100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

October 24, 1916

Scotland:
Wilhelm Werner, commanding U-55, begins his third war patrol with the sinking of British tanker SS Clearfield, 4,229 tons, travelling in ballast from Invergordon to Hampton Roads, Virginia. His score is now 6 ships and 12,331 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Ernst Wilhelms, in U-69, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Sola, 3,057 tons, bound from New York for Le Havre with a gineral cargo. His score is now 11 ships and 28,585 tons.

Otto Steinbrinck, in UB-18, stops and scuttles French barque Cannebiere, 2,454 tons, sailing from Buenos Aires to Le Havre with an unspecified cargo. His score is now 91 ships and 87,286 tons.

Herbert Pustkuchen, in UB-29, sinks two Allied vessles off the Longhips lighthouse, at the very tip of Cornwall:
Norwegian freighter SS Anna Gurine, 1,147 tons, carrying a load of coal from Glasgow to Nantes.
British freighter SS Sidmouth, 4,045 tons, out of Cardiff bound for La Sezia with a load of coal.
Pustkuchen's score is now 50 ships and 63,495 tons.



English Channel:
Hans Valentiner, in UB-37, stops and scuttles British schooner Twig, 128 tons, bound from Guernsey for Southampton with a load of stone. His score is now 31 vesse;s amd 17,989 tons.



North Sea:
British freighter SS Framfield, 2,510 tons, en route from Port Kelah to Middlesbrough with a load of iron ore, hits a mine laid by Max Schmitz in UC-11. His score is now 2 ships and 3,542 tons.



Gulf of Bothnia:
Cassius von Montigny, in UB-30, sinks four Russian vessels:
Schooner Elin, 127 tons, carrying ore from an unknown destination to Rauma, Finland.
Sailing vessel Ingersoll, 239 tons.
Sailing vessel Jenny Lind, 53 tons.
Auxiliary motor vessel Urpo, carrying a general cargo from Stockholm to Rauma.
Von Montigny's score is now 6 vessels and 2,651 tons. He will survive the war, living until 1940, and will command two more U-boats, but this is his last sinking.



Ionian Sea:
Gustav Seiß, in U-73, begins his third war patrol with the sinking of Greek freighter SS Propontis, 700 tons, bringing his score to 9 ships and 23,699 tons.



German East Africa:
British monitor HMS Severn, in her new role as harbour stores ship at Dar-Es-Salaam, records "Supplied (HM Whaler) Prattler with seven gallons rum and 12 lbs lime juice."



Bombay, India:
1200 British battleship HMS Vengeance records receivubg 4,080 pounds of fresh meat, 5,640 punds of oranges, 5,600 pounds of vegetables and 500 pounds of bread.
1700 Vengeance records "Condemned 3,700 lbs beef owing to refrigerator breaking down."

[Jimbuna]

25th October 1916

Western Front

German counter-attacks at Verdun repulsed.

Allied (British naval and French) air raid on steel works (Hagendingen) north of Metz.

Eastern Front

Enemy storm Vulkan Pass (western Transylvania).

Romanians make stand in northern Passes.

In Dobruja, Romanians blow up bridge and abandon Cerna Voda, falling back towards north Dobruja.

Russian victory at Dorna Vatra (Moldovia).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Sir Reginald Wingate's despatch of 8 August published describing revolt and conquest of Darfur (January 1915 to 22 May 1916).

Naval and Overseas Operations

General Gil with Portuguese, crosses River Rovuma.

Germans cut communications between General Northey and Iringa and break through extended British line in following three weeks.

Aviation

Maxime Lenoir, French flying ace with 11 aerial victories, is killed in action.


First flight of the Bristol F.2B Fighter.


Political, etc.

Relations between Norway and Germany sour, after more than 20 Norwegian ships were sunk by U-boats in the past few days.

Greek Government issue decree disbanding class 1913 and the men called up on 10 September, and agree to transfer of two corps to Peloponnesus.

Reported at Athens that Protecting Powers had sanctioned loan to Salonika Provisional Government.

Ship Losses:

Comtesse de Flandre (Belgium) The cargo ship was captured in the English Channel 34 nautical miles (63 km) west north west of the Casquets, Channel Islands by SM UB-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was shelled and sunk.
Dag (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Barents Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off Berlevåg, Finnmark by SM U-56 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Fanny C. Bowen (United States) The schooner foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Her crew survived.
Polceverra (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) south east of Santa Maria di Leuca, Apulia (39°54′N 19°45′E) by SM U-15 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
Polruan (United Kingdom) The collier struck a rock and foundered in the North Sea off Whitby, Yorkshire.

Stamp commemorating the French recapture of Douaumont at Verdun.


Editorial cartoon: Looking himself over ─ Duluth News-Tribune.

[Sailor Steve]

October 25, 1916

Air War:
0935 German ace Manfred von Richthofen, flying Albatros D.II 491/16, shoods down BE.12 6654 for victory number 6. 2nd Lt W.T.W. Wilcox is wounded and taken prisoner.

1150 German pilot Otto Höhne, in an Albatros D.I, shoots down a BE.2d for victory number 3.

1210 German ace Oswald Boelcke, in Albatros D.II 386/16, shoots down BE.2d 5831 for victory number 39. 2nd Lt William Fraser is killed, 2nd Lt Bernard Tarrant Collen is wounded and captured, but will die from his wounds.

German pilot Paul Aue, flying a two-seater with an unnamed observer, shoots sown a BE.2c for victory number 1.

Canadian RNAS pilot Raymond Collishaw, in Sopwith 1½ Strutter 9407 with an unnamed observer, brings down two German "Scouts", for his first two victories.

French pilot Pierre Dufaur de Gavardie, in a Nieuport, destroys a German observation balloon for victory number 5.

French 11-kill ace Maxime Lenoir, in his SPAD VII. "Trompe La Morte III" is reported missing in action. No-one claims a victory over him, and his plane and body have never been found.



English Channel:
Walther Becker, commanding UB-19, sinks Belgian freighter SS Comtesse De Flandre, 1,810 tons, travelling in ballast from Calais to Barry.



North Sea:
British freighter SS Polruan, 3,692 tons, carrying a load of coal from Tyne to Dunkirk, runs aground at Whitby Rock. Orignally thought to have hit a mine.



Barents Sea:
Hermann Lorenz, in U-56, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Dag, 963 tons, carrying a load of lumber from Arkhangelsk to King's Lynn. His score is now 3 ships and 2,071 tons.



Portugal:
British freighter SS River Tyne, 1,450 tons, founders 30 miles off Oporto.



Adriatic Sea:
Frans Rzemenowsky von Trautnegg, in Austrian submarine U-15, sinks Italian freighter SS Polceverra, 2,207 tons. Though he will command two more u-boats and live until 1935, this is his only sinking.



Bombay, India:
British battleship HMS Vengeance departs Bombay. Her orders are not to return to Zanzibar, but to proceed through the Red Sea to Aden, and then to a new station at Malta.

[Jimbuna]

26th October 1916

Western Front

At Verdun, the Germans have made 9 counterattacks over the past two days to reverse French advances, but are driven off.

Eastern Front

Enemy check in northern Passes (Transylvania).

Enemy gain ground in southern Passes; through Vulkan Pass now 20 miles within Romania.

In Dobruja, Romanians now 24 miles north of railway.

British and French aircraft reach Bucharest.

Political, etc.

President Wilson: “This present war is the last war of this or any kind involving the world that the United States can keep out of.”

Under pressure from the Allies, the Greek government agrees to reduce its mobilized army from 60,000 to 35,000 men.

Ship Losses:

HMT Datum (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was sunk by enemy action with some loss of life.
Iduna (France) The schooner was scuttled in the English Channel 50 nautical miles (93 km) south south west of Start Point, Devon (49°32′N 4°23′W) by SM UB-19 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew were rescued by Garly ( Norway).
HMT Lord Roberts (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 11 (Max Schmitz) and sank in the North Sea off the Shipwash Lightship ( United Kingdom) (51°55′40″N 1°41′00″E) with the loss of nine of her crew.
Lysland (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 26 nautical miles (48 km) south west of Skudenes, Rogaland by SM U-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Marina G (Italy) The brigantine was sunk in the Strait of Sicily (37°15′N 11°35′E) by SM U-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
North Wales (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of the Isles of Scilly by SM U-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 30 crew.
Oola (United Kingdom) The collier was scuttled in the Barents Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) north east by north of North Cape, Norway (70°30′N 26°24′E) by SM U-56 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Pan (Norway) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the English Channel 7 nautical miles (13 km) north of the Casquets, Channel Islands (49°54′N 2°20′W) by SM UB-18 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Rappahannock (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) off the Isles of Scilly by SM U-69 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 37 crew.
HMT Roburn (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was sunk in the Strait of Dover by Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat destroyers with some loss of life.
Rowanmoor (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 128 nautical miles (237 km) west north west of the Fastnet Rock (51°30′N 12°58′W) by SM U-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Saint Yves (France) The schooner was sunk in the Bay of Biscay west of Belle Île, Morbihan by SM UB-23 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
The Queen (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was captured in the North Sea (50°54′N 1°19′E) by SMS V80. She was torpedoed and sunk by SMS S60 (both Kaiserliche Marine).
Titan (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 74 nautical miles (137 km) north east of the Longstone Lighthouse, Northumberland by SM UB-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Valborg (Denmark) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea west of Algiers, Algeria (37°31′N 4°50′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

Private Thomas Alfred Jones is awarded the Victoria Cross today for capturing 102 Germans during the Battle of Morval.

[Sailor Steve]

October 26, 1916

Air War:
0800 English pilot Kelvin Crawford, flying DH.2 A2459, shoots down a Halberstadt D.II for his first aerial victory.

1540 German pilot Hans von Keudell, in a Fokker D.I or Halberstadt D.III, shoots down Nieuport 17 A133 for victory number 3.

1630 German pilot Hans Imelmann, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down Nieuport 17 A162 for victory number 3. Five-kill ace Ernest Foot's plane catches fire, but he manages to land safely.

1645 German ace Oswald Boelcke, in Albatros D.II 386/16, shoots down a BE.2c for victory number 40.

1650 German ace Stefan Kirmaier, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down BE.2c 2545 for victory number 6.

1720 Stefan Kirmaier scores his second victory of the day, bringing down a DH.2 for kill number 7.

1800 German ace Hans Berr, flying an Albatros D.II, shoots down FE.2b 4933 for victory number 7.

1810 Hans Berr destroys a German observation balloon for victory number 8.

Russian pilot Ivan Alexandrovich Loiko, in a Nieuport 11, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 1.



Celtic Sea:
Walther Schwieger, commanding U-20 attacks British freighter SS Fabian, 2,246 tons, bound from Almeria for Manchester with a general cargo, with his deck gun. The damaged ship survives the attack.

Carl-Siegfried von Georg, in U-57, captures Britsih freighter SS Rowanmore, 10,320 tons, carrying a general cargo from Baltimore to Liverpool, then sinks her with torpedoes. His score is now 22 vessels and 15,168 tons.

Ernst Wilhelms, in U-69, sinks two British freighters off the Scilly Isles:
SS North Wales, 4,072 tons, travelling in ballast from Hull to Canada.
SS Rappahannock, 3,871 tons, en route from Halifax to London.
Wilhelms' score is now 13 ships and 36,528 tons.



English Channel:
Otto Steinbrinck, in UB-18, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Pan, 796 tons, carrying a load of coal from Barry to Caen. His score is now 92 ships and 88,082 tons.

Walther Becker, in UB-19, scuttles French schooner Iduna, 165 tons, carrying 227 tons of coal from Llanelly to St Malo. His score is now 12 ships and 8,510 tons.

German destroyers S-60 and V-80 capture and torpedo British freighter The Queen, 1,676 tons. The Queen was the first steam turbine-powered Channel merchant when launched in 1903, and rescued 2,500 refugees from the water when SS Amiral Ganteaume was sunk exactly two years earlier, on October 26, 1914.



North Sea:
Theodor Schultz, in UB-34, scuttles British trawler Titan, 171 tons. He finishes his first war patrol with 4 ships and 2,292 tons.

His Majesty's Trawler Lord Roberts, 293 tons, hits a mine laid by Max Schmitz in UC-11. Schmitz's score is now 32 vessels and 3,835 tons.



Iceland:
Icelandic trawler Marz, 225 tons., is wrecked at Gerdaholmi.



Norwegian Sea:
Franz Grünert, in U-30, sinks Norwegian freighte SS Lysland, 1,745 tons, carrying a load of iron ore from Kirkenes to Middlesbrough. This is Grünert's first sinking.



Barents Sea:
Herman Lorenz, in U-56, scuttles British freighter SS Oola, 2,494 tons. en route from Newcastle to Alexandrovsk with a load of coal. His score is now 4 ships and 4,565 tons.



Bay of Biscay:
Ernst Voight, in UB-23, sinks French schooner Saint Yves, 165 tons, bound from La Rochelle for Fowey, bringing his score to 39 ships and 12,899 tons.

Norwegian freighter SS Skog, 1,124 tins, travelling in ballast from Bordeaux to Swansea, sinks following an explosion, possibly due to a drifting mine.



Mediterranean Sea:
Otto Hersing, in U-21, sinks Italian brigantine Marina G, 154 tons, bringing his score to 13 ships and 54,876 tons.

Claus Rücker, in U-34, sinks Danish schooner Valborg, 207 tons, travelling from Chatham, New Bruswick, Canada to Tunis with a load of wood planks. His score is now 64 ships and 148,974 tons.



Atlantic Ocean:
Canadian schooner Lida D. Young, 100 tons, carrying a cargo of dried fish from Labrador to Gibraltar, is abaindoned mid-ocean.

Canadian schooner Ponhook, 199 tons, travelling from St Johns, Newfoundland to Gibraltar, is abandoned in a storm.

[Jimbuna]

Eastern Front

Romanian 1st Army in Jiu Valley (Wallachia) assume offensive, Romanians holding positions in Passes.

Russian centre (west bank of Shchara, Minsk) compelled to retire to east bank of river.

Southern Front

Serbs make progress in Cherna region.

Naval and Overseas Operations

The Battle of Dover Strait that occurred on 26–27 October
Ten enemy destroyers raid cross-Channel transport. "Queen Mary" (empty) sunk, torpedo boat destroyer "Flirt" missing, "Nubian" disabled.

Ship Losses:

HMT Ajax II (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Blanc Nez (French Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) and sank in the Strait of Dover with the loss of seventeen of her crew.
Bygdø (Norway) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 4 (Hans Howaldt) and sank in the North Sea (52°23′N 1°47′E). Her crew survived.
Ellen (Sweden) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea[203] by SM U-58 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Flirt (Royal Navy) Battle of Dover Strait: The Star-class destroyer was torpedoed and sunk in the Strait of Dover by Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat destroyers.
HMT Gleaner of the Sea (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
HMT Launch Out (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
HMS Nubian (Royal Navy) Battle of Dover Strait: The Tribal-class destroyer was torpedoed and damaged by a Kaiserliche Marine destroyer and was beached. She was subsequently salvaged, with her stern section being joined to the bow section of HMS Zulu ( Royal Navy), the new ship being named HMS Zubian.
Sabine (France) The ketch was driven ashore at St. Sampson's, Guernsey, Channel Islands and was wrecked. Her crew were rescued by the pilot boat Stork ( United Kingdom).
Sif (Denmark) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea (55°30′N 0°28′W) by SM UB-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMT Waveney II (Royal Navy) Battle of Dover Strait: The naval trawler was sunk in the Strait of Dover by Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat destroyers.
HMT Spotless Prince (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was torpedoed and sunk in the Strait of Dover by a Kaiserliche Marine torpedo boat destroyer.
Stemshest (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea (56°28′N 3°15′E) by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

27-year-old Adolf Hitler is photographed during his recovery in Beelitz hospital.

[Sailor Steve]

October 27, 1916

Irish Sea:
Norwegian freighter, SS Raylton Dixon, bound from Glasgow for Genoa with a load of coal, is sunk in a storm with the loss of 10 crew.



Bristol Channel:
Norwegian coaster SS Rollon, 581 tons, travelling from Cardiff to St Maio with a load of coal, hits an underwater object and sinks.



North Sea:
Kurt Wippern begins his career in U-58 with the sinking of Swedish sailing vessel Ellen, 140 tons, carrying a load of pit props from Halmstad to West hartlepool.

Bernhard Putzier, in UB-22, sinks Danish coaster SS Sif, 377 tons, en route from Göteborg to Hull with a load of pig iron. His score is now 2 ships and 3,439 tons.

Otto von Schrader, in UB-35, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Stemsches, 811 tons, travelling from Göteborg to Hull with a load of steel and timber. His score is now 8 ships and 5,826 ships.

French Naval Trawler Blanc Nez, 247 tons, hits a mine laid by Matthias von Schmettow and UC-26 in the Strait of Dover, with the loss of seventeen crew members. His score is now 47 ships and 60,898 tons.

Norwegian freighter SS Bygdo, 2,345 tons, carrying a load of coal from Hull to Genoa, hits a mine laid by Hans Howaldt in UC-4. This is his first sinking.



Mediterranean Sea:
French sailing vessel Marie Sophie, 103 tons, travelling from Nemours, Algeria to Port de Bouc with a load of wood, is shelled by a German u-boat. The submarine seems likely to be U-34, but there is no confirmation.

[Jimbuna]

28th October 1916

Eastern Front

Romanians successful actions in north Transylvania Passes.

In Jiu Valley, enemy retires leaving 2,000 prisoners.

Southern Front

Bulgar attack in force on Ormali (Struma front), repulsed with heavy losses.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Fighting near Hamadan (Persia), Russians capture two villages.

Aviation

Hauptmann Oswald Boelcke dies from an aerial collision with his wingman.


Naval and Overseas Operations

Donaldson liner "Marina" sunk by submarine.

British hospital ship SS Galeka sinking after hitting a German mine.


Political, etc.

Venizelos' Provisional Government installed at Salonika.

Australia holds a plebiscite on whether or not to impose conscription. “No” wins with 51.61% of the vote.

Count von Roedern, German Secretary for the Treasury, estimates the war has cost $62 billion for all the belligerent countries.

Halil Bey, Ottoman Foreign Minister, states, “We stand or fall with the Central Powers…The Germans cannot be beaten in this war.”

Ship Losses:

Angeliki (Greece) The passenger ship was torpedoed by U 73 (Gustav Sieß)( Kaiserliche Marine) and sunk in the Aegean Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off Faliro with the loss of about 50 of the 400-plus people on board.[210] Survivors were rescued by a Greek merchant ship and a French Navy destroyer.
HMHS Galeka (United Kingdom) The hospital ship struck a mine laid by UC 26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) at Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France (43°49′N 0°05′E) with the loss of 19 lives and was beached. She was declared a total loss.
HMT Bradford (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Germaine (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) off Cape San Antonio, Spain (39°00′N 0°40′W) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Gilda R (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea south east of Corsica, France by SM U-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Kazanets (Imperial Russian Navy) The Ukraina-class destroyer struck a mine laid by UC 27 (Karl Vesper) and sank in the Baltic Sea off Osmussaar, Estonia.
Lanao (United States) The coaster was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Cape St. Vincent, Portugal (36°45′N 8°25′W) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Marina (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) west of the Fastnet Rock by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eighteen crew.
Rio Pirahy (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) south of Cape St. Vincent by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Saint Charles (France) The schooner was sunk in the English Channel (48°37′N 5°10′W) by SM UB-29 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Selene (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) south east of Cape Santa María, Portugal by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sparta (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 4 (Hans Howaldt) and sank in the North Sea with the loss of four of her crew.
HMT Speedwell V (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was driven onto the Splaugh Rock, in the Irish Sea, and sank with the loss of all ten crew.
Torsdal (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 25 nautical miles (46 km) off Cape St. Vincent by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tre Fratelli D (Italy) The brigantine was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea south east of Corsica (41°26′N 9°42′E) by SM U-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

Editorial cartoon: A real catastrophe ─ The Passing Show

[Sailor Steve]

October 28, 1916

On Saturday afternoon we were standing by in our little house on the aerodrome. I had just begun a game of chess with Boelcke - then, about 4:30 p.m., we were called to the front because there was an infantry attack going on. We soon attacked some English machines we found flying over Flers; they were fast single-seaters that defended themselves well.

In the ensuing wild battle of turns, that only let us ge a few shots in for brief intervals, we tried to force the English down, by one after another of us barring their way, a manoeuvre we had often practiced successfully. Boelcke and I had just got one Englishman between us when another opponent, chased by our friend Richthofen, cut across us. Quick as lightning, Boelcke and I both dodged him, but for a moment our wings prevented us from seeing anything of one another - and that was the cause of it.

How am I to describe my sensations from that moment when Boelcke suddenly loomed up a few metres away on my right! He put his machine down and I pulled mine up, but we touched as we passed, and w both fell eartwards. It was only just the faintest touch, but the terrific speed at which we were going made into a violent impact. Destiny is generally cruelly stupid in her choices; I only had a bit of my undercarriage ripped, but the extreme tip of his left wing was torn away.

After falling a couple of hundred metres I regained control of my machine and was then able to observe Boelcke's, which I saw heading for our lines in a gentle glide, but dipping a bit on one side. But when he came into a layer of clouds in the lower regions, his machine dipped more and more, owing to the violent gusts there, and I had to look on while he failed to flatten out to land and crashed near a battery position.

- Erwin Böhme, letter to his fiance, October 31, 1916 (quoted from Knight of Germany, by Johannes Werner, 1985)

I looked around and caught sight of Boelcke about two hundred metres away, jockeying his intended victim. A good friend was flying at his side. It was an interesting fight. Both fired - every moment I the Englishman must fall. Suddenly I saw both machines moving unnaturally. "Collision" flashed throught my head. I had never seen a collision in mid air and imagined it would be much different. It was really no collision, but just a touch. But with the great speed at which such machines fly, a gentle touch ia s terrific impact.

- Manfred von Richthofen, The Red Battle Flyer, again quoted by Werner

I have now regained a superficial control of myself. But in the silent hours my eyes see once again that ghastly moment when I had to watch my friend and master fall from beside me. Then the torturing question comes up once more: Why was he, the irreplaceable, doomed to be the victim of this blind destiny - for neither he nor I bore any blame for the calamity!

- Erwin Böhme, letter dated November 12, 1916, again from Werner

Oswald Boelcke, the first great German ace, is dead.




Air War:
German Jasta 16 is formed. Based at Ensisheim and commanded by Oblt Paul Kremer, the unit is flying older Fokker E.IIIs and E.IVs, Pfalz E.Is and E.IVs, with a couple of Fokker D.Is and D.IIs.

0930 German pilot Hans von Keudell, flying either a Fokker D.I or Halberstadt D.III, shoots down BE.12 C6483 for victory number 4.

German pilot Friedrich Mallinckrodt, in an Albatros D.I, shoots down a Caudron for victory number 1.



Ireland:
Wilhelm Werner, commanding U-55, sinks British freighter SS Marina, 5,204 tons, bound from Glasgow for Baltimore. He now has 7 ships and 17,535 tons.

His Majesty's Trawler Wallena, 163 tons, founders off Kinsale in the storm ravaging that area.



St. George's Channel:
His Majesty's Drifter Speedwell, 92 tons, is wreced off Slaugh Rock, Ireland.



English Channel:
Herbert Pustkuchen, in U-29, sinks French schooner Saint Charles, carrying a load of fish from the Grand Banks to Fécamp, right at the western entrance to the Channel. His score is now 51 ships and 64,016 tons.

British hospital ship Galeka, 6,722 tons, hits a mine laid by Matthias von Schmettow in UC-26, raisning his score to 48 ships and 67,670 tons.



Celtic Sea:
British freighter SS Bornu, 3,529 tons, travelling from Rotterdam to West Africa, founders off Ushant.

His Majesty's Trawler Bradford, 163 tons, disappears off Kinsale, Ireland, and is not heard from again. Presumed to have foundered in a storm.



North Sea:
British coaster SS Sparta, 480 tons, travelling from Hull to Le Havre with a load of coke, hits a mine laid by Hans Howaldt in UC-4 off Holm Sand, Yarmouth. His score is now 2 ships and 2,825 tons.

Russian freighter SS Kiev, 5,566 tons, carrying a general cargo from Arkhangelsk to Leith, is wrecked at attray Briggs with the loss of 8 lives. 83 are saved.



Bay of Biscay:
French barque Marie Caroline is wrecked in a storm off the French coast. Details unknown.



Baltic Sea:
Russian destroyer Kazanetz, 580 tons, hits a mine laid by Karl Vesper in UC-27, off Odensholm, at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland. His score is now 3 ships and 7,475 tons.



Portugal:
Otto Schultze, in U-63, sinks four Allied ships off Cape St Vincent:
American freighter SS Lanao, 692 tons, carrying a load of rice from Saigon to Le Havre.
British freighter SS Rio Pirahy, 3,561 tons, travelling in ballast from Livorno to Barry Roads.
Italian frieghter SS Selene, 3,955 tons, bound from Norfolk for Italy with an unspecified cargo.
Norwegian freighter SS Torsdal, 3,621 tons, steaming in ballast from Civitavecchia to Barry.
Schultze has now sunk 6 ships for 20,128 tons.



Balearic Sea:
Claus Rücker, in U-34, sinks Greek freighter SS Germaine, 2,573 tons, carrying a load of maize from Rosario to Marseille. His score is now 65 ships and 151,367 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Otto Hersing, in U-21, sinks two Italian vessels:
Sailboat Gilda R, 37 tons.
Brigantine Tre Fratelli D, 190 tons.
Hersing's score is now 15 ships and 55,103 tons.



Saroronic Gulf:
Gustav Seiß, in U-73, damages Greek paddle steamer Angeliki, 706 tons, carrying cattle and passengers off the coast of Piraeus, port city of Athens. 56 of the 281 aboard are lost, but the ship is beached and later returned to service

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Hauptmann Oswald Boelcke dies from an aerial collision with his wingman.

One of history's more notorious "Klik-it or Ticket"( CA DMV billboard campaign) episodes...In his case a "toe tag" ??!! (Boelcke Tag) day... From the man who collided with him-Erwin Bohme,

Boelcke is no longer among us now. It could not have hit us pilots any harder.
On Saturday afternoon we were sitting on stand-by alert in our aerodrome blockhouse. I had just begun a chess match with Boelcke—it was then, shortly after 4 o'clock during an infantry attack at the front, that we were called. As usual, Boelcke led us. It wasn't long before we were flying over Flers and started an attack on several English aeroplanes, fast single-seaters, which resisted efficiently.
In the following wild turning-flight combat, which allowed us to take shots only in short bursts, we sought to force down our opponent by alternately cutting him off, as we had already done so often with success. Boelcke and I had the one Englishman evenly between us, when another opponent, hunted by our friend Richthofen, cut directly in our path. As fast as lightning, Boelcke and I took evasive action simultaneously, and for one instant our wings obstructed our view of each other—it was then it occurred.
How I am to describe my feelings to you from that instant on, when Boelcke suddenly emerged a few meters on the right from me, his machine ducked, I pulled up hard, however nevertheless we still touched and we both fell towards the earth! It was only a slight touching, but at the enormous speed this still also meant it was an impact. Fate is usually so senseless in its selection: me, only one side of the undercarriage had torn away, him, the outermost piece of the left wing.
After a few hundred meters I got my machine under control again and could now follow Boelcke's, which I could see was only somewhat downwardly inclined in a gentle glide, heading towards our lines. It was only in a cloud layer at lower regions that violent gusts caused his machine to gradually descended more steeply, and I had to watch as he could no longer set it down evenly, and saw it impact beside a battery position. People immediately hurried to his assistance. My attempts to land beside my friend were made impossible because of the shell craters and trenches. Thus I flew rapidly to our field.
The fact that I had missed the landing, they told me of only the other day—I have no recollection of this at all. I was completely distressed, however I still had hope. But as we arrived in the car, they brought the body to us. He died in the blink of an eye at the moment of the crash. Boelcke never wore a crash helmet and did not strap himself in the Albatros either—otherwise he would have even survived the not at all too powerful of an impact.

In the end, Boelcke had died because of a violation of one of his own dicta, which mandated never to close in on a single combatant when others are also pursuing it. RULE 8 of Dicta Boelcke:

Tip for Squadrons: In principle, it is better to attack in groups of four or six. If fights break up into a series of single combats, pay attention that several comrades would not go after one opponent. Avoid two aircraft attacking the same opponent!

Air battles later in the war could involve dozens of aircraft from each side at the same time. The sky could become a swirling tangle of machines. When your side was at a numerical disadvantage, it was especially important not to double up on one opponent. The concentrated fire was of dubious value, since you were just as likely to get in each other's way as to hit the enemy....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicta_Boelcke

[Jimbuna]

29th October 1916

Eastern Front

In Jiu Valley, enemy in retreat.

In Dobruja, Romanians still retiring.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Sherif of Mecca proclaimed King of the Arabs.

Naval and Overseas Operations

German submarine activity in Aegean.

Political, etc.

Field Marshal Viscount French warns volunteers at Derby that a German invasion of Britain is a possibility, not a mere supposition.

Dr. Ernst von Korber appointed Premier in Austria.

U.S. Army recruitment is down this year, and there are less than 100,000 regulars in service.

Hussein bin Ali, the Sharif of Mecca, proclaims himself the King of Hejaz and the King of the Arab lands.

Ship Losses:

Falkefjell (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea (55°42′N 1°02′E) by SM UB-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Maria Therese (France) The auxiliary schooner was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) south of the Columbretes Islands, Spain (39°35′N 0°41′E) by SM U-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Massalia (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 135 nautical miles (250 km) west of Gibraltar by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Meroë (United Kingdom) The cargo liner was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) west of Cape Trafalgar, Spain (36°00′N 7°35′W) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Torino (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) west of Cape Trafalgar (36°00′N 7°40′W) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Tridonia (United Kingdom) The barque was driven ashore at Oxwich Point, Glamorgan with the loss of three of the 23 people on board. She was on a voyage from Dublin to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Western Lass (United Kingdom) The schooner was driven ashore at Horsey, Norfolk and was wrecked.
Zumaya (Spain) The cargo ship foundered in the Atlantic Ocean 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off Salvora with the loss of all but one of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

October 29, 1916

Air War:
1745 German pilot Renatus Theiller, flying an Albatros D.II, shoots down an FE.2 for victory number 4.



North Sea:
Bernhard Putzier, commanding UB-22, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Falkefjell, 1,131 tons, bound from Christiania for Hull with a load of iron, lumber and paper. He now has 3 ships and 4,570 tons.



Balearic Sea:
Claus Rücker, in U-34, stops and scuttles French auxiliary motor schooner Marie Therese, 219 tons, travelling from Oran to Port Vendres. His score is now 66 ships and 151,586 tons.



Gulf of Cadiz:
Otto Schultze, in U-63, sinks three Allied ships west of Gibraltar:
Greek freighter SS Massalia, 2,186 tons, carrying a load of coal from Newport to Naples.
British freighter SS Meroë, 3,552 tons, Bound from Alexandria for Liverpool with a general cargo.
British freighter SS Torino, 1,850 tons, en route from Palermo to Leverpool with a general cargo.
Schultze's score is now 10 ships and 27,716 tons.



Caribbean Sea:
American wooden freighter SS Willapa, 752 tons, carrying a load of mahogany and cedar logs from Cap Gracias, Nicaragua to New Orleans, is wrecked at Vivario Cay, Honduras.

[Jimbuna]

30th October 1916

Western Front

French take trenches north-west of Sailly-Saillisel.

South of Somme: Germans retake northern part of La Maisonnette.

Eastern Front

Enemy retiring in Jiu Valley and in Vulkan Pass.

South-east of Roter Turm Pass, enemy capture heights.

Germans and Turks force back Russians near River Narajowka (Galicia).

Latter advance towards Lutsk.

Southern Front

Violent fighting along whole line in Cherna region.

Bulgar attack on Kalendia (Struma) repulsed.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British drive enemy over Ruhuje River, and repel them in Iringa district and at Lupembe (East Africa). Main body of enemy south of Central Railway and about Rufiji river, Tabora force being near Iringa.

Political, etc.

Increased wages demanded by Cardiff miners.

Field Marshal von Hindenburg declares German lines can hold for 30 years against Allied attacks.

Ship Losses:

Floreal (United Kingdom) The trawler was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 20 nautical miles (37 km) north by west of the Flannan Islands by SM U-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Gayret-i-Vataniye (Ottoman Navy) The S165-class destroyer was beached at Varna, Bulgaria.
Marquis Bacquehem (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 50 nautical miles (93 km) south by east of Cape St. Vincent, Portugal by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Nellie Bruce (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Beru Fjord, Iceland by SM U-24 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Saint Hubert (French Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) and sank in the English Channel 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) north west of Cherbourg, Seine-Maritime with the loss of sixteen of her crew.
Vertunno (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of Gibraltar (36°34′N 8°47′W) by SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

October 30, 1916

Air War:
Italian pilot Luigi Olivi, in a Nieuport 11, claims an enemy two-seater, but it is unconfirmed.



Iceland:
Walter Remy, commanding U-24, stops British trawler Nellie Bruce, 192 tons, off Beru Fjord, and sinks her with his deck gun. He has now sunk two British trawlers for 366 tons.



Scotland:
Carl-Siegfried von Georg, in U-57, stops and scuttles British fishing vessel Floreal, 163 tons, off the Flannan Islands. His score is now 23 ships and 15,331 tons.



Bristol Channel:
British barque Tridonia, 2,168 tons, sailing in ballast from Dublin to Buenos Aires, is wrecked at Oxwich Point, Wales.



English Channel:
French naval trawler Saint Hubert, 216 tons, hits a mine laid off Cherbourg by Matthias von Schmettow in UC-26. His score is now 49 ships and 67,886 tons.



North Sea:
British passenger liner SS Mantola, 8,253 tons, carrying a general cargo from Middlesbrough and London to Calcutta, is damaged by a mine laid by an unknown ship.



Bay of Cadiz:
Kurt Hartwig, in U-32, sinks two ships off Cape St Vincent:
British freighter SS Marquis Bacquehem, 4,396 tons, travelling from Calcutta to Middlesbrough with a load of manganese ore.
Italian freighter SS Vertunno, 3,239 tons, out of Bridisi, destination and cargo unlisted.
Hartwig now has 3 ships and 9,482 tons.



Atlantic Ocean:
Italian freighter SS Audax, 2,100 tons, departs Greenock, Scotland for Genoa and is not heard from again.

[Jimbuna]

31st October 1916

Eastern Front

Austrians checked at Torzburg, but successful in Predeal Pass.

Russians repulse Germans in Narajowka Valley (Galicia), but fall back at Mieczysczow.

Southern Front

Struma front, British take Barakli Juma (in front of Rupel Pass), also Kumli.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British reorganised into two divisions (Hoskins and van Deventer), former about Kilwa, latter on Ruaha and Central Railway, Northey about Iringa.

Political, etc.

British losses in the four months since the start of the Somme offensive number 414,202 men killed, wounded, captured, and missing.

Ship Losses:

HMS Adriatic (Royal Navy) The collier departed Newport, Monmouthshire for Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France. No further trace, presumed lost in the Atlantic Ocean with the loss of all hands.
Delto (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (37°10′N 0°10′E) by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Fedelta (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) west of Cape Palos, Murcia, Spain by SM U-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Glenlogan (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) south east of Stromboli, Italy (38°46′N 15°22′E) by SM U-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Kiki Issaias (Greece) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by U 73 (Gustav Sieß) and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off Fleves. Her crew survived.
Saturn (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 60 nautical miles (110 km) north of the Shetland Islands (60°04′N 5°07′W) by SM U-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tridonia (United Kingdom) The barque was driven ashore at Oxwich Point, Glamorgan with the loss of three of her crew.

MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral ships lost to enemy submarines, mines and cruisers etc in the month - 201 ships of 352,000 tons gross. (Lloyd's War Losses)