My wife has been doing some research into her great grandfathers war service.
His letters home in late 1917 refer to a dogfight overhead.
What aircraft were flying over the Gaza Beersheba line in October 1917 ?
Any known losses ?
The author was killed two weeks later – the 6th of November attack on the Beershaba line. Just had a photo of his grave sent by the War Graves Photographic Project from the graveyard at Beershaba as no-one in the family had ever been there.
He was initially buried in a Cactus garden and reinterred at the graveyard.
The next letter was discussing him getting a job as a short hand writer and being taken away from the front line. Didn’t happen in time.
By: FarlamAirframes - 1st February 2013 at 09:23
A little digging and the Jenin memorial for German pilots shows a Private Wrede killed on the 13th of October October 1917 at a place called Al Tina.
http://desert-column.phpbb3now.com/viewtopic.php?p=5021#p5021
http://www.frontflieger.de/3-w-f.html
Anyone know what aircraft Fl.Abt 303 flew or details on the loss of Gefreiter Wrede ?
By: FarlamAirframes - 31st January 2013 at 21:02
Was looking for pics of Supermarine Walrus parts and found this Flickr listing that has a pic of the trenches at Gaza and a crashed Ottoman AEG C.IV
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39411748@N06/favorites/with/6186216656/lightbox/
By: Andy in Beds - 20th January 2013 at 18:50
Work then I guess.
I do like Alsace–nice part of the World.
By: FarlamAirframes - 20th January 2013 at 18:41
Just Strasbourg – like usual.
By: Andy in Beds - 20th January 2013 at 17:59
Brian.
Good luck with the trip.
Going anywhere nice..?
By 1917, units were so mixed that being in a yeomanry unit didn’t necessarily mean a horsey background. Especially as they were a dismounted unit.
I thought it was worth asking though.
Andy
By: FarlamAirframes - 20th January 2013 at 17:42
Andy – he was a clerk – living in Arundel Sussex.
No rush!
Not much snow in Cumbria – but off to France tomorrow – hopefully.
By: Andy in Beds - 20th January 2013 at 17:38
Brian.
I just realised that the book I want is stored elsewhere at present. So as soon as this blinkin snow melts I’ll get over to where they are and have a look about your original question.
However, I very quickly found this:-
12th (West Somerset Yeomanry) Battalion
Formed at Ismailia in Egypt on 4 January 1917 from dismounted yeomanry regiment.
January 1917 : came under orders of 229th Brigade in 74th (Yeomanry) Division.
30 April 1918 : embarked at Alexandria for Marseilles, landing 7 May.
Do you know if Private James Benjamin was involved with horses before the war?
Andy.
By: FarlamAirframes - 20th January 2013 at 17:32
Andy, 11th Platoon, 12th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry.
Chap was James T. Benjamin 37139 Private.
Died 6th November 1917. Age 38.
By: Andy in Beds - 20th January 2013 at 17:11
Brian.
Fascinating stuff.
Would you mind telling me firstly what unit your wife’s great Grandfather belonged to..?
I’ll look up losses etc and report back.
Andy
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January 20, 2013 at 4:19 pm