One Hundred Years Ago

[Rix Gins]

I think that there is only one photograph of Sergeant Herbert Bellerby.  He was kind of ruddy looking in the photo, but it's an old photo taken 100 years ago.  I'm sure he was less ruddy in real life.  Herbert lived with his folks at 49 Warren Road, Chingford, Essex, England back in 1915.  When war was declared, he joined the Royal Flying Corps. 

On September 23, 1916, he and five fellow pilots were part of a larger group (27 Squadron) that was headed for Cambrai on an Offensive Patrol.  The six were attacked by five German planes as they neared Cambrai.  Two of the British pilots made it back to base while another managed to ram his machine into a German plane.  (Second Lieutenant Leslie Forbes survived the ramming (the German pilot died) but he had trouble with his wrecked plane and injured himself when he hit a tree.) 

Three of the six Squadron 27 pilots were shot down, including Herbert Bellerby.  He was struck with 400 rounds from the guns of Manfred Von Richthofen and he didn't survive the encounter.  This would be the second victory for Richthofen, who payed the crash site a visit after returning to base.  He took as a souvenir, a piece of fabric from the crashed machine that had the plane's number on it.

A group of German soldiers from the 7th Infantry Division told Manfred that they had buried his opponent.  However, the war would eventually move over the burial spot and Bellerby's body would become forever lost.  His name was placed on the Arras Memorial to the Missing.  He was 28 years old.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Bellerby

 
Bellerby was flying a  Martinsyde G.100 at the time of his death.

[Rix Gins]

I am a day late and a dollar short on the next two German soldiers.  That's all right.  They are free to dress me down via EVP.  I might just be able to understand them if they only throw one or two words at a time at me.

Karl Leitner was a Sergeant and holder of the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves.  Karl is wearing the medal in the photograph.  He's got it tucked inside his uniform.  Look at the third button down and you can see the ribbon sticking out.  Soldier Leitner was killed at the Third Battle of the Somme on September 23, 1916.  (He died on the same day and on the same battlefield that the above mentioned Sergeant Bellerby was shot down over.)  Karl had been hit by an exploding artillery shell.  He was 22 years old.     

[Rix Gins]

The second soldier is Max Gaillinger, the son of an Economist and a soldier with the First Bavarian Jäger (Hunter) Battalion.  The card simply states that Max was killed in France on September 23, 1916, but the German Graves Registration Office adds further information that he was killed at Chapitre Wald and that he was buried in Hautecourt les Broville, France.  He was 22 years old.   

[Rix Gins]

Everett True, September 25, 1916. 

[Rix Gins]

The Chicago Day Book, September 25, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The South Bend News Times, September 25, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The Rock Island Argus, September 25, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The Battle of Morval was begun on September 25, 1916 and it would last for four days.  It was considered somewhat of a victory for the British and French armies.  The Germans had a difficult time with defense due to a weeks worth of rain from September 16th, to the 22nd. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Morval

[pate]

The Rock Island Argus, September 25, 1916.

Is Wilson hear yet, I miss him already...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7Rv_7kWfBc

Spoiler alert:  COMMIES (I think we have a trace of yarns for that one)...

Not fun this thread as a thread around the finger of remember SommeThymes...  ugh.

We shouldn't forget or refuse to learn what wasn't taught to me in American Civics class middlin' skaol thymes.  Is the 2nd part of the Grate Warr hear yet?

[Rix Gins]

Is Wilson hear yet, I miss him already...

Is the 2nd part of the Grate Warr hear yet?

Yes, Wilson is here.  He's running for President against Charles Hughes, that bearded guy in some of the cartoons.

Yes, the second half of the Great War was reached in early September, 1916.     

[Rix Gins]

Everett True, September 26, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The Tacoma Times, September 26, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The Evening Star, September 26, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The Battle of Thiepval Ridge (a part of the Battle of the Somme) started on September 26, 1916 and would last for two more days.  British, French and Canadian forces followed (at 12:35 pm) a rolling barrage over the battlefield and into the French town of Thiepval.  Heavy fighting would occur for all three days until the Germans gave up the town.

The British utilized two tanks that managed to proceed across the battlefield.  Observers could see some German soldiers fleeing from them.  The Royal Flying Corps made observation runs over the battlefield, noting the placements of German barbed wire, the locations of trenches and overall German troop movement.  One RFC pilot was able to observe the opening artillery barrage from above.

The Germans came out of it the worse for wear.  Twenty five percent of their artillery broke down and were of no use to them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thiepval_Ridge  (photos wikimedia)

[Rix Gins]

Everett True, September 27, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The Tacoma Times, September 27, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

An interesting video that covers the history of early day tanks...plus it mentions the time period now being covered in this thread.  The late-great author Kenneth Macksey (who served in tanks during WWII) is on hand to offer commentary, as is noted historian Sir John Keegan.  Good video to watch if you've got a spare twenty plus minutes on your hands. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKojQA9TVrc

[Rix Gins]

The Chicago Day Book.  September 28, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

Peter Finch, actor, was born in London, England 100 years ago today. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Finch

[Rix Gins]

https://youtu.be/p9xe6dhiJYc

[Rix Gins]

Mischa Elman, Violinist, played the Heilig Theatre 100 years ago tonight.  Here is the program for the concert....https://gallery.multcolib.org/document/mischa-elman-violinist-heilig-theatre-thursday-evening-september-28-1916

https://youtu.be/W4eg3K1d-JI

[pate]

Apologies for the modern video contrivance the other day, I was deep in my cups which is no excuse.

Here's a small article I found in the "French Broad Hustler" on page 7 of the 28 September 1916 edition.

Why I settled on this particular paper, I am Not Sure. 

I am sure you already covered Mr. Kiffin Rockwell's untimely demise in the war, which apparently was some days before?  Again, Not Sure.

I am again apparently a day late and a dollar short.

[Rix Gins]

Apologies for the modern video contrivance the other day, I was deep in my cups which is no excuse.

Here's a small article I found in the "French Broad Hustler" on page 7 of the 28 September 1916 edition.

Why I settled on this particular paper, I am Not Sure. 

I am sure you already covered Mr. Kiffin Rockwell's untimely demise in the war, which apparently was some days before?  Again, Not Sure.

I am again apparently a day late and a dollar short.

I managed to note the first American to die in the French Air Service (Victor Chapman) but I missed Kiffin, so thanks.  Lots of info in that clipping.  Also a piece about him in Wikipedia...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiffin_Rockwell

Good find, Pate!

[Rix Gins]

Everett True, September 29, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The Chicago Day Book, September 29, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The Tonopah Daily Bonanza, September 29, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The Monett Times, September 29, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The Rock Island Argus, September 29, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The Golden Valley Chronical, September 29, 1916.

[Rix Gins]

The Lincoln County Leader, September 29, 1916.