Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2010 22:46:11 GMT 12
I am currently creating a website for the Cambridge/Le Quesnoy Friendship Association, which is a group that keeps the close ties between the twinned towns of Cambridge, New Zealand (where I live) and Le Quesnoy, France intact.
One of the key points of history that links our towns is when the New Zealand Division, including Cambridge men, stormed the walls of Le Quesnoy and captured the ancient fortress town back from the Germans in November 1918.
I decided to see what our NZ newspapers were saying at the time about the battle, using the National Library of New Zealand's excellent Papers Past facility, and was surprised to find this article about an air battle that occurred over the town at the same time as the New Zelanders and British troops were approaching for the ground attack.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=PBH19181105.2.3&srpos=8&e=-01-1915--12-1932--10--1-DA---0le+quesnoy-all
The aviation aspect of the battle is one I'd never heard before, as people always focus on the ground battle and the New Zealanders' innovative storming of the walls with ladders, rather than bombardment, which saved all the civilians within the walled city.
So it leads me to wonder, which RAF squadron or squadrons were involved in this air battle? I'm really wondering if any New Zealand pilots were perhaps involved, which would be neat as it would mirror the NZ efforts on the ground.
How would I find out details of which Allied squadrons and pilots or aircrew took part in the air battle? I'm not too familiar with researching WWI stuff. Can anyone here offer advice or answers please? Thanks
One of the key points of history that links our towns is when the New Zealand Division, including Cambridge men, stormed the walls of Le Quesnoy and captured the ancient fortress town back from the Germans in November 1918.
I decided to see what our NZ newspapers were saying at the time about the battle, using the National Library of New Zealand's excellent Papers Past facility, and was surprised to find this article about an air battle that occurred over the town at the same time as the New Zelanders and British troops were approaching for the ground attack.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=PBH19181105.2.3&srpos=8&e=-01-1915--12-1932--10--1-DA---0le+quesnoy-all
The aviation aspect of the battle is one I'd never heard before, as people always focus on the ground battle and the New Zealanders' innovative storming of the walls with ladders, rather than bombardment, which saved all the civilians within the walled city.
So it leads me to wonder, which RAF squadron or squadrons were involved in this air battle? I'm really wondering if any New Zealand pilots were perhaps involved, which would be neat as it would mirror the NZ efforts on the ground.
How would I find out details of which Allied squadrons and pilots or aircrew took part in the air battle? I'm not too familiar with researching WWI stuff. Can anyone here offer advice or answers please? Thanks
