On his last sortie for over a week, a counter-battery patrol takes Greg well to the east of Estaires. He sees fires and explosions around Laventie and along the River Lys in Sailly-sur-Lys, Erquinghem Lys and Pont de Nieppe, near Armentières.
Log Book
Date: 3.9.18 Time Out: 9.45 Rounds Lewis: 300 Rounds Vickers: 200 Bombs: - Time on RE8s: 153 hrs 55 mins RE8: E27 Observer: Lt Scarterfield War Flying Time: 2 hrs 35 mins Height: 5000 Course/Remarks: C.B.P. Few fires. Two explosions.
Squadron Record Book
Type and Number: RE8 27 Pilot and Observer: P. Lt Gregory. O. Lt Scarterfield Duty: Art Patrol [The "2.9.18" in this column looks like a typo for 3.9.18, which is the date given at the top of the sheet – and which agrees with Greg’s log book] Hour of Start: 9.45 Hour of Return: 12.20 Remarks: 10.20 Explosion followed by fire and column of smoke at M 3c 5.2. 10.25 Similar observation at G 18d 1.2 Fires in HOUSES at G 27d 5.7, and 2.5, G33d 3.5 and small BUILDING on Railway at M 3b 0.5 and in G 17 a Fires in SAILLY, PONT DE NIEPPE and ERQUINGHEM [ERQUINGHEM LYS]. 10.30 UL FR UD [Weather unfit for counter-battery work and photography, but fit for artillery registration] AA active east of LAVENTIE, none W. of LAVENTIE Vis good. Height 4000'. 4-25lb bombs on LAVENTIE. Bursts obs. 200 V.G. 300 L.G. into LAVENTIE and M4 from 2000'.
All this observed action is to the east of Estaires, around Laventie and along the River Lys towards Armentières, as this annotated map shows:
It is just to the west of Erquinghem Lys that, today, the high speed rail line from Calais crosses the Lys on its way to Lille, Paris and Brussels.
Next Up…
Greg’s next log book entry is on 12 September 1918. But watch out for news of a contact patrol and troop movements later today.