20th September 1918

Lt. Mahoney and his observer 2/Lt Keir fail to return from a patrol in their Bristol Fighter F2B (E-2260). They were last seen engaged in combat at 1100 hours over Roubaix.


They were both taken prisoner and were probably the victems of Leiut. Carl Degelow, Commanding Officer of Jasta 40. He claimed a BF at 1055 hours near Annappes.


Lt.Carl Degelow of Jasta 40

Information from Over The Front magazine

Sgt Francis Knox Irvine

I have finaly managed to identify one of the pilots that regularly appears in my Grandfathers photos. Named as Irvine or Jock, he appears a popular character with his arm around someone or with a pipe in his mouth in nearly every photo of him.

Malin, Doddy and Irvine (thanks to Trevor Henshaw for this photo)

I found his Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate on ancestory.co.uk and from the photo there can be no mistake it is him, Sgt Francis Knox Irvine.


Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate Photo

I would like to try and find some more information on him, find out what he did after the war and so on. I obtained his service record from the PRO but that does not tell me much more.


My Grandfather and Irvine

Francis was born on the 13th November 1897 in Aberdeen.

On ancestory.com it appears that he married an Annie Milne, his parents were John Irvine and Elspet Jane Reid and he was the youngest of 4 sons (George, James and William). He was also named after his Grandfather Francis Knox Irvine (born 23/11/1837, died 1882).

Sgt Reginald White, Sgt Francis Irvine, Doddy

Edgar Mobbs

This postcard was included in the photos that Freddie Cunningham's nephew sent me. Freddie first enlisted into the army in Edgar Mobbs' 'D' Company, 7th Northampton Regiment. Edgar Mobbs' Company are legendary in my home town of Northampton. Edgar was the Captain of the town's Rugby team, the Northampton Saints. When the war started he went to enlist but was refused due to his age so he went and raised his own company of men to fight. The company was full of rugby players. Of the 400 who joined the company only 85 are ment to have survived the war. Legand has it that when the climbed out of the trenches Mobbs would kick a rugby ball towards the German trenches. Mobbs was killed at Passchendaele. Every year they have a memorial rugby match in the town in his memory and there are also monuments to him and the Company in the town centre and at the rugby ground. In the photo Edgar Mobbs is standing in the middle of the back row holding the rugby ball. The writting on the back of the postcard says that a number of officers from 'D' Company are in the team.

Plane Crash

This photo of a plane crash was included in the photos that Capt. Freddie Cunningham's nephew sent me. In the photo the serial number of the Bristol Fighter can be clearly seen in the photo D-7984 which should help identify when and how the crash occurred. I can't find the crash mentioned in the book The Sky Their Battlefield but I can find the plane mentioned in the 48 Squadron article in "Over the Front". One the 5th September 1918 Capt. H.A. Oaks and Lt. T. Beck were flying in this plane when they shot down two Fokkers .

The doesn't appear to be much damage on the plane, apart from the fact that it is upside down. I guess the pilot responsible for the crash is standing in front of the plane.

Bikers

Thanks to Freddie Cunninghasm's nephew Richard for sending me this great photo. Capt Freddie Cunningham is riding the bike and 2/Lt George Thornton-Norris is standing behind him on the left.

Reminds me of my favorite photo of my Grandfather and his friend Sgt Francis Irvine

Cunningham, Brunton and Who else

Group photo showing Capt Cunningham in the centre and Lt. Raymond Brunton on the right. The airman on the left is unknown but might be able to be identified by his cap badge.

Christmas Card from the Front

This Christmas card was forwarded to me by Freddie Cunningham's nephew. It's a very interesting card especially since it lists all the officers in the Squadron at the time I am interested in. I guess the card must have been commissioned at the beginning of October so it was ready in time for posting for Christmas. It's strange that 2/Lt. James Cowan isn't listed on the card, I thought at first he might not be on it as he died just two days later but his observer Lt. Ludlow Jones is on the list.

Combat Report

Combat Report
Date: October 9th 1918
Time: 16-50 pm
Type and No. of Aeroplane: Bristol Fighter E.2510
Armament: 1 Vickers, 1 Lewis
Pilot: Lt, H.Thomas
Observer: 2/Lt. F.H.V.Coomer
Locality: COURTRAI
Duty: Bombing & Offensive Patrol
Height: 11,000 ft
Result: Driven down out of control: One (Partly destroyed in the air)
Remarks on Hostile Aircraft: Fokker Biplane – Yellow Camouflage

Whilst on Offensive Patrol, our machine was separated from the formation as I had left it for a short time in order to drop my bomb on COURTRAI. After dropping the bomb we were attacked by four Fokker Biplanes. My Observer engaged these with the rear gun and fired one complete drum into one at a range of about 100 yards. The E.A. was diving as us and the observer continued to fire as it drew nearer. The E.A. then partially broke up, first the right wheel and then the left wheel and un-dercarriage dropped off. The E.A. then went down completely out of control.

(Signed) H.THOMAS 2/Lt. Pilot. F..H.V.COOMER 2/Lt. Observer

1 Decisive

Combat Report 588

Date: October 9^th 1918
Time: 10-55 pm
Type and No. of Aeroplane: Bristol Fighter E.2608
Armament: 1 Vickers, 1 Lewis
Pilot: Capt. F.J.Phillips
Observer: 2/Lieut. J.W.London
Locality: N.W. COURTRAI

Duty: Offensive Patrol and Bombs
Height: 13,000 ft
Result: Destroyed One
Remarks on Hostile Aircraft: Fokker Biplanes.

I was leading a formation of 12 Bristol Fighters on an Offensive Patrol. Having dropped our bombs at COURTRAI we turned W. towards the lines. Shortly after turning West we met seven Fokker Biplanes which we engaged. The E.A. formation was very soon joined by another formation of five Fokker Biplanes. Having gathered our formation together after the first engagement I led them at hte E.A. formation. During the fight which ensued I saw one of our formation being attacked from the rear, I immediately sat on the tail of the E.A. and fired a short burst of 30 rounds into it. The E.A. turned over on its back and went down completely out of control finally crashing between HEULE and COURTRAI. After it crashed a large cloud of smoke came from the machine, I then turned to attack another E.A.

(Signed) E.J.PHILLIPS Captain Pilot. J.W.LONDON 2/Lieut. Observer

1 Decisive

Confirmed by:-

Lieut Rae and Sergt. Perkin, pilot and observer in another machine of the formation.

Eye Witness account of Cowan's Crash

Translation of letter written in Flemish by Alfons Boddin, to Ethel Gutman.

Gits,

22nd January, 1919

My Dear Miss,

In good health I have received your letter and note that you have received the various pieces which I handed to Captain Telford and I have at your request immediately taken a photo of the grave and as soon as possible sent it to you. I now also at your request reply to your questions:

1. Lieut. J.Cowan was shot down in flames in an air fight. The machine was on fire and he himself jumped out of the machine at a height of about 2000 metres and he was embedded in the ground some 50 centimetres. He came down on the territory of Lichtervelde.
2. He was killed instantly on crashing.
3. I myself was the first on the spot and immediately after I had lifted him the German soldiers came and took possession of the body.
4. He has been buried in the meadow and lies at Lichtervelde-Beverenstraat, near GITS.
5. I received he photo and newspaper cutting from the German soldiers who carried the body away.
6. There was also a German Lieut. who was in command of the men and he himself took possession of all that was found on Lieut. Cowan.

I now send you 4 photos of the grave and I hope that you will be pleased with same. Have still in my possession other photos of the grave and if you want some more you must let me know and I shall send you some. If you wish to pay a visit to the grave then you must come to my house and I will accompany you to the grave. When you come it is all the same who will be here, meals, drinks and sleeping accommodation are at your disposal. Since you ask me what I paid for the costs of the photos, it was Frcs. 20.

with kind regards,

Note. My address is

Desire Boddin,

Gits lez Roulers,

P. West Vlaanderen,

Belgieqeu.

Pourremettre a

Alfons Boddin