The Yi'Res Times.
225
lines and, impelled by the northern breeze, drift across the French trenches. What
followed in those trenches defies description suffice it to say that within an hour the
French troops had been compelled to abandon their whole position, leaving a gap of
some 5,000 yards open to the Germans for an advance direct on the town of Ypres. How
this critical gap was closed and the line reformed by the heroism and tenacity of our troops
and at what sacrifice, must be told by others it is necessary to explain, however, that by
accomplishing this seemingly impossible task our line was in some places stretched almost
to breaking point and in consequence the successful handling of the situation was to a
considerable degree dependent upon timely knowledge of the enemy's intentions.
In addition to reconnoitring the various rail centres, aerial bombing attacks were
directed against the more important, with the object of interrupting the enemy's rail
communications into the battle area east of Ypres. It was during one of these raids that
the first Victoria Cross was earned for conspicuous gallantry in the air." On April 26
the enemy was reported to be concentrating troops at Ghent and it was with the object
of hampering any possible movement of this force to the south-west that air attacks on
various junctions and trains were organized. Lieutenant Rhodes-Moorhouse, R.F.C.,
one of those engaged on this work, had as his task the bombing of Courtrai station, and
in order to make certain of a hit decided to come down to 300 or 400 feet. At this height
he came under very heavy fire, chiefly from machine guns and rifles, and immediately
after dropping his 100-lb. bomb, which hit its objective, he was badly wounded in the
abdomen, and his machine was damaged. Despite his severe injuries, which included
further hits in thigh and hand Lieutenant Moorhouse piloted his machine for thirty-five
miles at a height of a few hundred feet and landed at Merville. He made a full report
before being taken to hospital. Unfortunately this very gallant officer died of his wounds
the following day.
Two months later the Victoria Cross was also awarded to Captain L. G. Hawker,
the first Flying Corps officer to gain this decoration for conspicuous bravery in aerial
combat. This officer, flying a Bristol Scout on July 25,1915, attacked two hostile machines,
one over Passchendaele at 6 p.m. and one over Houthulst Forest at 6.20 p.m.both
machines, however, dived and escaped. Captain Hawker then climbed to 11,000 feet
and saw another machine, which he attacked, over Hooge, opening fire at about 100 yards
the enemy machine burst into flames and turned upside down, the observer falling out.
The machine and pilot crashed south-east of Zonnebeke in our lines.
About this time the enemy were also making determined efforts to prevent our
artillery and reconnaissance machines from working over their lines, and information had
in consequence to be fought for. A striking example is afforded by the experience of
Lieutenants Acland and de Halpert, who, on June 20, 1915, while carrying out a recon
naissance over Poelcappelle at a height of about 4,000 feet, engaged a large German biplane,
having a double fuselage with two engines and propellers. After some quick manoeuvring
Lieutenant de Halpert got in about twenty rounds at less than 200 yards range, which
apparently had some effect as the hostile machine was seen to waver and after some more
shots its engines stopped and it nose-dived to 2,000 feet, where it flattened out, flying
slowly and erratically. Lieutenant Acland turned towards our lines to complete his
reconnaissance, when his machine was hit by anti-aircraft fire and he decided to make
for home. The petrol tank had, however, been pierced and as the machine glided down
wards the petrol burst into flame. The pilot did not lose control and the aeroplane pro
ceeded steadily on its downward course, and when it finally landed behind our lines both
officers had been severely burnt.
The presence of Zeppelins was reported almost daily, and although many attempts
were made to attack them, both in the air and on the ground, these were in the main
quite unsuccessful. For example, on May 17, 1915, a Zeppelin was sighted, flying not far
behind the German lines, by a pilot on patrol work, who immediately flew to attack it.
