RETIREMENT CLUB NEWSLETTER
October 2014 No 302Manton Lane MK41 7PFTel: 01234 350681SEPTEMBER WALK - Ian Howard
Eleven people and Molly the dog met at Pavenham Park Golf Club for the September walk on a sunny morning, we set off down the golf club drive to Pavenham Road where we turned left and picked up the public footpath through Pavenham playing field, round the back of the tennis courts and then following the public footpath along the bottom of the golf course for about half a mile. Leaving the golf course behind us we then kept on the footpath through fields and a series of paddocks protected by electric fences until the footpath emerged onto the Radwell Road opposite what was The Swan public house, now a private house. Here we turned left up the road until we came to another public footpath on the left hand side, this path through fields brought us out onto the Pavenham Road where we turned left, at this point on our left were views across to Milton Ernest and Thurleigh. We then continued along the road following the outskirts of the golf course until a footpath on our right took us back into fields with views across to the south of the county, the remainder of the footpath took us through more fields and came out in the middle of Pavenham opposite The Cock public house, from here we made our way back along the road to the Golf Club for lunch.
OCTOBER WALK
The walk will be led by Bruce Price and it will start from The Royal George, 57 High Street, Stagsden MK43 8SG Please meet at the usual time of 10:15am for a prompt 10:30 start
ANNUAL LUNCH
Reminder. This will be on 1st October at the Sharnbrook Hotel. Prior bookings only
JOHN TAYLOR BELLFOUNDRY MUSEUM AND WORKS VISIT
Reminder. This visit will be on Thursday 23rd October for those who have booked. As we have had to confirm numbers with Taylors, bookings are now closed for this event.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF AVIATION October 1914 contributed by John Cherry
5th Today Louis Quenault, a French observer in a Voisin pusher, piloted by Sergeant Joseph Frantz shot down a German Aviatik aircraft using a Hotchkiss machine gun mounted in the nacelle. The German pilot was Lt Fritz von Zagen. This is the first German aeroplane to be shot down in a ‘dogfight’, the name given for a free-for all in aerial warfare.
8th Today Squadron Commander D.A. Spenser-Grey and Flight Lt Reginald Marix of the Eastchurch Squadron R.N.A.S. took off to make a second attack on the airship sheds at Düsseldorf and Cologne. This was to be the last aerial sortie from Antwerp before it was overrun by the German advance. The airmen waited for the mist to clear, but it did not so at 1:30pm they flew away in their Sopwith Tabloids. Flying at a height of 600 feet over the Zeppelin sheds at Düsseldorf, Marix scored direct hits with both of his 20lb bombs destroying Zeppelin LZ25 (ZIX). Spenser-Grey, unable to find the airship sheds in the mist, bombed the Cologne railway station. Marix, on his way back to Antwerp crash landed his machine but returned by bicycle.
The French Aeronautic Militaire has expanded to 34 Escadrills making it the largest air arm in the world.
26th Today the R.N.A.S. aircraft, were ordered to display insignia based on the Union flag on wings and fuselages but these proved too easily mistaken for German crosses so were replaced by roundels with red in the centre and white and blue concentric circles.
28th A report from Melbourne, Australia states that aviators there have formed an Australian Aero Club.
31st Lt Humphreys of No 4 Squadron R.F.C. found a new method of attack today when he fired 250 rounds at a German convoy whilst out on patrol..
Here are some words and phrases that are being used by our aviators that may not be familiar to you.
“Ack Emma” The time between midnight and noon.
“Archie” The name given for German anti-aircraft fire. It originated in September, when Lt Amyas ‘Biffy’ Borton of No 5 Squadron responded to an inaccurate burst by calling out “Archibald, certainly not!” This came from a George Robey music-hall song where it had been intended for an errant husband.
‘Archibald, Certainly Not!”
A lady named Miss Hewitt got on friendly terms with me.
She fell in love with me at once then fell in the sea.
My wife came on the scene as I threw coat and vest aside.
As other garments I slipped off to save the girl she cried.
Archibald, certainly not!
Desist at once disrobing on the spot!
You may show your pluck and save Miss Hewitt.
But if you’ve got to strip to do it
Archibald, certainly not!
RAeS LECTURE - 8 OCTOBER 2014
Dan Norman from QFI will be talking on "The Evolution of Flight Training" at ARA on Wednesday 8th October. Meet at 18:30 for 19:00.
FORTHCOMING EVENTSWednesday 1st October 2014 / Annual Lunch, Sharnbrook Hotel
Wednesday 8th October 2014, 10:15am / October Walk,
Royal George, Stagsden
Wednesday 8th October 2014 18:30 / RAeS Lecture, ARA
Thursday 23rd October 2014 / John Taylor Bell Foundry Visit
Please send any copy for publication to me by the 15th of the month, Keith Rose
Editor:Keith Rose 01234
Deputy Editor:Mary Cook 01234 324618
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