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Mitchells Jewellers Maldon’s Newest and Finest Jewellery & Engagement Specialists The largest independent selection of diamond rings in Maldon • Contemporary and elegant designs • Platinum, Gold & Silver Jewellery • Bespoke design service available on site • Jewellery and Watch repairs, alterations and valuations for insurance and probate • We buy all prestige brand watches e.g. Rolex, Cartier and Omega. • We offer a repair/battery replacement service. WE BUY GOLD Top prices guaranteed for your old gold, silver and platinum jewellery - guaranteed! We also offer an extra 20% when used towards the purchase of a higher value item. 107 High Street, Maldon, CM9 5EP Tel: 01621 859969 110a High Street, Brentwood, CM14 4AP Tel: 01277 204688 2 For editorial call 01206 386666 | For advertising call 01621 854333 or email enquiry@estuarylife.co.uk | via website at www.estuarylife.co.uk
Local & Parish Council news... have your say! We’re keen to hear your views, so please get in touch with your thoughts, frustrations, stories and observations. Our contact details are on page 45 or you can link via our website. Dear Editor I write to draw attention to what I consider to be an accident waiting to happen. At Rectory Road next to the zigzag lines at the school crossing there is a van parked almost permanently. The danger of someone causing an accident at the school crossing is obvious. Perhaps the Council or the Police could do something about a before it is too late. Name address supplied Dear Editor I was interested to read the article in the April edition of Mersea Life about the forthcoming Centenary Vintage Fly-In Day to be held at Stowe Maries Aerodrome on 13 May 2012 to commemorate the centenary of the formation of the Royal Flying Corps and the reference to the destruction of Zeppelin L48 on 17 June 1917. L48 was a new type of airship designed to fl y higher than previous models so as to avoid interception by British fi ghter aircraft. It was one of two Zeppelins which reached England that night, the other being L42. It had been planned to send six airships in total but L46 and L47 were unable to be deployed due to strong winds at their bases and L44 and L45 had to turn back due to engine problems. It was intended that L48 and L42 would attack London if possible but in the event neither was able to do so. L42 mistakenly dropped its bombs on Ramsgate, believing it to be Dover, killing three civilians and wounding fourteen others. L48 dropped its bombs on the villages of Falkenham and Kirton and Martlesham near Ipswich, miles away from its intended revised target Harwich. L42 returned to Germany unharmed but L48, with two engines out of action and other technical problems, was set ablaze and crashed at Theberton, Suffolk following the attack by RFC aircraft. It is incredible in the circumstances that three members of the nineteen man crew survived. The crew member, who later died from his injuries, passed away on 11 November 1918 - ironically the fi nal day of the war. As mentioned, Second Lieutenant Watkins of 37 Squadron Royal Flying Corps was credited with the “kill” despite the fact that other aircraft were simultaneously involved in the attack. The other aircraft operated from the RFC Experimental Station Orfordness on the Suffolk coast. In fact L48 was actually in the vicinity of Orfordness when the aircraft were dispatched to intercept it. The fi rst two were in the air shortly before Watkins took off from Gardener’s Farm, Goldhanger, Essex at 2.00 am. The fi rst aircraft was unable to gain suffi cient altitude to be within effective range of L48 and returned to base. The second aircraft was a two seater fl own by Second Lieutenant Holder whose observer/ gunner was Sergeant Ashby. A third aircraft, fl own by Captain Saundby, was dispatched just before 3.00 am. By this time L48’s captain, Lieutenant Commander Eichler, had decided to descend on the basis a tail wind would assist the escape homewards across the North Sea. Now at a lower altitude, and with the arrival of Watkins, the airship was within range of the machine guns of all three RFC aircraft which sent streams of explosive and incendiary rounds towards it as they attacked from various directions. By 3.25am the airship was plummeting earthwards in fl ames, its vulnerable hydrogen gas cells set alight by the attackers’ machine guns. In recognition of their conspicuous gallantry all three RFC pilots were awarded the Military Cross and Ashby the Military Medal- the MC was only awarded to offi cers in those days. It is believed the authorities decided to offi cially credit the Canadian Watkins with the “kill” hoping this might inspire additional Canadians to rally to fi ght for the British Empire. Sadly Watkins and Ashby did not survive the war. Saundby, later Air Marshall Sir Robert Saundby DFC, became Sir Arthur “Bomber” Harris’ deputy in the Second World War. Holder, later Squadron Leader Frank Douglas Holder OBE, MC, JP, DL, also served in the RAF in the Second APRIL 2012 CONTENTS Local News 3, 6, 9 10, 11, 15, 38 & 40 Courtyard Clinic Neck & Shoulder Pain 2 7 Property 16 - 21 Garden LIFE 24 Animal LIFE 27 Find Ed 27 World War and afterwards ran a business in Chelmsford, served as deputy mayor of the town, became the commanding offi cer of Chelmsford Squadron Air Training Corps and later the President of East Essex Wing Air Training Corps. Four years before Holder’s death in 1978 at the age of 81, I was privileged to meet him when he presented me with a trophy when I was a member of Braintree Squadron Air Training Corps. A photograph of the occasion appeared in the Braintree & Witham Times and I still have the newspaper cutting. The Stow Maries Aerodrome is a fascinating place which offers a unique insight into the RFC/RAF during the First World War and an appreciation of the brave airmen who defended our country, and those who supported them on the ground, at a time when fl ight was still in its infancy. John Twitchett Continued on page 6... Vintage Fly-in (Part 2) 29 Reader Holiday Offers 30 Where to Go, Stay & Eat 31 - 38 Recipe 32 Contact LIFE 45 Your Directory 45 & 46 GOLD Advertiser List 47 For editorial call 01206 386666 | For advertising call 01621 854333 or email enquiry@estuarylife.co.uk | via website at www.estuarylife.co.uk 3
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