Letter - 30 November - the enemy flies over Cairo. Athol's plane crashes.

Athol writes home to mother. He recounts how the German pilots flew 90 miles behind their lines to bomb Cairo. The AFC retaliated with raids which bombed a railway line east of the Dead Sea.
The lads invent a new ball game called 'bounders' and Athol umpires two football matches.

Kantara
Egypt
30.11.16

Dear Mater,

There is a mail out this morning I believe, so here is a line.  As you know the Hun flew over and bombed Cairo. A fine effort as he had to go over 90 miles behind our lines to do it. But we got even with several raids, one of which two machines (one Old Melb pilot) bombed the railway on the east of the Dead Sea.  Three of our machines were sent to Cairo to patrol and I had a job on one but as we were leaving here the pilot 'stalled' the machine and we crashed about 30 or 40 feet to earth. No one hurt, I got a bleeding nose, and the machine was about finished. Also I lost the job as another pilot and observer were sent.

I have umpired two football matches for the men and we have invented a game we call 'bounders', a cross between baseball and rounders. 'A' Flight played the rest of the mess a couple of days ago and won by 2 runs. Next Sunday the officers play the men and as they have three baseball players we expect a good game.

We went down to the Canal about ?p.m. yesterday and saw the Medina go through from Australia. Expect we'll get a mail tomorrow. My love to Pater and the Aunts.

Yours lovingly,

Athol

P.S. See V.H.A. (Athol's elder brother - Valentine Harold Adams) is gazetted as a flying officer in RFC. (21.10.16).

Letter - 21 November - trip to Cairo

Athol writes home to mother. He thanks her for another parcel of socks. He made a short visit to Cairo with his mate Lt Ellis. This short letter, sent from Kantara, must have been dashed off very quickly as parts are quite illegible.

Kantara
Egypt
21.11.16

Dear Mater,

Many thanks for No.61 also 1 bundle of socks. Also for enclosure from (illegible). Do you know if I hold any other H.P. shares? because Aunt May said something about some in a letter about 18 months ago since when silence has reigned supreme. It doesn't really make any difference ...but find out on the quiet.

Les Ellis and I went up to Cairo for the weekend. It wasn't bad. We saw Ada Reeves' boy. Quite a change after assorted days, etc shows.

I hope to get away to school in the every near future and then it's more or less only my own fault if I'm long on the road.

There is absolutely nothing to tell this time. I'll try and put up a better performance next mail. Mine to Pater and the Aunts.

Yours lovingly

Athol

El Arish Engagement - 11 November 1916

On 11 November 1916 No.1 AFC (all three Flights: A, B and C) took part in their largest scale raid yet attempted by them or any other air squadron in the East. One Martinsyde and 9 BEs, flew out of Kantara and Mahemdia aerodromes, in formation, loaded with fuel and bombs. They headed towards Beersheba in the east. When they were over El Arish they saw a German aeroplane on the ground. A bomb was dropped but it didn't hit the plane - nor did the German pilot decide to take off and engage the AFC.

A contemporary map of the Egypt Sinai campaign 

Key locations: Kantara, Mahemdia, El Arish, Bir El Mazar, El Arish.

Beersheba is 20 miles east off the edge of the map (see inset map).

Ref: http://fly.historicwings.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HighFlight-Aero-Medical-Evacuation2.jpg

The Germans probably reported seeing the formation and radioed ahead as, when the Australians reached Beersheba, they were met with anti-aircraft fire, high explosives and shrapnel. The Martinsyde dropped its 100-pound bomb and hit the middle of the aerodrome, 2 of the bombs dropped from BEs hit tents and others hit the railway line and the station.

Two German pilots, one in a Fokker and another in Aviatik, were able to get into the air and engage the Australians. Fortunately they attacked the only two AFC planes which had any self-defence capability, the Martinsyde and the BE flown by Wackett and Turner which the men themselves had fitted with a gun on the middle of the upper wing. The German planes were seen off without damaging any AFC plane.

This is one of Athol's photos and shows a gun mounted in the centre of the top wing.

This could be the plane used by Wackett and Turner during the El Arish engagement.

The AFC observers (including Athol) photographed Beersheba, including the damage caused in the raid. All the Australian planes returned safely after 7 hours in the air. These long flights were quite an achievement in such unreliable aircraft, over hostile territory and in difficult conditions.

Ref: Australian War Memorial image: A00635

Copy of a composite photo mosaic of El Arish and surrounding country. The image was created from numerous prints obtained from aerial photographs taken by aircraft of No 1 Squadron, AFC.

In Athol's letter of 10 December he mentions taking part in the El Arish raid. "I had a fly over the Turkish lines the other day. Gave them a couple of bombs to go on with. Didn't do much harm though."

Two days later the Germans responded with a raid of their own. On 13 November a sole German plane flew over the Allied lines and bombed Cairo. The Australian machines took to the air in pursuit but were not able to match his speed and lost him on the return journey. Athol also mentions this feat in one of his letters (30 November post).


Ref: The Official War History, Vol.VIII, The Australian Flying Corps in the Western and Eastern Theatres of War, 1914-1918, (11th edition, 1941), Chapter IV, 'Air Fighting in the Desert', p.45.

Xmas card - November 1916

Athol sends a Christmas card home to mother. I think this must have been sent on 11 November (see post mark on envelope) in time to reach Melbourne by Christmas.

This postcard was printed for the AFC. The hand drawing with watercolour is

signed by O.H. Coulson.

Letter - 11 November 1916 - Christmas greetings

Athol writes to Mr Whelan a former colleague at his mother's family's company, Huddart Parker.

Kantara
Egypt
11.11.16

Dear Mr Whelan,

Very many thanks for your letter 3-10-16.

This being Christmas mail I'll kill two birds with one stone and wish you the very best of luck for 1917. As you see I'm still in the land of sand and sorrow. It is getting quite nice and cool here now, which is a bit of a change. Also we are now about 300 miles further north and not quite so far from everywhere. This place is on the Canal and so it's a lot more interesting. The rain you had in September is a bit of a change from this spot. I haven't seen a speck of rain since last March.

Haven't had very much flying lately as we have been changing stations, but suppose we'll get more than enough in the near future.

Give my best wishes to any I know in H.P.

Best of luck,

Yours sincerely,

Athol G .Adams

Letter - 9 November 1916 - transfer to Kantara

Athol is transferred, along with the whole of 'A' Flight from Sherika to Kantara where they join the rest of 1 Squadron, AFC. During WW1 Kantara was a key distribution and supply depot. Being a convenient port on the Suez Canal the allies were able to land supplies and take advantage of the major railway line which passed through Kantara linking Port Said with the Gulf of Suez. The Headquarters for the Canal defences and Eastern Force was located at Kantara. In 1916, whilst Athol was located at Kantara, the base supported the ANZAC troops and British units in operation in the Sinai.

The locations of the Battle of Romani (5 August 1916) and the El Arish engagement can also be seen on this map. Cairo is about 160km southwest of Kantara (not on this map). Port Said is about 50km to the north.

Kantara and East of the Suez

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Romani#/media/File:Duguid_map_opp_p.48Arish.jpeg

Athol writes that he expects to be moved further east. The men seem to be quite comfortable at Kantara and Athol meets up with other members of the AFC - in fact the whole of the AFC was together as a Squadron in operation as a single unit for the first time at Kantara. He seems to have more than enough clothing and asks Adah to stop sending socks as every man in the Squadron 'has heaps' and there are a lot in store. He says he is sending home some photos and I have uploaded these in earlier posts. In a throw-away line he says he had a little crash a few days ago but no damage to anyone.

Kantara
Egypt
9.11.16

Dear Mater,

As you see by the above we have at last left Sherika and are here for a little while. Then we are going further east.  I came down by train in charge of the men and stores. This place is on the east side of the Canal between Port Said and Ismailia. We are very comfortable here and the other chaps in the Squadron are a fine lot of fellows. I expect to get away to school pretty soon now, in fact as soon as a couple more observers qualify.

I have to thank you for two parcels of socks, two of food and one of clothing also for letter 60. I think for the present anyway it would be a good idea to stop sending me towels, shirts, and singlets as I have more than I want. Also the parcels of socks for the men as every man in the Squadron has heaps and there are a lot in store.

There is really no news, we haven't done any work for ages only joy rides.

I'm sending you a few photos most of which are under separate cover. You may get some idea of the country round Sherika from one of the big ones. Also I'm sending Aunt May a lot and as very few are duplicates you better have a look at them.

This is the last mail before Christmas so all greetings for the season. I don't think I told you I had a little crash a few days ago. Quite gentle and no damage done to anyone and mighty little to the machine.

Love to Aunt Puff and Pater.

Yours lovingly,

Athol

Service record - 7 November 1916 - orders to be Flying Officer

Athol's service record notes that he was transferred on 7 November 1916 to be Flying Officer.

Ref: National Archives of Australia. WW1 service records. NAA: B2455, ADAMS A G, Page 18 of 140

Athol photos - flying in the desert

These two photos appear to have been taken by Athol  whilst he was serving with 'A' Flight, AFC, at Sherika.  Each photo is the usual size, 80mm x 60mm, and there are no notations on the reverse.

Taking off in the desert.

The first two digits on the tail read "41..'" so maybe it is the same aircraft in the post dated

30 October. That was aircraft 4155 a BE2c.