100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

2nd July 1918

Western Front

Germans re-capture ground north-west of Albert.

French advance north of River Aisne near Moulin sous Touvent (north-west of Soissons).

1,019,115 U.S. troops embarked for France up to date: 291 lost at sea.

Southern Front

Successful Italian attack on Austrians in Piave delta begins - 1,900 prisoners.

Political, etc.

Opening of International Commercial Conference at Westminster.

Establishment of (British) Central Council of Agriculture.

Ship Losses:

Admiral (United Kingdom) The tug was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) north of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Erme (United Kingdom) The auxiliary sailing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 240 nautical miles (440 km) north west by west of the Fastnet Rock (52°30′N 16°00′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Shirala (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north east by east of the Owers Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UB-57 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eight of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

July 2, 1918

Air War:

0735 Canadian RAF pilot Harold Oads, in Bristol F.2b C883 with Lt G.J. Maynard as observer, shoots down a Pfalz D.III for victory number 5

0845 English RAF David Smith and observer John Hills, in Bristol F.2b C859, shoot down a Pfalz D.III. Victory number 3 for Smith; Number 2 for Hills.

Two French pilots with Spa 153 share the destruction of a German observation Balloon:
André Barcat, victory number 5.
Georges Charles Emmanuel Halberger, victory number 1.

[Jimbuna]

3rd July 1918

Western Front

French advance north of Aisne between Autreches on east and Moulin sous Touvent on west; 1,000 prisoners.

Eastern Front

Germans prepare to advance on Murman railway.

New Provisional Government established at Vladivostok.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Retreat of Germans at Nhamacurra.

Political, etc.

Lord Lieutenant of Ireland John French restricts the activities of Sinn Fein, Irish Volunteers, and the Gaelic League, labeling them as “dangerous organizations.”

Death of Lord Rhondda (British Food Controller).

Death of Mohammed V., Sultan of Turkey; succeeded by Mohammed VI (Vahid-ed-Din).

Ship Losses:

Agia Trias (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (36°05′N 22°10′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
Evangelistria (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (36°39′N 22°18′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
Gripen (Sweden) The wooden barque was shelled and sunk in the Skagerrak 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) off the Ryvingen Lighthouse, Vest-Agder, Norway by SM U-80 ( Kaiserliche Marine), with the loss of two of the crew.
Panaghia (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 36°05′N 22°10′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
P. C. Petersen (Norway) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 55 nautical miles (102 km) west of Lindesnes, Vest-Agder by SM U-80 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 3, 1918


Air War:

1835 Australian RAF pilot Herbert Joseph Larkin, flying Sopwith Dolphin C4173, is credited with an Albatros D.V and a Fokker Dr.I for victories 1 and 2.

German pilot Ernst Bormann, in a Fokker D.VII, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 1.

[Jimbuna]

4th July 1918

Western Front

Australians and Americans re-capture village of Hamel and Vaire Wood (east of Amiens).

Eastern Front

Czecho-Slovaks defeat Bolsheviks near Nikolaievsk (50 miles north of Vladivostok) and occupy the town.

Southern Front

Continued Italian advance in Piave delta and on Grappa front.

Political, etc.

British Government reiterates British right of search, but waives it re: Dutch Convoy to East Indies.

American Independence Day celebrations.

Proclamation at Constantinople of Vahid-ed-Din as Sultan.

Ship Losses:

Cordova (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Taormina, Sicily (37°51′N 15°25′E) by SM UC-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Mentor (Norway) The sailing vessel was torpedoed and damaged in the North Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) east of Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom by SM UB-21 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. She was towed in to port but was a constructive total loss.
Napoli (Italy) The ship collided with a vessel from Convoy GaG 37 in the Mediterranean Sea and sank.
SM U-20 (Austro-Hungarian Navy) The U-20-class submarine was torpedoed and sunk in the Adriatic Sea (45°29′N 13°05′E) by the submarine F-12 ( Regia Marina) with the loss of all eighteen crew.

[Sailor Steve]

July 4, 1918


Air War:

1030 American RAF pilot Walter Carl Simon and Scottish observer William Watson Smith, flying Bristol F.2b C999, shoot down an Albatros D.V. Victory number 1 for both.

1415 German ace Emil Thuy, in a Pfalz D.IIIa, shoots down Sopwith Camel B3858 for victory number 24. 2nd Lt H.R. Frank is killed.

1430 Canadian RAF pilot Ernest Salter, in Sopwith Camel D1948, shoots down a Hannover two-seater for victory number 2.

2030 American RAF pilot Roy Edward Dodds and Canadian observer John Bernard Russel. in DH.9 C6150, shoot down a Pfalz D.III. Victory number 1 for both.

German ace Karl Menckhoff, in a Fokker D.VII, shoots down Sopwith Camel D6494 for victory number 35. 2nd Lt C.H. Atkinson is killed.

German ace Reinhard Treptow, flying with Jasta 25, shoots down a Nieuport 27 for victory number 6. Sgt J. Demdier is killed.

[Jimbuna]

5th July 1918

Western Front

Australians advance line north-east of Villers-Bretonneux (south-east of Amiens).

Southern Front

French and Italian offensive in southern Albania begins.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Dutch Government accepts conditions re: convoy; Convoy sails.

Political, etc.

Treaty of Bucharest passes Reichstag.

Ship Losses:

Columbia (United States) The passenger ship capsized and sank in the Illinois River with the loss of 87 or 175 lives (depending on sources).
Vera Elizabeth (United Kingdom) The auxiliary schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 54 nautical miles (100 km) south by east of Suðuroy, Faroe Islands (60°42′N 5°32′W) by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 5, 1918


Air War:

0920 German ace Josef Mai, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down Bristol F.2b C791 for victory number 16. 2nd Lt B.S. Hillis and Sgt S.J. Pratt are both killed.

2145 German ace Heinrich Kroll, with Jasta 24, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 30.

German ace Karl Bolle, in a Fokker Dr.I, shoots down a Nieuport 28 for victory number 20. 1st Lt Sidney Thompson, U.S. 95th Aero Sqdn, is killed.

French ace Maurice Boyau, with Spa 77, destroys a German observation balloon for victory number 21.

Maurice Boyau scores his second kill of the day, shooting down a German "Scout" for number 22.

German ace Hermann Frommherz, flying a Fokker Dr.I, shoots down a Nieuport 28 for victory number 5. 1st Lt Carlyle Rhodes, U.S. 95th Aero Sqdn, is taken prisoner.

German pilot Wolfgang Plüschow (1 victory), is killed in action.

[Jimbuna]

6th July 1918

Eastern Front

Cossacks fight Bolsheviks north-west of Nikolsk (between Vladivostok and Khabarovsk) and Czecho-Slovaks take Nikolsk.

Assassination of Count Mirbach (German Ambassador at Moscow).

Southern Front

Piave delta cleared of Austrians by 23rd Italian Corps; 21,000 men and 63 guns, etc., taken by Italians since 15 June.

Political, etc.

Left Socialist Revolutionary Party launches an uprising in Moscow against the Bolsheviks in order to restart the war against Germany.

Publication of Mantagu-Chemsford Report re: Indian Constitutional Reforms.

U.S. first large aeroplane launched near New York.

Silver Wedding of Their Majesties.

Ship Losses:

Bertrand (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 28 nautical miles (52 km) east south east of Cape Bon, Algeria (36°58′N 11°36′E) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS C25 (Royal Navy) The C-class submarine was bombed and damaged in the North Sea off Orford Ness, Suffolk by Luftstreitkrafte aircraft with the loss of four of her crew. She was taken in tow by HMS E51 ( Royal Navy) but was declared a constructive total loss.
Gullfaxi Iceland) The fishing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south of Iceland by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Port Hardy (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 78 nautical miles (144 km) west of Cape Spartel, Morocco (35°44′N 7°35′W) by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven of her crew.
San Nicola (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (36°06′N 25°19′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 6, 1918


Air War:

0545 Indian RAF pilot Indra Lal Roy, flying SE.5a B180, shoots down a Hannover two-seater for victory number 1.

1135 English RAF pilot Leslie Norman Hollinghurst, in Sopwith Dolphin C4136, shoots down a Fokker D.VII for victory number 1.

1155 Indian RAF ace Lawrence Coombes, in Sopwith Camel D3387, shoots down a Pfalz D.III for victory number 13.

1250 German pilot Eugen Siempelkamp, with Jasta 28, shoots down Sopwith Camel D9631 for victory number 2. 2nd Lt W.J. Saunders is wounded and taken prisoner.

German pilot Heinrich Hünninghaus, with Jasta 66, shoots down a SPAD two-seater for victory number 1.

German pilot Karl Paul Schlegel, flying with Jasta 45, destroys the first American balloon shot down during the war. 1st Lts Leo M. Murphy and Malcolm A. Sedgwick of the 1st U.S. Balloon Sqdn both parachute safely.

[Jimbuna]

7th July 1918

Western Front

Australian advance continued on each side of River Somme.

German air-raid on ambulance park at La Panne (village behind Yser): 43 girls killed.

Eastern Front

Czecho-Slovaks defeat Bolsheviks near Chita (east of Irkutsk).

Southern Front

Italians attack on Middle and Lower Vojusa (southern Albania).

Aviation

Hermann Göring assumes command of the "Flying Circus", Jagdgeschwader 1.

Political, etc.

President Wilson agrees to organize an Allied intervention in Russia against the Bolsheviks.

Agreement between Great Britain, U.S., France and Murman Council re: Allied help.

Ship Losses:

Aby (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) east by north of Spurn Point, Yorkshire by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Albion (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) east by north of Spurn Point by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Carl (Denmark) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south of Ireland (49°20′N 9°40′W) by SM U-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fourteen crew.
SMS G172 (Kaiserliche Marine) The S138-class destroyer struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of sixteen of her crew.
Giuseppino Padre (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (37°30′N 18°30′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
Marosa (Norway) The full-rigged ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean (40°00′N 50°35′W) by SM U-156 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SMS S138 (Kaiserliche Marine) The S138-class destroyer struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of 32 of her crew.
Vergine di Lourdes (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Sicily by SM UC-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

July 7, 1918


Air War:

0720 German ace Paul Billik, with Jasta 52, shoots down a DH.9 for victory number 22.

0940 Two Amrican pilots with the 94th Aero Sqdn share a victory over a Rumpler two-seater:
1st Lt Cates (first name not given), victory number 1.
Hamilton Coolidge, victory number 1.
(This per The French Air Service War Chronology. According to Over The Front Coolidge's partner is James Meissner, but their listing for Meissner has nothing on this day.)

At an unlisted time, German ace Otto Rosenfeld, with Jasta 41, shoots down a Nieuport for victory number 13.

1010 American pilot Stuart McKeown, flying a SPAD XIII, claims an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 2. It seems likely that this is Otto Rosenfeld, who is killed around this time.

1015 Stuart McKeown scores his second kill of the day, another "Enemy Aircraft", for number 3.

1110 German ace Franz Brandt, with Jasta 26, shoots down a Nieuport 28 for victory number 6.

1115 German pilot Erich Buder, with Jasta 26, shoots down a Nieuport 28 for victory number 3.
(These two are 1st Lts William Chalmers, in N.28 6181, and Stuart McKeown, both with the 95th Aero Sqdn, both taken prisoner.

1115 German ace Franz Büchner, in a Fokker D.VII, shoots down Sopwith Camel D3329 for victory number 8. Lt M.S. Taylor is killed.

1115 German ace Ulrich Neckel, flying with Jasta 13, shoots down Sopwith Camel C8279 for victory number 20. Lt D.V. Hunter is killed.

1128 German ace Otto Fruhner, with Jasta 26, claims a Nieuport 28 for victory number 11. Only the two Nieuports 28 were lost this day, leaving the question of who shot down whom.

1130 English RAF pilot Charles Steele and observer Arnold Ansell, in Bristol F.2b D7909, shoot down a Pfalz D.III. Victory number 3 for Steele; number 5 for Ansell.

1140 Englisn RAF pilot Charles John Sims, in Sopwith Camel D9672, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

1730 German pilot Ltn Sauermann (no first name given), with Jasta 70, shoots down a DH.4 for victory number 1.

1900 French ace Michel Coiffard, flying with Spa 154, destroys a German obseration balloon for victory number 8.

1905 French pilot Gabriel Thomas, with Spa 88, shoots down a Fokker Dr.I for victory number 3.

1915 Three French pilots from two different units share the downing of a Rumpler two-seater:
Lucien Gasser, Spa 87, victory number 10.
Lt Heno (no first name given), Spa 154, victory number 2.
MdL Vuillemin (no first name given), Spa 154, victory number 1.

1940 South African RAF ace William Jordan, in Sopwith Camel D1844, shoots down a Fokker Dr.I for victory number 29.

2015 Englsh RAF pilot Walter Hunt Longton, in SE.5a D6026, shoots down a Fokker D.VII for victory number 1.

Three French pilots from Spa 82 share a victory over a Fokker Dr.I:
S/Lt Flers (no first name given), victory number 1.
Marie Lecoq de Kerland, victory number 3.
Sgt Ventre (no first name given), victory number 1.

S/Lt Flers scores his second kill of the day, shooting down a Fokker Dr.I for number 2.

German naval pilot Hans Goerth, wih Marine Feld Jasta 2, shoots down DH.9 D1730 for victory number 3. Lt J.R. Harrington and 2nd Lt C.L. Bray are both killed.

German pilot Hans Mittermayr, with Kest 2, shoots down a DH.4 for victory number 2.

German pilot Erich Raabe, with Jasta 41, destroys a French observation balloon for victory number 4.

German ace Josef Schwendemann, flying with Jasta 41, shoots down a Nieuport for victory number 9.

Two French pilots with Escadrille 12 share a victory over a Rumpler two-seater.
Lt Chalus (first name not given), victory number 2.
Joseph Vuillemin, victory number 5.

[Jimbuna]

8th July 1918

Western Front

Successful French attack north-west of Longpont (west of Villers-Cotterets); 346 prisoners.

Eastern Front

Czecho-Slovaks occupy Irkutsk.

Declaration of aims to Allies by Siberian Government.

Southern Front

Italians win passage of Vojusa and occupy Fieri (20 miles north-east of Valona); French and Italians threaten Berat (north-east of Valona).

Naval and Overseas Operations

British monitors aid Italian advance on Lower Vojusa.

Political, etc.

Report of five M.P.'s re: enemy aliens, recommending stricter treatment.

House of Commons prolongs life of Parliament to 30 January 1919.

Ship Losses:

Ben Lomond (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) south east of the Daunt Rock by SM U-92 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 23 crew.
Chicago (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) north east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire by SM UB-107 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three of her crew.
Horta (Portugal) The cargo ship was sunk in the Strait of Sicily by SM UC-73 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Manx King (Norway) The full-rigged ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean (40°05′N 52°00′W) by SM U-156 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Mars (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 74 nautical miles (137 km) west by north of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (49°44′N 8°20′W) by SM U-92 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
San Nicola (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Aegean Sea off Andros by SM UC-37 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
War Crocus (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) east by north of Flamborough Head by SM UB-107 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

July 8, 1918


Air War:

0645 Indian RAF pilot Indra Roy, flying SE.5a B180, ahoots down a Hannover two-seater for victory number 2.

0750 South African RAF ace William Jordan, in Sopwith Camel D1844, shoots down a Fokker Dr.I for victory number 30.

0800 William Jordan scores his second kill of the day when he shoots down a Pfalz D.III for number 31.

0810 American RAF pilot Alvin Callendar, in SE.5a C1903, shoots down a Fokker D.VII for victory number 3.

0830 German ace Paul Billik, with Jasta 52, shoots down Bristol F.2b C1002 for victory number 23. Lt. J.A. Chubb and Sgt J. Borwein are both killed.

0850 German pilot Ltn Becker (no first name given), flying with Jasta 52, shoots down Sopwith Camel B2473 for victory number 1. 2nd Lt E.G. Reynolds is killed.

0850 Paul Billik scores his second kill of the day, shooting down SE.5a C1089 for number 24. Capt A. Claydon is killed.

0900 German pilot Michael Lüderitz, with Jasta 52, shoots down SE.5a B8346 for victory number 2. Lt H.W. Burry is taken prisoner.

0907 Two French pilots with Spa 49 share a victory over a Rumpler two-seater:
Jean Bouyer, victory number 8.
Paul Hamot, victory number 2.

0915 French ace Charles Nuville, with Spa 57, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 8.

0925 Three RAF SE.5a pilots share a victory over a Hannover two-seater:
George McElroy, Ireland, C8869, victory number 36.
Indra Roy, India, B180, victory number 3.
Gilbert Strange, England, B191, victory number 2.

0950 French pilot Antoine Cordonnier, with Spa 15, shoots down a German "Scout" for victory number 5.

1025 Indra Roy scores his third victory of the day, shooting down a Fokker D.VII for number 4.

1045 George McElroy scores his second kill of the day, shooting down a Hannover two-seater for number 37.

1100 German ace Oskar von Boenigk, in a Pfalz D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 13. This is possibly American Sgt Dudley Gilman Tucker, flying with Spa 15, reported Missing, body later recovered.

1105 German pilot Ltn Marcard, flying with Jasta 26, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 1.

1110 German ace Fritz Brandt, with Jasta 26, shoots down a Two-seater for victory number 7.

1130 German ace Gustav Dörr, with Jasta 26, shoots down a Bréguet 14 for victory number 8.

1130 German ace Otto Frühner, with Jasta 26, shoots down a Bréguet 14 for victory number 12.
(Only one Bréguet 14 was lost this day. MdL Alphonse Hays and Asp Maxime Girard of Br 224 are both listed as Missing.)

1230 German ace Friedrich Friedrichs, in a Fokker D.VII, shoots down Nieuport 28 6264 for victory number 21. 2nd Lt Maxwell O. Parry of the U.S. 147th Aero Sqdn (1 victory) is killed.

2030 German pilot Josef Schulte, flying with Jasta 14, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 2.

2030 German pilot Ltn von Wulffen (no first name given), with Jasta 14, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 1.

2045 Josef Schulte scores his second kill of the day, shooting down another Camel for victory number 3.

2100 German pilot Herbert Boy, with Jasta 14, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 4.

French ace Leon Bourjade, with Spa 152, destroys a German observation balloon for victory number 10.

German pilot Heinrich Hentzen, flying with Jasta 9, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 1.

French ace Armand Pinsard, with Spa 23, destroys a Germany observation balloon for victory number 21.

American pilot William Ponder, with Spa 163, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 2.

German pilot Richard Schneider, with Jasta 19, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 1. This is probably S/Lt Maurice André of Spa 86, listed as Missing.

German pilot Ltn Schultze (No first name given), with Jasta 51, shoots down a Sopwith Camel for victory number 1.
(Per Jasta War Chronology. Jasta Pilots has this on June 8.)

French pilot Del Vial, flying with Spa 152, shoots down a German two seater and an "Enemy Aircraft" for victories 5 and 6.

[Jimbuna]

9th July 1918

Eastern Front

Bolsheviks take Sizran and Bulgulma, and reach Stavropol (north-west of Samara).

Martial law at Moscow.

Southern Front

Successful Italian progress in Albania.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Announced that ships lost homeward bound to U.K. since 1 January 1918 rather more than 1 per cent.

Aviation

James McCudden, British flying ace with 57 victories, enough to make him the seventh-highest-scoring ace of World War I, is killed due to an accident when his aeroplane crashes soon after takeoff.


Political, etc.

Salzburg Conference opens re: economic relations of Central Powers.

Resignation of von Kuhlmann (German Foreign Secretary); succeeded by Admiral von Hintze.

Appointments of Mr. J. R. Clynes, M.P. as (British) Food Controller.

Ship Losses:

HM CMB-2 (Royal Navy) The Coastal Motor Boat was lost on this date.
Frederika (Netherlands) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) off the Maas Lightship ( Netherlands) by SM UC-70 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Fryken (Sweden) The coaster was sunk in the Humber Estuary[43] (53°27′N 0°29′E) by SM UB-107 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Silvia (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of Gibraltar (35°54′N 7°18′W) by SM U-91 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Tris Adelphi (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (35°47′N 25°19′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.