In other 42 Squadron news, while observing an artillery shoot Capt. Hutchinson and 2nd Lt. Blair were attacked by five hostile aircraft behind enemy lines a couple of miles north of Merville. They survived and returned to Rely unscathed.
Air combat report. Click for larger image.
Time: 7 p.m.
Locality: K.11. sheet 36a N.E.
Pilot: Capt. G. A. Hutchinson
Observer: 2/Lieut. J. Blair
5 Albatros Scouts. D.III.
E.A. came from back of clouds and were within 100 yards of R.E.8. before discovered. Observer immediately opened fire. Two of the E.A. then turned off. After the Observer had fired 100 rounds the remainder turned off and flew East.
Extract of 1:40,000 map of Merville and surrounding area. Square K11 is 3,000 yards (~ 2miles, ~3km) north of the centre of Merville, which is 17 miles (27 km) west of Lille.
Friday June 14th. RE 6548. Very windy, about 45 mph. Counter battery patrol 12.30 to 1.30. Fearfully bumpy. Good landing – rather more luck than anything else. Explosion near Merville.
Rely aerodrome certainly would have caught the wind. It is located on what passes for high ground in Artois, south of the Lys – just on the 100 m contour line – whereas the Lys valley around Merville is less than 20 m above sea level. Hence the fearful bumpiness.
After the false starts earlier in the week, Greg starts to ease into what will become one of his routine activities: the Counter Battery Patrol. This one, which at three hours duration was one of the longer ones, was enlivened by some ‘Archie’ – anti-aircraft fire.
Thursday June 13th. E27. Counter battery patrol from 4 to 7. Rather dud, engine rough.
One ‘Archie’ burst under tail. Two explosions in Hunland. Bad landing. Observer fired off 100 rounds into Calonne.
All the As: Archie, Ack-Ack and Anti-Aircraft Fire
‘Archie’ – anti-aircraft fire. Image: Greg’s War Collection. Click for larger image.
‘Archie’ and ‘ack-ack’ were both slang terms used by British airmen for anti-aircraft fire in the First World War. One is easier to explain than the other.
Ack-ack
Ack-ack’ is the easier term to explain, as ‘Ack’ was the letter A in an early military alphabet, as set out by The Royal Signals Museum here. AA or ack-ack was the standard abbreviation for anti-aircraft (fire).
Archie
But what of ‘Archie’? The most prevalent explanation seems to be that it derived from a popular music hall number called Archibald! Certainly not, first sung by George Robey in 1911. The story is that a pilot used to shout the song title, which was also the refrain, to his observer when an anti-aircraft shell exploded nearby (but missed), and ‘Archibald’ of course became abbreviated to ‘Archie’. Some accounts credit the first usage to Lieutenant Amyas ‘Biffy’ Borton of 5 Sqn RFC.
In a competing explanation, this source has a rather more elaborate account of the origin of the expression, quoting Ernest Weekley’s An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English (1921) :
“It was at once noticed at Brooklands [where much aviation development and testing was carried out prior to 1914, and portrayed in the film Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines] that in the vicinity of, or over, water or damp ground, there were disturbances in the air causing bumps or drops to these early pioneers. Some of these ‘remous’ were found to be permanent, one over the Wey river, and another at the corner of the aerodrome next to the sewage-farm. Youth being fond of giving proper names to inanimate objects, the bump near the sewage-farm was called by them Archibald. As subsequently, when war broke out, the effect of having shell bursting near an aeroplane was to produce a ‘remous’ reminding the Brookland trained pilots of their old friend Archibald, they called being shelled ‘being Archied’ for short. Any flying-man who trained at Brooklands before the war will confirm the above statement” (Col. C H Joubert de la Ferté, I M S ret.)
Well, which is right? Either way, you can hear Harry Bluff singing Archibald! Certainly not here:
Calonne
“Observer fired off 100 rounds into Calonne.” Calonne (today, Calonne-sur-la-Lys) is a small settlement 2 miles (3 km) south west of Merville, itself 17 miles (30 km) west of Lille. The German line ran through Calonne and Le Sart, to its north, at the time. Anywhere to the east of this line qualified as ‘Hunland’.
Calonne and Le Sart on a 1:40,000 map. Each square is 1,000 yards. Click for larger image. Map credit: IWM/TNA/GreatWarDigital.
Counter Battery Patrols
For an explanation of what counter battery patrols involved, see this new page in the ‘Setting the Scene – Background Articles’ series:
After his long journey and spending the night in a railway truck in Aire-sur-la-Lys, Greg finally made it in the morning to his squadron – No. 42 Squadron RAF, Major H. J. F. Hunter, M.C., commanding – at Rely Aerodrome. He had a first, short flight with the squadron that afternoon.
Diary
Diary
Monday June 3rd 1918. Phoned up to 42 Squadron for tender.
Managed to find an Hotel with someone in, where we had breakfast.
Arrived Squadron (at Rely, nr Estrée Blanche, west of Merville) about 9.30am. Posted to B flight. (Merville – midway between Ypres & Arras.)
[Side note] Squadron about midway between Ypres & Arras. Front includes Eastern edge of Forest of Nieppe & down to where the line cuts the La Bassée canal north of Béthune.
So began Greg’s time at Rely, where he was to spend several months. Rely is a small village set amongst farmland on the gently rising ground to the west and south of the Lys. It is about 31 miles (50 km) WSW of Lille. If the name seems familiar to British travellers to France today, it is probably because the Aire de Rely is the first eastbound service area on the A26 autoroute (L’Autoroute des Anglais) from Calais.
Rely, Merville and Lille on a modern map (courtesy Google). Click for a larger, zoomable map (opens in new tab).
The First World War aerodrome at Rely was at 50°34’44” N 2°21’4″E (hat-tip to Anciens Aerodromes) , which places it on the Rue de Liettres, NW of the village centre just on the 100 m contour line. The site looks like this in Google Street View today:
RE8 E102
As it happens, today was the day that the Squadron’s daily orders recorded that the RE8 aircraft with the serial number E102, which was to be allocated to Greg the following day, was officially transferred to the strength of the squadron:
The sector of the front line on which 42 Sqn was working ran, as Greg notes, from the east of the Nieppe Forest (just west of Merville) to the La Bassée canal near Béthune:
The Front Line near Merville, from Gen. Haig’s despatches. Image credit: IWM/GreatWarDigital
Most of the action that Greg saw would be in the north of this sector, near Merville.
Sandbag Flight
As Greg had no observer or passenger with him on his first short flight, he had to carry sandbags to ensure that the aeroplane was properly balanced, as explained here, under the heading “Crew”:
There was another air combat today at Neuf Berquin near Merville:
Air combat report. Click for larger image
Time: 6.30 a.m.
Locality: MERVILLE
Pilot: Capt. R. A. Archer, M.C.
Observer: 2/Lieut. H.C. Grimes
5 Albatros Scouts of whom only 3 persisted.
While over NEUF BERQUIN saw 5 aeroplanes patrolling about same height over ESTAIRES. Went on South. the 5 aeroplanes who proved to be hostile got into the sun over us. We turned towards our own lines. When about over L'EPINETTE, L.7.c, 3 dived on us firing. Seeing none of our own machines about we side-slipped home, recrossing the line at about 1500' at LE SART. During the whole of the fight, the Observer fired his gun at the E.A. but Pilot made no effort to get the Vickers on. 3 of the E.A. persisted in the attack until our lines were reached.
Map extract of Neuf Berquin, Estaires and Le Sart, from 1:40,000 series. Estaires is 15 miles (24 km) west of Lille and 4 miles (6 km) east of Merville. Each numbered square is 1,000 yds. Click for larger image. Credit: IWM/GreatWarDigital
Looks a bit like a late realisation that the aircraft were hostile. And then the pilot was fully preoccupied in getting them back to safety.
…it was another day of aerial combat for an RE8 of 42 Squadron, which was – alarmingly – outnumbered 12 to 1 but survived:
Air combat report – click for larger image
Time: 12.10 p.m.
Locality: K.28
Pilot: Capt. A. E. Davis
Observer: Lieut. J. Chatterton, M.C.
12 single seater machines, type unknown.
Machines had extension on top planes and slight
dihedral.
At 12.10pm two formations of six machines each
appeared over MERVILLE. One machine dived on us and
fired about 50 rounds. Observer fired a burst of 25
rounds with Lewis into this machine which then
turned away. A second E.A. then dived and followed
us down to 4000 feet, firing all the time. Observer
fired another 70 rounds into this machine which did
a sharp "Immelmann" and turned East. Vickers [the
pilot's gun] fired about 50 rounds at machines
retreating.
K.28
“K.28” refers to a 1,000 yd x 1,000 yd square just west of Merville, itself 17 miles (30 km) west of Lille:
K.28, near Merville, from 1:10,000 scale map. Click for larger image. Map credit IWM/GreatWarDigital
The centre of K.28 was a mile or so behind, i.e. to the east of, the German front line at the time.
“Immelmann”
The “Immelmann Turn” is associated with and was possibly devised by the German Pilot Max Immelmann.
In World War I aerial combat, an Immelmann turn was a maneuver used after an attack on another aircraft to reposition the attacking aircraft for another attack.
After making a high-speed diving attack on an enemy, the attacker would then climb back up past the enemy aircraft, and just short of the stall, apply full rudder to yaw his aircraft around. This put his aircraft facing down at the enemy aircraft, making another high-speed diving pass possible. This is a difficult maneuver to perform properly, as it involves precise control of the aircraft at low speed. With practice and proper use of all of the fighter’s controls, the maneuver could be used to reposition the attacking aircraft to dive back down in any direction desired.
The manoeuvre is illustrated in a 1918 RNAS handbook as follows:
The Immelmann Turn, illustrated by E. L. Ford, from ‘Practical Flying’, RNAS, 1918
Immelmann famously flew Fokker Eindeckers, including the E.III as pictured (probably at Upavon in Wiltshire) in this post:
While Greg was at Hursley Park, an RE8 of 42 Sqn RAF saw aerial combat this day while Lts Puckle (Pilot) and Nicolson (Observer) were on artillery registration duty at 6:30am. “Artillery registration” was more informally known as a “shoot” – the process of directing fire from a battery onto a target, typically a hostile battery, as practised by Greg at Yatesbury on 4 May 1918:
Time: 6.30am Locality: Between NIEPPE FOREST and
MERVILLE
Pilot: Lt H. Puckle Observer: Lt J. F. W. Nicolson
Two seater, either an Albatros or resembling one
The E.A. was first fired on when flying north from
MERVILLE and 500 feet above us. Two drums were fired
at him when he turned and flew towards MERVILLE,
and in flying somewhat across his track 1½ drums were
fired, and the E.A. disappeared into the haze over
ESTAIRES apparently undamaged.
Merville and the Nieppe Forest. Scale: 1:40,000 in original print; each numbered square is 1,000 yds (914 m). Map credit: IWM/TNA/RGS/GreatWarDigital
The area between the Nieppe Forest and Merville, on the River Lys. Merville is 17 miles (30 km) west of Lille. Map credit: Imperial War Museum/Great War DigitalSo no harm done (or inflicted). But a nervous moment for the crew of an RE8, which was not built for elective aerial combat. The risks were never far away.
The combat report was signed by Major H. J. F. Hunter MC, who on 17 April 1918 had taken over as the new CO of 42 Sqn from Major R. G. Gould MC. Major Hunter would be in charge when Greg was posted to the squadron in June.
Operation Georgette comes to a halt. Around Merville, though, where Greg would be operating, there had not in fact been much movement in the German advance for a couple of weeks.
On the Lys, German front line passed between Merville and St Venant, not far from the settlement of St Floris.
Header Image: Adapted from Map 7 of Haig’s Despatches ‘The German Offensive on the Lys, April 1918’. Credit: Imperial War Museum and Great War Digital
The outlook is grim. Operation Georgette progresses apace, as the header image shows, and the front line reached the middle of Merville by nightfall as German forces advance west.
“With our backs to the wall…”
In fact, the outlook is so grim, that on this day General Haig issued his famous ‘backs to the wall’ order:
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
By FIELD-MARSHAL SIR DOUGLAS HAIG
K.T., G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.I.E.
Commander-in-Chief, British Armies in France
To ALL RANKS OF THE BRITISH ARMY IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS.
Three weeks ago to-day the enemy began his terrific attacks against us on a fifty-mile front. His objects are to separate us from the French, to take the Channel Ports and destroy the British Army.
In spite of throwing already 106 Divisions into the battle and enduring the most reckless sacrifice of human life, he has as yet made little progress towards his goals.
We owe this to the determined fighting and self-sacrifice of our troops. Words fail me to express the admiration which I feel for the splendid resistance offered by all ranks of our Army under the most trying circumstances.
Many amongst us now are tired. To those I would say that Victory will belong to the side which holds out the longest. The French Army is moving rapidly and in great force to our support.
There is no other course open to us but to fight it out. Every position must be held to the last man : there must be no retirement. With our backs to the wall and believing in the justice of our cause each one of us must fight on to the end. The safety of our homes and the Freedom of mankind alike depend upon the conduct of each one of us at this critical moment.
(Signed) D. Haig. F.M.
Commander-in-Chief,
British Armies in France
An RE8 of 42 Squadron RAF, Greg’s future squadron, saw aerial combat around Béthune:
42 Sqn Combat Report; Click or tap for larger image
Time: 2.42 p.m. Locality: BETHUNE
Pilot: 2/Lieut B. Martin; Observer: 2/Lieut J. R. Bono
Five hostile scouts. All were of same type, single seaters, believed to be Albatross Scouts, biplanes and no extensions, with Spad tails, marked black and white
Upon getting above clouds, Observer drew Pilot’s attention to 5 planes coming from North East. Upon reaching 3000 feet the E.A. formation was seen to swerve round and try to drive us over the line. Pilot turned slightly to West and by this time two of the leading E.A. dived on us, one diving directly on our nose which was engaged by the Pilot’s gun, nose to nose, and the other on the right wing was engaged by the Observer’s gun. The machine engaged by Pilot gave way and went under the machine and was not seen again and is believed to have been hit. Meanwhile the E.A. attacking on the right and engaged by Observer was seen to glide down and disappear in cloud, the Observer having fired one magazine into it. One of the other hostile planes was seen to fly towards and parallel to ours and Observer emptied another drum into it. Pilot was then entering clouds and E.A. went away. Ten minutes later 4 machines were seen approaching from enemy line from further North than place where last 5 E.A. were seen. They approached and Pilot disappeared under the clouds.
Header Image: Adapted from Map 7 of Haig’s Despatches ‘The German Offensive on the Lys, April 1918’. Credit: Imperial War Museum and Great War Digital
Operation Georgette comes to a halt. Around Merville, though, where Greg would be operating, there had not in fact been much movement in the German advance for a couple of weeks. 
