EASTCHURCH
MEMORIAL
TO
PIONEER AIRMEN
UNVEILED BY
MARSHALL OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
LORD TEDDER, G.C.B.
ON
Monday, July 25, 1955
EASTCHURCH MEMORIAL TO PIONEER AIRMEN
The site of the Memorial is at the corner of the High Street and
Church Road, Eastchurch. and faces the 15th century Parish Church.
One of the roads leads to Leysdown and the other to the site of the
Eastchurch Aerodrome, which is now taken over by the Government for
other purposes.
The site selected was considered the most suitable as it linked the
two sites of early aviation on the Island of Sheppey. It consisted of a
lawn and flowerbeds and contained two seats for the convenience of
people waiting for buses.
The designer therefore decided that the “motif” should be a functional
one and contain permanent seating accommodation.
The structure consists of a Portland stone wall curved on plan on the
one side, like the camber of an aeroplane wing, and straight on the other.
Next to the top of this wall are panels carved in low relief of types of
aeroplanes of the 1909-11 era. These panels increase in height from
right towards the centre, thus symbolising the development of the
aeroplane.
The central figure consists of a carved figure of Zeus, the Greek
mythological God of the Heavens, who is shown looking down from the
clouds and holding a sceptre of authority in one hand and a thunderbolt
of power in the other.
Each end of the wall terminates in a stone pier, surmounted by a
sphere of the heavens and a group of navigating instruments on the one
side and an airman’s helmet, etc., on the other. Next these piers are
supporters of aeroplane landing wheels.
Underneath the figure of Zeus there are three tablets, recording the
purpose of the Memorial and the names of those who played a
prominent part in the development of aviation during those early years on
the Island of Sheppey.
Below these central tablets is placed a small pond, over which is
inscribed a flying boat coming in to land.
The seats on each side of the central feature are made of hardwood,
under the fronts of which are formed walls of Kent ragstone, to represent
the land. Whilst the step in front is paved with pebbles, collected from
the beach nearby, to represent the sea.
The area between the Memorial and the roadway is laid out with
paths, lawns and flower beds.
The Honorary Architect responsible for the design of the Memorial is
Sidney Loweth, F.R.I.B.A., and the sculptor is Hillary Stratton, F.R.B.S.,
whilst the builders are Messrs.G.E.Wallis and Sons, Ltd of Maidstone.
The Memorial commemorates the first home of British Aviation, the
first factory for the manufacture of heavier than air machines, and the
first Royal Naval Air Service Station.
It was at Leysdown in February 1909, and subsequently at
Eastchurch, that members of the Aero Club of Great Britain (now Royal)
carried out experiments in the building and flying of the new flying
machines, interest having been aroused by the success of the Wright
Brothers in the U.S.A., who first left the ground in a heavier-than-air
machine on December 17th, 1903.
When it had been established that the Wright Brothers had flown in
France, the Short Brothers, who were Balloon Manufacturers and
Aeronautical Engineers to the Aero Club, decided to embark on the
construction of heavier-than-air machines. Mr Frank McClean (now Sir
Francis) gave them their first order for an aeroplane.
Construction of this machine was started in 1908 at Battersea Balloon
Works and was completed at Leysdown, where Short Brothers had
acquired 400 acres of marshland and had built the first Aircraft Factory in
Great Britain. Later Eustace and Oswald Short, together with the late
Mr. Griffith Brewer, visited the Wright Brothers, in France, who wanted
six of their machines to be built in England. The Wright Brothers, having
visited Leysdown, gave the order to Short Brothers as they had a factory
in existence, but had no drawings of their flying machine, Horace Short
made detailed plans and later presented the Wright Brothers with
dimension plan, side view and elevation of their aeroplane.
Short No. 1. made to the order of Mr. McClean, did not fly
successfully, due to the engine, which was a motor car engine, being too
heavy.
Several other aeroplanes were constructed. Short No. 2. designed
and built on the spot at Leysdown, and fitted with a 60 h.p. Green
engine, was flown by J. T. C. Brabazon, who, in October 1909,
completed the first circular mile ever flown in a British aeroplane, thus
winning a £1,000 prize offered by the “Daily Mail”. The time taken was 2
minutes, 36.2 seconds, at an average height of 20 feet.
Previously Moore Brabazon had been awarded Aero Club Certificate
No. 1 for flying 5 kilometres in a Voisin “Pusher” brought from France,
the official date being May 2nd 1909.
Meanwhile other pioneers were making experiments and flying Short
built and other aeroplanes. Capt. J. W. Dunne arrived at Leysdown
during the latter part of 1909, erected a shed and arranged with Short
Brothers to construct an inherently stable tailless bi-plane with V-shaped
wings. This was the first attempt in England to build a power driven
stable aeroplane.
During the winter of 1909-10 it was found that the flying ground was
too low-lying for all the year round use, and at the close of the year Mr.
McClean purchased a large tract of ground at Eastchurch known as
Stonepitts Farm, which is now an open prison, and gave free use of it to
members of the Aero Club in return for a fixed rent of one shilling per
year from the Club. Shortly afterwards Short Brothers removed their
factory from Leysdown, enlarging it in the process.
In February 1910, the Aero Club became Royal, and was the
controlling authority for the new sport of aviation.
The first machine to land at Eastchurch was a Short (Wright) piloted
by the Hon. C. S Rolls on November 20th 1909. Thereafter Eastchurch
became the centre of aviation, many notable flights and experiments
being made. The summer of 1910 was noted for the increased interest
taken in aviation all over the country. At Eastchurch by September there
were eighteen sheds occupied by members of the Aero Club, including
Messrs. McClean, C. Grace, Howard Wright, Alec Olgilvie, Batchelor,
Gilmore, Jezzi, the Hon.Maurice Egerton, Prof.A.K.Huntingdon, George,
Moore Brabazon, and W.L.Travers. Mr.T.O.M.Sopwith (now Sir Thomas
Sopwith) arrived at Eastchurch and on December 18th 1910, won the
Baron de Forest’s prize of £4,000 for the longest flight from England to
the Continent.
During 1910 the Admiralty watched with increasing interest these
experiment, and when, in February 1911, Mr McClean offered the loan of
aeroplanes for the purpose of instructing Naval officers in aviation, it
accepted.
Four officers from over 200 volunteers were selected to undergo the
first course, which began March 2nd 1911, and included technical training
at Messrs. Shorts’ factory. Their names and ranks held at that time are
Lieuts. C.R.Samson, R.Gregory, and A.M.Longmore R.N. now Air Chief
Marshall Sir Arthur Longmore, G.C.B., D.S.O., and Captain E.L.Gerrard,
R.M.L.I., now Air Commodore E.L.Gerrard, C.M.G., D.S.O.
Mr.G.B.Cockburn, another member of the Aero Club, gave up his time
for a year entirely free of cost to the Admiralty to instruct these officers in
the art of flying. The initial course was successfully accomplished with
only two minor crashes.
Eastchurch became the first Royal Naval Air Service Station and
many experiments were carried out. It is believed that the first bombdropping experiments, the first machine-gun mounted in an aeroplane
and fired whilst the machine was in the air, and the first wireless signals
air to ground were made here.
Short Brothers were busy developing their aeroplane with emphasis
on ship-plane, seaplane and floatplanes. From the first land aeroplane
fitted with fabric flotation air bags to the modern Flying Boat is a measure
of their success.
There are many other names that deserve mention, among others
C.R.Fairey (now Sir Richard Fairey), Harris Booth and Professor
Pippard. The compiler of this short account craves forgiveness if he has,
through lack of space, inadverdently left out any pioneers who should
have been mentioned.
The only other known memorials to the early pioneers are a stained
glass window in Eastchurch Parish Church to the memory of the
Hon.C.S.Rolls and Cecil Grace, and a statue of the Hon.C.S.Rolls in
Monmouth Market Place, depicting him in the then aviation dress holding
a model of an aeroplane of the period in his right hand.
A few of the older inhabitants of Eastchurch got together in 1949 to
investigate the possibility of organising a suitable memorial to
commemorate the historic events which took place in their midst during
the years 1908-11, realising that many memorials had been erected to
record much later feats in the field of aviation but none to those early
pioneers whose experiments and flights were the beginning of the new
science of aviation.
A Committee was formed, with W/Cdr. W.E.James as chairman, and
a letter appeared in “The Times” on February 11th, 1950, signed by Mr.
Winston Churchill (as he then was), Lord Brabazon of Tara and Mr.
Oswald Short, in which an appeal was made for support to erect a
memorial at Eastchurch on the Island of Sheppey, which was one of the
“cradles” of British heavier-than-air aviation.
Great interest in the project was aroused and substantial support
promised, Mr. Winston Churchill, Lord Brabazon of Tara, Sir Francis
McClean and Mr. Oswald Short becoming patrons.
After examining various suggestions, the Committee decided an
outside memorial in stone would be the most suitable and enduring.
Mr. Sidney Loweth, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A., the Architect for the County of
Kent, very graciously offered to design the Memorial and act as Hon.
Architect. The present design was submitted to and accepted by the
Committee. Mr. Hilary Stratton. F.R.B.S. being employed as the
Sculptor.
The site, which was originally intended as a ‘bus turn-round’, belongs
to Sheppey Rural District Council, who have intimated that they will be
responsible for the maintenance of the memorial in the future.
Planning permission was obtained and thanks are due to Mr.
J.W.R.Adams, O.B.E., Chief Planning Officer for Kent, for his interest in
the project.
Many firms donated materials and have been most generous.
Messrs. Wallis and Sons, Ltd., of Maidstone, secured the contract and
have completed a magnificent structure.
All this took some considerable time – over five years – but the result
is well worthwhile and the Committee are well satisfied. They hope that
the memorial will be treated as an historical monument and not defaced
or neglected.
The memorial is in no sense a national one, but only seeks to record
those historic events which took place at Leysdown and Eastchurch in
the Isle of Sheppey during the formative years in the history of Aviation in
Great Britain, 1908-11.
It is realised that other pioneers were also making experiments and
flights in other parts of the country, and an attempt to record these is
made in the frieze panels of the memorial where a series of 1909-11
aeroplanes are shown in profile, all of which flew at Eastchurch in the
early days.
Patrons
The Right Hon. Sir Winston S. Churchill
K.G., C.H., O.M., M.P.
Lord Brabazon of Tara. G.B.E., M.C.
Sir Francis K. McClean A.F.C.
Oswald Short. Esq.
Committee
W/Cdr. W.E.James (Chairman)
Gordon Tomlin Esq.
Ronald Bigg Esq.
Bernard Bigg Esq.
Fred Brett Esq.
Douglas Beard Esq.
Frank Hayward Esq.
Mrs. E.Ingleton
Mrs. M.Dennett
Mrs. R.Tomlin
S.B.Clark Esq. (Hon. Secretary and Treasurer)
Designer and Hon. Architect
Sidney Loweth Esq., F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A.
Sculptor……………………..Hillary Stratton Esq., F.R.B.S
Hon. Quantity Surveyors………Rider Hunt and Partners
Hon. Surveyor…………….Peter Brading Esq. M.I.Mun.E.
Hon. Auditors………….P.G.Knight Esq., N.B.Poles Esq.,
Contractor’s……………..Wallis and Sons Ltd., Maidstone
Eastchurch Memorial to Pioneer Airmen
List of Subscribers
Rev. J.B.Allen
Sqdn/Ldr. J.C.Andrews
D.H.Beard Esq.
Clive Bossom Esq.
Air Chief Marshall Sir Frederick Bowhill
G.B.E., K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. (ret)
Fred Brett Esq.
Mrs. J.Brewer
Messrs. Bristol Aeroplane Co.
J.W.Buchanan Esq.
Bertram Carter Esq.
D.S.Chilton Esq.
A.Cook Esq
Arthur Q.Cooper Esq.
Messrs. Crossman and Co.,
For Udale, Detroit, U.S.A.
R.J.Davie Esq.
Miss A.Daye-Barker
Dr. M.DeLacey
Mr. And Mrs. J.A.Dennett
E.A.Dennis Esq., J.P.
Cmdr. G.Dixon, R.N. (ret)
East Minster Conservative Association
Lord Egerton of Tatton
Messrs. Fairey Aviation Co.,Ltd.
(Sir Richard Fairey, M.B.E.)
Mrs. H.Faulkner
F.Fordsham Esq.
B.French Esq.
A/Cmdre. Gerrard,C.M.G.,D.S.O.,R.A.F.(ret)
Messrs. Gloster Aircraft Co.
Messrs. Hawker Siddeley Group Ltd.
(Sir Thomas Sopwith, C.B.E.)
Philip Haynes Esq.
Messrs De Havilland Aircraft Co.,Ltd.
Mrs H.N.Henderson
Hydes Esq.
Air Vice Marshall Hopps, C.B.E., A.F.C.
Dr. Jill Hutt
Mr. And Mrs. Stanley Hounsell
Mrs. E Ingleton
H.Ingleton Esq.
W/Cmdr. W.E.James, R.A.F. (ret)
Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur Longmore
G.C.B., D.S.O.
Mrs. G.Lugsden
Mr. And Mrs. R.H.Marsh
Miss M.Mills
R.J.Macgeogh Hurst Esq.
V.C.Martin Esq
Mrs. R.N.Merritt
Sir Francis McClean, A.F.C.
Mrs. S.E.Nicholas
Col. Alec Olgilvie, C.B.E.
Proceeds of Whist Drive,
per Mrs. Powell, Minster
Sir Alliott Verdon Roe
Mr. And Mrs. C.F.Rosewarne
R.A.F.Association (Sheppey)
Royal Aero Club
Messrs. Rolls Royce Ltd.
Alderman R.W.Rule
Mrs. Rowsell
Mrs. M.Scott
Messrs Shell Mex and B.P.Ltd.
Messrs. Sheerness and District Economical
Co-Operative Society
Messrs. Short and Harland, Ltd.
(Rear Admiral Sir M.Slatter, C.B.,F.R.Ae.S.)
Oswald Short Esq. F.R.Ae.S. (Hon)
Messrs Short Bros. Long Service Assn.
A.G.Smith Esq.
R.L.Smith Esq.
Flt/Lieut. Stroud, R.A.F.
Air-Vice Marshall H.R.Thorold (ret)
Mrs. J.Travis
Mr. And Mrs Vanherk
S.P.Walton Esq
Percy Wells Esq. M.P.
List of Donors of Materials
Messrs. Eastwood Ltd. (George Miller Esq., F.C.I.S.)
Bricks
London and Rochester Trading Co., Ltd. (Maurice O.Gill Esq)
Ballast and Sand
The Cement Marketing Co., Ltd. (V.C.Ellison Esq.)
Cement
Mssrs. Hall and Co. (M.W.Hall Esq.)
General Builders Materials
Messr. Chittenden and Simmonds Ltd. (M.E.Lynch Esq.)
Metal Reinforcement
The British Quarrying Co., Ltd. (D.A.Benbow Esq)
Kent Ragstone
Messrs. Tretol Ltd.
Paint
E.D.Lyons Esq., A.R.I.B.A.
Perspective Drawings
H.M.Prison Commissioners
Labour and Facilities
Ronald Coleman Esq.
Publicity and Booklet
Shrubs loaned by Harrisons (Maidstone)
The Chairman and Committee thank all contributors for their
most generous support and help.
(Edited Version. Reprinted and distributed by
Eastchurch Parish Council to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the Memorial)