FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0638.PDF
.10 OCTOBER 1, 1925 While I was there, orders arrived for this brigade of cavalry to assemble in the village of St. Mary Bourne, and move back, their task having been performed. The assembling, however, was the dangerous proceeding. Hitherto they had all been safely hidden under trees. But when they moved out, the airmen saw them, and a squadron of 7th Hussars, which has grey chargers, and had not plastered them with khaki die, attracted most attention. Two flights of No. 25 were called up, and I watched them circling and diving onto the cavalry. The casualties must have been considerable, as one of the victims ruefully admitted to me when I met them. Unfor- tunately, one of the Jaguars struck work just then, and the pilot had to laud on very rough ground. The Grebe was badly damaged, but the pilot escaped with minor injuries. The same day two Grebes of No. 56 forced landed behind the Mercian lines. One crashed, the other got down safely, and the pilots were taken prisoners. I think those were the only crashes during manoeuvres, though there were a few forced landings. The Wessex aircraft were very busy that day investigating Mercian movements to the south. At 15.00 hours they dis- covered and attacked Mercian cavalry as they crossed the Test at Mottisfont, north of Romsey, and inflicted 50 casual- ties. The regiment concerned was the 10th Hussars, and I hope Piince Henry was duly impressed. He was fated to get things hotter on the morrow. Near Litchfield on the north, a very long Mercian column was bombed by two Wessex flights, and later the whole of No. 39 and two flights of No. 56 came up and paid this target very serious attention. I very much wish I had been there to see the D.H.9A.'s attacking a column on the march, but correspondents had to consider a daily press conference in H.Q. camp, and sub- sequent telegraphic business. The Battle of Quarley Thursday, the 24th, was another lovely day—September at its very best. When we woke there was not a sign of a soldier in a cap in Andover. All Wessex had fallen back "THE CUCKOOS " (No. 25 FIGHTER SQUADRON): Above, "Off in Eight Minutes." Pilots running to their Grebes on receipt of urgent order. Below, the officers (from left to right), F/O W. Yearsley, F/O L. E. Maynard, F/O (Adj.) R. H. Sheppard, P/O R. F. A. Ford, F/O A. E. T. Bruce. F/Lt. W. E. G. Mann, D.F.C., F O P. J. Clayson, M.C., D.F.C., Sergt. J. E. Brown, F/O K. K. Brown, P/O J. D. Keary, P/O S. E. Bullock, P/O G. P. Chamberlain, Sq./Ldr. A. H. Peck, D.S.O., M.C. Proceeding along the line of retreat towards Andover, I found some dragons with their guns at Knight's Enham. They were having a peaceful time under cover of the haystacks in a stubble field, and I spent some time with them. The officers seemed surprised that the Mercian forces had let them break off the engagement and get away with so little inter- ruption. The infantry were now well to the rear (it was 13.00 hours), and the rearguard was being drawn in. The only interference of any sort had been the attack by No. 25, which I had witnessed. In fact, there was practically no righting on the ground all that day. Doubtless, General Chetwode had his reasons, and equally doubtless the retreat of the northern Wessex force had been skilfully conducted ; but all the same, time was of the utmost importance to both sides, and I was surprised that General Chetwode with two divisions in the line aud another coming up on his left, three Bristol squadrons to watch the Mercian movements, and excellent visibility, should have permitted General Godley to break touch and retire at his leisure to a defensive position to the west of Andover, without risking something in an attempt to hamper his retreat. Perhaps the fatigue of the 2nd Division accounted for this inactivity. to a line to the west, the left flank at Chute, the right at Grateley. On the other hand, the steel helmets cf Mercia did not appear in the town until mid-day. We tried to imagine the feelings of the burghers of Brussels when the Hun was at the gate. But the day was too joyous, the campaigning too interesting, and moreover " manoeuvre colds " were beginning to react to the continued application of ultra-violet rays. It was impossible to feel depressed. The night, of course, had been busy, for the Mercian column started to advance at midnight, and Nos. 2 and 4 Squadrorts sent out night-flying machines in order that the drone of their engines might drown the noise of tanks, etc., on the march. By 8 a.m. the Mercian 2nd Division was in position to attack the Wessex left at Chute, the 4th Division in the centre was still east of Andover in corps reserve, while the 1st Division was opposite Grateley with the Mercian -cavalry and some tanks out on its left. A radical change in the general plan had now been decided upon. Manoeuvres were to cease at 17.30 hours on the 24th, instead of at 12.00 hours on the 25th. This, of course, gravely affected the plans of both generals. Mercia had now its time for overwhelming General Godley, before the 638
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
