6 Squadron Diary - Sep 1917

I have just completed the diary entry for 6 Squadron's activities during the month of September 1917, exactly 100 years ago. Though a work of fiction, the details contained in "Wish You Were Here" are 100% accurate and are based on squadron records, the research for my first book, "For God, England and Ethel" and my grandfather's war diaries. I have reprinted an extract here but you can find the full text by selecting 'MY BOOKS' and 'WISH YOU WERE HERE' tab on the main menu.

"For the whole of September, our machines have been working exclusively with X Corps along a small section of Front only 3,500 yards wide. This has been made possible by means of a recent development that enables wireless operators at the batteries to differentiate between ‘their’ aircraft and others that may be flying within range of their receivers. The timing couldn’t have been better as we were informed at short notice of a big allied ‘Push’ along the Menin Road [Ed: the start of the 3rd Offensive in the Battle of Passchendaele or Third Ypres] planned for the morning of the 20th September, with artillery and men from other British army Divisions brought in to effectively double the fire power along the Front in that area. With showers, strong winds (up to 40 mph) and mist down to 500 feet over the whole of the six-day offensive, I heard there was a lot of complaining in the officers’ mess. The weather forecast for October doesn’t appear to be much better, so we will all just have to get used to it."