History - World War I (10)
…... was staying in a nearby Chateau. Needless to say this was supposed to be a secret; and again needless to say, it wasn’t. Major Draper was given “most confidential” orders to keep a special look out for enemy in the area, and was horrified when a few night bombers dropped their wares near the King’s abode. Fortunately His Majesty had left a few days earlier. Major Draper remarks that night bombing was intensifying about this time and became a curse to the men who were kept out of their beds by it even though they could do nothing to remedy the situation. On 29th September, 1918, 208 left Tramecourt for Foucacourt on the Somme, at the same time transferring from 10th to 22nd Wing. It was desolate country into which the advance was made; aerodromes were simply ex-battle fields with shell holes filled in and the country was completely devoid of any buildings except Army huts. A move further forward was made on 10th October to Estree where the Squadron Commander was wounded on the ground. From his own account he appears to have been highly amused by the incident. He was hit in the knee whilst sitting in a car after inspecting a
new aerodrome. Laid up for but a few days, but appearing nevertheless on the casualty list, he found it necessary to reassure his family by cable. On 22nd October yet another advance was made to Moritz. The enemy was on the run now and things were drawing to a close. The operation order for the move incurred a two day journey which Draper thought highly inconsiderate towards the men, so he executed the transfer in 24 hours. After congratulating himself he was carpeted by his superiors for daring to have better ideas than Brigade Staff.
Then came the Armistice. The Squadron Commander’s phone rang at about 6.30 a.m. and the Wing-Commander told him that the Armistice was to be signed at 11 a.m. that morning; the Squadron was required to carry out a non-offensive line patrol one hour before that time. Celebrations started immediately, and though he gives no details Major Draper remarks that the ones at home, lively though they were, did not equal the ones on the spot.
The Squadron moved forward to Donstiennes, just south of Charleroi, on 2nd December and in the following month Major Smart took over command.
