Two outings today: a bomb raid, and a shoot with 323 Siege Battery with whom Greg hadn’t worked for almost a month.
Log Book
Date: 11.8.18
Time: 11.15
Rounds Lewis: 300
Rounds Vickers: 200
Bombs: 4
Time on RE8s: 117 hrs 25 mins
RE8: E27
Observer: Hodgson
Time: 45 mins
Height: 2500
Course/Remarks: Bomb raid. Very hot & bumpy.
Date: 11.8.18
Time: 17.10
Rounds Lewis: -
Rounds Vickers: 100
Bombs: 4
Time on RE8s: 120 hrs 30 mins
RE8: E27
Observer: Hodgson
Time: 3 hrs 5 mins
Height: 4000
Course/Remarks: Shoot with 323 SB on Q6. Successful.
Diary
Sunday Aug 11th. Up twice – bomb raid for 45 mins in morning & shoot with 323 on Q6 in evening, successful.
Bomb Raid and Shoot
It wasn’t often that Greg went on a bomb raid. But it was this morning’s duty, and possibly carried out in support of initial ground operations in the Lys sector that were part of the Allies’ ‘100 Days’ Final Offensive.
323 Siege Battery (6″ howitzers) was previously a partner for Greg on a shoot on 17 July 1918. Square Q6 is south of Merville, on what is now part of Merville-Calonne Airport:
Merville and Square Q6 on a 1:40,000 scale map dated December 1917. Click for larger image. Map credit: IWM/TNA/GreatWarDigital
After a couple of weeks on other duties, it’s back to shoots today. Greg observes and directs the fire of 323 Siege Battery RGA on a position just south of Merville station, while simultaneously undertaking some counter-battery patrol work.
Wednesday July 17th. C.B.P. & Shoot. 4 Coopers. Did the shoot, but after about half an hour’s firing for effect, battery started using only one gun.
Up from 9.15 to 12.30. 323 SB.
Squadron Record Book
Type and Number: R.E.8.2526
Pilot and Observer: P. Lt Gregory. O. Lt Hodgson
Duty: Art Obs 323 S.B. (6” How) on H.B. at K.35.b.78.27.
Hour of Start: 9.15
Hour of Return: 12.30
Remarks: SUCCESSFUL. Called up 9.38. K. 9.40 Triangle 9.43. [Triangle Δ means 'wait'] L. 9.55. G. 9.56. V. 11.5. Time G. to V. 1 hr 9 mins. OBSERVED: M.O.K. M.A.3. 3 O.K. 5 Y. 1 Z. 5 A. 8 B. 18 C. 2 D. 9 W.
50 ranging rounds. 3 M.O.K. during B.F. three hits on house at K.35.b.7.3. 2 pits hit. Fire at 10.55. and explosion in ranging pit at 11.0. 12.10 sent C.I. (raining).
Shoot by P. Height 3000’.
MISC INF. 9.30. 4-25 lb bombs dropped K.35.b.4. All bursts observed. 9.30. 4 E.K.B. S.E. of ESTAIRES. 9.40. fire at L.27.d.1.1. burnt until 10.0. 10.17. explosion at L.7.d.0.2. 11.15 4 E.K.B. N. of ESTAIRES. 11.20. C.W.S. sent X. 11.35. sent U.D. F.R. U.L. Mist. 200 rounds V.G. and 400 L.G. fired into enemy trenches at 1000’. Vis. fair. Obs. By P. & O.
The house at K.35.b.7.3 was right next to the hostile battery at K.35.b.78.27, just south of the tracks at Merville Station, so it was not surprising that it was hit several times. And maybe it wasn’t such a good idea for the Germans to position a battery next to the station. After all, it would be bound to attract hostile fire, and the likelihood would be that the station as well as the battery would get knocked about.
Merville from a 1:10,000 trench map dated 16 August 1918. Numbered squares are 1,000 yards. Click for larger image. Credit: IWM/TNA/GreatWarDigital
