 |
Sunday, 23 August 1914: drizzling rain in the morning, cleared later but low clouds stayed in the afternoon.
Whilst II Esc.HF was at Saint-Gerard, the German assault brought them 200 m from the airfield, so the unit was again on the run. Four men of their flying personnel were reported missing in the evening: Lieutenants F.Jacquet, J.Jaumotte, & L.Bussy & Sgt E.Demuyter. In the evening the unit was at Philippeville with three aircraft. Lieutenant Soumoy went to France in order to get better aircraft & trying to find a new airfield for his unit, passed over his command temporarily to Lieutenant Isserentant.
Barely arrived at Philippeville, the French army instructed the ill-fated unit further away, as the Germans were now advancing from Charleroi. It was then that the decision was made to try to get to Antwerp through Maubeuge & the coast, an operation which proved unrealisable in the end. Lieutenant Daumerie had his Nazaret car changed into an armored car, & driven by Prince Joseph de Caraman, they went to Haybes to assist French
troops guarding a passage over the Meuse. With their Hotchkiss machine-gun they successfully stopped the Germans from trying to cross the river during the night. On the morning of the 25th, they finally went back to their unit as their ammunition was now all spent.
Reconnaissance missions: 3
• Lt J.Jaumotte-L.Bussy, II Esc.HF – engaged by ground fire.
Escaped skimming the treetops & hedge-hopping away.
• Lt F.Isserentant-S/Lt P.Hiernaux, II Esc.HF – crashed on take off, Farman destroyed, crew slightly.injured.
|
