100 years ago - the missing months, 13 July 1916

[Graeme]

THURSDAY, 13 JULY 1916

General Headquarters, July 13th, 2 p.m.

"Despite the unfavourable weather, our aeroplanes have been constantly at work. Hostile machines were active, but all their attacks on our aeroplanes operating over the German lines were driven off. One of our aeroplanes is missing."

RFC Communique No 43:

Low clouds all day, strong west wind and some rain.

Lieut G R Howard in a F.E. of 22 Sqn, pilot, 2nd-Lieut C Courtneidge, carried out a reconnaissance of the German third line between Morval and Le Sars between 11.40 a.m. and 1.40 p.m. and furnished an excellent report. They had to fly at 2,000 feet in order to see anything.

Four Martinsydes of 27 Sqn, pilots, Capt. O T Boyd, Lieut J C Turner, and 2nd-Lieuts K N Pearson and S H Taylor, crossed the line in the clouds, and coming down over their objective bombed trains on the lines Douai-Cambrai and Denain—Cambrai. 2nd-Lieut Taylor saw two trains, one going north and another just west Aubigny-au-Bac. He dropped a bomb from a height of 800 feet at the first train which failed to explode. Waiting until the second train pulled up near the junction he dropped his second bomb from a height of 500 feet which fell 10 yards from the railway line near the front end of the train. The tender and two leading trucks were derailed, one truck being overturned and the tender and remaining truck thrown sideways across the rails. A squadron of cavalry on the road Epinoy - Marquion scattered in all directions. Lieut Taylor also saw a convoy of transport about 3½ miles long on the Fressines - Cambrai road, the head opposite Blecourt. The exploding bomb caused considerable commotion in the convoy.

Lieut Pearson dropped two bombs at a train near Iwuy on the Cambrai - Denain line from a height of 600 feet. The first fell 20 yards from the target level with the centre of the train. The second fell 15 feet from the engine and the train stopped. The pilot could not see the damage. Lieut Turner from a height of 800 feet attacked the same train as Lieut Taylor first attacked. Both bombs exploded level with the centre of the train 20 yards from it. No damage appeared to be done.

Capt Boyd from a height of 500 feet attacked the same train as Lieut Pearson. His first bomb fell about 8 yards from the line level with the rear of the train, and his second on the telegraph wire alongside the line level with the centre. No damage however appeared to be done. The pilot then attacked the engine with machine-gun fire, but no result was apparent. All four machines returned safely.

Machines of the 1st Brigade dropped seven 20-pound bombs on Annay, Hulluch, and Bois de la Folie. A loud report was heard in Annay, and a column of smoke seen.

No claims or casualties.

Graeme