Air Raid on 61 CCS 20.8.17

[Mick M]

I'm researching a man who died of wounds sustained in a CCS near Poperinge on 21.8.17 I'm assuming the raid was the previous evening at 61 CCS where 4 men were killed and a number wounded. He was recovering from a gas attack and I note 47th CCS had a specialist centre for gas but no reported casualties, the note in LLT with this article does mention they were very busy at this time so perhaps no room at 47th.

Does anyone know any details of this raid or where I could find them (I've worn out my Google button), the number of planes, amount of bombs dropped, pictures would by great....

 

Just as a side issue, the roll of honour states he was turned away in 1915 for poor eyesight, a pension file has survived which gives clear evidence he was unhappy with hiscposting to the Remount Squadron of ASC and contrived to get discharged. In fact he was after a few days and the bottom section of his files front sheet states, "not finally approved". Did this happen much at this stage when they had plentiful recruits and what reasons? I think his service commencing as mentioned in 1916 was due to conscription but havnt found evidence.

Pics, LLT and Ancestry.

Mick.

Edited 13 August , 2022 by Mick M
Pic added and credit.

[Mick M]

Further info: the diary entries for 4, 47 and 61 CCS give a brief account, no. 4 ( pic 3) seems to cover beyond its own losses.

Pics national archives.

Edited 15 August , 2022 by Mick M

[Mick M]

Extract from Dr Harvey Cushings journal....8 bombs and believed to be a reprisal attack.

[kenf48]

Sue Light's legacy Scarletfinders site has note from the Matron in Chief war diary listing the nursing casualties on the 18th August 1917, noting 'the American', Sister Macdonald lost her eye the following day.

I can't tell you which squadron carried out the raid I had a reference work but can't find it at the moment (I looked when you first posted). The Germans had a few squadrons of short range light tactical bombers deployed on the Western Front. Most of these flew the AEG IV https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AEG_G.IV

These raids were not 'reprisals' as described above but the camps where the CCS were located were usually at railheads or other strategic targets.  As well as receiving casualties they were also reinforcement hubs deploying troops to the front. As the above Wikipedia entry notes most of these bombing raids were considered 'nuisance' raids  and conducted by the enemy in the hope of disrupting movement at night, which is when most troops moved about on the Western Front, beyond the range of artillery and perhaps causing some 'collateral damage'.

Not to excuse the bombing of medical facilities(my great uncle an A & S  Highlander was killed in the raid on Etaples in May 1918) the bombing or shelling of hospitals was the subject of numerous Hague conventions, aerial strategic bombing was very much in its infancy. From the air, at night, one set of bell tents probably looked like any other.

You may find this article of interest, whilst mainly concerned with the Etaples raids of 1918 it has a quote from the diary of the Head Sister of No 32 CCS (Brandhoek) Kate Luard from August 1917 in which she notes what I believe is the raid referenced above and makes the astute observation that, "we can't grumble about being shelled if we are put amongst ammunition columns and batteries".https://geographicalimaginations.com/2016/09/25/the-hospital-raids/

It also notes one of the captured airmen at Etaples (who was flying an AEG IV) attempted to legitimise the raid by claiming it was a military base and vital railhead (which it was).  Destroying the railway bridge would have caused some disruption for the Allies albeit briefly.  When killed my great uncle was not in hospital but awaiting redeployment in the infantry lines.  As the casualties included others from Scottish Regiments I assume his tent took a direct hit.

Probably with some justification, the bombing of medical facilities was a propaganda coup for either side and makes it difficult to clear the fog of war.

 

[Mick M]

33 minutes ago, kenf48 said:

Sue Light's legacy Scarletfinders site has note from the Matron in Chief war diary listing the nursing casualties on the 18th August 1917, noting 'the American', Sister Macdonald lost here eye the following day.

I can't tell you which squadron carried out the raid I had a reference work but can't find it at the moment (I looked when you first posted). The Germans had a few squadrons of short range light tactical bombers deployed on the Western Front. Most of these flew the AEG IV https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AEG_G.IV

These raids were not 'reprisals' as described above but the camps where the CCS were located were usually at railheads or other strategic targets.  As well as receiving casualties they were also reinforcement hubs deploying troops to the front. As the above Wikipedia entry notes most of these bombing raids were considered 'nuisance' raids  and conducted by the enemy in the hope of disrupting movement at night, which is when most troops moved about on the Western Front, beyond the range of artillery and perhaps causing some 'collateral damage'.

Not to excuse the bombing of medical facilities(my great uncle an A & S  Highlander was killed in the raid on Etaples in May 1918) and the bombing or shelling of hospitals was the subject of numerous Hague conventions, aerial strategic bombing was very much in its infancy. From the air, at night, one set of bell tents probably looked like any other.

You may find this article of interest, whilst mainly concerned with the Etaples raids of 1918 it has a quote from the diary of the Head Sister of No 32 CCS (Brandhoek) Kate Luard from August 1917 in which she notes what I believe is the raid referenced above and makes the astute observation that, "we can't grumble about being shelled if we are put amongst ammunition columns and batteries".https://geographicalimaginations.com/2016/09/25/the-hospital-raids/

It also notes one of the captured airmen at Etaples (who was flying an AEG IV) attempted to legitimise the raid by claiming it was a military base and vital railhead (which it was).  Destroying the railway bridge would have caused some disruption for the Allies albeit briefly.  When killed my great uncle was not in hospital but awaiting redeployment in the infantry lines.  As the casualties included others from Scottish Regiments I assume his tent took a direct hit.

Probably with some justification, the bombing of medical facilities was a propaganda coup for either side and makes it difficult to clear the fog of war.

 

That is great thank you. A good example of how rumours develop into fact as people are willing to accept the worst.

 

Mick.

[James A Pratt III]

From the German NB:

17 Aug 17 afternoon KG 1 raid on Ypres area

20 Aug 17 KG 1 and KG 4 raid on Poperinge area

29 Oct 17 KG 4 raid Ypres area

The 2 KGs operated in this area of the Western front during this period

[Mick M]

On 08/09/2022 at 18:14, James A Pratt III said:

From the German NB:

17 Aug 17 afternoon KG 1 raid on Ypres area

20 Aug 17 KG 1 and KG 4 raid on Poperinge area

29 Oct 17 KG 4 raid Ypres area

The 2 KGs operated in this area of the Western front during this period

Thank you, do you know what aircraft they were equipped with and does GG stand for kampfgeschwader ? (Totally new area for me).

[sdparker]

In his book Above Ypres, Bernard Deneckere states that KG1 under the command of Hauptmann Alfred Keller, and based at Asc near Lille,

flew Friedrichshafen G111 machines during this period. KG4- presumably flying the same machines-were based at Kruishoutem near Wareghem.

KG stands for Kagohl=Kampfgeschwader der Obersten Heeresleitung-bombardment wing of the Army High Command.

[Mick M]

2 hours ago, sdparker said:

In his book Above Ypres, Bernard Deneckere states that KG1 under the command of Hauptmann Alfred Keller, and based at Asc near Lille,

flew Friedrichshafen G111 machines during this period. KG4- presumably flying the same machines-were based at Kruishoutem near Wareghem.

KG stands for Kagohl=Kampfgeschwader der Obersten Heeresleitung-bombardment wing of the Army High Command.

That's awesome, thank you....

[James A Pratt III]

In doing some research KG 1 flew Friedrichshafen G IIIs and KG 4 flew AEG IVs

Correction AEG G IVs

[Mick M]

6 hours ago, James A Pratt III said:

In doing some research KG 1 flew Friedrichshafen G IIIs and KG 4 flew AEG IVs

Correction AEG G IVs

Thank you.