Sqn Location

22 July 2003, 12:24 AM

Hello to all.
I wonder if someone may be able to assist me with finding a Sqn location.

I am trying to locate the airfield/aerodrome location/name of 25 Sqn RFC for the first week of April 1917. I have an extract of the Sqn Record Book for the 3rd April 1917 but the airfield/aerodrome is not mentioned.

Best regards
Peter.

Shredward · 22 July 2003, 12:58 AM

Hello Fellop,
Looks like 25 RFC was at Lozinghem from 01/04/16 to 11/10/17. In June'17, they converted to DH4 from FE2b and FE3d.
cheers,
shredward

Graeme · 22 July 2003, 08:57 AM

According to "The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force" by James J Halley, 25 Sqn moved to France on 20 February 1916 and was based at Auchel from 1 april 1916 to 11 October 1917 when it moved to Boisdinghem.

Halley makes no mention of Lozinghem as a base for the squadron.

Graeme

Graeme · 22 July 2003, 09:03 AM

Hmm....

From digging deeper, it appears that Auchel and Lozinghem were one and the same place. I wonder which came first?

Graeme

22 July 2003, 11:41 AM

Very many thanks to Graeme and Shredward for their replies.
So Auchel/Lozinghem it is

Must have a look at a trench map of the area.

One of the chaps I`m looking after was an observer/photo, went down in a FE2d (A6371).

Best Regards
Peter.

Graeme · 22 July 2003, 01:14 PM

Peter

I presume that will be 2nd Lt Henry Scotson Richards, observer to Lt L Dodson, who were shot down near Lens - apparently by Ltn Karl Schaeffer of Jasta 11 as his 9th victory. Dodson was killed and Richards wounded in action, dying of his wounds.

Graeme

23 July 2003, 12:02 PM

Hi Graeme,
Yes thats my man, H.S.Richards, slight correction, Dodson was taken POW not KIA. Henry was wounded with gunshot wounds in the stomach and died of wounds later that night.

I have all Henry`s papers from the PRO, or should it be NA, or even I think we call it just A now (Archives) :-/ .

He was a local chap, one of the men on my village memorial, he lived, with his mother, only about 300 yards from where I live.

From when his mother (Jessie) was informed of his death (on the 5th April 1917) until about 1929 she wrote countless letters to all sorts of people in the hope he was still alive, that and for his back pay. Dodson visited her in 1919 to tell her he was dead but she still did not believe it. Not until two nephews visited the memorial at Lens with his name on it and brought back a photo to show her in 1930.

Sad case but very interesting, I have all sorts of copies of letters etc.

Best Regards
Peter.