asked to borrow a car as he wanted to way-lay an ammunition supply column which was apparently coming up to La Gorgue. I was unable to help him as I had sent the convoy off to Serny. He informed me he was unable to get into La Gorgue owing to the machine-gun fire. I then decided to burn the machines and retire from the Camp; as far as I can remember it was about 11 o’clock. The fog was as thick as ever and it was quite impossible to fly. I fully realised the seriousness of the situation but being unable to communicate with any reliable authority, I had to act on my own. If there had been British troops in the area I should have left the machines for them to destroy, in accordance with orders, but I felt it extremely in probable that a panic-stricken crowd of Portuguese troops retiring in open disorder without equipment or officers would carry out this, even if they had received orders to do so. The ammunition supply column which had been parked on the road alongside the hangars had gone, their guns having been captured. The machines were then burnt and everyone cleared out by 11.30.
“I have described the events as nearly as possible in the order in which they occurred. The times I have given are only approximate. The only thing left behind was one Austin lighting set and some petrol arid oil. The Squadron packed and moved in under three hours.
“I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Sgd.) C. Draper,
- Major.”
After this unhappy event, clearly a very difficult decision for the Squadron Commander, the unit reformed at Serny where it received a full complement of over 20 aircraft inside two days. 208 was one of four Squadrons at Serny which was one of the largest aerodromes on the whole front. The stay at Serny lasted five months during which the pilots engaged in 103 combats bringing down 86 of the enemy with only 6 casualties.
Whilst at Serny the Squadron almost recovered the spirit of the Mont St. Eloi period and was therefore very disappointed when moved south to Tramecourt for two months. During this time His Majesty the King was staying in a nearby Chateau. Needless to say this was supposed to be a secret; and again needless to say, it wasn’t. Major Draper was given “most confidential” orders to keep a special look out for enemy in the area, and was horrified when a few night bombers dropped their wares near the King’s abode. Fortunately His Majesty had left a few days earlier. Major Draper remarks that night bombing was intensifying about this time and became a curse to the men who were kept out of their beds by it even though they could do nothing to remedy the situation.
On 29th September, 1918, 208 left Tramecourt for Foucacourt on the Somme, at the same time transferring from 10th to 22nd Wing. It was desolate country into which the advance was made; aerodromes were simply ex-battle fields with shell holes filled in and the country was completely devoid of any buildings except Army huts.
A move further forward was made on 10th October to Estree where the Squadron Commander was wounded on the ground. From his own account he appears to have been highly amused by the incident. He was hit in the knee whilst sitting in a car after inspecting a new aerodrome. Laid up for but a few days, but appearing nevertheless on the casualty list, he found it necessary to reassure his family by cable.
On 22nd October yet another advance was made to Moritz. The enemy was on the run now and things were drawing to a close. The operation order for the move incurred a two day journey which Draper thought highly inconsiderate towards the men, so he executed the transfer in 24 hours. After congratulating himself he was carpeted by his superiors for daring to have better ideas than Brigade Staff.
Then came the Armistice. The Squadron Commander’s phone rang at about 6.30 a.m. and the Wing-Commander told him that the Armistice was to be signed at 11 a.m. that morning; the Squadron was required to carry out a non-offensive line patrol one hour before that time. Celebrations started immediately, and though he gives no details Major Draper remarks that the ones at home, lively though they were, did not equal the ones on the spot.
The Squadron moved forward to Donstiennes, just south of Charleroi, on 2nd December and in the following month Major Smart took over command.
A final note by Major Draper illustrates the human touch between enemy and ally during the conflict and perhaps also the brotherhood of aviators for all time. On 4th September, 1917, a German machine dropped this message at St. Eloi:
“To the British Flying Corps -
“The Squadron of the part of Vimy is politely begged to give news of the observer and of the pilots, who are landed near Willerval the 5 of August.
“Are they dead or not? Thanking before.
THE GERMAN FLYING CORPS.”
Evidently this was only one of many similar messages dropped by both sides during the time of conflict.
It is impossible to single out accounts of gallantry by particular pilots, except where combats have been included at random in the account. Many awards for distinguished service were won by members of the Squadron and these are tabulated in HONOURS AND AWARDS Section {Please follow the link}
