100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

February 12, 1918

Air War:

1420 German ace Hans Weiss, flying with Jasta 41, shoots down SPAD VII 1268 for victory number 6. Lt Henri Schwander is wounded and taken prisoner.

1445 Two Canadian RFC Sopwith Camel aces over the Italian Front are credited with shooting down five observation ballooes:
William Barker, B6313, victories 15-19.
Harold Hudson, B6353, victories 4-8. Hudson isn't officially an ace when the day starts but he is by the time it's over.

1515 German ace Heinrich Arntzen, in OAW-built Albatros 2480/17, shoots down a French balloon for victory number 9. Lt Pierre Bacalou of the 45° Cie d’Aérostiers and 2nd Lt Doherty on load from the United States Balloon Service both parachute safely.

German two-seater crew of Vfw Bauschke and Ltn Buse, of FlAbt 218 shoot down an attacking SPAD. Cpl Louis Bardoulat is listed as Missing.

German two-seater crew of Obltn Schmid and Gefr Braun, of FlAbt 289, shoot down an attacking SPAD. Sgt Adolphe Baranovitch is killed.

[Jimbuna]

13th February 1918

Western Front

French win salient between Tahure and Butte de Mesnil (Champagne).

Eastern Front

Bolsheviks defeat General Alexeiev; suicide of General Kaledin reported.

Southern Front

British line in Italy extended.

Naval

French submarine Bernouilli goes missing, presumed sunk with all 23 of its crew after hitting a mine in the Adriatic.


Political, etc.

Pacifist group in House of Commons defeated.

Exchange of prisoners between Austria-Hungary and the Allies take place, with several hundred POWs exchanged at Buchs, Switzerland.

Ship Losses:

Bernoulli (French Navy) The Brumaire-class submarine struck a mine and sank in the Adriatic Sea off Durres, Albania.
HMT Sardius II (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.

[Sailor Steve]

February 13, 1918

Air War:

1210 English RFC pilot Percy Kyne Hobson, flying SE.5a D260, claims an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

[Jimbuna]

14th February 1918

Eastern Front

Resignation of M. Kucharzewski, Prime Minister, and Cabinet, Warsaw.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British troops advance at Mukhmas, north-east of Jerusalem; line advanced two miles on six mile front.

Political, etc.

Bolo Pasha and Cavallini condemned to death.

Death of Sir Cecil Sping Rice, British Ambassador, U.S., at Ottawa.

Ship Losses:

Atlas (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 10 nautical miles (19 km) east south east of Hartlepool, County Durham by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Bessie Stephens (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Bristol Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) west by south of Lundy Island, Devon by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Carlisle Castle (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) east by north of the Royal Sovereign Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Chrysopolis (United Kingdom) The cargo ship ran aground in the Irish Sea off Southport, Lancashire.
Hugh Bourne (United Kingdom) The tug struck a submerged wreck and foundered. Her crew were rescued.
Lenore (United Kingdom) The brigantine collided with another vessel and sank. Her crew were rescued.
Saga (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) east north east of Sunderland, County Durham (54°56′N 1°19′W) by SM UB-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ventmoor (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Aegean Sea 8 nautical miles (15 km) south west by south of Skyros, Greece (38°41′N 24°36′E) by SM UC-37 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 21 of her crew.
War Monarch (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 11 nautical miles (20 km) east of the Royal Sovereign Lightship ( United Kingdom) (50°46′N 0°43′E) by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

February 14, 1918

Air War:

1115 German pilot Hermann Leptien, flying with Jasta 21, shoots down a Dorand AR.2 for victory number 2.

Roland Garros escapes from German POW camp. Back in April 1915 Garros had become the world's first fighter pilot, shooting down three German aircraft while flying solo in a Morane-Saulnier 'L' parasol fitted with a machine gun firing through the propeller, with bullets that hit the prop being deflected by a specially-designed steel wedge system. On April 18 that year, after shooting down his third German two-seater, he had attacked a railway station and had been shot down and captured by ground gunners. After almost three years in a German prison Garros is now heading home.

[Jimbuna]

15th February 1918

Naval and Overseas Operations

Submarine shells Dover, one killed, seven injured.

A flotilla of German torpedo-boat destroyers raids the Straits of Dover and sink 1 British trawler and 7 drifters.

Maloktera (on Upper Lurio) reoccupied by Portuguese troops.

In Coastal area British column from Port Amelia approaching Meza.

A small Swedish naval force occupies the island of Åland, ostensibly to protect the inhabitants from the fighting of the Finnish Civil War.

Political, etc.

U.S. Government takes over complete control of foreign trade.

U.S. government threatens striking shipbuilders that their draft exemptions will be revoked if they do not go back to work.

Ship Losses:

HMT Christina Craig (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was sunk in the Strait of Dover by a Kaiserliche Marine destropyer with the loss of all hands.
HMT Clover Bank (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was sunk in the Strait of Dover by a Kaiserliche Marine warship with the loss of all but one of her crew.
HMT Cosmos (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was sunk in the Strait of Dover by a Kaiserliche Marine destroyer. Three of her crew survived.
HMT James Pond (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was sunk in the Strait of Dover by a Kaiserliche Marine warship with the loss of three of her crew.
HMT Jamie Murray (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was sunk in the Strait of Dover by a Kaiserliche Marine destroyer.
HMS Ludgate (Royal Navy) The tug was wrecked in Wigtown Bay.
HMML 12 (Royal Navy) The motor launch was shelled and sunk in the Strait of Dover by a Kaiserlich Marine destroyer.
Neguri (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (29°11′N 20°30′W) by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Newbury (Royal Navy) The Racecourse-class minesweeper was shelled and sunk in the Strait of Dover by a Kaiserliche Marine destroyer.
San Rito (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Aegean Sea 23 nautical miles (43 km) south west of Chios, Greece (37°51′N 25°33′E) by SM UC-37 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
HMT Silver Queen Royal Navy World War I: The naval trawler was sunk in the Strait of Dover by a Kaiserliche Marine destroyer.[92][93]
HMT Veracity (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was sunk in the Strait of Dover by a Kaiserliche Marine destroyer.
HMT W. Elliott (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was sunk in the Strait of Dover by a Kaiserliche Marine destroyer.

[February 15th, 1918] "The Creed Of Grab" (Western Mail cartoon).

[Sailor Steve]

February 15, 1918

Air War:

1545 Two RFC SE.5a pilots share a victory over a German two-seater:
Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor, South Africa, B539, victory number 2.
John McCudden, England, C5310, victory number 4.

1600 German pilot Siegfried Büttner, in an albatros D.III, shoots up a French balloon. It is not destroyed, but is forced to abandon its mission, so he is awared the victory. S/Lt Allegrie and 1st Lt Allpoort of the United States Balloon Service both parachute to safety.

[Jimbuna]

16th February 1918

Western Front

Fighting in Cambrai section.

Air raid on London and Dover: one enemy machine down, 12 killed, 6 injured.

Political, etc.

Sir Henry Wilson succeeds Sir William Robertson as Chief of Imperial Staff.

Ship Losses:

Carlo (Austria-Hungary) The cargo ship was wrecked in the Adriatic Sea off Vegl, Austria-Hungary.
Commander (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was scuttled in the English Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) south south west of Beer Head, Devon by SM UB-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Mar Caspio (Spain) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Canary Islands by SM U-152 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Tea (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Cape St. Vincent, Portugal (35°30′N 10°28′W) by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Thames (United Kingdom) The tug was lost on this date.

[Sailor Steve]

February 16, 1918

Air War:

An overnight raid is conducted by four giant R-bombers against southern England. One of them carries a single 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) bomb which it drops over Victoria Station in London. The bomb misses the station but lands on the Royal Hospital in Chelsea.

0735 Two RFC Sopwith Camel pilots share a victory over an Albatros D.V:
Edward Eaton, Canada, B5621, victory number 3.
Lt H.D. Harrington, B2416, nationality and victory number unknown.

0830 Two RFC Sopwith Camel pilots share a victory over a German two-seater:
Horace Gilbert Wanklyn Debenham, England, B9195, victory number 1.
George Thomson, Scotland, B9131, victory number 6.

0940 English RFC pilot John McCudden, in SE.5a C5310, shoots down a Rumpler two-seater for victory number 5.

0945 Canadian RFC pilot John Sorsoleil, in AE.5a B5463, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 2.

[Jimbuna]

17th February 1918

Aviation

Six German aeroplanes raid Dover and London, killing 12 and injuring 6. One German aeroplane is brought down in the English Channel. British aeroplanes drop 400 bombs on German aerodromes in Belgium.

A single German "Riesenflugzeug" bomber attacks England. It hits St. Pancras station in London, killing 21 people and injuring 32.

Political, etc.

The Council of Lithuania proclaims the independence of Lithuania from both Russia and Germany.

Ship Losses:

Estrella da Bissao (Portugal) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Freetown, Sierra Leone by SM U-157 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Northville (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 3.5 nautical miles (6.5 km) south east by east of Berry Head, Devon (50°23′N 3°24′W) by SM UB-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Pinewood (United Kingdom) The collier was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) south of Mine Head, County Cork (51°50′N 7°35′W) by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

February 17, 1918

Air War:

1045 South African RFC pilot Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor, flying SE.5a D259, shoots down a Albatros D.V for victory number 3.

1115 English RFC ace John McCudden, in SE.5a C5310, shoots down a Fokker Dr.I for victory number 6.

1120 RFC pilot Rex Bennett, in Bristol F.2b C6404 with Cpl F. Archer as observer, shoots down a Pfalz D.III for victory number 4.

1120 RFC ace pilot Frank Johnson and ace observer John Hedley, in Bristol F.2b B1177, shoot down a Pfalz D.III. Victory number 12 for Johnson, number 8 for Hedley.

1125 English observer Walter Noble, riding in Bristol F.2b B1209 with 2nd Lt L.P. Roberts as pilot, shoots down a Pfalz D.III for victory number 4.

[Jimbuna]

18th February 1918

Western Front

German raiders fail to get through defences in attempted air raid on London.

Eastern Front

End of Russian armistice.

German army crosses Dvina and marches on Dvinsk and Lutsk. A second army advances into Ukraine against Bolsheviks.

Russians evacuate Armenia.

Turks within eight miles of Trebizond.

Southern Finland now in hands of Bolsheviks.

General Mannesheim (commanding Constitutional forces, "White Guards") gathers an army together in the north.

Ship Losses:

Cecil L. Shave (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the Azores, Portugal (35°30′N 11°20′W) by SM U-155 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Nagata Maru (Japan) The cargo ship ran aground off Kirosaki, Niigata. She broke up on 12 March and was a total loss.
Normand (France) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Mediterranean Sea off Marsa Sirocco, Malta by UB-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached on Malta two days later. Subsequently refloated, repaired and returned to service.

[Sailor Steve]

February 18, 1918

Air War:

The famous Lafayette Escadrille (French Escadrille Spa 124) is disbanded. Seventeen pilots are transferred to the 103rd Aero Squadron.

0830 Three RFC SE.5a pilots share a victory over a DFW C.V:
Horace Dale Barton, South Africa, B120, victory number 1.
Andrew Cowper, Australia, B664, victory number 3.
Ronald Turnbull Mark, England, B67, victory number 1.

0950 Canadian RNAS pilot John Manuel, in Sopwith Camel B7195, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 5.

1050 German ace Ernst Udet, in Albatros D.V 4476/17, shoots down Sopwith Camel N6347 for victory number 20. Sub-Lt R.E. Burr is mortally wounded, and will die two days later.

1100 English RFC pilot Percy Hobson, in SE.5a C5313, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 2.

1100 South African RFC pilot Hugh Saunders, in SE.5a C9500, shoots down an LVG two-seater for victory number 2.

1100 English RFC pilot Charles Lionel Stubbs, flying SE.5a C5303, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

1115 South African RNAS ace William Jordan, in Sopwith Camel B7198, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 18.

1140 Canadian RNAS pilot Louis Bawlf, in Sopwith Camel D6417, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 2.

1155 Australian pilot Jack Manning Allport and English observer Arthur William Hammond, in Armstrong-Whitworth FK.8 B5782, claim two Pfalz D.IIIs. Victories 1 and 2 for both.

1200 Canadian RFC pilot Clifford McEwen, in Sopwith Camel B5169, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 4.

[Jimbuna]

19th February 1918

Eastern Front

Germans occupy Dvinsk and Lutsk and advancing on whole line from Riga to Volhynia, enter Estonia and press towards Reval and Petrograd.

Bolshevik Government formally declare willingness to sign peace upon conditions dictated at Brest-Litovsk by Quadruple Alliance.

Austria-Hungary and Ukraine sign agreement by which Kholm district of Poland will not necessarily be included in Ukraine Republic.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British troops attack on 15-mile front east of Jerusalem; all objectives secured.

British now within eight miles of Jericho.

Aviation

German aeroplanes attempt to raid London for a third day in a row, but fail to get through British anti-air defenses.

Remains of a German Friedrichshafen G.III bomber, which crashed upside down near Ytres, 19 February 1918.


Political, etc.

General Sir H. Rawlinson appointed British Army representative at Versailles. Premier defends arrangements re: latter.

Lenin and Trotsky signal to the Central Powers that they are now willing to sign a formal peace treaty.

Ship Losses:

Barrowmore (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 53 nautical miles (98 km) north west by west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (49°58′N 7°54′W) by SM U-94 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 25 of her crew.
Beacon Light (United Kingdom) The tanker was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 15 nautical miles (28 km) south east of the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 33 of her crew.
Comandant Baratier (France) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the English Channel 8 nautical miles (15 km) south of Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom by SM UB-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Commonwealth (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fourteen of her crew.
Glencarron (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 47 nautical miles (87 km)) south by east of The Lizard, Cornwall (49°20′N 4°57′W) by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Philadelphian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 47 nautical miles (87 km) south by east of The Lizard by SM U-82 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
Wheatflower (United Kingdom) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) north west by north of the Tuskar Rock, Ireland (52°09′N 5°45′W) by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Wilhelmina VII (Netherlands) The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the North Sea (54°49′N 3°37′E), probably by SM UB-64 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of six of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

February 19, 1918

Air War:

0810 Prussia-born German pilot Franz Schleiff, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down Armstrong-Whitworth FK.8 B3305 for victory number 4. 2nd Lt H.H. Wilson and Cpt J.S. Gregory are both killed.

0840 Four RFC SE.5a pilots share a victory over a Rumpler two-seater:
Andrew Cowper, Australia, B664, victory number 5
Reuben George Hammersly, England, B891, victory number 1.
Peter MacDougall, Scotland, B120, victory number 2.
Ronald Mark, England, B67, victory number 3.

0850 Andrew Cowper, Reuben Hammersly, Peter MacDougall and Ronald Mark share a second kill, this time a DFW C.V. Number 6 for Cowper, number 2 for Hammersly, number 3 for MacDougall and number 4 for Mark.

1015 English RFC pilot John McCudden, in SE.5a C5310, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 7.

1015 Canadian RFC pilot John Sorsoleil, in SE.5a B5463, is credited with two Albatros D.Vs for victories number 3 and 4.

1020 South African RFC pilot Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor, flying SE.5a B539, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 4.

1020 Two RFC SE.5a pilots share a victory over an Albatros D.V:
Jens Larson, United States, serial number unknown, victory number 4.
John McCudden, England, C5310, victory number 8 (his second of the day).

1125 German ace Friedrich Altemeier, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 10.

1130 RFC pilot Lt W.H. Kent, in SE.5a B4860, shoots dwon Albatros D.Va 4495/17. Victory number unknown. Ltn Hans von Puttkamer is taken prisoner.

1205 French ace René Fonck, in a SPAD, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 24.

1240 Two English RFC SE.5a pilots share a victory over an Albatros two-seater:
Frank Billinge, B4880, victory number 4.
Louis William Jarvis, B53, victory number 1.

1315 American pilot Frank Leaman Baylies, om a SPAD for the French Air Service, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 1.

1400 German ace Hans-Joachim Buddecke, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down Sopwith Camel B9185 for victory number 13. 2nd Lt S.R. Pinder is killed.

1405 German ace Hans Bethge, in a Pfalz D.III, shots down Sopwith Camel B9171 for victory number 19. 2nd Lt E. Westmoreland is killed.

1405 Polish-born German pilot Hans-Georg von der Marwitz, in a Pfalz D.III, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 3. Lt S.L.H. Potter is killed.