Combat Report 585

Date: 3-10-18
Time: 17-50
Type and No. of Aeroplane: Bristol Fighter E.2507
Armament: 1 Vickers, 1 Lewis
Pilot: Capt.F.J.Cumminghame
Observer: Lt.R.A.Brunton M.C.
Locality: INGLEMUNSTER and E.
Duty: 0.0. with Bombs
Height: 12,0000 ft
Result: Destroyed 2
Remarks on Hostile Aircraft: Fokker Biplanes, white fuselage and black and white tails.

While on O.P. carrying bombs, on the evening of Oct. 3rd, we had just dropped our bombs on ISEHHAM, when 12 Fokker Biplanes were observed approaching us from S and S. They were in two formations one of 5 and one of 7. The formation of 5 commenced to attack the left of our formation. My observer opened fire on this E.A. when still at a good range, and after a very few rounds, the E.A. burst into flames and disappeared.
Immediately another E.A. was engaged and the observer fired a full drum into the E.A. which immediately fell completely out of control and was observed to crash N. of LENDELEDE.
During the fight 2 of our machines were seen to go down, one in flames and one smoking.

(Signed) F.C.CUNNINGHAME, Capt. Pilot & R.A.BRUNTON, Lieut. Observer.

These 2 E.A. are confirmed by Lt.Shurly of the same formation.

Manual: Long Reconnaisance Table

Observer White

A photo of a very young looking Reginald White in his observer uniform.

24th August 1918 - Air Raid on Bertangles Aerodrome

On the evening of the 24th August 1918 a "concert party" was being held by 48 Squadron at the Bertangles Aerodrome. It was a bright moonlit night and the German Schlachtstaffel 16 launched a nocturnal air raid on the aerodrome by 5 German Bombers. One of the Gotha bombers scored a direct hit on the middle hanger lighting up the whole aerodrome making it an easy target. The Germans continued to bomb the aerodrome for a further 15 minutes destroying the 5 of the Squadron's hangers and causing a large explosion. During the raid most of the Squadron's Bristol Fighters (15 in total) and all of their heavy transport (plus all of the Squadron's records) were destroyed. More tragic to the squadron was the heavy loss of personal with 8 men being killed and a further 28 wounded.

Attending the concert party were George Vaughn and Alex Matthews of 84 squadron. When the attack started the personnel scattered in all direction. Vaughn took cover in a bomb crater, followed by several other people who piled on top of him. Matthews though was caught by a Gotha machine gun as it carried out a strafing run.

2/Lt Frank Bacon Palmer was awarded the Military Cross for his actions that night.

On the night of August 24, 1918, this officer performed very gallant and meritorious service. In an attack on one of our aerodromes by hostile aircraft a hangar full of machines was set on fire, illuminating the whole camp, making the aerodrome an easy mark for the raiders, who continued dropping bombs for 15 minutes. Great confusion ensued, and 20 officers and men were wounded. Lieutenant Palmer was blown over by the explosion of a bomb, and although badly shaken, he exhibited coolness and courage of a high order, and by his promptitude succeeded in collecting the wounded, placing them in comparative safety, and also managed to remove the machines and transport from the burning hangars and shelters, notwithstanding the continual dropping of the enemy's bombs in the area.

The following day Squadrons 27, 32, 43, 49, 62, 98 and 107 retaliated by taking part in operations targeting German Bomber units based at airfields at Etreux and Mont d'Origny.

The air raid on Bertangles caused the heaviest loss suffered in these circumstances by the British air services throughout the entire war. 48 squadron were transferred to the 11th Wing, 2nd Brigade at Boisdenghem, on the Second Army Front. The unit was back flying over the front two days later.

Killed
2Lt A. Urinowsky
Lt J.B. Jameson
Lt Alex Matthews (84th Squadron)

Wounded
Lt H. Hood
Lt E. Vickers
Lt T. Beck
Lt F.D. Kilby
2Lt J.N. Kier
Capt Charles Alexander Steele (Hospitalised for rest of war)
Capt H.A. Oakes
Lt C.G. Imeretinsky
2Lt E.G. Weller
2Lt S.H. Whipple
2Lt D.T. Turnbull
Lt M.F.J.R. Mahony
2Lt H.Y. Lewis
Lt C.B. Bateman (84th Squadron)

Planes Destroyed
C886, C940, C4629, D7909, E2472, E2480, F5811.3, F6094, F6118, F6404

Arras Flying Services Memorial

On my family's holiday to Belgium we decided to take a diversion and visit the Cemetery at Arras in France to see the Flying Services Memorial there. It's a very moving monument with over a 1000 names of airmen who served with the Royal Flying Corp, Royal Naval Air Service and the combined Royal Air Force who were killed on the Western Front but have no known grave.

We had decided to visit the memorial to find the names of two men on the memorial, Lt Thomas Beck and 2Lt Lawrence Percy Perry of 48 Squadron.



Lt. Beck and his pilot Buckingham were reported missing in action on the 1st October 1918. They were both taken prisoner but Beck died from his wounds.



2/Lt Perry and his pilot 2/Lt McCulloch were reported Missing in Action on the 2nd September 1918 when they failed to return from a patrol. They were seen to go down behind enemy lines and while McCulloch was taken prisoner Perry was killed.

My wife was surprised by how heartbreaking the whole cemetery was with approximately 35000 names listed on the walls and a further 2651 graves. It was the amount of names all of whom would have had mother to mourn them that she found so emotional. Our little 2 year old boy energetically explored the whole place playing Buzz Lightyear, we didn't think the boys there would mind. We tried to explain the place to him but he didn't understand except as we left the cemetery he did turn and say "Goodbye Soldiers".

Lt Irvine Owen Gaze

Irvine Owen Gaze was born on the 5th July 1890. He was educated at Scotch College, West Australia.

Irvine was working in Melbourne when he went down to the port to see his cousin, the Reverend Arnold Spencer Smith, off who was serving as Chaplin/Photographer for the Ross Sea Party of Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. At the last minute one if the party withdrew and so because they were now one person short Irvine volunteered to join the Expedition as a General Hand. On the 15th December 1914 Irvine and the rest of the party set sail from Sydney aboard the Aurora and set sail for the Antarctic. Irvine was described by his companions as:

“a sporty Australian – eager to join the expedition and lead a ‘real life’. His enthusiasm and easy-going humour won him the job and helped keep spirits up on the trail.”

The expedition was split into two groups, the Weddell Sea Party, led by Shackleton, which would attempt to cross the Antarctic while the Ross Sea Party would lay supplies on the other side of the Continent for the other party’s arrival. There orders from Shackleton were

"Proceed to the Ross Sea, make a base at some convenient point in or near McMurdo Sound, land stores and equipment, and lay depots on the Great Ice Barrier, in the direction of the Beardmore Glacier for the use of the party that I expected to bring overland from the Weddell Sea coast"

The expedition failed when the Wendell Sea Party’s ship, Endurance, was crushed by pack ice before the crossing was even attempted. The Rose Sea Party’s support ship, Aurora slipped its mooring, drifting away stranding 10 men. 3 members of the party died including Irvine’s cousin Arnold.

Rescued members of Ross Sea Party and Shackleton. Irvine is standing in the middle at the back

On the return to Australia the men were updated on the news from Europe and felt compelled to do their bit and enlist. Irvine wanted to join the Royal Flying Corp and so Shackleton arranged for him passage on a ship to England. Irvine moved to London staying briefly with his Aunt, Mrs C Spencer Smith of 51 Palace St, Westminster, London before he joined the Royal Flying Corp as a cadet on the 29th August 1917 and began training to become a pilot. He eventually joined 48 Squadron.

On the 4th November 1918, just 7 days before the Armistice, Irvine was shot down and captured by the Germans.

When they interrogated him, they noticed the white ribbon on his uniform. And he said, "Oh, well, that's the Polar Medal. I've just come back from the Antarctic." And everyone was happy to have a drink with him and everything else, except Goering, who was apparently was a bit sulky about it. But anyway, they had a nice dinner and then, of course, he went to the prisoner-of-war camp.(Tony Gaze)

Hermann Goring became the Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.

Irvine left the RAF on the 26th August 1919. Between the two World Wars held an executive position with the Clifton Shoe Company at Clifton Hill Victoria.

During World War Two Irvine served as an instructor with the RAAF and became a Squadron Leader. His two sons Tony and Scott both enlisted in the RAF. Tony became a Spitfire Flying Ace who was decorated three times for galentry. Unfortunately Scott died in a flying accident.

After the war he returned to Australia and farmed sheep.

Irvine died in 1988.

Tony Gaze went on to be Australia's first Formula One racing Car taking part in 5 races.

Further Information

Culture Victoria - The Ross Sea Party
Talking Heads - Tony Gaze

Who Do You Think You Are

It was very bizarre few years ago to be watching TV and suddenly seeing my Grandfather. Julian Clary was featured on the BBC programme Who Do You Think You Are investigating his family history. His Grandfather Jack Clary was a Chief Mechanic for 48 Squadron.

Jack Clary

In a group photo of the Squadron shown Reginald is seen standing in the same row as Jack.