100 Years Ago Today

[Sailor Steve]

May 31, 1916

Sometime in May the first production order for 80 Fokker D.I fighters. A letter of intent was issued in April, so the first 20 are already under construction.



Air War:
0920 Four FE.2b teams share a kill over an "Enemy Aircraft" - E.F. Allen and L.C. Powell in 5235, Dirk Cloete and C.E. Pither in 6354, A.T. Watson and C.L. Blake in 5249, H. Wyllie and Arthur Norbury Solly in 5215. Also involved is AM1 D.R. Chapman in Martinsyde G.100 7280. Arthur Solly is the only one who will go on to become an ace and this is his first victory. Details are lacking for the others.

1120 German ace Max Immelmann and pilots Max von Mulzer and an Unteroffizier Heinemann engage a flight of seven FE.2bs. Immelmann hits one FE.2b which breaks off and runs for home. Immelmann turns to engage another Fee which is attacking Heinemann. Mulzer follows the one that is running away, shooting at it until it lands near the railway station at Inchy. 2nd Lt A. Cairne-Duff and Cpl G.E. Maxwell are taken prisoner, and von Mulzer is awarded victory number 3. Meanwhile Immelmann is firing at the second FE.2 whan his synchonizer gear fails and his own bullets shatter his propeller. Immelmann's quick reaction saves his life as he shuts the engine down and glides to a safe landing. Either Immelmann or Heinemann had scored hits on their Fee, killing observer Lt Lindsey Carlton Powell. Pilot 2nd Lt E.F. Allen gets the plane home safely.



Atlantic Ocean:
French barque Saint Louis, 320 tons, carrying a load of salt to Newfoundland, sinks off Graciosa Island in the Azores.


For further information on the Battle of Jutland, see here.

[Jimbuna]

1st June 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: Fresh German attack on Fort Vaix; French first line penetrated between Douaumont and Vaux Pond.

Eastern Front

Russians repel attack east of Krevo (Vilna).

Southern Front

Heavy Austrian attack on Italian left centre from Monte Pasubio to south of Arsiero (Trentino); little progress.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Turkish offensive in Armenia.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Battle of Jutland ends.

The British lost 3 battlecruisers, 2 armored cruisers, 8 destroyers, and 6094 killed.

The Germans lost 1 battlecruiser, 1 pre-dreadnought, 4 light cruisers, 6 torpedo boats, & 2551 killed. Britain maintains its control of the seas.

Political, etc.

Britain expands its importation ban to include carpet sweepers, cash registers, lawn mowers, matches, and beer.

Ship Losses:

HMS Ardent (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Acasta-class destroyer was shelled and sunk by SMS Westfalen ( Kaiserliche Marine).
HMT Beneficent (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was shelled and sunk in the Strait of Otranto by SMS Orjen ( Austro-Hungarian Navy) with the loss of nine of her crew.
Dewsland (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was shelled and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 28 nautical miles (52 km) north east of Cape Carbon, Algeria (37°07′N 5°30′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS E9 (Royal Navy) The E-class submarine was last seen in the Baltic Sea on this date. Subsequently lost with all 31 crew.
SMS Elbing (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Jutland: The Pillau-class cruiser was rammed, holed and disabled by SMS Posen ( Kaiserliche Marine). She was subsequently scuttled by her crew.
Excellenz Mehnert (Norway) The coaster struck a mine laid by UC 6 (Otto Ehrentraut) and sank in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south west of Winterton, Norfolk, United Kingdom (52°42′N 2°02′E). Her crew survived.
HMS Fortune (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Acasta-class destroyer was shelled and sunk by SMS Westfalen and other warships (all Kaiserliche Marine) with the loss of 67 of her 75 crew.
SMS Frauenlob (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Jutland: The Gazelle-class cruiser was torpedoed, shelled and sunk by HMS Southampton (Royal Navy) with the loss of 324 of her 329 crew.
SMS Lützow (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Jutland: The Derfflinger-class battlecruiser was scuttled by SMS G38 ( Kaiserliche Marine) following battle damage inflicted by HMS Invincible ( Royal Navy).
Parkgate (United Kingdom) The cargo ship struck a mine laid by UC 10 (Alfred Nitzsche) and was damaged in the North Sea 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km) east south east of the Sunk Lightship ( United Kingdom) (51°52′N 1°39′E). She was beached but was later refloated, repaired and returned to service.
SMS Pommern (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Jutland: The Deutschland-class battleship was torpedoed and sunk by HMS Faulknor ( Royal Navy) with the loss of all 839 crew.
SMS Rostock (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Jutland: The Karlsruhe-class cruiser was torpedoed, shelled and damaged by HMS Achates and HMS Broke (both Royal Navy). She was subsequently scuttled. Her crew were rescued by SMS S54 ( Kaiserliche Marine).
Salmonpool (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea 30 nautical miles (56 km) north east by east of Cape Carbon (37°10′N 5°30′E) by SM U-39 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived.
HMS Sparrowhawk (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Acasta-class destroyer collided with HMS Broke ( Royal Navy) and sank with the loss of six of her 75 crew.
HMS Turbulent (Royal Navy) Battle of Jutland: The Talisman-class destroyer was shelled and sunk with the loss of 90 of her 102 crew.
SMS V4 (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Jutland: The V1-class destroyer was sunk.
SMS W84 (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Jutland: The torpedo boat was shelled and sunk with the loss of 99 of her 102 crew. Survivors were rescued by Para ( Sweden).
SMS Wiesbaden (Kaiserliche Marine) Battle of Jutland: The Wiesbaden-class cruiser was torpedoed, shelled and sunk by HMS Invincible and HMS Onslow (both Royal Navy) with the loss of 589 of her 590 crew. The survivor was rescued by a Norwegian merchant ship.

[Sailor Steve]

June 1, 1916

Air War:
1010 English pilot Albert Ball, in Nieuport 16 5173, shoots down an eindecker for victory number 4. There seems to be no German record of one of their pilots falling this day, but missing records are commonplace for this period.



North Sea:
Norwegian freighter SS Excellenz Mehnert, 646 tons, carrying a load of wood from Drammen to Gravesend, hits a mine laid by Otto Ehrentraut in UC-6, bringing his score to 2 ships and 1,646 tons.



Mediterranean Sea:
Walter Forstmann, commanding U-39, sinks British freighters Dewsland, 1993 tons, bound from Philppeville for Cardiff with a load of lead and shumac; and Salmonpool, 4,905 tons, travelling in ballast from Naples to Baltimore. His score is now 76 ships and 182,614 tons.



Durban, South Africa:
Final preparations are made for towing HMS Mersey back to German East Africa.

[Jimbuna]

2nd June 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: French recover ground south of Caurettes Wood; Germans progress east of Caillette Wood, on outskirts of Vaux Pond, at Damloup and Vaux Fort.

Third Battle of Ypres; two German attacks, second penetrates British trenches to depth of 300 yards on 3,000 yard front towards Zillebeke.

Southern Front

Austrian attacks from Posina to Astico (Trentino) repulsed.

Bulgarians fire on Greeks at Demirhissar.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians repulse Turks between Erzerum and Erzingan. Turks retire 25 miles.

Turks retire after three days' fighting west of Rowanduz (east of Mosul).

British drive Turks out of Katiya (northern Sinai).

Naval

News of the Battle of Jutland is published & spread. Germans celebrate victory, while many British are shocked to learn about their losses.

Battle of Jutland: Jack Cornwell, a 16-year-old gunner on the HMS Chester, passes away from his wounds suffered at the Battle of Jutland. Cornwell was the only survivor at his gun. He will be the youngest recipient of the Victoria Cross in the war.


Political, etc.

Belgians up to the age of 40 called to the colours.

A $269 million appropriation bill to expand the U.S. Navy is passed by the House of Representatives, with only 4 dissenting votes.

Kaiser Wilhelm goes on tour to visit the various German Army Groups on the eastern front.

[Sailor Steve]

June 2, 1916

Air War:
German pilot Walter Höhndorf, flying a Fokker E.III, shoots down a Caudron two-seater for victory number 4.



North Sea:
Norwegian freighter SS Oddvin, 659 tons, bound from Goole to Skien with a load of coal, is lost in the North Sea.



Atlantic Ocean:
Portuguese freighter SS SS Guiné, 1,211 tons, carrying a general cargo from Tarrafal to Fogo in the Cape Verde Islands, is wrecked at Ruy Pereira Point.



Durban, South Africa:
Fleet Messenger Trent takes monitor HMS Mersey in tow for the return trip to Mafia Island.

[Jimbuna]

3rd June 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: Powerful German attacks on Vaux Fort repulsed.

Battle of Ypres: Canadian counter-attack regains much of the lost ground.

Arras: Two months of tunneling under and blowing up each other's lines- with the advantage going to the British, who have taken over this sector to aid the French effort at Verdun- come to a temporary end with the British setting off four charges under the German trenches.


Eastern Front

Russian bombardment in Riga area, Galicia and Volhynia.

Southern Front

Allies occupy all official buildings in Salonika, and proclaim martial law.

Austrians advance on Arsiero-Posina line, but are repulsed on Arsiero-Lagarina line.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians defeat Turks at Khanikin (Persia).

Turkish attack repulsed by Russians at Diarbekr (Asia Minor).

Naval and Overseas Operations

British occupy Namena (German East Africa) after three days fighting.

Political, etc.

Despite losses at Jutland, British officials, including Winston Churchill, state Britain still controls the seas.

King George praises the “splendid gallantry” of the Grand Fleet and states his “regret” the German fleet was able to flee.

British weekly The Nation: “Against America we cannot win the war. W/out America we can hardly win. With America we cannot help winning it.”

National Defense Act of 1916 is enacted, which expands the Army and National Guard and creates the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

Ship Losses:

Golconda (United Kingdom) The passenger ship struck a mine laid by UC 3 (Günther Kreysern) and sank in the North Sea 5 nautical miles (9.3 km) south east by east of Aldeburgh, Suffolk (52°08′30″N 1°44′45″E) with the loss of nineteen lives.

[Sailor Steve]

June 3, 1916

Air War:
0700 Austrian pilot Fritz Rottmann and Bohemian observer Otto Jäger, in Austrian Albatros B.I 22.31, shoot down a Farman two-seater. Victory number 1 for Rottmann, number 2 for Jäger.



North Sea:
British freighter SS Golconda, 5,874 tons, bound from Tees for London with a general cargo, runs on a mine laid by Günther Kreysern in UC-3. Kreysern's final score is 2 ships and 7,095 tons. UC-3 had herself been lost to a mine one week earlier, on May 27th.

His Majesty's Trawler Klondyke, 155 tons, sinks following a collision with SS Hindu.
(Wrecksite.eu. some sources have this taking place on June 4th.)



Africa:
Fleet Messenger Trent develops engine troubles and is forced to head toward Delagoa Bay (modern Maputo Bay, in southern Mozambique) to make repairs.



Australia:
Australian ketch Wai-Weer, 29 tons, ia wrecked off Double Island, Queensland.

[Jimbuna]

4th June 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: French forces charge toward Fort Vaux but are fought off by the Germans. Inside the fort, Germans use flamethrowers in an attempt to dislodge the French within. It fails. At night, 300 French soldiers make it out of the fort, but most of them will be killed or captured.

Eastern Front

Great Russian offensive from Pripet (Poland) to Romanian frontier, under General Brusilov; 13,000 prisoners reported.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Sheriff of Mecca starts revolt against Turks.

Southern Front

British and French troops occupying Salonica [Thessalonica], Greece take over government offices and impose martial law.

Political, etc.

London: Lord Kitchener leaves by train for Thurso, Scotland, where he will board ship for his top-secret journey to Archangel, Russia.


National War Savings Committee urges wealthy Britons to be thriftier, particularly on things like motor cars and petrol.

Ship Losses:

HMT Klondyke (Royal Navy) The naval trawler was lost on this date.

[Sailor Steve]

June 4, 1916

French pilot Jacques Ortoli, flying a Nieuport 11, shoots down an LVG two-seater for victory number 2.



Adriatic Sea:
Italian submarine Atropo torpedoes Austro-Hungarian freighter SS Albanien, 1,120 tons, off Quarnerolo (Kvarneric), Croatia.



East Africa:
1200 FM Trent, with HMS Mersey in tow, enters Delagoa Bay, in modern Mozambique.
1445 Tow cables between Trent and Mersey are secured, and Mersey taken in tow by a tug.
1640 Trent anchors in Lorenco Marques Harbour, with Mersey tied up alongside. Upon examination Trent's condenser intakes are discovered to be choked with barnacles.



Yellow Sea:
Japanese freighter Oyo Maru, 1,854 tons, carrying a load of coal from Chinnampo to Tokuyama, is wrecked off Moppo, (South) Korea.

[Jimbuna]

5th June 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: German attacks between Vaux Fort and Damloup repulsed.

Eastern Front

Russian offensive continues; 12,000 prisoners reported.

German attacks repulsed near Krevo (Vilna).

Southern Front

Austrians repulsed on Asiago plateau; Italians gain ground at Monte Cengio (Trentino).

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians evacuate Khanikin.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Lord Kitchener boards the HMS Iron Duke to have lunch with Admiral Lord Jellicoe before leaving for Russia.


H.M.S. "Hampshire" mined off Scottish coast: Lord Kitchener and his staff drowned.


Political, etc.

Dr. Bethmann-Hollweg makes a tour of the southern German States to induce acceptance of central control of food supplies.

Mildred J. Hill, American songwriter who composed the melody for “Happy Birthday to You,” has passed away.

Ship Losses:

Eagre (United Kingdom) The coaster sprang a leak in the North Sea off Covehithe, Suffolk and was abandoned by her three crew.
HMS Hampshire (Royal Navy) The Devonshire-class cruiser struck a mine laid by U 75 (Curt Beitzen) and sank in the Atlantic Ocean north west of the Orkney Islands. There were only twelve survivors of over 600 people on board.
Lars Jorgensen (Denmark) The brigantine was driven ashore on Sanday, Orkney Islands, United Kingdom and was wrecked. Her crew were rescued. She was refloated on 17 July.

[Sailor Steve]

June 5, 1916

Air War:
German pilot Herbert Wilhelm Franz Knappe, flying an unnamed aircraft on the Russian Front, shoots down an "Enemy aircraft" for victory number 1.
The Controversy



North Sea:
British armoured cruiser HMS Hampshire, 10,850 tons, runs on a mine laid by Curt Beitzen in U-75, near the west coast of the Orkney Islands. Due to the strike taking place in a gale, rescue operations are limited and 737 crew members die (643 according to Wrecksite.eu). Among the dead is Lord Kitchener, on his way to a diplomatic mission in Russia. This is Beitzen's first sinking.



Ionian Sea:
French destroyer Fantassin, 450 tons, is crippled in a collision with destroyer Mameluk. The crew are taken off and Fantassin is sunk by the guns of destroyer Fauconneau, off Fano Island (modern Othonoi), Greece.

[Jimbuna]

6th June 1916

Western Front

Battle of Ypres: Germans again attack, gaining some ground at Hooge. German troops detonate four mines underneath British lines north of Hooge and follow it up with infantry assaults.

Eastern Front

Russians take Lutsk (Volhynia); cross the Ikva and Styr in Lutsk area and make progress south of Dniester: 15,000 prisoners reported.

Southern Front

"Pacific blockade" of Greece by Entente Powers begins.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Russians checked at Diarbekr.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Rhodesian troops drive Germans towards Iringa, north-east of Lake Nyassa; Belgians advance north-west of Lake Tanganyika.

Political, etc.

Army Order issued re: Lord Kitchener.

Pacific blockade of Greece by the Allies as a result of Greeks allowing Bulgarians to cross frontier.

Dr. Taylor's report on Ruhleben Camp published.

Yuan-shi-kai, President of China, dies; succeeded by Li Huan Yung.

Ship Losses:

Flyn (United Kingdom) The coaster foundered in the English Channel off Alderney, Channel Islands.
Oddvin (Norway) The coaster foundered in the North Sea. Her crew were rescued by the fishing smack Aderane Jacoba ( Netherlands).
Prosper III (Norway) The cargo ship struck two mines and sank in the Bay of Biscay with the loss of all (29) but one of her crew. The survivor was rescued by Lutece ( France).

[Sailor Steve]

June 6, 1916

Air War:
Austrian pilot Vizefeldwebel Kurt Gruber, flying two-seat Albatros B.I 22.30 with no observer, forces a Russian Morane parasol two-seater to land, resulting in victory number 3 and the Gold Bravery Medal, the highest award for an Austro-Hungarian non-commissioned officer.



Barents Sea:
American freighter SS Carolyn, 2,241 tons, runs aground near the Finish-Russian border.



Mozambique:
Repairs completed, FM Trent again takes HMS Mersey in tow and departs Lornco Marques harbour.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

5th June 1916




H.M.S. "Hampshire" mined off Scottish coast: Lord Kitchener and his staff drowned.

Of course nothing ever is as it seems :https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Joubert_Duquesne

Duquesne posed as the Russian Duke Boris Zakrevsky and joined Lord Kitchener on the HMS Hampshire in Scotland. Once on board, Duquesne signaled the German submarine that sank the cruiser, thus killing Lord Kitchener. Duquesne made his own escape using a life raft before the ship was torpedoed and he was rescued by the submarine. Duquesne was awarded the Iron Cross for this act, and he appears in several pictures in German uniform wearing an Iron Cross in addition to other medals. Captain Louis Botha, son of the former Prime Minister of South Africa General Louis Botha, further writes that "Duquesne was a great friend of the Botha family" and that Duquesne "rose from the status of a Private in the German Army to the rank of Colonel, and received the Iron Cross during the great war." The authenticity of several of these claims has been challenged by modern biographers, and the German records that would confirm or deny at least parts of these accounts are now missing and presumed destroyed during the war.

His chief opponent in the Boer War had no doubts about him. During World War I, Burnham was living in California and was active in counterespionage for Britain. Much of it involved a famous Boer spy, Captain Fritz Joubert Duquesne, who became a German spy in both World Wars and claimed to have killed Field Marshal Kitchener while en route to meet with the Russians. During the Second Boer War, Burnham and Duquesne were each under orders to assassinate the other, but it was not until 1910 that the two men first met while both were in Washington, D.C., separately lobbying Congress to pass a bill in favor of the importation of African game animals into the United States.

He was one of the craftiest men I ever met. He had something of a genius of the Apache for avoiding a combat except in his own terms; yet he would be the last man I should choose to meet in a dark room for a finish fight armed only with knives. Next to Theron I believe Duquesne the greatest scout the Boers produced. Frederick Russell Burnham British Chief of Scouts

<and a Minnesota boy to boot!https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Russell_Burnham

To my friendly enemy, Major Frederick Russell Burnham, the greatest scout of the world, whose eyes were that of an Empire. I once craved the honour of killing him, but failing that, I extend my heartiest admiration. Fritz Joubert Duquesne

[Jimbuna]

7th June 1916

Western Front

Battle of Verdun: Fort Vaux surrenders after 6 days of heavy fighting. Exhausted French defenders of the fort:


Eastern Front

Russian offensive continues; 11,000 prisoners reported.

Southern Front

Very heavy Austrian attacks south and south-west of Asiago repulsed.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Sherif of Mecca throws off allegiance to Turkey and is supported by the tribes of Western and Central Arabia.

Politics, etc.

Premier Asquith takes temporary charge of the War Office after the death of Lord Kitchener.

German Reichstag passes a budget which adopts a new war loan worth $3 billion.

Ship Losses:

Aamot (Norway) The cargo ship was driven ashore off Loshavn, Vest-Agder. Her crew were rescued.