It was on this day 95 years ago that the final big push came from the German forces as they attempted to break the lines and force a cease fire before the Americans joined World War One.
It was at a time when many of the aspects of air war that we understand now really came together. There was reconnaissance, air spotting close air support, air superiority fighting and tactical bombing.
The Royal Flying Corps orders included the line ‘very low flying is essential, all risks MUST be taken’ and there is a case of a German soldier being run over by an SE5.
The line was pushed back close to Amiens and the fighting was fierce with both sides losing thousands.
Spare a thought for them.
By: adrian_gray - 22nd March 2013 at 20:34
Thank you for posting this, Melvyn. Today – the 22nd – is the 95th anniversary of the 11th Battalion Essex Regiment being ordered to counter-attack into the teeth of the German offensive. They never reached their jumping-off point for enemy fire, and some 10% of the battalion made its way back and out of the line four days later*.
My grandfather was one of the others – wounded and captured, not to return to the UK until December 31st.
We will remember them.
Adrian
* details from memory, so may be slightly wrong, but the idea is right.
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March 21, 2013 at 11:33 pm