Source: File: Co-ordinated
attack during Battle of the Somme. (Ministry for Culture and Heritage). See an original image at: <http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/co-ordinated-attacks-western-front> [Accessed 11 July 2016]
i
In the machine battle of the Somme,
In the machine battle of the Somme,
Tactics were not
confined to ground
Or under it, but
in the skies - above
Artillery lines flew
Royal Flying Corps.
Already within Somme’s
opening days -
And not yet at
its ending anticipation -
History’s perception
of young airmen
And their
influence was still in infancy.
In preparation of
July's battle came
Consideration of
the flying forces -
With 21, 27, 60
and 70 squadrons
Relocated in support to the Somme.
The Fourth Army
would gain military
Wings, Kite Balloon
Squadrons along
With 13 patrol
crafts - 16 for bombing
And observation, 30 for counter battery.
German
equivalent Imperial Flying Corps
Had 129 crafts
- 19 single seater fighters
17 Artillery
Aviators, 43 Bomber as well
As 6
reconnaissance and other crafts.
Along with additional
allied aircraft corps
Support and
reserves, the Anglo-French
Aircraft
dominated all German aircraft;
RFC having around 185 machines in total.
Having taken over
the previous French
Army presence by
early months of 1916,
Preparations had
been under way with
Photo
surveillance, from October 1915.
Further April
reconnaissance began
To show third
positions of Germans
To include areas;
Achiet-le-Petit, Pys
Ablainzevelle,
Le Sars, Flers and Irles.
In the eight
weeks build up, defences
Of enemy were
photographed once
Again - finally
the RFC were bolstered
By Arrival of
9th wing, in given missions.
ii
Prime objective
of the RFC was to destroy
Rail links and
cut off German second army,
Halting
reserves and ammunition - to bomb
Depots at Mons,
Namur as well as bridges.
Attacks on rail stations would include Lille,
Tergnier,
Busigny St. Quentin and Cambrai.
Along with kite
balloons the RFC's purpose
To observe Somme's
opening bombardments.
Tactical
developments would include, allied
Commands bright
idea of many soldiers
Wearing shiny
tin triangles on their packs;
This would
allow air observers to keep track.
No thought was
given to allied troops being
Forced to
retreat, but when they did bright
Sunshine on
these triangles provided easier
Targets, for sniping
enemy machine gunners.
As dawn came British craft took to the air -
Patchy mist
prevented any observations
But as the
hours drew closer to zero hour
These airmen
saw allies crawl into positions.
From this bird's
eye view came alternative
Visual aspect of
the few - as amatol below
Ground erupted
in sequence and moves
Of soldiers to
their targets, in a scale model.
Flyers gave witness to falling of figures
In lone grass -
some new tactic perhaps?
Yet many of the
figures did not stand
Again - to drop accounts back to earth.
Found by the
ground observers to relay
News to
wireless stations, as balloon
Watchers
telephoned their viewpoints -
All giving feedback to British artillery.
All present
were well aware of history
In the making -
immortalising French
Villages and
woods, targets and trench
Systems with
vicious warfare methods.
All would make
their mark on the land
And in books - the start of the process
Relayed by
reporters who were there,
From safer
distance of Albert Ridge.
iii
While allied
craft had took to the skies
In the opening
hours, not one enemy
Plane was seen
- prisoner rumours
Spoke of hits,
losing airborn sausages.
In build up to
the day of this Big Push
Allied aviators
proved mischievous -
Making protection
of allied positions;
Without doubt,
Flying Corps made risks.
While stalemate
stuck in the ground,
The manoeuvres
had shifted to skies,
Taking swooping
actions in disregard
Of enemy fire to
bring down balloons.
With poor Somme
weather of June
Flyers were
forced into low flying, with
Chance flights in machine gun range;
But this was no
deterrent to the corps.
By their
actions of cleaning the sky,
The enemy had
been left uncertain
Of precise
details of allied build up -
As 21 German
craft were taken down.
Though the German
claim had been
Only seven lost
- this created a stage
Where Royal
Flying Corps could fly
Easier, except
for anti aircraft guns.
Tactics of the
Royal Flying Corps
As eyes of
artillery, were equally
Usefully to the
infantry to relay
Information and
to act individually.
Actions of one
armed aircraft had
Swooped low at
reinforcements
Of Prussian
guards, to rattle gunnery
Into their marching
column of ranks.
A while later this regiment's officers
Was taken
prisoner, who confessed
How this attack
and barrage had cut
Them in half
before reaching the line.
One corps
tactics taken on from navy,
Were squadrons
flying in V formation -
Reforming into
single line-ahead when
They underwent
bombing intentions.
by Jamie Mann.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. 1916. Splendid Airmen - Share In The Offensive -
New Manoeuvres. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 11 July 1916. P.11. Col.1. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12211876/Daily-Telegraph-July-11-1916.html>[Accessed:
11 July 2016].
Source: File: First
Day on the Somme. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_day_on_the_Somme>
[Accessed 11 July 2016]
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 11 July 2016).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Somme
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