UNDILUTED HISTORY AND FACTS

British Captain pilot Albert Ball posing for a photograph with a German propeller following his 43rd aerial victory, ca. May 5, 1917. Colourised by 'Photos Redux' on Facebook. On May 7, 1917, the British flying ace Captain Albert Ball VC was killed in action near Douai on the Western Front - Britain's 4th deadliest pilot of the First World War. In August 1914, Albert Ball enlisted in the British Army at the age of 18. Ball already had military experience, having served in the Officers' Training Corps, and was therefore appointed to train new recruits instead of serving in France. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant by October 29, 1914. Ball was  not content with his role on the home front. Seeking more action, he eventually took up private flying lessons in June 1915. Although his flying instructors deemed him an average pilot, Ball found flying thrilling and requested a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps.  His request was granted, and by February 18, 1916 he was in Franc...

Austro-Hungarian soldier with a fallen soldier covered in snow on barbed wire on the Monte Piana, 1917. The Monte Piana is a 2.3 km tall mountain in the Dolomite mountain range, being part of the natural border between Italy and Austria-Hungary, fiercely contested between them in the First World War. Upon the outbreak of war between these two in May 1915, Monte Piana had a southern summit occupied by the Italians, and a northern summit occupied by the Austro-Hungarians. On June 8, 1915, today 108 years ago, the Austro-Hungarians first attacked the Italian positions at Monte Piana. The Italians repulsed the attack and then went on the offensive themselves. Despite heavy Italian artillery bombardments and an infantry assault between July 15-20, resulting in 833 Italian casualties among 255 deaths, the Italians failed to conquer the northern summit.  In the following 2 years, the Monte Piana became scene to mountainous and freezing warfare, common in the Alps. It would become one of t...