5 replies to this topic

[jbw541]

Hello, Does anyone have any details about a landing strip / airfield, in Sible Hedingham, Essex? I found that there were airfields at Gosfield and Weathersfield, both very close to Sib Hed. A friend at the parish church asked me to look into it as the centenary is coming up and the local community would like to Remember the men from and in Sible Hedingham who served in WW1. Daft question, what`s is a landing strip, is it only used when you can`t get back to your airfield?
Thanks. Joe.

[mickdavis]

Sible Hedingham was one of the RFC's original night landing grounds and operational by April 1916, shortly after the RFC had assumed responsibility for the overland defence of Great Britain. At that time it came under 7th Wing, part of Eastern Group Command. It was classified as a NLG 2nd Class - i.e. it could be approached along more than one axis - and was initially allotted to 51 (HD) Sqn. It had transferred to 37 (HD) Sqn by 31 December 1916 and was noted as a NLG 3rd Class by 5 January 1917 (i.e. approaches were along a single axis). The NLG 2nd Class status was restored on 31 March 1917 and it remained under Eastern Group Command, but under HD Wing/Group/Brigade/6th Brigade and under 50th Wing after that command formed on 29 October 1917, until the formation of the RAF, when it came under 1 Area and still 50th Wing/HD Brigade and was by then for 75 Sqn (the HD sufffix had been dropped from such unit's titles on 1 November 1917). It remained under 75 Sqn for the rest of its existence, noted in the Autumn 1918 Quarterly Survey of Stations as occupying 38 acres and measuring 600 x 400 yards and coming under 50th Wing, 6 Brigade, SE Area. That command had changed to 1 Group, 6th Brigade, SE Area by November 1918. Its OS grid reference is TL765325. The site came, only just, into the NW corner of the WWII station RAF Gosfield.

[phil w]

There is a booklet published a few years ago listing all the WW1 landing fields in Essex. Essex libraries had some copies and probably still do. I cannot remember the title however but I am pretty sure it was mentioned in a thread on Stow Maries a couple of years ago.

[brucehubbard]

This is exactly what makes the Forum such a great place.

My late Mother was born in Sible Hedingham, and I spent many half terms etc with my maternal grand-mother at High Garrett. I used, as a boy, to wander along to see the GI at the gate of Wethersfield. I was much impressed at the time by the way that he always saluted me (aged about seven, and in shorts!) and even more impressed by the offer of gum.
In later years, I have come to wonder whether a British soldier on guard duty would salute a seven year old, and chew gum whilst doing it.

Happy days!

Bruce

[mickdavis]

The booklet referred to is Fields of the First by Paul A. Doyle, which is an excellent attempt at detailing the the RNAS/RFC/RAF sites in Essex during the Great War. I picked up a copy only a couple of months ago and wish there were similar publications for all counties of the UK. As with anything published, my own material included, it's possible to nit-pick - including some of the information on Sible Hedingham, but I wish others would put what they've got into circulation and help educate us all and, if there are mistakes, others can provide corrections - to everyone's benfit.

[jbw541]

[quote name='brucehubbard' timestamp='1341220526' post='1768706']
This is exactly what makes the Forum such a great place.

My late Mother was born in Sible Hedingham, and I spent many half terms etc with my maternal grand-mother at High Garrett. I used, as a boy, to wander along to see the GI at the gate of Wethersfield. I was much impressed at the time by the way that he always saluted me (aged about seven, and in shorts!) and even more impressed by the offer of gum.
In later years, I have come to wonder whether a British soldier on guard duty would salute a seven year old, and chew gum whilst doing it.

Happy days!

Bruce
[/quote]Great story! St. Peters, Sible Hedingham has a Roll of Duty (Men served) and a Roll of Honour (Men died) for WW1. Theres also a Memorial Book for both the Men and Women of WW2 who Served or Died from the Parish. I`ve a record / picture of both of these, if you need any names looked up. I pass through High Garrett most days, it`s next on my list to photograph, if you want me to snap anything in particular, let me know.
  Regards. Joe.

[quote name='mickdavis' timestamp='1341187729' post='1768647']
Sible Hedingham was one of the RFC's original night landing grounds and operational by April 1916, shortly after the RFC had assumed responsibility for the overland defence of Great Britain. At that time it came under 7th Wing, part of Eastern Group Command. It was classified as a NLG 2nd Class - i.e. it could be approached along more than one axis - and was initially allotted to 51 (HD) Sqn. It had transferred to 37 (HD) Sqn by 31 December 1916 and was noted as a NLG 3rd Class by 5 January 1917 (i.e. approaches were along a single axis). The NLG 2nd Class status was restored on 31 March 1917 and it remained under Eastern Group Command, but under HD Wing/Group/Brigade/6th Brigade and under 50th Wing after that command formed on 29 October 1917, until the formation of the RAF, when it came under 1 Area and still 50th Wing/HD Brigade and was by then for 75 Sqn (the HD sufffix had been dropped from such unit's titles on 1 November 1917). It remained under 75 Sqn for the rest of its existence, noted in the Autumn 1918 Quarterly Survey of Stations as occupying 38 acres and measuring 600 x 400 yards and coming under 50th Wing, 6 Brigade, SE Area. That command had changed to 1 Group, 6th Brigade, SE Area by November 1918. Its OS grid reference is TL765325. The site came, only just, into the NW corner of the WWII station RAF Gosfield.
[/quote] Hello. Thanks very much for your help.
  Regards. Joe.

[quote name='phil w' timestamp='1341219855' post='1768700']
There is a booklet published a few years ago listing all the WW1 landing fields in Essex. Essex libraries had some copies and probably still do. I cannot remember the title however but I am pretty sure it was mentioned in a thread on Stow Maries a couple of years ago.
[/quote]Hello. Thanks. I`m off to the libary in the morning.
    Regards. Joe.