100 Years Ago - Winter of 1917-18 in the West

REMOVING A GERMAN SCOUTING MACHINE BROUGHT DOWN IN OUR LINES

A ERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY: HANDING PLATE SLIDES TO A PHOTOGRAPHER

IN A BOMBING MACHINE

STUCK IN THE MOD

A SENTRY ON DUTY IN THE FRONT LINE


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Big night and day attacks

A hostile aerodrome north of Douai, a large ammunition dump near Courtrai, a railway station south-east of Douai, and the enemy’s billets on various parts of the front were bombed by us during the day

February 20, 1918

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

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

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



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Big raids in the West

At the first rush the enemy succeeded in getting into the trenches and reached a company headquarters, but a counter-attack drove them out, and they left 23 dead upon our wire

March 4, 1918

There has been more liveliness along the front in these 48 hours than, perhaps, at any previous time this year. It has, however, the appearance of being a number of disconnected local activities rather than an overture to a grand operation. Nonetheless, it is by such increase in local incidents that large operations usually are prefaced, and I venture no opinion whether it is so in this case, or only the inevitable tension and nervousness of two armies which have confronted each other for so long.
The Germans have made something like a dozen raids. Their artillery has been more than normally noisy in several sectors, and, when the weather has permitted, their aeroplanes have been up, even flying low to use their machine- guns upon our positions. Nor, it is needless to say, have we been behindhand.

Of the German raids two have been against the Australians and one against the Portuguese. On the whole, the balance has been distinctly not unfavourable to us, the Germans having left in our hands, or lying before our lines, about 70 killed or prisoners, including two officers. The heaviest sufferers among the Allies were the Portuguese. who were attacked in strength after a severe bombardment, but rallied and counter-attacked very gallantly and took some prisoners.
A WEEK’S REHEARSAL
The German loss was, perhaps, heaviest in one of their attempts against the Australians, which was made under a heavy barrage, and after more than a week’s careful rehearsal, as prisoners have told us. At the first rush they succeeded in getting into the trenches and reached a company headquarters, but a counter-attack, led by a platoon commander, drove them out, and they left 23 dead upon our wire, and four prisoners, including one officer, in our hands. In some other raids the Germans entirely failed to reach our trenches. Where they did so sharp fighting took place, and nowhere did they get away with prisoners or cause casualties without leaving an equivalent behind them. The weather the last two days has been bitter, with a north-easterly gale and frequent flurries of snow. This afternoon it is milder, and the snow has disappeared, but it is still dull and threatening.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORTS.
The following telegraphic dispatches have been received from General Headquarters in France:
Norfolk troops carried out a successful raid last night south of Armentieres and killed or took prisoner a number of the enemy. Prisoners were also brought in by our patrols in the neighbourhood of Arleux-en-Gohelle [north-east of Arras]. Raids were attempted by the enemy during the night at several points. Two hostile raiding parties succeeded in entering our lines in the St Quentin sector. A few of our men are missing.
In a third raid attempted by the enemy in the neighbourhood of Hargicourt [south-west of Le Catelet] a few of his troops also succeeded in reaching our trenches, where they were all killed or captured. After a heavy bombardment carried out early this morning on a wide front from Neuve Chapelle northwards a strong hostile raiding party attacked and entered the Portuguese front trenches in this area. The enemy was promptly ejected by an immediate counter-attack, which completely restored the situation.
Other hostile raids in the neighbourhood of the Ypres-Comines Canal and south of Houthulst Forest were also repulsed with loss to the enemy. We captured a few prisoners and a machine-gun. The enemy’s artillery has shown considerable activity during the night in connexion with his raids also in the Passchendaele sector.
10.23pm. In the course of the past night the enemy’s raiding parties displayed great activity all along the British front. In addition to the six raids reported in this morning’s communique, two other attempts were made by the enemy during the night against our positions east of Polygon Wood. In both cases his troops were driven off by our rifle and machine-gun fire. We secured a few prisoners. The raid carried out by the enemy on the Portuguese front was preceded by an intense bombardment on a front of 3,000 yards and delivered in considerable strength. In the fighting which followed the enemy succeeded in entering our foremost trenches and secured several prisoners. but was quickly and completely driven out by the counter-attack of the Portuguese supporting troops. In the other raids attempted by him the enemy was repulsed in certain cases after sharp fighting, and, in addition to a number of prisoners left in our hands, is known to have suffered considerable losses. During the day hostile’ artillery has shown some activity in the Searpe Valley.
Sunday. 9.55am. We carried out a successful raid last night against the enemy’s trenches south-east of Armentieres. Hostile raids were repulsed before reaching our lines north-west of St. Quentin and east of Arleux-en- Gohelle. A third party of the enemy attempted to raid our trenches in the neighbourhood of Pontruet, but was met by our patrols and suffered considerable casualties in hand-to-hand fighting. We captured a few prisoners in these various encounters. [Pontruet is north-north-west of St Quentin.] The enemy’s artillery was active yesterday evening against our positions west of Lens.
8.52pm. We captured a few prisoners last night in patrol encounters north-east of Polygon Wood. Nothing of special interest has occurred during the day.


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British raids into Germany

While returning from the attack our pilots flew at a height of 100ft, firing on favourable targets on the ground with their machine-guns and causing casualties and much confusion among the enemy

March 11, 1918

The following telegraphic dispatches have been received from General Headquarters in France: Great aerial activity prevailed on the 8th instant. Work in conjunction with the artillery, reconnaissances, photography, and bombing were carried out incessantly by our aeroplanes. Over 400 bombs were dropped on the enemy’s ammunition dumps and sidings at Menin, Busigny, and Guise, east of St Quentin, in spite of the most determined attacks made by the enemy’s scouts against our bombing machines.
In air fighting, 12 hostile aeroplanes were brought down and 10 others were driven down out of control. Another hostile machine was shot down by anti-aircraft gunfire. Three of our aeroplanes are missing.
After dark, the greater part of the front was enveloped in mist, but in one sector our night-flying machines dropped 24 heavy bombs and 48 lighter bombs on the ammunition dump and railway sidings at Fresnoy, north-east of St Quentin. All our machines returned.

At midday on the 10th inst the railway sidings and factories at Mainz (at the junction of the Rivers Rhine and Main), in Germany, were bombed by our aeroplanes with good results. Well over a ton of bombs were dropped, and bursts were seen on and around the barracks, on the railway sidings, and on a factory. A large fire was started. All out machines returned.
DUMPS AND AERODROMES

The aerial activity of the last few days continued on the 9th inst. Several long-distance reconnaissances were successfully completed by our aeroplanes, and many photographs were taken. Observation for artillery was carried out all day.
Six hundred bombs were dropped by us on the enemy’s ammunition dumps, billets, and aerodromes, and on an important railway centre north-east of St. Quentin. In particular, a most successful attack was carried out at a low height by a large number of our machines against three hostile aerodromes. Bombs were dropped from an average height of 400ft, and at each of the aerodromes direct hits were obtained on hangars and on machines in the open.
While returning from this attack our pilots flew at a height of 100ft, firing on favourable targets on the ground with their machine-guns and causing casualties and much confusion among the enemy. In one case horse transport on the road was engaged, with the result that some of the wagons were upset into the ditch. In another horses in an orchard were stampeded. A company of German infantry was scattered in all directions and a group of officers on horseback dispersed.
The fighting in the air was heavy. Ten hostile machines. were brought down and ten others driven down out of control. A. German observation balloon was also destroyed. Two of our machines are missing.
On the 10th inst Germany was again bombed by our aeroplanes in broad daylight. On this occasion the Daimler Motor Works at Stuttgart were attacked, and over one and a quarter tons of bombs were dropped by us. Several bursts were observed on the railway station, where a stationary train was hit and set on fire. Three bursts were seen on the munition factory south-east of the town, and other bursts on the Daimler works and on buildings round them.
Hostile machines made a weak attempt to attack the formation over the objective, but withdrew on being attacked. All our machines returned except one, which evidently had engine trouble and went down under control just before recrossing the lines on the homeward journey.
NAVAL AIRMEN’S RAID
The Secretary of the Admiralty issued the following announcement yesterday: A bombing raid was carried out yesterday [Saturday] by naval aircraft on billets and railway sidings at St Pierre Capelle [east of Nieuport]. Direct hits were observed on three sheds and a firc started. Many bombs were dropped. Bombs were also dropped on a large hostile machine which was seen to have made a forced landing. No direct hits were observed. Several soldiers and motors in the vicinity were subjected to machine-gun fire. On the return journey our formation was attacked, and one enemy machine was brought down in flames. All our machines returned safely.