One Hundred Years Ago

[Rix Gins]

The Evening Star, July 1, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

The 100 inch John D. Hooker mirror was installed at the Mount Wilson Observatory on July 1, 1917.

Info: http://amazingspace.org/resources/explorations/groundup/lesson/scopes/mt_wilson/


The mirror of the Hooker telescope on its way up the Mount Wilson Toll Road on a Mack Truck in 1917.  By from the Herald-Examiner Collection - http://photos.lapl.org/carlweb/jsp/DoSearch?databaseID=968&index=w&terms=00043802, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1791670

[Rix Gins]

Fred Toney of the Cincinnati Reds pitched a double header against the Pittsburgh Pirates and won both games on July 1, 1917.

Info on Fred Toney: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Toney

On July 1, 1917, Toney pitched two complete-game, three-hitters for victories in a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates, to set a record for fewest hits allowed in a double header by a Major League pitcher.

Professional baseball player Fred Toney.  By Charles M. Conlon - The Sporting News via [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38698933

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.

"Semmes Motor Line" outside Hudson and Dodge Brothers Motor Cars], July 1917

Library of Congress/National Photo Company.  https://www.loc.gov/item/npc2008011464/

[Rix Gins]

From the Imperial War Museum.

Officers of the RNAS Russian Armoured Car Division watching for enemy aircraft on 1 July 1917, the first day of the Kerensky Offensive. Galicia (the Austro-Hungarian partition of Poland).

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205352468

[Rix Gins]

The Paradise Inn on Washington's Mount Rainier opened 100 years ago today.

Info: http://www.historylink.org/File/9223


The Great Room of the historic Paradise Inn, located in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington state, United States.  By Ian Poellet - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6589384

[Rix Gins]

A big race riot hit East St. Louis on July 2, 1917.

Info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_St._Louis_riots

Mob Stopping Street Car, East St. Louis Riot, July 2, 1917.

Image Ownership: Public Domain.  http://www.blackpast.org/aah/east-st-louis-race-riot-july-2-1917

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.

Photograph shows professional boxer Joe Cox who was recruited by the Navy as a first-class fireman in the Naval Coast Defence Reserve in July 1917. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015)

Library of Congress/Bain Collection.  https://www.loc.gov/item/ggb2006000396/

Further info on Joe Cox: http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Joe_Cox

[Rix Gins]

From the Imperial War Museum.

Ruined farm at Fricourt, 2 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205323228

Ruined sugar refinery at Boyelles, 2 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205323239

A British war cemetery at Ginchy, 2 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205323232

[Rix Gins]

The White Sox edged the Indians, 4-3 on July 2, 1917.  The game was called in the seventh inning but not because of rain...

https://www.reddit.com/r/whitesox/comments/6kvva7/july_2_1917_white_sox_win_shortened_game_against/?st=j4ncprhh&sh=7a5740bf

The White Sox got some luck today to give them a win to help reverse their downward skid. The Indians started off strong scoring twice in the 1st. The White Sox quickly retaliated however, Chick Gandil lead off with a triple. He scored and the Sox loaded the bases. A bases loaded walk and a two RBI single put the Sox ahead for good. The Indians threatened but weren't able to get to Red Faber. The game was called in the 7th after 2 hours of play so that the Sox and Indians could make it to train station so that the Sox could catch their train to Detroit and the Indians get on their train to St. Louis on time. The Sox are now 44-24, the Indians are 35-35.

This is Charles "Chick" Gandil of the Chicago White Sox professional baseball team. (circa 1917)  By Unknown - http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/945ce343, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31709131

[Rix Gins]

Percy's War, July 2, 1917: https://percyswar.wordpress.com/posts/

[Rix Gins]

The Topeka State Journal, July 3, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

The Tonopah Daily Bonanza, July 3, 1917.

[Rix Gins]

From the Imperial War Museum.

King George V and Queen Mary of Teck landing at Calais from the "Invicta", 3 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205237703

Ruins of the church at Grevillers, 3 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205323244

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.

Photograph shows a soldier using a bugle megaphone at Fort Totten, Queens, New York City during World War I. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015)

Dated July 3, 1917.  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ggb2006000189/

[Rix Gins]

Percy's War, July 3, 1917: https://percyswar.wordpress.com/posts/

[Rix Gins]

  Manfred Von Richthofen scored victory number 55 on June 24, 1917 and victory number 56 on June 25th, 1917.

  The Red Baron had this to say about his 55th victory.  "With six machines from my Staffel, I attacked enemy squad consisting of two reconnaisance planes and ten fighters.  Unimpeded by the enemy fighters, I managed to break one of the reconnaissance planes with my fire.  The fuselage fell with the inmates into a hanger between Keibergmelen and Lichtensteinlager, this side of our lines.  The plane exploded when crashing on the ground and destroyed the hanger."  (Actually he didn't say this, he wrote it down in his combat report.  I just thought it would be more dramatic if he were talking directly to us, know what I mean?)

  Captain Norman George McNaughton was the doomed pilot of the plane and Lieutenant Angus Hughes Mearns was the observer.  Both of their remains were never recovered and their names were later placed on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, France.

  An interesting account of the 55th victory primarily centered on Angus Mearns, including a photo that can be located at the bottom of the article.  (Mearns is on the top row, in the middle.)  https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/angus-mearns/453489/the-day-the-legendary-red-baron-gunned-down-an-angus-airman/

  On June 25th Von Richthofen wrote, "I was flying together with Lieutenant Allmenroder.  We spotted an enemy artillery flyer whose wings broke off in my machine gun fire.  The body crashed burning to the ground between the trenches." 

  The pilot was 19 year old Lieutenant Leslie Spencer Bowman and the observer was 23 year old Second Lieutenant James Edward Power-Clutterbuck.  Their bodies weren't located, so their names were placed on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, France.
 
  Nice mention, with photos,  of Leslie Spencer Bowman: http://korlr.blogspot.co.za/2012/01/young-leslie-spencer-bowman-was-doctors.html



Richthofen's flying mate Leutnant Karl Allmenröder, who would be killed in aerial combat two days later.
By unknown; published 1917 as Sanke postcard number 543.  Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16219013

 
   

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.


Spirit of '76 parade, July 4, 1917.  http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ggb2006000218/

[Rix Gins]

From the Imperial War Museum.

HM King George V, on Wytschaete Ridge in Belgium on 4 July 1917 during a tour of the Western Front.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205193163

King George V; Edward, the Prince of Wales; General Herbert Plumer, commander of the Second Army, and staff near Wytschaete, 4 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205237707

HMS Furious working up in the Firth of Forth on 4 July 1917 - view of the port beam.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205318885

[Rix Gins]

Baseball game of note for July 4, 1917.  The Chicago White Sox versus the Detroit Tigers in the first game of a double header.  The Sox won 4 to 3. 

Info: https://www.reddit.com/r/whitesox/comments/6l50id/july_4_1917_game_1_white_sox_bring_out_offensive/?st=j4q3hd18&sh=175f566c

The day did not start off well for the White Sox when, in batting practice, when Shoeless Joe Jackson lost control of his bat during a swing and threw it hitting Happy Felsch in the head, knocking him out for a few minutes. Happy was okay though, he went on to be one of the heroes of the game going 2 for 4 with an RBI,

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.  (Dated July 5, 1917.)

Photograph shows submarines in the Gatun Lock of the Panama Canal, after it had been drained. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015)

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ggb2006000196/

[Rix Gins]

From the Imperial War Museum.

King George V with Brigadier General John Becke at the Bray-Dunes aerodrome, 5 July 1917. Edward, the Prince of Wales, is looking at a Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 biplane.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205247441

General Hugh Trenchard (right) and Queen Mary of Teck inspecting a Bristol Fighter biplane during her visit to an aerodrome at the Royal Flying Corps Headquarters at Saint-Omer, 5 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205247403

King George V watching a tank display at Neuve Eglise, 5 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205238381

King Albert I of Belgium seeing King George V off after the latter's visit. La Panne, 5 July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205237712

[Rix Gins]

Percy's War, July 5, 1917: https://percyswar.wordpress.com/posts/

[Rix Gins]

Big Timber, a 1917 movie was released to theaters on July 5, 1917.

Info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0007701/


Poster for Big Timber.  By Paramount Pictures - The image may be found at the following website: https://movieposters.ha.com/itm/romance/big-timber-paramount-1917-one-sheet-27-x-41-/a/7078-83401.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38583568

[Rix Gins]

  The Red Baron got his 57th victory on July 2, 1917.  I could give you a transcript of the Baron's combat report to read but honestly, I can save you a little time.  Suffice to say that Richthofen fired at an RE8 until it caught fire and crashed onto an active battlefield below.  Case closed.

  The pilot of the destroyed plane was Sergeant Hubert Arthur Whatley and his observer was Second Lieutenant Frank Guy Buckingham Pascoe.  Both of the men's dead bodies were salvaged from the wreckage by Australian troops.  The Aussies were kind enough to bury the men in temporary graves, but to no avail.  The boundaries of the battle would change hands several times and the location of the graves were lost.  Nothing but their names remain today and these can still be found on the Arras Memorial to the Missing in France.

  Interesting to note that Pilot Whatley had been accustomed to having Sergeant J.I. Moss as an observer during his previous flights but Moss had been pulled to serve on another plane.  Frank Pascoe would be the observer on this, the final flight that both men would ever have.  Whatley was 19 years old and Pascoe was 20. 


R.E.8 with enlarged fin, at training unit.  By Unknown - Lincolnshire Aviation Museum, Public Domain,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20413026



 

[Rix Gins]

Lawrence of Arabia and Co. kicked ass at Aqaba on July 6, 1917.  Here is an account of their battle against the Turks and it is really just a several minute read that you will find quite interesting, especially if you are a fan of the movie 'Lawrence of Arabia' starring Peter O'Toole.  As a matter of fact, I remember one scene from the movie that corresponds with the Battle of Aqaba where Lawrence and his Arab army crossed a vast desert to take the Turks at Aqaba by surprise.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Aqaba

A couple of quotes from the article:

The expedition started moving towards Aqaba in May. Despite the heat of the desert, the seasoned Bedouins encountered few obstacles aside from occasional harassment from small bands of Arabs paid off by the Turks; they lost more men to attacks by snakes and scorpions than to enemy action.

Lawrence was nearly killed in the action; he accidentally shot the camel he was riding on in the head with his pistol, but was thrown out of harm's way when he fell.

Thomas Edward Lawrence - aka Lawrence of Arabia.  This media file is in the public domain in the United States.  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lcamel.jpg

[Rix Gins]

From the Library of Congress.

"Beacon Hill House," Arthur Curtiss James house, Beacon Hill Road, Newport, Rhode Island. Vegetable garden.

July, 1917.  https://www.loc.gov/item/2008675700/

Helena Hill Weed, Norwalk, Conn. Serving 3 day sentence in D.C. prison for carrying banner, "Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed."

July 6, 1917.https://www.loc.gov/item/mnwp000060/

[Rix Gins]

From the Imperial War Museum.

British and Russian officers of the RNAS Armoured Car Squadron in Galicia prior to the Russian offensive of July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205317704

Russian troops with a trench mortar of the RNAS Russian Armoured Car Division in Galicia (the Austro-Hungarian partition of Poland), July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205352461

Men of the RNAS Russian Armoured Car Division and a Russian artillery battery pose with a British flag on a flat-bed railway wagon in Galicia during preparations for the offensive. Galicia (the Austro-Hungarian partition of Poland), July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205352454

Russian prisoners being interrogated before being despatched to a POW camp, probably in Tarnopol area, July 1917.

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205289245

[Rix Gins]

Percy's War, July 6, 1917: https://percyswar.wordpress.com/posts/

[Rix Gins]

https://youtu.be/e1EX-9U1m2U