Back to the routine today: this was Greg’s first counter-battery patrol since he returned from leave. Some things had changed: patrolling further east than previously, and with a new observer (Lt John Edward Elliott). And some things hadn’t: engine trouble again.
Log Book
Date: 8.10.18 Time Out: 13.30 Rounds Fired – Lewis: - Rounds Fired – Vickers: - Bombs: 1 Time on RE8s: 168 hrs 50 mins RE8: 2526 Observer: Elliot [sic, should be Elliott] War Flying: 2 hrs 00 mins Height: 2500 Course/Remarks: C.B.P. Engine missing.
Squadron Record Book
Type and Number: R.E.8.2526 Pilot and Observer: P. Lt Gregory. O. Lt Elliott Duty: Artillery Patrol. Hour of Start: 1330 Hour of Return: 1530 Remarks: FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS 1410 small explosion at P.13.d.9.8 [West of Lille] 1435 large fire in approx K.5. [Northeast of Lille] Too far to be pinpointed. 1415 flashes from windscreen of car moving along road in approx L.26.a [East of Lille] 1440 1 E.K.B. East of LILLE 1445 sent 1 E.A. I.10 [Between Armentières and Lille]. Unable to discern whether single or two seater. Broad belt of wire in front of trenches running through I.34.a. and I.35.a. [west of Lille] in good condition. A.A. normal. 1405 1-25lb bomb aimed at FORT D’ENGLOS [west of Lille]. Burst 300 yards S.W. Returned owing to engine trouble. Vis. Good. Height 2500’. Obs by P. & O.
These locations, both to the west and to the east of Lille, are shown on the following map:
Greg and Lt Elliott may have seen more, were it not for the dodgy engine in 2526. Probably it was the engine problem that meant that they only offloaded one bomb. It was intended for Fort d’Englos, which had received some attention three days ago:
John Edward Elliott
Lt John Edward Elliott was born on 20 February 1899, and was therefore 19 days younger than Greg. This was the only time that these two teenagers flew together. Lt Elliott survived the war and was to have a lucky escape on 15 December 1918, still in France, when he survived a crash. The official casualty report read:
Ok [D6740 RE8] Crashed landing Saultain on travelling flight to new aerodrome. Lt McDermont Ok/Lt Elliott Ok [shown as 6740]
Credit to the RFC pages of http://airhistory.org.uk/ for the casualty information [from TNA AIR 1/865].
Next up…
The next entry in Greg’s log book is for Friday 11 October 1918. But there was to be quite an occasion the day before that…