113 Squadron - Egypt Palestine Photos

[MalcSampers]

I have about 90 amateur photos that I believe relate to 113 Squadron's early months from Alexandria to Palestine. Areas mentioned are Aboukir, Jaffa, Ramleh, Wadi Auja. Many pictures of personnel, airfield, Australians and patrol vehicles, a crashed Avro 504 (I think) with Hythe camera 'gun' and interesting number, a balloon and so on. I can't verify that it is 113 but I know they were in the places mentioned up the coast and were involved in observation work, sharing an airfield with 1AFC, so I think it is 'probablly' 113.

Anyone out there who'd be able to help verify or provide info on the events recorded?

[Simba]

On looking up 113 Squadron RFC/RAF in Jefford's invaluable 'RAF Squadrons', I discover 113 was formed at Ismailia on 1st August 1917, the BE2e being the first type operated. RE8s arrived the following month, and remained part of the squadron's equipment until its disbandment on 1st February 1920 and subsequent renumbering as 208 Squadron RAF. 113 also operated the Nieuport 17, 23 and 24 from February to October 1918 in flights detached to El Affule and Haifa.

The RE8 detachment operated from Sheikh Nuran was joined by the whole squadron on 10th October 1917. The squadron moved to Julis on 23rd November, with a detachment going on to Khibert Deiran. The squadron moved entirely to Khibert Deiran on 5th December, then to Sarona on 17th January 1918.

113 Sqn moved to Qantara on 18th November 1918; final move was back to Ismailia on 16th February 1919, where the unit reverted to flying the long-in-the-tooth BE2e alongside its surviving RE8s until December.

Hope this helps.

Simba.

[Bill Woerlee]

Malcolm Sampers

G'day mate

Hope I got your name okay.

Mate, this is my specific area of specialty - Australian service in Egypt, Sinai, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon from 1914-9. I am just wondering if you want to share them with me. I would love to look at them. If I can add to them to help you understand their context, then I am only too happy to do so.

Send me an email to:

goodelyfe at hotmail dot com

[This is a troll proof email address]

We'll take it from there if that is okay with you.

Cheers

Bill

[MalcSampers]

Hi Simba, firstly I am sorry for taking Sooo long to reply to your note below which is very helpful. I am a complete technophobe and have only just worked out how this thing works, so have just seen your response after 3 months! I will check out those place names against the pictures and that should help ID some of them. Interesting no mention of Avros in the Jefford's details, as one of my pics is of a crashed 2 seater with Hythe camera gun - I suppose it could be off another squadron but I assumed it would be 113 which was primarily working on artillery spotting.

Anyway, thanks for your reply and apologies for the delay in mine - I hope you get this one. cheers, malcSampers

On looking up 113 Squadron RFC/RAF in Jefford's invaluable 'RAF Squadrons', I discover 113 was formed at Ismailia on 1st August 1917, the BE2e being the first type operated. RE8s arrived the following month, and remained part of the squadron's equipment until its disbandment on 1st February 1920 and subsequent renumbering as 208 Squadron RAF. 113 also operated the Nieuport 17, 23 and 24 from February to October 1918 in flights detached to El Affule and Haifa.

The RE8 detachment operated from Sheikh Nuran was joined by the whole squadron on 10th October 1917. The squadron moved to Julis on 23rd November, with a detachment going on to Khibert Deiran. The squadron moved entirely to Khibert Deiran on 5th December, then to Sarona on 17th January 1918.

113 Sqn moved to Qantara on 18th November 1918; final move was back to Ismailia on 16th February 1919, where the unit reverted to flying the long-in-the-tooth BE2e alongside its surviving RE8s until December.

Hope this helps.

Simba.