On the 27th of May 1917 Harry was sent to the Somme to take part in the Battle of Messines Ridge. He operated out of Poperinghe about 15 miles west of Ypres city, and 20 miles from no man’s land. He was flying for around 2.5 hours every day at this point.
Harry experienced his first flying accident on operations on the 2nd of June 1917, when he landed his BE.2e on rough ground and sheared the wheels and propeller off his B.E.2e, serial number A2940.
A prime target was hit on the 6th of June when Harry and his crew member directed artillery onto a large ammunition dump. The next day they had a large hole blown through their wing but they returned safely.
Strafing was the purpose of their flight on the 8th of June when Harry’s Observer, Lieutenant Wilmott, fired three drum (290 rounds) of Lewis Gun ammunition into troops in the trenches. The Battle of Messines came to an end on the 14th of June, 1917.
Harry had a very lucky escape on the 24th of June when his aeroplane was attacked by seven enemy aircraft, his Observer, Lt Willmot, managed to fight them off with his Lewis gun.
On the 26th of June Harry and Lt. Wilmott flew to St Julian, and dropped bombs on targets there. Also onboard was Wilmott’s wireless set. If this was in a BE.2 they must have worked miracles to get off the ground as that sort of loading of fuel, bombs, second crewmember and wireless set was really too much for the poor old BE.2.
The 17th of July 1917 was not a great day for Harry. He suffered three separate engine breakdowns, and one of these saw him crash land into a field of oats where the aeroplane flipped over smashing it propeller and his Observer was thrown out, but no one was injured.
On the 27th of July Harry’s R.E.8 was attacked by two enemy machines, but he carried on with his work directing artillery, after driving one off and destroying the other. He saw it crash at Langemarck. on the same day Harry Williams was promoted to the rank of Captain.
Taken between 31 July 1917 when Williams was promoted to Flight Commander and Septermber 1917 when Brazier and Wilmott were wounded in action. seven pilots and seven observers are identified. From the left, front row, are 2/Lt S.L. Symonds, Lt S. Wilmott and 2/Lt A.L. Dumsley. Middle row: Sgt J. Morris, 2/Lt T.W. Dougall, 2/Lt D. P??,
2/Lt H. Horrocks, Captain Harry Williams MC, 2/Lt L.G. Brazier, 2/Lt W. Booth, 2/Lt W.H. Dykes (Dyckes?).
Back row:Lt R.D. Blake, Lt Morgan, and Lt E.S. Livock.
Harry was now flying every day over the Somme, directing artillery and sometimes dropping bombs in his new plane. On the 31st of July 1917, the Third Battle of Ypres began, during which.4.5 million shells were fired, and Harry was responsible for directing where many of them landed.
On the 9th of August 1917, Harry and his observer took a dozen good reconnaissance photos, and although they were attacked by three enemy aircraft they managed to fight them off and escape.
Bad weather made photography and flying difficult for two weeks. On the 16th of August Harry’s aircraft was attacked by three enemy aeroplanes but again he was able to drive them off.
Harry and his Observer were attacked by twelve enemy aircraft on the 21st of September, but they still managed to complete their operation.
See also HD Williams Memoires pages 24-25