Rheges/Saint-Lucien Ferme – Aube - France
Rheges top right with St Lucien Ferme bottom left.
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The main 103 Squadron ground party arrived at at 14:00 on the 17 May 1940 after travelling through the night on dimmed headlights and narrowly missed an enemy strafing and bombing attack. Some of the Squadron's vehicles then returned to Betheniville to collect more equipment and spares.
is a small village overlooking the valley of the River Aube approximately 60 miles south of Betheniville. The airfield on the open farmland south west of the village was excellent and extensive and well camouflaged with thinly sown crops. Further to the south west was Saint Lucien Ferme a couple of miles away. The site proved very difficult to spot from the air and German reconnaissance aircraft never found it. Great care and thought was given to concealment and camouflage of the aircraft and equipment etc. The airfield was shared for a short time with 218 Squadron until they were evacuated at the beginning of June. The accommodation and food were excellent and the local people proved most hospitable. I believe that the officers were billeted in a large house in the centre of the village next to the church and war memorial and a short distance from the airfield
The following day the Squadron had only four Battles serviceable but 11 crews were available for operations. The ground crews worked flat out under great pressure to repair the damaged aircraft and service and prepare others for operations. Operations restarted with Squadron aircraft tasked to attack German armour in the area of St Quentin and Conde-sur Aisne. At this time tactical low approach and attack were discontinued and a high approach at about 8000 feet with dive attack to 4000 feet was adopted. This method greatly reduced the casualty rate. Aircraft were also despatched singly to provide freedom of manoeuvrability and the sub formation of three aircraft abandoned.
Operations restarted on the 18 May with Squadron aircraft tasked to attack German armour in the area of St Quentin. A number of Battles were damaged by flak in low level attacks but all returned to base.
On the 19 May Six Battles attacked troop concentrations in the Conde-sur-Aisne area and all returned safely in spite of heavy flak in the target area.
Night operations were now flown and a special flare path installed. This was an electrically controlled series of glim lamps wired through a rheostat and working off the Chance light generator. This system worked very well and the lights could be dimmed or extinguished immediately if required in the event of enemy aircraft being in the vicinity.
In general the night operations were never a great success but the Battles were now considered too vulnerable to fly regularly by day without fighter escort and the few RAF fighter squadrons in France were too busy intercepting Luftwaffe raids to undertake escort duties.
Five Battles undertook the Squadron's first night attack on the 20/21 May on German communications and storage facilities at Fumay in Belgium and all returned to base. The aircraft operated singly and the operation was made difficult because of mist in the target area.
In spite of strong protests by AVM Barratt to his superiors against his rapidly diminishing force of Battles and their crew being wasted on low level daylight attacks four Battles took off at dawn on the 22 May to make low-level attacks on German armour in the Amiens/Bernaville area.
On the 22/23 May five aircraft took part in night attacks in the Trier area. Two aircraft force landed but the crews later made it back to the Squadron.
Three Battles took off before noon on the 25 May to attack a German column near Abbeville. It was not found but the aircraft of Sgt Beardsley was damaged and he crash-landed in a forward area. He rejoined the Squadron with his gunner, LAC G F Lewis, 2 days later having walked 27 miles and then hitched a lift on a motor cycle and side car. This was the second time in 11 days these two airmen had been shot down and managed to get back to the Squadron.
Of particular note was the attack on the Chateau Roumont near Oschamps airfield on the 26 May 1940. Four Battles led by F/O Havers took off at 1000 with fighter escort. Intelligence had discovered that there was to be a meeting of 20 senior Luftwaffe officers at the Chateau that day. Hits were claimed on the target and again heavy flak was encountered. F/L Leyden and crew failed to return.
AOC in C AVM Barratt visited the squadron and was introduced to all the crews. Later he had a conference with the senior officers
At noon on the 31 May the squadron was stood down and transport was laid on to the nearby town of Troyes. This a large number of personnel took advantage of and sampled local wine and food and other pleasures. 6 replacement Air Gunners were posted to the Squadron at this time. Three French medal awards were confirmed to Squadron members and also DFCs to S/L Tait and F/O Fitzgerald and a DFM to Sgt Perry.
On the 2 June another night raid was mounted against railway sidings south of Triers and the results were considered good. That same night F/O Blome-Jones attacked one of the Seine bridges and encountered heavy flak but proceeded with their attack.
This was the last raid from Rheges and with much sadness the Squadron aircraft and main party left for Herbouville/Ouzouer-le-Doyen the next day
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103 Officers group photo taken outside their billet in Rheges. This was a large house next to the church and war meemorial which appears to be still there and much the same. IWM
A 103 Battle hidden at the edge of the tree line at the north east corner of the airfield next to the road
The last meal at Rheges before departure. Arthur Roberts front left with Leslie Blome-Jones front right. Doc Mahon is visible on the right at the rear
Item compiled by David Fell. Group photo Imperial War Museum. Others from the Arthur Roberts collection via Jon Hipkin
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