Graeme
13 December 2018, 03:47 PM
WEDNESDAY, 19 JULY 1916
The German defence was re-organised, with the southern wing forming a new army, First Army, under von Gallwitz. Gallwitz took overall responsibility for the conduct of the defence of the line.
Haig was convinced, as were the Germans, that the enemy was on the point of exhaustion and that a breakthrough was imminent. Thus, the offensive was maintained throughout the summer and into November. The British saw few victories, however, such as Pozieres, captured by two Australian divisions on 23 July and those that were secured were not followed up.
General Headquarters, France, July 20th.
"Yesterday our aeroplanes carried out successful bombing enterprises by day and night. Many tons of explosives were dropped with marked success on railway centres, enemy aerodromes, and other important points. One hostile aeroplane was destroyed, and several others were forced to the ground in a damaged condition.
"Since the 16th instant four of our machines have failed to return to our lines."
RFC Communique No 44:
Much successful artillery co-operation was carried out, 64 targets being engaged with aeroplane observation and 13 by kite balloons.
Capt Ward, pilot, and Lieut Brigham, observer, of the 1st Brigade carried out very successful registration on minenwerfer emplacements.
Contact patrol machines did some good work with battalions in the neighbourhood of Longueval, obtaining their situation from them and a report that all was well.
Activity was normal on the 1st Army front, slight on the fronts of the IInd and IIIrd Armies, and much increased on the fronts of the IVth and Reserve Armies.
On the 1st Army front about 18 hostile machines were working; two crossed the lines and dropped 2 bombs on Chocques and La Gorgue respectively.
A patrol of F.E.s and De Havillands over Provin and Lille encountered 6 Fokkers, one of which was shot down by an F.E. of 25 Sqn, pilot, Lieut Mann, observer, 2nd-Lieut Webb. It was seen to fall to pieces and crash in the Provin aerodrome.
2nd-Lieut Godlee of 32 Sqn engaged another Fokker which appeared to go down in a spinning nose dive, 2nd-Lieut Godlee being mortally wounded was unable to make a report.
A hostile aerodrome was located near Provin (C. 22.c. Sheet 36). One large shed and Fokkers were seen.
There were no combats on the IInd Army front.
On the IIIrd Army front there were five combats. One hostile machine was forced down.
On the IVth Army front there was a good deal of fighting. Two hostile machines are believed to have been brought down, but owing to the number of machines engaged at the same time it was difficult to observe results. Between 30 and 40 machines were seen, and there were 12 combats.
Bombing operations were continued during the night of the 18th/19th and on the 19th against various points of importance in the enemy's lines.
The 1st Brigade attacked the aerodrome at Ronchin by night. Four bombs were observed to fall on the aeroplane sheds.
At midnight 2nd-Lieut Thayre of 7 Sqn dropped two 112-pound bombs on St Sauveur Station, Lille. Both bombs burst in the station and appeared to cause disorganisation of the traffc.
During the day the 3rd Brigade carried out successful raids against a dump at Biache St Vaast, against the siding at Boyelles and against the aerodrome at Douai. At the latter place twenty-eight 112-pound bombs were dropped. A petrol store was apparently set on fire, and at least one hangar was destroyed and others damaged.
Machines of the IXth Wing attacked Cambrai station, Rocquigny, Gueudecourt, Le Transloy and Beaulencourt. Much damage appeared to have been done in the last two named places.
Altogether nearly 7 tons of bombs were dropped during the day.
Hostile aircraft:
2nd-Lieut D Wilson, 24 Sqn, E.A. out of control
2nd-Lieut J Godlee, 32 Sqn, Fokker E out of control Provin at 05:00/06:00; Vfw Otto Dapper (Kia), FA 18 [?]
2nd-Lieut N W W Webb & 2nd-Lieut J A Mann and 2nd-Lieut H B Davey & Capt H C Morley, 25 Sqn, Fokker E broke up east of Provin at 06:45/07:45
Capt A M Wilkinson, 24 Sqn, Fokker E out of control Bapaume - Péronne Rd at 10:15/11:15
Lieut A G Knight, 24 Sqn, Fokker E out of control Bapaume - Péronne Rd at 10:30/11:30
Casualties:
Lieut Henry Rathbone Hele-Shaw (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut Robert Claude Oakes (Kia), 70 Sqn, Strutter A386 - last seen near Cambrai on offensive patrol; Ltn Kurt Wintgens, Kek V, 9th victory [Arras, no time]
Lieut Henry Clements-Finnerty (Pow), 13 Sqn, BE2c 7333 - took off 02:25/03:25 then force landed due engine failure on special mission
2nd-Lieut John Godlee (Wia; Dow 22-Jul-16), 32 Sqn, DH2 7874 - lost consciousness after combat near Provin and crashed out of control near Noeux les Mines 05:00/06:00 during escort to offensive patrol
2nd-Lieut Arthur Henry William Tollemache (Kia), 27 Sqn, Martinsyde G.100 7288 - missing from escort to reserve and offensive patrol Bapaume 09:00/10:00
Graeme
The German defence was re-organised, with the southern wing forming a new army, First Army, under von Gallwitz. Gallwitz took overall responsibility for the conduct of the defence of the line.
Haig was convinced, as were the Germans, that the enemy was on the point of exhaustion and that a breakthrough was imminent. Thus, the offensive was maintained throughout the summer and into November. The British saw few victories, however, such as Pozieres, captured by two Australian divisions on 23 July and those that were secured were not followed up.
General Headquarters, France, July 20th.
"Yesterday our aeroplanes carried out successful bombing enterprises by day and night. Many tons of explosives were dropped with marked success on railway centres, enemy aerodromes, and other important points. One hostile aeroplane was destroyed, and several others were forced to the ground in a damaged condition.
"Since the 16th instant four of our machines have failed to return to our lines."
RFC Communique No 44:
Much successful artillery co-operation was carried out, 64 targets being engaged with aeroplane observation and 13 by kite balloons.
Capt Ward, pilot, and Lieut Brigham, observer, of the 1st Brigade carried out very successful registration on minenwerfer emplacements.
Contact patrol machines did some good work with battalions in the neighbourhood of Longueval, obtaining their situation from them and a report that all was well.
Activity was normal on the 1st Army front, slight on the fronts of the IInd and IIIrd Armies, and much increased on the fronts of the IVth and Reserve Armies.
On the 1st Army front about 18 hostile machines were working; two crossed the lines and dropped 2 bombs on Chocques and La Gorgue respectively.
A patrol of F.E.s and De Havillands over Provin and Lille encountered 6 Fokkers, one of which was shot down by an F.E. of 25 Sqn, pilot, Lieut Mann, observer, 2nd-Lieut Webb. It was seen to fall to pieces and crash in the Provin aerodrome.
2nd-Lieut Godlee of 32 Sqn engaged another Fokker which appeared to go down in a spinning nose dive, 2nd-Lieut Godlee being mortally wounded was unable to make a report.
A hostile aerodrome was located near Provin (C. 22.c. Sheet 36). One large shed and Fokkers were seen.
There were no combats on the IInd Army front.
On the IIIrd Army front there were five combats. One hostile machine was forced down.
On the IVth Army front there was a good deal of fighting. Two hostile machines are believed to have been brought down, but owing to the number of machines engaged at the same time it was difficult to observe results. Between 30 and 40 machines were seen, and there were 12 combats.
Bombing operations were continued during the night of the 18th/19th and on the 19th against various points of importance in the enemy's lines.
The 1st Brigade attacked the aerodrome at Ronchin by night. Four bombs were observed to fall on the aeroplane sheds.
At midnight 2nd-Lieut Thayre of 7 Sqn dropped two 112-pound bombs on St Sauveur Station, Lille. Both bombs burst in the station and appeared to cause disorganisation of the traffc.
During the day the 3rd Brigade carried out successful raids against a dump at Biache St Vaast, against the siding at Boyelles and against the aerodrome at Douai. At the latter place twenty-eight 112-pound bombs were dropped. A petrol store was apparently set on fire, and at least one hangar was destroyed and others damaged.
Machines of the IXth Wing attacked Cambrai station, Rocquigny, Gueudecourt, Le Transloy and Beaulencourt. Much damage appeared to have been done in the last two named places.
Altogether nearly 7 tons of bombs were dropped during the day.
Hostile aircraft:
2nd-Lieut D Wilson, 24 Sqn, E.A. out of control
2nd-Lieut J Godlee, 32 Sqn, Fokker E out of control Provin at 05:00/06:00; Vfw Otto Dapper (Kia), FA 18 [?]
2nd-Lieut N W W Webb & 2nd-Lieut J A Mann and 2nd-Lieut H B Davey & Capt H C Morley, 25 Sqn, Fokker E broke up east of Provin at 06:45/07:45
Capt A M Wilkinson, 24 Sqn, Fokker E out of control Bapaume - Péronne Rd at 10:15/11:15
Lieut A G Knight, 24 Sqn, Fokker E out of control Bapaume - Péronne Rd at 10:30/11:30
Casualties:
Lieut Henry Rathbone Hele-Shaw (Kia) & 2nd-Lieut Robert Claude Oakes (Kia), 70 Sqn, Strutter A386 - last seen near Cambrai on offensive patrol; Ltn Kurt Wintgens, Kek V, 9th victory [Arras, no time]
Lieut Henry Clements-Finnerty (Pow), 13 Sqn, BE2c 7333 - took off 02:25/03:25 then force landed due engine failure on special mission
2nd-Lieut John Godlee (Wia; Dow 22-Jul-16), 32 Sqn, DH2 7874 - lost consciousness after combat near Provin and crashed out of control near Noeux les Mines 05:00/06:00 during escort to offensive patrol
2nd-Lieut Arthur Henry William Tollemache (Kia), 27 Sqn, Martinsyde G.100 7288 - missing from escort to reserve and offensive patrol Bapaume 09:00/10:00
Graeme