100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

18th October 1918

Western Front

British advance six miles east of Douai-Lille, and three miles east of Le Cateau.

Belgians approach Bruges after strong resistance.

Stiff fighting on Grand Pre-Vouziers line. Germans pushed back.

Eastern Front

British troops repel far superior number of Bolsheviks at Seletsko (160 miles up Dvina river from Archangel).

Allies push on to Soroka (south-west White Sea) from Murmansk.

Czecho-Slovaks pressed back by Bolsheviks in East Russia.

Southern Front

Bulgaria cleared of Germans who pillaged to the last.

Italians active on their mountain fronts.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British hold Turks at Fatha (30 miles north of Tekrit, Tigris).

Naval and Overseas Operations

Spanish zone in Morocco in complete anarchy: Raisuli and Abdul Malek and German influence supreme.

Political, etc.

President Wilson declines suggestions in Austro-Hungarian Note of 4 October.

Higher allowances to dependents of fighters granted.

Count Tisza admits defeat.

Count Burian resigns.

Czecho-Slovak Council in Paris declares independence.

Prince of Wales gives £3,000 to Red Cross.

Ship Losses:

Hunsdon (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea (54°19′N 5°27′W) by SM UB-94 ( Imperial German Navy) with the loss of a crew member.
RFA Industry (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) The cargo ship was sunk in the Irish Sea by SM UB-92 ( Imperial German Navy) with the loss of 21 of her crew.
Linz (Austria-Hungary) The passenger ship struck a mine and sank off Cape Rodoni, Albania. Around 600 people were killed in the sinking.
Njordur (Denmark Iceland) The trawler was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (57°02′N 10°58′W) by SM U-122 ( Imperial German Navy).
Oceana (United Kingdom) The Admiralty tug was run into and sunk in Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands by Stobo Castle ( United Kingdom).
SM U-34 (Imperial German Navy) The Type U 31 submarine departed on patrol. Subsequently sunk off Gibraltar on or before 9 November with the loss of all 38 crew.
Voltaire (French Navy) The Danton-class battleship was torpedoed and damaged in the Aegean Sea of Milos, Greece by SM UB-48 ( Imperial German Navy).

[Sailor Steve]

October 18, 1918


Admiral Reinhard Scheer orders all German U-boats to return to their bases.


Air War:

1230 Australian AFC pilot Frank Alberry, flying SE.5a D6995, shoots down a Fokker D.VII for victory number 4.

1415 Two French aces from Spa 90 share the destruction of a German observation balloon:
Marius Ambrogi, victory number 14.
Charles Mace, victory number 8.

1425 German ace Max Näther, with Jasta 62, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 22.

1430 Two French pilots from Spa 167 share a victory over a Fokker D.VII:
Claude Barny de Romanet, victory number 14.
S/Lt F. Dumas, victory number 3.

1530 German ace Hans Donhauser, with Jasta 17, shoots down a SPAD 2-seater for victory number 17.

1540 Hans Donhauser scores his second kill of the day, shooting down another SPAD for victory number 18.

1550 Two French pilots from Spa 94 share a victory over a German two-seater:
Pierre Marinovitch, victory number 18.
Adj Ondet (no first name given), victory number 3.

1625 German ace Georg von Hantelmann, in a Fokker D.VII, shoots down a DH.4 for victory number 22.

1630 German ace Josef Veltjens, in a Fokker D.VII, shoots down DH.4 for victory number 35.

1745 German ace Otto Könnecke, in a Fokker D.VII, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 32.

French ace Fernad Guyou, flying with Spa 37, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 11.

French ace Claud Haegelen, with Spa 100, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 21.

German ace Wilhelm Seitz, with Jasta 68, shoots down a "Scout" for victory number 14.

German 25-victory ace Ltn Oliver Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay is awarded the Pour le Merite (Blue Max), the youngest German pilot to recieve it at age 20. On this day he is severely wounded in combat, possibly by fire from another German fighter. He will be told of the award shortly before dying of his wounds on the 26th.

German 27-victory ace Fritz Otto Bernert, who went by his middle name Otto, dies of the Spanish Flu.

[Jimbuna]

19th October 1918

Western Front

British-American advance continued between the Oise and Le Cateau.

British advance east of Douai and Lille and take Marchienne.

Belgians occupy Zeebrugge and storm Bruges, their left on Dutch frontier; whole coast and west Flanders liberated.

French break Hunding Line between Sissonne and River Serre.

Eastern Front

Allied troops from Murmansk have cleared Karelia of enemy, and from Archangel have occupied Kadish (100 miles south of Archangel) (accounced).

Southern Front

Serbs occupy Zayechar (Austrian-Bulgarian-Serb frontier).

French reach Danube at Vidin (Bulgaria).

Naval and Overseas Operations

German submarines ordered to return to their bases (announced from Madrid).

Ship Losses:

Aida (Portugal) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Brest, Finistère, France by SM U-43 ( Imperial German Navy). Her crew survived.
Almerian (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by
U 73 (Carl Bünte) and sank in the Mediterranean Sea 13 nautical miles (24 km) off Licata, Sicily (37°11′N 13°39′E). Her crew survived.
HMS Plumpton (Royal Navy) The Racecourse-class minesweeper struck a mine and was damaged in the North Sea off Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium. She was beached but was declared a total loss.
SM UB-123 (Imperial German Navy) The Type UB III submarine struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with the loss of all 36 crew.

[Sailor Steve]

October 19, 1918


Air War:

1130 German ace Josef Jacobs, flying with Jasta 7, claims a Camel and a SPAD for victoryies 46 and 47.

[Jimbuna]

20th October 1918

Western Front

British cross the Selle river in face of heavy resistance.

British two miles from Tournai.

Flanders armies continue advance; British across whole of Lys river on their front.

Entire Belgian coast in hands of Allies.

Political, etc.

Denmark proposes to Germany a plebiscite (as to nationality) for Schleswig Holstein.

Fourth Liberty Loan in U.S.A. exceeds 1,200 million pounds.

Ship Losses:

Emily Millington (United Kingdom) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 13 nautical miles (24 km) north north east of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM UB-92 ( Imperial German Navy). Her crew survived.
HMS M21 (Royal Navy) The M15-class monitor struck a mine in the North Sea off Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium. She was taken in tow but sank in the English Channel off Dover, Kent.

[Sailor Steve]

October 20, 1919


Air War:

There was no aerial combat this day.

[Jimbuna]

21st October 1918

Western Front

British push on; stubborn resistance.

Belgians three miles from Ghent, across Derivation Canal to Eede (Dutch frontier).

French advance between Rivers Serre and Oise; stubborn fighting north of Verdun.

Sir Douglas Haig's despatch of 20 July, on March and April withdrawal, published.

Southern Front

Italians fighting on Asiago and Grappa fronts.

French capture convoy of lighters at Lom Palanka (Danube).

Political, etc.

German reply to U.S.A. Note of 14 October issued.

King George receives Inter-Parliamentary delegates.

German Governor-General of Belgium "pardons" Belgians and neutrals convicted by Court Martial.

Belgian Bill for German damage already nearly 400 million pounds.

Ship Losses:

USS Cero (United States Navy) The patrol vessel was destroyed by fire in Narragansett Bay. Her crew were rescued.
Saint Barchan (United Kingdom) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) off St. John's Point, County Down by SM UB-94 ( Imperial German Navy) with the loss of eight of her crew.
HMML 561 (Royal Navy) The motor launch was lost on this date.
Moscow (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled at Petrograd to prevent her capture by Bolshevik forces.
SM UB-89 (Imperial German Navy) The Type UB III submarine collided with SMS Frankfurt ( Imperial German Navy) at Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein (54°21′N 10°10′E) and sank with the loss of seven lives. She was raised on 30 October.

[Sailor Steve]

October 21, 1918


Waldemar Haumann, commanding UB-94, torpedoes British freighter Saint Barcham off Saint John's Point, Ireland. This is the last ship sunk by torpedo in the war. Several more will hit mines in the final weeks (and after), but the U-boats are all now headed home.


Air War:

1015 Three French pilots from Spa 90 share in the destruction of a German observation balloon:
Maurice Bizot, victory number 9.
S/Lt Bordes (no first name given), victory number 3.
Jean Pezon, victory number 8.

1615 German ace Georg von Hantelmann, in a Fokker D.VII, shoots down a SPAD XIII for victory number 23. Sgt Marcel Granger, Spa 159, is listed as Missing.

Four French pilots with Spa 49 share a victory over a German two-seater:
Maurice Arnoux, victory number 5.
Jean Bouyer, victory number 12.
Alexandre Brétillon, victory number 9.
Paul Hamot, victory number 5.

German ace Franz Büchner, with Jasta 13, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 39.

German ace Werner Preuss, with Jasta 66, shoots down SPAD XIII 15460 for victory number 21. Sgt Lucien Kremer, Spa 154, is listed as Missing.

[Jimbuna]

22nd October 1918

Western Front

British enter Valenciennes.

French and Czech-Slovaks push enemy back on the Serre river.

Fierce fighting by the Americans on both banks of Meuse, north of Verdun and in the Woevre.

Eastern Front

New Polish Cabinet formed under M. Swiezynski.

Southern Front

Lord Cavan's despatch, dated 14 September (10 March to 13 September), issued.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Italian ships shell S. Giovanni di Medua (Albania).

Political, etc.

Hindenburg's order "approving peace-steps" captured.

Prince Max announced programme of some reforms.

German government offers amnesty to political prisoners in order to counter growing revolutionary sentiment. Socialist Karl Liebknecht is released from prison.

[Sailor Steve]

October 22, 1918


Air War:

0900 Two French pilots with Spa 90 share the destruction of a German observation balloon:
Lt J. Bordes, victory number 4.
Charles Mace, victory number 10.

0905 Two French pilots from Jasta 90 share the destruction of a German observation ballooe:
S/Lt Deneausse (no first name given), victory number 3.
Charles Mace, victory number 11.

1620 American pilot Edward Curtis, in a SPAD XIII, shoots down a Fokker D.VII for victory 5.

1630 American ace Reed Chambers, in a SPAD XIII, shhots down a Fokker D.VII for victory number 6.

1632 Reed Chambers scores his second kill of the day, shootingwn another Fokker D.VII for victory number 7.

1700 German ace Georg von Hantelmann, flying a Fokker D.VII, shoots down SPAD XIII 7708 for victory number 24. 1st Lt R.J. Saunders, 94th Aero Sqdn USAS, is killed.

French ace Fernand Bonneton, with Spa 69, destroys a German observation balloon for victory number 9.

German ace Franz Büchner, with Jasta 13, shoots down a two-seater for victory number 40.

German ace Karl Plauth, with Jasta 51, shoots down a Bréguet 14 for victory number 16.

[Jimbuna]

23rd October 1918

Western Front

Big British attack between Le Cateau and Valenciennes carries line forward one to three miles after stiff resistance; Bruay taken and Scheldt reached.

Heavy fighting by French on Serre and Vouziers fronts.

King and Queen of Belgians fly to Bruges.

Eastern Front

Bolsheviks attack Allied position of River Dvina (south of Archangel) and are repulsed.

Southern Front

Croat troops seize Fiume, but are suppressed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks retire, pursued, 20 miles from Fatha (Tigris).

Naval and Overseas Operations

239,000 tons Allied shipping (including 151,000 British) lost in September (announced).

Political, etc.

Mr. Balfour on the Empire.

U.S.A. Note in reply to German one of 20 October.

Impudent German reply re: prisoners.

British House of Commons votes 274 to 25 to allow women to be eligible to become Members of Parliament.

Karl Liebknecht amnestied.

Ship Losses:

Aghios Gerasimos (Greece) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea south of Crete (34°00′N 25°31′E) by SM UC-74 ( Imperial German Navy).
HMS D1 (Royal Navy) The decommissioned D-class submarine was sunk as a target.

[Sailor Steve]

October 23, 1918


Air War:

0715 American RAF pilot Evander Shapard, flying an SE.5a, shoots down a DFW C.V for victory number 4.

1120 American pilot Everett Cook and observer William Badham, in a Salmson 2.A2, shoot down a Fokker D.VII and a Pfalz D.III. Victories 2 and 3 for both.

1210 Canadian RAF observer William Bottrill, riding in a DH.9 with Capt E.J. Gar.and as pilot, shoots down a Pfalz D.III for victory number 4.

1215 Two French pilots with Spa 167 share a victory over a German two-seater:
S/Lt Lechevalier (no first name given), victory number 1.
Bernard Barney de Romanet, victory number 16.

1255 German ace Ulrich Neckel, with Jasta 6, shoots down a Dorand AR.2 for victory number 27.

1255 German ace Friedrich Noltenius, flying a Fokker D.VII, dwstroys an American observation balloon for victory number 16. 1st Lt C.L. Furber and 2nd Lt J.W. Lane, 5th Balloon Sqdn USBS, both parachute safely.

1255 German ace Hans Donhauser, with Jasta 17, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 16. S/Lt M. Robert, Spa 164, lands safely.

1300 Nine RAF SE.5a pilots share a victory over a DFW C.V:
Lt C.H.E. Coles, nationality, serial number and victory number unknown.
Lt J. Daniel, nationality, serial number and victory number unknown.
James Gascoyne, England, s/n unknown, victory number 3.
Thmas Horry, England, s/n unknown, victory number 3.
Lt E. Madill, nationality, s/n and victory number all unknown.
William Reed, England, C1142, victory number 5.
James Robb, England, D376, victory number 7.
Lt E.S. Robins, Nationaity, s/n and victory number all unknown.
Evander Shapard, United States, s/n unknown, victory number 6.

1330 William Reed scores his second kill of the day, shooting down a DFW C.V for victory number 6.

1349 German ace Max Näther, with Jasta 62, destroys an American observation balloon for victory number 23.

1510 English RAF ace pilot Horace Lale and ace observer Clement Boothroyd, flying Bristol F.2b E2407, shoot down a Fokker D.VII. Victory number 20 for Lale; number 9 for Boothroyd.

1215 Horace Lale and Clement Boothroyd score their second victory of the day, shooting down another Fokker D.VII. Number 21 for Lale; number 10 for Boothroyd.

1520 English RAF ace Thomas Traill, in Bristol F.2b E2403 with an unnamed observer, ahoots down a Fokker D.VII for victory number 7. Traill's listing has Leslie Burbidge as his gunner for this night, but Brubidge's listing says his last victory was September 29.

1605 Friedrich Noltenius socres his second kill of the day, shooting down a SPAD XIII for victory number 17. Sgt Edwin B. Fairchild, Spa 159, is wounded.

1625 French ace Bernard Barny de Rmanet, with Spa 167, shoots down a Fokker D.VII for victory number 16.

1630 two American SPAD XIII pilots from the 95th Aero Sqdn share a victory over a Fokker D.VII:
Edward Curtis, victory number 6.
Lancing Holden, victory number 2.

1700 Friedrich Noltenius gains his third victory of the day, dowing an American observation balloon for number 18. Major Wallace (no first name given) and 1st Lt R.M. Batten, 2nd Balloon Corp, both parachute safely.

1705 Lancing Holden scores his second kill of the day, destroying a German observation balloon for victory number 3.

1710 Canadian RAF ace pilot Kenneth Conn, in Bristol F.2b E2216 with 2nd Lt V.A. Vavasour as observer, shoots down a Fokkere D.VII for victory number 17.

1710 English RAF ace pilot Alec Williamson and observer Walter Greant, in Bristol F.2b E2481, claim two Fokker D.VIIs. Victories 8 and 9 for Williamson; 5 and 6 for Grant.

1800 German ace Robert von Greim, flying with Jqsta 34, claims two SE.5as for victories 26 and 27.

French ace Claude Haegelen, with Spa 100, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 22.

German ace Karl Plauth, with Jasta 51, shoots down a DH.9 for victory number 17.

German naval ace Gotthard Sachsenberg, in an Albatros D.V, claims a DH.9 and two Sopwith Camels for victories 26, 27 and 28.

German naval ace Alexandre Zenses, in an Albatros D.V, claims three Sopwith Camels for victories 16, 17 and 18.
(One of these five Camels is English 8-victory ace Thomas Nash, who is killed.)

[Jimbuna]

24th October 1918

Western Front

British attack resumed; advance of three miles after heavy fighting. 9,000 prisoners and 150 guns taken in last two days. German counter-attack on Derivation Canal repulsed by Belgians.

Slight French advance on southern fronts.

Southern Front

Serbs force enemy back in disorder along Morava.

Third Battle of the Piave begins.

7th British Division seizes part of Grave di Papadopoli Island (River Piave) (night of 23-24 October).

Stiff successful fighting in Monte Grappa region; 2,800 prisoners.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British cavalry within four miles of Kirkuk (100 miles south-east of Mosul, Tigris river).

British successfully attack Turks at Fatha.

Naval

The German Admiralty gives the order for a final, all-out attack against the Royal Navy to take place on October 30-31, despite ongoing negotiations with the Allies for an armistice and increasing dissent among German sailors.

Political, etc.

Growing desire in Germany for Kaiser to adbicate.

National Council in Croatia meets.

[Sailor Steve]

October 24, 1914


Noting that 10,000 American troops are reaching Europe every day, 300,000 every month The left-wing Austrian newspaper Arbeiter Zeitung asks "Do the people wish to contue war under such circumstances, to sacrifice the lives of many hundred thousand men, thereby destroying the remainder of the nations's manhood and imperilling their future?"

At the same time many thousands of these "well fed, well equipped" Americans have died from the Spanish influenza epidemic devestating Europe, and as many as 100,000 are hiding from their own leaders in dugouts. The Commander of the 3rd Division has ordered the shelling of said dugouts if the men refuse to come out.


Air War:

1400 French ace Joseph de Sevin, flying with Spa 26, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 12

1500 Two French pilots from Spa 167 share a victory over a German two-seater:
Bernard Barny de Romaanet, victory number 17.
Joseph-Henri Guiguet, victory number 5.

German ace Julius Buckler, with Jasta 17, shoots down a Bréguet 14 for victory number 35.

[Jimbuna]

25th October 1918

Western Front

Further British advance between Le Quesnoy and Maing.

End of the Battle of the Selle.

Successful French attacks between Rivers Serre and Oise, and between Rethel and Sissonne.

Stiff American fighting north of Verdun.

French and British advance to 10 miles east of Courtrai.

Southern Front

Serbs reach Kraguyevats and Chrupriya (60 miles south of Danube).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British columns turn Turkish position at mouth of Lower Zab river (Tigris).

Cavalry occupy Kirkuk.

Naval

Canadian passenger liner SS Princess Sophia runs aground on a reef during a storm and sinks, resulting in the deaths of all 343 passengers and crew. It is the worst maritime disaster in the history of British Columbia.