SUMMARY OF INFORMATION RE PRUSSIAN FORCES – 20/11/14.

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(Enclosed with original).

G.H.Q. I.,                                                                                       (Sd)  G.M.W. Macdonogh,

20/11/.14.                                                                                                       Brig-General,

General Staff.

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12A

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENEMY – 20/11/14.

(Enclosed with original).

G.H.Q. I.,                                                                                       (Sd):  G.M.W. Macdonogh,

20/11/.14.                                                                                           Brigadier General,

General Staff.

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13A

H.Q. R.F.C.

            G/124/30.

ORDERS FOR RECONNAISSANCE, 21/11/14.

No. 2 Squadron.                  (a)  Tactical Work with IV Corps.

                                                (b). LILLE-SECLIN-DOUAI-LENS, back

No. 3 Squadron.                  (a) Tactical Work with Indian Corps.

 (b) ARMENTIERES-MENIN-COURTRAI-TOURCOING-

                                                            LILLE- ARMENTIERES, back.

 No. 4 Squadron.                 (a) Tactical Work with I Corps.

                                                (b) DIXMUDE-NIEUPORT-OSTEND-THOUROUT, back.

                                                (c) THOROUT-ROULERS-COURTRAI, back

No. 4 Sqdn. Det.                   (a) THOUROUT-THIELT-BRUGES.

at ST. OMER.                       (b) Maurice Farmans.  Same as for today.

No. 5 Sqdn. Det.

at ST. Omer                           Nil.

No. 5 Squadron.                  Tactical Work with III Corps.

No. 6 Squadron.                  Tactical Work with II Corps.

H.Q. Wireless Unit.              Work with I and III Corps

(Sd): W. Salmond,

MAJOR, G.S.

H.Q.  R.F.C.

            7-45 p.m.

                        20/11/14.

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

TO  Royal Flying Corps

                                                            First Corps

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

GQ/20/5                                             20

Your message received AAA

If ordered to return carry out usual strategical Reconnaissance AAA Arrange re Anti-aircraft gun to return here AAA

From: R.F.C. H.Q.

Place:

Time:  

W. Salmond, Major, G.S.

Signature of Addressee

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7A

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

            DHQ. Sent 4-50 p.m.

TO Aeronautics  G.H.Q.

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

HRO 426                               29/11/14

No. 2 Squadron another observer urgently required Capt. Lumsden for preference French Bombs carriers petrol and oil required tomorrow.

From: Aeronautics

Place:                         4^th Corps

Time:  4-45 p.m.

Signature of Addressee

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8A

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

                        RCH sent at 8-16 p.m.                                             Recd at 8-18 p.m.

TO Aeronautics

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

                                                            20

Rejoining tomorrow AAA Strategical Reconnaissances from here as usual

Capt. Soames

(Sd.):  W. Salmond, Major, G.S.

21/11/14

From:  Aeronautics

Place:             4 Poperinghe

Time:                                                  8 –p-m-

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9A

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

TO Royal Flying Corps                   First Corps

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

GQ/20/8                                             20

Wireless machines are to return here when you return AAA

From: R.F.C. H.Q.

Place:

Time:  9-45 p.m.

Signature of Addressee

W. Salmond, Major, G.S.

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9B

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

TO Major Musgrave

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

Please see attached telegram to R.F.C. 1^st Corps

(Signed): W. Salmond,

Major,

G.S.

The General wants to see these officers.   W.J.S.

From:

Place:

Time:  

Signature of Addressee

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

No of Message 315

Priority

OB/B234

C. Deedes, Capt.,

TO       R.F.C.

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

O (a) 520                                           20^th    

Following received from 3^rd Division Begins Report just received that two German Aeroplanes have been circling over 3^rd Cav. Bde. line directing artillery fire for past two hours ends.

From: G.H.Q.

Place:

Time:  12-25 p.m.

C. Deedes, Capt., G.S.

Signature of Addressee

G.S.O. 2.,

            R.F.C.

            The following work was carried out during day:

• BROCK & PENN-GASKELL: Gun reconnaissance, Northern, was successful.
• STRANGE & PENN GASKELL: Special Tactical Reconnaissance was successful.
• BROCK & SMALL: Gun Reconnaissance, Southern, was successful.
• BORTON & HEATHCOTE: Artillery Work with vi Div.
• STRANGE & PENN GASKELL: Chased a Voisin in response to an urgent message from iii A.C., but did not fire, recognising it as a French machine.

The IV Div. did not require any Art. Work.

20/11/14.   (S): A.C.W. Maclean, Major.

10 B

Note: – 10 B is a tracing and not typed.

G.S.,

            R.F.C.                                     In the Field.

I expect to get orders from Ist Corps to-night, that we are no longer required.

If so, we will come to ST. OMER tomorrow morning.

I will also tell WADE – GREY to bring in his A.A. Gun.

He would like a day or so to refit, but does not require it.

If this is not right please wire me to-night.

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Enclosed Reconnaissance Reports:

2^nd – UNWIN  …  17/11.

  “   – ROCHE …   18/11.

    “   – UNWIN …    18/11.

Only Hallett T.        18/11.

  “    –      –     T.      19/11.

1^st – ROCHE …    20/11.

  “   – UNWIN …    20/11.

======================

In the Field;                           (Sd):  H. Roche, Lieut.,

2-50 p.m.  20/11/14         for O.C. No. 4 Sqdn., R.F.C.

(By Motor Cyclist).

O.C.

No. 5 Detachment,

ST. OMER.

Hostile Aeroplane is reported about KEMMEL (N. of BAILLEUL) directing Artillery Fire.

Send an Avro out.

R.F.C. H.Q.,              (Signed): W. Salmond, Mjr., G.S.

20/11/14

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Received 1-30 p.m.

I will immediately take action.

                                    (Signed): R.O. Abercromby, Lieut.

Fourth Corps

G.H.Q. have allotted Wireless Aeroplanes at present available to 2^nd & 3^rd Corps.

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4B

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

       Words                                                                                         Recd at 1-30 p.m.

ADR 46

DHQ Sent at 1-21 p.m.

TO Colonel Sykes                           G.H.Q.

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

H.R.O. /421

We are much in need of a Wireless installation here to range our batteries AAA Henderson told me he would send me two but none have arrived so far and our artillery is much handicapped in consequence.

From: Fourth Corps

Place:

Time:  1-20 p.m.

Signature of Addressee

4C

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

TO Fourth Corps

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

GQ/20/3                                             20                                HRO/421

GHQ have allotted Wireless machines to 2^nd and 3^rd Corps.

From: R.F.C. H.Q.

Place:

Time:  

W. Salmond, Maj., G.S.

Signature of Addressee

G.H.Q.

Steps are being taken to interfere with these Aeroplanes.

Two details would help us:

• If 3^rd Division would say where their aeroplanes are, instead of saying “over 3^rd Cav Brig.”
• If the information could be sent to us before the expiry of two hours.

Also there are six Aeroplanes with the IInd Corps.  Was the information sent to them?  Sending in to H.Q. adds 30 miles and no doubt other delays.

                        (Sd):  David Henderson, M.G.,

                                    Commanding R.F.C.

20/11/14.

3

G.O.C., R.F.C.

The information regarding the position of the 3^rd Cav. Bde. was sent up to you subsequent to the despatch of this message.  I regret it was not sent up at the same time.

The Brigade is just South of the YPRES – MENIN road.

The IInd Corps has been informed.

20/11/14.                    (Sd): C. Deedes, Capt., G.S.

                                    for Brig-Gen., G.S.

Reconnaissance No. 764                                                                   20^th November 1914.

Aeroplane: Avro – No.                                                                           

Squadron: No. 5.                                                                                                

Pilot:  – Lieut. Strange

Observer – Lieut. Penn-Gaskell;

Hour commenced: 10-30 a.m.                                                   Reference Map: 1/40,000

   “     concluded:    11-50 a.m.

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Time                                       Place                          OBSERVATION

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11-0 a.m.       WYTSCHAETE                    Rifle trenches N.E., E. & S.E. of town about

                                                                        half occupied; not much indication of

to                                                                     sapping.  A gun fired one round from south

corner of wood ¾ mile North-east of town at Pt. 60.

                                                                        Also trench unoccupied along south side of

11-20 a.m.                                                     wood, North of W in WYTSCHAETE.

Also two trenches unoccupied running parallel North & South through W in WYTSCHAETE.

Also trench unoccupied running from last E in WYTSCHAE to east side of wood by l in l’ENFER.

Also two trenches unoccupied, one running S.W. from about 200 yards west of above wood to the road running from IN (?) de KRUISSTRAAT to MESSINES, the other trench is about 300 yards West of above and parallel to same.

                        WAMBEKE.                          Marks in the snow, indicating horses having

been exercised this morning in several places (about 6) N.E., E. and S.E. of town.

                        MESSINES                           Many trenches South of town, nearly half-

occupied; also signs of a good deal of sapping; also trenches, about 1/3 occupied and some sapping on East Side of town.

11-20 a.m.                                                     Rifle trench unoccupied, running South on West side of road to ARMENTIERES from Pt. B⁶ to D in DOUVE.

 to                    LA BASSEE VILLE.             Marks indicating horses having been

                                                                        exercised N.W. of town in several places.

11-40 a.m.     BOIS DE PLOEGSTEERT.  No trenches N., N.E. & S.E. of wood as far

as WESTHOEK station are about half-occupied and some of the saps on east side of wood have been occupied this morning.

                        BAS WARNETON                Signs of horses having been exercised this

morning in neighbourhood of LE BANC

COULON in several places round the village.

            GEULEMONT                                   Shelled by anti-aircraft Guns.  Lt. Stranger

                                                                        dropped bombs in neighbourhood of town.

(Signed) L. Penn-Gaskell,  Lieut.,

Observer.  R.F.C.