Search Results

Extract of the history of 6 Squadron Royal Air Force during WW1, from the Royal Flying Corps book 'For God, England & Ethel', written by Steve Buster Johnson 6 Squadron WW1 Facts 1 Extract from my book 'For God, England & Ethel' My first book, For God, England & Ethel contains many segments of italicised narrative describing 6 Squadron's operations over the Western Front during WW1. For example, the following is an account of an audacious mission in which 6 Squadron aircraft played a key role. Though not an intrinsic part of the story, it does provide the reader with an insight into the squadron's pioneering bombing role - details that will not be found in any other publication. "One month after the start of the Somme offensive, an ambitious bombing mission was planned to attack the Zeppelin sheds at Brussels, deep inside enemy territory and farther than a BE2 loaded with bombs had ever flown. Having twelve of the latest BE2d aircraft, with improvements that included greater speed and an increased fuel capacity of nineteen gallons, 6 Squadron was for the first time able to send a fully laden aircraft out on a flight lasting more than four hours. There was one drawback. The extra weight halved the aircraft's rate of climb and obliged the pilots to fly without observers. In conjunction with the attack on Brussels, a second group of aircraft would attack a closer target, the railway sheds at Courtrai, at exactly the same time that the first group would be dropping their bombs over Brussels. On the morning of the 2nd August 1916, on what would be the hottest day of the year, six BE2d machines assembled at Abeele. Joining the two aircraft from 6 Squadron were two from 5 Squadron and two from 16 Squadron, flown in from their respective aerodromes at Droglandt and La Gorgue. Each aircraft was loaded with two 112 lb bombs and its fuel tanks filled to capacity. Three Morane LA biplane scouts of Number 1 squadron arrived from their base at Bailleul and were topped up with petrol. At 11:30 am, the nine aircraft left Abeele, climbing towards the lines in wide circles. One of the pilots was unable to gain sufficient height by the allotted time and returned to Abeele whilst the remaining eight climbed eastwards, crossing over into enemy territory whilst still within the range of ground fire, before setting a course for Brussels. Forty five minutes later they encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire over Ledeghem and one of the aircraft of 5 Squadron was hit and forced to land. Just after noon, at about the same time that eighteen year old Captain Charles Snook was forced down twenty miles to the east, the second group of bombers prepared to leave Abeele. Larger than the first, the group comprised a total of thirteen BE2s; six from 6 Squadron, five from 5 Squadron and two from 16 Squadron. Their escorts were five FE2d fighter bombers from 20 Squadron, based at Clairmarais, and six DH2 scouts from 29 Squadron, which at that time was still operating from Abeele. The aircraft took off and headed east, reaching Courtrai without incident and commencing bombing a little after 1:30 pm. At exactly the same time, the aircraft of the first group arrived at the outskirts of Brussels and split up to seek out their individual targets. The two from 6 Squadron, accompanied by a single escort, successfully bombed a Zeppelin shed at Etterbeek before rejoining the other aircraft nine miles west of Brussels at the Strythem crossroads. From there, the seven aeroplanes began the journey home, one hundred and sixteen miles to the west, and into a light headwind. Their route was to take them past Courtrai, within range of a dozen enemy aerodromes. To offer added protection during this, the most dangerous phase of the flight, the FE2d fighter bombers from the second group had orders to fly east to meet the first group of bombers, once the aircraft they had been escorting were on their way back to Abeele. The pilots of the aircraft returning from Brussels saw no sign of their escorts at the allotted time whilst flying over Audenarde, but within five minutes they spotted the five aircraft flying towards them from the west, though at a greater height. The twelve aircraft formed over Anzeghem and with the escort scouts flying overhead for protection, they flew west and safely crossed the lines. From there, the aircraft split up and returned to their home aerodromes. Flying higher than the other aircraft in the group, the FE2d fighter bombers were able to glide most of the way back to their aerodrome at Clairmarais. The last aircraft to return were the two BE2d machines from 6 Squadron that had taken part in the bombing of Brussels. They landed with empty tanks a little before 4:00 pm, four and a half hours after they had left Abeele . "

Two 6 Squadron aerial reconnaissance photos of Shrewsbury Forest, the first prior to the attack at Messines and the second on the 12th June 1917 6 Squadron Aerial Photos - Shrewsbury Forest The two photographs on Page 5 were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron, part of the squadron's aerial reconnaissance operations over the Western Front during WW1. Both photographs were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron, covering a section of Shrewsbury Forest, (Groeneburgbos) as defined by the mapping coordinates 28. J. 25. D , an area measuring 500 yards square. The first photograph was taken on the 8th April 1917 and the second on the 12th June 1917, 5 days after the 19 mines were detonated beneath the German lines along the Messines ridge.

Aerial photos of the effect of a destructive shoot on an enemy battery near Zonnebeke, taken by a 6 Squadron RE8 prior to the Battle of Messines 6 Squadron Aerial Photos - Destructive Shoot at Zonnebeke The two photographs on Page 34 were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron, part of the squadron's aerial reconnaissance operations over the Western Front during WW1. The photographs were taken to show the effect of the pre-bombardment allied barrage on a German battery at Zonnebeke (present day location 50°49'32.1"N 2°58'28.0"E - in the middle of a field 100 metres south-west of the Zillebeke Hoeve Martain bus interchange on Oude Zonnebekestraat). The photographs were taken immediately prior to the Battle of Messines, over map coordinates 28. O. 12. b and 28. O. 12. a . The upper photograph was taken on the 1st May 1917 and the date of the lower photograph was 7th May 1917.

A 'Man of Many Letters' is an ADHD self help guide to living with ADHD, OCD and ODD without resorting to medication, written by Steve Buster Johnson who has used these conditions to his advantage for more than seventy years. In many ways this book is an autobiography. A Man of Many Letters - ADHD Self Help A Man of Many Letters, an ADHD self help guide to living with ADHD, OCD and ODD was a most challenging writing project as it required me to re-live many childhood events that I would rather not have remembered. With the ever-increasing number of children and adults diagnosed with brain disorders, I thought it would be useful to write a self-help guide for sufferers and families alike, told by someone who has lived and achieved during a long life with a blend of several of these disorders. The aim of the book is to write of my experiences since I was a boy, detailing how the conditions affected me and how over time I succeeded in re-engineering the way I thought and lived my life, all without the benefit of being able to discuss my problems with anyone, especially as I did my best to hide that anything was wrong. Not only was I eventually able to come to terms with each condition, I also discovered ways of harnessing the advantages associated with a high-functioning but difficult to control brain, all w ithout any form of counselling or having to resort to the taking of medication . In this day and age where the importance of being "diagnosed" and being placed on a lifetime of medication seems to be paramount, having spoken at several ADHD Support Groups since publishing my book, I have come to terms with the fact that my book may only be of practical use to a small percentage of readers. But, if it helps but one person in a thousand, the project has been worthwhile. In the words of leading child psychologist Peter Evans MBBS FRANZCP, who wrote the Foreword for my book, "If you or someone you love are living with ADHD or OCD, I am sure this book will illuminate your own journey and help make what can be a difficult path that much more easy to navigate." A Man of Many Letters was published by Feed-a-Read and is currently available directly from the publisher in hardback format or through the Amazon books worldwide network in both paperback and eBook format. Postage can vary a lot so it pays to see which is the cheapest option in your country.

CWGC Basra Memorial is located near Zubayr, Iraq, commemorating 40,682 Commonwealth forces personnel (British and Indian) who died during the Mesopotamian Campaign. Basra Memorial The CWGC Basra Memorial is located near Zubayr in southern Iraq, commemorating 40,633 members of the Commonwealth forces (British and Indian) who died in Mesopotamia during WW1 and whose graves are not known. The memorial was designed by Edward Warren and unveiled by Sir Gilbert Clayton on the 27th March 1929, just six months before Sir Gilbert's death from a heart attack after a game of Polo in Baghdad. He was buried at the RAF Hinaidi Peace Cemetery (name later changed to Ma’Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery). With the kind permission of Ben Soppitt, whose runs a Facebook Group called Commonwealth War Graves and Memorials in Iraq and has taken photographs of every panel at the Basra Memorial (see the originals HERE on the 'Featured' posts Tab), I have been able to reproduce them here, below a diagram of the Memorial and displayed in ascending Panel sequence. The only changes I have made to the photographs is to crop and straighten them for conformity as well as adding a panel identifier for ease of reference. Basra Memorial Diagram Basra Memorial - Photographs of all 69 Panels You can scroll through the images which are lower down this page or select the Panel(s) relating to specific Armed Services / Regiments by simply clicking on one of the links below. Note that the list is incomplete as some of the panels have been either partially or completely defaced. The names are shown as they appear in each Panel. Panels 1 to 3 Royal Navy, RNVR, 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars, 8th (KRI) Hussars, 13th Hussars, 14th King's Hussars, 17th (DCO) 21st (EOI) Lancers, Lancers, Notts Sherwood Rangers Yeo, Leicestershire Yeomanry, Hertfordshire Yeomanry, Royal Horse & Royal Field Artillery Panels 4 to 6 Royal Garrison Artillery, Royal Engineers, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Scots, The Queen's, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) Panels 7 to 9 Royal Lancaster Regiment, Northumberland Fusiliers, Royal Warwickshire Regiment Panels 10 to 12 Royal Fusiliers, The King's Liverpool Regiment, Norfolk Regiment, Lincolnshire Regiment, Devonshire Regiment, Somerset Light Infantry, Bedfordshire Regiment, Leicestershire Regiment Panels 13 to 15 Royal Irish Regiment, Yorkshire Regiment, Lancashire Fusiliers, Cheshire Regiment, Royal Welch Fusiliers Panels 16 to 18 South Wales Borderers, King's Own Scottish Borderers, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), Gloucestershire Regiment, Worcestershire Regiment Panels 19 to 21 East Lancashire Regiment, East Surrey Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, Border Regiment, Royal Sussex Regiment, Hampshire Regiment Panels 22 to 24 Dorsetshire Regiment, South Lancashire Regiment, Welch Regiment Panels 25 to 27 2nd Punjabis, 93rd Burma Infantry, 114th Mahr Attas, The Black Watch, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, Notts & Derby Regiment, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment Panels 28 to 30 Royal Berkshire Regiment, Royal West Kent Regiment, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, Middlesex Regiment, King's Royal Rifle Corps Panels 31 to 33 Wiltshire Regiment, Manchester Regiment, Panels 34 to 36 North Staffordshire Regiment, Durham Light Infantry, Highland Light Infantry, Panels 37 to 39 Seaforth Highlanders Panels 40 to 42 Cameron Highlanders, Royal Irish Rifles, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Connaught Rangers, Argyll & Sutherland Rangers, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, The Rifle Brigade, 22nd BN London Regiment, Army Cyclist Corps, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry), Machine Gun Corps (Motor), Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Army Chaplains' Department Panels 43 to 45 Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Corps of Military Police, Q A Imperial Military Nursing Service, General List, Royal Air Force, Western Ontario Regiment, Australian Flying Corps, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, Royal Horse & Royal Field Artillery, Royal Artillery, Machine Gun Corps, Royal Engineers, Madras Volunteer Guards, ******* Volunteer Rifles, ********* rd Madras, 26th King George's Own Light Cavalry, 27th Light Cavalry, 1st D Y O Lancers (Skinner's Horse), 3rd Lancers (Skinner's Horse), 31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers, 32nd Lancers, Queen Victoria's Own Light Cavalry, 34th P A V O Poona Horse, 35th Scinde Horse, 4th Cavalry, 5th Cavalry, 6th King Edward's Own Cavalry, 7th Harianan Lancers, 8th Cavalry, 36th Jacob's Horse, Q V O Corps of Guides Cav (F F) (Lumsden's), 21st P A V O Cavalry (F F) (Daly's Horse), 22nd Sam Browne's Cavalry (F F), 23rd Cavalry (F F), 25th Cavalry (F F),9th Hodson's Horse, 10th D C O Lancers (Hodson's Horse), 27th Punjabis, 28th Punjabis, 29th Punjabis, 30th Punjabis, 31st Punjabis, 15th Lancers (Cureton's Multanis), 16th Cavalry, 17th Cavalry, 20th Deccan Horse, 18th King George's Own Lancers, 37th Lancers (Baluch Horse), 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse), 30th Lancers (Gordon's Horse) Panels 46 to 48 39th K G O Central India Horse, Bhavnagar Lancers, Indore Mounted Escort, Sardar Risala Jodhpur, Kashmir Lancers, Patiala (Rajindra) Lancers, No 9 Mtn Bty RGA, No 14 Mtn Bty RGA, Frontier Garrison Artillery, 21st Kohat Mountain Battery (F F), 23rd Peshawar Mountain Battery (F F), 24th Mountain Battery (F F), 25th Mtn Battery, 27th Mtn Battery, 26th Jacobs Mountain Battery, 28th Mtn Battery, 30th Mtn Battery, 31st Mtn Battery, 33rd Mtn Battery, 34th (Res) Mtn Bty, 40th (Res) Mtn Bty, 45th Mtn Battery, 49th Mtn Battery, 50th Mtn Battery, Signal Units, 1st King George's Own Sappers & Miners, 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Sappers & Miners, 3rd Sappers & Miners, Maler-Kotla Imperial Service Sappers, Sirmur Sapper Corps, Tehri Sappers, 61st KGO Pioneers, 63rd Palamcottah L I, 62nd Punjabis, 64th Pioneers, 66th Punjabis, 67th Punjabis, 69th Punjabis, 72nd Punjabis, 1/73rd Carnatic Infantry, 74th Punjabis, 75th Carnatic Infantry, 80th Carnatic Infantry, 76th Punjabis, 1st Brahmans, 79th Carnatic Infantry, 101st Grenadiers, 81st Pioneers, 82nd Punjabis, 83rd Wallajahbad Light Infantry, 84th Punjabis, 86th Carnatic Infantry, 107th Pioneers, 102nd King Edward's Own Grenadiers, 1/103rd Mahratta Light Infantry, 104th Wellesley's Rifles, 105th Mahratta Light Infantry, 108th Infantry, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry Panels 49 to 51 109th Infantry, 88th Carnatic Inf, 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Inf, 87th Punjabis, 89th Punjabis, 1/3rd Brahmans, 4th Prince Albert Victor's Rajputs, 112th Infantry, 90th Punjabis, 91st Punjabis (Light Infantry), 113th Infantry, Welch Regiment, The Black Watch, 116th Mahrattas, 117th Mahrattas, 5th Light Infantry, 6th JAT Light Infantry, 7th Duke of Connaught's Own Rajputs, 8th Rajputs, 120th Rajputana Infantry, 119th Infantry (The Mooltan Regiment), 121st Pioneers, 122nd Rajpatana Infgantry, 3rd Outrams Rifles, 124th Duchess of Connaught's Ov***, Baluchistan Infantry, 125th Napier's Rifles, 9th Ghurkha ******, 1st KGO Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun***), Joth Jats, 11th Rajputs, 12th Pioneers (The Khelat-1-Ghilzie Regt) Panels 52 to 54 126th Baluchusan Infantry, 13th Rajputs (The Shekhawati Regiment), 12*th Queen Mary's Own Baluch Light Inf), 4th King George's Own Ferozepore Sikhs, 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, 2nd KEO Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles), 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles, QVO Corps of Guides Inf (F F) (Lumsdens), 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force), 52nd Sikhs (Frontier Force), 53rd Sikhs (Frontier Force), 54th Sikhs (Frontier Force), 129th DSuke of Connaught's Own Baluchis, 128th Pioneers, 55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force), 56th Punjabi Rifles (Frontier Force), 58th Vaughan's Rifles (Frontier Force), 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force), 4th Gurkha Rifles, 16th Rajputs (The Lucknow Regiment), 17th Infantry (The Loyal Regiment), 18th Infantry, 19th Punjabis, 20th DCO Infantry (Brownlow's Punjabis), 21st Punjabis, 22nd Punjabis, 1/23rd Sikh Pioneers, 2/23rd Sikh Pioneers, 3/23rd Sikh Pioneers, 24th Punjabis, 25th Punjabis, 26th Punjabis, 11th KEO Lancers (Probyn's Horse), 12th Cavalry, 13th D of C Lancers (Watson's Horse), 14th Murray's JAT Lancers, 32nd Sikh Pioneers, 33rd Punjabis, 5th Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force), 34th Sikh Pioneers, 35th Sikhs, 37th Dogras, 38th Dogras, 3/39th Garhwal Rifles Panels 55 to 57 36th Sikhs, 1/39th Garhwal Rifles, 2/39th Garhwal Rifles, 41st Dogras, 6th Gurkha Rifles, 7th Gurkha Rifles, 8th Gurkha Rifles, 45th Rattray's Sikhs, 46th Punjabis, 47th Sikhs, 48th Pioneers, 94th Russell's Infantry, 95th Russell's Infantry, 96th Berar Infantry, 97th Deccan Infantry, 98th Infantry, 2/9th Delhi Infantry, 99th Deccan Infantry, 42nd Deoli Regiment, 1/9th Bhopal Infantry, 3/9th Bhopal Infantry, 43rd Erinpura Regiment, 106th Hazara Pioneers, 44th Merwara Infantry, 10th Gurkha Rifles, 49th Bengalis, 5/70th Burma Rifles, 71st Punjabis, 85th Burman Rifles, 11th Gurkha Rifles, 142nd Jodhpur Inf, 150th Indian Inf, 3/153rd Rifles, 154th Indian Inf, Kapurthala Infantry (Jagatjit Regiment), Nabha Infantry, Supply & Transport Corps, Mule Corps, Bullock Corps, Camel Corps, Bharatpur Transport Corps, Gwalior Transport Corps, Indore Transport Corps, Jaipur Transport Corps, Mysore Transport Corps Benares DState A T Corps Panels 58 to 59 Imperial Service Transport Corps, 101st Indian Labour Company, Indian Labour Corps, Followers Central Depots, Indian Medical Service, Indian Medical Dept, Army Hospital Corps, Army Bearer Corps, H H M Scindia's Convalescent Home, Army Remount Department India, Indian Ordnance Department, Indian Veterinary Corps, Indian Military Works Services, Indian Military Accounts Department, Indian Postal &Telegraph Department, Indian Political Department, Indian Survey Department, Indian Government Stationery Department, ****** Force, Assam Military Police, Burma Military Police, Indian Railways, Nio*r* Regiment, British West Indies Regiment, Ceylon Contingent, Mauritius Labour Corps The following Panels (some delaminated and fallen to the ground in pieces) are for British and Indian soldiers who died in captivity in Turkey and whose graves are not known: Panels 60 to 63 [Panels 61 and 62 missing] Royal Navy, Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Naval Reserve, 5th Dragoon Guards, 7th Dragoon Guards, Notts Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, Dorset (Q O) Yeomanry, Royal Gloucester Hussars, Worcestershire Yeomanry, Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, Royal Horse & Royal Field Artillery, South Wales Borderers, King's Own Scottish Borderers, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Worcestershire Regiment, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, East Surrey Regiment, Royal Sussex Regiment, Hampshire Regiment, Dorsetshire Regiment, Welch Regiment, Black Watch, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, Panels 64 to 66 Northamptonshire Regiment, Royal West Kent Regiment, Middlesex Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment, Manchester Regiment, Durham Light Infantry, Highland Light Infantry, Seaforth Highlanders, Gordon Highlanders, Connaught Rangers, First Surrey Rifles, 23rd Battalion London Regiment, Herefordshire Regiment, Royal Air Force, Indian Defence Force Artillery, Indian Volunteer Corps Infantry, 27th Light Cavalry, 32nd Lancers, 31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers, 33rd Queen Victoria's Own Light Cavalry, 7th Hariana Lancers, 23rd Cavalry, 11th K E O Lancers (Proby's *****), Australian Light Horse, Australian Flying Corps, 1st Battalion Australian Infantry, Australian Army Medical Corps, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, Royal Horse & Royal Field Artillery, 12th Cavalry, 16th Cavalry, 18th King George's Own Lancers, 20th Deccan Horse, Bhavnagar Lancers, Hyderabad Lancers, Kashmir Lancers, Lahore Lancers, 23rd Peshawar Mountain Battery, 1st King George's Own Sappers & Miners, 3rd Sappers & Miners, Signal Units, Sirmur Sapper Corps, 66th Punjabis, 67th Punjabis, 1/73rd Carnatic Infantry, 75th Carnatic Infantry, 76th Punjabis, 79th Punjabis, 80th Carnatic Infantry, 81st Pioneers, 82nd Punjabis, 83rd Wallajahbad Light Infantry, 102nd King Edward's Own Grenadiers, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry, 105th Mahratta Light Infantry, 104th Wellesley's Rifles, 108th Infantry Panels 67 to 69 [Panel 69 missing] 120th Rajputana Infantry, 122nd Rajputana Infantry, 123rd Outram's Rifles, 51st Sikhs (F F), `124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan Infantry, 1st K G O Gurkha Rifles (the Malaun Regiment), 2nd K E O Gurkha Rifles (the Sirmoor Rifles), 54th Sikhs (F F), 4th Gurkha Rifles, Army Hospital Corps, Army Bearer Corps, Indian Ordnance Department, Postal & Tel**** Panel 01 Basra Memorial, Iraq

Aerial photos of allied barrage to the north and west of Wijtschate, taken by a 6 Squadron RE8 prior to the Battle of Messines 6 Squadron Aerial Photos - Barrage Near Wijtschate The two photographs on Page 41 were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron, part of the squadron's aerial reconnaissance operations over the Western Front during WW1. The photographs were taken to show the effect of the pre-bombardment allied barrage on targets to the North and West of Wijtschate. The photographs were taken on the 3rd June 1917 4 days before the Battle of Messines, over map coordinates 28. N. 24. B and 28. O. 7. C .

Extract from 'Over the Western Front', a WW1 Flying Corps book on 6 Squadron's operations over the western front during WW1, written by Steve Buster Johnson. 6 Squadron WW1 Facts 4 APRIL 1916 Despite poor weather conditions for almost the whole of the month, with low cloud, driving rain and strong winds making life most unpleasant, our machines continued to bomb the enemy trenches around the new craters at St Eloi until the offensive effectively ground to a halt on the 16th April and we received orders to revert to our normal role of artillery observation duties for the rest of the month. The weather perked up for a few days towards the end of April and we managed to engage seventy-seven artillery targets in a single day. I think that’s a squadron record. Funnily enough, all the time we were operating around St Eloi, 6 Squadron was flying alongside machines from 5 Squadron. If we had known their sheds would have been empty all this time, it would have been far easier to have kept 5 Squadron here at Abeele until 29 Squadron was ready to move in, instead of moving the squadron out to Droglandt lock, stock and barrel. But then, we all know the expression regarding the benefit of hindsight. Strangely enough, it was rumoured only a month ago that it would 6 Squadron and not 5 Squadron that would be leaving Abeele. I sure hope somebody in charge knows what they’re doing. 6 Squadron has been unlucky this month with four of our machines destroyed in accidents for one reason or another. One of our two Bristol Scouts and a BE2c overturned upon landing when their pilots were returning from a patrol. A second BE2c ended up in a ditch after the pilot missed the landing area and attempted to land on a ploughed field next to the aerodrome. Yet another BE2c ended up in a ditch in the process of leaving on a reconnaissance sortie when its engine gave up the ghost at two hundred feet. The only casualty in all of the above was Lt Moncrief, the observer in the BE2c that overturned and broke in two. He was thrown into the air and suffered broken bones. Pardon the pun, but I reckon he’ll be back in the air in no time at all. I daresay our major had a lot of explaining to do when ordering replacements from the Aircraft Park. Let’s hope next month will bring fewer accidents. Talking of accidents, 29 Squadron arrived on the morning of the 15th April, a whole month after the newly-formed squadron first tried to leave Blighty! Everyone who was able to turned out to greet the ten little DH2 scouts when they circled Abeele and dropped down one by one on to the main landing area. What a strange sound those pusher aircraft made, popping and buzzing like a swarm of manic insects. As it happened, three of the wireless machines that I and my boys maintain happen to reside in an aeroplane tent right next to one that has been allocated to 29 Squadron, so I’ve been able to get to know a couple of their mechanics and find out what happened. To cut a long story short, due to mechanical failure and bad weather in England and over the Channel, only three of the twelve aircraft that originally set out from England made it in one piece to St Omer, with most of the accidents resulting in total loss of the machines and several pilots seriously injured in the process. Most people don't realise that a large percentage of Royal Air Force casualties are due to accidents. Worse was to come, though, with more accidents occurring as the squadron was slowly brought up to its full strength of twelve machines, with a total of fourteen aircraft either destroyed or badly damaged in less than a month. Anyway, II Brigade has at last got its very own fighter squadron. Without wishing to tempt fate or further antagonise 29 Squadron’s already sensitive pilots who have had two machines struck off charge, with one pilot killed and another seriously injured in accidents since they arrived here, 6 Squadron didn’t lose a single man in the month of April. The loss of a 29 Squadron pilot so soon after their arrival at Abeele was all the more distressing because it took place right in front of the whole of 6 Squadron whilst we were on parade. It all happened so quickly, there was nothing anyone could do. The problem with ‘pusher’ aircraft is the heavy engine located right behind the pilot. Though the engine does gives a pilot some protection when he’s attacked from behind, it can end up crushing the pilot in the event of a bad landing unless the pilot is lucky enough to be thrown clear. I’m beginning to feel a bit of a fraud, as I’ve been working in the village at HQ and can enjoy practicing the piano and playing at Marguerita’s almost every night with the major’s blessing. I’m sure the situation will change, now that the weather has improved and we’re back to flying artillery observation sorties where the wireless aeroplanes are in the air almost constantly during the day. I had a strange experience when I was playing at Marguerita’s on Saturday the 8th April to celebrate my friend Ernie Dexter’s birthday (he’s a fellow wireless mechanic who has aspirations of one day becoming an officer) when I noticed there were four German prisoners sitting in the audience. They were under guard of course, but it was confronting nevertheless. I can only think they were captured in the allied advance at St Eloi. Hopefully it was the first and last time I will ever be face to face with the enemy. The strangest part about it all was the fact that, apart from their uniform, they looked exactly like us. I don’t think there will be any more German guests at that particular establishment as on the following Sunday evening there was an affray during my performance when shots rang out in one of the other rooms. Not being a hero, I didn’t wait to find out what the fuss was about and made a bee-line for the front door. It so happened to be the day after 29 Squadron arrived at Abeele, so it’s possible the pilots were just letting their hair down. Nothing came of it, with no-one brought before either of the majors and it’s been quiet at Marguerita’s ever since. My first Easter in Belgium was quite remarkable in its diversity and uniqueness, with an invitation / request / order to play at the sergeants’ dinner in their mess on the Saturday night, a combined church service on Easter Sunday morning which was held in one of the empty aeroplane sheds with a sermon delivered from the cockpit of a DH2 and, to top it off, a German bomb attack on the night of Easter Monday. Fortunately there was no damage or injuries sustained by either squadron, but it was the first time I have been close to an exploding bomb and the feeling of helplessness that goes with it.

Brief biography of Captain Robert Reeder, 6 Squadron Royal Air Force, who served with the squadron from November 1917 until his death in January 1918 Captain Robert Reeder - 6 Squadron Royal Air Force Lieutenant Robert Reeder Robert Reeder was the eldest son of Captain and Mrs R J Reeder of 19a Emmanuel Road, Balham, though Mrs Lilian Maude Reeder had resided at Malmains Road, Dover prior to WW1 when her husband was on foreign service. Robert matriculated from the County School, Dover, on the 25th November 1910, having excelled during his time at school at sports, especially cricket. After leaving school he attended college Joined the Barton Road School, Dover, as a teacher. Whilst there he became attached to the Officers’ Training Corps, soon after the outbreak of war in August 1914. Leaving his life as a teacher, Robert joined the Artists’ Rifles and served in Ireland during the Sinn Fein Rebellion. On the 11th July 1916, Robert Reeder gained a commission as a 2nd Lt in the Artists’ Rifles and transferred to the 10th Battalion, Manchester Regiment of the Territorial Force (Army Reserve). Two months later, he became attached to the Royal Flying Corps where he undertook flight training and after a few months received his pilot’s brevets. On the 5th May 1917, Robert Reeder was gazetted as a Flying Officer and posted to the No 2 Aircraft Depot in France. After two weeks, Robert was posted to 52 Squadron RFC as a pilot. 52 Squadron was based at Longavesnes, France and flew various types of BE2 which were later replaced by the RE8. Whilst on leave in August 1917, Lt Robert Reeder married Mabel Gertrude Nowers (only daughter of Mr and Mrs F G Nowers). The ceremony was at St Bartholomew’s Church, Dover, after which the couple moved to 13 de Burgh Street, Dover. Robert returned to 52 Squadron on the 6th September 1917. On the 3rd November 1917, after being promoted to Flight Commander and (acting) Captain, Robert was posted to 6 Squadron RFC, based at Abeele, only two weeks before the squadron moved south to Bertangles, near Amiens. On the 30th November 1917, 6 Squadron received a brand new presentation aircraft from the Government of Johore No: 13 - RE8 Serial Number B6493. On the 7th December 1917, Captain Reeder went on leave (whilst 6 Squadron was re-organising for its new and temporary role of training Army staff officers in the effectiveness of the Royal Air Force), returning from leave on the 21st December. Since he had gone on leave, all the 6 Squadron observers had been sent away to other squadrons, as they would not be needed until the squadron became operational again in March 1918. Two weeks later, on the 6th January 1918, whilst taking an army staff officer Captain Walter Alexander Scales (6th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment) on a flight to demonstrate the effectiveness of aircraft in bombing, ground attack and contact work with allied infantry, Reeder's RE8 B6493 (less than a week old!) was in collision with another RE8 B5035 of 6 Squadron whose pilot 2nd Lieutenant Edward Albert Egner (ex 19th Battalion Canadian Infantry) was carrying out a similar instructional flight with another army staff officer, Major R N Ford of the Royal Fusiliers. Both aircraft and all four men were killed in the subsequent crash. Though never confirmed, it was thought that the attention of the crew of one of the aircraft were concentrating on using the gunsight whilst aiming at a ground target and lost sight of the second aircraft until it was too late (more in my book, Over the Western Front ). Captain Reeder was buried at the Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No 1, plot IV. A. 12, next to the other three men. For more details on Captain Walter Scales and where he came from click HERE to be directed to a news story on this website. On the 30th March 1918, Captain Robert Reeder’s younger brother Charles Edward (sole surviving son of Captain R J Reeder, ex Royal Engineers before WW1 and later working at the Foreign Office) married Clara Hoskins of 7 Avenue Road, Dover, at St James’ Church, Dover Shown below are two photographs, the first of 2nd Lieutenant Egner (reproduced here with the kind permission of Tricia Restorick) and the second a group photograph of one of the first courses carried out by 6 Squadron. The RAF officer sitting cross-legged with his cane is Major Archibald James (later Wg Cdr Sir William Archibald Henry James MC), the commanding officer of 6 Squadron at that time.

Searchable databases of the 197 Royal Air Force personnel (including 45 officers) who died in Iraq and were buried at the Ma'asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery between December 1921 and December 1937. Royal Air Force Burials at the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery Listed below, in chronological order, is a searchable database of the 197 Royal Air Force men buried at the Ma' Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery (Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery). The Royal Air Force rank at the date of death has also been provided, as well as any honours bestowed, the cause of death where known and each burial Plot, Row and Grave Number. To use the 'Search' function, enter either a single word / number or a character stream between double quotes, e.g. "6 Sqn".

Aerial photos of a target (destructive shoot) south of Hollebeke on Komenseweg, taken by a 6 Squadron RE8 before and during the battle of Messines 6 Squadron Aerial Photos - Destructive Shoot Komenseweg The two photographs on Page 25 were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron, part of the squadron's aerial reconnaissance operations over the Western Front during WW1. The photographs were were taken of a destructive shoot on a hostile battery located at a farm south of Hollebeke, just north of the Flanders / Walloon border, defined by mapping coordinates 28. O. 18. A and 28. O. 18 . B . The GPS coordinates of the target are 50°47'52.9"N 2°56'43.0"E and a farm exists today on the exact location, Komenseweg 202. The first photograph was taken on the 6th April 1917 and the second on the 14th June 1917, 7 days after 19 mines were detonated beneath the German lines along the Messines ridge at the start of the Battle of Messines. Note the arrows marking the site of an enemy artillery battery, slightly to the west of the Ypres-Comines canal.

Map of the Western Front c1917 (Belgium and Northern France) showing main roads, railways and allied aerodromes mentioned in books by Steve Buster Johnson Map of Belgium / Northern France - WW1 Roads, Railways and Aerodromes This map is included in my latest book, Rising From the Flanders Mud and shows the main transport routes on the Western Front in Belgium and Northern France during WW1 as well as the allied aerodromes and locations mentioned in my other books on 6 Squadron's operations during WW1 - Over the Western Front and For God, England & Ethel .

Here are a few recent photographs showing the appalling state of Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery (now Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery) Ma'asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery - Headstones Shown below is a small selection of photographs taken of headstones at the Ma' Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery (formerly the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery). Though most have been knocked over, the majority have been left in the same place. At first glance it does not appear that any human remains have been disturbed, though this may not be the case for the graves in Plot 2 that until the erection of a brick wall around the entire cemetery, were under a gravel access road that crossed the south-eastern corner of Plot 2. Anchor 1 Testlinks