and had a strong presence in the area around the intersection of the Valenciennes–Cambrai railway lines, immediately to the north-west of the town.
On 3 November, the New Zealand Division section of the front line was around 2,500 yards (2,300 m) in length, running southwards from a level crossing on the Valenciennes railway line. It was 400 yards (370 m) from the Cambrai railway, with the ramparts of Le Quesnoy a further 400 yards (370 m) to the east. The front line was manned by the four battalions of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Herbert Hart. The ramparts of Le Quesnoy clearly made a frontal attack undesirable and artillery could not be used on the town, due to the presence of the civilian population. Instead, it was intended that under the cover of a smokescreen, the town be enveloped from the north and south, thereby encircling it. Two New Zealand brigades were to be involved; Hart's Rifle Brigade was tasked with the capture of the town, while the 1st Infantry Brigade, under the command of Brigadier General Charles Melvill, was to push into the Mormal Forest. The division's flanks were held by the 62nd Division and the 37th Division, on the left and right respectively and these formations were to make corresponding movements forward. The capture of Le Quesnoy was to be achieved through a series of advances, covered by artillery, by the battalions of the Rifle Brigade with some of the battalions of 1st Infantry Brigade in support. Beginning from the brigade's existing positions, the first advance was to involve the 1st, 2nd and 4th Rifle Battalions moving forward to a line defining an arc to the west of Le Quesnoy, including the railway line, which was designated the "Blue Line". Then the 1st Battalion of the 1st Infantry Brigade would push north-east around the town, while the 3rd Rifle Battalion went to the south-east. The advance westwards would culminate in the establishment of a new front line, designated the "Green Line" to the east of Le Quesnoy, which would be manned by the battalions of 1st Brigade. Once the "Green Line" had been formed, the Rifle Brigade was to move into the town, while the battalions of 1st Brigade were to advance further to the west up to the Mormal Forest.
Plan of attack on Le Quesnoy, 4 November 1918. Published in The New Zealand Division 1916–1918 by Col. H. Stewart, 1921
The covering artillery barrage commenced at 5:30 am and three battalions of the Rifle Brigade moved off towards its first objective, the railway line, which established a continuous front west of Le Quesnoy. This was captured by 7:29 am. A reserve company moved to the railway line to hold it, while the attacking battalions moved forward. A platoon of the reserve company had to deal with 150 Germans, who were retreating from the advance of the flanking 37th Division. Despite the advantage of numbers, the Germans quickly surrendered. By 10:00 am, the battalions of the Rifle Brigade had surrounded Le Quesnoy and established a new front line 1-mile (1.6 km) to the east of the town. The 1st Infantry Brigade moved off to the Mormal Forest, leaving the Rifle Brigade to complete its planned move into the town. The 1,500 strong German garrison, despite being surrounded, did not make any indications of surrender. The 2nd Rifle Battalion probed from the north, while the 3rd Rifle Battalion did the same from the south-east, driving for the Landrecies road which led to one of the entry points into Le Quesnoy. German troops held a bridge on the road in force and were able to keep the New Zealanders at bay in this area. In the north, a small party reached the outer rampart dividing the moat along their stretch of the front. Gunfire from the main ramparts soon drove them off but Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Jardine, commanding the 2nd Rifle Battalion, co-ordinated the movements of his companies, which gradually moved forward. By 4:00 pm mortar fire was able to be brought to bear on the main ramparts and this silenced the German machine-guns. In the meantime, the 4th Rifle Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Harold Barrowclough and positioned a distance from the west wall of the ramparts, had carried out scouting expeditions to explore the defences. Gradually, the German posts around the fortifications fell to the attacking platoons of the battalion. As on the northern side of the town, machine-gun fire from the ramparts prevented any further advance. One party reached the outer rampart but became pinned down by gunfire for several hours. By midday, the situation had settled into a temporary stalemate. In the afternoon, some German prisoners of war were sent into the town with an invitation to surrender but this approach was rebuffed, as had been a similar attempt earlier that morning.
Second Lieutenant Leslie Averill, the intelligence officer for 4th Rifle Battalion, continued to investigate the defences. He was able to locate a route to a section of the ramparts that appeared unmanned and was not under fire from the defenders. He was ordered by Barrowclough to force an approach. With the benefit of covering mortar fire, Averill and a platoon of the battalion reserve company managed to cross the moat and found themselves at the inner ramparts. With the aid of a 30-foot (9.1 m) ladder supplied by the Divisional Engineers, Averill was able to ascend to the top of the ramparts, closely followed by the platoon commander. With his revolver, Averill fired at two Germans manning a guard post, forcing them to cover, and the rest of the platoon joined him. With an entrance through the defenses secured, Barrowclough and the rest of the battalion used the ladder and entered the town shortly afterwards. At the same time, a party from 2nd Rifle Battalion, seized the gate guarding the road into Le Quesnoy from Valenciennes and began entering the town from the north; subsequently, the Germans quickly surrendered.
Over 2,000 Germans were taken prisoner by the division, of whom 711 surrendered in Le Quesnoy.German casualties in the town were 43 killed and 251 men wounded and many more German troops were killed during the advance of the brigade to the ramparts. Four 8-inch howitzers, forty-two 4.2-inch guns and 26 field guns were captured by the 1st New Zealand Brigade. The New Zealand Division operation on 4 November was its most successful day on the Western Front. Of the 122 New Zealanders who died during the capture of Le Quesnoy, the Rifle Brigade sustained the most losses, with 43 killed (with an additional 250 men wounded). Other units of the New Zealand Division involved in the battle lost 79 men killed and about 125 wounded.
An advance into the Mormal Forest was continued the next day by the 2nd Infantry Brigade but the capture of Le Quesnoy was the last major engagement of the war for the New Zealand Division. The New Zealanders began withdrawing to the rear area at midnight on 5 November. A few days after the capture of the town, the mayor of Le Quesnoy presented the Rifle Brigade commander, Herbert Hart, with the French flag that was raised over the town on the day it was captured from the Germans. The town retains links to New Zealand, with some streets named for prominent New Zealanders, including Averill. Since 1999, it has been twinned with Cambridge. A monument commemorating the liberation of Le Quesnoy by the New Zealand Division is set into the rampart wall, near where Averill scaled them.
Today's actions on the Western Front produced no fewer than SEVEN Victoria Crosses
William Amey VC MM (5 March 1881 – 28 May 1940) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Amey was 37 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 1/8th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 4 November 1918 at Landrecies, France, when many hostile machine-gun nests were missed by the leading troops owing to fog, Lance-Corporal Amey led his section against a machine-gun nest under heavy fire and drove the garrison into a neighbouring farm, finally capturing 50 prisoners and several machine-guns. Later, single-handed and under heavy fire he attacked a machine-gun post in a farmhouse, killed two of the garrison and drove the remainder into a cellar until assistance arrived. Subsequently, he rushed a strongly held post, capturing 20 more prisoners.
He later achieved the rank of corporal, and was demobilised in 1919. He was survived by his six children: sons William, John, Leonard and Reginald and his daughters Barbara and ?. Amey is buried at Leamington Cemetery, Brunswick Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Royal Warwickshire), in St John's House, Warwick, England.
Adam Archibald VC (14 January 1879 – 10 March 1957) was a Scottish First World War recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
In 1915, Archibald enlisted with the 7th Durham Light Infantry before transferring to the 218th Field Company, Royal Engineers during the second battle of the Sambre. At the age of 39, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for action while his unit was attempting to bridge the Sambre–Oise Canal. Archibald received his medal from King George V at Buckingham Palace in May 1919. From his citation:
On 4 November 1918 near Ors, France, Sapper Archibald was with a party building a floating bridge across the canal. He was foremost in the work under a very heavy artillery barrage and machine-gun fire. The latter was directed at him from a few yards distance while he was working on the cork floats. Nevertheless he persevered in his task and his example and efforts were such that the bridge which was essential to the success of the operations was very quickly completed. Immediately afterwards Sapper Archibald collapsed from gas poisoning.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham, Kent. He was initiated into Freemasonry in Lodge Elgin & Bruce, No.1077, (Limekilns, Fife) in 1912. He later affiliated to Lodge St James Operative, No.97, (Edinburgh). Adam Archibald died at his home in Leith at the age of 78.
Colonel George de Cardonnel Elmsall Findlay VC MC & Bar (20 August 1889 – 26 June 1967) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Findlay was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in January 1910. He was awarded a Military Cross for gallantry at the Battle of Passchendale after which he took command of 409 (Lowland) Field Company, a territorial company in June 1917.
He was 29 years old, and an acting major in the 409 (Lowland) Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place during the second battle of Sambre for which he was awarded the VC.
On 4 November 1918 during the forcing of the Sambre-Oise Canal at the lock south of Catillon, France, Major Findlay was with the leading bridging and assaulting parties which came under heavy fire and the advance was stopped. Nevertheless, he collected what men he could and repaired the bridge, under incessant fire. Although wounded he continued with his task and after two unsuccessful efforts managed to place the bridge in position across the lock and was the first man across, remaining at this dangerous post until further work was completed. The family story goes that the reason Major Findlay crossed safely was because he was a slow runner. The Germans overcompensated their aim and thus missed him as he led his men across the bridge.
Major General Bernard Montgomery (left), Lieutenant General Sir Alan Brooke (centre), and Major General Dudley Johnson (right) in France, c.1939–40.
Major General Dudley Graham Johnson, VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC (13 February 1884 – 21 December 1975) was a British Army officer and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross.
Johnson served with the Wiltshire Regiment in the Second Boer War.[1] He transferred to the South Wales Borderers upon graduating from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1903.
He was 34 years old, and an acting lieutenant colonel in the South Wales Borderers, British Army, commanding the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment during the First World War when the following deed took place at the Sambre Canal, France for which he was awarded the VC.
On 4 November 1918 at Sambre Canal, France, the 2nd Infantry Brigade, of which the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment formed part, was ordered to cross by the lock south of Catillon. The position was strong and the assaulting and bridging parties were halted on arrival at the waterway 100 yards from the canal by a heavy barrage. At this point Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson arrived and personally led an assault but heavy fire again broke up the attack. He reorganized the assaulting and bridging parties and this time effected a crossing but the success of this dangerous operation was entirely due to his splendid leadership.
Between the wars he attended the Staff College, Camberley from 1923 to 1924 and held a number of instruction and staff posts before being appointed Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment in 1928. He commanded the 12th (Secunderbad) Infantry Brigade in 1933 and became General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 4th Division from 1938 to 1940. He was replaced as divisional commander after the Battle of Dunkirk in June 1940 and made GOC Aldershot Command later on in 1940 before becoming Inspector of Infantry in 1941. He retired in 1944 and was Colonel of the South Wales Borderers from 1944 to 1949. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the South Wales Borderers Museum, Brecon, Powys, Wales.
James Kirk VC (27 January 1897 – 4 November 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross
Kirk was born on 27 January 1897 in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire to James and Rachel Kirk. He enlisted as a private in the Manchester Regiment in 1915, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1918. Kirk was a 21-year-old second lieutenant in the 10th Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, British Army, attached to the 2nd Battalion during the First World War when the actions that led to his recognition took place.
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty North of Ors on 4th Nov., 1918, whilst attempting to bridge the Oise Canal. To cover the bridging of the canal he took a Lewis gun, and, under intense machine-gun fire, paddled across the canal on a raft, and at a range of ten yards expended all his ammunition. Further ammunition was paddled across to him and he continuously maintained a covering fire for the bridging party from a most exposed position till killed at his gun. The supreme contempt of danger and magnificent self-sacrifice displayed by this gallant officer prevented many casualties and enabled two platoons to cross the bridge before it was destroyed.
— The London Gazette, No. 31108, 3 January 1919
James Neville Marshall VC, MC & Bar (12 June 1887 – 4 November 1918), was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross.
Marshall was born in Manchester in 1887. His family moved to Oxford Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham in around 1894, his father being a draper. James Neville went to King Edwards School and after leaving worked at the Birmingham and Midland Institute and in the Medical Faculty of the University of Birmingham in a clerical capacity. He studied veterinary practice, then worked in this field in Harlow, Essex. He started off the First World War in Argentina, buying horses but then enlisted in the Irish Guards. He was 31 years old, and an acting Lieutenant Colonel in the Irish Guards, British Army, attached to the Lancashire Fusiliers, commanding 16th Battalion during the First World War at the battle of Sambre when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 4 November 1918 at the Sambre–Oise Canal, near Catillon, France, when a partly constructed bridge was badly damaged before the advanced troops of his battalion could cross, Lieutenant Colonel Marshall organised repair parties. The first party were soon killed or wounded, but the colonel's personal example was such that more volunteers were instantly forthcoming. Under intense fire and with complete disregard of his own safety he stood on the bank encouraging his men and helping in the work. When the bridge was repaired he attempted to lead his men across, but was killed in the attack. Wilfred Owen was killed in the same engagement soon after the bridge was crossed as he encouraged his men. (see below)
He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre (Belgium) and was made a Chevalier of the Order of Leopold (Belgium). His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Irish Guards RHQ), London, England. Lt Col Marshall is commemorated at Harlow War Memorial Institute and on their website hwmi.co.uk. Marshall is also commemorated in both the St.Marys (Churchgate Street) and Old Harlow Baptists' Church on their memorials to the fallen of Harlow.
Sir Arnold Horace Santo Waters, VC, CBE, DSO, MC (23 September 1886 – 22 January 1981) was a British engineer, soldier and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross.
He was 32 years old, and an acting major in the 218th Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the First World War at the second battle of the Sambre when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC: On 4 November 1918 near Ors, France, Major Waters, with his Field Company, was bridging the Oise-Sambre Canal under artillery and machine-gun fire at close range, the bridge being damaged and the building party suffering severe casualties. All Major Waters' officers had been killed or wounded and he at once went forward and personally supervised the completion of the bridge, working on cork floats while under such intense fire that it seemed impossible that he could survive. The success of the operation was entirely due to his valour and example.
WESTERN FRONT
Sambre – BATTLE OF THE SAMBRE: British Fourth (3 divisions with 26 tanks and 6 armoured cars; 1,200 casualties), Third (8 divisions with 11 tanks) and First Armies (6 divisions) attack on 30-mile front from east of Valenciennes to Guise; Landrecies falls to 600 men of 25th Division. NZ Division storms Le Quesnoy taking 2,500 PoWs and 100 guns. Lieutenant W Owen (Manchester Regiment), war poet, killed aged 25 by MG fire at Sambre Canal assault. BEF 5-mile advance captures 10,000 PoWs and 200 guns. Haig orders Plumer to be ready to cross river Scheldt c. November 11. German Second Army begins retreat to Antwerp*-Meuse position (night November 4-5).
Meuse and Argonne: Franco*-Americans clear Argonne; AEF take Stenay and Dun-sur-Meuse.
Lieutenant Wilfred Edward Salter Owen MC (London Regiment attached Manchester Regiment) the world renown war poet is caught in a German machine gun attack and killed at the Olse Canal, north of Ors, France age 25. He is on the Continent teaching until he visits a hospital for the wounded and is deeply affected by this and decides then and there, in September 1915, to return to England and enlist. Owen describes his decision to enlist in the following “I came out in order to help these boys – directly by leading them as well as an officer can; indirectly, by watching their sufferings that I may speak of them as well as a pleader can. I have done the first”. Owen is injured in March 1917 and sent home and when he is deemed fit for duty returns to the front in August of this year. His poems include The Dead Beat, Dulce Et Docorum Est, The Sentry, Anthem for the Doomed Young, Exposure, The Parable of the Young Man and the Old and Strange Meeting. The bells will be ringing on 11 November in Shrewsbury to celebrate the Armistice when the doorbell rings at his parent’s home bringing them the telegram telling them he has been killed.
On 21 October 1915, he enlisted in the Artists Rifles Officers' Training Corps. For the next seven months, he trained at Hare Hall Camp in Essex. On 4 June 1916, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) in the Manchester Regiment. Initially Owen held his troops in contempt for their loutish behaviour, and in a letter to his mother described his company as "expressionless lumps". However, his imaginative existence was to be changed dramatically by a number of traumatic experiences. He fell into a shell hole and suffered concussion; he was blown up by a trench mortar and spent several days unconscious on an embankment lying amongst the remains of one of his fellow officers. Soon afterward, Owen was diagnosed as suffering from neurasthenia or shell shock and sent to Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh for treatment. It was while recuperating at Craiglockhart that he met fellow poet Siegfried Sassoon, an encounter that was to transform Owen's life. Whilst at Craiglockhart he made friends in Edinburgh's artistic and literary circles, and did some teaching at the Tynecastle High School, in a poor area of the city. In November he was discharged from Craiglockhart, judged fit for light regimental duties. He spent a contented and fruitful winter in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and in March 1918 was posted to the Northern Command Depot at Ripon. While in Ripon he composed or revised a number of poems, including "Futility" and "Strange Meeting". His 25th birthday was spent quietly at Ripon Cathedral, which is dedicated to his namesake, St. Wilfrid of Hexham.
Owen returned in July 1918, to active service in France, although he might have stayed on home-duty indefinitely. His decision to return was probably the result of Sassoon's being sent back to England, after being shot in the head in an apparent "friendly fire" incident, and put on sick-leave for the remaining duration of the war. Owen saw it as his duty to add his voice to that of Sassoon, that the horrific realities of the war might continue to be told. Sassoon was violently opposed to the idea of Owen returning to the trenches, threatening to "stab [him] in the leg" if he tried it. Aware of his attitude, Owen did not inform him of his action until he was once again in France.
At the very end of August 1918, Owen returned to the front line - perhaps imitating Sassoon's example. On 1 October 1918 Owen led units of the Second Manchesters to storm a number of enemy strong points near the village of Joncourt. For his courage and leadership in the Joncourt action, he was awarded the Military Cross, an award he had always sought in order to justify himself as a war poet, but the award was not gazetted until 15 February 1919.[15] The citation followed on 30 July 1919:
2nd Lt, Wilfred Edward Salter Owen, 5th Bn. Manch. R., T.F., attd. 2nd Bn.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the attack on the Fonsomme Line on October 1st/2nd, 1918. On the company commander becoming a casualty, he assumed command and showed fine leadership and resisted a heavy counter-attack. He personally manipulated a captured enemy machine gun from an isolated position and inflicted considerable losses on the enemy. Throughout he behaved most gallantly.
Owen was killed in action on 4 November 1918 during the crossing of the Sambre–Oise Canal, exactly one week (almost to the hour) before the signing of the Armistice which ended the war, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant the day after his death. His mother received the telegram informing her of his death on Armistice Day, as the church bells in Shrewsbury were ringing out in celebration. Owen is buried at Ors Communal Cemetery, Ors, in northern France. The inscription on his gravestone, chosen by his mother Susan, is based on a quote from his poetry: "SHALL LIFE RENEW THESE BODIES? OF A TRUTH ALL DEATH WILL HE ANNUL" W.O.
Owen is regarded by many as the greatest poet of the First World War, known for his verse about the horrors of trench and gas warfare. He had been writing poetry for some years before the war, himself dating his poetic beginnings to a stay at Broxton by the Hill when he was ten years old. The Romantic poets Keats and Shelley influenced much of his early writing and poetry. His great friend, the poet Siegfried Sassoon, later had a profound effect on his poetic voice, and Owen's most famous poems ("Dulce et Decorum est" and "Anthem for Doomed Youth") show direct results of Sassoon's influence. Manuscript copies of the poems survive, annotated in Sassoon's handwriting. Owen's poetry would eventually be more widely acclaimed than that of his mentor. While his use of pararhyme with heavy reliance on assonance was innovative, he was not the only poet at the time to use these particular techniques. He was, however, one of the first to experiment with it extensively.
Owen's poems had the benefit of strong patronage, and it was a combination of Sassoon's influence, support from Edith Sitwell, and the preparation of a new and fuller edition of the poems in 1931 by Edmund Blunden that ensured his popularity, coupled with a revival of interest in his poetry in the 1960s which plucked him out of a relatively exclusive readership into the public eye. Though he had plans for a volume of verse, for which he had written a "Preface", he never saw his own work published apart from those poems he included in The Hydra, the magazine he edited at Craiglockhart War Hospital, and "Miners", which was published in The Nation.
There were many other influences on Owen's poetry, including his mother. His letters to her provide an insight into Owen's life at the front, and the development of his philosophy regarding the war. Graphic details of the horror Owen witnessed were never spared. Owen's experiences with religion also heavily influenced his poetry, notably in poems such as "Anthem for Doomed Youth", in which the ceremony of a funeral is re-enacted not in a church, but on the battlefield itself, and "At a Calvary near the Ancre", which comments on the Crucifixion of Christ. Owen's experiences in war led him further to challenge his religious beliefs, claiming in his poem "Exposure" that "love of God seems dying".
SOUTHERN FRONTS
AUSTRO-ALLIED HOSTILI*TIES END AT 1500 HOURS. Diaz cables Paris that Italy will intervene to enforce Germany’s armistice terms if necessary.
Italian Front: US 332nd Infantry Regiment gets into action a few hours before ceasefire, capturing Austrian MGs on east bank of river Tagliamento. Italian 1st and 4th Cavalry Divisions reach the frontier in Carnia and Caporetto beyond. Italian 54th Division captures 10,000 Austrians at Muzzanella bridge west of coastal frontier after Commander Borghese cuts the road with Bafile Batallion and Arditi (November 3-4) who are forced to surrender at 0800 hours.
Montenegro: Serb Second Army liberates capital Cetinje.
MIDDLE EAST
Turkey: Liman reaches Constantinople, put in command of evacuation; most Germans have or are sailing to Odessa (until November 19).
Mesopotamia*: British troops under General Fanshawe enter Mosul (Marshall arrives November 7).
SEA WAR
Baltic: Enraged by ‘Karlstrasse Bloodbath’ thousands of sailors, 20,000 garrison troops and workers join Kiel mutiny. Crew of battleship Grosser Kuerfuerst overpower their officers and march to Karlstrasse to swear an oath of vengeance. At mass meeting in 1st Torpedo Division, Artelt demands immediate establish*ment of a ‘sailors’ council’. Officers attempting to silence him are savagely disarmed. Council elected with Artelt as chairman drafts programme of ’14 demands’. Troops of 1st Dock Division arrive but refuse to fire, hand over their weapons. Even the staunchly loyal U-boat Division now turns against officer corps. At 1345 hours Kiel city Commander informs Souchon ‘The mutiny … continues to spread … we no longer possess any reliable troops…’. Souchon dismissed and replaced by Socialist Gustav Noske.
Sculpture in Kiel to remember the 1918 sailors' mutiny
The squadron commander, Vizeadmiral Hugo Kraft, exercised a maneuver with his battleships in the Heligoland Bight. When it "functioned perfectly (tadellos funktionierte)" he believed he was master of his crews again. While moving through the Kiel Canal he had 47 sailors from the Markgraf, who were seen as the ringleaders, imprisoned. In Holtenau (end of the canal in Kiel) they were brought to the Arrestanstalt (the military prison in Kiel) and to Fort Herwarth in the north of Kiel.
The sailors and stokers were now pulling out all the stops to prevent the fleet from setting sail again and to achieve the release of their comrades. Some 250 met in the evening of 1 November in the Union House in Kiel. Delegations sent to their officers requesting the mutineers' release were not heard. The sailors were now looking for closer ties to the unions, the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD) and the SPD. Thereupon the Union House was closed by police, leading to an even larger joint open-air meeting on 2 November, at the large drill ground (Großer Exerzierplatz).
Led by the sailor Karl Artelt, who worked in the repair ship yard for torpedo boats in Kiel-Wik[3] and by the mobilized shipyard worker Lothar Popp, both USPD members, the sailors called for a large meeting the following day at the same place. This call was heeded by several thousand people on the afternoon of 3 November with workers' representatives also being present. The slogan "Frieden und Brot" (peace and bread) was raised showing that the sailors and workers demanded not only the release of the imprisoned but also the end of the war and the improvement of food provisions. Eventually the people supported Artelt's call to free the prisoners and they moved in the direction of the military prison.
Sublieutenant Steinhäuser, who had orders to stop the demonstrators, ordered his patrol to give warning shots and then to shoot directly into the demonstrators. Seven men were killed and 29 were seriously injured. Some demonstrators also opened fire. Steinhäuser was severely injured by rifle-butt blows and shots, but contrary to later statements, he was not killed.[4] After this incident, commonly viewed as the starting point of the German revolution, the demonstrators dispersed and the patrol withdrew.
Protesters take over Kiel
Wilhelm Souchon, the governor of the naval station, initially asked for outside troops but revoked his request for military assistance when his staff claimed the situation was under control. Souchon had been deployed to Kiel only a few days earlier on 30 October 1918 and therefore had to rely heavily on his staff. On 4 November, however, the request was renewed, resulting in six infantry companies being brought to Kiel. Some units stayed in the city quarter Wik and in the Marinestation der Ostsee. However, these troops also showed signs of disintegration and some joined the revolutionaries or went back.[5]
On the morning of 4 November groups of mutineers moved through the town. Sailors in a large barracks compound in a northern district of Kiel (Wik Garnison: Tirpitz Hafen) refused obedience: after a division inspection of the commander, spontaneous demonstrations took place. Karl Artelt organized the first soldiers' council, and soon many more were set up. The governor of the navy station had to negotiate and to order the withdrawal of the units. The imprisoned sailors and stokers were freed.
Soldiers and workers brought public and military institutions under their control. When, against Souchon's promise, different troops advanced to quash the rebellion, they were intercepted by the mutineers and were either sent back or joined the sailors and workers. By the evening of 4 November, Kiel was firmly in the hands of approximately 40,000 rebellious sailors, soldiers and workers, as was Wilhelmshaven two days later.
Late in the evening of the 4 November a meeting of sailors and workers representatives in the union house led to the establishment of a soldiers' and a workers' council. The Kiel 'Fourteen Points' of the soldier's council were issued:
The release of all inmates and political prisoners.
Complete freedom of speech and the press.
The abolition of mail censorship.
Appropriate treatment of crews by superiors.
No punishment for all comrades on returning to the ships and to the barracks.
The launching of the fleet is to be prevented under all circumstances.
Any defensive measures involving bloodshed are to be prevented.
The withdrawal of all troops not belonging to the garrison.
All measures for the protection of private property will be determined by the soldiers' council immediately.
Superiors will no longer be recognized outside of duty.
Unlimited personal freedom of every man from the end of his tour of duty until the beginning of his next tour of duty
Officers who declare themselves in agreement with the measures of the newly established soldiers' council, are welcomed in our midst. All the others have to quit their duty without entitlement to provision.
Every member of the soldiers' council is to be released from any duty.
All measures to be introduced in the future can only be introduced with the consent of the soldiers' council.
These demands are orders of the soldiers' council and are binding for every military person
Other seamen, soldiers and workers, in solidarity with the arrested, began electing workers' and soldiers' councils modeled after the Soviets of the Russian Revolution of 1917, and took over military and civil powers in many cities. On 7 November, the revolution had reached Munich, causing Ludwig III of Bavaria to flee.
HOME FRONTS
Germany – KIEL MUTINY: Revolution spreads to Luebeck and Travemuende (November 5), Hamburg, Bremen, Cuxhaven, Wilhelmshaven (November 6), Landwehr and workers. General Greoner goes to Berlin and learns no armistice if Kaiser does not abdicate; meets Chancellor Ebert on November 6. Stuttgart founds first Workers Council.
Austria: High mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral for Emperor’s name day.
Britain: Northcliffe’s ‘From Peace to War’ tirade vs Prime Minister in Daily Mail and The Times.
THE AIR WAR
General Headquarters, November 5th.
"On November 4th fine weather enabled our squadrons to maintain intense activity along the whole front, although a strong south-westerly wind hampered long-distance operations. Co-operating with our attacking troops, our low-flying machines caused great havoc in the ranks of the retreating enemy with bombs and machine-gun fire, scattering his infantry, stampeding his horses, and ditching his guns and transport. In addition, the Headquarters concerned were kept informed of the movements of our troops and the dispositions of the enemy. The valuable reconnaissance and photographic work which was accomplished, and the accurate observation of our artillery fire both by aeroplanes and balloons, had a share in the success of the operations. Meanwhile, our bombing machines attacked important railway junctions and aerodromes. Many direct hits were observed on railways, and at one aerodrome, which was attacked from a very low altitude, three hangars were set on fire and destroyed. In all, nearly 33 tons of bombs were dropped during the day. The enemy showed great activity in the air, and heavy fighting ensued. As a result, 40 of his machines were shot down and 15 were driven down out of control. Five German balloons were destroyed. Thirty-five of our machines are reported missing. Our operations were continued at night, and nearly 14 tons of bombs were dropped on important railway junctions and stations. Direct hits were seen to cause considerable damage. These operations were discontinued early, as the wind increased greatly. Four of our machines failed to return.
RAF Communiqué No 32:
Weather: Mist in early morning, fine afterwards.
Forty-two reconnaissances, 87 contact and counter-attack patrols.
Twenty hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, 7 neutralized, 191 zone calls sent.
Six and a half tons of bombs dropped by night, and 29½ tons by day.
On the 4th instant, 19 targets engaged with balloon observation.
Capt W E Shields Lieut M P MacLeod , No 41 Squadron, both attacked hostile balloon which they shot down in flames, and then each attacked another, both of which also fell in flames.
Lieut R B Lovemore, No 29 Squadron, also brought down a hostile balloon in flames.
A raid was carried out on Chapelle A Wattines aerodrome by Nos 103, 2nd Squadron A.F.C. and 54 Squadrons from a low height, protection being afforded by No 88 Squadron and 4th Squadron A.F.C. No 103 Squadron attacked first, dropping their bombs from 1,000 feet, obtaining a direct hit on a hangar which went on fire and many bursts close to the hangars. No 54 Squadron then dived down to 100 feet, dropping their bombs close to the hangars; two hangars went on fire as the result of this attack and two more received direct hits. A machine on the aerodrome was shot at, and one which had had a forced landing a short distance away was attacked and shot up and the mechanics working it all killed or wounded. Troops, transport, and trains were also attacked with machine gun fire in the neighbourhood of the aerodrome and Leuze station. 2nd Squadron A.F.C. were attacked by Fokker biplanes as they were diving on the aerodrome and released their bombs from 4,000 feet. Six enemy machines were brought down by the escort of No 88 Squadron and 4th Squadron A.F.C. A machine of No 88 Squadron observed before leaving that all the hangars were either burnt out or burning. 123 25-lb, 8 112-lb, and one 230-lb bombs were dropped during this raid.
Successful raids were carried out on the railway sidings at Marpent by No 107 Squadron who dropped 38 112-lb bombs; many direct hits were observed on the railway and on buildings alongside.
No 205 Squadron carried out successful raids on the main station of Charleroi, dropping 44 112-lb bombs and obtaining several direct hits with good results.
Enemy Aircraft:
Considerable activity.
Lieut J C H Holmes & 2nd-Lieut E E Richardson, 15 Sqn, two-seater crashed - Lieut J C H Holmes and 2nd-Lieut E E Richardson, No 15 Squadron, attacked an enemy two-seater which was on contact work, and drove it to the ground, where it crashed in some trees
Capt R Russell & Lieut J E Hermon, 108 Sqn, E.A. out of control -
Capt R M Foster, Lieut E K Langton and Lieut E W Mills, 209 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Athies at 07:30/08:30 -
Capt C W Cudemore, 64 Sqn, Pfalz Scout out of control Bavay at 07:50/08:50 -
Lieut F J Stevenson, 79 Sqn, LVG C in flames south-east of Wilde at 08:00/09:00 -
Lieut E E Davies, 2 AFC, LVG C crashed Elleselles-Renaix at 08:10/09:10 -
Lieut C O Stone, 2 AFC, Fokker DVII crashed north of Semenil at 08:10/09:10 -
Lieut J J Wellwood, 2 AFC, Fokker DVII crashed Tombelle at 08:10/09:10 -
Capt E L Simonson, 2 AFC, Fokker DVII crashed Tentaille at 08:15/09:15 -
Lieut E E Davies, 2 AFC, Fokker DVII out of control Renaix at 08:15/09:15 -
2nd-Lieut T Whittaker, 204 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Melle at 08:40/09:40 -
Lieut E Stanton, 204 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Melle at 08:40/09:40 -
Capt M D Allen & 2nd-Lieut W A Owens, 49 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Blagny at 08:45/09:45 -
Lieut F Woolley, 79 Sqn, Halberstadt CL crashed Sulsique at 08:45/09:45 -
2nd-Lieut S Green, 204 Sqn, Fokker DVII broke up Melle at 08:45/09:45 -
2nd-Lieut W E Baxter, 204 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control ? Melle at 08:45/09:45 -
2nd-Lieut P A H King, 204 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Melle at 08:45/09:45 -
Capt C L Morley, 204 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Melle at 08:45/09:45 -
Lieut C P Allen, 204 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control Melle at 08:45/09:45 -
Capt J L M White, No 65 Squadron, while leading a patrol of Nos 65 and 204 Squadrons, engaged formations of about 40 enemy scouts. During the [same] fight, 2nd Lieut P A King No. 204 Squadron, shot one E.A. down in flames, which was on the tail of a Camel, and 2nd Lieut S Green shot the tail plane off one Fokker and just afterwards a wing was seen to break off from this machine
Lieut F C D Scott & 2nd-Lieut C Rigby, 62 Sqn, E.A. crashed ? south-west of Mons at 08:50/09:50 -
Lieut F Pemberton, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control south-east of Ghent at 08:50/09:50 -
Capt M A Newnham, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control south-east of Ghent at 08:50/09:50 -
Capt J L M White, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII broke up south-east of Ghent at 08:50/09:50, Fokker DVII in flames south-east of Ghent at 08:50/09:50, Fokker DVII in flames south-east of Ghent at 08:50/09:50 and Fokker DVII out of control south-east of Ghent at 08:53/09:53 - Capt J L M White, No 65 Squadron, while leading a patrol of Nos 65 and 204 Squadrons, engaged formations of about 40 enemy scouts. He attacked one, the wings of which folded up and the tail fell off. He was then attacked by a Fokker, but, succeeded in shooting it down in flames. After several indecisive combats, Capt White met another Fokker head on, both firing till at very close range, when the E.A. burst into flames. On reaching home Capt White's machine was found to be very badly shot about
2nd-Lieut W R Allison, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames south-east of Ghent at 08:50/09:50 and Fokker DVII crashed south-east of Ghent at 08:50/09:50 - Lieut W R Allison, of the same Squadron, attacked one Fokker and shot it off the tail of another Camel, sending it down in flames; he then attacked a second, which he shot down and crashed
2nd-Lieut A J Cleare, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed south-east of Ghent at 08:50/09:50 and Fokker DVII out of control south-east of Ghent at 08:50/09:50 -
2nd-Lieut W H Bland, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames south-east of Ghent at 08:50/09:50 and Fokker DVII out of control south-east of Ghent at 08:55/09:55 -
2nd Lieut W H Bland shot down one of the E.A. in flames, and 2nd Lieut A J Cleare destroyed another.
Capt M A Newnham, 65 Sqn, Fokker DVII out of control south-east of Ghent at 08:55/09:55 -
Lieut J Baird & Lieut A B Radford, 88 Sqn, Fokker DVII destroyed south-west of Renaix at 09:05/10:05 -
Capt R Russell & Lieut J E Hermon, 2nd-Lieut J D Sloss & 2nd-Lieut J D Todd, 2nd-Lieut H N Tiplady & 2nd-Lieut F L P Smith, Lieut W Marsden & 2nd-Lieut W McGowan, 2nd-Lieut H G Daulton & Sergt J Crowther, 2nd-Lieut W Shackleton & Lieut J E Radley and 2nd-Lieut E B Thomson & 2nd-Lieut E L Chafe, 108 Sqn, E.A. out of control Sotteghem at 09:40/10:40 -
Lieut J H Latchford & Lieut H L Tate, 25 Sqn, Albatros C destroyed west of Maubeuge at 09:55/10:55 -
Lieut H McLean & 2nd-Lieut H P Hobbs, 206 Sqn, Fokker DVII in flames Sotteghem at 10:10/11:10 -
Lieut E A Cato, 4 AFC, Fokker DVII out of control north-east of Tournai at 10:15/11:15 -
Capt A C Kiddie, 74 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed Cordes at 10:15/11:15 -
Capt T S Harrison, 29 Sqn, DFW C crashed east of Mont St Aubert at 10:45/11:45 -
Lieut R B Lovemore, 29 Sqn, Balloon in flames Velaines at 10:45/11:45 - Attacked a hostile balloon and shot it down in flames ;
Lieut O J Rose, 92 Sqn, Fokker DVII crashed north of Landrecies at 10:45/11:45 -
the folowing claims were made on this day:
Two pilots recorded FOUR kills on this day
Rittmeister Karl Bolle of Jasta 2 claimed his 33rd-36th (and final) victories on this day bringing down two Sopwith Snipes and two SE5a
Karl Bolle read economics at Oxford University in 1912. Returning to Germany, he enlisted as a Leutnant in the 7th von Seydlitz Kürassier Regiment and was sent to fight on the Western Front. In 1915 his regiment was transferred to the Eastern Front and by the end of the year, Bolle was awarded the Iron Cross, second class. He transferred to the air service in February 1916 and received training at Valenciennes before being posted to KG 4 in July 1916. At the end of the year he was reassigned to Kampfstaffel 23, flying with Lothar von Richthofen as his observer, and was awarded the 2nd Class Knight's Cross of the Friedrich Order. Wounded in October 1916, Bolle recovered and was sent to Jastaschule in early 1917. In July 1917 he was posted to Jasta 28 and scored 5 victories before assuming command of Jasta 2 as an Oberleutnant on 20 February 1918. In August, having downed 28 opponents, he was promoted to Rittmeister and received the Military Merit Cross, the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern and the Blue Max. Bolle finished the war with 36 victories. Post-war he became a flying instructor and served as Director of the German Transportation School in the 1920s. During World War II he was an advisor to the Luftwaffe.
Captain Joseph Leonard Maries "John" White DFC & Bar 65 Squadron RAF also claims four kills - his 19th - 22nd (and final) by downing 4 Fokker D.VIIs flying Sopwith Camel H7007
The son of W. J. White of the provincial police, Joseph Leonard Maries White served with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps and was wounded in the right thigh on 17 April 1917. He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps on 22 September 1917. Posted to 65 Squadron in April 1918, he scored 22 victories flying the Sopwith Camel. White joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1924 and was fatally injured in a crash at Camp Borden in 1925. He was 28.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Lt. Joseph Leonard Maries White (late Canadian Machine Gun Corps).
This officer is distinguished for his bravery and dash in action, never hesitating to attack, regardless of the enemy's numerical superiority. He has destroyed three enemy aircraft and driven down two out of control. In addition he has carried out most valuable reconnaissance service at low altitudes.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918 (30827/9204)
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Bar
Lt. (T./Capt.) Joseph Leonard Maries White, D.F.C. (Can. M.G.C.).
In company with another pilot this officer recently attacked a hostile formation of fourteen scouts. One of these he shot down in flames, and a second out of control. Captain White not only displays courage and skill of a high order in attacking machines in the air and troops on the ground, but he has rendered excellent service on reconnaissance duty, obtaining most valuable information.
One air ace was killed on this day
Captain Thomas Charles Richmond Baker DFC. MM No. 4 Squadron (AFC) he was a 12 victory ace, his last coming on 30th October flying Sopwith Snipe E8065
A bank clerk from Adelaide, Thomas Charles Richmond Baker joined the army on 29 July 1915. After serving on the Western Front with the 6th Field Artillery Brigade, he transferred to the Australian Flying Corps in September 1917. In June 1918, he returned to France and was assigned to 4 Squadron, flying Sopwith Camels. Baker scored six victories before his squadron was re-equipped with the Sopwith Snipe. Promoted to flight commander, he was credited with six more victories in October 1918 but was killed in action the following month. He was 21 years old.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Lieut. Thomas Charles Richmond Baker, M.M. (Australian F.C.). (FRANCE)
This officer has carried out some forty low flying raids on hostile troops, aerodromes, etc., and has taken part in numerous offensive patrols; he has, in addition, destroyed eight hostile machines. In all these operations he has shown exceptional initiative and dash, never hesitating to lead his formation against overwhelming odds, nor shrinking from incurring personal danger.
(M.M. gazetted 19th February, 1917.)
One week to go until the armistice and the RAF loses another 53 Men, including...
Captain Tunstill's Men: The armistice on the Italian front which had been signed the previous day came into effect at 3pm.
2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 2nd November) remembered, “The Armistice came shortly after this and, curiously enough, I can’t remember the exact place and circumstances of it. The Austrian surrender of course was November 4th, not the 11th, that was the German. I rather think we heard of either the Austrian or the German – for I am hazy about the German too – from a staff car as we marched along the road”. It was unclear to many whether the end to the fighting would be temporary or final. Either way, it came as a surprise and there were fears that the Battalion would still need to return to the Western Front to fight the Germans.
and finally (thankkfully) we will finish this edition with the words of Lieutenant Wilfred Owen MC
Asleep
Uder his helmet, up against his pack,
After so many days of work and waking,
Sleep took him by the brow and laid him back.
There, in the happy no-time of his sleeping,
Death took him by the heart. There heaved a quaking
Of the aborted life within him leaping,
Then chest and sleepy arms once more fell slack.
And soon the slow, stray blood, came creeping
From the intruding lead, like ants on track.
Whether his deeper sleep lies shaded by the shaking
Of geat wings, and the thoughts that hung the stars,
High-pillowed on calm pillows of Gods making,
Above these clouds, these rains, these sleets of lead,
And this winds’ scimitars,
-Or whether yet his thin and sodden head
Confuses more and more with the low mould,
His hair being one with the grey grass
Of finished fields, and wire-scraggs rusty-old,
Who knows? Who hopes? Who troubles? Let it pass!
He sleeps. He sleeps less tremulous, less cold,
Than we who wake, and waking say Alas!
Armistice Countdown 7 days
Last edited by Hedeby; 11-04-2018 at 04:45.
Never Knowingly Undergunned !!
So after that its over to Neil for his last stint, before I close the War out next weekend.
Never Knowingly Undergunned !!
Nice one Chris.
Now I know why the Navy mutinied.
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Cheers Chris, still an amazing amount going on with just a shoprt while to go
Mammoth edition Chris! Do you ever sleep?
Great post, keep up the good work, love reading them all.
Tuesday 5th November 1918
Armistice Countdown 6 days
At 0600 hours on the 5th November 1918, Caporal Maurice Hacot (from Auchel in the Pas-de-Calais) a telegraphist operating the radio station on the Eiffel Tower received a message in Morse code transmitted from the Belgian town of Spa.
Allô Eiffel… Allô Eiffel… Ici le quartier général de Spa… Nous désirons entrer en relation avec vous en vue de pourparlers sur un éventuel armistice…
Hello Eiffel…hello Eiffel…This is the High Command at Spa…We wish to gain contact with you with a view to negotiations for a possible armistice…
Today we lost: 1,324
Today’s losses include:
- A 7-victory ace
- A former member of the All Blacks Rugby Club
- The son of a member of the clergy
- Multiple families that will lose two and three sons in the Great War
- A man who had two cousins killed last year
Today’s highlighted casualties include:
- Captain Harman James Lindale Willink (Duke of Wellington’s Regiment) is killed at age 32. He is the son of the Reverend Arthur Willink Vicar of Nackington.
- Captain Arthur Brownlow Denham-Cookes (London Regiment) dies at home at age 27. He is the son of the ‘Honorable’ Mrs. Denham-Cookes.
- Captain Robert Edward Watson Semple MC (Royal Field Artillery) dies of wounds received in action on 22nd October at age 22. He is the son of Lieutenant Colonel ‘Sir’ David Semple and his older brother has been killed in action in 1916.
- Lieutenant Norman Royston (Royal Air Force Kite Balloon Section) dies of pneumonia at age 19. His brother died of wounds in October 1916.
- Lieutenant Arthur John Palliser (Australian Flying Corps) a seven-victory ace is killed in action at age 28.
- Lieutenant James Hyslop MM (London Regiment) is killed at age 32. His brother was killed last March.
- Corporal Edwin George Page (Warwickshire Regiment) dies at age 22. His brother was killed in August 1917.
- Lance Corporal Arthur Frederick Huckle (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) is killed in action at age 24. His brother was killed in October 1916.
- Corporal Edward George Page (Warwickshire Regiment) dies at age 22. His brother was killed in August 1917.
- Private Reuben Morris (East Surrey Regiment) dies of wounds at Agra, India at age 32. He is the youngest and last of three brothers who lose their lives in the Great War.
- Rifleman Alexander Joseph Ridland (New Zealand Rifle Brigade) is killed at age 36. He is a former member of the All Blacks Rugby Football Club.
- Gunner James Jeffrey Huggan (Royal Garrison Artillery) dies of wounds at age 30. His two cousins were killed last year.
Air Operations:
General Headquarters:
"On November 5th, in spite of low clouds and continuous rain, our machines in the battle area, flying at a height of about 100 ft., actively co-operated with our advancing troops, bringing back valuable information as to their movements, and reconnoitring the positions held by the enemy. The roads, congested with traffic and infantry in close order, were attacked with machine-gun fire and bombs, and great confusion and heavy casualties were seen to be caused. Over 8½ tons of bombs were dropped during these operations. There was practically no activity on the part of the enemy in the air. One hostile aeroplane which was encountered, was shot down out of control. Three of our machines are missing. No night operations were possible on account of weather conditions."
RAF Communiqué No 32:
Weather: Low Clouds and rain.
Thirty-five reconnaissances, 56 contact and counter-attack patrols.
Seven hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplane observation, four neutralized, 127 zone calls sent.
Fourteen tons of bombs dropped night, 9 tons by day.
No 148 Squadron dropped 48 112-lb bombs and 96 25-lb bombs on Mons Station with good effect. Many direct hits were observed.
No 83 Squadron dropped 31 112-lb and 27 25-lb bombs on Charleroi Station; five direct hits with 112-lb bombs were obtained on the railway track and many bursts were seen on and around the station.
No 207 Squadron dropped 96 112-lb and 34 25-lb bombs on the railway station at Namur; 11 direct hits were obtained, and a single 25-lb bomb which fell near Sars Potteries caused very large explosion.
Capt MacGregor and Lieut Lane, No 85 Squadron, dropped 6 25-lb bombs on Hautmont Station, and in spite of very heavy machine gun fire from the ground continued to shoot up troops and transport around the sidings, causing many casualties, until Lieut Lane was badly wounded in the leg. He, however, succeeded in returning and landing his machine safely.
Enemy Aircraft:
Very few seen.
Capt J Cottle, 45 Sqn, Rumpler C out of control east of Dieuze at 12:00/ 13:00 -
Lieut J H Dewhirst, 45 Sqn, Fokker DVII destroyed north of Parroy at 15:50/ 16:50 -
Capt J W Pinder, 45 Sqn, Rumpler C destroyed north of Parroy at 15:50/ 16:50 -
Royal Flying Corps casualties today:
? (Ok) & Sergt Mech W Gibson (Wia), 20 Sqn, Bristol F.2B - machine gun fire
2nd-Lieut R V Lane (Wia), 85 Sqn, SE5a - machine gun fire
Lieut R C P Ripley (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut F S Towler (Kia), 110 Sqn IF, DH9A E8421 - combat during bombing raid Kaiserslautern - Pirmasens
Lieut J T Brown (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut H V Irving (Ok), P Flt, Bristol F.2B D7884 - force landed Sh36.T.3 central [west of Herlies] after direct hit by E.A.A on patrol
2nd-Lieut H J Berry (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut H A Hamlet (Pow), 6 Sqn, RE8 C2823 - took off 07:00/08:00 then missing on artillery patrol Aulnoye - Dompierre
2nd-Lieut E Dawson (Pow), 85 Sqn, SE5a E3945 - took off 11:45/12:45 then missing on OP
2nd-Lieut R R Thomson (Kia), 70 Sqn, Camel E7198 - took off 10:55/11:55 then spun into ground in forced landing Sh29.P.32.c [west of Avelghem] 11:50/12:50 after shot through main petrol tank at 1,000 feet on line patrol
Royal Flying Corps Losses today 37, of which the following are remembered:
Claims: 13 confirmed (Entente 5: Central Powers 8)
Western Front:
Sambre – Pursuit after battle of the Sambre begins: BEF Fourth, Third and First Armiesengaged; Mormal Forest cleared. Canadian Corps and 3 British divisions with tanksforce river Grand Honnelle (mainly just inside Belgium; until November 7). OHL ORDERS GENERAL RETIREMENT INTO ANTWERP-MEUSE POSITION (issued 0400 hours). Foch given ‘supreme strategical direction of all forces operating against Germany on all fronts’.
Aisne: French take Chateau-Porcien.
Meuse: GENERAL RETREAT OF GERMANS from the Meuse to Conde on the Scheldt begins, French Centre Army Group joins in pursuit. Groener in Berlin informs German Cabinet ‘… one thing must not be allowed to happen. The American Army … must be prevented from advancing north of Verdun’.MacArthur in command of 42nd ‘Rainbow’ Division (until November 22) on advancing US I Corps flank after AEF link with Gouraud.
Allied advance from Scheldt to Meuse continued.
Between Scheldt and Sambre British capture Le Quesnoy and Mormal Forest. Between Oise and Aisne French capture Chateau-Porcien (on Aisne) and Guise (on Oise). Between Aisne and Meuse French cross Ardennes Canal; Americans cross Meuse at Brieulles and Clery-le-Petit and take Beaumont.
Marshal Foch in supreme strategical direction.
Eastern Front:
Resignation of Siberian Government in favour of "All-Russian Government".
Southern Front:
Italians enter Pola.
Tunstills Men Tuesday 5th November 1918:
In billets at Porcia.
2Lt. Bernard Garside (see 4th November) remembered his time at Porcia, “There were one or two incidents about the time we were following up the Austrians. As we marched up as I described in ‘following up a beaten enemy’, we found all sorts of stores the Austrians had abandoned in the ditches and so on. Amongst other stuff were rifles, ammunition and especially bombs. Now I had had a course at the GHQ bombing school and done quite well. I had been made Battalion Bombing Officer – have I told you of that and some of the adventures I had when training men to bomb with live bombs? Well, I can’t tell you everything if I haven’t. To go back to the Austrians, another officer and I collected a whole lot of bombs in our haversacks and packs and kept them safe till we landed in billets. Then, when we got the chance, we took them on to a big piece of wasteland we had discovered and to an underground trench with little doors on each end and earth piled all round them. We would throw the bombs down through the doors and the bang was very well muffled. We proceeded to do this turn, very much enjoying ourselves. Finally, however, I got a bit excited at the fun and threw one which missed the entrance and dropped on the bank of earth near it, sizzling away. There was not time to do much but run and throw ourselves on our tummies. We did – and BANG - it could be heard ever so far. We knew this and quickly disappeared, turning up at Company HQ with innocent faces. A little while afterwards a note was sent round by the Adjutant (Capt. Leonard Norman Phillips MC, see 27th October) to Company Commanders, asking if they knew anything of the bomb. Our Company Commander looked hard at us, screwed his face up and wrote, “No”. we daren’t ask for a day or two what had caused such a stir and then we were delighted. It appears the Brigade Commander had set out to visit our Colonel on a young and fresh horse. As he got near the HQ, a mysterious bang had occurred and a splinter had dropped on the road in front of his horse – which turned round and ran off with him! He had pulled it up, but not for quite a distance. So your old uncle had made a Brigade Commander retreat!
The man I was with on this occasion was really devil-may-care, which, quite truly, I was not. I’ll show you what I mean. We still had two or three bombs left after our episode and next day we had to go to a village to get paid. We took our bombs because we knew there were one or two culverts under the road, to let streams through; we could throw them in these. We took turns at one or two – kneeled down and pulled the string to start the fuse and then threw the bombs into the tunnel. Oh what lovely bangs! Finally it came to his turn as we neared the village. He took his bomb and threw the cap away, leaving the string hanging down – they were ‘taty mashers’. Then, oh dear, this was the last culvert we had been expecting, so he couldn’t throw it. “Oh, that’s alright”, he said, “I’ll throw it as we come back”. And he put the bomb in his pocket with the string hanging loose. I told him not to be an ass; just a little accidental tug on the string and the bomb would be started. He laughed. Well, he went and got paid and came back out of the village, all the time with the fatal string hanging out of his pocket. I kept the right side of him – the opposite one to the bomb – and with jolly good care I did, so that only a bit of him, and not the bomb, would hit me. However, nothing happened and he threw it in the first culvert on the way back”.
In the quieter conditions at Porcia, 2Lt. William Johnson Simpson (see 27th October) wrote to the father of Capt. Bob Perks DSO (see 27th October),
Dear Mr Perks
I feel it my duty as the only officer left in your son’s Company to give you all the information I can regarding your son’s death. I am certain the Commanding Officer will write to you, but as I was there I will tell you all I know.
We had crossed the river successfully and got to our second objective where we had to stay for some twenty minutes. At this point we had a long talk to each other and made our plans for taking the next objective. We moved off in great spirits and on the way encountered an enemy machine gun post. Capt. Perks decided to get round this from a flank. It was in doing this he met his death. He got within a very few yards when he was hit through the head with a bullet. Death was instantaneous. Words of mine cannot tell you what a cloud this cast upon the Company, who made short shrift of the enemy at that point. I had only known your son for a few days but can only say now well he was like in the Company. Being an old Duke’s officer he was well known to lots in the battalion.
I have never seen a more gallant officer in all my three years of active service. The name of the place where he met his death is Borgo Malanotte. All his personal effects will be returned to you in due course.
Ours was the only Company who had any officer casualties and we had three, two were killed and one wounded. I cannot express how deeply we all feel the loss of your son and our Captain. All the Company wish me to express their sincere sympathy to you in this sad time. Any further information I can give you I should be delighted to oblige.
It was about 9.30 a.m. on the 27th that he was killed.
Yours sincerely
W.J. Simpson, 2nd Lieut.
B Coy 10th Dukes
2Lt. Fred Swale (see 31st October 1917), took over command of ‘C’ Company, 9th Battalion West Yorks.
Pte. Frederick Thorn (see 16th October), serving as an officer’s servant at XIV Corps reinforcement camp, was briefly admitted to hospital, suffering from boils to his back; he would be discharged to duty after three days.
Pte. James Percival (see 28th September), who had been in England since having been wounded in August, was discharged from the County of Middlesex War Hospital at Napsbury, near St. Albans. He would have one weeks’ leave before reporting to the Regimental Depot in Halifax.
Naval Operations:
During strong winds, HMS Campania begins to drag anchor in the Firth of Forth. Soon it collides with another ship anchored nearby, HMS Royal Oak, which in turn collides with HMS Glorious. A gaping hole is torn in the port side of the Campania and it begins to sink by the stern. Just over three hours later it sinks stern first.
HMS Campania was a seaplane tender and aircraft carrier, converted from an elderly ocean liner by the Royal Navy early. After her conversion was completed in mid-1915 the ship spent her time conducting trials and exercises with the Grand Fleet. These revealed the need for a longer flight deck to allow larger aircraft to take off, and she was modified ccordingly. Campania missed the battle of Jutland in May 1916, but made a number of patrols with elements of the Grand Fleet. She never saw combat and was soon relegated to a training role because of her elderly machinery. In November 1918 Campania was anchored with the capital ships of the Grand Fleet when a sudden storm caused her anchor to drag. With no second anchor being laid, she hit several of the ships and the collisions punctured her hull; she slowly sank, with no loss of life. Her Officer of the Watch had failed to call the Captain, and was dismissed the ship.
Originally built as a passenger liner for Cunard Lines service between Liverpool and New York in 1893, RMS Campania was the holder of the Blue Riband award for speed early in her career. In October 1914, she was sold to the shipbreakers Thos W Ward as she was wearing out.
The Royal Navy purchased Campania from the shipbreakers on 27 November 1914 for £32,500, initially for conversion to an armed merchant cruiser equipped with eight quick firing 4.7-inch (120 mm) guns. The ship was converted by Cammell Laird to an aircraft carrier instead and the two forward 4.7-inch guns were deleted in favour of a 160-foot (48.8 m) flying-off deck. Two derricks were fitted on each side to transfer seaplanes between the water and the two holds. The amidships hold had the capacity for seven large seaplanes. The forward hold, underneath the flight deck, could fit four small seaplanes, but the flight deck had to be lifted off the hold to access the airplanes. HMS Campania was commissioned on 17 April 1915.
The first takeoff from the flight deck did not occur until 6 August 1915 when a Sopwith Schneider floatplane, mounted on a wheeled trolley, used 130 feet (39.6 m) of the flight deck while the ship was steaming into the wind at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph). The Sopwith aircraft was the lightest and highest-powered aircraft in service with the Royal Naval Air Service., and the close call in a favourable wind demonstrated that heavier aircraft could not be launched from the flight deck.
By October 1915 Campania had exercised with the Grand Fleet seven times, but had only flown off aircraft three times as the North Sea was often too rough for her seaplanes to use. Her captain recommended that the flying-off deck be lengthened and given a steeper slope to allow gravity to boost the aircraft's acceleration and the ship was accordingly modified at Cammell Laird between November 1915 and early April 1916. The forward funnel was split into two funnels and the flight deck was extended between them and over the bridge to a length of 245 feet (74.7 m), so that aircraft from both holds could use the flight deck. A canvas windscreen was provided to allow the aircraft to unfold their wings out of the wind, and a kite balloon and all of its supporting equipment were added in the aft hold. Campania now carried seven Short Type 184 torpedo bombers and three or four smaller fighters or scouts; a Type 184 made its first takeoff from the flight deck on 3 June 1916, also using a wheeled trolley. This success prompted the Admiralty to order the world's first aircraft designed for carrier operations, the Fairey Campania. The ship received the first of these aircraft in late 1917 where they joined smaller Sopwith 11/2 Strutter scouts. At various times Campania also carried the Sopwith Baby and Sopwith Pup.
Campania failed to receive the signal to deploy when the grand Fleet departed Scapa Flow on 30 May 1916 en route to the battle of Jutland, but she sailed two hours and fifteen minutes later. Even though she was slowly overtaking the fleet early in the morning of 31 May, she was ordered to return to Scapa Flow as she lacked an escort and German submarines had been reported in the area. The ship participated in some anti-submarine and anti-Zeppelin patrols, but she was later declared unfit for fleet duty because of her defective machinery and became a seaplane training and balloon depot ship. In April 1918 Campania, along with the Grand Fleet, was transferred from Scapa Flow to Rosyth.
On the morning of 5 November 1918, Campania was lying at anchor off Burntisland in the Firht of Forth. A sudden Force 10 squall caused the ship to drag anchor. She collided first with the bow of the nearby battleship HMS Royal Oak, and then scraped along the side of the battlecruiser HMS Glorious. Campania's hull was breached by the initial collision with Royal Oak, flooding her engine room and shutting off all main electrical power. The ship then started to settle by the stern, and sank some five hours after breaking free. The ship's crew were all rescued by neighbouring vessels. A Naval Board of Inquiry into the incident held Campania's watch officer largely responsible for her loss, citing specifically the failure to drop a second anchor once the ship started to drift.
The wreck of HMS Campania was initially afforded protection under the Protection of Wrecks Act, being designated in 2000. This designation was revoked in 2013 when the site was re-designated as a Historic Marine Protected Area under the marine (Scotland) Act 2010. The remains of the four Campania aircraft and seven 1½ Strutters that she had on board when she sank are still entombed in her wreck.
Political:
Britain: Lloyd George announces Armistice conditions in Commons.
British Ministerial changes; Sir A. Geddes becomes President of Local Government Board in place of Mr. W. Hayes-Fisher, resigned.
USA: Wilson tells Germany she must apply to Foch for terms. Government recognizes Rumanian Unity National Council (Britain on November 11, Italy on November 22).
U.S.A. elections for Congress; Republican majority returned.
- Republican Thomas Edward Campbell elected as the second Governor of Arizona, defeating Democrat challenger Fred Colter by a mere 339 votes.
- Republican William Stephens was elected as the 24th Governor of California, defeating independent Theodore Arlington Bell with 56 percent of the vote[46]
- Republican incumbent Joseph A. A. Burnquist retained his seat as Governor of Minnesota with only 42 per cent of the vote, by splitting the vote between main opponent David H. Evans and others.
- Republican incumbent James Withycombe retained his seat as Governor of Oregon against Democrat challenger Walter M. Pierce, but died in office five months later.
- Republican William Cameron Sproul was elected 27th Governor of Pennsylvania with 61 percent of the vote.
- Democrat Robert Archer Cooper was elected 93rd Governor of South Carolina, defeating main opponent John Gardiner Richards Jr. with 58 percent of the vote.
- Republic Percival W. Clement was elected 57th Governor of Vermont with 67 percent of the vote.
Treutlen County, Georgia, named after American Revolution leader John A. Treutlen, was established with its seat in Soperton.
Germany: Soviet Ambassador Yoffe expelled from Germany for subversion, but gives Independent Socialists 4 million roubles for propaganda on November 6.
The first Polish Soviet of Delegates, composed of over 100 workers’ councils, met in Lublin, Poland to discuss establishing new sovereign Polish nations among the dissolving Austria-Hungary and Russian Empires.
Post Script: House of Commons debate 5th November 1918:
Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR:“I beg to move: That, in the opinion of this House, it is essential that, before the British Government takes part in any proceeding for the resettlement of Europe on the conclusion of peace, the Irish question should be settled in accordance with the principles laid down by President Wilson, that all nations, large and small, should have free self-determination as to their form of government, and that no people should be ruled and dominated even in their own internal affairs by arbitrary and irresponsible force instead of by their own will and choice, principles for which, in the words of the Prime Minister, the Allies are ostensibly fighting in every other country; and that by the application of these principles the system of coercion and military rule, under which Ireland is at present governed, should be brought to an end. I dare say the House may consider at first sight that the passage from the epoch-making announcement of the Prime Minister to the case of Ireland is something like an emotional descent. But I do not know of any moment which could be more appropriate for the introduction of this Motion than the moment following the speech of the Prime Minister. I observe that the right hon. Gentleman, among the items in the great programme he laid before the House, took special care to mention the case of the Czecho-Slovaks and the Jugo-Slavs, and to congratulate those small peoples on their liberation from their German oppressors. I ask this House to follow the example of the Prime Minister and to help another small nation—another small oppressed nation—to be congratulated on its early liberation from another form of oppression. I cannot understand if this House were free to give its decision without pressure from any quarter except its own conscience and its own opinions—I cannot understand how, outside a few of my hon. Friends from the North of Ireland, this Motion of mine could be met with a single dissentient voice. As a matter of fact, what is the Motion? I might describe it as a series of axioms. A severe critic might describe it as a series of platitudes. It is simply putting again the statements of principles with regard to Ireland which have been the common utterances of nearly every leader of every political party in this House, and not the least of them, the present Prime Minister. Why do I bring forward this Motion at this moment? I bring it forward to enable the Government to complete the cycle of the liberation of Europe. I am sure it would be a matter of gratification to the Prime Minister, after his well-deserved eulogy of the Jugo-Slavs for the successful end of their gallant fight for liberation, to have an opportunity of adding the same congratulations to those people of whose liberties in the past he has been the champion.
The time is opportune for another reason. I understand we are to have an early appeal to the people. I do not think it unreasonable to inquire on what ground the Government and the different parties in this House will ask for the confidence of the people. Are they or are they not in favour of self-government for Ireland? If they are in favour of it, I cannot understand anyone opposing this Motion. This is, if I may say so, an acid test of the sincerity of every man and every party in this House and in this country. There are Labour Members of the Government. Everybody knows what the opinion of the Labour party of this country is on the Irish question; it has been expressed over and over again, and, so far as I know, from reading reports of their different conferences and meetings, self-government for Ireland has been accepted by them without a vote or even a dissentient voice. Those Gentlemen who at the present time represent Labour in the Government cannot, I should think, see their way to vote against this Resolution. If they do so, they may remain members of the Government, but they will cease to be representative of Labour. I make no complaint. Every man must be the judge of his own honour and his own consistency, but I cannot help thinking that the Labour Members of this Government would only be acting consistently with their principles if they offered the Government the choice between their resignation and the acceptance of this principle to which they, as individual members of the Labour party, are pledged.
I do not know what the attitude of the Government will be, the only indication I have got points to a blank negative. We shall, I suppose, hear from the Chief Secretary what their intentions are. This Motion is brought forward at a time when practically one sees the end of the War, when only one enemy—the most powerful, it is true—still holds out. After the statement of the Prime Minister to-day everybody must feel that the surrender of Germany is close at hand. The bond which kept the men of different parties together in the common purpose of vigorously prosecuting this War to a successful end—a task with which I have been in active sympathy since the beginning of the War—that bond is now brought to an end, and every party and every Member of this House must take his own decision and act accordingly. The Peace Conference must soon follow, and the question I want to put to the House is this: This Peace Conference is to decide for what purpose this War was really fought, and what purposes it was really intended to achieve. Was the War fought for the possession of territory, was it fought for the suppression of liberty, or was this War fought by those who are now the successful and victorious belligerents, to establish in the world principles of liberty? I think I have a right to ask the Government whether, when they approach the Peace Conference, they are going there as the advocates or the opponents of liberty in Ireland. Is the Government of this country to appear at that Conference to demand the liberation of the small nations of the world, and at the same time refuse the demand of their own small nationality? I think we ought to know that before the Government go into the Peace Conference.
I have founded my Motion on the words of President Wilson and of the PrimeMinister, two very high authorities. In both cases my difficulty is the embarrassment of the riches of my material. There is not a single utterance made by the President of the United States since this War began which is not a plea for the liberation of Ireland—not one. I know there are some stray dissentient voices in the country which criticse in various particulars the utterances of the President of the United States. I observe from the papers that the right hon. Gentleman was present in Dublin with Lord French the other night and listened in silence—I suppose from politeness—to one of the most vulgar and stupid attacks upon the President of the United States. But the Provost of Trinity College, I am glad to say, is exceptional. What did the President say on 4th July: On the one hand stand the peoples of the world, not only the peoples actually engaged, but many others also who suffer under mastery but cannot act. Can anybody doubt of what country the President was speaking? In New York the President said: Shall the military power of any nation or group of nations be suffered to determine the fortunes of peoples over whom they have no right to rule except the right of force? Does that apply to Ireland? Shall strong nations be free to ruin weak nations and make them subjects of their purposes and interests? Shall peoples be ruled and dominated even in their own internal affairs by arbitrary and irresponsible force, or by their own will and choice? I ask the Chief Secretary, does he accept these principles? If he accepts these principles as applicable, does he then take refuge in the extraordinary statement that they are applicable everywhere except in Ireland, Shall there be a common standard of right and privilege for all peoples and nations, or shall the strong do as they will and the weak suffer without redress? I could go on, but probably that is enough for the present. Nobody has any doubt as to where the President of the United States stands on the question of Ireland and of the other small nations who are about to get their redress. I come to the Prime Minister. I do not say that his language has such classic austerity as the language of the President of the United States; but, allowing for the difference of style, the idea is the same. The Prime Minister said: I am certain of this: Nothing would help more in the present juncture to secure, I will not say the ready and enthusiastic aid, but to secure the full measure of American assistance than the determination of the British Parliament to tender to Ireland such a measure of self-government as would satisfy reasonable American opinion, and I believe we are going to do that. He has not done it yet. We are now in November, and are apparently going to have a General Election, and we do not know yet whether the Prime Minister and his Government mean to honour that promise to Ireland. The Prime Minister said: Therefore we came to the conclusion, after considering the whole situation and considering it purely from the point of view of the best methods for the prosecution of the War, that Irish self-government, after this Convention had reported, was an essential war measure. It was to be pushed through the House during the War as a war measure. I should not be surprised to find that the Chief Secretary or some representative of the Government will now get up and say that, as the War is practically over, the necessity for Home Rule as a war measure has disappeared, and that will be given as another excuse for the further postponement of the settlement of this question. I am justified in relying upon the speeches of President Wilson. Far be it from me—Heaven forbid!—to underrate the great things done in this War by the troops of Great Britain and Ireland, or the troops of France or of Italy; but nobody can deny that the intervention of the forces of America, both moral and material, marked the beginning of the end of the German resistance. I am entitled to quote President Wilson, because, whatever criticisms or questionings may occur—I do not find fault with them if they are made in a proper spirit, not the Trinity College spirit—everybody knows that from the intervention of America in this War the President has spoken the right word and the just word, and has been what George Eliot called in one of her novels, "the external conscience" of mankind with regard to issues of the War. The second point of my Motion is that this question is urgent, that it should be dealt with immediately, and that it should be dealt with anyhow before the Peace Conference. On that point, I will not quote the Prime Minister any further, but I would like to quote a sentence from my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition. I may say of the Liberal party, as of the Labour party, that at every single one of their conferences their inflexible adhesion to the principle of Home Rule for Ireland has been maintained. Here is what my right hon. Friend said at Manchester on 27th September: I desire to insist upon that, which is fundamental and involves both the honour of our statesmen and the moral authority of this country as a partner in the Allied cause. We are pledged, all of us, to arrive without slackness or delay at a solution of the secular problem of the relations of these two islands. There is nothing in the whole sphere of our Imperial and domestic policy so immediate in its urgency and so far-reaching in its consequences as that we should be able to enter the council chamber of peace free from the reproach that the only part of our Empire to which we are afraid to grant self-government is that which lies nearest to our own shores. I wonder has the Chief Secretary any answer to that, or any objection to make to that statement! As regards the Irish claim, I wonder that anybody at this time of day thinks it wise to utter any criticism in principle of Home Rule for Ireland. If anybody does so, he is not up-to-date. As a matter of fact, Home Rule for Ireland is the law of the land. It has been the law of the land since September, 1914. An hon. Friend and colleague of mine in the representation of Liverpool has put down an Amendment. He divides Ireland into four parts. I am afraid my hon. Friend is under the impression that he is dealing with the constituencies of Liverpool under the new Reform Act. But let it be understood that our position as Irishmen is that we have always been a nation, almost from the beginning of history, that it is as a nation we make our demand, and that any settlement of the Irish question must be a recognition of Ireland as a nation. If anybody doubts that Ireland has ever been a nation, he must be ignorant of the history of Ireland. We had all the distinct marks of nationhood 2,000 years before the Norman barons came to Ireland. We had a Central Assembly at Tara before you had your Witanagamot. We had Christianity before you had it; we had culture before you had it. In the sixth and seventh centuries it was Irish teachers who brought culture, civilisation and Christianity to all the countries, courts and universities of Europe. We are proud of that great unbroken story of national existence and of national struggle. We are not North Britons, we are not West Britons; we have always been Irishmen, we always shall be Irishmen, and it is with us as an Irish nation that you have to deal.
I will now deal with another argument that I have seen urged occasionally against our claims. I am not so much distressed by this argument because of its absurdity as because of its insincerity. I know there are some people even as far away as America who say: "England is quite ready to give Ireland anything she wants, only Ireland must tell us what she wants, and Ireland must be united." Everyone knows there is a faction in Ireland which is determined to stand out against the appeal of the whole world and against the recognition of Irish nationality. I would ask, if it is contended that any part of any people has a right to prevent or stand in the way of the liberation of a nation or race, what nation is going to be liberated, and what race is going to be liberated? I rejoice, no one more heartily, in the liberation of nations or races. I think I knew all about the Jugo-Slavs when the Prime Minister was in his perambulator. I was longing and praying for their liberation when he was learning his alphabet, or perhaps nourishing himself from the feeding bottle. But if you establish this principle, that a minority has a right to stand in the way of the liberation of a nation, I am afraid that the poor Jugo-Slavs, and still more the Czecho-Slovaks, would come out very badly. What are the facts? The Orangemen of Ireland who are opposed to Home Rule amount to no more than 18 per cent. or 20 per cent. of the population. Take Bohemia. Of course, I am delighted that Bohemia is getting her liberty. I have longed for it for forty-eight years. Does the House realise that while 65 per cent. of the population of Bohemia is Czech, 35 per cent. of the population of Bohemia is German—very German? Take the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Christians amount, roughly, to 1,000,000 and the Mahomedans to 500,000. Does anyone contend that because 50 per cent. are Mahomedans Bosnia and Herzegovina should not get their liberty? Take Alsace-Lorraine, the liberation of which I have prayed for since 1871, when pro-Frenchmen were a little less common than they are to-day, when all the rabble of Jingo writers preached the gospel of force and of Germany, headed by Carlyle and Froude and now represented by certain writers to-day. I take the figures from one of the many books given to me by the Alsatian League, which, of course, recognises me as a lifelong friend, and I find the population of Alsace- Lorraine was 1,900,000, and according to this brochure there are 350,000 German immigrants. Is it suggested that Alsace-Lorraine should not get her liberty because there happen to be immigrants from Germany there? Certainly not! Take the case even of Russian Poland, where 64 per cent. of the population is Polish, it is true, but 36 per cent. belong to other nationalities. You cannot lay down this doctrine that the minority should stand between a nation and its liberation without refusing liberation to every one of the countries whose liberation you have helped to bring about.
I have spoken of Ulster standing between Ireland and her liberation. Of course she is. But Ulster does a little more than that. Ulster stands between this Empire and its honour and its security. That is the way it was put by Sir Horace Plunkett in a recent publication. No man is more entitled to be listened to on an Irish question than Sir Horace Plunkett, who was once a Unionist but had intelligence enough to allow his mind to be influenced by the spirit of the times and by the changed condition of things.”
(History repeats itself again and again!)
Anniversary Events:
1219 The port of Damietta falls to the Crusaders after a siege. 1556 The Emperor Akbar defeats the Hindus at Panipat and secures control of the Mogul Empire. 1605 Guy Fawkes is betrayed and arrested in an attempt to blow up the British Parliament in the "Gunpowder Plot." Ever since, England has celebrated Guy Fawkes Day. 1653 The Iroquois League signs a peace treaty with the French, vowing not to wage war with other tribes under French protection. 1757 Frederick II of Prussia defeats the French at Rosbach in the Seven Years War. 1768 William Johnson, the northern Indian Commissioner, signs a treaty with the Iroquois Indians to acquire much of the land between the Tennessee and Ohio rivers for future settlement. 1814 Having decided to abandon the Niagara frontier, the American army blows up Fort Erie. 1840 Afghanistan surrenders to the British army. 1854 British and French defeat the Russians at Inkerman, Crimea. 1862 President Abraham Lincoln relieves General George McClellan of command of the Union armies and names Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside commander of the Army of the Potomac. 1872 Susan B. Anthony is arrested for trying to vote. 1911 Calbraith P. Rodgers ends first transcontinental flight--49 days from New York to Pasadena, Calif. 1912 Woodrow Wilson is elected 28th president of the United States. 1914 France and Great Britain declare war on Turkey. 1917 General John Pershing leads U.S. troops into the first American action against German forces.
Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 11-06-2018 at 04:23.
See you on the Dark Side......
Nice one Neil - good spot on the Parliamentary piece
Never Knowingly Undergunned !!
I do apologise that it is long but where do you cut it short and not get the full impact of the speech. So I left it as it was. Full speech with replies can be found here:
https://api.parliament.uk/historic-h...181105_HOC_405
See you on the Dark Side......
Again very nice work!
Very impressive Neil.
We still maintain our position as the pre eminent media mouthpiece at the Front.
Rob.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."
Doesn't it just(History repeats itself again and again!)
Wednesday 6th November 1918
Armistice Countdown 5 days
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Brett Mackay Cloutman VC, MC, KC (7 November 1891 – 15 August 1971) was educated at Berkhamsted School Bishop’s Stortford College and London University where he was a member of the Royal Engineers contingent of the university's Officer’ Training Corps.
At the outbreak of World War I Cloutman enlisted as a Rifleman in the Rangers (12th Battalion, London Regiment), reached the rank of Lance-Corporal, and in 1915 was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Kent (Fortress) Engineers, a Territorial Force unit.
Cloutman, by now an Acting Major in command of the 59th Field Company, Royal Engieneers, was awarded the Military Cross for an action in September 1918:
For conspicuous gallantly and devotion to duty at Banteux on the morning of 30th September, 1918, when he made a personal reconnaissance under heavy machine-gun fire to ascertain the possibilities of bridging the Canal de L’Escaut.
A few weeks later the action took place for which Cloutman won his VC.
The official citation read:
For most conspicuous bravery on the 6th November, 1918, at Pont-sur-Sambre.
Maj. Cloutman, after reconnoitring the river crossings, found the Quartes Bridge almost intact but prepared for demolition. Leaving his party under cover he went forward alone, swam across the river, and, having cut the "leads" from the charges, returned the same way, despite the fact that the bridge and all approaches thereto were swept by enemy shells and machine-gun fire at close range. Although the bridge was blown up later in the day by other means, the abutments remained intact.
The bridge had been prepared for demolition by the Germans, and was well defended. By cutting the wires, Cloutman prevented the enemy from blowing it up at the time. He was seen at the bridge, however, and escaped under an intense fire from its guards. The fact that the abutments were not destroyed later meant that the bridge could be more quickly replaced by the Allies.
This was the last act to win a VC in the First World War.
After the war Cloutman became a lawyer and was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn in 1926. InWorld War II he served again in the Royal Engieneersand received a mention in dispatches. He became a King’s Counsel in 1946 and in 1947 he was appointed Senior Chairman of the War Pensions Tribunal. He was Senior Official Referee of the Supreme Court of Judicature (now the Senior Courts of England and Wales) 1954-63. He was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 1957. He was Master of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers 1939–40 and 1965–66.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham, Kent.
Today we lost: 1,523
While on leave back home in Alberta his weakened state leaving him susceptible to the Spanish Influenza pandemic Lieutenant Alan Arnett McLeod VC dies at age 19. He was awarded the Victoria Cross earlier this year.
Sergeant James Hargreaves Morton (East Lancashire Regiment) dies of wounds at age 37. He is a cotton town Impressionist who is deemed in touch with European trends and movements. He leaves behind more than 400 oils, water colours, pastels and drawings including a self-portrait.
Today’s losses include:
- A Victoria Cross winner
- An Impressionist artist
- Multiple families that will lose two sons in the Great War
- A woman whose brother’s son will be killed in the Royal Air Force in September 1944
- A woman whose brother was killed
- A man whose twin was killed last December
- The son of a Justice of the Peace
Today’s highlighted casualties include:
- Captain Arthur Derrick Hamer (Northern Cyclist Battalion) is killed at age 24. He is the son of Canon Charles John Hamer Vicar of St Paul’s Newcastle.
- Captain Henry Norman Aston (York and Lancaster Regiment) dies at home at age 27. He is the son of the late Alderman Aston JP.
- Captain Henry Bernard Perry (London Regiment) is killed at age 34. He is the son of the late Reverend Roger E Perry.
- Lieutenant James Alexander Hedderwick (Royal Garrison Artillery) dies on service at age 20. His brother was killed in May 1915.
- Surgeon Sub Lieutenant Eugene Arthur Pearson (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve) dies of pneumonia at age 24. He is the son of the Reverend J G Pearson.
- Corporal Alfred Carey MM (Duke of Wellington’s Regiment) is killed at age 24. His brother was killed in December 1915.
- Sapper Frank Hollyman (Royal Engineers) dies of pneumonia in Italy at age 26. His twin brother died of wounds last December.
- Private John William Kingsland (Seaforth Highlanders) is killed at age 19. He is the son of the Reverend John P Kingsland of St Congregational Church, St. Helier, Jersey.
- Private George Arthur Howe (Northamptonshire Regiment) dies of wounds at age 19. His older brother died of wounds in September 1914.
- Telegraphist Kenneth Lawrence Jakes (HMS Queen Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve) dies in Italy at age 18. His brother will die next month.
- Mate Ernest Black (HMT Afternoon) dies in France at age 27. His brother will die at home one month later.
- Private Victor Moss Brabenetz (Machine Gun Corps) is killed at age 18. His brother was killed on Gallipoli in August 1915.
- Member Marguerite Gertrude Woodcock (Woman’s Royal Air Force) dies of pneumonia at age 18. Her brother’s son will be killed serving in the Royal Air Force in September 1944.
- Mechanic Driver Winifred Mary Grace J C Smith-Sligo (Women’s Legion Army Service Corps) dies on service at age 18. Her brother was killed in September 1914.
Air Operations:
General Headquarters:
"On November 6th low clouds and continuous rain greatly restrictedflying, but some of our machines succeeded in harassing the enemy's troops andtransport with bombs and machine-gun fire, dropping over half a ton of bombsand causing casualties and damage. There was no hostile aircraft activity. Twoof our machines are missing. No night operations were possible on account ofweather conditions."
Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force, November 6th.
"During the past 24 hours, mist and low clouds have beenprevalent, and on the night of the 5th-6th there were also heavy showers ofrain. In spite of these conditions, on the afternoon of the 5th our machinesattacked a hostile aerodrome at Morhange, obtaining direct hits on the railwayand the aerodrome. In the course of fighting one enemy aeroplane was drivendown out of control. All our machines returned. On the night of the 5th-6th,our machines attacked the hostile aerodromes at Morhange, Frescaty, Dieuze andLellingen. Good shooting was obtained. A hangar was set on fire at
Morhange. All our machines returned. On the 6th inst. Buhlaerodrome was heavily and successfully attacked. Large numbers of enemyaeroplanes attacked our formations, and in the course of severe fighting threeenemy machines were destroyed. Three of our machines are at present unlocated."
Headquarters R.A.F., Independent Force, November 7th.
"In addition to the attacks already reported, ourmachines on the afternoon of November 6th bombed the factories at Saarbrücken.One direct hit was obtained on the factory and one on the railway sidings, butother results could not be observed. In the course of fighting, two enemyaircraft were destroyed and two more enemy machines were driven down out ofcontrol. One of our machines is missing. Also, in addition to the enemyaircraft reported accounted for yesterday, a further two machines weredestroyed and one was driven down out of control."
RAF Communiqué No 32:
Weather: Low cloud and continuous rain.
Seventeen reconnaissances, 30 contact and counter-attackpatrols.
Two hostile batteries engaged for destruction with aeroplaneobservation, two neutralized, 33 zone calls sent.
No night-bombing was carried out; half a ton of bombs droppedby day.
No 210 Squadron carried out a very successful attack onground targets in the morning. In a column of gun limbers which was attackedthree teams were brought a standstill, several horses in each team being killedand many casualties caused to personnel. The remainder of the convoy stampeded.Rifle pits and machine gun posts near Bavai were attacked, and 30 infantry whoretired from rifle pits had casualties inflicted upon them.
Enemy Aircraft:
Activity nil [clearly not taking account of claims bysquadrons of the Independent Force].
Lieut W C Jeffries & Sgt E V G Chambers, 99 IF, PfalzScout out of control smoking Buhl -
2nd Lieut W A Warwick & Lieut L H Burrows, 99 IF, PfalzScout crashed south of Arzchviller at 14:00/ 15:00 -
Lieut F Crosbie-Choppin & 2nd Lieut A T Bower, 99 IF,Pfalz Scout crashed south-west of Buhl at 14:00/ 15:00 -
2nd Lieut H F King & Lieut T Llewellyn, 99 IF, PfalzScout out of control smoking Buhl at 14:00/ 15:00 -
2nd Lieut P Hopkins & Lieut C C Blizard, 104 IF, FokkerDVII out of control Buhl airfield at 14:00/ 15:00 -
2nd Lieut J Wrighton & Sgt W H Bell, 104 IF, Fokker DVIIin flames Buhl at 14:00/ 15:00 -
2nd Lieut B H Stretton & 2nd Lieut H Grieve, 104 IF,Fokker DVII out of control Lorquin at 14:10/ 15:10 -
Capt J B Fox & Lieut J Parke, 55 IF, Fokker DVII broke upSaarbrücken at 14:30/ 15:30 -
Capt J B Fox & Lieut J Parke, 55 IF, Fokker DVII out ofcontrol Saarbrücken at 14:30/ 15:30 -
Lieut R F H Norman & Capt J F D Tanqueray, 55 IF, FokkerDVII out of control Saarbrücken at 14:30/ 15:30 -
Royal Flying Corps casualties today:
Lieut T S Horry (Ok), 92 Sqn, SE5a F858 - badly shot about
2nd-Lieut C E W Thresher (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut W Glew (Wia;dow 07-Nov-18), 99 Sqn IF, DH9 D3040 - missing on bomb raid
2nd-Lieut H L Wren (Pow) & 2nd-Lieut W H Tresham (Pow),104 Sqn IF, DH9 D1050 - missing on bomb raid
2nd-Lieut A Hemmingway (Kia) & Sergt G A Smith (Kia), 104Sqn IF, DH9 D3101 - missing on bomb raid
Two ‘DH’ victories were credited:
Vzfw Hans Nulle, Ja39, 10th victory [Ibingen at 14:00/15:00]
Vzfw Hans Nulle, Ja39, 11th victory [Ibingen at 14:00/15:00]
Lieut K R Unger (Ok), 210 Sqn, Camel F3930 - longeron andgravity tank shot through by A.A. fire on special mission south of Bavai
Lieut R A Spencer (Ok) & Lieut W F Wilson (Ok), 59 Sqn,RE8 C2529 - force landed ‘U.4.a’ 06:45/07:45 after petrol tank and controlsshot while flying east of Sambre on counter attack patrol
Capt L H Jones (Ok) & 2nd-Lieut V Lockey (Ok), P Flt,Bristol F.2B C1013 - front petrol tank ripped open by machine-gun fire forcelanded at Sh37.U.1.a central [north-east of Froidmont] 10:30/11:30 and burstinto flames
Royal Flying Corps Losses today 45, of which the following are remembered:
Claims: 8 confirmed (Entente 3: Central Powers 5)
Home Fronts:
Austria: Emperor formally demobilize armed forces.
Britain: Lloyd George lunches and dines ministers; they agree to call General Election.
Germany: A dozen sailors persuade all 12,000 workers at Hamburg’s Blohm&Voss shipyard to down tools.
SPD leader Friedrich Ebert agreed with Prince Maximilian that a social revolution must be prevented and that state order must be upheld at all costs. In the restructuring of the state, Ebert wanted to win over the middle-class parties that had already cooperated with the SPD in the Reichstag in 1917, as well as the old elites of the German Empire. He wanted to avoid the spectre of radicalisation of the revolution along Russian lines and he also worried that the precarious supply situation could collapse, leading to the takeover of the administration by inexperienced revolutionaries. He was certain that the SPD would be able to implement its reform plans in the future due to its parliamentary majorities.
Ebert did his best to act in agreement with the old powers and intended to save the monarchy. In order to demonstrate some success to his followers, he demanded the abdication of the emperor as of 6 November. But Wilhelm II, still in his headquarters in Spa, was playing for time. After the Entente had agreed to truce negotiations on that day, he hoped to return to Germany at the head of the army and to quell the revolution by force.
Western Front:
On Wednesday 6 November 1918, Prince Maximilian (Max) of Baden, German Imperial Chancellor, instructed the Foreign Ministry to inform German newspapers that a delegation had left Berlin for the Western Front to agree an armistice with the Allies. The Wolff Telegraph Agency distributed the news in Germany. Papers in Allied countries obtained it; some published it in their 6 November late editions; most printed it on Thursday 7 November.
Following the press announcement, the German Army High Command sent wireless messages to Supreme Allied Commander Marshal Foch’s Headquarters making arrangements for the delegation to meet him. The German High Command Headquarters were in Spa, in occupied Belgium; Marshal Foch’s Headquarters were in Senlis, to the north-east of Paris.
The French High Command released copies of the Spa-Senlis telegrams to the French press during the evening of 7 November. The ones detailed below are from the front page of L’Écho de Paris newspaper for Friday 8 November 1918.
THE SPA-SENLIS TELEGRAMS
Each side sent their messages in their own language and in clear Morse code. The Spa Headquarters telegrams were relayed by the main German radio transmitter in Nauen, north-west of Berlin, picked up by the radio station in the Eiffel Tower, Paris, and then relayed to Foch’s Senlis Headquarters.
The time of day that the Germans transmitted their messages is not given in the French newspaper versions; it has to be obtained or inferred from other sources, if possible. The times of day shown on each published message do not necessarily indicate when the message was first received or (in one case) transmitted by the French.
The times stated in the messages are taken to be German times, as transmitted by them. There is no evidence to the contrary, or reason to believe otherwise. But this is not always pointed out – either in relation to these telegrams or as a general guideline – and since French time in November 1918 was one hour behind German time, reading the times as being the same for the French and Germans can lead to confusion.
Received 7 November at 0h. 30. [12:30 am French time]
The German High Command, by order of the German Government, to Marshal Foch:
The German Government, having been informed by the President of the United States that Marshal Foch has been given powers to receive the accredited representatives of the German Government and communicate the armistice conditions to them, has appointed the following plenipotentiaries:
General von Gundel; Secretary of State Erzberger; Ambassador Count Obeurndorf; General von Winterfeld; Navy Captain Danselow.
The plenipotentiaries request to be informed by wireless telegram where they may meet Marshal Foch.
They will be travelling by motor car, with assistants, to the designated place.
The German Government would be happy if, in the interest of humanity, the arrival of the German delegation at the Allies’ front lines could bring about a temporary suspension of hostilities.
Please acknowledge receipt.
(Continued tomorrow)
German armistice delegates leave Berlin for Western Front.
Marshal Ferdinand Foch's train arrives at Compiègne for the talks with German representatives, 6 November 1918.
German retreat from Scheldt to Meuse becomes general.
British advance towards Mons, Mauberge and Avesnes.
French between Oise and Aisne capture Vervins and Rethel on Aisne.
Americans enter Sedan.
Main German lateral line of communications cut.
Meuse – US 1st DIVISION REACHES SEDAN: traffic halted on key Mezieres-Montmedy railway; only line to Western Front still available south of Ardennes; 4 German armies are virtually cut off. Army Group Gallwitz ordered to retire to Antwerp-Meuse position. Groener warns Chancellor: ‘… even Monday will be too late [for an armistice], it must be Saturday at the latest’.
American soldiers with French FT-17 tanks are advancing.
Scheldt – Canadians enter Belgium, forcing Rivers Aunelle and Honelle north of Valenciennes-Mons road; they take 1,750 pow from 7 German divisions (November 1-8).
Sambre: British Third Army makes very limited advances owing to Seventeenth Army rearguards and repeated shelling of river crossings; added to heavy rain, bad roads and limited room for manoeuvre.
Oise and Aisne: French recapture Vervins and Rethel.
Lorraine: Foch decides to attack as soon as possible and assigns troops from US Second Army.
Eastern Front:
USSR: Lenin tells 6th Soviet Congress ‘Germany has caught fire, and Austria is burning out of control.’
Caspian: 5 Royal Navy ships reach Petrovsk (Northern Caucasus) to fetch Bicherakov.
Directorate of Polish Republic formed with seat at Cracow.
Southern Front:
Tunstills Men Wednesday 6th November 1918:
In billets at Porcia.
Sgt. Lionel Vickers (see 20th July) suffered a further recurrence of the injury to his his knee which he had suffered whilst playing football in February; in his own words, “Whilst walking down the steps of my billet I put my left knee out of joint. I have had the same occur before”. He would be admitted via 69thField Ambulance and 39th Casualty Clearing Station to 62nd General Hospital at Bordighera, near Ventimiglia .
Sgt. Albert Hoggarth (see 27th October) was discharged from the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano and posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.
Pte. James Henry Lomax (see 27th October), who had been wounded a week previously, was discharged from 51st Stationary Hospital and posted to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano. After just two days he would be posted to the Base Depot at Arquata Scrivia.
Ptes. Jesse Richard Cooper (see 19th October) and William Naylor (see 29th October) were both discharged from 51st Stationary Hospital and posted to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano.
Pte. Smith Stephenson Whitaker (see 7th October) was discharged from 11th General Hospital in Genoa and posted to the Convalescent Depot at Lido d’Albano.
Pte. William Carver (see 21st October) was discharged from 24th Casualty Clearing Station and re-joined 273rd Employment Company at GHQ, Italy.
Pte. Albert Mellor (see 25th October), who was at ‘B’ Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre, en route to re-joining 10DWR from England, was admitted to 39th General Hospital at Le Havre; his illness was described simply as “N.Y.D.” (‘not yet diagnosed’).
Cpl. Alfred Carey MM (see 20th September) was killed in action while serving in France with 2nd/5thDWR; he was the younger brother of Norman Carey (see 9th January 1916) who had been one of Tunstill’s original volunteers. Alfred Carey was originally buried at Gommegnies Communal Cemetery, but, in 1936, his remains, along with those of four other men, would be exhumed and re-interred at Fontaine-Au-Bois Communal Cemetery, east of Cambrai.
Asiatic, African, Egyptian Front:
Syria: French High Commissioner in Syria and Armenia, Picot, lands at Beirut.
Georgia: 15th Bavarian Jaegers begin 4-month march home via Ukraine.
Naval Operations:
Political:
Serbia: King Peter re-enters Belgrade.
Rumania: Marghiloman Government resigns at Jassy, General Coanda succeeds.
Publication of terms of Austrian Armistice.
U.S.A. promises to exercise influence to secure for Romania political and territorial rights.
Anniversary Events:
1429 Henry VI is crowned King of England. 1812 The first winter snow falls on the French Army as Napoleon Bonaparte retreats form Moscow. 1860 Abraham Lincoln is elected 16th president of the United States. 1861 Jefferson Davis is elected to a six-year term as president of the Confederacy. 1863 A Union force surrounds and scatters defending Confederates at the Battle of Droop Mountain, in West Virginia. 1891 Comanche, the only 7th Cavalry horse to survive George Armstrong Custer's "Last Stand" at the Little Bighorn, dies at Fort Riley, Kansas. 1911 Maine becomes a dry state. 1917 The Bolshevik "October Revolution" (October 25 on the old Russian calendar), led by Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky, seizes power in Petrograd.
Last edited by Lt. S.Kafloc; 11-06-2018 at 13:40.
See you on the Dark Side......
Post 3740 updated.
See you on the Dark Side......
It is with great relief but even greater sadness that I come to the end of my stint as an editor on the Snipers Times tomorrow.
It's been a wild, fantastic, informative and emotional journey but as they, 'say all good things must come to an end'.
I bid you a good night in the hope that with my final edition tomorrow, I can again, do this journey justice.
See you on the Dark Side......
Well you have both done the entire war journey justice for so long now, Neil, I doubt tomorrow will be any differentThank you so much - I have learned a great deal from your efforts
HUZZAH, HUZZAH, HUZZAH
THE WAR IS OVER!
See you on the Dark Side......
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