Photos WW1 British, Commonwealth & US Forces
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C-class light cruiser HMS Castor passing Clydebank, February 1916. She fought in the Battle of Jutland.
HMS Castor was the flagship for the 11th Flotilla Squadron led by Commodore James Hawksley. The official history states: “At 20:11 hrs, the 11th Flotilla led by Commodore Hawksley, on board Castor spotted German Destroyers to his NWN and turned to attack, supported by the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron. They had found not destroyers but the main German battle line”.
The 11th Flotilla was spotted by the German ships. The Germans approached and used the response to the British challenge signal that they had seen used earlier. This meant that they were able to approach much closer than usual. At about a 1 mile range, the German ships switched on the searchlights and opened fire. HMS Castor returned fire, and she and 2 of her destroyers (Marne and Magic), each fired one torpedo at the German ships. This exchange lasted for 5 minutes before both sides turned away. Some of the other destroyers reported that they were unable to see the enemy because of glare from Castor’s guns, while others believed there had been some mistake and this was actually friendly fire. Castor received 10 hits, killing 10 people and injuring several more.
A photograph taken from inside the hull of the light cruiser HMS Castor after the Battle of Jutland showing a large shell hole.
1st Battlecruiser Squadron in Kronstadt, Russia, in June 1914
HMS Castor was the flagship for the 11th Flotilla Squadron led by Commodore James Hawksley. The official history states: “At 20:11 hrs, the 11th Flotilla led by Commodore Hawksley, on board Castor spotted German Destroyers to his NWN and turned to attack, supported by the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron. They had found not destroyers but the main German battle line”.
The 11th Flotilla was spotted by the German ships. The Germans approached and used the response to the British challenge signal that they had seen used earlier. This meant that they were able to approach much closer than usual. At about a 1 mile range, the German ships switched on the searchlights and opened fire. HMS Castor returned fire, and she and 2 of her destroyers (Marne and Magic), each fired one torpedo at the German ships. This exchange lasted for 5 minutes before both sides turned away. Some of the other destroyers reported that they were unable to see the enemy because of glare from Castor’s guns, while others believed there had been some mistake and this was actually friendly fire. Castor received 10 hits, killing 10 people and injuring several more.
A photograph taken from inside the hull of the light cruiser HMS Castor after the Battle of Jutland showing a large shell hole.
1st Battlecruiser Squadron in Kronstadt, Russia, in June 1914
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Here's a pretty good reenactment of the opening assault on Belleau Wood, done for the US Marine museum. Most of the actors were Marines. The actual Marine battalion used on the assault suffered 50% casualties on the first day.
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I think a bit of trading is going on note the Pickelhauben on the ground to the right and the tip of one can be seen on the rear of the shoulder of the middle British soldier, also I believe the front British soldier sports a German Gas mask case.
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Australia:
11th Battalion of the AIF on the Cheops Pyramid (or Great Pyramid) in Egypt in 1915
The legend, or most probably myth that they dragged a dead digger up there when they took the pic. It would be interesting to know the origins of that story.
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