H.Q. R.F.C.

G/112/40.

INFORMATION

==========

2^nd Corps.

            The following notes on defensive measures taken during the recent fighting in front of YPRES may be of assistance to other troops.

The section of defence held by the Division was in wooded country.  The tracks through the woods became almost impassable owing to mud, the whole area was under constant shell fire and wires were constantly cut.  Communication was therefore slow and difficult.  It was found that when the enemy made a breach in the line it was a slow and costly business to turn him out, if he was given time to establish himself.  On the other hand, immediate counter attack was almost always successful.

Local reserves were therefore placed close up with orders to counter attack with the bayonet whenever the enemy penetrated the line.  Small supporting points were established close behind the line, prepared for all round defence, wired in all round, and, as far as possible, concealed from observation.  These posts had garrisons of from 20 to 40 men.  They should be under an officer or selected N.C.O.  It was found that they broke up the attack and checked it sufficiently to enable a successful counter attack to be organized.

The general experience of the fighting was that a field of fire was of far less importance to infantry than freedom from exposure to artillery fire.  The portion of the line held by the West Kents and K.O.S. Borderers had a field of fire of from 30 to 40 yards.  It was well wired in and never seriously troubled because the enemy could not bring his guns to bear on it.  All the enemy’s attempts to attack were repulsed with heavy loss.

It was found in places where the line was exposed to artillery fire that the two lines of trenches, connected by zig-zag communications were of value.  On several occasions our men were shelled out of one line but by moving back to the other avoided loss and were able to prevent the enemy’s infantry from occupying the abandoned trenches.  The forward line was usually re-occupied without difficulty when the shelling ceased and was invariably occupied at night.

Loopholed iron plates were found very useful for snipers when the enemy had established himself close to our line.

With reference to G.H.Q. No. O.A.401 some rabbit netting was put up over the trenches round YPRES but when our left had not undergone an actual test by “Minenwerfere”.  Both the infantry and cavalry in the trenches objected to it on the ground that it prevented them using their bayonets, in which objection I entirely concur, and consider it an inseparable one.  I think it should not be used either in fire or support trenches, except over machine gun emplacements and with outposts where it might be useful.  It might also be used over reserve trenches and would there also form a good support for some form of protection against the weather.

I do not think any form of protection against “Minenwerfere” can be designed for the fire trenches which will not have the same objection to its use.  As it appears almost impossible to spot them so that they can be dealt with by artillery, the only method of dealing with them would seem to be to make a sortie in the neighbourhood they are supposed to be in.

(Sd) W. Salmond

Major, G.S.

H.Q. R.F.C.

1-30 p.m.

            29/11/14.

            Programme of Work done by No. 6 Squadron with 11nd Corps.

———————————————–

19-11-14:       No work possible owing to severe snowstorm.

20-11-14:       B.E. 493 – Artillery observation with Vth Division.

                        Other machine started, but forced to return owing to carburettor

                        trouble.

21-11-14:       B.E. 493 – Artillery observation with Vth Division.

                        Other machines started for Artillery observation and tactical

                        reconnaissance, but returned owing to carburettor trouble

Wireless Flight arrived.

22-11-14:       B.E. 241 & B.E. 468 – Artillery observation with Vth Division.

                        B.E. 493 & B.E. 646 – Artillery observation with 3^rd Division.

                        B.E. 636 – Tactical Reconnaissance

                                                            (Report attached).

23-11-14                                                                                (Sd): J.H.W. Becke, Maj.

Cdg. NO. 6 Sqdn. R.F.C.

——————————————-

35A

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENEMY 23/11/14.

————————————-

(Enclosed with original).

G.H.Q. 1.,                                                                                      (Sd) G.M.W. Macdonogh,

23/11/14                                                                                            Brigadier General,

General staff.

or

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

26C

Report of INTERVIEW with 4 OFFICERS of the GERMAN

FLYING CORPS.

***********************************

An Intelligence Officer from G.H.Q. had already had 5 hours conversation with the prisoners, and had elicited a good deal of information.  I only endeavoured to make enquiries on matters not touched upon in the previous interview.

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

All 4 officers maintained that their machines fly faster and climb better then the B.E’S.  as, however, one of them said that he never reached 2,000 metres under 30 minutes, their climbing power is clearly inferior to that of the B.E.s.  All the machines can carry from 5 to 6 hours’ petrol, but at present they rarely carry more that 3 hours’ petrol.

The Aviatik and Albatross are considered the best machines; the Fokker is also good, but not so easy to land.  All other types are old machines and out of date.  A new machine is said to have gone through its trials and to be ready for delivery.  It carries pilot and observer, and will fly at 140 kilometres per hour.

Bombing: is only regarded of value from the moral effect it may produce.  Pilots who make a habit of dropping Bombs have a sighting-apparatus fitted.  One of them remarked that he would never drop a Bomb without a sighting-apparatus.  The pilot always drops the Bomb.

Armour-proof Plating:  Machines are fitted with Armour-proof seats for pilot and observer.  Some machines are going to be fitted or are already fitted with Armour-proof Plating along the floor from pilot’s seat to the engine; the underpart of the engine is also to be protected.

Machine Guns:  One of the officers volunteered that some machines are fitted with machine guns.  but they showed so much surprise at finding that L. Strange’s Avro was armed with a machine-gun, that I came to the conclusion that machines have not yet been flown at any rate beyond German lines with Machine Guns.

Questioned as to the sheds at GHISTELLES near OSTENDE, said that they knew nothing about them.

I was interested to learn that it has been given out that Captain Grey, recently captured, was, in fact Colonel Grey, the Commanding Officer of the British Royal Flying Corps.

They also told me that two British Naval Officers were brought down and killed near DIXMUDE about three weeks ago.  The machine was flying low, the pilot having apparently missed his way.  It was thought that the machine must have been hit by a chance shot from a heavy gun; the aeroplane collapsed suddenly in the air and burst into flames.  This must have been Lt. Beever and his passenger.

The interview was interrupted at this point, as the prisoners had to be removed from ST. OMER.

(Signed): G.S. Shephard, Capt.,

Royal Flying Corps.

—————————-

24/11/14

            They were anxious to learn what effect anti-aircraft guns had on English machines and pilots.  They realised that no machines had been brought down, but thought that several had been hit.

            They were informed that the effect of their anti-aircraft guns, whether moral or otherwise, had, as they must have seen for themselves, been insignificant.

H.Q. R.F.C.                                                                                       Major, G.S.

 8-0 p.m.

            29/11/14.

Reconnaissance No: 781A                                                               24^th November 1914.

Aeroplane: RE. 5 – 380.                                                                       

Squadron No.  2.                                                                                                      

Pilot:  Lieut. Broder;

Observer: Capt Lumsden;                                                        Ref Map:  France 1/80,000

Hour commenced: 8-30 a.m.

Hour concluded:    10-20 a.m.

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

Time                                       Place                          OBSERVATION

—————————————————————————————————————-

9-0 a.m.          CAPINGHEM.                       All open spaces in vicinity taken up with

                                                                        bivouacs.  Considerable activity along roads

                                                                        in neighbourhood.

                                                                        Three short lines of earthworks being

                                                                        constructed between CAPINGHEM &

                                                                        PERENCHIES, facing N.W. & W.

                        ENGLOS.                              Disconnected line of earthworks between

                                                                        ENNELLERES and HALLENNES, facing W.

                                                                        & S.W. – digging proceeding.  Activity.

                        SANTE.                                  New semi-circular defence works facing S.

                                                                        and W. 500 yards S.W. of SANTE.

                                                                        Short line of what appears to be gun

                                                                        emplacements 200 yards S.W. of SANTE.

9-50                BOIS DE BIEZ.                     3 lines of gun pits occupied N.E. of wood.

1 – 4 guns – 200 yards N.E. of N.E. corner

of Woods.

1 – 6 guns – 300 W. of village AUBERS.

1 – approx. 8 parked and close to road just

N of NEUVECHAPELLE.

ARMENTIERES.                  Trenches S.E. of CHAPELLE

                                                d’ARMENTIERES being accurately shelled.  

                                                Snow yellow.

(Signed): H.T. Lumsden, Capt.

            Observer.                  

Reconnaissance No 781                                                       24^th November 1914.

Aeroplane B.E.  635.                                                                             

Squadron No  4                                                                                                        

Pilot  Lieut. Roche

Observer        –                                                           Reference Map:  1/100,000

Hour commenced: 1-50 p.m.

   “     concluded:    4-30 p.m.

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

Time                                       Place                          OBSERVATION

—————————————————————————————————————-

2-30 p.m.       PERVYSE                 No fighting seen on the line PERVYSE –

                                                            NIEUPORT.  The line PERVYSE –

                                                            DIXMUDE under cloud.

2-50 p.m.       NIEUPORT.                          No activity in town

3-0 p.m.          MIDDELKERKE       (a) About 20 M.T. vehicles in streets.

(b) Nothing seen in area NIEUPORT –

WESTENDE – OSTEND – SNAESKERKE.

3-7 p.m.          OSTEND                   (a) Rolling stock for about 14 trains in railway

                                                            station.  2 engines with steam up.  1 train arriving

                                                            from THOUROUT.  Sidings S.E. of town full of

rolling stock where there was one engine with steam up.

Town appeared quiet.

(b) No sign of activity in inner or outer harbour

between piers.

3-25 p.m.       BRUGES                   (a) Not many people in streets of town.

(b) About 170 transport vehicles in town, About

130 of these M.T. lorries.

(c) Rolling stock for about 8 trains in railway

station.  Smoke from railway works W. of Fort

Lanin and rolling stock for 3 trains on the siding

near these works.  1 train arriving from S.E. or

S.W. (this train was seen from some distance).

GHISTELLES clouds.

3-35 p.m.       COUCKELAERE     (a) 40 M.T. in streets of town.

(b) Column of M.T. halted on N. side of the

THOUROUT – BEERST road, one end at 5 the

other at 7 kilo. Stone.

3-40 p.m.       ZAREN                      18 store tents.

3-42p.m.         STADEN                    (a) Rolling stock for 1 train.  1 engine with steam

                                                            up.

(b) 14 store tents and six small tents E. of town.

STADENBERG        40 transport vehicles parked.

3-45 p.m.       FORET D’HOUTHULST.    Clouds.

On return journey from BRUGES only places mentioned above were visible.                    

(Sd) H. Roche, Lieut.

                                                            Observer.

H.Q. R.F.C.,

G/124/33.

ORDERS FOR RECONNAISSANCE, 24-11-14.

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

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) AMENTIERES – MENIN – COURTRAI –

TOURCOING – LILLE – ARMENTIERES, back.

No. 4 Squadron.                  (a) ST. OMER – ROULERS – THIELT – COURTRAI.

(b) ST. OMER – LICHTERVELDE – THOUROUT – BRUGES – OSTEND.

No. 4 Sqdn. Det.                   (a) 2 machines with Wireless Detachment, BAILLEUL.

(b) Remainder as for to-day.

No. 5 Squadron.                  Tactical work with III Corps.

No. 5 Sqdn. Det.                   Nil

at ST. OMER.

No. 6 Squadron.                  Tactical work with II Corps.

H.Q. Wireless unit.              Work with II and III Corps.

H.Q. R.F.C.

7-30 p.m.

23-11-14.

W. Salmond

Major, G.S.

Notes:

• When reconnaissances ordered have not been carried out during the day, a report is to be sent in to R.F.C. H.Q. by 7 p.m. stating the cause of failure.
• Special attention to be paid to rolling stock at all stations, especially at the following places: – COURTRAI, WERVICQ, COMINES, MENIN, LILLE, TOURCOING, MOUSCRON, ROULERS, LICHTERVELDE, THOUROUT, OSTEND, LENS.

            Programme of Work done by No. 6 Squadron with 11nd Corps.

———————————————–

19-11-14:       No work possible owing to severe snowstorm.

20-11-14:       B.E. 493 – Artillery observation with Vth Division.

                        Other machine started, but forced to return owing to carburettor

                        trouble.

21-11-14:       B.E. 493 – Artillery observation with Vth Division.

                        Other machines started for Artillery observation and tactical

                        reconnaissance, but returned owing to carburettor trouble

Wireless Flight arrived.

22-11-14:       B.E. 241 & B.E. 468 – Artillery observation with Vth Division.

                        B.E. 493 & B.E. 646 – Artillery observation with 3^rd Division.

                        B.E. 636 – Tactical Reconnaissance

                                                            (Report attached).

23-11-14                                                                                (Sd): J.H.W. Becke, Maj.

Cdg. NO. 6 Sqdn. R.F.C.

——————————————-

35A

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENEMY 23/11/14.

————————————-

(Enclosed with original).

G.H.Q. 1.,                                                                                      (Sd) G.M.W. Macdonogh,

23/11/14                                                                                            Brigadier General,

General staff.

O.C.  No 5 Squadron.

            From 2/Lt. Powell.

            With reference to target F.F.Q.C. centre to be engaged by 4^th Siege Battery.  I had no difficulty in picking up the target and having done so fired a green light.  An L was placed behind the battery which seemed to point more towards WARNETON than DEULEMONT.

No shells were seen falling near the target.

After an interval of about 5 minutes another green light was fired but with no result.  The flashes of other shells could be clearly seen.  35 minutes after firing the first light we returned home.

(Sd) E.W. Powell, 2/Lt.

22/11/14

29B

O.C.

5 Sqdn. R.F.C.

From Lieut. A.E. Borton R.F.C.

22/11/14

Reference failure to range heavy battery at A in FLEURBAIS on required target this morning.  I was in position over the battery at about 8-15 a.m. and after inspecting the targets returned to battery when my observer fired one green light.  I was unable to see any signals from the Battery.  However I remained in observation for about 40 minutes, and as saw no firing from battery returned.  I went out to battery on a motor cycle, and the O.C. explained that our signal light was not seen owing to haze.  Also I was flying rather high as target was difficult to discern owing to haze.

Work with same battery this afternoon resulted in hit on each target in under 1 hour.

(Sd) A.E. Borton, Lt.

Observer.  

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENEMY 22/11/14.

———————————————–

(Enclosed with original)

G.H.Q. 1.,                                                                                      (Sd) G.M.W. Macdonogh,

Brigadier General,

22/11/14.                                                                                                             General Staff.

———————————–

31A

H.Q. R.F.C.

G 124/32

ORDERS FOR RECONNAISSANCE, 23/11/14

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

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). ST. OMER – ROULERS – THIELT – COURTRAI.

(b). ST OMER – LICHTERVELDE – THOUROUT – BRUGES – OSTEND.

No. 4 Sqdn. Det                    Maurice Farmans.  Same as for today.

at ST. OMER

No. 5 Squadron.                  Tactical work with III Corps.

No. 5 Sqdn. Det.                   Nil.

at ST. OMER.

No. 6 Squadron.                  Tactical work with II Corps.

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

H.Q. R.F.C.

7-45

22/11/14                                 (Sd) W. Salmond, Major, G.S.

Note:-

            Special attention to be paid to rolling stock at all stations, especially at the following places:-

            COURTRAI, WERVICQ, COMINES, MENIN, LILLE, Tourcoing, MOUSCRON, ROULERS, LICHTERVELDE, THOUROUT, OSTEND, LENS.