100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

9th August 1917

Western Front

Success British raids in Lens district.

Eastern Front

Mackensen presses his offensive, threatening communications of Russo-Romanian armies; after three days fighting Russo-Romanians expelled.

Naval

In the past six months, more than 642 British ships have been sunk, with total tonnage equaling 3 million tons.

Political, etc.

Third reading of Compulsory Military Service Bill for Canada passed.

Count Esterhazy, Hungarian Prime Minister, resigns.

Ship Losses:

Agne (Sweden) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea[62] at (60°46′N 3°32′E) by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Alfonso (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (37°25′N 12°05′E) by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Blagdon (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the North Sea 75 nautical miles (139 km) east by south of Muckle Flugga, Shetland Islands by SM U-78 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of twelve of her crew. She was abandoned by the survivors and was later sunk by SM U-100 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Export (Russia) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) west of Sognefjord, Norway by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Flora (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Lyons by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Industria (Spain) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Gulf of Lyons by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Jack (United Kingdom) The tug was wrecked on the Bondicarr Rocks, in the North Sea off Amble, Northumberland.
Jeanne (France) The cargo ship collided with a Norwegian merchant vessel and sank. Her crew were rescued.
HMS Recruit (Royal Navy) The R-class destroyer struck a mine and sank in the North Sea with some loss of life. Another source indicates the ship was sunk by a torpedo from German submarine UB16
S. Gerlano (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea (37°25′N 12°05′E) by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 9, 1917

US Army 1st Aero Squadron arrives at Jersey City, New Jersey.

Air War:
0700 English RFC pilot Spencer Horn, flying SE.5a A8930, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 4.

0700 Irish RFC ace William Molesworth, in SE.5a A8932, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 6.

0930 English RFC [pilot John Barlow, in Nieuport 17 B1670, shoots down a German observation balloon for victory number 5.

0945 Canadian RFC pilot William Leeming Harrison, in Nieuport 23 A6774, shoots down a German observation balloon for victory number 1.

1550 Welsh RNAS pilot Howard John Thomas Saint, in Sopwith Triplane N5380, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

[Jimbuna]

10th August 1917

Western Front

British advance on two-mile front east of Ypres, capture remainder of Westhoek, and occupy Glencorse Wood.

French make progress east and north of Bixschoote.

Nancy bombed; French bomb Frankfurt.

Eastern Front

Mackensen beyond Susitsa river, strikes north at Romanians, always threatening rear of Russo-Romanian armies; enemy also advancing in northern Moldavia.

Political, etc.

Labour Party Conference decides, by large majority, to send delegates to Stockholm Conference.

Since the start of the war, the neutral Scandinavian nations have lost 933 ships and around 500 men due to torpedoes or mines.

Canada limits the use of beef, bacon, and white bread in public eating places and prohibits use of wheat in distillation of alcohol.

Ship Losses:

Capella I (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 130 nautical miles (240 km) west of Galway, United Kingdom by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lealta (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Ionian Sea (35°45′N 16°05′E) by SM U-31 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
Margherita (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Orion I (Norway) The auxiliary sailing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) off Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom (57°42′N 0°45′W) by SM U-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Solglimt (Norway) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 61°44′N 3°05′W) by SM U-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tito Speri (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea off Cape Palinuro, Campania (40°01′N 15°11′E) by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached at Pisciotto but was declared a constructive total loss.
War Patrol (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 69 (Erwin Waßner) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean 1 nautical mile (1.9 km) west of Penmarc'h, Finistère, France (47°48′N 4°25′W) with the loss of 14 of her 26 crew. Survivors were rescued by Taureau ( French Navy).

[Sailor Steve]

August 10, 1917

United States:
Ground is broken for the beginning of construction of the US Naval Aircraft Factory.

Air War:
1010 German ace Max von Müller, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down SPAD VII B3523 for victory number 20. 2nd Lt Douglas P. Collis is taken prisoner.

1525 German pilot Joachim von Busse, in Albatros D.III 2052/16, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 1.

1540 German pilot Kurt Wissemann, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Nieuport for victory number 3.

1625 German pilot Hermann Brettel, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a SPAD XIII for victory number 2. Mdl Etienne Camus is listed as Missing.

1625 German ace Werner Voss, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a SPAD XIII for victory number 35. Cpte Herni Rousseau is listed as Missing.

2030 Max von Müller scores his second kill of the day, shooting down DH.4 A7529 for number 21. 2nd Lt Arthur Norman Barlow crash-lands behind German lines and is taken prisoner. Observer Lt Cecil dunbar Hutchinson is severely wounded and dies in a German hospital two days later.

[Jimbuna]

11th August 1917

Western Front

Heavy German counter-attack east of Ypres repulsed.

British line pressed back in Glencorse Wood.

Eastern Front

Mackensen crosses River Sereth at one point; claims 7,000 prisoners, Romanians stubbornly resisting, retire at Ocna.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Liner "City of Athens" mined off Cape Town, 19 lost.

Political, etc.

U.S. Government refuses to issue passports for Stockholm Conference.

Mr. Henderson resigns position as member of War Cabinet.

Ship Losses:

City of Athens (United Kingdom) The passenger ship struck a mine and sank off Cape Town, South Africa with the loss of 19 of the 213 people on board.
Gloriosa (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was scuttled in the Irish Sea 12 nautical miles (22 km) north by east of Caldey Island, Pembrokeshire by SM UC-51 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Holar (Denmark) The coaster was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off Lerwick, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom by SM UC-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
HMT Jay (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off Southwold, Suffolk (55°19′N 1°49′E) by SM UB-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of nine of her crew.
Sonnie (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north west of the Le Four Lighthouse, Ouessant, Finistère, France (48°34′N 4°55′W) by SM UC-77 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of eleven of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

August 11, 1917

Irish 9-kill RNAS ace Francis Dominic Casey is killed in a flight-testing accident.

Air War:

0910 German ace Adolf von Tutscheck, flying an Albatros D.V, shoots down Bristol F.2b A7169 for victory number 22. Cpt Percy Wilmot Chanbers and Sgt Walter Richman are both wounded and taken prisover. Chambers later dies from his wounds.

1100 Transylvania-born Austro-Hungarian pilot Rudolf Weber, in an unnamed two-seater with an unnamed observer, shoots down two Nieuport fighters for victories 2 and 3.

1415 German ace Julius Buckler, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down RE.8 A4645 for victory number 13. Lts D.B. Davies and R.H. Sawlor are both killed.

1830 Adolf von Tutscheck scores his second kill of the day, ahooting down Bristol F.2b A7179 for number 23. Lts Arthur Edward Hunter Ward and Kenneth Woodful Holmes are both killed.

1920 German ace Julius Schmidt, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 10.

1930 English RNAS ace Charles Booker, flying Sopwith Triplane N5482, and South African pilot William Jordan, in Sopwith Camel N6372, share a victory over an Albatros D.V. Victory number 21 for Booker and number 4 for Jordan. German 23-kill ace Adolf von Tutscheck is seriously wounded. We will spend four months recovering, then two more at a desk job, finally returning to combat in February 1918.

2010 German pilot Theodor Quandt, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down RE.8 A3863 for victory number 3. 2nd Lts C.E. Holaway and P.G. Harris are both killed.



Bristol Channel:
Hans Galster, commanding UC-51, scuttles British fishing smack Gloriosa, 23 tons, off Caldy Island, Wales. His score is now 8 vessels and 11,406 tons.



English Channel:
Reinhard von Rabenau, in UC-77, sinks British freighter SS Sonnie, 2,642 tons, bound from Bilbao for Middlesbrough with a load of iron ore, off Le Four lighthouse, Ushant. His score is now 22 ships and 23,084 tons.



North Sea:
Karl Stötter, in UB-35, torpedoes HM Trawler Jay, 144 tons, off Southwold. This is Stötter's sixth attack, but first success. Four prizes, all released, and one ship damaged came before.

Kurt Siewart, in UC-31, torpedoes Danish freighter SS Holar, 548 tons, en route from Sunderland to Randers with a load of coal. This his third attack, but first success, the previous two targes only being damaged.

[Jimbuna]

12th August 1917

Western Front

Stormy weather in Ypres prevents large scale operations, but heavy artillery fire continues to be exchanged.

Eastern Front

Mountain front of Moldavia, Russo-Romanians take offensive.

Aviation

Aeroplane raid on Southend and Margate; 32 killed, 46 injured: one raider destroyed.

Two French bombers bomb Frankfurt-on-the-Main in retaliation for German bombings of Nancy and north of Paris.

Naval

German submarine U-44 is sunk with loss of all crew after it was rammed by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Oracle.

Political, etc.

Arthur Henderson, British Labour Party Leader, resigns from the War Cabinet after it rejects his proposal for a peace conference.

Ex-Tsar removed to Tobolsk.

Ship Losses:

Ansedonia (Italy) The barquentine was scuttled in the Tyrrhenian Sea (39°24′N 15°35′E) by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ardita Carrara (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea south of Naples by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Bestum (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM U-93 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Bogatyr (Denmark) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (57°04′N 1°04′W) by SM UC-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Cumberland (United Kingdom) The passenger ship foundered in the Bass Strait.
HMT Dewey (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.
Eleazar (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the Irish Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) south west by west of St. Ann's Head, Pembrokeshire by SM UC-51 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Falkland (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) south by east of Mine Head, Cornwall by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 10 crew.
Leitenant Burakov (Imperial Russian Navy) The former Leitenant Burakov-class destroyer), operating as a despatch vessel, struck a mine laid by UC 78 (Hans Kukat) and sank in the Baltic Sea off the Åland Islands, Sweden.
Lynorta (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 102 nautical miles (189 km) north west by north of Tory Island, County Donegal (56°25′N 10°30′W) by SM U-94 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of here crew.
Marie Alfred (France) The brigantine was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north of Ouessant, Finistère by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Pauline Louisa (France) The schooner was shelled and sunk in the English Channel north east of Ouessant (48°41′N 4°39′W) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Roanoake (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) west of the Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides (58°39′N 9°08′W) by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
SM U-44 (Kaiserliche Marine) The Type U 43 submarine was rammed and sunk in the North Sea south of Norway (58°50′N 4°20′E) by HMS Oracle ( Royal Navy) with the loss of all 44 crew.
Ursus Minor (Norway) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) west of Ireland (55°29′N 15°33′W) by SM U-84 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

August 12, 1917

Air War:
0745 Canadian RNAS pilot George Leonard Trapp, flying Sopwith Triplane N5354, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

0845 English RFC pilot James Dennis Payne, in Nieuport 23 A6784, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

0850 German pilot Walter Hoffmann, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a "Rumpf DD" (Biplane fighter) for victory number 1.

0900 German ace Heinrich Kroll, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith Triplane for victory number 7.

0900 German pilot Eberhard Stapenhorst, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith Triplane for victory number 1.

1000 Transylvania-born Austro-Hungarian pilot Rudolf Weber, flying a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I with an unnamed observer (or possibly no observer) shoots down an Italian two-seater for victory number 4.

[Jimbuna]

13th August 1917

Eastern Front

Russo-Romanian offensive continues favourable to Allies (Ocna region).

Political, etc.

Martial law in Spain.

Mr. Barnes appointed to War Cabinet.

Mr. Bonar Law announces that no passports for Stockholm Conference will be issued.

Japanese mission arrives in the U.S. to coordinate issues relating to the war against Germany.

Ship Losses:

Akassa (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 8 nautical miles (15 km) south east of Galley Head, County Cork (51°23′N 8°47′W) by SM UC-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven lives.
Arcangelo Michele (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea south of Naples by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMS Bergamot (Royal Navy) The Anchusa-class sloop, operating as a Q-ship, was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) off Killybegs, County Donegal (55°13′N 10°17′W) by SM U-84 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 14 of her 93 crew.
Emilie Galline (France) The barque was sunk in the English Channel 25 nautical miles (46 km) south south west of Start Point, Devon, United Kingdom (49°58′N 4°03′W) by SM UC-79 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Il Nuovo Leonardo (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea south of Naples by SM UC-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Maston (United Kingdom) The collier was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) east north east of Cape Spartivento, Calabria, Italy (38°25′N 16°43′E) by SM U-28 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of two of her crew.
Turakina (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km) west south west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (48°30′N 8°34′W) by SM U-86 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

August 13, 1917

US Army 1st Aero Squadron departs Jersey City, New Jersey for Liverpool aboard Red Star Liner SS Lapland.



Air War:

0815 English RFC pilot Francis McDougall Charlewood Turner, flying DH.4 B3962 with 2nd Lt R. Brett as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

0820 Turner and Brett bring down a second Albatros D.V for victory number 2.

0935 German pilot Heinrich Arntzen, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Caudron G.4 for victory number 5. Sgt Pierre Lefevre and S/Lt Jacques Outhenin-Chalandre are both listed as Missing.

1045 German pilot Wilhelm Reinhard, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith 1½ Strutter for victory number 2.

1155 German pilot Albert Haussmann, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a French observation balloon for victory number 5.

1157 Albert Haussmann scores his second victory of the day, shooting down a Nieuport fighter for number 6.

1945 English RFC pilot Alwyne Lloyd, Flying DH.5 A9211, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 3.

German pilot Karl Albert Mendel, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a French observation balloon for victory number 1.



British freighter SS Camito, 6,611 tons, carrying a general cargo from Montreal to Avonmouth, hits a mine laid by Otto Rohrbeck in U-79. The damaged ship manages to make port safely. Location is given as 3 miles north of Rinrowroa Point, but no source seems to have this location listed.



North Atlantic Ocean, west of Ireland:
Walter Roehr, commanding U-84, Torpedoes British sloop HMS Bergamot, 1,290 tons. His score is now 25 ships and 70,511 tons.



Ireland:
Alfred Arnold, in UC-33, sinks British passenger ship SS Akassa, 3,910 tons, en route from Liverpool to West Africa with passengers and a general cargo. His score is now 5 ships and 5,731 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Alfred Götze, in U-86, sinks British passenger ship SS Turakina, 9,920 tons, travelling in ballast from London to New York; 120 miles west-southwest of Bishop Rock. His score is now 3 ships and 13,976 tons.



English Channel:
Erich Haecker, in UC-79, scuttles French barque Emilie Galline, 1,944 tons, en route from Taltal, Chile to Le Havre with a load of nitrates. His score is now 12 ships and 8,231 tons.
This is Haecker's last sinking. He will serve with distinction throughout this war and the next, retiring with the rank of Konteradmiral on January 1, 1945 and living until 1958.



Tyrrhennian Sea:
Kurt Albrecht, in UC-53, sinks two Italian sailing craft south of Naples.
Arcangelo Michele, 44 tons.
Il Nuovo Leonardo, 34 tons.
Albrecht's score is now 18 vessels and 17,604 tons.



Ionian Sea:
Zdenko Hudecek, in Austrian U-28, sinks British freighter SS Maston, 3,881 tons, carrying a load of coal frm Cardiff to Taranto, 35 miles east-northeast of Cape Sparviento, Calabria. His score is now 4 ships and 17,575 tons.

[Jimbuna]

14th August 1917

Aviation

Manfred von Richthofen (Red Baron) at a hospital with a bandage on his head. The prop is from a downed British plane.


Political, etc.

Official British casualties during the first two weeks of August total 21,722 men killed, wounded, or missing.

China declares War on Austria and Germany.

Viscount Ishii, Japanese Ambassador, declares that U.S. and Japan will “march together, work together and fight together as comrades.”

Papal Note with proposals for peace sent to belligerent Governments published.

Former Tsar Nicholas II and his family is transported by the Russian government from their palace at Tsarskoye Selo to Tobolsk in the Urals.

Spanish government uses artillery in Barcelona and Sabadell to suppress revolutionaries connected to the railway strike.

Ship Losses:

Asti (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 220 nautical miles (410 km) west if the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom (48°15′N 10°15′W) by SM U-93 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Costanza (Italy) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 63 (Karsten von Heydebreck) and sank in the North Sea 3.5 nautical miles (6.5 km) south east by east of the Inner Dowsing Lightship ( United Kingdom) by SM UC-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Jane S. (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel struck a mine laid by UC 42 (Hans Albrecht Müller) and sank in the North Sea 11 nautical miles (20 km) south east of St Abb's Head, Berwickshire.
Julita (Spain) The barque was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) off Alexandria, Egypt by SM UC-22 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Eugenia (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) north of Cape Serrat, Tunisia (37°12′N 10°20′E) by SM UC-67 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Luna (Norway) The coaster was damaged in the North Sea 16 to 18 nautical miles (30 to 33 km) north of the Humber Lightship by SM UC-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached at Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom but was later refloated.
Majorka (Norway) The full-rigged ship struck a mine laid by U 71 (Walter Gude) and sank in the North Sea north of Scotland (58°34′N 5°14′W). Her crew survived.
N. Verbeckmoens (Netherlands) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Trevose Head, Cornwall, United Kingdom (50°47′N 4°45′W) by SM UC-51 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four of her crew.
HMS Prize (Royal Navy) The Q-ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of Ireland by SM UB-48 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all 27 crew.
Thames (United Kingdom) The coaster was shelled and sunk in the North Sea (53°42′N 0°24′E) by SM UC-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all ten crew.
Tuddal (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 150 nautical miles (280 km) south west of Ouessant, Finistère, France (46°45′N 7°00′W) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Umberto I (Regia Marina) The armed merchant cruiser was torpedoed and sunk in the Ligurian Sea off Gallinara (44°04′N 8°15′E) by SM UC-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 26 of her crew.
Wisbech (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 12 nautical miles (22 km) off Trevose Head by SM UC-51 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two of her crew.

[Sailor Steve]

August 14, 1917

Air War:

0840 Canadian RNAS pilot Stanley Wallace Rosevear, flying Sopwith Triplane N6299, shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 1.

0850 German pilot Wilhelm Seitz, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 3.

1015 German pilot Erich Löwenhardt, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 2.

1040 German pilot Wilhelm Reinhard, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an RE.8 for victory number 3.

1045 German pilot Ernst Wiegand, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down an unidentified Sopwith for victory number 2.

1050 Wilhelm Reinhard scores his second victory of the day, shooting down SPAD VII 1429 for number 4. American pilot Cpl Oliver Moulton Chadwich, flying for the French Air Service, is killed.

1250 South African RFC pilot Robert Hall, flying Nieuport A6733 (exact model unknown), shoots down an Albatros D.V for victory number 5. This is Hall's last victory. He will be reassigned to Home Defense until February 1918. He will leave the RAF and go home to South Africa in 1920. After that his whereabouts are unknown, including the date of his death.

1615 Welsh RNAS pilot Howard Saint, in Sopwith Triplane N5380, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1637 German pilot Ludwig Luer, in an Albatros D.III, destroys an observation balloon for victory number 1.

1730-1830 Scottish RFC ace Gerald Maxwell, in SE.5a B502 and South African RFC pilot Robert Hugh Sloley, in SE.5 A4868, share the downing of a German two-seater. Victory number 9 for Maxwell, number 1 for Sloley.

1840 German pilot Otto Fitzner, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith Camel B3280 for victory number 1. Sub-Lt M.N. Baron is killed.

1930 German ace Hans von Adam, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 12.

1930 German ace Eduard von Dostler, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an SE.5a for victory number 24. Their victims are 2nd Lt D.A. Page, B509, wounded and captured, later died from his wounds; and Lt J.G. Young, A8943, taken prisoner. It is unclear which pilot shot down which enemy.

2025 German ace Ernst Udet, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a DH.4 for victory number 7.

[Jimbuna]

15th August 1917

Western Front

British attack on wide front north-west of Lens to Bois Hugo, north-east of Loos, carry German first lines and penetrate enemy positions to depth of one mile. Hill 70 taken by assault, also villages of Cite Ste. Elizabeth, Ste. Emile and St. Laurent, Bois Rase and Bois Hugo. Five German counter-attacks repulsed.

Eastern Front

Romanian thrust in Ocna region carried no further.

Romanian 2nd Army and Russian 4th Army retreating south toward the Sereth; enemy take Soveia, renew offensive in Focsani region.

Political, etc.

American troops pass through London on their way to the front; Stars and Stripes and Union Jack flown side by side from House of Lords.

Shipment of several million eggs to Germany is stopped by the Dutch govt when Germany offers to pay for them with paper money, not gold.

City of Dijon, France considers resolutions to compel children over the age of 12 to work and to send prisoners to the front.

British police and soldiers raid premises of the Irish National Volunteers in Dublin, taking 100 rifles and 1300 rounds.

Ship Losses:

Albertha (Denmark) The three-masted schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean north west of the Hebrides, United Kingdom (57°00′N 9°54′W) by SM U-62 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Alice (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea off the mouth of the Humber (53°38′N 0°55′E) by SM UC-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all five crew.
Bandai Maru (Japan) The cargo ship was shelled in the Mediterranean Sea north east of Cape Bon, Tunisia (37°20′N 11°32′E) by SM U-33 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was consequently scuttled.
Brodstone (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 95 nautical miles (176 km) west of Ouessant, Finistère, France (47°50′N 7°20′W) by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five of her crew.
HMT Ethel & Millie (Royal Navy) The fishing smack, operating as a Q-ship under the name Boy Alfred was scuttled in the North Sea off the mouth of the Humber by SM UC-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of all seven crew.
HMT G & E (Royal Navy) The fishing smack, operating as a Q-ship under the name Nelson was shelled and sunk in the North Sea off the mouth of the Humber by SM UC-63 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Hylas (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) east of the Butt of Lewis (58°39′N 5°49′W) by SM U-80 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Nelson (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was sunk by UC-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Phoebe (France) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 21 (Werner von Zerboni di Sposetti) and sank in the Bay of Biscay south by west of Penmarc'h, Finistère (47°48′N 4°25′W). Her crew were rescued by Tauron ( French Navy).

[Sailor Steve]

August 15, 1917

Air War:

0920 German pilot Otto Sowa, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith 1½ Strutter for victory number 2.

1025 German ace Ernst Udet, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down a Sopwith 1½ Strutter for victory number 8.

1855 German ace Heinrich Kroll, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down an FE.2d for victory number 8.

1910 German ace Werner Voss, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down FE.2b A5162 for victory number 36. 2nd Lt Charles Hughie Cameron crashes unharmed on his own side. Pvt Stanley Edward Pilbrow is killed.

2045 German ace Hans Bethge, in an Albatros D.V, shoots down Nieuport 23 B1662 for victory number 11. Cpt W.G. Pender is killed.



North of Ireland:
Ernst Hashagen, commanding U-72, uses his deck gun to sink Danish sailing vessel Albertha, 170 tons, bound from Liverpool for Copenhagen with a load of potash. His score is now 38 vessels and 59,680 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Hans Howaldt, in UB-40, sinks British freighter SS Brodstone, en route from Cardiff to Zarate with a load of coal; 95 miles west of Ushant. His score is now 43 ships and 67,793 tons.



Scotland:
Gustav Amberger begins his U-boat career in U-80, sinking British freighter SS Hylas, 4,240 tons, carrying a load of flax fro Ackhangelsk to Belfast.



Mediterranean Sea:
Gustav Seiß, in U-33, shells Japanese freighter Bandai Maru, 3,227 tons, travelling from Naples to Sfax with an unlisted cargo; off Cap Bon, Tunisia. His score is now 42 ships and 157,567 tons.

[Jimbuna]

16th August 1917

Western Front

Allies attack on mine-mile front north of Ypres-Menin road, crossing Steenbeek River, and capturing all objectives. British carry Langemarck, and establish positions 0.5 mile beyond; on high ground north of Menin Road Germans press back British from ground won earlier in the day.

French advance on Craonne ridge.

Eastern Front

Russo-Romanian army still retreating before Mackensen's offensive up Sereth valley. Baltareta bridgehead lost.

In Ocna region enemy take offensive, also in Susitsa valley.

Romanians hold their ground.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British and German destroyers in action in Bight of Heligoland.

Ship Losses:

SMS A13 (Kaiserliche Marine) The A1-class torpedo boat was bombed and sunk at Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium by a British Handley Page O/100 aircraft.
Athenia (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 7 nautical miles (13 km) north of Inishtrahull Island, County Donegal (55°33′N 7°23′W) by SM U-53 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 15 lives.
HMS Bradford City (Royal Navy) The Q-ship was sunk in the Strait of Messina (38°10′N 15°36′E) by SM U-28 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
Caroline Kock (Denmark) The three-masted schooner was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Hebrides, United Kingdom by SM U-80 ( Kaiserliche Marine with the loss of a crew member.
Delphic (United Kingdom) The ocean liner was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 135 nautical miles (250 km) south west by west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly (48°30′N 9°10′W) by SM UC-72 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five lives.
Eastgate (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and damaged in the Atlantic Ocean 120 nautical miles (220 km) south west by west of the Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly by SM UB-40 ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was beached by was later refloated.
Manchester Engineer (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km) south east of Flamborough Head, Yorkshire by SM UC-16 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Palatine (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) west north west of Canna, Inner Hebrides by SM U-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Svanholm (Denmark) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by SM U-94 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.