– frosty
I make out maps for arrival of Bde. 2nd Division Gen. MacDonnell.
Archives for February 2017
Wednesday 7 February 1917
– frost
Very busy making secret maps.
Tuesday 6 February 1917
Applied for pass (to Arras) to Eng. Capt. Wallis asks me to turn it down. No sir. Let the General do that!
*Draycott had received “a doleful letter from my cousin giving urgent reasons for a short leave to England”. (Pawn No. 883, Being the adventures of a Pawn of War in The Affair of 1914-18, Draycott, W.)
Monday 5 February 1917
15 of our planes go over enemy lines. Bomb dropping. Enemy appears in afternoon but our anti aircraft drive him off & our machines observe in safety.
Weather very cold.
Sunday 4 February 1917
Hard at work on secret maps.
3 enemy & one of ours engage. One of ours is driven off. No casualties.
Make appl. to Bde. Major for pass to Arras.
Saturday 3 February 1917
5 enemy ‘planes attack two of our Scouts and send them to earth one in flames. Observer burnt to death. Pilot has feet burned. The other crashes to earth in Neuville St. Vaast both seriously injured. Enemy possess a very fast machine. Ours are much too slow.
*A scout plane is type of surveillance aircraft used for the purpose of discovering an enemy position and directing artillery. Aerial reconnaissance was often a hazardous task because of a requirement to fly at slow speeds and at low altitudes. The task was made all the more dangerous with the arrival of additional German flying squadrons, including Manfred von Richthofen‘s highly experienced and well equipped (with the Albatros D.III) Jasta 11 (No. 11 Fighter Squadron), which led to sharp increase in Royal Flying Corps casualties.(www.wikipedia.com)
Friday 2 February 1917
Enemy shelled Mont St. Eloy yesterday causing casualties.
Thursday 1 February 1917
– fine
Enemy sending over 5.9” naval shells into La Targette. I go to see if my boys are alright as a shell pitched just outside their dugout. As I near the place a screaming shell bursts & the air is black with debris. The boys are alright.
In afternoon about 3:30 pm 5 enemy aeroplanes attack one of our machines (a Bristol) and succeed in forcing it to descend in our own lines at back of front line. Fritz strafes it with shells. Another of our machines takes its place & the enemy move off.
