One Hundred Years Ago

[Rix Gins]

https://youtu.be/UOUFt4JOR40

[Rix Gins]

Everett True, June 9, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

John Carroll joined the Australian 3rd Division and saw action in the fighting at Messines during June 7th to the 12th, 1917.  Actually he did more than see action.  Here is what he accomplished during the battle...

From Wikipedia:

On 7â€"12 June 1917 at St. Yves, Belgium, during the Battle of Messines, Private Carroll rushed the enemy's trench and bayoneted four of the occupants. He then noticed a comrade in difficulty and went to his assistance, killing another of the enemy. Next, he single-handedly attacked a machine-gun team, killing three of them and capturing the gun. Later, two of his comrades were buried by a shell; in spite of heavy shelling and machine-gun fire, he managed to rescue them.

Mr. Carroll was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions.  He would be wounded in the fighting at Passchendaele in October of 1917 but he would recover and return to Australia.  According to Wikipedia, Carroll died on 4 October 1971, at the age of 80, and is buried in Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Western Australia.

A more detailed Bio:  http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/carroll-john-5514


Portrait of Australian Victoria Cross recipient, Private John Carroll, 33rd Battalion AIF, taken 21 August 1918 in London. Carroll was awarded the VC for his actions during the Battle of Messines, June 1917.  By Photographer not identified - Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=539287

[Rix Gins]

A photo of work being done on a new U.S. aviation field at Fairfield, Ohio on June 9th, 1917.  (I think it would be named Wilbur Wright Field upon completion.)


Library of Congress/ Pixley-Messick Co.

[Rix Gins]

This photo shows the Red Baron, Manfred Von Richthofen, visiting his family during his vacation.  I believe that I read somewhere that the date was June 9, 1917.  That's him on the far left.

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.

Photograph shows British soldiers with a captured German field gun (7.7 cm FK 96 n.A.) near Wytschaete, Belgium, during the Battle of Messines during World War I, on June 10, 1917. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015 and Imperial War Museums website: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205237613)

Library of Congress/Bain Collection

[Rix Gins]

The Battle of Mount Ortigara began on June 10, 1917 and would last until the 25th.  Ortigara was a smallish, rocky mount. that was held by the Austro-Hungarian army.  The Italians wanted it and gathered a force of 300,000 soldiers armed with 1,6000 artillery guns.  The Austrians only had a defense force of 100,000 soldiers and 500 artillery pieces but they were able to hold off the Italians for quite awhile before finally surrendering the summit.   

The Austro-Hungarian command sent an elite force of shock troops to the mountain and they retook the summit on June 25th.  Final tally in dead and wounded was Italy: 23,000 and Austria-Hungary 9,000.  The head Italian honcho, General Ettore Mambretti, was removed from command.


Heavy Italian artillery at work.  By www.esercito.difesa.it, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50801785


Top of Mount Ortigara, Asiago plateau. (Italy)  By Luukas - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1399080

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.

Photograph shows a destroyed German observation post outside Oosttaverne Wood, Belgium on June 11, 1917, during the Battle of Messines during World War I. The British officer in the foreground is holding a German map board. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015 and similar image on the Imperial War Museums website: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205078178)

Library of Congress/Bain News Service.

[Rix Gins]

From the Imperial War Museum.

British soldiers outside entrance to captured underground dug-out system in the ruins of a farmhosue, 11th June 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205079673

[Rix Gins]

From the Imperial War Museums.

The Reverend John Redmond, a chaplain, holding a dog. Near Dranouter, 12 June 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205237622

[albrecht]

From the Library of Congress.


Library of Congress/Bain News Service.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/10200/OOSTTAVERNE%20WOOD%20CEMETERY
The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens a very famous British architect who designed a lot of the memorials for WWI, including the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London where the major ceremony occurs on Remembrance Sunday (the one you might see on tv here even.)

[Rix Gins]

A big, daylight bombing raid is carried out over London by German Gotha bombers on June 13, 1917.  Wikipedia has this to say about the raid:

A second attack on 5 June was diverted to Sheerness in Kent but a third raid on 13 June, was the first daylight raid on London, causing 162 deaths and 432 injuries. Among the dead were 18 children, killed by a bomb falling on a primary school in Poplar. This was the deadliest air raid of the war and no Gothas were lost. In 1938, Air Commodore Lionel Charlton described the raid as "the beginning of a new epoch in the history of warfare". News of the raid was received enthusiastically in Germany and Brandenburg was summoned to Berlin to be awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany's highest military honour. On taking off for the return journey, the engine of his aircraft failed, Brandenburg was severely injured and his pilot, Oberleutnant Freiherr von Trotha, was killed.

  The reason for the relatively large numbers of casualties seems to have been ignorance as to the threat posed by aerial bombardment of a city in daylight. Lt. Charles Chabot, a Royal Flying Corps (RFC) pilot on leave recorded that: "...Raids hadn't become a very serious thing and everybody crowded out into the street to watch. They didn't take cover or dodge".

  As there had been little planning, early attempts to intercept the Gothas were ineffective. Large numbers of British aircraft were put into the air but were unable to climb high enough to engage the bombers. Captain James McCudden was part of the engaging force of 92 aircraft but due to the limited performance of his machine, had no success in intercepting the bombers.

A variety of the bombs used by the Germans.  (A Gotha bomber sits behind them.)  By Unknown - Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9990993   

[Rix Gins]

Additional info on that air raid:  http://imgur.com/C3S2LGX

There was also a small munitions factory that exploded in London on June 13, 1917:  http://imgur.com/4FlnLCX

(I like the articles from this site because they enlarge nicely when clicked on.)

[Rix Gins]

General Pershing meets with French Generals in France on June 13, 1917.


Library of Congress/Bain Collection.

[Rix Gins]

Joseph Kaindl was a Farmer's son who became a soldier with the 2nd Bavarian Infantry Regiment, 1st Company.  He was awarded the Military Merit (or Meritorious) Cross.  He died for the Fatherland on June 14, 1917.  The German War Graves Office states that Joseph lies in a comrades (mass) grave on the war pitch at Cerny-en-Laonnois, France.  He was 25 years old.


Inside of double card, folded open.

https://youtu.be/nkN2Jd_jWow


Here is an older card that was printed in memory of Christl Joseph.  (I almost wonder if his name was transposed, and that it should read Joseph Christl.)  Christl was the son of an Economist from the town of Stratzkirchen.  He was part of a machine gun company and he had been awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd. Class.  After 27 months of true service, he was killed by shrapnel to the head during an assault in France, on April 10, 1917.  He was 22 years and three months old.


Inside of double card, folded open.

 

[Rix Gins]

Flag Day was 140 years old back in 1917.


Library of Congress.

[Rix Gins]

From the Imperial War Museum.

British soldiers working in the ruins of Thélus, watch shells bursting in the distance, 14th June 1917. Thélus was destroyed during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, part of the Battles of Arras.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205078663


http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205078662

[Rix Gins]

Western motion picture star Alfred "Lash" LaRue was born on June 15, 1917.

Info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lash_LaRue


Front cover of Lash LaRue comic book (issue #2), December, 1949.  By Fawcett Publications - Derived from a digital capture (photo/scan) of the book cover, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44510274

[Rix Gins]

Photo of well known banker, Henry Pomeroy Davison taken on June 15, 1917.


National Photo Company Collection (Library of Congress)

Info on H.P. Davidson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Pomeroy_Davison

[Rix Gins]

https://youtu.be/-KiT2f1mbH0

[Rix Gins]

Everett True, June 16, 1917

[Rix Gins]

The New York Tribune, June 16, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

From the Imperial War Museum.

Troops of the 12th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, in the old British front line, 16th June 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205079672

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.

Photograph shows a group of Boy Scouts who assisted the women's branch of the liberty loan committee in canvassing the streets of New York for subscriptions to the liberty loan program in June 1917 during World War I. Boys hold liberty loan posters.

Library of Congress/Bain Collection.  https://www.loc.gov/item/ggb2005024798/

[Rix Gins]

From the Richmond-Times Dispatch, June 17, 1917.

(Thinking big.  I like it.)  https://www.reddit.com/r/100yearsago/comments/6htcai/jun_17_1917_should_we_use_our_old_battleships_as/?st=j41mhhbc&sh=4e7ced3e

[albrecht]

From the Richmond-Times Dispatch, June 17, 1917.

(Thinking big.  I like it.)  https://www.reddit.com/r/100yearsago/comments/6htcai/jun_17_1917_should_we_use_our_old_battleships_as/?st=j41mhhbc&sh=4e7ced3e

That is crazy! Hilarious. I love it. Apparently all sides have various grandiose dreams at some point but to modify a battleship to become a super land tank takes the cake! Funny how now fast, mobile, and small, and not large and armored, seem to the be the way of much military dreams these days.
https://i.imgur.com/4CHzC49.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landkreuzer_P._1000_Ratte

[Rix Gins]

A couple more photos from the Library of Congress.

Photograph shows a train hospital car which carried wounded in Maryland and was maintained by the Baltimore & Ohio, the Pennsylvania and the Western Maryland railroads.  Photograph published in The Sunday Oregonian, June 17, 1917.

Library of Congress/Bain Collection.  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ggb2005024828/

Photograph published in N.Y. Sun on June 17, 1917, with the caption: "John Philip Sousa, the veteran band leader and master composer of military marches, who has again enlisted in the Government service in order to organize the band of the Great Lakes Naval Training Station."

Library of Congress/Bain Collection.  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ggb2006000020/

[Rix Gins]

The Tonopah Daily Bonanza, June 18, 1917.

PROGRAM FOR THE 4TH OFICIALLY ADOPTED

  At a meeting of the executive committee of the Fourth of July celebration held in the offices of Harry B. Grler, chairman, Saturday evening, final arrangements for the big show were decided upon.

  The celebration will open with the firing of a salute on the morning of July 4th at 8 a.m. The two Tonopah bands will be out at 9 a.m. sharp and will furnish music during the day.

  The Sparks baseball club will arrive on Train 24 from the north and the big game will start promptly at ten o'clock on the morning of the 4th at the old ball grounds between Manhattan and Sparks, for the championship of the state, under the personal direction of R. Fred Brown. This game is free as far as admission is concerned, but the Red Cross chapter will tag everybody attending 25 cents which will go into their Nye county funds to be disbursed under the direction of the national committee later.

  The big jackhammer drilling contest will start at 11 a.m. under the direction of Chairman W, H. Blackburn, who will announce the committee in charge in a few days. This contest is open to all miners of Nye, Esmeralda and Mineral counties who have been residents of said counties 90 days prior to July 1st, and entrance fee is $5.00 per man.

  The greatest interest is manifested in this event as it is the first ever held in southern Nevada and the cash prizes total $1000, divided into four moneys, as follows: $400 first, $300 second, $200 third, and $100 fourth.

   Promptly at 1 p.m. on the afternoons of July 4th and July 5th, and lasting until 2:30 p. m., the children's sports under the personal direction of Chas. F. Wittenberg and assistants, will take place in the two blocks on Main street. These sports will consist of races of every kind and description, with cash prizes and the executive committee have appropriated $300 to be divided among the winners.

  At 3 p.m. at the Airdome on the afternoon of the 4th, the big boxing contests between Frankie Malone and Solly Salvatore will take place. The main event is a ten-round contest at 128 pounds for a purse of $500, to be divided sixty per cent to the winner and forty per cent to the loser, with Honest Mike Geary as referee.

  Buck O'Brien of Reno, and Arthur Dupont, of Goldfield, will also box six rounds for a purse and as these boys are fast and clever, a great fight is anticipated

  In addition to the main event there will be a big battle royal between five colored boys of Tonopah and Goldfield under the personal direction of John Stratton and this event is exciting the liveliest interest among the fans.

  The net proceeds of the boxing tournament will all go into the Red Cross treasury and it is hoped that a big sum can be raised for this worthy cause.

  The big Mardi Gras under the personal direction of Arthur Keenan will occur on the night of July 4th at 8 o'clock and will be participated in by hundreds of people in fancy costume and three bands. Cash prizes will be awarded the various participants.

  After the big Mardi Gras, the evening will be spent with dancing at the Airdome theater.

  On the fifth, in addition to the drilling and children's sports many other features are being arranged, announcements of which will be made shortly.

[Rix Gins]

The great Richard Boone, TV's Paladin, was born one hundred years ago today.

Info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Boone


Richard Boone as Paladin in Have Gun - Will Travel

[albrecht]

The Tonopah Daily Bonanza, June 18, 1917.

PROGRAM FOR THE 4TH OFICIALLY ADOPTED

  At a meeting of the executive committee of the Fourth of July celebration held in the offices of Harry B. Grler, chairman, Saturday evening, final arrangements for the big show were decided upon.

  The celebration will open with the firing of a salute on the morning of July 4th at 8 a.m. The two Tonopah bands will be out at 9 a.m. sharp and will furnish music during the day.

  The Sparks baseball club will arrive on Train 24 from the north and the big game will start promptly at ten o'clock on the morning of the 4th at the old ball grounds between Manhattan and Sparks, for the championship of the state, under the personal direction of R. Fred Brown. This game is free as far as admission is concerned, but the Red Cross chapter will tag everybody attending 25 cents which will go into their Nye county funds to be disbursed under the direction of the national committee later.

  The big jackhammer drilling contest will start at 11 a.m. under the direction of Chairman W, H. Blackburn, who will announce the committee in charge in a few days. This contest is open to all miners of Nye, Esmeralda and Mineral counties who have been residents of said counties 90 days prior to July 1st, and entrance fee is $5.00 per man.

  The greatest interest is manifested in this event as it is the first ever held in southern Nevada and the cash prizes total $1000, divided into four moneys, as follows: $400 first, $300 second, $200 third, and $100 fourth.

   Promptly at 1 p.m. on the afternoons of July 4th and July 5th, and lasting until 2:30 p. m., the children's sports under the personal direction of Chas. F. Wittenberg and assistants, will take place in the two blocks on Main street. These sports will consist of races of every kind and description, with cash prizes and the executive committee have appropriated $300 to be divided among the winners.

  At 3 p.m. at the Airdome on the afternoon of the 4th, the big boxing contests between Frankie Malone and Solly Salvatore will take place. The main event is a ten-round contest at 128 pounds for a purse of $500, to be divided sixty per cent to the winner and forty per cent to the loser, with Honest Mike Geary as referee.

  Buck O'Brien of Reno, and Arthur Dupont, of Goldfield, will also box six rounds for a purse and as these boys are fast and clever, a great fight is anticipated

  In addition to the main event there will be a big battle royal between five colored boys of Tonopah and Goldfield under the personal direction of John Stratton and this event is exciting the liveliest interest among the fans.

  The net proceeds of the boxing tournament will all go into the Red Cross treasury and it is hoped that a big sum can be raised for this worthy cause.

  The big Mardi Gras under the personal direction of Arthur Keenan will occur on the night of July 4th at 8 o'clock and will be participated in by hundreds of people in fancy costume and three bands. Cash prizes will be awarded the various participants.

  After the big Mardi Gras, the evening will be spent with dancing at the Airdome theater.

  On the fifth, in addition to the drilling and children's sports many other features are being arranged, announcements of which will be made shortly.

Man, that sounds like a heck of a time! I wish I could've been there to celebrate. And some serious prize money for things like the jackhammer contest. And a Mardi Gras in July? And a battle royal featuring colored boys in addition to all the other events? Good times.