100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

April 6, 1917

Air War:
As the United States enters the war, the U.S. Marine Corps aviation branch has a total of 7 officers and 43 enlisted men.

While in combat with 57 Squadron RFC, Jasta 5 leader Hans Berr, in Albatros D.III 2256/17 and Paul Hoppe, in Albatros D.III 2241/16, collide, killing them both.

0730 German ace Wilhelm Frankl, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down an FE.2b for victory number 16.

0800 Four FE.2bs share a victory over an Albatros D.III.
John Aspinall (England - number 3) and Medley Parlee (Canada - 2)
Carleton Clement (Canada - 3) and Llewelyn Chrichton Davies (Wales - 1)
Lt J.F. Day and Lt J.K. Campbell (?)
Cpt Gladstone and AM2 H. Friend (?)

0815 German pilot Joachim von Bertrab, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Martinsyde G.100 7465 for victory number 1. 2nd Lt J.S. Proud is killed.

0815 German ace Heinrich Gontermann, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d A21 for victory number 7. 2nd Lt D.C. Birch and Lt J.K. Bousfield are taken prisoner.

0820 German ace Edmund Nathanael, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d A6388 for victory number 8. 2nd Lt H.D. Hamilton and Pve E. Snelling are both wounded and captured.

0825 German pilot Otto Splitgerber, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d 7714 for victory number 3. Lt A.R.M. Tickards and AM2 E.W. Barns are both taken prisoner.

0830 Joachim von Bertrab scores his second kill of the day, shooting down Martinsyde G.100 7478 for victory number 2. Lt J.H.B. Wedderspoon is killed.

0830 German pilot Paul von Osterroht, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d 1959 for victory number 3. Lt T.F. Burrill and AM2 F. Smith are both taken prisoner.

0830 German pilot Adolf von Tutschek, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2b A22 for victory number 3. Lt Raymond Terrance Brymer Schreiber and 2nd Lt Martin Lewis are both taken prisoner.

0850 Wilhelm Frankl gains his second victory of the day, shooting down another FE.2b for number 17.

0855 Wilhelm Frankl scores his third victory of the day, shooting down FE.2b 3819 for number 18 overall.

0930 German ace Werner Voss, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2c A3157 for victory number 23. 2nd Lts Albert Higgs Vinson and Everard Leslie Champion Gwilt land safely.

0955 Wilhelm Frankl scores his fourth victory of the day, shooting down a BE.2e for munber 19.

1000 Irish observer Giles Blennerhasset, riding in FE.2b with a 2nd Lt Reid as pilot, shoots down an Albatros D.II for victory number 4. A second FE.2b, 4896, crewed by 2nd Lt C. Parkinson and 2nd Lt Power is also in on the kill.

1015 German ace Otto Bernert, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down RE.8 A3206 for victory number 14. Lt C.F. Bailey is killed; AM1 V.M. Barrie is listed as Missing.

1015 German ace Kurt Wolff, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down RE.8 A3421 for victory number 6. Lt Arthur Clayton Pepper is Wounded; Lt Willaim Leonard Day is killed.

1020 Four Canadian RNAS pilots score their first victories:
Frederick Carr Armstrong, in Sopwith Pup N6178, shoots down a Halberstadt D.II.
Lloyd Saamuel Breadner, in Pup N5199, Halberstadt D.II.
Alfred Williams Carter, Pup N6160, Halberstadt D.II.
Joseph Stewart Temple Fail, Pup N6158, Albatros D.II.

1020 German ace Karl Schäfer, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a BE.2d for victory number 10.

1030 English pilot Geoffrey Hornblower Cock and observer John Thompson Guy Murison, in Sopwith 1½ Strutter A1075, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 1 for both. Cock and Murison are credited with a second Albatros at the same time, so they each have 2 kills. Interestingly, The Aerodrome website lists Murison as Cock's observer for number 2, but their list for Murison himself doesn't show it.

1030 English pilot Alexander Roulstone, in FE.2b 7686 with 2nd Lt E.G. Green as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1030 German ace Walter Göttsch, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d A6358 for victory number 7. 2nd Lt R. Smith and Lt R. Hume are both killed.

1037 Karl Schäfer shoots down a second BE.2c, number 6923, for victory 11. Lt O.R. Knight and 2nd Lt U.H. Seguin are both killed.

1045 English RFC observer Leonard Emsden, riding in FE.2b 4847 with 2nd Lt B. King as pilot, shootds down a Halberstadt fighter for victory number 4.

1048 Joachim von Bertrab scores his third victory of the day, shooting down Sopwith 1½ Strutter A2381. 2nd Lt C. St George Campbell and Cpt D.W. Edwards are both killed.

1048 German pilot Hans Bethge,Flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith 1½ Strutter 7806 for victory number 5. 2nd Lt J.E. blake and Cpt W.S. Brayshay are both killed.

1050 Joachim von Bertrab gains victory number 4 with the downing of Sopwith 1½ Strutter A1093. 2nd Lt J.A. Marshall is killed; 2nd Lt F.G. Truscott is wounded and dies later.

1150 New Zealand RNAS pilot Thomas Grey Culling, in Sopwith Triplane N5444, shoots down a two-seater for victory number 1.

1215 Paul von Osterroht scores his second kill of the day, shoots down Sopwith Triplane N5447 for victory number 4. 2nd Lt N.D.M. Hewitt is taken prisoner.

1315 German ace Rudolf Berthold, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Caudron R.4 1559 for victory number 10. SLt Pierre Desbordes, Lt Jacques Borgoltz and Sldt Alexandre Lebleu are all listed as Missing.

German ace Hartmuth Baldamus, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD VII for victory number 16.

French pilot Pierre Leroy de Boiseaumarie, in a Nieuport, shoots down a German observation balloon for victory number 1.

French ace Gustave Douchy, in a Nieuport, destroys a German observation balloon for victory number 6.

Australian RFC pilot Frederick Parkinson Holliday and English observer Anthony Herbert William Wall, in a Bristol F.2a, shoot down an Albatros D.III for their first victory.

English RFC pilot William Thomas Price and South African observer Maurice Arthur Benjamin, also score their first victory in an F2.a, shooting down an Albatros D.III.

Werner Vos claims a Sopwith Pup. 2nd Lt R. M. Foster lands on his own side of the lines and Voss's claim is listed as 'Unconfirmed'.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Wilhelm Werner, commanding U-55, torpedoes British freighter SS Vine Branch, 3,442 tons, bound from Dakar to Liverpool with a load of nitrate and frozen meat. His score is now 28 ships and 38,211 tons.

Friedrich Crüsemann, in U-86, torpedoes British tanker SS Rosalind, 6,535 tons, en route from Port Arthur and Norfolk to Queenstown with a load of oil. His score is now 5 ships and 25,566 tons.



West of Ireland:
Karlgeorg Schuster, in U-60, sinks Norwegian barque Marion, 1,587 tons, travelling in ballast from Limerick to Pensacola. His score is now 11 ships and 27,475 tons.



Ireland:
Wilhelm von Fircks, in U-59, scuttles two French schooners heading from Dunkerque to Icland:
Amiral l'Hermite, 156 tons.
Roland, 135 tons.
Von Fircks' score is now 13 vessels and 25,496.



North Atlantic, between Scotland and the Faroe Islands:
Thorwald von Bothmer, in U-66, sinks British tanker SS Powhatan, 6,117 tons, en route from Sabine to Kirkwall with a load of fuel oil. 36 lives are lost. Von Bothmer's score is now 24 ships and 68,530 tons.



Cornwall:
Heinrich Küstner, in UB-39, sinks two vessels off Land's End:
French brig La Tour dAuvergne, 188 tons, travelling from La Rochelle to Cardiff with a load of pit props. The brig is stopped and the crew allowed to abandon ship. UB-39 then sets her on fire with his deck gun and departs the area. Still on fire, the vessel is towed to Mullion where it is written off as a total loss.
French schooner Perce Neige, 141 tons, taking a load of coal to Brest. Stopped and scuttled.
Küstner's score is now 50 vessels and 51,753 tons.



English Channel:
Norwegian freighter SS Thelma, 1,350 tons, en route from Tyne to Rouen with a load of coal, hits a mine laid by Otto Steinbrinck in UC-65 off the Owers lightship. His score is now 154 ships and 145,434 tons.



North Sea:
Rudolf Gebeschus, in UB-35, sinks three small vessels off Kinnaird Head, Scotland:
Norwegian coaster SS Kongshaug, 380 tons. carrying a load of coal from Blyth to Sandnaes.
British trawler Lord Kitchener, 158 tons.
British fishing vessel Recto, 177 tons.
Gebeschus' score is now 9 vessels and 5,748 tons.

Gerhard Schulz, in UC-27, begins his U-boat career with the sinking of two British trawlers between the Orkney and Shetland Islands:
Narberth Castle, 168 tons; deck gun.
Nestor, 176 tons; deck gun.
Schulz's opening score is 2 vessels and 344 tons.

His Majesty's Trawler Strathrannoch, 215 tons, hits a mine laid by Otto von Schrader in UC-31 off St Abb's Head, Scotland.There are no survivors. Vom Scjrader's score is now 21 ships and 16,886 tons.

British freighter SS Presto, 1,143 tons, travelling in ballast from London to Newcastle, hits a mine laid by Gustave Deuerlich in UC-40 off Roker Point, Sutherland. His score is now 4 ships and 3,729 tons.



Alboran Sea:
Johannes Feldkirchner, in UC-25, uses his deck gun to sink French schooner Cybele, 148 tons, bound from Malaga to Lisbon; off Cap de Gata, Spain. His score is now 4 ships and 1,337 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Robert Sprenger, in UC-34, sinks two vessels off the Egyptian coast.
Egyptian vessel Rahmanich, 100 tons, details unknown.
British freighter SS Spithead, 4,697 tons, travelling in ballast from Alexandria to Rangoon, off Port Said.
Sprenger's score is now 4 ships and 5,257 tons.



German East Africa:
HMFM Trent arrives at Kilwa Kiwiwani, where she drops of meat and supplies for the ships operating there.

[Jimbuna]

7th April 1017

Western Front

British advance north-west of St. Quentin to Fresny-le-Petit.

Severe fighting round Berry-au-Bac (north-west of Reims).

Naval and Overseas Operations

British night raid (7-8 April) on Zeebrugge.

Nine Germans are killed when they scuttle their ship SMS Cormoran in Guam. This is the only clash between Americans and Germans in the Pacific.

Political, etc.

Cuba declares war on Germany.

Police of Cleveland, Ohio raid the homes of naturalized Germans-Americans and confiscate their rifles and other weapons.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire breaks off diplomatic relations with the United States of America.

Austro-Hungary announces it has raised 6.23 billion kronen (about $1.246 billion) for its fifth war loan.

Ship Losses:

Caminha (Portugal) The cargo ship was sunk in the Bay of Biscay 30 nautical miles (56 km) south south west of Cape Ferrat (45°22′N 2°48′W) by gunfire from UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
SMS Cormoran (Kaiserliche Marine) The merchant raider was scuttled at Guam with the loss of nine crew.
Edwin R. Hunt (United States) The schooner was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) off Cabo de Gata, Almeria, Spain by SM UC-25 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Fiskaa (Norway) The barque was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 10 nautical miles (19 km) off St. Kilda, United Kingdom by SM U-46 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Jason (Royal Navy) The minesweeper struck a mine laid by U 78 (Otto Dröscher) and sank off Coll, Inner Hebrides (56°35′45″N 6°28′15″W) with the loss of 25 crew.
Lapland (United Kingdom) The passenger ship struck a mine laid by UC 65 (Otto Steinbrinck) off the Liverpool Bar Lightship ( United Kingdom) and was damaged. She was later repaired and returned to service.
Maplewood (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 47 nautical miles (87 km) south west of Cape Sperone, Sardinia, Italy by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Salmo (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 210 nautical miles (390 km) north west of the Fastnet Rock (52°30′N 14°40′W) by SM U-60 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of two crew.
Seward (United States) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 22 nautical miles (41 km) north east of Begur, Spain (42°42′N 3°41′E) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Trefusis (United Kingdom) The collier was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) south east of Cape Pula, Sardinia (38°38′N 9°25′E) by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but three survivors were taken as prisoners of war.

[Sailor Steve]

April 7, 1917

Air War:
No. 56 Squadron RFC, the first fully equipped with 12 SE.5s, moves to France.

1645 German pilot Hans Klein, flying an Albatros D.II, shoots down a British balloon for victory number2. Cpt G. Sansom and Lt W. Dreshfield parachute safely.

1700 Canadian RFC pilot William Bishop, in Nieuprot 23 A6769, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 3.

1701 Billy Bishop shoots down a German balloon for number 4.

1710 German ace Otto Bernert, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 23 A6775 for victory number 15. 2nd Lt J.H. Muir is killed.

1710 German pilot Linus Patrmann, in an Albatros, shoots down Nieuport 17 A6692 for victory number 1. Cpt A.J. Jennings is killed.

1745 German ace Manfred von Richthofen, flying Albatros D.III 2253/17, shoots down Nieuport 17 A6645 for victory number 37. 2nd Lt George Orme Smart is killed.

I attacked, together with four of my gentlemen, an enemy squadron of six Nieuport machines, south of Arras and behind the enemy lines. The plane I had singled out tried to escape six times by various manoeuvres. When he was doing this for the seventh time, I managed to hit him, whereupon the engine began to smoke and the plane itself went down head first, twisting and twisting. At first I thought it was another manoeuvre, but then I saw that the plane dashed, without catching itself, to the ground near Mercatel.
-Manfred von Richthofen

1745 German ace Kurt Wolff, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 17 A6766 for victory number 7. 2nd Lt Charles Sidney Hall, on a special mission photographing an important section of the trenches, is killed.

1745 German ace Karl Schäfer, in an Albatros D.III, is also credited with a Nieuport for victory number 12. 60 squadron did lose a third aircraft this day, but later in the evening. Still the claim is awarded.

1815 German ace Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d A1961 for victory number 10. Cpt G.J. Mahoney-Jones and 2nd Lt W.B. Moyes are both killed.

1820 German ace Max von Müller, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down FE.2d A6400 for victory number 6. 2nd Lt James Lawson is wounded but makes it safely to his own side, 2nd Lt Harold Norman Hampson is killed.

1910 German ace Sebastian Festner, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Sopwith 1½ Strutter for victory number 6.

1925 German ace Wilhelm Frankl, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 17 A6773 for victory number 20. Cpt M.B. Knowles is taken prisoner.

1930 English RNAS pilot Charles Booker, in Sopwith Triplane N5455, shoots down an Albatros D.II for victory number 2.

1930 English RNAS pilot Bob Little, in Sopwith Triplane N5469, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 5.



North Atlantic Ocean, far west of Ireland:
Karlgeorg Schuster, commanding U-60, torpedoes British freighter SS Salmo, 1,721 tons, bound from Oporto for Liverpool with a general cargo, 210 miles west of Fastnet. His score is now 12 ships and 29,196 tons.



Western Scotland:
Leo Hillebrand, in U-46, sinks Norwegian barque Fiskaa, 1,700 tons, en route from Galveston to Copenhagen with a load of oilcake; off St Kilda Island. His score is now 24 ships and 46,709 tons.

British minesweepr HMS Jason, 810 tons, hits a mine laid off Coll Island by Otto Dröscher in U-78, bringing his score to 14 ships and 19,841 tons.



Irish Sea:
British passenger liner SS Lapland, 18,565 tons, travelling from New York to Liverpool with a general cargo, hits a mine laid off the Liverpool lighthouse by Otto Steinbrinck in UC-65. The damaged ship makes it safely into Liverpool.



Bay of Biscay:
Hans Valentiner, in U-71, sinks Portuguese freighter SS Caminha, 2,763 tons. en route from Lisbon to Rochefort. His score is now 39 ships and 26,170 tons.



Golfe du Lion:
Hans Walther, in U-52, uses his deck gun to sink American freighter SS Seward, 3,390 tons, carrying war material from New York to Genoa. His score is now 23 ships and 55,607 tons.



Alboran Sea:
Johannes Feldkirchner, n UC-25, scuttles American schooner Edwin R. Hume, 1,132 tons, bound from Cette to New York with an unspecified cargo, off Cap de Gata, Spain. His score is now 5 vessels and 2,469 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Leading U-boat ace Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, in U-35, sinks British freighter SS Maplewood, 3,239 tons, en route from La Goulette to West Hartlepool with a load of iron ore; off Capo Sperone, Sardinia. His score is now 157 ships and 321,368 tons.

Hermann von Fischel, in U-65, scuttles British freighter SS Trefusis, 2,642 tons, carrying a load of coal from Cardiff to Alexandria. His score is now 14 ships and 36,028 tons.

[Jimbuna]

8th April 1917

Western Front

British progress north of Louveral (half-way between Bapaume and Cambrai).

Evacuation of Reims by civil population.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British capture Belad station on Baghdad-Samarra railway.

Aviation

Wilhelm Frankl, German fighter ace with 20 aerial victories, is killed in action over France.


Political, etc.

Kaiser promises Prussia electoral reform.

Panama joins U.S.A. to defend Panama Canal.

Ship Losses:

Alba (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) off Garraf, Catalonia, Spain (41°05′N 1°53′E) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
SMS G88 (Kaiserliche Marine) The V25-class destroyer was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by a Royal Navy Coastal Motor Boat.
Geilan Bahri (United Kingdom) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 54 nautical miles (100 km) off Alexandria, Egypt by SM UC-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Livatho (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea north west of Crete (36°24′N 20°56′E) by SM UB-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lucia (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Pula, Sardinia by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Nestos (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) west south west of Sapientza (36°27′N 20°59′E) by SM UB-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Papa Gian Battista (Italy) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Pula, Sardinia by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Petridge (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) west north west of Ouessant, Finistère, France (48°14′N 10°10′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but two of them were taken as prisoners of war.
Torrington (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic OCean 150 nautical miles (280 km) south west of the Isles of Scilly by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 34 crew. Her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Umvoti (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic OCean 200 nautical miles (370 km) west north west of Ouessant (48°48′N 10°15′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four crew. Two survivors were taken as prisoners of war.

[Sailor Steve]

April 8, 1917

Air War:
German ace Werner Voss is awarded the Pour le Merite, the "Blue Max". The mandatory one month leave that comes with the medal means that he will miss the rest of "Bloody April".

German ace Wilhelm Frankl, flying Albatros D.III 2158/16, is killed in a fight with Bristols from 48 Squadron RFC when his plane lost a lower wing under the stress of hard manouvering. This was the bane of Nieuport sesquiplanes and the Albatroses that copied their single-spar V-strut wings, and the reason that von Richthofen refused to fly them for several weeks. In 1938 Frankl's name was removed from the roll of Pour le Merite winners due to his Jewish ancestors, and was not restored to that list until 1973.

0420 German pilot Hans Klein, in an Albatros D.II, shoots down FE.2b 7669 for victory number 3. Lt L. Butler and AM2 R. Robb are both taken prisoner.

0820 English RFC pilot Edwin Cole, in Nieuport 17 A6603, destroys a German observation balloon for victory number 4.

0930 Canadian pilot William Bishop, in Nieuport 23 A6760, shares a kill with Major A.J.L. Scott in N.17 A6647, bringing down a Albatros two-seater. Number 5 for Bishop, unknown for Scott.

Directly following this, William Bishop scores his second kill of the day, downing an Albatros D.III for number 6.

0930 German ace Sebastian Festner, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 23 A6764 for victory number 7. Major J.A.A. Millot is killed.

1010 Billy Bishop gains his third kill of the day, shooting down another Albatros D.III for number 7 overall.

1130 South African RFC pilot Quintin Brand, flying Nieuport 17 6668, destroys a balloon for victory number 4.

1130 Welsh RFC pilot Francis Kitto, in Sopwith 1½ Strutter A7804 with AM1 A.W. Cant as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1140 German ace Manfred von Richthofen, in Albatros D.III 2253/17, shoots down Sopwith 1½ Strutter A2406 for victory number 38. 2nd Lt John Seymour Heagerty is not wounded but is injured in the crash and taken prisoner. Lt Leonard Heath Cantle is killed.)

With three of my planes I attacked three Sopwiths above Farbus. The plane I singled out soon made a right-hand curve downwards. The observer ceased shooting. I followed the adversary to the ground where he dashed to pieces.

1430 German ace Kurt Wolff, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down DH.4 A2141 for victory number 8. Lt Bernard Evans and 2nd Lt Basil Walwyn White are both killed.

1440 German ace Karl Schäfer, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down DH.4 A2140 for victory number 13. Lts R.A. Logan and F.R. Henry are both killed.

1445 Australian RNAS ace Roderic Dallas, flying Sopwith Triplane N5436, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 9.

1500 Irish RNAS pilot Francis Casey, in Sopwith Pup N6182, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 2.

1510 German ace Otto Bernert, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Bristol F.2a A3330 for victory number 16. 2nd Lts O.W. Berry and F.B. Goodison are both killed.

1515 Otto Bernert scores his second kill of the day, shooting down RE.8 A4178 for number 17. 2nd Lt K.B. Cooksey and AM2 R.H. Jones are both killed.

1530 Englsh RNAS pilot Anthony Rex Arnold, in Sopwith Triplane N5477, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1

1640 Manfred von Richthofen gains his second victory of the day, shooting down BE.2g A2815 for number 39. 2nd Lts Keith Ingleby MacKenzie and Guy Evringham are both killed.

I was flying and surprised an English artillery flyer. After a very few shots the plane broke to pieces and fell near Vimy, on this side of the lines.
-Manfred von Richthofen

1700 Five FE.2bs share the downing of an Albatros D.III:
A796 John Aspinall (England - number 4) and Medley Parlee (Canada - 3)
A5454 Cpt G.W. Beale (unknown) and Gerald Bell (Candada - 1)
A4561 Carleton Clement (Candada - 4) and Llewelyn Davies (Wales - 2)
???? Lt C.F.M. Furlonger and Lt C.W. Land (both unknown)
???? Lt H.G. Spearpoint and and 2nd Lt J.K. Campbell (both unknown)

1910 German ace Georg Schlenker, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 23 A6765 for victory number 7. Lt T.J. Owen is killed.

Russian pilot Pavel Argyev, in a Nieuport, claims a Fokker, but it is Unconfirmed.

German ace Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down Nieuport 12 A156 for victory number 11. 2nd Lt J.E. de Watteville and Lt R.A. Manby are both wounded but crash on their own side of the lines.

German ace Heinrich Gontermann, in an Albatros D.III, destroys a French balloon for victory number 8. Adj André Duramel is injured but survives.

German pilot Erich Hahn, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a Caudron R.4 for victory number 2. The likely victims are MdL Célestin Théron killed, Sgt Marcel Gendronneau okay, and S/Lt René Wilmes killed.

Irish RFC pilot David Tidmarsh and English observer 2nd Lt C.B. Holland, in a Bristol F.2a, shoot down an Albatros D.III. Number 4 for Tidmarsh, number 1 for Holland.



Celtic Sea:
Wilhelm Werner, commanding U-55, sinks three British freighters 200 miles west of Brittany:
SS Petridge, 1,712 tons, bound from Mogador for London with a general cargo; torpedoed.
SS Torrington, 5,597 tons, travelling in ballast from Savona to Barry.
SS Umvoti, 2,616 tons, carrying a general cargo from Table Bay to London
Werner's score is now 30 ships and 48,136 tons.



Balearic Sea:
Hans Walther, in U-52, sinks Italian freighter SS Alba, 1,639 tons, carrying a load of coal from Swansea to Italy; off Garraf, near Barcelona. His score is now 24 ships and 57,246 tons.



Ionian Sea:
Hans Hermann Wendlandt, in UB-47, starts his U-boat career with the sinking of two Greek freighters northwest of Crete:
SS Livatho, 2,922 tons, travelling in ballast from Salonica to the United States.
SS Nestos, 4,060 tons, carrying a load of wheat from New York to Piraeus.
Wendlandt's opening score is 2 ships and 4,982 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Hermann von Fischel, in U-65, sinks two Italian sailing vessels off Cape Pula, Sardinia:
Lucia, 138 tons.
Papa Gian Battista, 138 tons.
Von Fischel's score is now 16 vessels and 36,304 tons.

Robert Sprenger, in UC-34, sinks Britis sailing vessel Geilan Bahri, 19 tons, raising his score to 5 vessels and 5,276 tons.

[Highbury]

April 9, 1917. The battle of Vimy Ridge began.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vimy_Ridge

[August]

This is an account of my Great Grandfathers unit during the Battle of Arras, April 9th 1917


For reference his unit Chain of Command at the time was the:
6th Company of the
2nd Battalion of the
8th Bavarian Infantry Regiment of the
8th Bavarian Infantry Brigade of the
14th Bavarian Infantry Division of the
German Sixth Army (Falkenhausen)

A map of the battlefield. My Great Grandfathers unit is southern most next to St. Laurent.



The following excerpts are from the book "The German Army in the Spring Offensives 1917: Arras, Aisne, & Champagne" – by Jack Sheldon


-----------------------------------------------------------
During the night of 8/9 April the positions were shelled and gassed for five hours continuously, forcing the garrison to mask up and exhausting the protective potential of their gas masks. From about 3am the shelling reduced in intensity then between 3:15 and 5am ceased altogether. The reasoning was unclear because fire came down with undiminished intensity on the neighboring divisions but the pause was extremely welcome. It enabled the large number of wounded and gas poisoning cases to be evacuated, food, drink and ammunition to be brought up and collapsed dugout entrances to be cleared out. However at 5:30am a massive infantry attack, supported by tanks and flamethrowers, was launched. In the half light with visibility reduced to almost nil by smoke shells and clouds of dust and preceded by a creeping barrage, an attack of extreme violence hit the center of the 8th Bavarian Infantry Regiment before the defenders had time to get organized or even begin to react.


7th and 8th companies were simply overwhelmed, the desperate efforts of the survivors notwithstanding, so a gap 400 meters wide opened up. Initially 6th Company was able to offer reasonably effective resistance, but a thrust through the the 25th BIR in Sector Schwaben was followed by a great build up in pressure against it's right flank and rear. 5th Company, benefiting from swampy going in the strip of ground by the Scarpe, was able to bring down intense small arms fire and temporarily hold up the advance. This meant that St. Laurent Blangy was still being held as a firm shoulder of the forward defense but just to the north British flamethrower crews were able to expand the break in, the piercing screams of men hit by great jets of burning oil clearly audible above the racked of explosions and firing. Even in the built up area resistance was short lived. Wave after wave of attackers pressed on into it, not only from the west but also from the southern edge of the village where the attackers clashed violently with an 11th Company platoon which had been moved forward simultaneously with the start of the offensive at 5:30 am. Within an hour despite the best efforts of the courageous Leutnant Heikanus the fighting was over here and the 5th Company had suffered a considerable number of all ranks killed showing just how bitter the struggle against the odds had been.


The elements of Bavarian 14th Mortar Company that had been deployed forward were also destroyed or captured with almost all the other front line infantrymen. Its acting commander, who had been attempting to arrange for the relief of the forward crews after the hammering they had received during the past few days, had also to make a swift decision if any of his men were to be able to contribute to the defense.


Leutnant F Henigst Bavarian Mortar Company 14
"In this situation those elements of the company that were located in the rear and which were to have conducted the relief had no realistic option but to make themselves available to the division as a reserve. Led by me (Oberleutnant Barth, the company commander, had been set away on sick leave a week earlier) and strengthened with a few infantry orderlies, altogether about sixty men were dispatched to Gavrelle where 8th Bavarian Infantry Brigades (Generalmajor Karl von Reck) Headquarters was supposed to be located. The march was fraught with difficulty. Some of those who set off with us that morning must have felt that they were unlikely to live until evening. Men caught in the hell of the forward positions have no time for introspection but, when you are without notice moved out of a safe, secure place and are suddenly faced with the near certainty of death, it becomes a severe test of nerve. The further forward our little band came the heavier the fire, which was coming down along the Cambrai – Arras road. By chance we discovered that the brigade staff was there. Taking advantage of a pause in the fire we marched up to the house by the exit to the village where the staff was located. To my amazement i came across the brigade commander on the ground floor room despite the fact that heavy shells kept detonating nearby. Virtually alone in front of his maps, i shall never forget the calming sight of the general standing in front of his desk, just as though he was was on exercise and giving me my briefing.
The impression of an exercise was further intensified when i rushed across the road to get my hands on belts of ammunition. A field gun ammunition column raced through the village, one wagon after the other, the poor horses frightened to death, but thundering on in a mad scramble along the beautiful avenue toward Gavrelle. I though to myself that if ammunition could be brought that far forward, things could not be too bad. I soon realized however that he actual situation was quite different when I having collected ammunition, left the village by the same road. The column which had driven forward so boldly had run into heavy shrapnel and shell fire and had become an appalling tangled mess, which could neither move forward nor back. Meanwhile enemy artillery fire continued to crash down madly in it's midst. I later discovered that the ammunition was very unlikely to have found a user."


On the left flank of the division, down near St. Laurent Blangy, events took a slightly different course. Major Felser, normally commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion 8th Bavarian Infantry Regiment had taken over command of the entire regiment on April 1st when Oberst von Rucker was medically evacuated. On the morning of 9 April he was located well forward in his command post, dug into the railway embankment about one thousand meters north of the Railway Triangle. From there he tried desperately to maintain contact with his battalion commanders and to build up a picture of what was happening out to the front. Unfortunately for him, such was the concentration of gas, smoke and high explosive on his forward positions when the attack opened that it was impossible to move or pass messages in the area. Finally the fire began to slacken and lifted to the east somewhat towards 7am. It was then possible to gain an impression of the desperate fighting in the forward positions. Red flares fired by the infantry and guiding the British artillery were going up all along the front so as to indicate progress; whilst the defenders, those who had survived the bombardment, brought their remaining machine guns to bear and managed briefly to hold the advance up and cause the British to fire yet another preparatory bombardment.
As shells landed all around the railway Major Felser attempted to summon assistance from the German guns but the artillery group commanders nearby command post had already been smashed and abandoned. The British were expected to close right up to this area at any moment but Felser, weighing up his options, decided to stay where he was and fight it out, setting a good example to his men and counteracting a growing tendency to drift to the rear.




Major Felser, Commander of the 8th Bavarian Infantry Regiment:


"What purpose would it have served to redeploy the regimental command post to the rear where there were no reinforcements – especially because the tactical situation would have ruled out the withdrawal of the troops to the rear. There could be no thought of yielding the position. Instead it had to be fought for. The enemy strength could not be determined; only that they were deploying beyond the trenches of the forward position. I was also unaware of the situation in the neighboring sectors. The amount of enemy gun fire indicated that it was an offensive on a grand scale; nevertheless it was possible that the attack on our neighbors would enjoy less success. That said, even unfavorable news from that source would not have budged me from my determination not to give up the Intermediate position as a battle in a lost cause. It was much more a matter of gaining time wile those elements of the division which were located in the rear could be got forward to intervene. Thus far I hoped that I should be able to hold the line of the railway with artillery support; I felt that it was out of the question that the artillery would be quite unable to provide necessary support. However only about four or five shells came down."


About 7:30am Major Felser was appraised of the situation forward when an unteroffizier, accompanied by a small group of men, succeeded in making his way to the command post. His was the one and only report to get though and it told a sorry story of the total destruction of the 2nd Battalion. There was still no news from the flanks or rear although Leutnant Zimmerman who was holding the second position with the 10th company did set off with two of his platoons to reinforce. On the way heavy fire caused numerous casualties and the group to splinter so that when he arrived, bleeding from a neck wound, he had only twenty five men with him. He himself was killed less than an hour later but, in the meantime, he placed his men in position along the railway adding their fire to what was left of the 9th and 12th companies. Their concentrated small arms fire succeeded in causing a great many casualties and holding the attack on this front 300 meters short of the railway line – but only briefly. In a repetition of a situation played out repeatedly that day, a thrust into the German positions to the north mean that they were outflanked and subject to an attack designed to roll up their positions.


The fighting degenerated into a wild hand to hand struggle, but once again numbers told and the situation north of the St Laurent – Athies road soon deteriorated. In places some of the attackers had been forced into cover. Elsewhere, supported by fresh artillery concentration and the direct intervention of a tank, the defence began to crumble. Around Felsner's command post resistance was still reasonably effective but, suddenly, the attackers were through just where the St. Laurent – Athies road crossed the railway line. Fired at from three sides, ammunition running out, the defenders were in serious trouble. Leutnant Zimmerman, still encouraging his men, was mortally wounded, shot twice through the chest and collapsed, still clinging on to his rifle. Casualties went on mounting until a 350 meter front was being held only by the survivors of the regimental staff and the remnants of 10th company – four officers, fifty men and one machine gun, which was soon put out of action by a grenade.


Amazing to relate, this battle with the 8th Battalion of the Black Watch went on for another hour. There was no sign of reinforcement or relief, no information from the flanks and the German artillery was completely silent. Nevertheless buoyed up by Major Felsers decision to stand and fight, everything possible was done to hold on. The regimental orderly officer, Leutnant Krembs, rushed around carrying orders and redistributing the small amount of ammunition still available, but he too fell victim to a shot through the head, dying instantly. It was by now almost 9am and obvious to all concerned that the few remaining riflemen could not contend with pressure from three sides. Finally grenades were thrown into the dugouts. More or less simultaneously the last of the ammunition was fired. Major Felser decided that it was pointless to order a final bayonet charge and at approximately 9:15am he ordered the few survivors to surrender. By then the defenders were reduced to Felser himself, his adjutant, Oberleutnant Mayer and his signals officer together with a handful of unwounded men. The regimental historian later summed up this heroic but brief and ultimately hopeless stand in this way:


"The enemy pushed tanks through St. Laurent and along the road to Athies in the direction of the railway bridge and supported by heavy artillery fire set foot in overwhelming force in the intermediate position on our right flank. Repeatedly our fire held them back until exploiting a gap in the neighboring sector to our right a surprise enemy attack from our right flank and rear was launched forcing a way into our position along the railway despite an obstinate defense, especially around the road bridge over the railway on the Gavrelle-St. Laurent road. The longingly awaited divisional reserve – three battalions – did not arrive on time. Our artillery itself severely pressed and suffering from lack of ammunition could not support the infantry. Only when, bit by bit, close quarter fighting died away in various places was the defense including that to the south of the road bridge exhausted and the intermediate position was lost about 9:15am. Only a very few men of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were able to escape and battle their way back towards Athies and the Second position where they consolidated under artillery fire."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next day, April 10th the shattered remnants of my great grandfathers division would receive orders to withdraw. They would be sent for several days to the Ghent area of Belgium then would load trains bound for the eastern front.

[Jimbuna]

9th April 1917

Western Front

Battle of Arras (on 12-mile front from Henin-sur-Cojeul, south-east of Arras, to Givenchy-en-Gohelle, north of Arras). British forces deploy 365 aircraft to support the battle, but face tough German resistance. “Bloody April” for the Royal Flying Corps begins.

British (Canadians) take Vimy Ridge (northern end excepted), five villages and 6,000 prisoners.

North of St. Quentin and towards Cambrai British take six villages and enter Havrincourt Wood.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians occupy Kizil Robat. British occupy Harbe (four miles north of Belad).

Political, etc.

Due to lack of supply, British beer prices have risen, causing disaffection among factory workers.

Total Canadian oversea enlistments to date:- 407,302 of which Ontario 170,205, Montreal 36,282, Quebec 8,145.

Brazil severs diplomatic relations with Germany.

Ship Losses:

Avon (United Kingdom) The passenger ship struck a mine and sank in the Thames Estuary 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) south east by south of the Tongue Lightship ( United Kingdom) (51°29′00″N 1°26′30″E) with the loss of two lives.
Cairnie (United Kingdom) The coaster dragged her anchors, collided with another vessel and sank. Her crew were rescued.
Esterel (France) The cargo shipb was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Port-Vendres, Pyrénées-Orientales (42°39′N 3°30′E) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Fremad I (Norway) The barque was sunk in the North Sea 200 nautical miles (370 km) off Lindesnes, Vest-Agder (58°47′N 0°52′E) by SM U-59 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ganslei (Russia) The cargo ship was sunk in Kola Bay (69°19′N 33°31′E) by SM U-75 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Kittiwake (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 25 nautical miles (46 km) north west of the Maas Lightship ( Netherlands) (52°15′N 3°18′E) by SM UB-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of seven crew.
HMT Orthos (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by UC 14 (Ulrich Pilzecker) and sank in the North Sea off Lowestoft, Suffolk (52°23′00″N 1°52′30″E) with the loss of a crew member.
Saint Maudez (France) The sailing vessel was sunk in the English Channel 10 nautical miles (19 km) north north west of Fécamp, Seine-Maritime by SM UB-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Themistoclis (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 100 nautical miles (190 km) off Pointe Saint-Mathieu, Finistère, France by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Valhall (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 30 nautical miles (56 km) north of the Pierres Noires, Finistère by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.

[Sailor Steve]

April 9, 1917

Air War:
Mick Mannock's Nieuport 17 B1540 suffers a wing failure. He manages to land safely.

1145 Welsh RNAS pilot Ernest Norton, flying Nieuport 17 N3187, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 5.

1200 Ernest Norton scores his second kill of the day, downing another Albatros for number 6.

1900 German ace Karl Schäfer, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2d 5742 for victory number 14. Lts J.H.E. Brink and R.C. Heath are both wounded. Brink later dies of his wounds.

English pilot Alan Wilkinson and Canadian observer Hugh Griffith, in a Bristol F.2a, shoot down a German two seater and then an Albatros D.III. Victories 12 and 13 for Wilkinson, 2 and 3 for Griffith.

Later in the day Wilkinson makes a second patrol, this time with English observer Lawrence Allen and accompanied by another F.2a, piloted by John Herbert Towne Letts with Lt H.G. Collins as observer. Together they shoot down two more D.IIIs. Victories number 14 and 15 for Wilkinson, 2 and 3 for Allen, 1 and 2 for Letts, unknown for Collins.

English pilot William Price and South African observer Maurice Benjamin, in a Bristol F.2a, shood down an Albatros D.III. Victory number 2 for both.



Irish Sea:
American passenger liner SS New York, 10,798 tons, carrying a general cargo from New York to Liverpool, hits a mine laid off the Mersey Bar by Otto Steinbrinck in UC-65. The damaged ship makes it safely into port.



Celtic Sea:
Hans Valentiner, commanding UC-71, sinks two ships west of Brittany:
Greek freighter SS Themistoclis, 1895 tons, bound from Cardiff for Algiers with a load of coal.
Norwegian freighter SS Valhall, 750 tons, en route from Manchester to Cadiz with a load of pitch.
Valentiner's score is now 41 ships and 28,815 tons.



English Channel:
Heinrich Küstner, in UB-39, sinks French sailing vessel Saint Maudez, 282 tons, off Fécamp. His score is now 51 vessels and 51,045 tons.



North Sea:
Wilhelm von Fircks, in U-59, sinks Norwegian Barque Fremad I, 1,554 tons, carrying a load of oilcake from Savannah to Korsør. His score is now 14 ships and 27,050 tons.

Thomas Bieber, in UB-31, torpedoes British freighter SS Kittiwake, 1,866 tons, en route from Liverpool to Rotterdam with a general cargo. This is his first sinking.

HMT Orthos, 218 tons, hits a mine laid by Ulrich Pilzecker in UC-14, rasing his score to 2 vessels and 534 tons.



Russia:
Curt Beitzen, in U-75, sinks Russian freighter SS Ganslei, 11,273 tons, travelling from Tyne to North Russia; in Kola Bay, near Murmansk. His score is now 8 ships and 18,157 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Hans Walther, in U-52, sinks French freighter SS Esterel, 2,574 tons, en route from West Africa to Marseille, of Port Vendres, France. His score is now 25 ships and 59,820 tons.



Indian Ocean:
Troubles begin again for HMFM Trent while en route from Daf-es-Salaam to Durban when a man refuses to go on duty.

[Jimbuna]

10th April 1917

Western Front

British complete capture of Vimy Ridge, occupy Farbus (north-east of Arras) and Fampaux (four miles east of Arras).

Great French bombardment of Moronvillers massif (group of hills east of Reims) begins.

Naval and Overseas Operations

British hospital ships HMHS Salta hits a mine laid by German submarine UC-26 and sinks, causing 130 deaths.


Damaged German submarine U-22 in drydock after it hit a mine near Hornsriff.


Political, etc.

Severe explosion of ammunition factory at Eddystone, near Philadelphia.

U.S. Cabinet decides to prioritize sending food and money to the Allies before sending soldiers.

Note of Argentina to U.S.A. approving of U.S.A. action re: war.

Alexis Carrel, the Nobel-prize winner in Physiology or Medicine, predicts the war will last another 50 years.

Ship Losses:

Abd Razid (Tunisia) The sailing vessel was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Tripoli, Libya by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Dalton (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape Matapan, Greece (36°00′N 22°40′E) by SM U-28 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy). Her crew survived.
HMS P26 (Royal Navy) The P-class sloop struck a mine laid by
UC 26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) and sank in the English Channel off Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France with the loss of nineteen of her 59 crew. Survivors were rescued by HMS P19 ( Royal Navy.
Pluto (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 32 nautical miles (59 km) south east by east of Lowestoft, Suffolk (52°19′N 2°34′E) by SM UB-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Porto di Rodi (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Ionian Sea 37°53′N 18°02′E) SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 31 crew.
Ranvik (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 45 nautical miles (83 km) west south west of Ouessant, Finistère, France by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMHS Salta (Royal Navy) The hospital ship struck a mine laid by UC 26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) and sank at Le Havre with the loss of 130 of the 205 people on board.

[Sailor Steve]

April 10, 1917

Air War:
Irish RFC pilot David Tidmarsh, flying Bristol F.2a A3338 with Lt H.G. Collins as observer, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 5.



Celtic Sea:
Hans Valentiner, commanding UC-71, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Ranvik, 5,848 tons, bound from Buenos Aires for Cherbourg with a load of wheat. His score is now 42 ships and 34,663 tons.



English Channel:
Two British vessels hit mines laid off Le Havre by Matthias von Schmettow in UC-26:
Patrol boat P-26, 613 tons.
Hospital ship Salta, 7,284 tons, carrying medical supplies from Southampton to Le Havre.
Vo Schmettow's score is now 69 ships and 106,356 tons.



North Sea:
Hermann Glimpf, in UB-20, starts his U-boat career with the sinking of British freighter SS Pluto, 1,266 tons, carrying a general cargo from Rotterdam to Bristol; southeast of Lowestoft.



Ionian Sea:
Kurt Hartwig, in U-32, sinks Italian freighter SS Porto di Rodi, 2,480 tons, en route from Alexandria to Genoa with a general cargo. His score is now 37 ships and 48,245 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Leo Prásil, in Austrian submarine U-29, sinks British freighter SS Dalton, 3,486 tons, travelling in ballast from Saloica to Malta, off Cape Matapan. This is his first sinking.

Franz Becker, in UC-20, sinks Tunesian sailing vessel Ab Razik, 25 tons, off Tripoli, increasing his score to 5 vessels and 15,105 tons.

Robert Sprenger, in UC-34, torpedoes Greek freighter SS Fotis, 3,526 tons, en route from Marseille to Suez, off the Egyptian coast. The damaged ship manages to make safe port.

[Jimbuna]

11th April 1917

Western Front

Near Arras, British troops capture the village of Monchy-le-Preux, but are repelled east of Bellicourt due to a strong German counterattack.

British capture village of Monchy-le-Preux (5.5 miles east-south-east of Arras).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

British defeat Turks near Ghaliya (north-east of Deltawa, north of Baghdad).

Political, etc.

Major General Leonard Wood declares there are too few volunteers for the U.S. army and so conscription is necessary.

Herbert Hoover officially takes job of U.S. food controller. He urges the nation to eliminate waste and promotes corn bread over flour.

Brazil breaks off relations with Germany because of its unrestricted submarine warfare.

Note of Argentina to U.S.A. deciding on benevolent neutrality to U.S.A. in war.

Ship Losses:

HMT Amy (Royal Navy) The naval trawler struck a mine laid by
UC 26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) and sank in the English Channel off Le Havre, Seine Maritime, France with the loss of nine of her crew.
Ansgar (Denmark) The barquentine was set afire and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Cape San Antonio, Spain (39°06′N 0°30′E) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Candia (Italy) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Zuwara, Libya by SM UC-20 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Cyfarthfa (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 32 nautical miles (59 km) west south west of Antikythera, Greece (35°29′N 22°30′E) by SM UB-47 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Duchess of Cornwall (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 26 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow) and sank in the English Channel 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) north of Cape Barfleur, Manche, France with the loss of 23 of her crew.
Imperial Transport (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 140 nautical miles (260 km) north west by north of Alexandria, Egypt by SM UC-34 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but her captain was taken as a prisoner of war.
Miss Morris (United Kingdom) The three-masted schooner was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) south east of Garrucha, Andalusia, Spain (36°57′N 1°50′W) by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Nancy (Denmark) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea 42 nautical miles (78 km) off the Hellisøy Lighthouse, Hordaland, Norway by SM U-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of three crew.
Precedent (United Kingdom) The fishing smack was scuttled in the English Channel 12 nautical miles (22 km) east south east of Berry Head, Devon by SM UB-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Quaggy (United Kingdom) The coaster struck a mine laid by
UC 31 (Otto von Schrader) and sank in the North Sea 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) east of Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire with the loss of two of her crew.
Sarvsfos (Norway) The barque was sunk in the North Sea 80 nautical miles (150 km) south east of Kirkwall, Orkney Islands (58°33′N 0°00′E) by SM U-50 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Saxo (Denmark) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 42 nautical miles (78 km) off the Hellisøy Lighthouse by SM U-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Star (Norway) The coaster was sunk in the North Sea 68 nautical miles (126 km) off the coast of Fife, United Kingdom by SM U-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Sylfiden (Norway) The barque was sunk in the Barents Sea 50 nautical miles (93 km) north by west of Holmengrå, Finnmark by SM U-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Tremorvah (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 70 nautical miles (130 km) north north west of Cape Bougaroni, Algeria by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived, but four of them were taken as prisoners of war.

[Sailor Steve]

April 11, 1917

Air War:
0830 Four Bristol F.2as are attacked by Albatros D.IIIs and a running fight develops. First the Bristols shoot down an Albatros.
A3318 2nd Lts R.F. Adeney and L.G. Lovell, tally unknown.
A3333 2nd Lts George Norman Brockhurst and Cecil Blockley Boughton, unknown.
Unidentified Bristol Alan Riley, victory number 2, 2nd Lt L.G. Hall unknown.
A3338 Irish ace David Tidmarsh 6, 2nd Lt C.B. Holland unknown.

0845 Canadian RNAS pilot Lloyd Breadner, flying Sopwith Pup N6181, shoots down an Albatros two-seater for victory number 2.

0845 German pilot Leutnant F. Roth shoots down BE.2c 2769 for victory number 1. 2nd Lt F. Matthews is wounded and taken prisoner. I could find no details on this German pilot.

0855 Lloyd Breadner shoots down the escorting Albatros D.III for number 3.

0855 German ace Adolf Schulte, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down BE.2d 5849 for victory number 7. Lt F.L. Kitchen is killed. There is no mention of an observer.

0900 The fight between the Bristols and the Albatroses develops, and the British team shoot down a second D.III.
Victory number 3 for Adeney, number 7 for Tidmarsh. The rest are unknown, at least to me.

0900 German pilot Hermann Frommherz, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down SPAD VII A6690 for victory number 1. 2nd Lt S. Roche is taken prisoner.

0900 Alan Riley and 2nd Lt C.G. Hall shoot down a third Albatros. Hall is killed in the exchange.

0900 Adolf Schulte scores his second kill+ of the day, shooting down Sopwith Pup N5185. 2nd Lt Hayne comes down safely on his own side of the lines.

0905 German ace Sebastian Festner, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a BE.2 for victory number 8. Details unknown.

0910 The tide turns against the Bristols when German ace Karl Schäfer shoots down A3318 for victory number 15. R.F. Adeney and L.G. Lovell are both killed.

1910 The second F.2a goes down as German ace Kurt Wolff hits A3338 for victory number 9. Irish 7-kill ace David Tidmarsh and Cator Holland are taken prisoner.

0915 The Third F.2a falls to Lothar von Richthofen; A3323 is victory number 2. George Brockhurst is wounded, and he and Cecil Boughton are both taken prisoner. Of the eight aircrew, pilot Alan Riley is the only one to make it home.

0925 German ace Manfred von Richthofen, in Albatros D.III 2253/17, shoots down BE.2c 2501 for victory number 40. Lt Edward Claude England Derwin and Gunner H. Pierson are both wounded, rescued from No-Man's Land by British troops. Richthofen notes that there was a high wind, low clouds and snow.

1020 German pilot Hans Klein, flying an Albatros D.II, shoots down a BE.2d for victory number 4.

1050 Hans Klein scores his second victory of the day, shooting down a BE.2c for number 5.

1145 German ace Rudolf Berthold, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down SPAD VII 370 for victory number 11. Adj Albert Barioz is listed as Missing.

1230 German Otto Bernert, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down a SPAD for victory number 18.

1235 Lothar von Richthofen gains his second victory of the day, shooting down RE.8 A4190 for number 3. Lts George Tod Morris and James Mitchell Souter are both killed.

1240 Otto Bernert gets his second of the day, shooting down Morane 'P' A6760. Victory number 19. Lts L.F. Beynon and A.C. Lutyens are wounded.

1250 Karl Schäfer scores number 2 for the day, bringing down a BE.2c for number 16.

Fench ace Armand Pinsard, in a SPAD VII, shoots down an Albatros for victory number 6. His likely victim is Vfw Karl Möwe, who was killed this day.

Russian pilot Vladimir Strizhevsky, in a SPAD VII, shoots down an LVG two-seater for victory number 2.



Cornwall:
Wilhelm Amberger, commanding UB-38, sinks British fishing smack Precedent, 36 tons. His score is now 11 ship and 12,075.



English Channel:
His Majesty's Trawler Amy, 270 tons, hits a mine laid by Matthias von Schmettow in UC-26 in Le Havre Roads.
Meanwhile, von Schmettow sinks British freighter SS Duchess of Cornwall, 1,706 tons, bound from London to Le Havre.
UC-26 also torpedoes British freighter SS Branksome Hall, 4,262 tons, en route from Cork to Strasbourg with a load of hay and oats, but the damaged ship makes safe port.
Von Schmettow's score is now 71 ships and 108,332 tons.



North Sea:
Gerhard Berger, in U-50, sinks Norwegian barque Sarvsfos, 1,462 tons, carrying a load of oilcake from Savannah to Odense; off Kirkwall. His score is now 16 ships and 59,474 tons.

British freighter SS Quaggy, 993 tons, travelling in ballast from London to Tyne, hits a mine laid by Otto von Schrader in UC-31 off Robin Hood's Bay. His score is now 22 ships and 17,879 tons.



Norway:
Franz Grünert, in U-30, sinks four ships:
Danish freighter SS Saxo, 711 tons, en route from Copenhagen to Grimsby with a load of butter and other stores; off hellisøy.
Danish freighter SS Nancy, 1,325 tons, carrying a load of agricultural products from Copenhagen to Hull, via Bergen; off hellisøy.
Norwegian freighter SS Star, 818 tons, travelling from Drammen to Bristol with a load of timber and wood pulp. Sources give the location as 68 miles northwest of Fife, Scotland, but this would mean that U-30 would have to travel more than 400 miles in one day.
Norwegian freighter SS Sylfiden, 796 tons, bound from Buenos Aires to Flekkefjord, via Sornoway with a load of quebracho (an Argentine hardwood tree); off Holmengrå.
Grünert's score is now 7 ships and 5,585 tons.



Alboran Sea:
Leading U-boat ace Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, in U-35, scuttles British, schooner Miss Morris, 156 tons, travelling in ballast from Genoa to Malaga; of Garrucha, Spain. His score is now 158 ships and 321,524 tons.



Balearic Sea:
Hans Walther, in U-52, sinks Danish schooner Ansgar, carrying a load of pitch pine from Jacksonville to Barcelona, by setting it on fire. His score is now 26 ships and 60,121 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Hermann von Fischel, in U-65, sinks British freighter SS Tremorvah, 3,654 tons, travelling in ballast from Malta to Gibraltar. His score is now 17 ships and 39,958 tons.

Hans Wendlandt, in UB-47, sinks British freighter SS Cyfarthfa, 3,014 tons, en route from Oran to Salonika with a general cargo; off Cerigotto Island. His score is now 3 ships and 8,996 tons.

Franz Becker, in UC-20, sinks Italian freighter SS Candia, 1,045 tons, rasing his score to 6 ships and 16,150 tons.

Robert Sprenger, in UC-34, torpedoes British freighter SS Imperial Transport, 4,648 tons, travelling in ballast from Port Said to Philippeville. His score is now 6 ships and 9,915 tons.

[Jimbuna]

12th April 1917

Western Front

British advance north of Vimy Ridge, taking the "Pimple" and Bois en Hache, and south of Arras-Cambrai road take Heninel and Wancourt.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turks retreat towards Deli Abbas (between Tigris and Diala).

Naval

Greek ship “India” being sunk by the German U-Boat U-35.


Political, etc.

London meetings celebrating entry of U.S.A. into war.

Mexico reassures it will continue the exportation of oil to Britain after diplomatic pressure from Britain and the U.S.

Costa Rica places territorial waters and ports at disposal of U.S.A.

Ship Losses:

Angela M. (Italy) The three-masted schooner was scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea north west of Cape Bougaroni, Algeria by SM U-65 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Caliban (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) north east by east of Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire by SM UC-76 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Chinkiang (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) north east by east of Buchan Ness, Aberdeenshire by SM UC-76 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Crown Prince (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) north east by east of Girdle Ness by SM UC-76 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Dina Henderika (Netherlands) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) east north east of Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom by SM UC-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Edelweiss (France) The sailing vessel was shelled and sunk in the English Channel off Cherbourg, Seine-Maritime by SM UC-71 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Equerry (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 35 nautical miles (65 km) north east of Kincaid Head by SM UC-76 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Ernst Sophie (Russia) The sailing vessel was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Ireland (51°05′N 11°58′W) by SM UC-27 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Fife Ness (United Kingdom) The fishing vessel was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 23 nautical miles (43 km) east north east of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire by SM UC-76 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Glencliffe (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) off Tabarka Island, Alicante, Spain (38°07′N 0°22′W) by SM U-52 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member. Three survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
India (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea east of Gibraltar by SM U-35 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Kildale (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Pantelleria, Italy (36°44′N 12°32′E) SM U-32 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of a crew member.
Kolaastind (Norway) The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea (60°14′N 2°42′E) by SM U-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of four crew.
Largo Bay (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) north east by east of Buchan Ness by SM UC-76 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lilian (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) north east by east of Girdle Ness by SM UC-76 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Lismore (United Kingdom) The passenger ship was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 22 nautical miles (41 km) north west by north of Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France (49°48′N 0°18′W) by SM UB-38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of five lives.
Neptunus (Netherlands) The sailing vessel was sunk in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east north east of Hartlepool by SM UC-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Niritos (Greece) The cargo ship was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) off Augusta, Sicily, Italy (37°13′N 15°20′E) by SM U-27 ( Austro-Hungarian Navy).
Osprey (United Kingdom) The trawler was shelled and sunk in the North Sea 45 nautical miles (83 km) north east by east of Girdle Ness by SM UC-76 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Toro (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 200 nautical miles (370 km) west north west of Ouessant, Finistère, France (48°30′N 10°00′W) by SM U-55 ( Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of fourteen crew. Two survivors were taken as prisoners of war.
Union (Denmark) The schooner was sunk in the North Sea 18 to 20 nautical miles (33 to 37 km) east of the Souter Lighthouse, County Durham by SM UC-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
Voorwarts (Netherlands) The schooner was sunk in the North Sea 20 nautical miles (37 km) east north east of Hartlepool by SM UC-30 ( Kaiserliche Marine).

[Sailor Steve]

April 12, 1917

Air War:
1030 Two RNAS Sopwith Pups work together to brind down an Albatros D.II:
Frederick Armstrong, Canada, victory number 2.
Edmund Pierce, England, victory number 1.

1030 German pilot Paul von Osterroht, in an Albatros D.III, shoots down Sopwith Pup N6172 for victory number 5. Lt R.G. Mack is wounded and taken prisoner.

1030 Canadian RNAS pilot Arthur Treloar Whealy, in Sopwith Pup N6194, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 1.

1040 German 8-kill ace Adolf Schulte, in Albatros D.III 1996/16, collides with Lt O.Y. Walton and AM2 J.C. Walker in FE.2d 4995. All three are killed.

1230 English pilot Edmund Zink, in FE.2b A823 with Pvt N.G. Jones as observer, shoots down an Albatros D.III for victory number 3.

1900 German ace Hartmuch Baldamus, flying an Albatros D.III shoots down SPAD VII 2507 for victory number 17. Adj-Chef Georges Chemet is taken prisoder.

German two-seater pilot Leopold Anslinger and observer Wilhelm Maximilian Frickart shoot down a Voisin for victory number 5 for Anslinger and number 1 for Frickart. Wikipedia says they were teamed for six victories, but according to The Aerodrom this is the only date their lists actually match. There is no direct link between the two, so even this pairing is conjectural.

French ace Lucien Jailler, in a Nieuport, shoots down a German fighter for victory number 7.

French pilot Marcel Nogues, in a Nieuport, shoots down an "Enemy Aircraft" for victory number 2.

French ace Armand Pinsard, in a SPAD VII, shoots down a German two-seater for victory number 7.

German pilot Kurt Schneider, flying an Albatros D.III, shoots down a BE.2c for victory number 3.

Two Bristol F.2as work together to shoot down an Albatros D.III:
Alan Wilkinson, victory number 16; Laurence Alan, number 4.
William Otto Brash Winkler, number 1; Ernest Stanley Moore, number 1.



North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of Ireland:
Gerhard Schulz, commanding UC-27, scuttles Russian schooner Ernst Sophie, 222 tons, bound from Bristol to Iceland with a load of salt. His score is now 3 vessels and 566 tons.



Celtic Sea:
Wilhelm Werner, in U-55, sinks British freighter SS Toro, 3,066 tons, en route from Alexandria to Hull with a general cargo; 200 miles off Ushant. His score is now 31 ships and 51,202 tons.



English Channel:
Wilhelm Amberger, in UB-38, sinks British passenger ship SS Lismore, 1,305 tons, travelling in ballast from Rouen to Portishead. His score is now 12 ships and 13,380 tons.

Hans Valentiner, in UC-71, sinks French sailing vessel Edelweiss, 192 tons, with his deck gun off Cherbourg. His score is now 43 ships and 34,885 tons.



North Sea:
Franz Grünert, in U-30, sinks Norwegian freighter SS Kolaastind, 2,368 tons, carrying oil in drums from New York to Stockholm; off Holmengrå. His score is now 8 ships and 7,053 tons.

Otto von Schrader, in UC-31, sinks four vessels off Hartlepool:
Dutch sailing vessel Dina Hinderika, 200 tons, bound from West Hartlepool for Drammen with a load of coal.
Dutch sailing vessel Neptunus, 200 tons, en route from West Hartlepool to Christiania with a load of coal.
Danish schooner Union, 152 tons, carrying a load of coal from West Hartlepool to Aarhus.
Dutch schooner Voorwaarts, 147 tons, heading from West Hartlepool to Christiania with a load of coal.
Von Schrader's score is now 27 vessels and 18,587 tons.

Wilhelm Barten, in UC-76, sinks a British fishing fleet between Rattray Head and Girdle Ness, Scotland. Using scuttling charges and deck gun, Barten sinks eight trawlers:
Caliban, 215 tons.
Chinkiang, 125 tons.
Crown Prince, 103 tons.
Equerry, 168 tons.
Fife Ness, 123 tons.
Largo Bay, 125 tons.
Lillian, 120 guns.
Osprey, 106 tons.
Bartens's score is now 12 vessels and 3,057 tons.



Alboran Sea:
Leading u-boat ace Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, in U-35, sinks Greek freighter SS India, 2,933 tons, en route from Cardiff to Oran with a load of coal. His score is now 159 ships and 324,457 tons.



Tyrhennian Sea:
Italian freighter SS Monviso, 4,020 tons, carrying a load of grain and wheat from Palermo to Civita Vecchia, hits a mine laid by Alfred Klatt in UC-38 off Capo Zaffarano, on the north side of Sicily. The damaged ship makes port safely.



Ionian Sea:
Robert Teufl von Fernland, in Austrian submarine U-27, sinks Greek freighter SS Niritos, 3,756 tons, heading from Genoa to Port Said; of Augusta, Sicily, north of Siracusa. This is his first sinking.



Mediterranean Sea:
Kurt Hartwig, in U-32, torpedoes British freighter SS Kildale, 3,830 tons, travelling from Barry to Malta with a general cargo; southeast of Pantelleria Island. His score is now 38 ships and 52,075 tons.

Hans Walther, in U-52, sinks British freighter SS Glencliffe, 3,673 tons, en route from Clyde to Genoa with coal plus a general cargo; off Alicante, Spain. His score is now 27 ships and 63,794 tons.

Hermann von Fischel, in U-65, scuttles Italian schooner Angela M, 187 tons, off Cape Bougaroni, Algeria, raising his score to 19 vessels and 40,145 tons.



Durban, South Africa:
HMFM Trent arrives at Durban. One fireman who had deserted returns to the ship, and the man who hand refused duty during the trip is placed under guard.