15th October 1917 On this day:  Reliefs  Daily Activity  Enemy Aircraft Naval Action -15th October 1917   The Action of 15 October 1917 was a naval engagement of World War I between Imperial Germany and the United States off the coast of Mind Head, Ireland. Action The American destroyer USS Cassin, under Lieutenant Commander W. N. Vernon, was operating off the coast of Ireland in October 1917. It was on anti-submarine patrols and rescue missions, as well as convoy duty. Operating out of Queenstown, Ireland, she was armed with four 4 inch guns and eight 18 inch torpedo tubes. The German submarine U-61, on a typical unrestricted U-boat mission, was cruising in British waters, attacking Allied shipping. She was armed with a deck gun and torpedoes. On 15 October 1917, Cassin sighted U-61 at about 23 miles south of Mind Head at 1330 and 5 miles from the ship. The German submarine sighted Cassin as well, she immediately submerged and began to flee. The pursuit ensued for an hour and at about 14:30, U-61's commander, Victor Dieckmann, decided to engage the tailing American warship. The Germans then turned about and surfaced to line up for a shot and fired their last torpedo. Gunner's Mate First Class Osmond Ingram noticed the incoming projectile, he quickly ran over to the depth charge gunners and ordered them to shoot charges in U-61's direction. The torpedo struck the destroyer aft on the port side before the depth charge attack could be launched and Ingram was killed in the explosion. The torpedo hit Cassin's portside stern, nearly blowing off her rudder. The American destroyer began to steam in circles, but returned a barrage of 4 inch shells which forced the U-boat to dive. Four hits damaged U-61's conning tower which discouraged her commander from continuing to attack. Besides the American sailor killed, nine others were wounded in the action. The dead sailor, Osmond Ingram, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service on 15 October. Eventually, another American destroyer USS Porter and the British sloops HMS Jessamine and Tamarisk arrived on the scene and protected Cassin throughout the night. However, no further U-boat contacts were made. The next morning, Cassin was towed back to Queenstown by Captain Ronald Niel Stuart in HMS Snowdrop. The damaged USS Cassin was repaired and returned to active duty in July 1918. U-61 was sunk by the submarine chaser HMS PC-51 a few months later. John Doran  Enemy Artillery Active    IN SUPPORT (ARLEUX) Lt THORMAN left to report to DAG on 17th October. 2Lt FREER took over duties of Adjutant. 18th DLI war diary WO95/2361/1  Into Town  In Action  Into Camp  Working Parties  In the Trenches  Training  Relief Complete  In the Trenches  Fairly quiet at the front  Training  Training & Sports  Inspection  In Reserve  Training  Boggart Hole Mortared  Training  Squadron comes to full strength  On the Move  Carrying Parties  Training  Rifles Exchanged  Brigade tactical exercise  Training  Baths  Reliefs  Enemy Artillery and T.M's. quiet on our front  Aircraft Active  Company Training  Relief and move completed by 0120 hours.  Training.  Beach landing plan abandoned Can you add to this factual information? Do you know the whereabouts of a unit on a particular day? Do you have a copy of an official war diary entry? Details of an an incident? The loss of a ship? A letter, postcard, photo or any other interesting snipts? If your information relates only to an individual, eg. enlistment, award of a medal or death, please use this form: Add a story.

Killed, Wounded, Missing, Prisoner and Patient Reports published this day. This section is under construction.

Want to know more about 15th of October 1917? There are:36 items tagged 15th of October 1917 available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Remembering those who died this day, 15th of October 1917. Pte. Charles Bailey. 7th Btn. Royal West Kent Regiment Read their Story. Gnr. William George Gray. MM. 221st Trench Mortar Battery Royal Field Artillery Read their Story. Rifleman James Thomas Herrmann. 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade Read their Story. Petty Officer Herbert Edwin Newdick. HMS White Head Read their Story. Spr. Herbert Edward Saunders. 225th Field Coy Royal Engineers Read their Story. Rfmn. Henry A Whatley. 8th Battalion Kings Royal Rifles Add a name to this list.

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