Tracing.

29C

G.S.O.2  R.F.C.

Following work done:-

1. Carmichael & Powell. 

2 observations  of artillery fire – very successful – 1 partially so.  Report enclosed signed by Powell.

• Borton & Wilson.

 2 observations artillery fire, 1 successful, 1 not, report enclosed signed by Borton.  I sent Borton and observer to see battery and make things O.K.  It would appear the battery could not see the light.

• Freeman (wireless) 

Did a gun reconnaissance successfully, no avro being available and H.F. useless in high wind.

• Strange and Small. 

2 tactical reconnaissances, special for IIIrd Army Corps.  In the first they discovered an AVIATIK, engaged him and fired 92 rounds just over our aerodrome.  the pilot manoeuvred his craft in a masterly style and forced the enemy to land in our lines.  Both pilot and passenger were captured.  Their machine is not in my hangars. 

This was a most determined onslaught, the observer being slightly wounded in the 3 fingers of the right hand.

(Sd) A.C.H. MacLean, Major,

5^th Sqdn R.F.C.

Reconnaissance No 780                                                       22^nd November 1914.

Aeroplane: No 487 B.E.2                                                                      

Squadron   4                                                                                                 

Pilot –  Capt. G.S. Shepherd.

Observer –                                                                 Reference Map:  1/100000

Hour commenced 11-15 a.m.

Hour concluded    2-0 p.m.

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

Time                                       Place                          OBSERVATION

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

                        BULTHOEK (W. of               (a). About 30 ammunition wagons and a

FOREST D’HOULTHURST     number of horses tethered.

                                                (b). Transport S.W. of Forest reduced since

            the 18^th November, there are now about 30

            wagons in this area.

N. of the FOREST.               (a). Transport parks between NACHTE –

GAAL and D’HOUTHULST on 18^th November estimated number of wagons in this area 200.

                                                (b). A number of wagons on N.W. corner of

                                                                        FOREST suggested that troops are

                                                                        bivouaced in the forest.

PIERKENSHOEK.               (a). Park of 20 ammunition wagons.

VYFWEGEN (S.W. of           (a). 20 ammunition wagons.

STADEN)

12-30  p.m.     STADEN.                               (a). Rolling stock for 5 trains, 2 with steam,

                                                                        wagons round station loading or unloading.

                                                                        (b). 12 store tents.

                                                                        (c). 70 wagons parked round town.         

                        CORTEMARCK.                  Rolling stock for 5 trains – no signs of

                                                                        activity here.

                        LICHTERVELDE.                (a). Rolling stock for 8 trains (14 trucks each

                                                                        on average) 1 with steam, carts round

                                                                        station.

                                                                        (b). 60 motor lorries parked E of station.  A

                                                                        few motor busses in the town, 40 wagons

                                                                        parked E. of town.

                        THOUROUT.                         (a). Rolling stock for 6 trains – 1 train steam

                                                                        up heading Southern & Western most

                                                platform in station.  About 200 horses on

                                                platform opposite train.

                                                                        (b). 12 store tents.

                                                                        (c). 50 wagons parked N. of town.  30 motor

                                                                        transport halted outside THOUROUT on W.

                                                                        side of COURTEMARCK road.

                        Railway lines.                       (a). ROULERS – THOUROUT line clear.

                                                                        (b). THOUROUT – OSTEND line clear with

                                                                        exception of one engine and one truck

                                                                        going to OSTEND.

                                                                        (c). THOUROUT – BRUGES line clear.

                        AERTRYCKE.                      About 200 horses tethered in fields E. of

                                                                        AERTRYCKE.

                        WYNENDAALE.                  One squadron of Cavalry with transport

                                                                        moving towards THOUROUT.

12.55 p.m.     BRUGES.                              (a). Rolling stock for 17 trains (one under

                                                                        steam) on sidings S of town.

                                                                        (b). Rolling stock for 13 trains on and South

                                                                        of Station: no signs of any loading at

                                                station; no carts about, but there were about

                                                100 men formed opposite a train which was

                                                on E side of station.

                                                                        (c). About 10 wagons in market square

                                                                        (d). Rolling stock for 4 trains about 2 miles

                                                                        N of BRUGES.

                        Line BRUGES –                   Clear with exception of one train (30 trucks)

OSTEND                               going from OSTEND to BRUGES and

                                                another train (3 engines 20 trucks) entering

                                                OSTEND.

1.10 p.m.        OSTEND.                              (a). Rolling stock for 14 trains on siding S of

                                                                        town.

                                                                        (b). Rolling stock for 12 trains in station and

                                                                        S of it.  No signs of any loading at station. 

                                                                        Some trucks were being shunted from

                                                                        BRUGES line to THOUROUT line.

                        HARBOUR.                           Boom down between piers, 2 small tugs

                                                                        and a paddle steamer moored in outer

                                                                        harbour.  Small pinnace proceeding along

                                                                        canal to BRUGES.

                        GHISTELLES.                      17 large wooden sheds N of town, 9 of

                                                                        these are in position and 8 are in process of

                                                                        erection.  A few motor lorries near the

                                                                        sheds, one train on line opposite sheds. 

                                                                        These sheds appear to be intended for

                                                                        aeroplanes.

                        EERNEGHEM.                     (a). 10 trucks on sidings.

                                                                        (b). 20 Motor lorries going N on

                                                                        THOUROUT – OSTEND road.

                        COUCKELAERE.                40 wagons parked N.W. of village.

(Sd) G.S. Shepherd. Capt.

                                                            Observer.

Reconnaissance No. 779                                                                  22^nd November 1914.

Aeroplane: R.E. 5 No. 659.                                                                  

Squadron No.  2.                                                                                                      

Pilot.  Lt. Broder.

Observer. Capt Lumsden.                                                  Ref Map: France 1/250,000

Hour commenced: 10-35 a.m.

Hour concluded:    1-5 p.m.

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

Time                                       Place                          OBSERVATION

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

11-20 a.m.     HERLIES.                              Small bivouacs round village.

                        FOURNES.                                                  “

                        HAUBOURDIN.                    New position being dug between

RADINGHEM & HAUBOURDIN, about 1 ½ miles in length & facing South.

                        SAINGHIN.                            Small bivouac.

                        GONDECOURT.                              “

                                                                        Columns of motor transport wagons

                                                proceeding N about ¾ mile in length on

road GONDECOURT – WAVRAN, head ½ mile S of WAVRIN.

                        CAMPHIN.                            Bivouac.

11-40 a.m.     SECLIN.                                8 motor cars proceeding at intervals N

                                                                        along CARVIN – SECLIN ROAD.

                        OIGNIES.                               Small bivouac.

                        EVIN                                       Train on DOUAI – LILLE Railway

proceeding N. 30 trucks.  Train on above railway proceeding to DOUAI, 15 trucks followed by 15 white covered carriages.

                        TAUMONT.                            Transport column proceeding N about 1½

miles in length along RACHES – LILLE Road, head at FAUMONT.

12-15 p.m.     DOUAI.                                  About 400 railway trucks and wagons in

                                                                        station, but only one engine.

                        HENIN LIETARD.                 Bivouac S.E. of town & another on LENS

Road 200 yards E of BILLY.  About 60 vehicles in each.

12.20                                                              German line reconnoitred for Gun pit                 to                                                                     positions already located and reported.

12-50. p.m.                                                    Columns of smoke seen coming from town

                                                                        of YPRES.                

(Sd) H.T. Lumsden. Capt.

                                                                                    Observer.

Reconnaissance No. 778                                                                  22^nd November 1914.

Aeroplane No. B.E. 242.                                                                       

Squadron No.  4.                                                                                                      

Pilot:  Lt. Morgan.

Observer:                                                                   Reference Map:  1/250,000.

Hour commenced: 10-30 a.m.

Hour concluded:    1-50 p.m.

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

Time                                       Place                          OBSERVATION

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

12-25 p.m.     OOSTNIEUWKERKE.         About 40 M.T. vehicles parked NW. of

 village.

12-30 p.m.     ROULERS.                           Rolling stock for 9 trains, no movement of

                                                                        trains and no Transport Parks seen.

12-50 p.m.     RITTHEM                               (a).  Rolling stock for three trains, engine

and 3 carriages moving W towards LICHTERVELDE.

(b). About 40 M.T. vehicles facing South, (i.e., on W of road), half way on road between RITTHEM and MEULEBEKE.

12-55 p.m.     THIELT                                  Rolling stock 3 trains.

1. p.m.          ISEGHEM.                            6 store tents on canal bank, rolling stock

about 3 trains.  About 2 trains at junction just South of INGELMUNSTER.

1-5 p.m.          LENDELEDE.                       Rolling stock about two (2) trains on line

                                                                        immediately East of LENDELEDE.

About 12(twelve) horse transport carts or limbers moving South from ISEGHEM to LENDELEDE, about 1 mile S of ISEGHEM.

1-15 p.m.       COURTRAI                           Rolling stock (in station and on line) for

about 23 (twenty three) trains, one engine going N towards HEULE.

1-20 p.m.       WEVELGHEM.                     Rolling stock 4(four) trains.

1.20 p.m.        MENIN.                                  Rolling stock about 5 (five) trains.

1-24 p.m.       WERVICQ.                            Rolling stock about 2 (two) trains.

1-26 p.m.       COMINES.                            Rolling stock about 4 (four) trains, one

engine and 3 or 4 carriages going E.  Two (2) miles S of COMINES on road to QUESNOY-SUR-DEULE.  Park about 50 (fifty) M.T., four going S.

sausage observation balloon just W of COMINES.                  

(Sd) T.W.M. Morgan, Lieut.

                                                            Observer.

H.Q. R.F.C.

            G/124/31

ORDERS FOR RECONNAISSANCE, 22-11-14.

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.                  As ordered separately.

                                                (a). ST OMER – BOULERS – THIELT – COURTRAI.

                                                (b). ST OMER – LICHTERVELDE – THOUSANT –

                                                            BRUGES – OSTEND

No. 4 Sqdn. Det                   Maurice Farmans.  Same as for to-day.

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 I and III Corps.

W. Salmond

Major G.S.

H.Q. R.F.C.

 7-45 p.m.

21-11-14

            NOTE:-

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

COURTRAI, WERVICQ, COMINES, MENIN, LILLE, TOURCOING, MOUSCRON, POULERS, LICHTERVELDE, THOUROUT, OSTEND, LENS.

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

TO Royal Flying Corps                   II Corps.

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

G.Q. 22/2                                           22

Send in daily report of work done also copies of tactical reconnaissances.

From: R.F.C.  H.Q.

Place:

Time:  

(Sd) W. Salmond, Maj. G.S.

Signature of Addressee

28A

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

TO Second Corps

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

G.Q./22/1                                           22

R.F.C. H.Q. reconnaissance report eight guns located by hedge N.E. corner of square 3 and N.W. corner of square 4 reference square X YPRES map 1/40000.

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

Place:

Time:  

(Sd) W. Salmond, Major. G.S.

Signature of Addressee

28B

No of Message 524

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

TO       R.F.C. G.H.Q.

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

I.G. 259                                              22                                                        G.Q. 22/1

Please quote reference letter of large square in which guns have been located.

From: II Corps

Place:

Time:  9-30 p.m.

Signature of Addressee

From II Corps

Time 9-30 p.m.

28C

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

TO       SECOND CORPS.

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

G.Q. /22/5                                          22                                                        I.G. 259

Reference letter X AAA

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

Place:

Time:  11-10 p.m.

(Sd) W. Salmond, Maj. G.S.

Signature of Addressee

No of Message 181

MESSAGES AND SIGNALS

Recd at 12-15 p.m.

                        Sent 11-30 a.m.

TO H.Q.  R.F.C.

Senders Number                  Day of Month                                    In reply to Number

5/22                                                    22

Strange and Small have brought down with fire an AVIATIK which I am bringing in, both German pilot and observer prisoners at LOCRE with 5^th. Div.

Most strongly commend their work.

From: 5 Sqdn. R.F.C.

Place:

Time:  11-50 p.m.

Signature of Addressee

or

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

Hour,	Date	Place	Summary of Events and Information	Remarks and references to Appendices
1. 2.   3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.   10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.   19.     20. 21.   22. 23. 24. 25. 26.	20/11 “   “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ 21/11 “ “ “ “ “   “ “ “ “ “ “ “	ST. OMER -Do-   -Do- -Do- -Do- -Do- -Do- -Do- -Do-   -Do- -Do- -Do- -Do- -Do- -Do- -Do- -Do- -Do-   -Do-     -Do- -Do-   -Do- -Do- -Do- -Do- -Do-	Reconnaissance Reports received & communicated to G.H.Q. Telegram to IInd Corps re No. 6 Squadron not being required to carry out Strategical Reconnaissance. Message from G.H.Q. re Hostile Aeroplanes – & action. Message from IVth Corps asking for Wireless Machine & action Message from No. 4 Squadron. Telegram to No. 4 Squadron re return to ST. OMER. Message from IVth Corps re observers. Message from No. 4 Squadron re return to ST. OMER. Message from R.F.C. 1st Corps (No. 4 Squadron O.C.) re Wireless Machine: and copy to O.C. Wireless Unit. Work done by No. 5 Squadron – and Map Tracing. Information re Russian Forces. Summary of Information. Orders for Reconnaissance. Summary to Squadrons. Reconnaissance Reports received & communicated to G.H.Q. Orders for Reconnaissance to No. 3 Squadron. Action by No. 3 Squadron. Message from G.H.Q. re German machine captured. Telegram to Indian Corps. Letter from Army Council to Field Marshal re Organisation of R.F.C. and G.O.C. R.F.C.’s reply.   Information from the French. Message from G.H.Q. 1 (a) re German machine captured by Indian Corps. Work done by No. 5 Squadron. Summary of Information. Orders for Reconnaissance. Reconnaissance Reports received & communicated to G.H.Q. Report from No. 5 Squadron re machine brought down by Lieut. Small (observer) and Lieut Strange (Pilot). (Note:  This is the first German machine known to have been brought down by fire from another machine.  Neither passenger or observer were injured on either side.  The German pilot evidently got flurried and tried to land, but was outmanoeuvred by Lt. Strange., (who was flying an AVRO.  The Officers & Observers of both this machine and the one captured by the Indian Corps were examined and replied as in 26B & 26C.)	1A – K. Reconn 758-767   2A 3A – 3D. 4A. – 4C. 5A. 6A. 7A. 8A.   9A. & 9B. 10A. & 10B. 11A. 12A. 13A. 14A. 15A. – K. Reconn 768 – 777 16A. 17A. 18A. 18B. 19A.) Extracted to General Ring 19B.) File of R.F.C. – 3/12/14 20A. & 20B. (18A)   22A. 23A. 24A. 25A. C. R778780 26A             26B & 26C.

Reconnaissance No. 777                                                                   21^st November 1914.

Aeroplane: No. B.E. 2 231.                                                                  

Squadron No.  2.                                                                                                      

Pilot:  Lieut. De Haviland.

Observer: Flt. Serj: Kemper.                                                                      Ref Map: 

Hour commenced: 2.25 p.m.

Hour concluded:    4. 0 p.m.

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

Time                                       Place                          OBSERVATION

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

3.5 p.m.          LA BASSEE              About 30 railway wagons in station.  The whole

line from LA BASSEE to LILLE – all branch lines from this line clear of railway stock.

3.52 p.m.        HAUBOURDIN         One train under steam on line S of LILLE.

All lines running S of LILLE appeared clear of stock.

(Sd) : J. Kemper, Flt Serj:

            (Observer)

Reconnaissance No. 776                                                       21^st November. 1914.

Aeroplane: No. B.E. 487.                                                                      

Squadron No  4.                                                                                                       

Pilot:  Major Raleigh.

Observer:                                                                                           Ref Map:  1/200,000

Hour commenced: 1-50 p.m.

Hour concluded:    4-30 p.m.

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

Time                                       Place                          OBSERVATION

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

2.55 p.m.        WARNETON.                        About 50 vehicles in different parts of the

                                                                        town.

                        COMINES                             2 Sausage shaped balloons.  About 20

waggons.  40 vehicles Horse Transport moving on towards WERVICQ.   

3.15 a.m.        MENIN.                                  Rolling Stock for about 5 trains.  About 30

                                                                        vehicles in town.  20 large store tents S.E.

3.25                COURTRAI.                          Rolling stock for 25 trains – no activity.  1

Engine moving from ROULERS to ISEGHEM.

3.40                THIELT.                                  Rolling stock for two trains.  1 train leaving

GRAMMENE towards THIELT.  1 train coming on THIELT line from LICHTEVELDE.

                        ROULERS.                           1 engine with steam up.  Rolling stock for

                                                                        10 trains.                   

(Sd) : C.H. Raleigh.  Major.

            (Observer)